The Best and Worst of Karen Gillan

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “The Call of the Wild” star Karen Gillan.

Films starring Karen Gillan that I've seen:
Oculus 
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Big Short
In a Valley of Violence
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Endgame
Stuber
Jumanji: The Next Level

Best Performance: Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
Gillan's second turn as Jumanji's famed "Killer of Men" Ruby Roundhouse was even better than her first. An increase in the dramatic character moments for the person (Morgan Turner) stuck inside the video game avatar that allowed for a bit more serious acting along with the return of her fierceness, strong comic timing and effortless camaraderie she shares with her co-stars (Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black) made this a particularly noteworthy effort from one of the industry's most promising rising stars.

Worst Performance: Oculus (2014)
To be fair, Gillan's performance was one of the better things about Oculus. However, her turn as a young woman determined to locate and destroy a cursed antique mirror that forced her parents to slowly go insane when she was a child isn't overly impressive-especially when compared to the level of conviction she's displayed throughout the rest of her filmography.

Best Film: Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Delivering any sort of innovation is incredibly difficult when you're dealing with a megafranchise that's been running for over a decade and always has to be conscious of the overarching story that's tying every film together. This carefully crafted continuity is what made Avengers: Infinity War such a refreshing high note for the MCU. Having a Marvel film driven by a sense of impending doom as the heroes face a foe that's more powerful than them elevated both the narrative and emotional stakes to unprecedently high levels.

Worst Film: Oculus (2014)
Although I've only seen a couple of his projects (this and the dreadful Gerald's Game), Mike Flanagan's filmmaking style has already managed to really bother me. His attempts to build dreary atmospheres are largely unsuccessful and his storytelling is flatter than Kyrie Irving's globe. Here, decent acting and a couple of creepy scenes isn't nearly enough to save Oculus from its brutal pacing and cheap, moronic ending.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “All the Bright Places” star Alexandra Shipp.