Candy Land (2022)

My quick rating - 5.4/10. I actually enjoyed this movie quite a bit more than I expected to. It is a disturbing, intense trip through the life of Remy, which is acted, believe it or not, very well by Olivia Luccardi. She is cast out from her religious cult, leaving her vulnerable and lost. But ultimately, she seeks shelter with a group of truck station sex workers, leading to a new level of harsh realities. The characters of this new world are interesting, as each one is from a distinct background. One of the better aspects of this movie is definitely how it illustrates the psychological struggle of Remy. The conflict between her strong faith and new environment results in a struggle within herself, keeping things interesting as we watch her develop as a character. As she struggles with her own personal code of morality, issues related to faith, culture, and identity are raised in the movie. The other character that stands out is the mysterious local sheriff, William Baldwin, whose intentions, and even his goals, are, for most parts of the movie, anything but clear. However, despite its potential, Candy Land does have some shortcomings. The pacing tends to be inconsistent, with moments of gripping intensity followed by slower, less engaging sequences. The violent scenes, while serving the purpose of emphasizing the dangers Remy faces, can be excessive and might turn off some viewers. Granted, I point this out in review, while I found it to be a strength. Moreover, the direction at some points is not very clear, making it hard to completely get absorbed in the movie. The movie touches on some very grim and uncomfortable aspects and, therefore, may not be very welcome to everyone. The movie touches aspects related to human psychology and the journey of self-discovery. At times, quite engaging. Candy Land does well portraying the characters and their realism, though the pacing and violence seem a bit off. This film definitely has both horror and thriller elements, but I lean towards my hashtag due to the more realistic surroundings this flick places us in. You can easily walk away with a slasher vibe from it, just as well, so I suppose it just depends on how you interpret it. Either genre works for me, and also does for this flick as it straddles the line. For a flick I hadn't heard of, I was entertained by its originality and brutality at the same time.

Available on serveral streamers for cheap not including Amazon.

Candy Land (2022)

#thriller #jackmeatsflix #IMDB #Plex