Rating:  out of ««««

Running Time: 92 min.

There was a bump, an unknown noise in the night.

The victim goes to take a look. The victim makes sure to leave the lights off because, you know, because it’s more effective that way. There’s a shuffling, a buzzing noise and then the reveal! The flash of a monster coupled with the loudest crescendo of a noise possible that sends a jolt through the body. It’s a good ol’ fashion Jump Scare!!! And if you repeat this scenario about nine times, you have the new excuse for a horror film, Friend Request. It’s lazy, folks. The process and the film. Lazy.

The film is directed by Simon Verhoeven, a man who probably doesn’t believe there is a “b” in the word “subtle” because that would be an understated use of the letter. He gives us a movie filled with nobody characters who die in textbook ways.

It’s hard to give a shit about someone leaving the mortal coil if they only had three lines of sloppy dialogue and yet that is what the movie is filled with. Lazy, lazy stuff.

The plot is this: A nice girl befriends an outsider, a sad girl who sits in the corner and stares at her. The sad girl instantly stalks her. The nice girl lies about going out with friends for her birthday and the sad girl finds out about it through Facebook posts. The sad girl kills herself and curses the nice girl for such a terrible act and then all the nice girl’s friends die. SO SHE CAN KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE ZERO FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK!!! (Que sinister laugh).

We see the nice girl’s number of friends go down and down. The real horror. Social media rejection.

Lazy. And dumb.

Visit: cinemastance.com

By David Pinson
For the Sun

Rating: ««« out of 4 stars

Running Time: 135 min.

It has only been a few weeks since a Stephen King adaptation has been at cinemas. The Dark Tower came and went without much fanfare or success. However, the horror film It seems likely to fare much better with audiences and bring in stronger box office returns. Previously produced as a popular miniseries, the new feature updates the story and adds gruesome and disturbing turns too violent for network television. But does the end result send chills down the spine?

For most, the answer will be yes. In fact, this feature excels at maximizing the creep factor out of its supernatural lead antagonist, an ancient and evil life form known as Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård). Every 27 years in a small town in the state of Maine, the monster comes out of hibernation to terrify and devour children, often using the guise of a clown. The movie begins in 1989, where a new group of young outcasts find themselves targeted by the creature and must do everything they can to survive the onslaught.

Those familiar with the book will know that the events are set over two separate time periods. However, this movie only tackles the first half of the novel, dealing exclusively with the characters as children and their early encounters with Pennywise. In some respects, it’s a wise move, allowing several of the characters a chance to be more developed than they might have been in a more condensed version. The roles of Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor) and Beverly (Sophia Lillis) are given the most emphasis and make the biggest impressions. However, while given much less to work with, the young supporting cast still come across as agreeable and likable.

As with many horror movies, the villain is as important as the heroes. The latest take on Pennywise is certainly chilling, even if some viewers may wonder about the character’s motives and reasoning for not being more aggressive at certain points in the film. Still, CGI technology allows this version to morph disturbingly. It also chases and hunts the kids in a more blunt and physical manner than in the previous version, at times twisting its body around or moving in strange and unnatural ways. Several early attack scenes work well, including a bit with a character being chased through a library. Still, the antagonist’s sewer grate introduction is the film’s highlight and most unsettling sequence.

There’s a real attempt to follow the book as closely as possible here, which does lead to a few story issues. This movie features seven youngsters as its leads and that’s an awful lot of people to deal with. It also means that all of the kids have to encounter Pennywise individually before teaming up. So, even though the scare scenes are effectively rendered, it does become repetitive to see similar variations on a theme occur again and again. Ultimately, this slows the pacing down. And all of the adults in the film come across as utterly horrible, one-note caricatures; they could have used a little more nuance and subtlety.

The filmmakers also have no reservations about throwing the clown on screen as much as possible. He isn’t hidden in shadow and often comes running right at the characters and camera, sometimes extending his jaw for further effect. However, after a time, these actions become less and less frightening and his toothy mouth less disturbing. One could argue that it may be to mirror the emotions of the kids and their growing bravery and response to the threat, but it seems like he’s revealed a bit too frequently.

Still, this horror movie does work well, even if it’s a little longer than it needs to be and appears to be saving the answers to some of its deeper questions for another installment. The flick provides the required scares and will likely be a huge success (guests at the screening I attended were fully enraptured in the proceedings). It has some minor problems and isn’t the best King adaptation to ever hit cinemas. Yet it is a solid creeper that should leave fans and general audiences welcoming the inevitable sequel/resolution.

For more great movie reviews, visit: cinemastance.com

By Glenn Kay 
For the Sun

Money for infrastructure: Transforming our framework

Calling the investment “transformational,” N.M. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act would deliver once-in-a-lifetime funding for broadband, roads, water, climate resilience, and create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth.

“The investments in this bill will go far to further the work my administration has done, and continues to do, to build better lives for New Mexico families,” she said. “I’m proud to have been directly involved in advocating for this legislation, and I applaud President Biden for his leadership and dedication to making these historic investments a reality.”

According to the White House, funding for New Mexico in the bill includes:

$2.5 billion over five years for federal-aid highway apportioned programs

$225 million over five years for bridge replacement and repairs

At least $366 million over five years to improve public transportation options across the state

At least $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state

785,000 New Mexicans (~38 percent of the state) will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access

$355 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state

$38 million over five years to protect against wildfires

$13 million to protect against cyber attacks

$38 million over five years to support the expansion of an electric vehicle charging network in the state

Approximately $90 million over five years for infrastructure development for airports.

The bill also includes $8 billion for clean hydrogen hubs around the country. New Mexico is seeking to jump-start a clean hydrogen economy through the New Mexico Hydrogen Hub Act, which will provide tax incentives to attract capital investment in clean hydrogen infrastructure across multiple sectors of the economy, aggressively reduce carbon emissions in less than a decade while protecting natural resources, and creating a safe, thriving, and equitable clean hydrogen workforce.

Staff Reports

Honoring all who served

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” – George S. Patton

Patton’s words rang true for many in Gallup on Nov. 11, as families, friends and officials honored the veterans for their courageous service this past Veterans Day.

The city enjoyed a day of festivities, including a wreath ceremony, a parade downtown, and the placement of a United States flag to fly high over Gallup, which local veterans erected.

The image of wholesome gratitude seemed to reflect a Norman Rockwell painting, as veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces marched their way to the McKinley County Courthouse plaza. Kids waved their flags, elderly people saluted the vets, and a solemn appreciation was felt by all.

The ceremony following the parade featured David Cuellar of Veterans Helping Veterans, who called all veterans to attention as the posting of colors and the Pledge of Allegiance were performed. Cuellar also introduced the keynote speaker, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., to say a few words.

Luján made a point to address veterans of the Vietnam War, who he felt never received the recognition that they deserve.

“Never forget those who were lost, never forget those who served,” he said.

During the ceremony, Luján set aside a moment of remembrance for Lisa Romero, a victim of the Las Vegas shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival last month. He presented a flag to her parents.

The flag was given to Romero’s father, so that he could present it to Miyamura High School, and have it flown in her memory.

“I was an honor to be here today and to present that to Mr. Romero, her father, to the family,” Luján said. “I thought it was a special moment, it was welcomed by everyone in attendance. Very humbling, and very sad emotional time, but one that is incredible to be a part of, to be able to celebrate in Lisa’s memory and Lisa’s life.”

After the ceremony, a procession was held at the National Guard Armory to celebrate the raising of a new flag pole with an enormous flag set to fly over the city of Gallup at the site of the future national veterans cemetery.

Knowing how much effort went into creating the event, Cuellar felt everything came together perfectly.

“It came off well, everything was well executed. We’re very proud we got our flag up and got our ceremony done downtown. It took a lot of planning and a lot of work, but now we can sit back and eat a hot dog and relax,” Cuellar said.

Many of the veterans in attendance expressed pride over the celebration. U.S. Marine veteran Dennis Gardner was thrilled by the raising of the flag, and felt it did justice to his service.

“Oh, I’m thrilled about that flag up on that hill. That denotes something to me that far surpasses other areas of being a veteran,” he said. “I appreciate that flag and I’ll fight for it anytime, for our nation, our families… it’s just good to be a veteran.”

Local historian Martin Link, who served in the U.S. Army, felt the flag was indeed a long overdue gift to veterans.

“I think the flag today represents and I hope is treated with the respect that a lot of Gallup efforts went into it,” he said.

Though Army veteran Delbert Nelson, who served in the Korean War, was happy with the gratitude that was shown at the plaza, he did not feel the recognition should be limited to Nov. 11.

“I think it’s pretty nice for everyone to get together on Veterans Day, but I think every day should be Veterans Day,” Nelson said. “We have men and women still serving all around the world and it’s what it should be. We have guys in active duty and the reserves.”

As the day drew to a close, Luján made his final remarks on Gallup’s celebration, and took a moment to think of the veterans who were not able to be home that day.

“To be here today in Gallup to commemorate, celebrate, and recognize Veterans Day was so humbling,” he said. “To be a part of the wreath laying ceremony, the parade down to civic plaza, to share a few words and remarks in a humbling fashion, thanking our veterans and their families for their sacrifices, so many that paid the ultimate sacrifice also reminded us that freedom is not free, and we should never forget our POW’s and those missing in action.”

Luján also thanked the veterans for their help in the celebration, and thanked the community for embracing them.

“Just a beautiful day to celebrate Veterans Day,” he said, “and to do it right here in Gallup, New Mexico is very special for me.”

By Dee Velasco
For the Sun