The Blackening (2023)

In season 2 of “Never Have I Ever," Devi make many mistakes in a messier season that explores the complex lives of its diverse cast more in-depth than before.

Strangers in a crowd, exchanging glances, looking away, continually managing to run into each other then part ways, end up at the same diner, find they've rented the exact same vehicles, and are then made to travel together to learn once more whether they can both find genuine adoration and companionship again. This really does, in so many words, sum up the foundational gist of of this new feature film from writer Seth Reiss ("The Menu") and director Kogonada ("The Acolyte", "After Yang"). Yet, it's all only the set-up for the REAL wonder of everything that happens before, during, and in the aftermath of a magical, meaningful journey.

The film does not add anything to its own conversation or genre, and falls flat once it’s about to end and must declare some sort of conclusion.