Movie: The Fabelmans

 

Hi guys! Happy New Year! I hope you all had a safe and Merry Christmas and are off to good start to 2023. At the end of last year I was lucky enough to attend the Adelaide Preview Screening of THE FABELMANS at Wallis Mitcham Cinemas. I really enjoyed the film, so thought I'd post about it. It opens at movie theatres on January 5, so make sure you get along and check it out!

Cast: Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Judd Hirsch, Gabriel LaBelle
Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama
Release Date: 5/1/2023

“Movies are dreams that you never forget.”

A deeply personal portrait of 20th Century American childhood, Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans is a coming-of-age story about a young man’s discovery of a shattering family secret and an exploration of the power of movies to help us see the truth about each other and ourselves. Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see "The Greatest Show on Earth." Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.

Inspired by Spielberg’s own childhood, The Fabelmans is written by Spielberg and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner, and directed by Steven Spielberg. It is a semi-autobiographical story loosely based on Spielberg's adolescence and first years as a filmmaker, told through an original story of the fictional Sammy Fabelman, a young aspiring filmmaker who explores how the power of films can help him see the truth about his dysfunctional family and those around him.

I loved this film. It was a beautiful, heart-warming experience with a captivating story and an amazing cast. Michelle Williams is outstanding as usual, but really the entire ensemble cast shines here. Not only does the movie look good, it takes you on an emotional journey and is an absolute must-see for film buffs and anyone interested in the filmmaking process. Highly recommended!

The Fabelmans opens in Australia on January 5, make sure you check it out!

Disclaimer - We were invited to attend the Preview Screening. Images courtesy of PR.

Boxing Day Sales Haul!

Hi guys! Well it's the New Year, but I'm still psyched about the Boxing Day sales! I said I wasn't going to buy anything, but then I remembered I had two gifts cards to redeem (and what a perfect time, whilst everything is discounted!) plus we went to our local Westfield and I couldn't resist picking up a few things. Did you get any great bargains? Let me know in the comments below!

Here's what I got....

JB Hi-Fi
I'd won a $50 gift card so I decided to get some blu-rays. Some movies and TV series boxsets were buy one get one free (woo hoo!) and other blu-rays/DVDs were 30% off. I bought the Final Destination 5 Film Collection blu-ray set and chose to get the Scream Complete Collection blu-ray set free! Then I got Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and RocketMan for 30% off. Winning!

Lush
I haven't bought any Lush in years (for reasons best not discussed lol), but I gave in and bought a bunch of goodies, all half price For The Win! I specifically got things I hadn't tried before; Drummers Drumming Shower Jelly, Happy Shower Gel, Winter Berry soap, Satsuma Soap and a cheeky Galaxy Lip Scrub I added last minute at the checkout.

Myer
I did some research with this one, by looking on the Myer website the day before going in-store. I'd already picked out a pair of mustard wedges (a welcome and refreshing change from my usual black) but unfortunately they were hella uncomfortable to walk in! I ended up picking up an interesting pair of Piper Barbados wedges that I can wear with black outfits, and hopefully a few other outfits.

Kikki K
How good is Kikki K?! I got 40% off a 2020 Diary in their members Boxing Day sale. So happy with that! Their diaries never let me down.

KMart
I also got some frypans, a corkboard to make a moodboard with and a cute as heck little fake pot plant from KMart but I'm pretty sure they were full-priced so I shouldn't really include it in this Boxing Day Sales haul lol. KMart is cheap at the best of times though and I had to at least show you the cat fake pot plant. How freakin' cute is it!?

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Let me know what you got in the Boxing Day sales!

Challenge Completed: 30 Netflix Movies In 30 Days!

Hi guys! In May I undertook a movie challenge, namely my 30 Netflix Movies in 30 Days Challenge. Did I get anywhere near watching 30 movies? No I did not. As it turned out, May was kind of busy, and I was all over the place, with long movie-less stretches, then days I'd get multiple titles watched in. My grand total was 16, which is over halfway at least! So here are the films I saw and what I thought of them!

1. GET OUT
I started off my challenge brilliantly with this unsettling horror film directed by Jordan Peele in his directorial debut. This was so creepy, with amazing acting, including welcome comedic relief from the main character's best friend. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and loving this, and I don't even usually like horror films!

2. TAG
This ridiculous adventure is surprisingly based on real-life events, and although it's not going to win any awards, it's funny in parts and comes under the category of 'guilty pleasure' viewing for me. A movie you can just put on and not think about!

3. GAME NIGHT
Much like TAG, GAME NIGHT is 'stupid funny' but if you're a fan of Jason Bateman comedies, you'll enjoy it. There were enough funny bits to keep me engaged with the interesting storyline.

4. ISN'T IT ROMANTIC
First of all, I'll watch anything with Rebel Wilson in it #fangirlalert. Even though this was quite clever, I found it to be both good and bad at the same time. Not everything works, but it is ultimately satisfying. Side note: how many times have Rebel Wislon and Adam Devine starred together now? I love these two together!

5. BACHELORETTE
I hated this film with every fibre of my being! It was utter bullshit, not even funny and barely watchable. The characters were horrible and offensive with no redeeming qualities and I basically hated all of them. Not even Rebel Wilson could save this abomination. Also, does Isla Fisher play exactly the same crazy, over the top character in every single film, or am I going insane?

6. THE BIG SHORT
I have mixed feeling about THE BIG SHORT. It has an impressive cast, and the story, based on real-life events, is very interesting. However, I found the celebrity cameos (Selena Gomez, Margot Robbie etc) as annoying as the rapidly cut together scenes. It was good overall, but I get the feeling most people enjoyed this one more than I did.

7. BAD MOMS
I love watching a comedy with a female lead cast! This is quite funny, and even though I looked on in horror at some of this, I also could relate to other parts! It's an entertaining romp and I'll now be seeking out the sequel. Stay tuned for the cast with their real life Mums during the end credits. It's quite sweet!

8. UNICORN STORE
I really enjoyed Brie Larson's directorial debut film. Of course, I'm magnetically drawn to anything with unicorns as the subject matter, obviously! This is weird, mystical, whimsical, beautiful and a bit sad. With the added bonus of Samuel L Jackson, for the win! I highly recommend this one, for something out of the ordinary.

9. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
In this Woody Allen directed fantasy-comedy, Gil, Owen Wilson's character, goes back in time to 1920's Paris, a time and place this screenwriter and aspiring author romanticizes. I should probably read the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. I keep giving them more chances, but I need to accept that I really don't enjoy Woody Allen films. Also, Rachel McAdams character in this is a total bitch, with not one redeeming quality. Ugh!

10. THE NICE GUYS
Here's a prime case of building up a movie too much in your head as you've been wanting to see it for so long, then being totally disappointed when it doesn't live up to your expectations. So I feel let down by this film, despite great performances from Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, another actor who I'll watch in anything. It was good, but not great. Oh well.

11. MOVIE 43
What. Is. This. Film? Well it's highly offensive, and it won't be for everyone. It's basically gross out humour starring an ensemble cast and split up into fourteen different stories, each directed by a different person (Peter Farrelly, Elizabeth Banks, James Gunn and Brett Ratner to name a few). Think Hugh Jackman with a ballsack on his neck and Chris Pratt with diarrhea after taking a laxative because his partner asks him to shit on her. No words. It's pretty dire and the best part is spotting all the stars who miraculously agreed to be a part of this!

12. LIFE OF THE PARTY
I found this Melissa McCarthy comedy (written by McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone) to be incredibly unfunny, although it does improve slightly throughout. All I'll say is, thank God for Maya Rudolph.

13. ALEX STRANGELOVE
This is an enjoyable cute and funny Netflix original coming of age story, dealing with sexual identity. Produced by Ben Stiller, it's heartfelt and very heartwarming. Recommended!

14. EQUALS
I really enjoyed this Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult starring sci-fi romantic drama. It was an atmospheric rollercoaster that had me enthralled throughout, reminding me of the classic Romeo and Juliet story in parts! It's a bit moody and slow, but if you're a fan of these actors, you'll enjoy it. Also starring Aussies Guy Pearce (with a very short haircut) and Jacki Weaver.

15. EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE
Zac Efron is amazing as serial killer Ted Bundy in this captivating film. It's super intense and I was seriously transfixed the whole time. Told from the point of view of Bundy's girlfriend Elizabeth Kendall, this biographical crime thriller features one of Efron's best performances and legitimately makes me want to watch Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes series on Netflix as well.

16. GIRLS TRIP
Again, it's fantastic to see an all-female lead in a film. Although overlong, this is certainly funny and entertaining, and features a few notable gross-out comedy scenes. Tiffany Haddish is the absolute stand out star of GIRLS TRIP (although you may not be a fan if you find swearing objectionable); she is hilarious and I now have to watch everything else she's in!

You may be interested in Netflix Recommendation: After Life

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Have you seen any of these movies?

Max My Movies: 30 Netflix Movies in 30 Days Challenge!

Hi guys! As you may have noticed, there have been less blog posts lately. I'm finding that my focus is shifting towards posting on Instagram, and with two accounts to run (@imhungrymax and @shinyglitterbug), that takes up a lot of time! But don't worry, I haven't given up on the blog, and will be trying a bit harder to blog more frequently.

Recently I had the crazy idea to do another one of my movie challenges. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, you can check out my previous Max My Movies: March Movie Challenge. It's actually hilarious because I barely get time for Netflix anymore, but when I do I always seem to be catching up on my episodic shows, such as Dynasty, Riverdale and Star Trek: Discovery. I've also watched Titans, Russian Doll and You, all of which I loved. I've had slightly more time lately thanks to a cold that had me collapsed on the couch for the best part of a week. Click here to read about all the shows I've watched on Netflix lately! It saddens me, though, that I never seem to indulge my first love, movies. Which is where this challenge comes in.

This May, I'll be maxxing my movies in an attempt to watch 30 Netflix Movies In 30 Days. Yes, you're right, May does have 31 days, but 30 has a nicer ring to it and I didn't want to go too crazy haha. I've been gradually adding titles to my watch list, and you can read below what I'm planning to see.

The rules of this challenge are fairly simple:
1. All the movies must currently be on Australian Netflix
2. I must not have seen the movies before
3. The goal is to watch 30 movies in the month of May, or as close to this as possible!

There are going to be some days where it's impossible to get a film watched, so this doesn't need to be a one-a-day deal. In fact, I predict I'll be 'catching up' on the weekends when I have more time.

Here's my (not-set-in-stone) Watch List:

1.   Unicorn Store
2.   Get Out
3.   Isn't It Romantic
4.   Tag
5.   Bachelorette
6.   Dumplin'
7.   The Big Short
8.   Birdbox
9.   The Disaster Artist
10.  Captain Fantastic
11.  Dark Shadows
12.  Colossal
13.  Goosebumps
14.  The Revenant
15.  Vacation
16.  Black Mass
17.  Sandy Wexler
18.  Velvet Buzzsaw
19.  Game Night
20.  Midnight In Paris
21.  The Walk
22.  Alex Strangelove
23.  Lovelace
24.  Nymphomaniac Vol 1
25.  To The Bone
26.  In The Cut
27.  The Sweetest Thing
28.  Bad Moms
29.  Get Hard
30.  Equals

I'm so excited for this! Look out for a blog post in June detailing how I went with this challenge and what I thought of the movies I saw!

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What was the last movie you saw?

What I've Been Watching On Netflix!

Hi guys! I've been watching a fair bit of Netflix lately, partly due to being sick (and actually resting this time!) so I thought I'd share the shows with you. I'm always keen for recommendations and would love to hear your thoughts on these, so please comment below and let me know.

First of all, there's a few ongoing series, where a new episode comes out every week or so, that I'm pretty invested in...

RIVERDALE
I love this show despite the ridiculous storylines. It's dark and mysterious, there's teenage angst and romance and of course, Cole Sprouse. It's a bit weird/sad watching it now that Luke Perry (who played Archie's Father, Fred Andrews) is dead, but I'm seasons deep and not stopping now. I've recommended Riverdale before here.

DYNASTY
This is the high glam, ridiculous guilty pleasure viewing that I live for. Outfits to die for, shocks aplenty and hilarious oneliners, mainly from my queen Fallon Carrington. Bring it! I've previously blogged about Dynasty here.

STAR TREK DISCOVERY
I'm biased because I'm already a Trekkie, but Star Trek Discovery is seriously impressive. From the acting, to the story arc, direction, makeup and sets, everything about this show is a winner. It's pretty hardcore though, so don't expect lightweight sci-fi fluff!

*******************************

And I've also watched....

TITANS
Titans was another gritty, super dark shocking series that definitely pulled me in. It took me most of the series to work out two of the main characters were played by Aussies, Dick Grayson (portrayed by Brenton Thwaites) and Rachel Roth (played by Teagan Croft). And a warning that this was quite gory in parts so make sure your kids don't walk in when you're watching this!

YOU
OK so I only watched this because it starred Gossip Girl hottie, Penn Badgley, and oh boy was I in for a shock! First of all, dude can act. Penn plays a creepy af stalker and will seriously have you feeling all the emotions in this. I'm happy to say that filming for the second season is currently underway and Netflix is committed to screening it.

AFTER LIFE
This is an absolutely beautiful rollercoaster ride that will have you laughing one minute and bawling the next. Ricky Gervais is an absolute genius, and if you haven't already read it, I dedicated an entire blog post to this touching series here.

TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE
This is a movie, not a series, and a Netflix original I believe? I'd heard such great things, and I must say this cute teen rom-com was the perfect distraction when I was sick. No thinking required, with the added bonus that now I know who the hell Noah Centineo is. I am young and hip again! In great news, filming for the sequel is currently underway!

FYRE
Well this was a real eye-opener! I sat in disbelief for most of this, but still absolutely fascinated with how everything went down. Highly recommended!

SEX EDUCATION
While this does have graphic sex scenes and nudity, it's also a super sweet look at love and romance. All the performances are amazing, especially Asa Butterfield as Otis, Emma Mackey as Maeve and Gillian Anderson as Otis's Mum Jean, a Sex Therapist. I think maybe my favourite performance though, is Ncuti Gatwa as Otis' best friend Eric. His character has quite the story arc, and Ncuti really shines in this role.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MADELEINE McMCANN
This was a fascinating look into the Madeleine McCann case, and I did learn a lot, even though they seemed to go over the same information again and again. Another drawback was the frequent subtitles, which sucked especially when they put white text over a white background and expect us to be able to read it. Otherwise, a satisfactory look into the sad disappearance of Maddie.

RUSSIAN DOLL
I just finished this series last night and I loved it! Natasha Lyonne (remember her?) plays super tough Nadia, who keeps dying and waking up in the bathroom at her 36th Birthday party. Sound intriguing? It is, and then some. It's funny, mysterious and so addictive. Definitely give this one a go, guys!

*********************************

What's On My Watch List?
Oh boy. What's not on my list at this point? First and foremost, I want to binge Season 3 of Santa Clarita Diet, as I'm a huge Drew Barrymore fan and I loved the first two seasons. I also want to scare the pants off myself with Conversations With a Killer: the Ted Bundy Tapes, and I've been meaning to start Dear John, because I've heard such great things (and Eric Bana, hello). There's more but when I have too much on my plate, I tend to get easily overwhelmed and have panic attacks in the supermarket, and trust me, they aren't fun!

However, there are so many movies I want to see on Netflix that I've decided to set myself a May Movie Challenge, which I'm so excited for! Look out for a blog post at the start of May detailing what that will entail!

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What have you been watching on Netflix lately?

15 Ways To Cheer Yourself Up

Not everyone is susceptible to feelings of depression, but for those of us who do get the sads, I've put together fifteen ways to cheer yourself up. Have a read through and pick out what resonates with you and please leave your own suggestions in the comments below. I want to know what you do to combat the Winter (or any season of the year) Blues!

1. Chat with a friend on Messenger. I'm not big on phone calls, but I'm always happier after discussing my problems with a friend on Messenger. Whether you're after advice, compassion or just someone to listen to what you're going through, letting people, even if it's just one special person, know how you feel will lighten your burden and make you feel better. Just don't pick your dickhead friend, they're only good for laughing at on pub trivia night.

I made these!

Tiny Teddies at the Pool!

2. Get cooking! Put on an apron and try baking a cake you've never made before, or decorating some cupcakes to a theme! This will distract you and get your brain to engage full-on panic mode as it encounters an insurmountable task. Imagine the sense of achievement though, if you do pull off the impossible and produce a masterpiece! Not to mention the delicious cake you'll get to eat. If you fail, now is the perfect time to audition for the next season of Nailed It!

3 Grab a tube of BBQ Pringles and Netflix-binge your favourite show. I say BBQ Pringles because those are the best kind. Don't argue with me on this. Now I would be going a comedy, such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Good Place or Santa Clarita Diet. You can check out my Netflix Recommendations here and here. It goes without saying, you're going to want to give 13 Reasons Why a miss.

This stuff is the best!

4. Enjoy some 'me' time. Have a pampering afternoon with your favourite products. When I have a shower and use my Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub it immediately brightens my mood. The title is a piss-take of an iconic 80's movie and it smells like pancakes with maple syrup, how can you go wrong? (not sponsored). My other mood brighteners are Oh Deer Sugar Rose & Passionfruit Shower Moose (pictured above) and Natura Siberica Oblepikha & Honey Body Scrub. Keep in mind jasmine, peppermint and orange fragrances are known for their mood lifting properties. I love citrus scents in particular!

Surely this effort deserves an award?

5. Get creative! Get out in nature and snap some photographs. Try scrapbooking to a theme, eg travel, or scrap your precious family memories. Make an inspirational vision board! Write down your thoughts in a journal. Paint something! Enjoy makeup? Google themes, eg Halloween makeup and go crazy seeing what looks you can create! Have fun. Look at my terrible effort in the above photo and laugh, knowing you could 100% do better.

6. Exercise. Hit the treadmill at the gym or go for a walk. Dance to your favourite song or put on a workout DVD and follow along. The important thing is to move! We've all read about exercise releasing endorphins that inhibit your perception of pain and trigger positive emotions and a feeling of well-being. Use this to your advantage! Choose a type of exercise you enjoy, get happy naturally and improve your health while you're at it!

Family fun with board games

7. Have kids? Take some time to play with them. It's so easy to get caught up in work and not give your kids the time they deserve. Trust me, they'll be thrilled you're spending time with them, so get out the UNO cards, unbox the Monopoly board or fire up the Playstation and just play. No interruptions. Seeing them happy will make you happy and the important things will become clear in no time.

Sally Hansen Color Therapy polish in Pampered In Pink*

Sally Hansen polish in Back To The Fuchsia*

8. Paint your fingernails a bright, cheery colour. Forget goth black, deep plum or boring khaki, coat your talons with your brightest, boldest, most fun colour to trick your brain into thinking you're happy! Some of my go-to mood-lifting shades include turquoise, azure blue and fuchsia. Colours can actually affect our mood, so you can even try yellow for energy or orange for enthusiasm. Or go all out and paint each nail a different colour to show off a rainbow of neon hues!

9. Clean the house. Bear with me on this one! Tidying up your home in and of itself is not the most fun you can have with your pants on, you're absolutely right! But remember the feeling you get afterwards? When your house is clean and tidy, and everything has been put away? That's the feeling we're going for here. I feel amazing when I've cleaned up. I feel a sense of achievement and everything is just sort of better. Try it!

Watch some DVDs or hit up your local cinema!

10. See a movie. I'm a huge movie fan, so this one's a no-brainer for me. What better way to take your mind off things than to escape into a world of make believe for a few hours? Hit up your local cinema, grab some hot buttered popcorn and get ready for big screen action/romance/laughs or if you're into horror, may I suggest Hereditary, which is out now! Check out my movie review of it.

11. List your unwanted goods on eBay. Sorting through everything will certainly keep you busy, as will photographing and writing up your listings! Other advantages are a tidier, less cluttered house and the extra coin you'll make when stuff sells. You can also use the opportunity to get rid of things that may be holding you back. Out with the old, in with the new, making a fresh start and all that jazz!

Having a (Monster's) Ball* with a Lush bath

12. Enjoy a hot bubblebath. Pour yourself a glass of wine, put on a face mask and relax in a tub of scented bubbles. Go all out and light some candles, too, while you're at it. If you have kids, put hubby in charge and lock the door, for the love of God. Throw away the key!* (*Don't actually throw away the key, you may need to get out of the bathroom at some point).

Mecca Maxima Haul, Exhibit A: I have no defence, your Honour.

13. Go shopping. Treat yourself to an online haul. Better yet, get out of the house and wander around your local mall for the afternoon. Snap up a bargain or two! We all have our favourite shops; mine are Typo, Kikki K, Lush, Priceline, Mecca Maxima (this one's dangerous!), Kmart (aah, that's better), the list goes on. Photographic evidence of how dangerous Mecca Maxima is above.

14. Just treat yourself. Whether it be with a new hairstyle, a massage or a manicure and/or pedicure, put yourself first for once. You're worth it!

The Rustic Fig Cafe

Dolcetti Espresso Bar, delicious icecream*

15. Meet a friend for coffee or enjoy a meal at your favourite restaurant with your partner. It's also exciting to try the menu at a place you've never been to before. Order champagne and savour the taste of delicious gourmet creations. Don't forget to indulge with dessert! That piece of lemon meringue pie will not eat itself! Great conversation with loved ones whilst enjoying the finer things in life really can't be beat! For a little foodie inspiration, check out my drool-worthy Instagram account @imhungrymax

Do the thing that makes you happy! Watch your favourite YouTuber's videos. Cut recipes out of magazines and make a recipe folder. Meditate. Go on Instagram. Take a yoga class. Listen to your favourite band play their most iconic songs. Watch 80's movies. Redecorate your home. Enter competitions. Find your happy and do it!

Reach out and talk to your friends and family, your Doctor, Health Care Professional or LifeLine (13 11 14). Remember there are people who can help. You are not alone.

You may be interested in Top 7 Beauty Purchase Regrets!

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Disclaimer: Products marked * were gifted for editorial consideration. There are no affiliate links in this post. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

What do you do to cheer yourself up?

Movie Review: HEREDITARY

{SPOILER-FREE}

Starring: Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro and Ann Dowd
Director: Ari Aster
Genre: Horror/Supernatural
Rating: MA15+
Australian Release Date: 07/06/2018

Hi guys! Last night I was lucky enough to see the Adelaide Preview screening of American horror/supernatural film HEREDITARY. There has been a lot of hype surrounding this movie, so I was super keen to see it for myself, and I have to say, it lived up to the hype, and then some. Horror is not my favourite genre, but this disturbing movie was amazing. Everyone in my screening was enthralled and you could have heard a pin drop at one point! This movie is still playing over and over again in my mind, and I think it will be with me for some time. 

When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter's family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited as it slowly destroys everything they know.

Toni Collette, in the lead role of Annie, gives a brave, raw performance that's believable and even harrowing at times. She really gives this her all. In fact, the acting across the board is excellent; look out for Milly Shapiro who is so creepy as Charlie, Annie's daughter. Hereditary was written and directed by Ari Aster in his directorial debut, and honestly I can't wait to see what he does next, if this film is anything to go by. It's so impressive for a first time effort. The musical score was also pretty spot-on, perfectly building tension and giving a gloomy atmosphere of foreboding.

This is a spoiler-free write up, as I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but there are some chilling events in this film that have to be seen to be believed. Hereditary slowly builds the tension, but as things go from bad to worse, it had me hooked and engrossed. It's chilling, scary, disturbing and above all, unsettling. Go see it, Hereditary is worth the hype.

Fun Fact: On Anzac Day, a movie theatre in Western Australia accidentally played a trailer for Hereditary before a screening of the family-friendly film Peter Rabbit, no doubt freaking out a bunch of kids and angering their parents. Oops!

You may be interested in Max My Movies: March Movie Challenge

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Disclaimer: I was invited to a preview screening of this film. Reviews are my honest opinion. There are no affiliate links in this post. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

What's your favourite horror film?

Max My Movies: March Movie Challenge!

Hi guys! Do I love setting myself challenges? The answer is YES! I've just finished my February Sample Challenge which I'll blog the results of soon, and now I'm on to a new challenge of a different kind. I've been watching a lot of Netflix shows lately, so much so that I'm neglecting my first love, movies. But that's all about to change as I force myself to watch 31 movies in 31 days. Yes, that's right, it's time for my March Movie Challenge!

The rules:
~ I must not have seen the movie before
~ I can watch them in any order
~ I can swap movies out of the challenge and put others in their place
~ they can be from any source, eg DVD, Bluray, TV, Netflix, the cinema.
~ I can skip a day here and there, but must try to watch 31 movies by March 31

OK, so here are the 31 films I've selected for the challenge, along with a few alternatives in case I feel like watching those instead...

1    Nightcrawler (Jake Gyllenhaal Rene Russo)
2    Spotlight (Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton)
3    Suicide Squad (Will Smith, Margot Robbie)
4    Zero Dark Thirty (Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton)
5    The Ides Of March (Ryan Gosling, George Clooney)
6    David Brent: Life On The Road (Ricky Gervais, Ben Bailey Smith)
7    The Rover (Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson)
8    Bridget Jones's Baby (Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth)
9    Scoop (Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson)
10  Beautiful Creatures (Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert)
11  Snowpiercer (Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton)
12  Rough Night (Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon)
13  Miss You Already (Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette)  
14  J.Edgar (Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer)
15  Dallas Buyers Club (Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner)
16  Revolutionary Road (Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet)
17  Blue Jasmine (Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins)
18  Personal Shopper (Kristen Stewart, Nora Waldstätten)
19  The Revenant (Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy)
20  Good Time (Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Jason Leigh)
21  Kill Bill: Volume 1 (Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu)
22  Kill Bill: Volume 2 (Uma Thurman, Daryl Hannah)
23  Zoolander 2 (Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson)
24  What We Do In The Shadows (Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi)
25  The Intern (Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway)
26  Gravity (Sandra Bullock, George Clooney)
27  Trancendence (Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall)
28  Money Monster (George Clooney, Julia Roberts)
29  Eat Pray Love (Julia Roberts, James Franco)
30  Public Enemies (Johnny Depp, Christian Bale)
31  Mud (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Alternative Titles
1  John Wick (Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist)
2  John Wick : Chapter 2 (Keanu Reeves, Common)
3  Walk The Line (Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon)
4  I'm Not There (Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett)  
5  The Babadook (Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman)

After organising this challenge I've realised a few Netflix-related minor problems; new episodes of Dynasty and Riverdale are being released in March, as well as the much anticipated (by me!) release of Season 2 of Santa Clarita Diet and the third and final season of Love on Netflix, all of which I probably won't have time to watch given this epic challenge. Aargh!

You may be interested in Movie Review: Paddington 2

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Do you set yourself ridiculous challenges like this? What's your favourite film?