parole movie review 2022

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Parole Movie Review : Unconventional narration and layered plot make Parole an interesting watch

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Parole Movie Review: An engrossing tale of sibling rivalry

Rating: ( 3 / 5).

North Madras has been a favourite backdrop for Tamil filmmakers when it comes to narrating gritty, raw crime stories. Debutant Dwarakh Raja also picks this familiar setting to present a tale of two brothers set amidst bloodshed and gruesome murders. The two central characters in this film are named after historical figures — Karikalan (Linga) and Kovalan (RS Karthik). It is the rivalry between these two brothers that form the film's crux.

Director: Dwarakh Raja

Cast: Linga, RS Karthik, Vinodhini Vaidyanathan , Monisha Murali, Janaki Suresh

Sibling rivalry because of a parent being over-affectionate towards one of the children is a tried-and-tested template in our cinema. Parole follows this same idea, but it's also a crime thriller and briefly, an interesting courtroom drama. The film begins with the death of Aarayi (Janaki Suresh), who was living with her younger son Kovalan while the elder one, Karikalan, is serving a double life imprisonment. Kovalan, who hates his brother, plans to cremate his mother without informing Karikalan. However, circumstances force him to apply for his brother's parole. But wait... the parole is just a sham as both of them have bigger plans to execute.

Parole follows a non-linear narrative, which might seem disjointed in the beginning, but that's how flashes of memories are supposed to be. There is even a dialogue in the film to justify this creative choice —  nyabagam endrathu cinema-la vara maari ner koda varaadhu.  What would have otherwise been a generic story of a dysfunctional family and their internal dynamics, is made intriguing by narrating it through multiple chapters that are rich in drama. The structuring of these scenes is fascinating with a frequent dose of unexpected moments.

Parole gets to its best during the compelling courtroom scenes. Vinodhini Vaidyanathan's realistic performance and TSR as the no-nonsensical judge make these scenes effective. It is probably the first time in Tamil cinema that the legal procedures that are followed in a parole hearing are shown in such great detail, and it is such novel moments make the film somewhat unique. Despite the complex screenplay in Parole , the proceedings are largely comprehensible courtesy of some smart editing, which occasionally borders on spoon-feeding too. Raj Kumar Amal's music is also apt, particularly the rousing score during the build-up scenes for Karikalan.

The two lead actors, Linga and RS Karthik, hold the film together with their solid performances. Though both Karikalan and Kovalan are equally important characters, it is the former who gets a more well-defined arc. During his early days in the juvenile home, he becomes a victim of sexual abuse, which has a harrowing effect throughout his life. It is appreciable that the makers chose to address such uncommon topics, but wish they handled it with more sensitivity. The film has an abundance of graphic visuals, ranging from sexual violence to gratuitous physical violence. It only reiterates the wrong notion that for a film to be raw and gritty, it should have such gory, uncomfortable visuals.

The posters of Parole were called out for copying the Stranger Things font. Incidentally, the film also has plenty of strange things in it. Both Karikalan and Kovalan have romantic interests in the film and there is absolutely no reason why the girls would be interested in these unruly men. It also has one of the strangest proposal scenes of all time — a bunch of goons is about to stab Karikalan when a girl, out of nowhere, screams 'I Love You'. It distracts the goons and helps Karikalan escape from them. He then confronts the girl, who he is seeing for the first time. What's even more strange is that the scene ends with them falling in love and kissing each other.

Parole suffers heavily from a hasty ending. The redemption angle towards the end is rushed and unconvincing. It would have worked better with a bit more clarity in writing. There are still some memorable moments like Karikalan's explanation of why he wants to escape jail. The reason is simple — for fan kaathu.  It might sound lame, but it's a big deal for someone who is about to be robbed off the comfort of a fan's breeze for the next 28 years. It is such simple but meaningful moments that make Parole  an appreciable attempt from Dwarakh Raja and his young team.

PAROLE MOVIE REVIEW

Parole is a thriller written and directed by Dwarakh Raja featuring RS Karthik, Linga, Kalpika Ganesh and Monisha Murali in the lead roles, produced by S Madhusudhanan for Tripr Entertainment. Once in a while Tamil cinema comes up with films which genuinely surprise us. And when a small film does that, it is a treat for people who love cinema.

Parole is one such file which dares to be different. It could have easily turned out as a film which talks about the clash among brothers just on the surface level or it could have turned into a mother-sentiment film but Dwarakh Raja gives us a film which dares to be different in its treatment and execution with deeper insights. There's a genuineness which shines through every frame as the film keeps us hooked from start to end.

Two brothers at loggerheads - One a criminal in jail and the other a commoner who goes on with his life. And we have a mother who awaits the return of her prodigal son. The mother's unexpected death brings the two brothers a little closer as the younger one tries to bring out the elder on Parole to perform the mother's last rites. Will he succeed or will he not? You have to watch the film to find out. Lingaa gets a meaty role and shines as the elder brother.

Despite the fact that he is a criminal we empathize with him as his trauma unravels right in front of our eyes. RS Karthik who plays the younger one impresses us with a sincere portrayal. The point where he feels that his mother is partial to her elder son is an emotion all siblings go through while growing up. But we grow past it.

Janaki Suresh is also relatable in her role as the doting mother who never gives up on her son. Vinodhini Vaidyanathan gives us a very earnest performance as the lawyer. Both Kalpika and Monisha Murali are adequate and do what is required.

Rajkumar Amal's background and Magesh Thirunavukarasu's cinematography are lifelines of the film and help to heighten the grittiness and raw emotions of the film. Parole is Dwarakh Raja's second outing after the very underrated Kadhal Kasakuthaiya.

The genre switch from love in his first film to raw violence and brotherhood in Parole is quite commendable. The sincere writing and the way the story is presented deserves a special applause. Dwarakh never compromised on his vision to give us a raw film with realistic emotions. The film also touches upon sensitive topics like marital rape, abuse etc without being too preachy. Vijay Sethupathi's voiceover is a nice touch.

On the downside, the excessive violence might be a turn-off for the audience. Parole isn't a film meant for everyone either. It is a daring in your face experience which doesn't hold back. But it is a small film made with utmost sincerity and dedication and such films deserve our backing.

PAROLE VIDEO REVIEW

BEHINDWOODS REVIEW BOARD RATING

Public review board rating, review rating explanation.

பிரேக்கிங் சினிமா செய்திகள், திரை விமர்சனம், பாடல் விமர்சனம், ஃபோட்டோ கேலரி, பாக்ஸ் ஆபிஸ் செய்திகள், ஸ்லைடு ஷோ, போன்ற பல்வேறு சுவாரஸியமான தகவல்களை தமிழில் படிக்க இங்கு கிளிக் செய்யவும்      

"செய்யாத தப்புக்கு JAIL-க்கு போய் PAROLE-ல வந்துருக்கேன்"... COOL SURESH VIDEOS

PAROLE MOVIE REVIEW | PAROLE PUBLIC REVIEW | R S KARTHIK, LINGA, KALPIKA, MONISHA MURALI VIDEOS

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Directed by Dwarakh Raja

A mother's demise brings two egoistic and arrogant brothers together, transforming their lives for the better.

Linga R. S. Karthik Monisha Murali Kalpika Ganesh Janaki Suresh Vinodhini Vaidyanathan TSR Mak Mani Jabardasth Emmanuel Vijay Sethupathi Dennis

Director Director

Dwarakh Raja

Producer Producer

S. Madhusudhanan

Writer Writer

Editor editor, cinematography cinematography.

Magesh Thirunavukarasu

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

A. Naveen Karthik

Production Design Production Design

Arun Kumar. A

Visual Effects Visual Effects

Stunts stunts, composer composer.

Rajkumar Amal

Sound Sound

K Rajasekar Lawrence Vishnu N. B. Visakh

Costume Design Costume Design

TRIPR Entertainment

Drama Action

Releases by Date

11 nov 2022, releases by country.

• Theatrical A

140 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Alex Pandian ★★★

VJS enna sir neenga ingayum vanthutinga

Review by Santhosh ★★★

The last time, if there was a script that interested me and made me invest in it irrespective of commercial shades is, firstly "Vikram Vedha", lastly "Vada Chennai" and to add the latest, it's Dwarakh Raja's next film after 5 years.

Scripts like these often suit in a well-versed elevated manner for tier-1 or some well-known faces, their previous action polishes, mythical presence and their variety of outings help us to accept them easily.

Whereas here, what he pulled out without the help of tireless star's support is something that gonna boil the theatre as much as equal to how the former mentioned film does.

Has some issues in staging and a bit of amateurish making is a concern, nevertheless remains nice in whistling out for. Lovved it.

Review by Valeri6a ★★★★

This is the epitome of an underrated movie. If it had featured A-list stars, it might have blown up the box office.

Review by CinemaMadness ★★★

#Parole (Tamil) {3/5} - Good cinema. 👍🏻

Genre : Crime thriller PG : 18 + (Both audio and visual content) Runtime : 2 hours  Year of release : 2022

Simple storyline presented with BRILLIANT SCREENPLAY. Superbly written from start to end. 

Good performances from Linga and Karthik. Kalpika did well too. 👍🏻

Extremely raw and intense film. And most importantly a very different one. 

Give it a try. 👍🏻

Streaming on AMAZON PRIME. 😎

#CinemaMadness2022 #MyHomeTheatreScreenings

Review by Vignesh V ★★★★

Never thought that it would be so good❤️ One of the best flim of 2022

Review by Siva sarathi ★★★

Extraordinary narration with interesting screenplay and it would've turned to be a great film if it was directed with more care.

Review by Floki ★★★★

A well written, well crafted, low budget movie that has not reached the height it deserves, due to less advertisement and absence of top actors. Vijay Sethupathi has offered his voice alone for narration, but if some top actor had done a main role in this movie, this would've reached different level of heights. This movie is obviously not flawless. It does have negatives, but not many.

Everything starting from direction, casting BGM till the screenplay, costumes, make-up was top notch and natural. It didn't seem like an amateur attempt or a B-grade movie. In such a low budget, the movie makers have managed to create a superb art. The story is complex but clearly written with high standard. The…

Review by ANUNAY SHARMA ★★★

PAROLE 's central conflict is fleshed out beautifully and the solid writing makes up for occasional glares. It's a powerful tale of rage, jealousy and trauma, and a confident direction holds the various story bits well. What mars it is its muddle-ness towards the end, an overly melodramatic climax and an over-stretched second half. It could have done so well with smoothening itself around the edges, but what we get is only partially as efficient as its superb screenplay might suggest. Go for it, it's good, certainly not great but oddly competent and smarter than usual genre flicks.

Review by erno neiman

a weirdass film. liked it. but should've been handled more artistically.

Review by PrabaKaran23 ★★★½

Worth the hype .. good intense thriller

Review by Sarvesh Kannan ★★★★

I regret watching it this late but i'm really glad I did. Just a little more promotions on this movie and it could have done wonders among the audience.

This is an A rated movie which means you've to be ready to see some gruesome violence and hear some harsh words.

The bromance Karikalan and Karthik share onscreen is a definite talking point, the script is fabulously written, music is bang on, cinematography is mighty impressive and editing is the biggest hero of the film.

Once again amid the 100 crore shit commercial movies we've failed to celebrate a gem like Parole !!

Review by Hariish_GK ½

Cringe pro Max , don't know why the f people rated it with good reviews, lmao the whole film sucks big time

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Parole Review

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Parole - Arresting filmmaking powered by deep writing

Once in a while out of the blue Tamil cinema comes up with original, raw and gritty films that provide a new viewing experience.  Dwarakh Raj's 'Parole' is one such gem that calls for attention from the audience with its deep messages buried under its gore.  But the million dollar question is whether the hero worshipping masses will give the respect that it deserves.

Set in the slum of Vyasarpadi area in Chennai, Kovalan (R.S. Karthik) is the younger son of Ariyaaye (Janaki Suresh) who resents her seemingly partial affection to her elder son (Karikalan) who is convicted for 28 years for double murder.  The mother hopes to get him out by applying for a mercy pettition while her younger son scoffs at her pointing out that his brother is a cold blooded murderer.  The film then unravels the characters of each of the sons with external forces influencing the bad in Karikalan who emerges as a hero in spite of that.  On the other hand, the burning sibling rivalry inside Kovalan pushes him from mostly the good to the extremely evil side.  In between this there are heavy doses of repulsive violence, gore, marital rape, homosexual rape and betrayals by both blood and the enemies.  However 'Parole' stands out by giving hope through the power of motherhood and love in this most desolate of criminals and their backdrops.  

Linga is one of the most underrated actors amongst the current crop of promising talents.  This film has given him a much deserved opportunity to showcase the range he has got.  His character requires him to be hated and admired at the same time which is no mean task.  He has pulled it off with consummate ease being vulnerable when his mother and girlfriend show him affection and turning into a heartless killing machine when it comes to murdering his targets.  R.S. Karthik too has delivered his best to convey the feelings of sibling rivalry and resentment towards his mother.  His best moment is when he eats the food his mother kept for him before her sudden death.  Janaki Suresh is perfect as the mother who would do anything for her two sons and the reason that she favors the elder one is also pretty convincing.  Kalpika Ganesh as the lover of Karikalan has done a neat job in spite of her character being too cinematic.  Monica Murali as the love interest of the younger brother is natural in all her scenes.   The rest have been aptly cast.

What works best in 'Parole' is the non linear screenplay that gives bits and pieces of information regarding the characters and situations to lead the audiences in a line of thought and then throws them a huge surprise by the reveals each time.  The relationship dynamics between the mother and her two sons and between the brothers is well written.   The broken self of a male rape victim and his mental and physical suffering is shown in a moving manner. The film also deals with the horror of marital rape as well.  The climax revealing the power of motherhood is rewarding.

On the downside the gore and violence that form the core of the screenplay is not for the weak hearted.  The meeting point of the budding romance between Linga and Kalpika Ganesh is conceived well but has been executed in a cinematic manner which is out of sync with the rest of the story.  The court procedures and mercy petition detailing may or may not be authentic but could have been shot better.  The inaction of the police at the end when so much of violence is happening is unconvincing.   The planning and action of the villains to finish off Karikalan and Kovalan seems too far-fetched.

'Parole' may have had budget constraints but the team has made up for it with innovative making.  Magesh Thirunavukarasu has come up with interesting camera angles and moments that give the feeling of being at the spot where the action is happening.  Editor Muniez has done an exceptional job in getting the sequences to make sense considering that the non linear script has more layers than one can count.  Rajkumar Amal with his background score and rap songs enhance the emotions of the scenes.  Producer  S. Madhusudhanan deserves praise for backing an intense and newage film.  Young director  Dwarakh Raja deserves praise for writing a powerful multilayered script and executing it as best as he can within his means.  He is one to look out for in the future for sure. 

Verdict : Parole will arrest you with its well written, well executed multilayered screenplay

Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

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Parole review: Without suffering moral panic, this documentary is a robust defence of a much-maligned system

In the first of five episodes of the excellent new bbc two series, we meet two of the prisoners looking to go straight, and quite the characters they are, too, article bookmarked.

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Louise Thomas

Given the current reactionary trends in public opinion, with the death penalty enjoying an unexpected surge in popularity, it’s a bit of a surprise to learn that the British parole system is still in business. But it is, with 360 lay and expert members, in pairs, sifting through the files of about 16,000 potentially dangerous prisoners a year. In the first of five episodes of the excellent new BBC series Parole , we meet two of the prisoners looking to go straight, and quite the characters they are, too.

First up is Colin Stacey. Back in October 1997, he was what he calls “a bit of an angry young man”, which is a bit of an understatement, given that he was found guilty of murder. Soft spoken, chirpy and rather cherubic, he doesn’t seem in the least bit dangerous – at first sight he looks like he’s been incarcerated at HMP Elmley for some sort of cheeky little crime, like persistent shoplifting. Then we learn what he got up to. Stacey was (and presumably still is) a Brighton & Hove Albion supporter of unusual loyalty, and belying their relatively civilised image, he interrupted an evening game of snooker with friends over a few drinks to beat a Manchester United fan to death. Nor was this some sort of impulsive or accidental act. He’d removed his sock, filled it with snooker balls and then hammered away at his victim. In a chilling, unforgettable moment, Stacey calmly admits that he knew that he’d killed the man because “I heard his brain crack”. Stacey got 14 years, and a previous effort at parole in 2017 failed when he beat somebody else up. His prospects don’t seem good as he prepares for some hours of interrogation by the parole board experts.

By contrast, con man David Coombs, described in the press as “Casanova Coombs”, is a much more plausible-sounding figure – or least he reckons he is. We find the 56-year-old in Wormwood Scrubs and, to be honest, this once-handsome fraud has let himself go a bit. He doesn’t look quite like the lush lothario that began his lucrative but ultimately unsuccessful life of colourful fraud as a teenager back in 1982. In and out of jail for many decades, Coombs is doing four years’ porridge for relieving his last nine female victims of some £37,000. When the judge sent him down, for yet another spell behind bars, he described Coombs’ level of dishonesty as “truly staggering… systematically and ruthlessly taking advantage of his victims”.

I suppose Coombs is the worst kind of personality to come up before a parole board because his stock-in-trade is deception. Murderers and armed robbers might think they can spin a yarn and talk their way out of jail, but the likes of Coombs literally does this sort of thing for a living. That doesn’t mean it works, though. He probably thought he’d struck it lucky when they’d allotted two female parole board officials to test him out, and, hilariously, he attempts to seduce the chair of the board by casually saying how he might now react if faced across the table with an attractive woman, such as herself. She doesn’t fall for it. The other official, a psychologist, is at first more sympathetic to the old charmer, but a perusal of his long record, and scrutiny of some cock-and-bull story, about how he himself had been defrauded by a Russian named Olga the last time he was out on probation, determines his fate. His “community management” (ie parole) officer confirms that Coombs was unreliable at best. Release is not recommended, and the lonely ladies of the south coast will be safe a while longer.

As for Stacey, he convinces the board to let him have another chance, and we see him saunter out of prison saying “see you later” to the screws, which may or may not be his little joke. Rightly, we hear from the widow of the man Stacey killed, as we hear from some of Coombs’ many unfortunate victims, and the damage and misery these criminals inflict on people is nowhere minimised or excused. The parole board’s aim is to protect the public. Therefore the programme felt well-balanced, just as the subject matter demands. Without veering into voyeurism or suffering moral panic, Parole makes a robust case for the defence of a much-maligned system. A useful and worthy experiment, then, and unexpectedly, nothing short of spellbinding. Rather like the manipulative Mr Coombs.

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Parole (2022)

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A paroled ex-convict is trying to adjust back to society while looking for his long lost friend and his place outside the bars after being imprisoned for 30 long years for a crime he did not commit.

Brilliant Juan

Lora Cerdan

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Original Language Tagalog

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Parole: Release Date, Trailer, Songs, Cast

• Release Date 11 November 2022
• Language Tamil
• Genre Crime
• Duration 1h 58min
• Cast R. S. Karthik, Linga, Vinodhini Vaidyanathan, Shivam, Monisha Murali, Kalpika Ganesh, Janaki Suresh
• Director Dwarakh Raja
• Writer Dwarakh Raja
• Cinematography Magesh Thirunavukarasu
• Music Rajkumar Amal
• Producer S. Madhusudhanan
• Production Tripr Entertainment
• Certificate A

About Parole Movie (2022)

Kovalan (RS Karthik) and Karikalan (Linga) are two divided brothers. The latter, currently in prison, comes out on parole to perform their mother's last rites. Will the brothers reunite?

Parole Movie Cast, Release Date, Trailer, Songs and Ratings

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Parole ( A ) 11/Nov/2022 Action, Crime 2hrs 20mins

Critics: 4 Panel: 0 User: 40

Overall: 3.5 from 44 users

Synopsis/Plot : Kovalan and Karikalan are brothers, Karikalan is in jail for the crimes he has committed however during his prison period their mother passes away. Whether Karikalan came out of jail in Parole for the last rites, did the divided brothers come together forms the crux of the story. It is told as an action-crime drama which is rooted in a cut-throat atmosphere. Parole also has a lot of characters who are primarily outlaws.

Director : Dwarakh Raja

Music Director : Rajkumar Amal

Cast More Cast & Crew (5)

+ Add Review

Critics Review

Solid flick, a complete surprise.

Though it could have been made as a more simpler and crisper flick, a tight narrative that focuses on the story with a striking screenplay puts on a worthy show. Raw, dark and quirky, yet manages to excite with many mighty moments. (more)

Source: Moviecrow, MovieCrow

Unconventional narration and layered plot make Parole an interesting watch

Rajkumar Amal's background score and Magesh Thirunavukarasu's cinematography really help in elevating certain emotions. Parole is not a great film, but definitely a very good attempt that deserves an applause for its power-packed writing. (more)

Source: Logesh Balachandran, Times Of India

Parole is a raw and gritty film filled with power-packed performances.

The excessive violence might be a turn-off for the audience. Parole isn't a film meant for everyone either. It is a daring in your face experience which doesn't hold back. But it is a small film made with utmost sincerity and dedication and such films deserve our backing. (more)

Source: Behindwoods, Behindwoods.com

An engrossing tale of sibling rivalry

Parole suffers heavily from a hasty ending. The redemption angle towards the end is rushed and unconvincing. It would have worked better with a bit more clarity in writing. There are still some memorable moments like Karikalan's explanation of why he wants to escape jail. The reason is simple � for ... (more)

Source: Vignesh, CinemaExpress.com

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In this Parole film, Lingaa , kalpika played the primary leads.

The Parole was released in theaters on 11 Nov 2022.

The Parole was directed by Dwarakh Raja

Movies like Veera Dheera Sooran (Part 2) , Love Insurance Kompany (LIK) , Brother and others in a similar vein had the same genre but quite different stories.

The soundtracks and background music were composed by Rajkumar Amal for the movie Parole.

The movie Parole belonged to the Drama, genre.

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PAROLE MOVIE REVIEW | PAROLE PUBLIC REVIEW | R S KARTHIK, LINGA, KALPIKA, MONISHA MURALI

PAROLE-னா என்ன தெரியுமா? நடு ரோட்டில் களமிறங்கிய HERO RS KARTHIIK, கட்டிப்பிடித்த ரசிகர் 🤗

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The Adams Family—a group of filmmakers led by father John Adams , mother Toby Poser , and daughter Lulu Adams —are some of the most fascinating horror filmmakers on the scene. Get thee to a streaming service and watch “ The Deeper You Dig ” as soon as possible—it’s one of the best horror films of the decade so far—and then chase that with their clever, twisted “ Hellbender .” These are deeply personal genre films, movies that hum with atmosphere and dread. Their latest is kind of a departure for John and Toby—Lulu gets writing credit but doesn’t appear this time—in that it’s their first filmed on location out of the country (in Serbia) and easily contains their biggest budget. Working with a bigger production company on a film that feels more like anyone could have made it than their previous works drains “Hell Hole” of some of the DIY charm of the other flicks by Adams and Poser. Comparatively, it’s kind of a disappointment, despite having some undeniable positives that should make it an easy watch for horror heads.

“Hell Hole” was obviously inspired by the master John Carpenter , owing a great deal to his version of “The Thing”—a remote outpost overtaken by a monster that can look like an ordinary person—and movies he made about people essentially stumbling into portals to Hell in films like “ Prince of Darkness ” and “In the Mouth of Madness.” The hapless souls in this one are a team (led by Poser’s Emily) that’s fracking in a remote corner of Serbia when they drill into, well, something impossible. They find a body in a sort of cocoon of a centuries-old soldier, and he’s still alive. While they discuss what to do with this break in reality, they notice something even stranger about the Frenchman in that there appears to be something that occasionally peeks out of his nose or ear. Before you can say “burn it with fire,” the monster that was inhabiting the poor soul has jumped ship to John (Adams) and set out to wreak more havoc.

The main twist of the body possession tale here is a sort of male pregnancy narrative in that the creature is inhabiting men as a host for growth. Where’s mom? And what happens when it comes to term? The Adams Family has a lot of fun with some of their most out-there ideas, such as when the creature in a human host realizes it’s under threat and basically just flees by turning its current home into a pile of bloody goo. “Hell Hole” is a marvelously goopy movie with a whole lot of slimy red stuff and tentacles slicing through the air. It’s also a consistently funny movie, playing almost more like dark comedy than the foreboding work the family has made in the past.

On that note, I’m happy to see Adams and Poser kind of spreading their wings and trying something different here, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this one doesn’t have the same teeth as their best films. It’s more of a lark. Sure, there’s some commentary about how f-ing with Mother Nature will eventually lead to carnage, but it’s very loosely sketched, and the characters have too few traits to be actually memorable. And, yes, it’s a bit clever that Emily used to be a hippie, and there’s some decent character work by Olivera Perunicic, but the people here are naturally forced to cede interest to the enemy they face, giving the whole thing a bit of shallowness that even great body horror avoids. It’s sporadically fun enough, but just not that deep a cinematic hole.

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

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Two Docs Bring Scott Peterson and the Murder of Laci Peterson Back Into the Spotlight. Which Is More Truthful?

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In 2004, 12 jurors — backed by a horde of blood-thirsty Americans, who had followed the case on television day and night — found Scott Peterson guilty of the murders of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Connor. Twenty years later, the convicted murderer is back before the court of public opinion with two new docuseries, with starkly opposing points of view, aimed at relitigating the case and swaying streaming audiences. But the projects have also arrived as new efforts are being made to overturn one of the most scrutinized convictions of the century.

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Viewing the two documentaries one after the other, it’s hard not to feel like we’re stuck in a time warp, watching this case be tried once again with a defense, a prosecution and a Greek chorus of talking heads. The Netflix documentary has its key witnesses for the defense in Laci’s mother, Sharon Rocha, and several of her friends. It also has Amber Frey, the woman with whom Scott was having an affair at the time of Laci’s death. Frey, who seems to live a relatively quiet life today, became a tabloid sensation during the trial, as the public tried to understand whether she was a knowing mistress or an innocent victim of Scott’s deception. Ultimately, she was the witness that swayed the jury to conviction, as members of the jury concede in both docs.

The Peacock series has Scott’s sister-in-law Janey Peterson, who became a lawyer after his conviction and has worked diligently to clear his name since. She appears in both documentaries, but is centrally positioned by Peacock to speak in his defense. That series also offers other legal experts and investigators like Mike Gudgell, who question his conviction largely on circumstantial evidence. As legal analyst Chris Pixley sums up their case, “There’s so much reasonable doubt we are still talking about it today.” But most importantly it has Scott, who says he regrets not testifying in 2004, although the series notes his legal team deemed him a risk after what seems like an ill-fated mock trial conducted behind closed doors. Now he says, “I have a chance to show people what the truth is and, if they accept it, it will be the biggest thing I can accomplish right now.”

If you are looking for a complete retelling of the case, Netflix’s documentary is far more comprehensive in its approach. It charts Laci and Scott’s early lives, the couple’s relationship, the initial first impressions of Scott from her family members, the difference of opinion in having children and the case as it unfolded. With access to Laci’s family, there are home movies of her, and a key breakdown from her friends of the now-infamous photo of a pregnant Laci flashing her thousand-watt smile at a Christmas party days before her death. It also has Modesto detectives Al Brocchini and Jon Buehler, talking about their investigation, particularly how they worked with Amber to record phone calls where Scott continued to lie about being married even after Laci went missing. Among the calls featured in the series is one where he faked a trip to Paris for New Years Eve 2003, all while searching for Laci.

Netflix and director Skye Borgman deliver a documentary that reinforces the convicted case built against Scott 20 years ago, while giving Laci a voice at the center of it. But it can do all of that without the burden of hiding its empathy and support for her family. Since Scott’s been convicted, it doesn’t have to preface its position with “allegedly.”

In fact, the entire third episode is devoted to poking holes in the prosecution’s case and the conviction, going point by point through a list of possibly under-investigated leads like the burglary across the street from the Petersons, the van with a blood-stained mattress, the pawned watch and the multiple witnesses who said they saw an alive-and-well Laci walking their dog after Scott left on his boat trip. Anderson stands with Laney in her home as she lays out the evidence she hopes will find its way into the hands of detectives or the courts in time.

Again though, the burden rests on Anderson’s shoulders, because Scott’s legal team, led at the time by Mark Geragos, had the opportunity to use all the points the documentary makes in his defense, and they didn’t. Anderson and her subjects lay the blame for that at the feet of the police for discrediting witnesses and failing to follow up on leads, which the detectives wholeheartedly deny.

But Scott’s interviews, while interesting, raise the question: Has he spent 20 years training himself to be better in front of a camera than he was in 2003? Back then, he gave the likes of Diane Sawyer, among others, an interview that made him look cold, calculated and divorced from reality. Today, Scott comes off as slightly more charming, giving glimpses of the man that Laci’s family initially defended to the world when she first disappeared. But does it matter? The possible evidence is all he has left, and the L.A. Innocence Project lost its May 2024 attempt to get court-mandated DNA testing on 17 pieces, including the blood from the supposed burglary van. It is awaiting another ruling from the judge.

As docuseries go, is one more deceptive than the other? Is reminding people why a jury found him guilty better than showing them all the reasons why some people believe he is innocent? Neither gives the full picture, nor can they in three episodes. Netflix homes in on Laci’s legacy and Scott’s affair with Amber Frey, but devotes less time to the alternate theories. Those theories are the backbone of Peacock’s effort, but it is startlingly slim on the mountain of circumstantial evidence that made him the target from day one. Notably, it spends very little time in the Amber Frey of it all.

Two documentaries on the same subject coming out within days of each other is not unheard of in the current streaming wars. But these two could not feel more like vestiges of the divided national mood in 2004, when America argued over whether Scott Peterson did or didn’t do it. Netflix validates those who still to this day condemn Scott without a shred of doubt. Peacock hopes time has driven cracks in that resolute kind of thinking. Unfortunately, the latter’s motive in championing an American-made villain’s second chance will always be the tougher sell.

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Joker: Folie à Deux

Failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while in Arkham State Hospital. Upon release, the pair embark on a doomed romantic misadventure. Failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while in Arkham State Hospital. Upon release, the pair embark on a doomed romantic misadventure. Failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while in Arkham State Hospital. Upon release, the pair embark on a doomed romantic misadventure.

• Todd Phillips
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• 1 win & 5 nominations

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• Trivia The film's working title is "Folie a Deux", which means "Madness of Two" in French. This initially led to speculation about Harley Quinn's appearance in the film, which was shortly thereafter confirmed. The name Folie a Deux comes from the 19th century French psychiatrist Charles Lasègue and Jules Falret, also known as Lasègue-Falret syndrome, and it depicts two or more people that they share the same madness or delirium.
• Connections Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Wicked Discovery of a Lifetime (2022)

2024 Venice Film Festival Guide

• When will Joker: Folie à Deux be released? Powered by Alexa
• Is Lady Gaga going to be in the movie?
• What does "Folie à Deux" mean?
• October 4, 2024 (United States)
• United States
• Los Angeles, California, USA
• BRON Studios
• Bron Creative
• DC Entertainment
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $200,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 18 minutes
• IMAX 6-Track
• Dolby Atmos
• 70 mm 6-Track

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