Swallow Film Review- Final Girls Film Festival

Hunter, an expectant mother begins her journey down a dangerous path to self destruction. Can she find a better way to cope with her loneliness or will she let it consume her? It becomes obvious very early on that although Hunter loves her husband their marriage isn’t ideal. She is constantly trying to be the perfect wife for Richie and in doing so she loses a part of herself. She lacks the ability to control her life and in an effort to gain back that control she starts experimenting by swallowing small objects. It seems perfectly harmless at first but as we dig deeper we start to realize that this has become a dangerous obsession.

Swallow is a great example of a film that concentrates on the darker side of marriage. It explains in detail what can happen when you marry someone and you spend that entire relationship not being yourself but trying to be someone else for the one you love. It’s a great way to look into a relationship without rose tinted glasses. Few films are able to do this in a way that is truly relatable.

Haley Bennett’s portrayal of Hunter is fantastic. She is able to make her character seem both relatable and detached all at the same time. It’s almost as if she’s playing two separate characters that merge together seamlessly and I applaud her for her abilities. After seeing this film I cannot imagine anyone else playing the role of Hunter.

Denis O’Hare plays the pivotal role of Irwin in this story. Sometimes it’s the characters who provide the backstory that are the important ones. They tell us about who the main character is and what they’ve gone through to lead up to the moment when we meet them. I have been a big fan of Denis’s work and I think he really shines here.

If you are a fan of strong female characters I urge you to check out Swallow. It gives a real, heartfelt look into life and shows that no one is perfect even if it appears so from the outside. I give Swallow a 10/10. The directing, writing, acting, cinematography, and music are all brilliant. It all comes together to tell the story of a perfectly imperfect housewife. Swallow debuts in select theaters and on demand on March 6, 2020 and is currently being shown at Final Girls Film Festival in Berlin, Germany.

Fantasia Film Festival - Riot Girls Review

It’s 1995 and school’s out forever. No more futures, no more rules. A mysterious disease has wiped out the adult population in Potter’s Bluff, and it’s the East side VS the Titans. Nat’s brother Jack (Alexandre Bourgeois, The New Romantic) gets captured by the Titans while out on a mission. It’s up to Nat (Madison Iseman, Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle) and her best friend Scratch (Paloma Kwiatkowski, Percy Jackson Franchise) to save him.

Riot Girls has a pretty traditional plot. The rich kids VS the poor kids. This is a story we’ve seen time and time again throughout various decades. What makes this film rise above the rest is the writing, acting, character development, and the soundtrack. Most films that emulate a specific time period rely on music that was very popular in their respective decades. Instead of choosing more obvious choices like Green Day or No Doubt, they chose bands like Joan Jett, and L7. L7 is a female fronted grunge band that were part of the 90’s riot grrrl movement. Other Riot Grrrl bands include Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Babes In Toyland.

This film takes many different genres and smashes them together to make its own perfectly balanced hybrid. You’ve got the grrrl power movement, jocks with enlarged egos, gnarly death scenes, perfect comedic timing, and an unexpectedly bright ambiance. Riot Girls is such a refreshing film. It’s thoughtful but doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s something so raw and powerful about this film that it instantly makes you side with the underdog.

I give Riot Girls a 10/10. There’s nothing I would change about this film. The pacing and dialogue is fantastic. If you like teen dramas mixed with a killer soundtrack and some ultra violence I think you’ll enjoy this film. Riot Girls was featured at 2019’s Fantasia International Film Festival and is now playing in select theaters across North America.

Film Score Review - Sandro Di Stefano - Dolph Lundgren’s The Tracker

The 2019 Lionsgate film “The Tracker” starring Dolph Lundgren tells the story of Loke Hakansson, a family man who reluctantly travels to a remote Italian village with his wife and daughter. 15 Years after his family is kidnapped, Loke is contacted by a detected who claims to have new information about their disappearance.

I will be reviewing the films OTC which was composed by the brilliant Sandro Di Stefano and The Dnepropetrovsk Philharmonic Orchestra. Like his previous works this soundtrack is stunning. The talent by not only Sandro but the Orchestra themselves is impeccable.

One of the first things I noticed about the songs here is that the music is so different. There are so many unique style choices incorporated into each track. Instead of being overpowering it’s quite beautiful and very relaxing. When I listen to the music for a film I look for songs that are intriguing, captivating, but also capture the film through melody. I think these songs do this perfectly. They tell a story that can be enjoyed both on and off screen.

My favorite tracks from “The Tracker” Soundtrack are It’s Wasted Time, Welcome To Taranto, Albanians Attak, and The Playful Revenge. All of these are perfect examples of how to properly incorporate different sounds and melodies into music in order to capture the essence of the subject matter. Sandro has such a unique vision with each album he creates. I find it rather difficult to listen to soundtracks sometimes because the vision only works within the film. If I see Sandro’s name I know I’m going to be listening to something beautiful. I’m always in awe of his work. Please be sure to check out the film “The Tracker”, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, and the Dnepropetrovsk Philharmonic Orchestra. This OTC has 14 songs with a running time just shy of 35 minutes. It is now available through iTunes. I highly suggest you pick up a copy for yourself and or your loved ones.