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Movie review: The Addams Family, Door Lock, Paradise Hills

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Fred Hawson

<div><strong>THE ADDAMS FAMILY (2019)</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/11/03/addams.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Gomez and Morticia Addams moved to New Jersey after their wedding so they can live the macabre lifestyle they led without being bothered, and had done so for 13 years. Their son Pugsley had to prepare for the family rite of passage. Their daughter Wednesday got to experience the outside world by going to junior high school. Meanwhile, a reality-TV home-improvement personality Margaux Needler wanted to get rid of the Addams&#x27; dark mansion because it clashed with the brightly colorful community she was creating for her show. </p><p>This new computer-animated film reintroduces the classic American cartoon family created by Charles Addams in 1938. The ghoulish brand of humor is very weird and bizarre. Yet, this franchise had survived 80 years and several incarnations over the years, including a TV series in the 1960s, a movie series in the 1990s, and a Broadway musical in 2010. Despite the stellar voice cast led by Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaac, Chloe Grace Moretz, Bette Midler and Allison Janney, the main home-renovation story they chose to go with was flat, not so funny. There were lessons about family unity and cultural acceptance for kids to take home.</p><p>*****</p><div><strong>DOOR LOCK</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/11/03/door-lock-review-featured-636x395.png"/></figure></div><p>Kyung-min (Gong Hyo-jin) was a mousy contractual bank employee. She always felt there was an intruder in her apartment where she lived alone, but did not have any evidence of this when she reported these incidents to the police. One day at work, Kyung-min had an altercation with a rude customer Gi-jung (Jo Bok-rae), who seemed to be stalking her. That night, a gentleman visitor was found mysteriously murdered in her apartment. Only now did the police led by Detective Lee (Kim Sung-oh) pay her attention. </p><p>This film was shown as part of the &quot;Sine Sindak&quot; horror film festival in SM Cinemas, which ran from October 22-29 this year. However, this was not really the usual horror film with ghosts, but more of a crime suspense thriller. The plotting of the story included small details which I thought were red herrings but turned out to be vital clues that fit right into the whole fabric of the mystery. The lead performance of Gong Hyo-jin effectively made us feel the fears and paranoia experienced by women.</p><p>*****</p><div><strong>PARADISE HILLS</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/11/03/19846_1_1100-0.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Uma (Emma Roberts) woke up one night on a luxury island resort cum reform school called Paradise Hills, where she was served hand and foot by costumed attendants. The elegant head mistress Duchess (Milla Jovovich) taught her guests, all rich girls with attitude problems, proper social graces and behavior. However, ever the rebel, Uma, and her new friends, the overweight Chloe (Danielle Macdonald), the inferior Yu (Awkwafina) and the pop star Amarna (Eiza Gonzalez) felt there was something sinister and underhanded going on. </p><p>The first thing that will strike you about this film are its remarkably ornate and ostentatious set design, with the all the ultra-luxurious furniture and fancy decorations. The cast wore elaborate avant-garde costume designs, with corresponding flamboyant hair and make-up styles to match. The story was quite confusing at the beginning up to maybe the first hour, I was ready to give up on its bizarreness. However when the plot peaked at the climactic revelation, I honestly cannot say that I saw it coming. That was as original a twist as it could get, and I appreciated that even if it came a bit too late. </p><p>This review was originally published in the author&#x27;s blog, &quot;<a href="https://said-fred.blogspot.com/2019/11/3-mini-reviews-paradise-hills-door-lock.html">Fred Said</a>.&quot;</p>

<p>Here are mini movie reviews of "The Addams Family," "Door Lock," and "Paradise Hills."</p>

Here are mini movie reviews of "The Addams Family," "Door Lock," and "Paradise Hills."