Movie Reviews: Kin (2018) / See You Yesterday (2019)

Kin Movie.

I've been watching a few movies on Netflix lately and thought I'd draw your attention to a couple of Sci-Fi & Fantasy flicks that, coincidentally, would probably make for a good double feature since they share a few similar themes. Both are well acted, have interesting stories, and are well worth your time.

Kin (2018)

This movie did get a cinema release but apparently did not do so well. It's a shame because it's a really great film that, almost surprisingly, tells a complete story while leaving itself open to a second film, that could be amazing but isn't essential to this movies story.

Set in Detroit, a lonely kid, stumbles across a weapon unlike anything from this world, unwittingly drawing himself and his ex-con brother into a secret war, that sees them on the run from the law.

I will admit Kin isn't quite what I expected. Weapon aside the story is far more about family relationships. Though there's just enough interesting future tech in this to keep you hooked into the sci-fi aspect.

In fact the owners of the weapon are almost an aside to the other events in the film, until the end where it all becomes satisfyingly clear and you realize, you might just want to see a sequel even though it's not really needed.

All of the performances in the movie are well acted. Miles Tuitt as Eli carries the lead role convincingly. You completely believe he's just your average kid trying to make the best of his situation.

Jack Reynor as Jimmy, Eli's older brother by adoption, is very likeable. Despite his character's life choices, you feel he is trying to do the right thing but never quite gets there.

James Franco's performance as Taylor, something of a small time criminal trying to be a kingpin, is particularly great. Somehow he makes you kind of like his character despite his all round ability to be nothing but a nasty piece of work.

Overall an enjoyable film that will have you wondering how it's going to tie everything up in the end, and will surprise you that it actually does.

See You Yesterday Movie.

See You Yesterday (2019)

A Netflix movie, See You Yesterday, is about two Brooklyn teen prodigies who try to master the art of time travel. When a tragic police shooting occurs, they embark on a series of dangerous trips to the past to try to change the outcome.

Firstly kudos to this movie for a great, and unexpected cameo. You'll know it when you see it if you're a fan of time travel films at all (and haven't been spoiled by looking at the cast list). It has little to nothing to do with anything other than maybe reinforcing the two lead character's credibility as total and complete science geeks, but it's great all the same.

Unlike Kin, I'm not sure if this movie actually tells a complete story. I think it does but it definitely leaves you thinking maybe you need to give it another watch just to get the chain of events right, to be sure.

Despite that, like most time travel films, you'll probably be debating the pseudo time travel science, along with the timeline, at great length, if you're one to take deep dives on impossible movie science.

Eden Duncan-Smith and Dante Crichlow play Claudette 'C.J.' Walker and Sebastian Thomas respectively, with CJ being the more outgoing and spirited while Sebastian is somewhat more cautious and thoughtful. Together they have good 'chemistry' (pun clearly intended) as super brainy science nerds. In fact, I'd probably watch a whole TV series based on the travels of these two through time.

Plot wise the story is pretty straight forward for time travel movies. The protagonists need to change something in time in order to create a desired future. The fun is in seeing what they do and what effects their efforts have, though this movie does deal with some pretty dark events that stop it from being a light hearted 'teen' movie.

My only real criticism is that everyone seems to become an expert in the mechanics of time travel really quickly, along with some very convenient but unrelated tech becoming a crucial component to extending the science. Not especially uncommon with time travel films though since it's pointless trying to explain impossible science in great detail. It just has to sound like it would work.

Otherwise this is a pretty fun flick, in so much as a flick that uses gun violence as a backdrop for the main plot can be. There are some great light hearted moments prior to the film's stakes really escalating, after which time, you do get more engaged with the mechanics of C.J. and Sebastian's revised plans.

I did enjoy See You Yesterday but, as I said, I'm not entirely sure the ending gave me enough to see it as a completed story. It implies an outcome but I'd need a rewatch to really sort out what that is. Maybe you'll get it on the first time around.

Good movie though. I could totally see this being developed into a TV series.