Gaia

A park ranger in Africa doesn't listen to the black guy and heads into danger. I found this to be an entrancing combination of psychological terror and creative special effects. Very eerie. However, the first half may have you thinking this will be a monster movie. It has monsters in it but the latter half is more of an existing dread. I loved the aesthetic. Another accidental double feature. Viewed this after In the Earth, which has similar themes.

Trippy, many Metaphors. How individual people are on a psychedelic level. A madman, a motherly who frees her child. Complex, we're there really monsters, or just subconscious fears?

Yeah, it's a weird one, but this movie checks off a lot of good boxes - strong acting, intriguing characters, freaky looking monsters, a powerfully unsettling atmosphere, gorgeous cinematography in the presence of solid direction, and some worthwhile philosophies. I think this movie is a lot smarter than the audience is giving it credit for. ***SPOILERS*** Barend's beliefs can be genuinely thought-provoking at times, and I love that the movie throws them at us so unapologetically and angrily. Barend sermonizes with great, convincing ferocity. His raging, violent monologues are seriously beautiful to listen to. The movie plays with our expectations of who this mad man in the woods is, and what he's all about. Barend slips in a lot of intriguing philosophies between his madness and trusts the audience to recognize what's good and what ain't. Also, I love the psychedelic aspects of this movie. As someone with an intermediate level of experience with psychedelic mushrooms and LSD, there were some instantly recognizable and relatable trains of thought as well as visual effects/quirks throughout. It is simultaneously a great and the WORST trip watch EVER lol.

This may be the 1st review I've given a 1 star - and I watch at least 1 movie per day! I have NO IDEA what this was all about. I'd leave spoilers - but there aren't really any to give? I should have guessed, when I saw only 4 people in this movie, that it was going to be terrible!! There was no action, no scares, no gore, nothing intellectual, basically no plot and no reason to bother watching this! I get it - people are turning into nature. Whoopie - a win for the man-made global warming movement! Did I mention it was NOT in English? I didn't really catch this at first, since there was little talking talking, so I had to read subtitles the entire time. Although, if you like ta-tas, she has no problem showing hers - enjoy those scenes, because then there are scenes where the men are HUMPING THE GROUND... huh? I still never figured out what that was all about. Actually, I'm still trying to understand the nonsense I just saw - pure Garbage!! SKIP IT!!!

This one was kind of boring honestly, okay really boring. It felt like it was trying to be an edgy horror film which would get a name for being unique, but it was honestly no different to the low to no budget films I'd find littering the horror section of Blockbuster as a kid.

I'm not sure why audiences didn't like this more. Perhaps they're under the misconception that "The Last Of Us," invented the idea of fungi, specifically Cordyceps, as a dangerous contagion. Obviously that's not correct, and I hope it doesn't prevent anyone from watching this very good film. Sometimes it leans a bit hard into religion and mad scientist themes and tropes, but it effectively and smartly tells a good story about the many sides of man's relationship with nature. Excellent practical effects help suspension of disbelief, although in the end the creatures wind up more annoying than dangerous. Overall the film tells its story effectively, helped along by a decent script and some solid performances.

I like the concept, the cast and the editing it builds intriguing and has a complicated ending. The visuals are great but the film's biggest flaw is showing the monster way too soon taking the air out of the mystery.

Gaia initially impresses with a strong sense of visual style and excellent cinematography. The monster design, which was ripped off straight from The Last of Us, is no less impressive on film than in the game. At the outset the pacing of the story is actually done quite well, and although the threat of the clickers is basically non existent after the first half of the film, that's fine since there's a much more interesting story behind the father and son living in the forest and the thing they worship. But that's where Gaia just kind of...decides it's done with that now and just watch bad man die please? The unsatisfying final act is a huge letdown and waste of everything that comes before.

Absolutely fantastic concept, a bit worse production and completely unemotional response (at least from me).

It was ok at the beginning when there were more horror factors in place, but then it started taking the path many movies take: trying t explain the plot. This just brings the attention of the viewer to how weak the story is. When the religious aspect is introduced it just turns a character of a cool and heroic survivalist scientist into a religious freak that you immediately hate.