Categories 4/5, Horror, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller 
James McAvoy carries this film on one of his many backs. Call me crazy, but I think Anya Taylor-Joy does a disservice to her role in comparison. Nothing egregious happens but I think the part allowed for a stronger presence at a few key moments and she never really got there.
The story itself is enjoyable but does not always unfold itself cleanly. I think some adjustments would elevate the movie further.
Categories 1/5, Movie and Series Reviews, Mystery, Thriller 
That was certainly a movie. Two actors I enjoy couldn’t save this over simplified and yet somehow convoluted mess. Shelve this and just go watch Bad Times at the El Royale to get a similar but better fix.
Categories 3/5, Crime, Horror, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller 
It is a bold movie but I felt like a lot was being overlooked. Mostly characters not acknowledging obvious things and not acting on their motivations like it would seem they should.
It was not all bad for me though, but the aggravations are akin to bad horror. Which is a shame, because so much of the movie is leagues above schlocky horror.
There is nothing here to be gained. In a sea of films, why subject yourself to this?
Not perfect. It felt like some things got trimmed in editing and a couple of times the reverence for the prior film goes a little too hard. However, I enjoyed it a lot.
A movie that is so far removed from the sincerity of the prior two before it. Not that it doesn’t try, it really tries but its all vapor. The cast is fine but is given very little to shine with. The cinematography doesn’t really add anything either, as sense of scale never really hits hard. The fear of the creatures is also brought down a lot here throughout various scenes.
I really wanted to like this movie, a lot. I think the first two are pretty great but this is not it.
The Instigators struggles to feel cohesive and make sense at times. Not everything is satisfying because it feels like it is making and dropping ideas as it goes. Affleck’s character feels like he shortly devolves into a character of his character.
