Well, I would say that the Cloverfield Paradox was awful through and through.

Don't forget Mute ... or perhaps you actually should forget Mute.

Come on now, this didn't end that badly. If anything the two most memorable, if horrific, scenes came in the third act (purification of the son and the meat grinder bit).

@cpheonix said:

Come on now, this didn't end that badly. If anything the two most memorable, if horrific, scenes came in the third act (purification of the son and the meat grinder bit).

But ..... why?

Why what?? That it didn't end badly? Surely you should explain why you think it did?!

In any case, the the third act wasn't t amazing but I wasn't upset or anything the way it unfolded. Like I said, the two scenes which stand out formed part of the third act.

@cpheonix said:

Why what?? That it didn't end badly? Surely you should explain why you think it did?!

In any case, the the third act wasn't t amazing but I wasn't upset or anything the way it unfolded. Like I said, the two scenes which stand out formed part of the third act.

Both scenes you mention defy the hitherto plot and also logic.

Dan Stevens' protagonist got four of his fingers pulled off and lost gallons of blood, yet he came out literally swinging from all of that and then proceeded to get stabbed in his ribcage. Yet even after that he managed to get up and traverse the island until the timing was convenient to reach the film's conclusion.

The 'purification of the son' made no sense. In the second act, the religious leader was beside himself because they murdered that innocent newcomer -- as if they had crossed some moral rubicon. Then his brother clangs a bell and breaks out the purification drill like they use it every Saturday, the mariachi band and all the townfolk put on their killing vestments and gather for the event.... the killing of his own nephew and a peaceful neighbor to absolutely everyone in the crowd. Complete with some sort of Catholic costume and prayer cycle.

Suddenly the Amish village (where church attendance was required but not really enforced) turned into a death camp and everyone snapped into action. But rewatch the scene: the townsfolk extras had a variety of expressions as if they didn't know what to do or how to perform their role -- some showed shock, others sadness, and others showed excitement.

You found this stuff cool. I found it jarring and nonsensical. Such scenes would be more appropriate in Jeepers Creepers 9 or Eli Roth's fifth remake of Cabin Fever, not this film.

I thought the whole thing was disappointing to be honest. A horror film from the director of The Raid. How can they go wrong?

It's not that Gareth Evans is a one trick pony because he has actually done a horror film before. His excellent segment of horror anthology V/H/S/2 being by far the greatest in either film.

But Apostle just didn't seem to have much point to it. It just seemed like a mess. Maybe he was trying to do something deep, complex and arty rather than an unrelenting genre film. But I couldn't really see anything artistic in it either. It just seemed like religious nuts being dicks.

@JustinJackFlash said:

I thought the whole thing was disappointing to be honest. A horror film from the director of The Raid. How can they go wrong?

It's not that Gareth Evans is a one trick pony because he has actually done a horror film before. His excellent segment of horror anthology V/H/S/2 being by far the greatest in either film.

But Apostle just didn't seem to have much point to it. It just seemed like a mess. Maybe he was trying to do something deep, complex and arty rather than an unrelenting genre film. But I couldn't really see anything artistic in it either. It just seemed like religious nuts being dicks.

He was trying to make it deep and complex. He talks about how religion rapes and takes from mother Earth and a bunch of other stuff in an interview I saw. Anyway I thought it was pretty good. It did lack in some areas but I think made it up for it with the beautiful cinematography and the acting. Everyone did a fantastic job on this IMO. Even if I do agree that the third act was lacking pretty hard. But it did have a very satisfactory kill at the end, so that made it worth it for me anyway.

@OddRob said:

@JustinJackFlash said:

I thought the whole thing was disappointing to be honest. A horror film from the director of The Raid. How can they go wrong?

It's not that Gareth Evans is a one trick pony because he has actually done a horror film before. His excellent segment of horror anthology V/H/S/2 being by far the greatest in either film.

But Apostle just didn't seem to have much point to it. It just seemed like a mess. Maybe he was trying to do something deep, complex and arty rather than an unrelenting genre film. But I couldn't really see anything artistic in it either. It just seemed like religious nuts being dicks.

He was trying to make it deep and complex. He talks about how religion rapes and takes from mother Earth and a bunch of other stuff in an interview I saw.

But does it take from mother Earth? I dislike organised religion as much as the next guy and it does take from many things. But I can't see how it takes from mother Earth. I assume he means it as metaphor for how religion takes in general. But this is not something we haven't seen a million times before. The film didn't seem to me to add anything new to warrant it's existence.

Anyway I thought it was pretty good. It did lack in some areas but I think made it up for it with the beautiful cinematography and the acting. Everyone did a fantastic job on this IMO.

Yes, I do very much agree that the film-making in general was excellent. Cinematography, editing and acting all top notch. Michael Sheen especially was very good. Evans clearly has great ability when it comes to technical skill.

@volkstraum said:

Dan Stevens' protagonist got four of his fingers pulled off and lost gallons of blood, yet he came out literally swinging from all of that and then proceeded to get stabbed in his ribcage. Yet even after that he managed to get up and traverse the island until the timing was convenient to reach the film's conclusion.

Yes, it was far fetched that he somehow escaped but did you really believe he wouldn't have survived this part one way or another? And just because it was wildly unrealistic doesn't mean I still couldn't have enjoyed the scene.

The 'purification of the son' made no sense. In the second act, the religious leader was beside himself because they murdered that innocent newcomer -- as if they had crossed some moral rubicon. Then his brother clangs a bell and breaks out the purification drill like they use it every Saturday, the mariachi band and all the townfolk put on their killing vestments and gather for the event.... the killing of his own nephew and a peaceful neighbor to absolutely everyone in the crowd. Complete with some sort of Catholic costume and prayer cycle.

Yes, it was the brother not the leader who purified the boy. I don't know if you saw but the leader eventually came and wanted to stop the killing but the crowd, being the loyal followers they are, were clearly already influenced that the boy needed purifying.

Suddenly the Amish village (where church attendance was required but not really enforced) turned into a death camp and everyone snapped into action. But rewatch the scene: the townsfolk extras had a variety of expressions as if they didn't know what to do or how to perform their role -- some showed shock, others sadness, and others showed excitement.

Maybe that was the point; they had no idea what to do. I can't say I noticed any extras showing excitement though.

You found this stuff cool. I found it jarring and nonsensical. Such scenes would be more appropriate in Jeepers Creepers 9 or Eli Roth's fifth remake of Cabin Fever, not this film.

I would like to reiterate that I'm not a massive fan of this but I didn't think it was that bad, particularly ending.

It was not the "third act" so much for me, but rather the final belabored "keep my light in you and guide me to eternity" tripe they spoon-fed to wrap some overarching point. I was literally counting down the stars once that scene started...5-4-3...then the ground got him so I went back to 4/10. But that was generous. This film definitely lost it's way in the third act. Dumb.