My Buddy, Mr J. Christopher Wilson is reviewing some movies and series. He has agreed for us to post his reviews here.
I texted my friend who recommended THIRTEEN LIVES to me and told him I hated him. Halfway through the movie I had to shut it off and watch something else. I had to sleep, you see, and work the next day. There was no way I would be able to continue watching and still be able to sleep.
Rarely does a movie grab me that hard, but THIRTEEN LIVES was as tight and deep as the flooded passageways and caverns it depicted.
Based on a true story—one I remember—a team of 13 junior high Thailand soccer team boys went into the local cave after practice with their coach. While that seems odd to us, it was an apparently common occurrence there. The monsoon rains hit early, while the boys were inside, and the flooding pushed the boys deeper into the cave.
Volunteers from around the world quickly converged and a specialized diving team went into rescue the boys.
From the get-go, Ron Howard crafted a story that was so compelling—and claustrophobic—that the terror the boys, their families, and the community felt flooded from my screen and puddled onto my floor. As tense as the best horror movies, the authenticity and reality of THIRTEEN LIVES was intense, compelling and worth every terrifying second.
How could my friend put me through such torment? Not many filmmakers can create such a visceral response in their audience. Such is the craftsmanship of Ron Howard. Be warned. It’s hard to breathe but worth the oxygen deprivation as you hold your breath for the length of the film.
Grade A
Available on Amazon Prime
