2 Movies Like Here After (2024)

Staff & contributors
In case you didn’t know, Speak No Evil is based on a Danish film of the same name, released only two years ago. Given that the latter was already a hit among horror fans thanks to its unrelentingly bleak approach, it’s tempting to chalk this remake up to narcissism. As was the case with the movies Otto and Let Me In, maybe Americans just wanted something of their own. While that may be true, it has to be said that this remake, in a word, is good. It’s thrilling and terrifying in its own right, and it adds enough new elements to keep you on your toes. Apart from the new twists, the characters are also more utilized and the social commentary on class and masculinity feels more pointed. Through these additions, among others, it’s able to imagine an alternative storyline that will speak to a lot of audiences.

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Actor: Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, Jakob Højlev Jørgensen, James McAvoy, Kris Hitchen, Mackenzie Davis, Motaz Malhees, Scoot McNairy

Director: James Watkins

Rating: R

, 2024

I’m sure the novel Uglies is based on makes a lot more sense since it has a lot of space to world-build and explore themes like external beauty, class, and identity. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the movie Uglies, which is almost impressively out of date in look and tone. The CGI is 2000s-level wonky and the premise is unconvincing. You’re telling me these Hollywood kids are supposed to be ugly? So ugly that they’re nicknamed after their defects— “Nose,” “Skinny,” and “Squint”? What would they call normal-looking people like us? Slurs? And don’t get me started on their “pretty” versions. It’s literally just them with layers of makeup and a touch of Botox, which I suppose could be the point, but also…just wear makeup? It’s mind-numbingly confusing. The world of the Uglies doesn’t even seem that bad—they’re fed, roomed, allowed to explore their environment, and create friendships. A lot of people in the real world would kill for that level of comfort. If freethought is what’s being killed here, then they should have focused on that more. Ironically, the movie itself seems too preoccupied with looks to get that, so what we get instead is this half-baked mess.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction, Thriller

Actor: Alex D. Jennings, Brett Hoyle, Brianne Tju, Charmin Lee, Chase Stokes, Dutch Johnson, Gabriella Garcia, Jan Luis Castellanos, Jay DeVon Johnson, Jessica Craig, Jessica Galinas, Jillian Murray, Joey King, Jordan Sherley, Keith Powers, Kelly Gale, Kevin Miles, Laverne Cox, Lindsay Rootare, Luke Eisner, Quintin Mims, Robert Palmer Watkins, Sarah Vattano, Will Poston, Zamani Wilder

Director: McG

Rating: PG-13