Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 86

Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life Review: Desert Drudgery

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Najib is an ordinary, hard-working man with a beautiful wife and a baby on the way, elated to land a job in Saudi Arabia. He arrives in the Gulf country with nothing but a small bag and a head full of big dreams. However, his hope to turn his fortune around is dashed when, due to a language barrier, he is picked up by the wrong Arab at the airport and forced into the hard, laborious life of a goat herder in a harsh unending desert.

Directed by Blessy, the 2024 survival drama “The Goat Life” is based on the best-selling Malayalam novel “Aadujeevitham” by Benyamin, which is inspired by real events. Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the protagonist, Najib, who is trapped and enslaved in the desert. The fact that he speaks nothing but Malayalam makes his attempts to escape twice as hard.

With a 2-hour 50-minute runtime, “The Goat Life” is an ambitious film that turns out to be almost as dry as the desert it is set in. It’s Prithviraj Sukumaran’s incredible transformation as Najib – from a healthy, hopeful man to a bony, scraggy slave with vacuous eyes – that keeps the viewer invested in the film until the end. Much of “The Goat Life” is repetitive, whether it’s Najib constantly failing to communicate with anyone who can help him, herding goats, or making attempts to navigate a desert whose geography is alien to him. His hardships are predictable, and the supporting characters/actors do little to elevate the monotony of the scenes, yet you want to know what happens to Najib in the end. How does he find a way out? How does his escape plan work? What kind of hurdles does he meet?

A few flashback scenes to Najib’s life in Kerala with his wife Sainu (Amala Paul) serve as a brief respite from his constant hardships in the desert but don’t have much of an emotional impact. Director Blessy uses some cleverly artistic transitions to switch between the present and the past. For instance, a flashback shows Najib and Sainu blissfully rolling around in a muddy riverbed, and that scene of the mud slowly transforms into a dry, arid desert area in the present, where Najib is lying on the sand, desperate, lost, and lonely. Some of the desert scenes have a near-Biblical quality, especially as a worn-out, emaciated Najib resembles a doomsday prophet nearing his death. A few viewers might even be reminded of the “Dune” movies, given the vast expanses of unforgiving sand on display.

“The Goat Life” could have easily been condensed to a 2-hour runtime, or the creators could have been bolder in the execution of Najib’s painstaking ordeal in the desert. They are also unable to establish moving emotional bonds, so the climax feels abrupt and doesn’t hit you the way you’d expect a survival drama to. In contrast, the Malayalam movie “Manjummel Boys” excels at establishing human connections between its protagonists, despite not having a romantic sub-plot.

If there’s one thing the film does well, it is conveying the stark differences between the expectations and the reality of leaving one’s home country in pursuit of a better life. Many Indians like Najib, who come from modest, poor economic backgrounds, with little or no education, are easily misled, waylaid, and exploited in foreign countries as underpaid workers or worse – unpaid slaves. With a reliable star like Prithviraj Sukumaran helming the film with an excellent performance, “The Goat Life” is made watchable despite its dragged-out runtime.

Stream the film on Netflix.

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‘Skywalkers: A Love Story’ Review – Fascinating and Fatuous

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

A couple that illegally scales tall buildings, perching on cranes, spires, belltowers, and ledges at heights where one wrong step could lead to death—sounds both extremely exciting and incredibly stupid! But Angela Nikolau and Ivan “Vanya” Beerkus refuse to admit they are adrenaline junkies, preferring to call themselves “artists.” The two earned social media fame by scaling some of the tallest buildings around the world, often illegally, capturing their nail-biting acts on camera.

Directed by Jeff Zimbalist, the Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story” tracks Angela and Vanya’s roof-topping journey together and how they managed to scale the second tallest building in the world—Malaysia’s Merdeka 118—in 2022. Illegally, of course.

The documentary begins with a glimpse of the duo encountering a major hurdle while trying to sneak into Merdeka’s towering spiral, then flips to news clips and voice-overs to introduce the main subjects of “Skywalkers: A Love Story.” Angela Nikolau’s parents were performing artists in a circus, so Angela was always fascinated by aerial acrobatics and has been a gymnast since childhood. However, the documentary doesn’t shed any light on Vanya’s background, except that he is a loner who loves the thrill of climbing rooftops. Why do they risk arrest, injuries, and even possible death? Because both the high and payoff is a lot more lucrative than any regular job they’d have to take up. Besides, Angela is almost candid about craving applause, attention, fame, and wanting to have her name live on even after death.  

“Reaching new heights, illegally climbing buildings. Dangerously scaling cranes. It’s called rooftopping. Angela and her accomplice Vanya Beerkus are the latest social media sensation. A dizzying sky-high catwalk show has turned Angela and Vanya into risk-taking royalty,” says one of the news clips in the documentary about the duo.

For a documentary about a daredevil couple, “Skywalkers: A Love Story” is a stunning visual spectacle, with plenty of dizzying drone footage of Angela and Vanya climbing heights that might give some viewers goosebumps. Director Jeff Zimbalist and team pick some great dramatic background music to complement the “rooftopping” moments. However, there’s a very artificial construction in the narrative, especially because the two of them are always putting on a show for the camera, constantly recording themselves, well aware of what will get them more “followers” or “likes” on social media.

It’s hard to distinguish genuine moments from those staged for the documentary, like a scene in the first half where Angela’s grandmother complains about her cheap government-issued hearing aids, and towards the end, Angela gifts her a new pair. I had mixed feelings watching the documentary, mostly just nonchalant intrigue over what drives youngsters like Angela and Vanya to live such risqué lives. There’s a sad truth to their adventures that the creators do not address: many of these young daredevils are often unemployed youth from broken families, with little to lose and much to gain from their risky exploits on social media. But I guess we just have to read in between the lines don’t we? For instance, once Covid19 struck and the couple couldn’t travel, Angela seemed content pivoting to modelling for money and quit roof-topping for good, however, a restless, sidelined Vanya didn’t want to depend on her and refused to take on an ordinary job.

One cannot help but wonder if Angela and Vanya’s love is carefully curated story to sell their stunts better and get more sponsors? Who knows. “Skywalkers: A Love Story” isn’t the compelling romantic tale it tries to be, but the clickbait title is perfect for drawing in viewers, and it does deliver an interesting look at the sketchy world of “rooftopping”. The couple has been arrested once in France for illegally climbing a building, and if they face more serious consequences for their illegal activities in the future, it will be a risk they knowingly took. Just as their daring exploits bring them fame and sponsors, they must also accept the potential fallout when their luck runs out.

Rating: 6 on 10. Stream ‘Skywalkers: A Love Story’ on Netflix.

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Wandee Goodday Review: Inn Sarin, Great Sapol Spice Up Doctor-Boxer RomCom

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

This is super a cute romantic comedy until it slows down to become formulaic! For the first four episodes, the Thai series “Wandee Goodday” was a solid 5 out of 5 for me. It’s about a gorgeous orthopedic doctor and a hot boxer becoming “friends with benefits” after getting off on the wrong foot.

Directed by Golf Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, who’s also behind titles like “Eclipse” and “609 Bedtime Story,” the 12-episode GMMTV series “Wandee Goodday” is based on the novel “Wandee Witthaya” (วันดีวิทยา) by Nottakorn. Actors Inn Sarin Ronnakiat and Great Sapol Assawamunkong play protagonists Doctor Wandee and rising Muay Thai boxer Yoryak, respectively – a very visually striking pair, the casting directors should pat themselves on the back.

“Wandee Goodday” starts off on a low-key hilarious note, where poor Doctor Wandee is rejected by his longtime crush Dr. Ter (Pod Suphakorn Sriphothong) after he finally picks up the courage to confess feelings he had been harboring for eight years. “You are too vanilla for me,” the senior tells Wandee. Heartbroken, angry, and pissed off, Wandee goes out drinking with his BFF Plakao (Drake Sattabut Laedeke) and ends up seducing boxer Yoryak, who also happens to be his patient at the hospital. While the two start a “no strings attached” relationship, they eventually agree to pretend they are ‘fake boyfriends’ for Wandee to not appear like a sore single loser at his hospital. This after the hospital staff gossip about Wandee and Dr. Ter as the two become rival candidates vying for a scholarship being offered by the hospital. Meanwhile, as Wandee and Yoryak spend more time together, the lines between ‘fake boyfriends’ and real love begin to blur between the doctor and boxer.

Right from episode one, the chemistry between actors Inn Sarin Ronnakiat and Great Sapol Assawamunkong as Dr. Wandee and Yoryak is crackling good. During some of their romantic scenes, it looks like Yoryak is under Wandee’s spell, and the sexual tension between them is palpable. If the creators didn’t have any secondary characters in the show and completely focused on just Inn and Great’s romance, I would’ve been completely fine with it. Inn Sarin Ronnakiat was last seen in the 2022 fantasy-drama “The Miracle of Teddy Bear,” where he played the adorable Tohu, a teddy bear who becomes human to comfort his owner. He is like a ray of sunshine in that series and is just as radiantly adorable in “Wandee Goodday” too. Great Sapol Assawamunkong (“Beauty Newbie”/”Start-Up”/”Catch Me Baby”) has the more challenging role of the boxer and suavely swings between the serious athlete in the boxing ring and the jovial, playful, flirty lover in Wandee’s bed. Yoryak is an interesting balance between a tough boxer who believes in resolving conflicts through violence, and a giant softie who doesn’t shy away from crying in front of his loved ones and baring his vulnerable side.

The primary focus of “Wandee Goodday” remains on Wandee and Yoryak’s romance and their professional goals. While Wandee wants to win his hospital’s scholarship abroad, Yoryak, who is a top-ranked boxer, aims at becoming a world champion while training under his older brother Oye (Thor Thinnapan Tantui). The lead pair’s feelings for each other are complicated by Dr. Ter realizing he likes Wandee romantically, while Yoryak too is just a teeny bit confused between his growing affection for Wandee and his crush on classmate Taemrak (Ployphach Phatchatorn Thanawat). But the screenplay breezily establishes how Wandee and Yoryak are blissfully happy in each other’s company, from simply having coffee together to getting kinky with role-playing in bed. They tend to exist in their own bubble.

While the first few episodes lead the viewer to believe the series is going to be consistently fun and romantic, the creators also add some contrived subplots to the series that slow down the pace of the show in the second half. One of the unnecessary subplots is about Yoryak’s brother Oye owing debts to some bad guys. Even without the debt twist, the brothers have enough challenges on their plate. Thor Thinnapan (“Warp Effect”/“Boss and A Babe”) and Great Sapol look aptly cast as boxer brothers, both of them nail their boxing scenes and their onscreen sibling bond is quite endearing. Newbie Fluke Nattanon Tongsaeng, who’s only been in two series before, was slightly shaky in his performance as Oye’s boyfriend Cher, so I wasn’t very invested in their secondary romance. Veeraporn Nitiprapha had the coolest cameo as Wandee’s grandmother Monthakan, a fashion-forward, guitar-playing rockstar of sorts.

Another subplot about Wandee’s BFF Plakao being asexual is half-heartedly executed, as it unfolds like a forced attempt to squeeze in some information about sexual diversity and asexuality. GMMTV should maybe do a full-fledged series about an asexual protagonist navigating through the challenging waters of romantic relationships. Drake by the way portrays Plakao with a casual charm. He is a practical, laidback doctor, who serves as a reliable friend and confidante to Dr. Wandee.

“Wandee Goodday” has an upbeat, catchy soundtrack, cheery visuals, and, of course, the lead pair looks amazing together. However, the creators begin to overstretch the romance a bit in the second half, keeping the lead characters in a “confused” stage, despite it being glaringly evident to everybody around them that they are madly in love with each other. Except for Dr. Ter, who chooses to be in denial because of his own slow awakening to Wandee’s charms. Although Pod Suphakorn Sriphothong, who plays Dr. Ter, is excellent in the role and could’ve used more screen time, maybe more scenes in the vein of comical rivalry between him and Yoryak.

The climactic episode was packed with clichés, and a major subplot regarding Yoryak’s struggles with a past trauma is solved in a far too simplistic manner. However, the last few minutes of the show close with a beautiful celebration of love and give Wandee and Yoryak an almost picture-perfect ending. I say “almost” because if you practically dwell on the way “Wandee Goodday” ends, it only marks a new chapter of upheaval in their romance. And for a “friends with benefits” tale, the series isn’t as steamy as it could’ve been! Anyway, Inn Sarin Ronnakiat and Great Sapol Assawamunkong are too freaking cute together, so watch the show for their fresh, electric chemistry.

 “Wandee Goodday” is available on YouTube.

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Find Me Falling Review: Where A Fading Rockstar Finds His Tribe

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Pro tip: If you haven’t seen the trailer for the Netflix romance “Find Me Falling,” then just go into it blind. I saw the trailer after watching the movie, and it gives away the whole story. It’s not a twisty suspense or thriller, but creators really need to start making better teasers that don’t reveal crucial sub-plots.

Directed and written by Stelana Kliris, “Find Me Falling” is a summer-tinged romance about John Allman (Harry Connick Jr.), a once-famous rock star from New York who moves to a newly bought beachside house in Cyprus. John wants to keep a low profile; however, he learns his property is a popular suicide spot (like the “Suicide Points” at hilly tourist spots in India) and people often flock to the property to jump to their deaths. As if that weren’t problem enough, locals soon discover his identity, leading to a string of suitors lining for him. But the most interesting of them all is Sia (Agni Scott), an old flame who is still single and may or may not be ready to start something serious again. Ali Fumiko Whitney plays Melina, a young singer who meets John while delivering groceries to his place, and the two bond over music.

At just about ninety minutes long, “Find Me Falling” is essentially about an artist escaping to an island and finding his life changing as he makes new friends and reconnects with his former love, Sia. I really liked the opening minutes of the film, where it’s revealed that John got a great deal on his new beach house because the place is known for people falling to their deaths. So, the title of the film is a clever play on both falling in love and falling/stumbling in life.

Harry Connick Jr. and Agni Scott don’t have a lot of chemistry as former lovers John and Sia, but that’s also because there isn’t much time in the movie for their romance to take center stage. Instead, there are multiple little sub-plots for comic relief, like an old lady who wants death to strike her soon, or an over-friendly cop who tries his best to play matchmaker for John. There are also those who try to jump off the cliff in front of his property. Yet, these different characters are amusing and comical in their own way.

For a romantic drama, “Find Me Falling” is a dreamy-looking movie, courtesy of the beautiful beaches and buildings featured throughout the runtime, and a charming soundtrack is the icing on the cake. It’s a little like a Nicholas Sparks romance novel, but not as emotionally tumultuous.

You can stream “Find Me Falling” on Netflix.

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She’s Running on Fumes Comic Book Series Review: 1980s Crime Drama

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“My dad would do almost any stupid thing to prove there’s nobody better than him.”

This was one of the most fun quotes in “She’s Running on Fumes”, a six-part comic book series by Dennis Hopeless, Hilary Jenkins, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, which follows Jeannie, a young mother dealing with the messy and dangerous consequences of marrying an idiot prone to committing rash crimes.

Set in the 1980s, this comic book series unfolds a tale of desperation, resilience, and crisis management in the times of life-and-death scenarios, all narrated from the perspective of Jeannie’s child. The series, laden with a noir-like mood and a frenetic art style, immerses readers in the tumultuous world of Jeannie, who finds herself in the debt of some really bad people, because her reckless husband Jodie gets grievously injured in a car crash, losing 4 kilos of cocaine. That’s a lot of money lost. To make things worse, Jodie is immobile and behaves like he lost his sanity post the crash.

This first issue establishes the high-stakes premise, reminiscent of gritty crime dramas like “Griselda.” However, unlike the tales of crime lords carving out new empires, Jeannie’s plans for a fresh start are continuously thwarted by troubles she never sought. The artwork is a polarizing aspect of this series. It’s a vivid, chaotic mix of scratchy lines and bold colors, which looks like the artist used a combination of crayons, sketch pens, and watercolors. I didn’t really enjoy the artwork, even though it complements the unpredictable life Jeannie leads.

Issues #2 to #4 delve deeper into Jeannie’s reluctant plunge into the criminal underworld. Choosing to embrace a life of crime to pay off her debts, she begins working for a chop shop. These chapters portray Jeannie’s relentless hustle, and the story takes several twists and turns, including a surprising discovery that could potentially resolve her financial woes. Yet, the narrative also highlights her frustrating attachment to Jodie, who, despite his recovery from the accident, continues to be a liability. There are a bunch of different characters who make their way through the comics, but none of the side-characters are memorable.

The narration stands out best in the final issue, with Jeannie’s child questioning their mother’s choices and providing a candid, often critical, view of their father. As a reader, you’ll also find yourself frustrated over why Jeannie constantly puts up with Jodie’s unbearable antics. Jodie is the kind of guy only teenagers would find attractive—the “bad boy” sort—whose rash/cool shenanigans eventually become tiresome. But of course, Jeannie is shown to have met Jodie as a teen who didn’t know any better, and Dennis Hopeless does a solid job of displaying how people become trapped in bad marriages.

The series concludes with a somewhat idealistic resolution in Issue #6, giving Jeannie the closure she desperately needs. Throughout, Dennis Hopeless effectively portrays Jeannie as a resourceful yet beleaguered protagonist, while Hilary Jenkins’ and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s art captures the noir-like essence of her struggles.

Overall, “She’s Running on Fumes” is a decent one-time read.

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Maharaja Movie Ending Explained

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Plot Overview

In the Tamil action-thriller “Maharaja,” Vijay Sethupathi stars as a barber named Maharaja, who embarks on a mission of vengeance after three burglars attack him at home and steal his precious “Lakshmi.”

The Story Begins

The film starts with Maharaja reporting a burglary to the police, explaining that his cherished “Lakshmi” has been stolen. He recounts how three men broke into his home, attacked him, and took “Lakshmi.” He explains that the burglary happened while his daughter Jyothi was away at a sports camp. Upon investigation, the police discover that “Lakshmi” is an old metal dustbin and are convinced that Maharaja is a madman wasting their time. However, Maharaja keeps hounding them to pursue the case, turning up at the station every day.

Why Is Lakshmi Important?

A flashback reveals the significance of Lakshmi. Maharaja’s wife died in a tragic accident while he was buying toys from a shop across the street. A truck crashed into the house where she was sitting with their daughter. The daughter was saved by an iron dustbin that fell on her, shielding her from harm. Maharaja and his daughter, Jyothi, named the dustbin Lakshmi and treated it as a deity and family member because it saved the girl’s life.

The Investigation

Initially, the police dismiss Maharaja’s case, thinking he’s crazy for wanting them to find a dustbin. However, when Maharaja offers a significant bribe to the cops, the police suspect there might be something valuable hidden in the dustbin. They decide to investigate the case and also plan to create a fake dustbin & get a fake suspect to trick Maharaja into giving them the money.

The Burglars

The movie unfolds non-linearly, misleading viewers and the police into thinking only the dustbin is missing. A parallel subplot introduces Selvam (Anurag Kashyap) and Sabari, who run an electrical shop by day and commit burglaries and murders by night. It is implied that they, along with a third unidentified accomplice, targeted Maharaja’s house.

The Night of the Burglary

A flashback in the second half reveals that Jyothi was at home during the burglary, not Maharaja. The three burglars—Selvam, Dhana, and Nallasivam—intended to kill Maharaja but attacked Jyothi instead. After assaulting and brutally beating her, they left her for dead. However, Jyothi survived and asked her father to bring the perpetrators to her so she could ask why they attacked her. Jyothi provides a clue that one of the men had a lump on his back.

Maharaja’s Hunt

Maharaja finds a toll plaza ticket at home, leading him to Dhana. After torturing Dhana, Maharaja learns that one of the accomplices is at the local police station. Maharaja uses the story of the missing Lakshmi to get close to the police and figure out who among them is the culprit.

The Burglars’ Motive

Flashbacks reveal Selvam’s backstory. He bought an expensive gold chain for his daughter’s birthday and went to Maharaja’s barbershop for a shave. While Maharaja stepped out to buy batteries for the razor, Selvam talks on the phone with his accomplice about their burglaries being in the newspapers. Selvam suspects Maharaja of overhearing this, however, he heads home to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. Maharaja finds that Selvam forgot his gold chain and heads out to give it back to him and coincidentally, the police arrive at the same time to arrest him. Selvam believes Maharaja tipped off the police and vowed revenge.

The Climax

The police, seeking to profit from Maharaja, create a fake Lakshmi and involve their informant, Nallasivam, to pose as the thief. They had discovered Jyothi’s assault during their investigation and knew the real culprits. They plan to let Maharaja take his revenge on Nallasivam. When Nallasivam accidentally reveals real details about the crime, Maharaja identifies him as one of the assailants and kills him with the police’s consent.

The Final Twist

The police help Maharaja find the third culprit, Selvam, working at a construction site. During their confrontation, Selvam reveals his motive, blaming Maharaja for his imprisonment and the loss of his family. When Jyothi insults Selvam and throws a bag of gold at him, Selvam recognizes the necklace he had bought for his daughter. He realizes Jyothi is his own daughter, Ammu, who was saved by Lakshmi. A fuller flashback reveals that Maharaja had gone with his family to return the gold chain to Selvam’s wife, and it was when the truck hits the house, killing Selvam’s wife and Maharaja’s wife and daughter. Overwhelmed by guilt for orchestrating his own daughter’s assault, Selvam jumps to his death.

Thus, the tragic story concludes with Maharaja’s quest for Lakshmi revealing deeper layers of misunderstanding and misplaced revenge.

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‘Like, Follow, Trafficked: Insta’s Fake Guru’ Review

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It seems all it takes is a million followers for the words of ‘influencers’ to be considered gospel by some. The BBC Eye documentary Like, Follow, Trafficked: Insta’s Fake Guru investigates how former Brazilian model Kat Torres used her ‘rags to riches’ story to rebrand herself as a ‘life coach,’ exploiting young, gullible women and forcing them into sex work.

The BBC documentary, directed by Jack Garland, features interviews with multiple people associated with Kat Torres, including victims, former clients, friends, and even an ex-husband. Torres was convicted in June 2024 and sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of human trafficking. She came under the FBI’s radar due to the disappearance of two Brazilian women, whose families alleged they were coerced into living with Kat in America.

Running for about 56 minutes, the documentary quickly takes viewers through Kat’s rise to popularity, her modeling career, and her association with rich and famous people, including Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio. Her curated profile led young women like Ana, one of Kat’s victims, to believe she was a self-made success story who overcame poverty, childhood abuse, and violence to become a celebrity. Through her services as a ‘life coach,’ Kat promised to transform her clients’ lives. However, interviews with Kat’s friends reveal that much of what she said were half-truths or outright lies. Kat would target the most vulnerable of her clients, convince them into flying to the U.S to work for her, win their trust, and then force them into prostitution.

A still from the BBC Documentary

Some viewers may find it hard to sympathize with Kat’s victims, wondering why these women fell for such an obvious fraud. However, it’s important to understand that these victims were already at rock bottom, making them easy prey for vultures. Desperation, superstition, blind belief, and hope led many women into Kat’s trap. One victim mentioned how she feared Kat would perform black magic and curse her if she didn’t comply. “She took these girls and convinced them to do whatever she wanted, just like a cult,” a childhood friend of Kat reveals in her interview.

Like, Follow, Trafficked: Insta’s Fake Guru ends with a compelling conclusion that makes this BBC documentary a must-watch. The BBC Eye team obtained a court order to interview Kat Torres in prison. The documentary concludes with the con-queen herself on camera, candidly talking to the journalists as if she were on a talk show, denying all accusations and charges against her. “I am in a real jail, with real people that committed real crimes. We are talking about people who killed 10 people,” Kat says on camera. As if it’s absurd for her to be there. Despite plenty of evidence against her, Kat claims innocence, her interview serving as an excellent example of how sociopaths’ function.

Watch the documentary on YouTube.

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Happiness Vol 10 Review: Bittersweet End to Blood-Soaked Saga

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

The cliffhanger with which Shuzo Oshimi ended “Happiness” Volume 9 was such a frustrating plot twist! Makoto Okazaki swoops into the ‘Blood of Happiness’ cult premises, then bites the creepy psychotic villain Sakurane, leaving readers in suspense over whether Sakurane will become a vampire or die a brutal death. Contrary to the title, “Happiness” has been a sad gore-fest in most volumes, so readers know the story can swing either way.

“Happiness” Volume 10 opens with a grisly panel of Okazaki digging his vampire fangs into Sakurane’s neck, while several bloodied cult members watch like zombies. I’ve been meaning to mention it a bunch of times, but I like how Shuzo Oshimi often draws the sky in various scenes like it’s from Vincent van Gogh‘s famous painting “Starry Night.” While van Gogh intended to capture the “sunrise in all its glory,” his oil-on-canvas painting exuding the dreamy, surreal beauty he intended to portray, in Oshimi’s black-and-white horror manga, the multiple spiral strokes make the sky look nightmarish, disturbing, and often in sync with the story’s violent scenes.

This volume marks the finale for the manga series, and I was definitely happy that Shuzo Oshimi gives conclusive endings to the primary protagonists of the tale. Be it Sakurane, Saku, Yuki, Okazaki, or Shojo, we get to know what happens to each of them. The elusive “happiness” that everybody was looking for is achieved in the climax by a few of them, even though it meant different things for different characters—like Sakurane’s happiness lies in becoming an immortal vampire who slaughters children for food.

The final chapters of “Happiness” open with graphic violence and deaths and then move on to a surprising time-jump that focuses on how the primary players have been living their lives. Even though some of the events are ordinary and mundane, there’s always an unsettling tension pervading the pages, making you wonder who’ll die next.

However, the climax brims with a bitter-sweet ode to human emotions, connections, and aspirations. Shuzo Oshimi gives readers a pretty satisfactory end, bringing Okazaki’s journey full circle. All those who survive the violent twists get to move on with their lives. It’s an emotional ending, and not as bleak as I thought it would be!

Rating: 4 on 5.

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Mean Girls Review: Regina Reigns, Cady Crumbles

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“How far would you go to be popular and hot? Would you resist temptation? No, you would not! Just admit it, sometimes Mean is what you are, Mean is easier than nice.” – lyrics from the opening song of “Mean Girls” (2024)

It’s been ages since I last saw the 2004 “Mean Girls” movie starring Lindsay Lohan, and a musical version two decades later was just the right kind of twist the high-school drama needed. Inspired by Rosalind Wiseman’s novel “Queen Bees and Wannabes”, the 2024 “Mean Girls” too has been written by Tina Fey, and stars Reneé Rapp as Regina George. Trivia – Reneé Rapp made her Broadway debut in 2019 as Regina George in the movie’s stage musical adaptation. Why the movie makers simply went with her for the film too is easy to see – she oozes the sass, arrogance, screen presence, and ‘mean girl’ vibe needed of Regina George. Besides, she’s got a great singing voice.

Directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., “Mean Girls” opens with a catchy intro song titled “Cautionary Tale,” sung by artsy BFFs Janis ‘Imi’ike (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian Hubbard (Jaquel Spivey), about the perils of being mean. Angourie Rice plays protagonist Cady Heron, the new girl in high school who was home-schooled by her mother (Jenna Fischer) in Kenya and catches the attention of the Plastics, an exclusive clique of three popular girls led by Regina George. The other two Plastics are Gretchen Wieners (Bebe Wood), who has the tea on everybody, and Karen Shetty (Avantika), described as “the dumbest person you’ll ever meet.” Cady gets pretty cozy with the Plastics and even seems to like them until she develops a huge crush on Regina’s ex, Aaron (Christopher Briney), setting the stage for rivalry with Regina.

Angourie Rice looks bored out of her wits as Cady in the film; she lends no personality to the character and makes you wish Gretchen and Karen had more scenes. Reneé Rapp as Regina, overshadows her in each scene, even when her character is down in the dumps. For me, Lindsay Lohan’s Cady was without doubt the protagonist of the 2004 “Mean Girls”, but this one is all about Regina George’s dominance, even though she is a bossy, intimidating, overbearing, cheating, unapologetic bitch. Christopher Briney (he played the lead in The Summer I Turned Pretty) is kinda forgettable as Cady’s crush Aaron, by the second-half you won’t even remember he is the trigger for the feud between Cady and Regina.

Auli’i Cravalho and Jaquel Spivey are both feisty, and spunky as the art kids who first befriend Cady and guide her through school. Despite just one song in “Mean Girls,” Avantika as Karen is the most hilarious character in the musical. It was fun to see the Indian kid getting to play the popular, beautiful, dumb one for a change, instead of the usual awkward nerd. Whoever cast Busy Philipps as Regina’s mother should get a raise. For a second, I thought she was maybe Reneé Rapp’s real mom (she isn’t); the similarity is uncannily good. Tina Fey and Tim Meadows play Ms. Norbury and Mr. Duvall, teachers at the high school, the same characters they played in the 2004 movie.

Since this “Mean Girls” is a musical, its songs are a mix of hits and misses. Apart from the opening track, the song “Apex Predator,” performed by Auli’i Cravalho and Jaquel Spivey, is a groovy number. However, its choreography was too literal and over-the-top—the actors dance around like animals, making the song sequence look like an absurd workshop from a drama school. Karen Shetty’s one song titled “Sexy,” about how every day should be Halloween, was entertainingly shot like a live TikTok video where she keeps changing outfits. The screen soon fills up with other TikTokers recreating her song, with their screens displaying “Sexy @KarenShetty” at the bottom.

Some of the songs in the second half feel ill-timed, with actors breaking into song when you’d rather see more of the drama. For instance, like the original “Mean Girls” movie, one of the primary conflicts centers around the infamous “Burn Book,” a scrapbook where the Plastics write down horrid things about the girls they hate. There’s uproar over this “Burn Book,” and teachers are forced to intervene, making all the girls participate in an exercise where they confess and apologize for a misdemeanor they aren’t proud of. As things get interesting, a character breaks into a song when most of us would rather see more of those confessions about mean deeds!

The climax is predictable and cutesy, where “Plastics and Math nerds” party together, and BFFs Imi and Damian leave viewers with a familiar message: don’t be a mean girl. In different words. “Mean Girls” could’ve been shorter, but for those who are up for a fun, Gen-Z version of the old movie, this musical is an entertaining one-time watch.

You can stream “Mean Girls” on Prime Video.

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The Boys Season 4 Episode 8 Review

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“We Will Make America Super Again!”

Frenchie is busy working on creating the new supe-killing virus, under the watchful eye of Kimiko and under tonnes of pressure from MM. Meanwhile, Homelander is occupied with his new mission to ensure Victoria Neuman lands in the Oval Office and becomes his puppet. However, Butcher seems to have completely different plans. It’s an all-out war for power in “The Boys” Season 4 finale, even though MM is convinced his team is the suicide squad.

If you’d remember, Episode 7 of “The Boys” ended with a gritty twist: the mysterious shapeshifter working for Sister Sage takes the form of Annie AKA Starlight and successfully tricks Hughie into unwittingly allowing them access to the top-secret files. Episode 8 focuses on multiple questions, rapidly answered in the action-packed finale. How long before the boys figure out they’ve been infiltrated? Will they be able to save President-elect Robert Singer from being assassinated? How long till the super-killer virus is ready to get rid of Victoria Neuman and Homelander? What about Ryan’s increasing rebellious streak?

The writers immediately answer my biggest question from Episode 7 of “The Boys” – how did the shifter know extremely private things about Annie? It turns out, the supe is a mash-up of Mystique and Rogue from X-Men! An amusing “Annie versus Annie” face-off awaits, even though the combat wasn’t as exciting as I hoped it would be. However, Eric Kripke and his team deliver a fast-paced finale by trimming down on the political chatter that dominated some of the earlier episodes.

The finale is not as bloodily gory as “The Wisdom of the Ages” chapter, the one where Homelander brutally massacres an entire floor of Vought employees, nor as hilarious as the barn chapter (Episode 5), where super-animals terrorize the boys, but it’s one hell of a finale. Butcher, who has been wallowing in misery and still hallucinating (Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Kessler continues to whisper genocidal ideas into his ears), finally buckles up to execute the biggest twists of the season. He stuns the boys with a surprise visit in a crucial scene, performs a grisly act, then walks away from the team, turning to leave them with a goodbye message. He turns around, smiles, beginning his sentence with “oh, by the way…” and I was half-expecting him to say “don’t be a cunt,” but instead, he says “you’re all fucking welcome.”

The episode marks some unexpected deaths, panic, and a heck of a cliffhanger, almost like the ending of “Gen V.” And like I’ve already mentioned in earlier reviews – if you haven’t seen “Gen V,” watch it to get better context of some of the things that happen in this season of “The Boys.”

You can stream “The Boys” on Prime Video.

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