Michael: A Review That’s Real, Raw, and Honestly a Bit Messy

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Okay, so I’m sitting here trying to write this review, and I honestly don’t even know where to start.

I went to see the movie “Michael” last Friday night, mostly because I had nothing better to do and the trailers looked kinda weird.

I went in blind, which I usually hate doing, but for some reason, it felt right this time.

The title is just a name, you know? It’s generic, but the vibe of the poster was really cool.

I mean, just look at the colors, it’s got this really dark blue and almost black background with these bright red streaks.

It really drew me in.

So, what’s the movie actually about? Well, it follows this guy named Michael, who is just trying to survive in a city that doesn’t want him there.

That sounds super cliche, I know, but the way they handle it…

it’s different.

It’s not like those typical Hollywood action movies where the hero has a quip for everything.

Michael is quiet.

He’s brooding.

He’s got this weight on his shoulders that you can almost feel through the screen.

The first act is a little slow, like, really slow. Oddly enough,

I remember looking at my watch during one of the early scenes because nothing seemed to be happening.

But then, boom, the movie hits you. Here’s the interesting part.

It hits you hard.

The Plot is Simple, But the Execution is Confusing

I think the biggest thing that stands out about this movie is how messy the timeline is.

It jumps back and forth between the past and the present constantly.

At first, I found it really annoying. Oddly enough,

I was sitting there thinking, “Okay, did that just happen or not?” But then, as the movie went on, I started to get it.

It makes you feel like Michael must be feeling, like your brain is trying to process trauma.

It’s a stylistic choice, I guess, but it works for the most part.

There’s this one scene where Michael is walking through an alleyway, and he’s remembering his childhood.

It’s super short, like, thirty seconds, but it’s so well done.

It’s just a little girl’s laugh echoing, and then it cuts to him walking into a dark room.

It’s weird, but it’s effective.

You don’t need a lot of dialogue to explain what’s going on.

The movie relies on visuals, which is rare these days.

Everyone loves to hear their main character monologue about their feelings for twenty minutes straight.

Michael doesn’t do that.

He just does.

So, if you’re looking for a clear, linear story, this probably isn’t the movie for you.

It’s more like a puzzle that you have to solve while you watch.

I actually liked that though.

It kept me on my toes.

I think the writer really wanted to challenge the audience.

I tried to explain the plot to my friend later that night, and I basically just gave up after ten minutes.

I just told her, “It’s about a guy named Michael, and stuff happens.” That’s really all you need to know.

The Acting: Raw and Unfiltered

Okay, let’s talk about the cast because this is where the movie really shines. Oddly enough,

The lead actor, whoever he is, he is incredible.

I’ve never seen him in anything else before, but he owns the screen.

Every single time he’s on camera, you can’t look away.

He doesn’t do big dramatic gestures.

He doesn’t yell. But there’s a catch.

He just looks tired.

And that’s why it’s so good. Now think about that for a second.

You believe that he’s a guy who has been through hell and back.

It’s a subtle performance, but it’s powerful.

There’s this one scene near the end where he’s crying, but he’s trying really hard not to do it.

You can see the tears welling up in his eyes, but he’s biting his lip and looking away.

It’s so painful to watch, but in a good way.

It’s like you’re rooting for him so hard, even though you don’t know what he’s fighting for.

I mean, I get that he’s fighting for survival, but there’s something deeper there.

I can’t put my finger on it.

The supporting cast is good too.

The guy playing the antagonist is super creepy. But there’s a catch.

Like, I literally felt uncomfortable in my seat a few times. Oddly enough,

He has this really intense stare that he does, and it’s honestly terrifying.

It’s refreshing to see a villain who isn’t just one-dimensional.

He’s got motives.

Even though you hate him, you sort of understand why he’s doing what he’s doing.

It makes the conflict in the movie way more interesting.

Visuals That Pop

Okay, I have to give a shoutout to the cinematography.

The lighting in this movie is just fantastic. Oddly enough,

It’s really dark, which I know sounds boring, but it’s the good kind of dark.

It’s atmospheric.

It makes everything feel heavy and serious.

They use shadows so effectively to hide things, or to reveal things when the light hits just right. Oddly enough,

It’s like a painting, but in motion.

There’s this one sequence where Michael is running through the subway station.

It’s pitch black, and you can only see him with these random flashes of light from the passing trains.

It’s chaotic and fast-paced. Now think about that for a second.

It really captures the feeling of being trapped in a dark place.

I felt like I was running right next to him.

It’s a really cool effect, and I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it in other movies.

Also, the color palette is distinct.

It’s not just black and white.

There are these really cool blue and teal tones mixed in.

It gives the movie a real identity.

It doesn’t look like every other generic action movie that comes out every week.

It looks like something original.

Something made with passion.

I honestly think the visual style alone is worth seeing the movie for.

The Sound Design

Let’s not forget about the audio, because that’s a huge part of the experience.

The score is haunting.

It’s this mix of weird, distorted instruments and soft, melodic piano.

It’s really atmospheric and keeps you on edge.

But the sound effects are just as good.

The way they use silence is brilliant.

Like, in the quiet parts, you can actually hear your own breathing in the theater.

It makes you feel really present in the scene.

I remember one specific moment where Michael is hiding in a closet.

The sound of his heartbeat is so loud. Here’s the interesting part.

It’s really creepy and adds a lot of tension to the scene. Oddly enough,

You know something bad is about to happen, but you don’t know when.

It’s that classic suspense technique, but it works so well here.

They didn’t need to use loud noises to scare you.

They just let the silence do the work.

It’s a testament to how good the director is at his job.

Final Thoughts

So, is the movie perfect? No. Now think about that for a second.

Is it messy? Absolutely.

But I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

I think it adds to the charm.

It feels real.

It feels like a story that actually happened, rather than something that was written in a room full of suits in Hollywood.

I’m probably going to go see it again just to try and figure out what exactly happened in the middle act.

I missed a few details because I was too busy staring at the screen.

At the end of the day, I’m glad I saw it.

It made me think about stuff.

It made me feel stuff.

That’s all you can really ask for from a movie, right? I think if you give it a chance, you might be surprised.

Just don’t go in expecting a typical blockbuster.

It’s more of an art-house piece with a little bit of action thrown in.

It’s a unique experience, and I appreciate that.

You can check out the trailer over at if you’re still on the fence.

Anyway, that’s my take on it. But there’s a catch.

I’m going to go write my movie review for now.

Thanks for reading, I guess.

Image Source: pexels.com

Image source credit: pexels.com

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