Feline Films | September 2022

Its my favorite time of the year, Cougars! October is just around the corner, and if youre anything like me, youre itching to get to the theater for some new releases. Here are the two most notable for me:

Barbarian (2022) [R]

I honestly dont know how to describe anything about this film without giving anything away about the plot. Its really one of those movies that you have to go into completely blind. Nonetheless, this is a strong contender for one of the best original horror films of the year. Barbarian is a horror film about a woman (Georgina Campbell) who finds out the Detroit AirBnB she rented is double-booked, but this house has far more going on beneath the surface than she realized.

A major highlight of the film is the director, Zach Cregger, who surprisingly has a comedic background in film. He utilizes the seemingly simplistic premise to his advantage. He makes you feel as the main character feels, as she is unsure of her surroundings and if she is truly safe in a place where she would originally have felt relatively calm. As the film descends further and further into madness, we feel the fear and paranoia set in with it. Knowing that Cregger also wrote the film, it feels as if it is a complete vision of terror.

The film is incredibly well crafted and keeps the viewer guessing until the end. I wish that I could have seen this in a more packed theater so I could have experienced this with more people. It is imperative that you go into this with as little knowledge as you possibly can, even if this review is the first youve heard of the film. While the film takes a bit to get itself going, it is very much a slow burn that has a payoff that more than makes up for it. Im already thinking of going in on a rewatch soon, so that should tell if the films pacing is truly an issue or not.

Another highlight of the film are the performances. As stated previously, Georgina Campbell (Black Mirror) is our fearless lead, as well as a cast including Bill Skarsgrd (2017s It) and Justin Long (Drag Me to Hell). This cast works incredibly well together; and their performances as people who are meeting for the first time together from different backgrounds, mesh incredibly well. Without spoiling, Campbell in particular gives perhaps one of my favorite final girl performances in recent years.

In conclusion, Barbarian is probably one of my favorite horror releases of the year. A film that not many people have heard about and the victim of an underused marketing campaign, I urge you to see this knowing as little as possible. I promise, its worth it.

9 paws out of 10

Pearl (2022) [R]

This film is one that I was not expecting to be released so soon. I had mediocre expectations for it following such a wild and creative horror film as X, but I was not disappointed. Especially if you know how the plot of X plays out, Pearl is a lovely complement to its predecessor. A prequel to Ti Wests X from earlier this year, Pearl follows a farm girl (Mia Goth) on her violent quest to make sure the whole world knows her name.

Theres no other way I can describe this film other than saying its like if The Wizard of Oz and Carrie had a child. It takes you on a whimsical and violent journey not just through the titular characters actions, but also her psyche and how she reacts to what happens around her. Pearl is the Dorothy of this story and her somewhere over the rainbow being a world where shes the biggest movie star in the history of mankind. However, reality consistently comes crushing down on her, whether in the form of her controlling mother, or her own depraved actions coming back to haunt her. Setting this film at the cusp of the film industry booming, truly brings the entire ordeal together. Who didnt want to be a movie star when movies were just coming out?

Speaking of the titular character, Pearl is nothing without the stellar performance by Mia Goth. Goth plays Pearl with a chaotic poise, acting with ambition and on impulse even if she knows shell regret it later. The film truly benefitted from the work and time Goth put into not only the significantly older version of Pearl, but this young version as well. Goth seamlessly blends both versions of the character to create a woman who has big dreams and a whole life ahead of her; and a woman who realizes that that life (and her youth) is gone.

There are also several large and small details throughout the film that relate back to X. Its hard to talk about Pearl without mentioning it. They complement each other constantly, whether with shots, or lines, or the characters themselves. Specifically, I noticed a characters hair color that X viewers with a keen ear will remember. These details dont feel like lifeless easter eggs but little nods that create great double feature potential. Both films were made at the same time and knowing this enhances the viewing experience for them.

In conclusion, Pearl was a pleasant surprise for me this year. X was the same, but Pearl has this demented charm to it that enhances my experience even more. I am always a fan of movies that let us look through the main characters eyes, and Pearl fulfilled that for me even if looking through the titular characters eyes is like looking through a bloody kaleidoscope.

8 paws out of 10

The preceding reviews were written by Collin College student Nadia Arain. Collin College News appreciates their assistance.