Every Friday, Meiko Nakahara, known as the "Friday witch," practices witchcraft in her small apartment in Tokyo. Despite living in a modern city, Meiko remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots and embraces her role as a witch. Her practice involves a combination of traditional Japanese rituals and modern witchcraft techniques. Raised in a family with a long history of practicing witchcraft, Meiko learned the art from her grandmother. She remembers as a child watching in awe as her grandmother would perform spells and create potions. Meiko's grandmother taught her the importance of connecting with nature and harnessing the energy of the universe.
The curse of lilith ratchet
Stars: KateLynn E. Newberry, Rob Jaeger, Roger Conners, Angela Cole, Brianna Burke, George Tutie, Crissy Kolarik, Layla Cushman, Lauren Paulis, D.J. Remark, Debbie Scaletta, Ann Shamess | Written and Directed by Eddie Lengyel
Name: The Curse Of Lilith Ratchet (aka American Poltergeist: The Curse Of Lilith Ratchet)
Age: 2019
Appearance: A slick-looking ghostly slasher film with all the production values of a Hallmark film. Not much blood or atmosphere but plenty of hysterical acting and a villain that looks like a cross between the Woman in Black and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Lilith Ratchet. Don’t lose your head!
Alright guv’nor. ‘Ow’s it going?
Why are you speaking like that? And what’s with the flat cap and chimney brush.
It’s the Curse of Lilith Ratchet, innit geezer? That’s the name of a Dickensian cockerneeee villain, if ever I ‘eard one.
She’s nothing of the sort. Lilith Ratchet (a gloomy looking Crissy Kolarik) is a poor woman who had her head chopped off after her heart turned black when her husband had an affair with a baker.
She’s not a cockney villain from a Dickens book?
I dressed up like a chimney sweep for nothing then.
Sigh… So, what’s Lilith’s beef?
Well, after she had her head chopped off, it was shrunk down and put in a box with a little nursery rhyme usefully explaining the curse. Basically, if you pass her head around and repeat her name then whoever is left with the head is cursed to die at the hands of Ratchet. Of course, a group of young college hipsters do just that and Lilith kills each of them, one by one.
Cor blimey. Them geezers never learn.
You can stop now.
I mean, they read the nursery rhyme and still did it anyway?
Of course. Otherwise it would have been a very short film. And to be honest, at one hour and forty-five minutes, it could have done with being a little shorter.
Why is it so long?
The dialogue is very exposition heavy and when they are not explaining the plot over and over again, they are either screaming at each other as to how scared they are or worrying that they are next to die. After we get a prologue where Lilith kills two unnamed women, we are introduced to Hunter Perry (played by a tall haired Rob Jaegera), a podcaster who presents a show about the paranormal. He purchases the shrunken head off of the college hipsters with the intention of using it at a Halloween party.
I love Halloween parties with that apple bobbing game but I’ve never played with a decapitated head before.
Hunter describes the game as a mix of hot potato and musical chairs with those at the party getting a free Hunter Perry T-shirt. However, I thought it was more like a morbid version of Pass the parcel where you pitch a severed head about and chant, “Lillith Ratchet took a hatchet and gave her lover a head… in a basket. Play the game and call her name and one by one you’ll feel her pain.” Unbeknownst to Hunter, various characters become marked for death, including his girlfriend, Bree (Angela Cole).
But they still get a free T-shirt. So not all bad.
Although it was competently directed, the film lacks any style or atmosphere and some of the characters seem rather lifeless and wooden. It felt as if all involved were simply going through the motions. Instead of screaming and crying in fear, characters gasp and wheeze as if they had just stubbed a toe. One amusing scene features a girl screaming “no no no” at hearing about the death of her friend, sounding more like she’s throwing a tantrum in a supermarket rather being shocked and scared. She then returns to behaving as if her friend had never died.
Sounds like a drinking game is in order. Take a drink whenever you see a Stock Acting Method being used.
And there are plenty of them. You get a lot of hysterical screaming and shouting “nooooo!”, “Oh my God. She/he’s dead!” Plenty of miserable characters looking at the ground and shaking their heads, crying and hugging themselves and plunging their hands into their pockets. If you added in taking a drink whenever a jump scare occurs such as the ghost appearing in the mirror/window/doorway/bathroom/car, then you’d probably end up with a shrunken head yourself.
What about the horror bits. That’s why we’re here after all.
Most of it happens off screen with the occasional blood spurt against the wall. There are a couple of flourishes, which might please some horror fans but you have to slog through a lot of pointless moments just to get to some horror fun. I mean, there was one long scene where Hunter’s mum turns up to make a drink and tell him that his show isn’t very good. What was the point of that? And why did we have to sit through watching her mess about with bottles and pouring drinks. No wonder the film clocks in at nearly two hours.
Ok, but what about the story itself? It can’t all just be ghost kills hipsters.
Aside of the listless dialogue and acting, there is actually a nice story rolling underneath. The curse, although somewhat devoid of logic, makes for some suspenseful plotting and I wish they had elaborated on the ghosts of their dead friends coming to warn them or Hunter Perry’s clairvoyant aunt seemingly possessed by Ratchet. Instead we get scenes of a woman making a drink or Bree arguing with her sister about who’s bra she is wearing.
I have a lot of questions but what I really want to know is, whose bra was Bree really wearing?
No wonder she was pissed.
______
Do say: Gotta catch-et Lilith Ratchet.
Don’t say: Lilith Retch-it
The Curse of Lilith Ratchet (2018) – Play The Game. Call Her Name.
Next up on my review plate was the latest (and greatest) feature film from Eddie Lengyel known as The Curse of Lilith Ratchet. I reviewed another Lengyel film back in September Mother Krampus 2: Slay Ride and at the time I felt Slay Ride was his best looking flick. Well, that’s only because I hadn’t seen Ratchet yet. This takes the cake in that department as it looks phenomenal. This may be a ‘low budget’ indie film but it certainly doesn’t look or feel that way.
The film has been officially titled American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet as it is the next installment in the popular “American Poltergeist” series, which is current ly available on Netflix.
SPOILER ALERT: This review will talk openly about some plot points of the film. I’ll try not to ruin any major surprises but if you want to be totally spoiler free skip this until you’ve watched the film.
Meiko's grandmother taught her the importance of connecting with nature and harnessing the energy of the universe. Meiko's Friday rituals begin with meditation and reflection. She sets up an altar in her living room, adorned with various crystals, herbs, and candles.
The Curse of Lilith Ratchet Synopsis
Alice and her best friend Lauren inadvertently set a hellish curse in motion after surprisingly acquiring a mysterious shrunken head. Wanting to know more about their fiendish find, they pay a visit to a popular paranormal podcast host Hunter Perry of “Beyond the Veil”. Hunter discovers it’s true authenticity of the ages-old object and in hopes of creating a rating boost, he plans a LIVE podcast in which the tale of the shrunken head will be introduced to the masses. Little do they know by playing the game and calling her name they will release the malevolent demonic spirit of Lilith Ratchet.
Meiko believes that these items help to amplify her energy and focus her intentions. She uses crystals such as amethyst and rose quartz for healing and protection, while herbs like lavender and sage are burned to purify the space. One of the key elements of Meiko's Friday witchcraft is divination. She uses tarot cards, pendulums, and scrying mirrors to gain insights into the future and receive guidance on her spiritual journey. Meiko places great importance on trust and intuition when interpreting the messages she receives, allowing her to make informed decisions and navigate through life's challenges. Another aspect of Meiko's practice is spellcasting. She believes in the power of intention and words, and often creates her own spells using herbs, candles, and incense. Meiko focuses her spells on healing, manifestation, and protection. She believes that by putting her intentions into the universe, she can create positive change in her life and the lives of others. Despite the misconceptions surrounding witchcraft, Meiko emphasizes that her practice is about love, positivity, and self-empowerment. She sees herself as a modern witch, blending ancient traditions with a contemporary mindset. Meiko encourages others to embrace their own spirituality, whatever form it may take, and to honor their ancestral roots. In a modern world filled with stress and uncertainty, Meiko finds solace and strength in her Friday witchcraft. Through her rituals, she connects with her inner self, nature, and the universe. As the Friday witch, Meiko continues to inspire others to explore their own spiritual journeys and find their own magic within..
Reviews for "Finding Love and Happiness: Friday Witchcraft with Meiko Nakahara"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Friday witchcraft with Meiko Nakahara". The show had a great premise, but the execution fell flat. The characters were poorly developed, and the plot was confusing and disjointed. I found myself losing interest and struggling to follow what was happening. The acting was subpar, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this show to others.
2. Emily - 1/5 stars - I can't even begin to describe how much I disliked "Friday witchcraft with Meiko Nakahara". The show was a complete waste of time. The storytelling was messy and lacked any coherence. The special effects were cheap and looked fake. The actors seemed bored and uninterested, delivering their lines with no emotion. It was difficult to connect with any of the characters, as they were one-dimensional and lacked depth. I regret watching this show and would not recommend it to anyone who values their time and sanity.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "Friday witchcraft with Meiko Nakahara" had so much potential, but it failed to live up to it. The plot was intriguing, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was slow, and the episodes felt unnecessarily long. I felt like the show could have been condensed into a shorter season to maintain the viewer's interest. The writing was also weak, with predictable twists and shallow character development. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied with this show and wouldn't recommend it unless you have a lot of time to spare.
4. Michael - 3/5 stars - While "Friday witchcraft with Meiko Nakahara" had its flaws, it also had some redeeming qualities. The visuals were stunning, and the cinematography added to the overall aesthetic of the show. However, the storyline was confusing and hard to follow at times. The characters lacked depth, and their motivations were unclear. The acting was hit or miss, with some performances standing out while others fell flat. I wouldn't actively recommend this show, but if you're a fan of the genre, you might find some enjoyment in it.