When I saw this trailer, there was no doubt that I had to see it. Going into it, I was hoping that it wouldn't harp on black trauma as some black horror movies do.

The cinematography in this was breathtaking with unique lens that give a 70's grain to it. It produces almost a nostalgic feeling to the first act of the movie. So, when the horror really sets, it snaps you out of the haze. The crafting of the narrative and characters is intrinsic to the subject matter of the story. You notice small easter eggs that pay homage to those in the Black community that made headlines for their unjust deaths.

It's a powerful story about a girl who tries to play God in a community that has essentially lost all faith in livelihood. Some audience members may struggle to understand the tone of the story because of the way the subject matter is handled in the story. However, it's a creative reimagining of Frankenstein and horror fans deserve more stories like this!

This movie is sure to do well via streaming with it's genre mashup but if you can see it in person make an effort to do so. It's visually striking on the big scale and the lead actress has an amazingly expressive face. You want to see her push up her glasses while 100 feet high. You want to see her thinking.

It's a straight forward retelling of Frankenstein in a different setring. The context is the ordinary and challenging life of an exceptional young black woman surrounded by death. Great debut for virtually unknown director and I hope to see whatever he does going forward. But this is clearly straight from his heart. If you are interested in horror of any flavor, family stories, what it means to be gifted, or the impact of police brutality and drugs on communities this is something you'll want to see.

My family and I got to see this movie in L. A. at a debut that featured the director and cast for a Q&A afterward. While the title and the gory horror might draw viewers in, I think it's the more subtle horror that will make this movie live in their heads afterward.

Yes, there's a nerdy, defiant lead character who raises the dead in her lab. Yes, there's a zombie-like echo of her brother who terrorizes the neighborhood. But what follows are a few of the most impactful moments from my perspective:

1. Vicaria's conflict with her teacher and the teacher's transformation of her anger into police power in the classroom.

2. Vicaria's dad and his pushback on that teacher.

3. The death of Vicaria's friend and failed resuscitation attempt.

4. The family dinner moment when the police start banging on the door.

These moments create a strong sense of an always-hostile world experienced by the Black lead characters. The horror here is less in Vicaria's experiments, and more in the casual wielding of deadly power by white authority figures such as the police and the teacher. Their moments of joy are rare and fleeting. The baseline experience is existential dread.

Please go watch this movie. If you and your kids are OK with gory horror, take them, too.