Pearl

Ti West's origin prequel serves excellent scares

Dramatique: #Alive

Korean horror film provides fresh zombie take hile A24 has produced a handful of cult classic films, director Ti West breaks ground with the studio’s first horror trilogy. The most recent addition to the trilogy, “Pearl,” is a prequel to the sex-fueled slasher “X.” This film follows Pearl, a farm girl aspiring for fame but burdened by her ailing father and uncompromising mother. She feels trapped in her family’s creaky old farmhouse—the same one in “X”— and impatiently awaits her husband’s return from war. Her childish priorities start off as relatable desires and quickly become a murderous temper tantrum. The only solace that Pearl has from the dreariness of her isolated farm life are her occasional trips to the “pictures,” where she can dream of joining the dancers on the big screen. Thwarted dreams and aspirations are a classic motivator in villain origin stories, but Ti West refuses to let his movie fall into overused tropes. The vintage filming style is a wild roller coaster ride that combines gore with the technicolor feel of “The Wizard of Oz,” bringing the audience into the erratic mind of our villainess. The bright colors and dance numbers create a whimsical veil over Pearl’s concealed wickedness.

Mia Goth’s performance as Pearl is breathtaking, and every crack in her facial expressions was captivating. Every movement is extremely animated, making Pearl seem like more of a cartoonish daydreamer than a psychopath. Casting an actress with the essence of an ingenue contrasts with the audience’s knowledge of her future to create a fine line between feeling disgust and feeling sympathy for Pearl. Despite Pearl’s murderous lack of remorse, it is impossible not to see her as relatable. She represents every Midwestern kid aching to leave their hometown in search of love and acceptance, and West and Goth created one of the most sympathetic horror villains to date. Our tenuous feelings for Pearl mirror those shared by her mother Ruth (Tandi Wright), a German immigrant struggling to both keep her farm afloat and care for her incapacitated husband. All the while, Ruth must navigate the struggles of raising a daughter who screws scarecrows and murders farm animals. Pearl resents her mother for the lifestyle they must live and selfishly chooses to focus on her own unhappiness. The tension between Pearl’s lack of affection for her mother and her mother’s knowledge of Pearl’s inner darkness contributes to a palpably intense relationship. Every interaction between the two counterbalances Ruth’s hidden revulsion and Pearl’s deep-rooted fury, which is on the verge of being released. By writing the screenplay “Pearl,” West and Goth sought to illuminate the backstory of the titular villainess and shed light on how she interacts with the world. Pearl’s path crosses with a movie projectionist (David Corenswet) with whom she begins a sweet, naïve love affair. Her failed attempts at relationships

Bagel Cafe 21 offers great breakfast

The cafe offers a great range of both bagels and drinks with fast service of whether or not he will hear from his family weighs on him heavily as time goes by.

“Alive” is the perfect zombie flick for Halloween.

We all know how well Korea does zombie apocalypse movie, with hits like “Train to Busan” and “All of Us Are Dead” enchanting audiences worldwide. But have you heard of “#Alive?” In an aptly timed 2020 release, the movie mirrors pandemic lockdowns even though the film was produced the year before. “#Alive” wastes no time jumping into the action and has audiences tensely holding their breaths throughout the whole movie.

Yoo Ah-in of “Seoul Vibe” plays Oh Joon-woo, a video game streamer who finds himself home alone in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Joonwoo’s occupation gives the traditional zombie narrative a unique perspective by integrating technology and the internet. The internet, power and utilities are not immediately cut off, giving Joon-woo a connection to the outside world—for better or worse. While the news depicts the world in flames, there is hope that he may be able to reach his loved ones through social media.

Yoo nails the comedic personality of a golden retriever even as the shadow of loneliness and death linger all around him, resulting in mental strain. Though the movie is focused on the zombie apocalypse narrative, there is an emphasis on the effects of prolonged isolation, which adds realistic layers to the story. As Joonwoo is constantly connected to others through his livestreams, isolation affects him greatly, and the uncertainty

Park Shin-hye from “the Heirs” plays Kim Yoo-bin, a quick-witted woman who lives across from Oh Joon-woo. Though it is refreshing to see Shin-hye act in something radically different from her previous roles, there is something missing from the female lead. Her past is consistently hinted at, but the movie never delivers on the mystery of her character’s backstory. This may be an intentional comment on the importance of focusing on the bigger picture, but the outcome is a character that lacks depth and could have been written out of the story altogether.

Besides the uses of technology and social media, "#Alive'' also twists the zombie apocalypse narrative by changing the zombies themselves. While the traditional zombie is mindless, this movie’s zombies retain memories from their past lives, which contributes to an eerie view outside of Joon-woo’s window. The infected spend their days stumbling around and mimicking everyday activities. The threat of a zombie opening a door and finding the survivors looms in the background with every step they hear in the hallway.

Though the female characters leave more to be desired, the innovative twist on a modern technologically connected zombie apocalypse should put “#Alive” on watchlists this month for spooky season.