'Survive' Reviews: Film "gets off on the right foot, but it quickly becomes clear that Jardin doesn’t have the money to do much with the premise"

     On January 10, 2024, Samuel Goldwyn Films released 'Survive', which has earned predominantly positive reviews from critics, currently holding at 70% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of this writing. "In SURVIVE, Julia and her loving husband celebrate their son's birthday on their boat in the middle of the ocean. When a violent storm nearly capsizes them, the family awakes in a desert land. Earth has undergone a tragic polarity reversal, draining water from the oceans. The family must race to safety before the water returns all while battling hungry creatures from the abyss that hunt for fresh flesh." The ensemble cast includes Émilie Dequenne, Lucas Ebel, Lisa Delamar, and Andreas Pietschmann. Read the full review round-up below.

    Jennie Kermode of Eye for Film says, "One of those films that’s always going to be at its best when watched in a group, this really packs in the action, with Dequenne’s intensely physical performance and Nicolas Errèra’s energetic score ensuring that it keeps its grip throughout." Adding, "We live in a world which is undergoing massive changes, and perhaps that’s what this kind of film, and those kind of games, really exist to prepare us for. Once things really get bad, there’s no time to think about the long term. With Survive, the less you think, the more fun you’ll have."

   Phil Hoad of Guardian notes, "This directorial pep, along with invested performances across the board, allows Survive to build a sense of family vulnerabilities that is rawer than the standard cheap audience-identification tactics usually used in blockbuster disaster movies." Continuing, "With a stark preference for visual over verbal storytelling, Jardin woozily milks this surrealistic canvas (filmed on location in Morocco) for dreamlike snapshots: their boat exploding in the wilderness, bats escaping a stricken private jet, a hammerhead shark in a watercourse. But he doesn’t settle just for that: Jardin also goes for vigorous camera moves – to the point of occasional effortfulness in wringing out fresh juice from familiar setups, like the wild-eyed “man with the harpoon” (Arben Bajraktaraj) who torments the family."

Photo by Mike Von on Unsplash

   Brian Orndorf of Blu-ray.com was less impressed, stating, "While Jardin is committed to following characters as they experience an unthinkable situation of self-preservation, his sense of upheaval could use some work, as the endeavor is missing a more intense appreciation of global ruin." Concluding, "“Survive” gets off on the right foot, but it quickly becomes clear that Jardin doesn’t have the money to do much with the premise. Tom’s family regains consciousness in the middle of dry land that was once the ocean, only understanding what’s happened after making contact with Nao (Olivier Ho Hio Hen), the submersible team leader who can offer shelter for two more individuals before the water returns. Parental duty kicks in, as Tom and Julia set out to make sure Cassie and Ben remain safe, encountering a series of survival challenges along the way. There’s growing thirst, a need for shelter, open wounds, and falling rocks, but perhaps most pressing is a violent stranger looking to claim the family’s resources. Questions about this development are mostly unanswered, but Jardin is primarily pursuing visceral highlights as the drifter threatens to kill everyone. “Survive” shows some surprising ruthlessness during this sequence, but it ends up becoming the last offering of suspense until the climax."

'The Thicket' Impresses Critics

         On September 6, 2024, 'The Thicket' was released by Samuel Goldwyn Films, which has received predominantly positive reviews from critics, currently holding at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, "When fierce bounty hunter Reginald Jones (Peter Dinklage) is recruited by a desperate man to track down a ruthless killer known only as Cutthroat Bill (Juliette Lewis), he rallies a band of unlikely heroes including a grave-digging ex-slave and a street-smart woman-for-hire. Together they embark on a perilous quest to track down Cutthroat Bill that leads them into the deadly "no-man's-land" known as...The Thicket." The ensemble cast includes Levon Hawke, Macon Blair, Esme Creed-Miles, and Leslie Grace. But what did the critics say?

       Todd Jorgenson of Cinemalogue says, "This bleak and brutal frontier thriller is downbeat and deliberately paced, bolstered by striking visuals and character-driven intrigue to offset its genre cliches and stereotypes." Adding, "As directed by Elliott Lester (Aftermath), the evocative depiction of harsh wintry landscapes captures a sense of desolation and despair, where every day brings a new fight for survival amid brazen anarchy and random savagery. Taking advantage of her most substantial film role in recent memory, Lewis is menacing as an impulsive gangster with a deep rasp and a penchant for violence that masks a vulnerability suggesting past trauma in a world of pervasive misogyny and oppression. Meanwhile, Dinklage provides an emotional anchor as the only somewhat virtuous presence, even tossing off a few one-liners to lighten the mood. Among those popping up in smaller roles are Arliss Howard and Macon Blair, plus Metallica frontman James Hetfield."

Photo Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

        Craig D. Lindsey of RogerEbert.com writes, "The unlimited amount of Sturm and Drang on display will turn away those looking for a fun, engaging shoot-’em-up." Concluding, "While the premise has more in common with ”True Grit” and “The Searchers,” two novels that went on to become iconic, big-screen oaters, “Thicket” has more in common tonally and visually with the brutal spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Corbucci (his snow-capped downer “The Great Silence” is definitely an influence) and bleak acid Westerns like John Hillcoat’s “The Proposition” and Andrew Dominik’s “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.” Director Elliott Lester (who last directed Arnold Schwarzenegger in the straight-to-VOD “Aftermath”) hits us with a lawless, hopeless Wild West continually covered by snow (the movie was shot in Canada), and just as cold and unforgiving."

       Romey Norton of Film Focus Online praises the film, stating, "Through the drama, grit and ruthless killings, 'The Thicket' has themes of self-identity, consequences, survival, and moving on. Over-all, 'The Thicket' is an intense modern Western drama with a stellar cast and stunning imagery. A must-watch!"

Photo Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

        Daniel Gorman of In Review Online notes, "It’s a woolly, weird, and occasionally brutal tale, constructed mostly via familiar story beats but made volatile by an appealing roster of offbeat characters and excellent cinematography." Concluding, "The film bounces back and forth between its various plot points, having the disparate groups interact only in fleeting moments. Instead, there are plenty of detours along the way; Jack visits a whorehouse and saves Jimmie Sue (Leslie Grace) from a particularly nasty pimp, while an unexpected turn of events makes one of the Deasy brothers an unlikely ally to our ramshackle gang of anti-heroes. Dinklage is phenomenal as a man used to being disregarded and underestimated due to his height, and Lewis (replete with grotesque scars that situate her as something like a kissing cousin to Hex) matches him with her snarling, ferocious take on Bill. The two only share one scene together, but it’s a legitimate barn-burner, featuring two weary outsiders ostracized from polite society and angry at the world in their own very different ways. And all of this builds to a grand finale where not everyone survives; indeed, one of the film’s strengths is its genuine unpredictability. Anyone can die at any moment, the bad guys are given moments of quiet tenderness, and the good guys go to extremely violent ends to get what they want. It’s a vast moral abyss, matched by the barren landscapes that constantly dwarf the characters. Of course, it would be overstating things to suggest that The Thicket is in the conversation to be considered one of the great Westerns, but there are at least traces of Robert Aldrich’s philosophical misanthropy here, as well as Nicholas Ray and André de Toth’s understanding that the environment itself is as important as the characters on screen. The unforgiving, inhospitable land these people traverse is ultimately an extension of their own black hearts and the rot hidden away just under the surface of civilization. The Thicket is low-budget fare done right, and an unexpected delight for viewers of a certain persuasion."

Movies that Deserved Better: 'Hazard' (2024)

         On May 10, 2024, 'Hazard' was released by Samuel Goldwyn Films, receiving rave reviews from critics as it currently holds at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, "Noah really loves his girlfriend, his daughter, and his car, but he gets involved in a deadly driving job that will result in either losing his life, his family or his beloved car." The ensemble cast includes Frank Lammers, Gene Bervoets, Jennifer Heylen, Jeroen Perceval, and Monic Hendrickx. Read the full review round-up for this little known gem.

Photo Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

       Matt Donato of Slashfilm notes, "H4Z4RD" distances itself from modern action entertainment because there are no boundaries that Govaerts' film is afraid to soar over, like the Duke boys taking flight. A botched suburban robbery leads to gory animal attacks, grenade explosions, hardcore Mechanophilia, and you'll see that "Titane" ain't got nothing on "H4ZARD." As greasy lackeys with Hitler mustaches meet appropriate violence and Noah donut-turns on dimes to avoid pursuers, Haaga's midnighter sensibilities keep audiences entranced by a grab-bag of sequences that challenge what we believe could happen next. Noah's hardly contained to the rules of the road as he chases Gecko drug pushers through crowded parks, up elevators, and down walkway tunnels. There's an overall jaw-slack absurdity to it all, accompanied by excitement that defies speed limits. From psychedelic dope hallucinations that turn basketballs into cartoon creatures to lady assassins blasting pistol rounds through Noah's exterior, "H4Z4RD" loves being an action flick that has to navigate its automotive focus."

        Bobby LePire of Film Threat writes, "H4z4rd is a modern-day Crank: high octane, all style, flashy direction, and editing with plenty of exciting action and humor peppered in along the way. This is a purely cinematic experience as it cannot be replicated in any other medium and still have the same impact. And that’s why the film is so awesome.The plot is nothing that new. A person gets in over their head with the wrong crowd, who demand certain things back. This puts loved ones in danger. But Govaerts’s style is slick and fun, offering a fresh take on old material. Plus, the dialogue is often very witty. A lady confuses Noah for Carlos, as she hasn’t seen them in years. But she vividly recalls the two being hellions as young kids. Apparently, not much has changed. The trip sequence from Carlos’ perspective, in the middle of a car chase, adds the right amount of humor to the extremely impressive stunts and vehicular mayhem on display. It’s fun, funny, exciting, and just plain cool."

      Nathaniel Muir of AIPT says, "H4Z4RD is filled with hilarious moments that run the gamut from Carlos dropping profanity laced bars to a joke about a hook that comes out of nowhere. The comedy fits in perfectly with the rest of the story, as it as wild as the action. Ridiculously fun."