Weitiko changed my whole perception of foreign films. I only recently gave them another try, and some were actually pretty enjoyable. Weitiko saved me from fear of subtitles. I feel as if they ruin the experience of the film. However, Weitiko kept me wondering and also pretty surprised. I thought this would be a bad review, but it’s not at all. I left the film feeling fulfilled.

Let’s get into the review.

Synopsis

In the depths of the Maya jungle, a young Maya man hired to deliver hallucinogenic toads stumbles into a spiritual war between indigenous rebels and Euro-Western seekers, led by a parasitic white shaman with a thirst for power-and blood.

Island From Hell

I think the film portrays the idea of hallucinogens very well. Who wouldn’t want a magic psychedelic frog? I am very familiar with hallucinogens. I spent a lot of my 20’s going on fun trips from mushrooms or little tabs of joy. I also know it can get a little scary sometimes. Howeever lets stop talking about me and more about the movie. Weitiko may not have won me over at first with the subtitles, but they made the film worth all the twists and turns. Without being an action film, Weitiko focuses more on the cult they formed with a grumpy Shaman. Their experience starts off simple, a drop off of magic toads, like he has done many times. However, this time he ended up in the wrong spot. The details are easy to figure out at first. The film falls into very creepy vibes.

After the first interaction with the Shaman cult, because you are trying to get a girl. In the jungle, that’s not a wise choice most times. If you don’t accept their offerings, you would offend their god and make your poor soul suffer. The film seems very real, to be completely honest. If Jim Jones built a small empire in the jungle, and we all know how that ended up. It was pretty cool to see the beautiful landscape from above. Also, the scenery in the jungle makes you nervous around every corner. Then came the cave, with another filming location that was beautiful, even in the dark. All of this made the movie worth another watch from me. Not so much in my daily movie list for background noise while I work. Then again, who knows?

In The End

In the end, I can say I fully enjoyed the film, even with the subtitles you had to read or you’d miss the scene. It did not seem to bother me as much with Weitiko. The film also left me wondering about how many ancient tribes are in uncharted territory, and is this all real in life? Sometimes it makes me wonder. The film made me focus on something other than doomscrolling. It was easy to put together, but there are a few surprises that come when you try to escape with one of his cult members. I saw some things that made me wonder about the god they follow, is it man or spiritual?

I bet you have the same question.

The Morrigan has a cool and promising plot line that immediately caught my attention, especially as someone who is a huge consumer of Gaelic mythology and folklore. The film follows an archaeologist who specializes in Gaelic legends as she travels with her teenage daughter to a remote region of Ireland. What begins as a research trip quickly turns into a fight for survival when a vengeful Pagan war goddess is unleashed from her ancient tomb. On paper, this setup feels tailor-made for atmospheric horror, blending history, mythology, and isolation into a potentially gripping experience.

Directed by Colum Eastwood, The Morrigan features a cast that should inspire confidence, including Saffron Burrows (Troy, The Bank Job), Toby Stephens (Die Another Day, Black Sails), and James Cosmo (Braveheart, Troy).

Unfortunately, despite this solid lineup, the film struggles to rise above its limitations. Whether it’s the modest budget, uneven editing, or a combination of both, the execution never fully matches the ambition of the concept. The story has all the right ingredients, but the final product feels undercooked, as if the film never quite finds its footing.

That said, the lighting and cinematography do manage to pull some weight. The film leans heavily into shadow, fog, and bleak landscapes, creating a consistently dreadful atmosphere that suits the material well. There are moments where the visual mood genuinely works, capturing the eerie isolation of rural Ireland and hinting at the ancient terror lurking beneath the surface. These elements suggest that the filmmakers understood the tone they were aiming for, even if they couldn’t fully achieve it.

Where the film falters most is in the performances.

None of the actors truly separate themselves from the material, and the acting often feels stiff or underdeveloped. Rather than grounding the supernatural elements with emotional weight, many scenes come across more like a school talent show than a professional feature film. This lack of believable character work makes it difficult to invest in the stakes, and as a result, the horror never hits as hard as it should.

Cineverse has built a strong reputation in recent years for supporting indie horror, often ranking alongside genre powerhouses like the old Dimension Films and, more recently, XYZ Films. Because of that, expectations for The Morrigan are understandably higher. While it’s inevitable that any studio will have a few misses, this unfortunately feels like one of them. The foundation is there, but the execution fails to capitalize on its potential.

Ultimately, The Morrigan is a film that feels like a missed opportunity. With stronger material, tighter editing, and more compelling performances, it could have been a standout entry in the mythological horror subgenre. Instead, it settles for being an intriguing idea that never fully comes to life, leaving viewers with the sense that they’ve seen the outline of a great film rather than the finished product.

GET READY FOR YOUR MIND TO BE BLOWN…

In 2020, the McManus brothers came out with a film called The Block Island Sound that became a bit of an underground cult hit. I found it to be a compelling little mystery, that put this directing duo on my radar. Five years later they have returned with another highly original film, that improves upon that picture in every way and cements these brothers as independent cinema royalty in my book.

Redux Redux follows Irene, a mother who uses a mechanical box to travel to different parallel worlds. Her daughter was murdered by a serial killer years ago and she has made it her mission to travel to every alternate universe, to kill this man in every one. But, when she comes upon a girl who has been kidnapped by the killer; Irene is forced to change this perpetual cycle or else they both will be condemned for life.

IF YOU THOUGHT TRULY “ORIGINAL FILMS” WERE DEAD… THINK AGAIN.

I have spent the last five years reviewing films, covering hidden gems to try and share them with the rest of the world. There’s a lot of really shitty movies out there, especially in this new age of streaming; so when I find a truly special, original film that I know not many people have heard of, all I want to do is sing its praises to anyone who will listen. It doesn’t happen often, maybe a couple of times a year, but when one of those movies comes along… the pure joy I get from it, is what makes this career worth it. And I got that feeling with Redux Redux.

The McManus Brothers have crafted a film that is hitting on all cylinders. And it really proves that there are no limitations in independent cinema, only the ones that are put on by its creators. And this directing duo take their highly ambitious screenplay and with just a shoestring budget, make it look easy. There are some extremely insane ideas in their script, as this is a sci-fi film through and through, but it’s so grounded in this gritty realism that sometimes you forget you’re watching a film about multiverses.

ITS ACTION-PACKED, EXCEPTIONALLY PERFORMED…

I can’t think of a recent film that has put me on the edge of my seat as much as Redux Redux. The action scenes are pulse-pounding, the tension is palpable, and there are some extremely brutal moments that are shockingly violent. My eyes were glued to the screen from beginning to end, I never checked my phone or even looked at the time… I was locked in. I think it also helps that this movie has an air of mystery surrounding it and you just want to learn more. How does this parallel-universe hopping work? Is there a universe where Irene’s daughter wasn’t murdered? Where did the serial killer hide all of the bodies? There’s just so many layers to the plot, there’s no chance that you would want to look away.

I also have to shout-out the acting, which is way above what one normally expects from a film in this genre. Michaela McManus, sister to the writer/directors of the film, is exceptional as Irene. She is a no-nonsense bad-ass that fucks this guy up from universe to universe. But, she’s also a woman grappling with intense grief and depression, completely worn out by this world, no matter which one she is in. She handles all of the complexities to this character with ease. I genuinely cared for Irene, and without that care, this film would not have worked. Indie Darling Jim Cummings also from The Block Island Sound, as well as The Beta Test and The Last Stop in Yuba County, is an integral supporting player here and if he shows up in a film… you know, almost certainly, that it’s going to be a banger.

…AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING.

Lastly, Redux Redux is also surprisingly deep. It tackles the idea of what happens when a person loses their humanity, someone who has become completely numb to violence and closed themselves off to the rest of the world, in a way that is thoroughly thought-provoking. It leaves the audience with the sort of questions that make you ponder where you stand in your humanity. And any movie that can make you pause and take a good hard look on your insides… is a winner in my book.

THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR ANY LOVER OF CINEMA…

The McManus brothers have crafted a mean, brutal, nail-biting action film that is wrapped in a horrific serial killer thriller and then wrapped up again in a heady, profound sci-fi drama. Redux Redux is a bold, original vision that is so confidently made, you know from the get-go you are in the hands of master storytellers. I have no idea how they pulled this movie off, but holy shit, did they do the damn thing. I 100% recommend Redux Redux to any lover of cinema. Period.

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