WISH UPON

Joey King     Ryan Phillippe     Ki Hong Lee     Mitchell Slaggert     Shannon Purser     Sydney Park

     Wish upon a star?  How about an exotic Chinese box?  This film is about that box and the lesson it teaches about “Be careful what you wish for.” 

     As in many/most horror films, the story starts out very ordinary with a happy young girl riding her bike with her dog down the block and back.  Of course, this is just illusory; as soon as she gets home there will be a tragic surprise.

     Flash forward a dozen or so years, and Clare (King) is a teenager living with her father (Phillippe), and having two close friends, June (Purser) and Meredith (Park), but not much else.  She’s bullied by the most popular girl in a high school clique, longs for the attention of Paul (Staggert) who is in the clique and doesn’t even see her, and feels embarrassed about her father emptying the dumpsters near her school where everyone can see.  Clare’s father is a packrat, gleaning things from dumpsters that he thinks will be useful someday.  He proudly brings home an ornate box that he is sure Clare will love, and leaves it on her bed as “an early birthday present.”

     It is attractive, with Chinese writing on it, which Clare is intrigued with for a while, given that she is taking a class in Chinese.  She asks her Chinese teacher and fellow Chinese student, Ryan (Ki Hong Lee), about it, but they can’t translate everything; however, Ryan has a friend who knows much more Chinese and could help.  Off Clare and Ryan go to visit Gina (Alice Lee), where they learn that the box gives the possessor seven wishes…with caveats, as in blood prices.

     Of course, in her discomfort, Clare makes some wishes, and lo and behold they come true.  She makes some more, and all of her troubles seem to be over.  But oh so gradually she is reminded of those caveats, which she tries to ignore, but the box is insistent. 

     Wish Upon is a horror movie for fans, particularly those in the teenage years.  Much is there for them to identify with and be horrified and frightened of.  I have an idea that the high school scenes are exactly true to life, showing mixtures of angst, rudeness, and superiority.  Director John R. Leonetti tells writer Barbara Marshall’s story well, divulging information gradually with touches of suspense and with special effects enhancing the mystery.  Tomandandy’s music is spot on in conveying the mood/terror of the moment. 

     Although Star Joey King’s performance is OK, it lacks the nuance and subtleties called for in the main actor.  Her expression seems always to be the same, regardless of what situation she is in.  I didn’t see the pain in her portrayal that the character must have felt when she realized how self-focused her wishes were and the consequences they brought about.  On the other hand, the actors playing friends June (Purser) and Meredith (Park) are much more entertaining, showing a range of smartness, insight, and humor.  They also contrast with the actor Staggert in his role as pretty boy Paul, who is rather wooden in his presentation.  Ryan Phillippe plays Clare’s father in a minor role, but competently executed.

Be careful what you wish for and its price.

Grade:  C                                    By Donna R. Copeland

MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS

Dylan O’Brien   Kaya Scodelario   Patricia Clarkson   Lili Taylor   Thomas Brodie-Sangster   Aidan Gillen   Ki Hong Lee   Giancarlo Esposito

          The title Maze Runner is apt in that the protagonists seem to run during almost the entire movie.  In The Scorch Trials, a group of kids are racing through “The Scorch”, which is desolate, sandy, hot terrain and bombed out cities with buildings caving in, and they have zombie-like beings and others chasing after them for one reason or another.  It’s rather remarkable through all this that they seem to survive for days without much food or water.  The film opens with a group of teenagers routed out of bed and told to run (with the implication they are being rescued).  And in fact, they are taken to a place where someone named Janson (Gillen) repeatedly reassures them they are in a safe place and to “just relax.”  It appears to be true to the starved, beleaguered teens as they are fed and clothed and begin to feel content.  Except…

          One odd member of the group whom Thomas (O’Brien) doesn’t know takes him for an exploration at night that raises his concern.  Apparently Thomas (although unbeknownst to him because something has happened to his memory) is seen as a leader [“maybe they’ll listen to you”, says Newt (Brodie-Sangster)], not only by members of his group, but by others he encounters during the rest of the story.  They boys do find things that disturb them so much they plan an escape, but since they don’t know where they are, they have no idea where they’ll run to.

          And that’s the main part of this drama.  It’s a post-apocalyptic world as told in a trilogy (The Maze Runner) by the novelist James Dashner.  Scorch Trials is the fifth in a series of films based on Dashner’s Maze Runner novels.  This is actually the first one I’ve seen personally, but although there are references to previous events in the series, the film still stands on its own. 

          When Thomas and the others in his group discover that the experiments they are a part of might be dangerous to them, they attempt to escape but must go through the barren Scorch land to get to a safe place they’ve been informed about.  The researchers are hot on their trail, along with bounty hunters and the zombie-like creatures they meet along the way.  The questions become about whom they can trust and whether or not they’ll make it to their destination. 

          Although perhaps not as original as some would hope, the story is exciting and tense throughout, and the production design (Daniel T. Dorrance) and set direction spectacular.  Director Wes Ball, Musician John Paesano and Cinematographer Gyula Pados, worked together in previous Maze productions and all contribute to the quality of this one.  Young Dylan O’Brien—who was Thomas in the 2014 production—is a fine actor who holds his own as the lead.  Other actors (Clarkson, Taylor, Gillen, and Lee) are likewise forceful in their presentations. 

A fast-paced young adult thriller with panache.

Grade:  C+                                    By Donna R. Copeland