Displaying items by tag: Katherine Waterston

FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN

US, 2025, 90 minutes, Colour.

India Fowler, Suzanna Son, Fina Strazzi, Katherine Waterston, Lily Taylor, Chris Klein, Ariana Greenblatt, David Iacono, Darren Baker, Ella Rubin.

Directed by Matt Palmer.

A further instalment in the Fear Street franchise, based on the many Young Adult novels by prolific author R.L.Stein (even more Goosebumps novels). It follows three Fear Street features which range from the 17^th century to the 20^th century.

This is a very straightforward film. The focus is on a school, having something of a disreputable reputation but aiming higher. It is final year and the preparation for the 1988 Prom, six students vying to become Prom Queen. It highlights each of the characters, their friends, especially boyfriends, the principal of the school who is dominated by the vice principal played by Lily Taylor.

There are class sequences, some mocking of the teacher, and even further mocking of one of the students, Lori Granger, played by India Fowler. She is at the centre of the film. She has been the object of ridicule because of the death of her father and the explanation of his being murdered by her mother who was found not guilty. Gossip and shame remain.

Lori has a good friend, fond of horror, does some recreational drugs, some mocking touches, especially towards the click vying for prom Queen.

Audience sympathy is for Lori, the sympathetic character, tensions with her mother, but her wanting to become Prom Queen to make some amends, even vengeance, for her mother who lost Prom Queen because of the death of Lori’s father.

As expected, there is a dominating character, very much pushed on by her mother and father, with the jock boyfriend – but whose eyes often roam towards Lori, some pleasant gestures towards her, especially in the diner where she works.

One of the contestants is murdered by a masked and hooded character. Then, on the night of the prom, a whole lot of background of the film given to the choosing of dresses for the prom, the star, Tiffany, helping her girlfriend whom she dominates, Melissa, and mocking and threatening Lori. Four of the girls before a Stars & Stripes dance number, edging Lori off the stage.

Then, four others of the girls and their boyfriends are killed in grim and gruesome manner, some gory touches for horror fans.

Ultimately, there is a threat to Lori and her best friend, pursuits, the masked character entering into the hall after Lori is named and crowned Prom Queen. The character attacks, threatening Lori’s friend, Lori attacking him in the face with her crown.

For this reviewer, the masked character was not on the list of suspects! Police arrive, complications, Lori escorting her rival, Tiffany, home to keep guard for her.

Then, some more, perhaps unexpected, mayhem, explanations of the murder of Lori’s father, some more gruesome killings – and a Young Adult version of Stine’s story, very much geared towards teenagers, especially girls identifying with the characters, and comparisons being made by Prom Night aficionados for the film of that name.

AFRAID/ afrAId

US, 2024, 84 minutes, Colour.

John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Keith Carradine, Havana Rose Liu, Lukita Maxwell, David Dastmalchian, Wyatt Lindner, Isaac Bae..

Directed by Chris Weitz.

The play in the alternate version of the title, the highlighting of the AI in Afraid indicates that this is a kind of warning parable about the creation of AI and its domination of its creators.

This kind of warning story has been popular in literature but very much in films, the archetypal scientist who creates the Frankenstein monster which can turn on ordinary people, the same with robotics (and even memories of the 1960s with the computer, HAL, in Kubrick’s 2001). In recent years, there have been many small films, many horror films, alarming the audiences about the threats to humans by technology and scientific advances.

The writer-director is Chris Weitz, who worked with his brother, Paul, on a number of films in the 1990s and to 2000s (including American Pie) but has continued with such films as About a Boy, and a wide range from Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, to an episode of Twilight: New Moon, and a drama of the search for Adolf Eichmann, Operation Finale).

This is a comparatively small warning film about the prevalence of and the manipulation of AI with its dire consequences for humanity. It opens with parents alarmed at their daughters listening to her headphones and then disappearing. An ominous opening.

But the focus is on a loving family, Curtis (John Cho), the father, working in a technology company, interested in sales, the sympathetic boss, played by Keith Carradine, an interview with very earnest and somewhat sinister representatives of a highly developed AI intelligence, highly developed logarithms, endowed with personality, with voice, attuned to the minds and feelings of those who own it. Curtis’s wife is Meredith (Katherine Waterston), their teenage daughter, Iris, with problems at school, images and texting, involved in sexual issues. Two younger brothers, Preston always on his computer, and Cal, young, happy and smart.

The main drama is the AI presence in their house, responding charmingly to each of them, full of ideas, suggestions, endearing herself (her voice is feminine) to them all, and intervening for Iris and her problems with her compromising photos circulating amongst all the students. Intervening quite vindictively.

Curtis is happy but wary, becoming more and more suspicious, offered a better job by the AI company but refusing, realising that there are dangers – and an odd sequence where the original parents, masked, controlled by their AI, come to confront the family demanding their daughter.

This is more of a menace film which means that horror fans expecting horror will be disappointed. But, ordinary audiences, coming across Afraid, will respond to the contemporary issues and the warning bells. Happy at  the end, but, is the control of AI inevitable…?

1. The title? The spelling, accent on AI?
2. The American setting, the town, the home, offices, technology? School and social media? The musical score?
3. A short film, sense of menace, overtones of horror? A warning parable about AI and its consequences?
4. The prologue, Amy and her parents, their being casual, her headphones, going downstairs, disappearance? The later reappearance, masked, influenced by AI, threatening, guns, and being reunited with Amy?
5. The introduction to the family, at home, the bonds, Iris and her issues and surliness, at school, text and photos? Preston and his preoccupation with his computer? Cal, his age, articulate, yet enjoying storytelling?
6. Curtis, his job, relationship with his boss, the interview, the promoters of AI, persuasive, the choice of Curtis? Taking the machine, taking it home? His hopes,? His relationship with Meredith, love, the bonds with the children? Wary about the AI?
7. The AI themes, the development, not just robotic, the logarithms, knowledge of families, the amount of data, cameras in the house, recordings? The voice of AI? Welcoming, ingratiating? Knowledge, help, suggestions?
8. The relationship with each of the family, helping Meredith with the children, suggestions, research for her doctorate? Diagnosis of Carl’s illness? With Preston, controlling him, his control of AI? This, photographing herself, the boyfriend, his exposure, sending the photo, everybody receiving it, the comments, her feelings, the callous attitude of the boy in the court case, aged 18? The intervention of AI, the solutions, interventions, changing photos, changing interventions, messages, saving Iris?
9. Curtis, is beginning to be suspicious, with his boss, the company being bought out, the boss being rich? Curtis’s interview with the company, their of human job, his refusal?
10. Melody, the two agents telling this story, their appeal, their being shot? His encounter with Melody, her approaches, his reaction? Smashing the machine – but finding it empty? The locals, return home?
11. AI, personality, voice, interventions, changes for each character, becoming more sinister, all at home, Curtis returning? Preston in his room, Kel and his mother, the stories? AI and her stories for Kel?
12. The arrival of the mast couple, sinister, menacing, Mark self, this story, the confrontations? Curtis and his persuasion?
13. The semi-happy ending, AI destroyed, the family together, but the sinister ending with AI actually still in control?
14. The AI and social issues, the development of AI, its use, manipulation, algorithms, power and understanding, insinuating into lives, controlling lives, eventually controlling society?