January 5, 2017 “Onus” (*1/2 out of four) was an endless horror story about a young boy who wakes up in the middle of the woods chained next to an older man and tries to peace together the events of the past day and how they both got there and how they need to escape. If you’ve been longing to see a cross between “Memento” and the original “Saw”, then this is the movie for you; otherwise, this is unpleasant, uninvolving, and (after a while) boring. Good performances are film’s only real virtue. Continue reading →
January 2, 2017 “His Secret Past” (**1/2 out of four) was an entertaining, if not overly original, thriller about a young girl (Gatlin Green) who is rescued from an attack while jogging by a handsome new guy in town (Austin Green) and they subsequently fall in love but her concerned mother (Brigid Brannagh), her suspicious best friend (Lindsay Bushman), and the hard-nosed detective on the case (Patrick Muldoon) all suspect there may be more to him than meets the eye. Highly predictable without much surprises or suspense but well-acted and fast paced enough to keep you watching and guessing. Muldoon makes another strong impression as the lead cop. Continue reading →
January 2, 2017 “Closet Monster” (** out of four) was an unpleasant and uninvolving teenage melodrama about a young kid (Connor Jessup) desperate to escape his dead-end hometown and the memories of his difficult childhood with his abusive and unpredictable father. Well-intentioned story of the trials and tribulations of growing up combined with a father-son melodrama has earnest performances but is limited in its emotional power. For a more striking and powerful look at mostly the same film, watch 1993’s “This Boy’s Life” instead which was the breakout film for a young Leonardo DiCaprio. Continue reading →
January 2, 2017 “The Girl With All The Gifts” (** out of four) was a draggy post-apocalyptic melodrama about a scientist (Gemma Arterton) and a doctor (Glenn Close) who attempt to stay alive while a worldwide virus takes effect, with a girl with “special gifts” to guide them to survival. Well-made and atmospheric, with a creepy sense of dread and terror, but never develops significant momentum and never takes off. It doesn’t help that we’ve this seen this story numerous times before, in “28 Days Later” and “World War Z” among others. Why an actress of Close’s stature took a role in a movie this caliber is film’s biggest mystery. Strong music score by Cristopal Tapia de Veer Continue reading →
January 2, 2017 “Why Him?” (* out of four) was an excruciatingly unfunny comedy misfire about a father (Bryan Cranston) whose invited with his family to meet and spend the holidays with his daughter’s slovenly but obscenely wealthy new boyfriend (James Franco). One-joke rehash of the much funnier “Meet The Parents” is abjectly painful at times. Cranston’s usual excellent performance is helpless against stupid writing and Franco’s obnoxious and dumb character. There’s an amusing cameo near the end, if you make it that far. “Why Watch?” is a much better question to ask Continue reading →
January 2, 2017 “Among Friends” (* out of four) was a dreadful horror melodrama about a group of friends who get together to have a horror movie trivia marathon but one of them turns out to be a serious sicko out for revenge against all of them. Attractive cast can’t pump any life into this worthless script and story. Disappointing directorial debut for scream queen Danielle Harris who was prominent in the original “Halloween” series and has a cameo towards the end. Continue reading →
January 2, 2017 “Goat” (*1/2 out of four) was a turkey about a college student (Ben Schnetzer) who gets brutally assaulted and then inexplicably wants to join a fraternity with his brother (Nick Jonas) but their brotherhood is put to the test by the grueling tests of the brotherhood of the fraternity and it’s initiation hazings. Plenty of sex and drugs and wild partying for those who want it but is there a point or a story? Imagine “Animal House” with a moralistic point of view and you have a pretty good idea of what to expect. James Franco has a needless cameo as one of the elder frat brothers. Continue reading →
January 2, 2017 “Within” (** out of four) was a pallid Redbox horror thriller that horror fans can easily do without about (what else?) a haunted house and how a new family (Michael Vartan, Erin Moriarty, Nadine Velasquez) moves in and are slow to uncover it’s dark secrets. Naturally, there’s a creepy next door neighbor (Ronnie Gene Blevins) who meets an early demise. Professionally made and well shot but offers absolutely no surprises or plot twists and it’s ending is a letdown. Jobeth Williams from ‘Poltergeist” has a minor supporting, yet another reminder of when these movies were spooky and original. Perhaps one of 2017’s new resolutions should be to bury the haunted house genre and send it back to Hell. Continue reading →
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