That multiple people have specifically praised the script already is not exactly common for this kind of movie, they may come out of this alive when the review embargo drops. But then again Conjuring 3 also opened with positive to very positive reactions and ended up slipping just under the fresh tomato once the embargo had dropped.
This is about on par with the others. Often excessive mediocrity with a rather sluggish pace that Denzel has to carry on his own. The script really struggles to progress any kind of story for most of it, but I'm glad Denzel got to chill at a café/restaurant no less than half a dozen times in the first half alone, and probably about 8 times overall.
I would post some of the reactions since the social embargo just dropped, but the only ones that have posted anything (probably the only ones they've shown the movie to so far) are the, uh, usual suspects.
Fuck, I didn't hate this. Making my doctor's appointment now.
EDIT: I should add that it's bad, the first half is maybe the worst thing I've seen from a major release this year. The third act though has the schlock I wanted. But don't see it. Dear God.
Watched Saw II with the Wan/Whannell commentary track (did the first one with them and Cary Elwes yesterday) and near the end Wan provided this unintentional prophecy:
If you only knew, James.
Agreed on Saw VI, definitely a standout in the series right behind the original. I only found out yesterday just how much its box office dipped compared to all the movies before it as well as after (except Spiral ofc), a real shame.