Nick Cavuoti
Bio
An avid movie watcher, and I have been writing short stories and novels on the side for years now. Hoping to hone my craft here on Vocal!
Stories (61)
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Review: "Hellraiser"
Clive Barker is known for a certain kind of horror that revels in pain with slight tones of sex. His work in Hellraiser is no exception in this case with its kinky overtones and visually striking villain, Pinhead. The original films had their share of fans due to the visceral nature of their proceedings. All of the things you could expect to see in a remake are here, such as sadomasochistic monsters and a cast of morally questionable characters. Still, unlike the original, it doesn’t stick the landing, nor does it have bite.
By Nick Cavuoti3 years ago in Geeks
Review: "Don't Worry Darling"
Don’t Worry Darling has been on the wrong side of the internet for a long time leading up to its release in theaters for all the drama it has brought to Hollywood and its stars. Movies are supposed to bring drama, but the behind-the-scenes issues behind this film are almost laughable. Between the relationship between star and director Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles is a sore point, as well as the tension between Wilde and Florence Pugh. To go into all the rumors and drama behind the scenes would be more than enough to go into an entirely different article, but still worth mentioning as it will indeed affect how some view the film. At its core, Don’t Worry Darling is a psychological thriller that features some terrific work from its main star in Pugh as well as some incredible cinematography.
By Nick Cavuoti3 years ago in Geeks
Review: "Top Gun Maverick"
Top Gun Maverick by all logic is a film that should not work, but just as the action at times defies logic, the film is just a blast to watch. At times it feels as if Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt had been displaced from his Mission Impossible films and planted here in aviation school amongst the best of the best of their kind. Especially when watching the opening scene of Pete Mitchell “Maverick” taking a plane and making it exceed the fastest velocity a human has ever taken a plane. The way that his co-workers look up in awe at computer screens and declare Maverick to be the fastest man alive feels a bit absurd and self-congratulatory of the action maniac that is Cruise, despite these moments of absurdity, the film is likable, full of heart and just fun.
By Nick Cavuoti3 years ago in Geeks
Review: "Barbarian"
Barbarian is a new horror film that may just be one of the better horror films of the year. It is inherently aware of the downfalls of telling a horror story and the tropes that come with the storytelling of horror and has moments where audiences will surely laugh. It is a tense film with characters that are put in situations that will make the audience feel claustrophobic, but the actors also are perfect in their roles which helps elevate the proceedings quite a bit. It is best to go into this movie knowing as little as possible, as the twists and turns that came at you have a way of making everything a bit more unnerving. Unlike most movie trailers these days, surprisingly the trailers and advertisement for Barbarian gives away nothing outside of the film’s initial setup which may lead to driving audiences away.
By Nick Cavuoti3 years ago in Geeks
Review: "Stranger Things 4"
The streaming giant that is Netflix has become known for many of its Original shows, but none seem to reach the heights of popularity such as Stranger Things. What once began as a show that echoed the same feel of the 80’s films that Spielberg gave us has now evolved into a much darker affair with its fourth season so far. Due to the three-year hiatus between seasons three and four, the season is much bigger in scope and runtime as well as what it is dealing with in terms of trauma and loss. They even decided to break up the season into volumes, the final two episodes of the season will come out on July 1st, and yet even with the season not over, it feels like a more complete season than previous years. With the actors being more mature, it has allowed the writers to get more creative and daring with the content which they definitely did. Right out of the gate, the show proves to the audience that it is much more dark and terrifying. Thankfully, the show has aged with its cast and fan base. To an extent, this season echoes some of the same themes as Nightmare on Elm Street, a popular film series that debuted in the 80s.
By Nick Cavuoti4 years ago in Geeks
Review: "Fresh"
Fresh starts off making a commentary on how stale and gross online dating can be. In many ways, the way people view people on these apps ends up the same way as we look at meat. All of this takes place rather quickly in the beginning as the viewer is treated to seeing Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) as she goes out with a loser from her bland menu of endless app scrolling. The date goes poorly but it doesn’t stop her from losing hope of finding love. It is an intriguing start that seems a bit ho-hum but quickly takes a turn into a horror-comedy that will certainly surprise audiences.
By Nick Cavuoti4 years ago in Geeks
Review: "The Adam Project"
The Adam Project is a big film for the giant streaming service in Netflix that delivers in what it promises to its viewers. Filled to the brim with star talent, you can expect to have a few good laughs watching this film along with an enjoyable ride throughout the runtime. However, a lot of the Netflix original films haven’t been well-recieved by critics up until this one. A lot of that can be attributed to writer and director Shawn Levy allowing Ryan Reynolds, the film’s star, to do what he does best. Beyond the humor you could come to expect from a Ryan Reynolds-led movie, The Adam Project features some shiny action sequences along with some softer and quieter heartwarming moments.
By Nick Cavuoti4 years ago in Geeks
Review: "Scream"
The original Scream struck a chord among horror fans alike that spent time thinking about John Carpenter’s Halloween and other slasher films and how all of them had similar pitfalls. The original Scream was horror-comedy at its finest along with how it made fun of the genre. Kevin Willamson and Wes Craven created some unique in a failing genre. Fast forward from 1996, to now, and the conversation about the genre has again shifted. The slasher films have become less popular in favor of thought-provoking horror, however, this installment of the beloved series comes off as a “re-quel” that acts as a love letter to the franchise and to Wes Craven the original director. Clearly, James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick crafted this film with the original Scream in mind to pay homage to Craven, who passed away but they wanted to do so in such a way that feels consistent with Williamson and Craven’s voice but also distinct enough with its own flare that is more in line with the times. At times, it works well, but mostly, it feels largely too familiar and predictable.
By Nick Cavuoti4 years ago in Geeks
Review: "The Batman". Top Story - March 2022.
The character of Batman has been synonymous with film ever since he appeared in Tim Burton's take of the Caped Crusader back in the late 80s. It is easy to say that the character will forever be a staple in movie theaters, but many would argue that no film has truly captured what makes the great so great on the comic book panels. Until now. Burton's take on the character was much more cartoonish, Nolan's was more realistic and grounded in reality stripping away any of the larger-than-life elements of the character. Matt Reeves noir thriller film feels like it is straight ripped from the pages of many comic book fans' beloved stories. Reeves depiction of Gotham feels alive, and terrifying in its musty and moody crime-filled streets. It clearly draws inspiration from "The Long Halloween" and "No Man's Land", two stories that were loosely used even in Nolan's trilogy. Some may find fault in how each iteration of Batman has gotten darker and darker, but the character and the world he occupies need to be closer to what Reeves has crafted with this film for it to truly work.
By Nick Cavuoti4 years ago in Geeks
Review: "The Matrix: Resurrections"
The original Matrix that the Wachowski brothers created way back in 1999 was ahead of its time with its spectacular action sequences as well as its special effects. Fast forward twenty-plus years and the original is still beloved while the subsequent sequels are less so. It isn't surprising to see that Warner Brothers studio would opt for a soft reboot in Resurrections, but at the end of the film, it is increasingly difficult to question whether this film was even necessary. Neo and Trinity are back, but yet Morpheus and Agent Smith are recast in a weird decision as there is an intent to have a younger cast for a new potential trilogy, but the way the characters are made isn't treading new ground or particularly interesting, just like the central plot.
By Nick Cavuoti4 years ago in Geeks
Review: "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
Tom Holland's iteration has always been viewed in an indifferent light. While he captures the boyish-ness of the character, the way he has been written has always led people to believe he is more "Iron Boy" than the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. This is largely due to the fact that he has always received help from Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark in the form of his tech. The genius of Spider-Man: No Way Home helps eliminate that as in the grand picture of this "Homecoming" trilogy for this version of Spider-Man is one of a long origin story where a boy who wants to be an Avenger becomes a fully realized character who wants to do good. Tom Holland also does a tremendous job in the role and may have silenced his critics with just this one film.
By Nick Cavuoti4 years ago in Geeks
Review: "The Last Duel"
Ridley Scott is a renowned director in the industry who has made some films that are viewed as absolute classics but he also has a bit of a reputation. For all of his great films he has just as many uneven films that feature great set pieces, excellent action but suffer in pacing and overindulgence in being "Ridley Scott." The Last Duel falls somewhere in a weird place between one of his great films and one of his uneven films. He doesn't compromise in his films, for better or for worse, as he has a clear and concise view for all of them even if it doesn't fit for modern times. Along with Scott in the directing chair, the film has incredible talent in front of the camera and on the page. For the first time in a long time, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have penned a script, which may just be one of the weaker parts of the film sadly. The gold they hit on in Good Will Hunting, has not carried over to The Last Duel as it is largely an uneven period piece that takes too long.
By Nick Cavuoti4 years ago in Geeks
