FROM BLACK
Cora is a recovering drug addict who lost her son due to her negligence five years prior. The film opens with a shocking crime scene and a traumatized, bloodied, and rambling Cora in the sheriff’s office. How did we get here? Cora spins a tale of otherworldly proportions filled with grief, regret, and chance. How far would you go to see your loved one again?
Writer-director Thomas Marchese and co-writer Jessub Flower dive into the subgenre without apology. When grief counselor Abel offers Cora the opportunity to see Noah again, her response is an immediate “Yes.” Anyone that sits in sadness understands the answer. Spellbook, chalk drawings, and salt circles in tow, Abel guides Cora on a step-by-step journey of possible redemption. The audience is smart enough to know there are stills attached. That never lessens the intensity of the plot.
Anna Camp plays Cora. She is unrecognizable in this role. Audiences usually recognize her perky personality and blonde hair. Raven-haired and emotionally battered, Cora brims with complexity. Camp allows herself to dive deep into grief and regret. It is an out-of-the-box performance for her, and she is magnificent. I’d love to see her in more dark roles. She can handle them.
The addiction and trauma allegories are particularly evident in Cora’s final moments. While I had the overall plot pegged early on, the finale surprised me. Duncan Cole’s intense cinematography, combined with Luigi Janssen’s ominous score, grabs you by the throat from the beginning. The editing is a triumph that keeps you poised on the edge of your seat. A Faustian look beyond the veil, FROM BLACK is a grief-fueled nightmare. It will satisfy every level.
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Locke’s script sets a solid pace, with details of her daughter’s disappearance slowly revealing themselves, unrequited love, past regressions, and secrets boiling over. Darlene’s ex-brother-in-law lands on her doorstep under the guise of a surprise family reunion, but his ulterior motive involves a revelation in Sally’s case. The information he’s been sitting on as Darlene relentlessly searched for Sally, became an advocate for other families, and got her alcoholism under control. The rage and fear evolve into a knockdown, drag-out fight between redemption and revenge. 
Compounded by the raging snow outside, any turmoil coming from the house is more than muffled. This simple device proves to be a wonderful segway for Gretchen to reenter the story. 
Here is where I felt like
THE APOLOGY
This insanely talented ensemble gets thrown into a blender of bizarre. Writer-director Jeff Baena co-writes with Brie. I cannot figure out if Spin Me Round means to be a modern take on Office Space or just a misstep into empowerment. It all feels rather icky whenever Nick (Alessandro Nivola) comes on screen. With an abundance of genuinely hilarious dynamics between cast members, those moments often become overshadowed by inconsistent storytelling, leaving you cringing.
Molly Shannon is Deb, and she is perfectly Molly Shannon. Her unpredictability makes her one of the highlights of the entire film. Zach Woods brings a fantastic arc to the character of Dana. He transforms from fanboy to puppy love to man on a mission and effortlessly captivates. Ben Sinclair lands somewhere between villainous sidekick and smarmy eccentric, and I loved it. Tim Heidecker, Ayden Mayeri, and Fred Armisen provide plenty of memorable moments.
Aubrey Plaza makes every film she appears in exponentially better. She is the most intriguing character in this film. You cannot ignore the comparisons to Ghislaine Maxwell, whether intentional or not. I want to see an entire movie on her backstory. Alison Brie is wonderful in everything. Her performance as Amber is no exception. She possesses simultaneous versatility and familiarity for audiences. Ultimately, the cast prevents Spin Me Round from leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Show up for the acting, and you can’t go wrong.
Witness the downward spiral of an already unwell young man as he slowly travels down the rabbit hole of complete darkness. When Nitram finally connects with a reclusive heiress named Helen, his world appears brighter. Helen provides the comfort and emotional shelter his parents could not. When the sadness becomes too much, his anger and anxiety manifest in violence and unfathomable tragedy. Inspired by actual events, 
Caleb Landry Jones
Silent Nigh
Even as these chic adults reminisce about what could have been, their children attempt to come to terms with impending doom. Every scene featuring a child is perfection. That is what kids are like, and thank you, 
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