September 4, 2018 “Blood Fest” (*1/2 out of four) was a dumb-and-dumber horror movie about a group of none-too-bright teenagers (Zachary Levi, Seychelle Gabrielle, Olivia Grace Applegate, and others) who go to a horror festival operated by a charismatic but demented host (writer-director Owen Egerton) and they soon find themselves being murdered one by one. A few good gory kills are drowned out by stupid writing and characters who you can’t wait to die anyway. Egerton is amusing in the lead role of the festival host. Continue reading →
September 3, 2018 “Reprisal” (**1/2 out of four) was a better-than-average action thriller about a bank manager (Frank Grillo) who teams up with his FBI agent friend (Bruce Willis) to attempt to track down a bank robber (Jonathan Schaech) who robbed his bank and has now threatened his family. Predictable and familiar storyline is given a boost by strong cast and some first-rate action scenes that recall Michael Mann’s “Heat.” Much better than the glut of Willis’ other action output over the last 10 years and another strong showing for Grillo. Continue reading →
September 3, 2018 “Penny Palabras” (* out of four) was a laughably incoherent horror movie about the title character (Deena Ingley) who is tormented by a character named The Straw Man (Bill Read, Jr.) whose confrontations grow escalatingly more lurid and intense. Unfortunately, film itself descends more and more into pretentious nonsense and is filmed in ugly black and white photography. Based on a graphic novel which this movie which will inspire no one to want to read. Continue reading →
September 2, 2018 “The Bad Nun” (*1/2 out of four) was a bad movie about a schoolgirl (Becca Hirani) who goes to an isolated cabin in the woods in Kent, England where she is soon terrorized by a nun (Cassandra French) who knocks at her door in the middle of the night. Creepy at first but soon grows repetitive and draggy and monotonous. Parts of the movie are obviously inspired by (and ripped off from) “The Strangers”. Some stylish touches by director Scott Jeffrey are wasted on a story that simply isn’t very scary. Solid music score by Lee Olivier-Hall. Continue reading →
September 2, 2018 “Henry Rollins: Keep Talking Pal” (*1/2 out of four) was a pretty awful one-man comedy attempt by Rollins filmed in Portland, Oregon as he goes into everything from his early days in Black Flag to his anger at the current presidency. None of his stories are all that interesting and most of the material is thuddingly unfunny. Although the laughs are few, his imitation of Ozzy towards the end is pretty amusing. While you have to hand it to Rollins for trying out so many different avenues, you may want to tell him to shut up by the end of this Continue reading →
September 1, 2018 “Vitamania: The Sense And Nonsense Of Vitamins” (**1/2 out of four) was an interesting, if not revelatory, documentary narrated by and starring Derek Muller about the history of vitamins and the many dangers of both vitamin deficiencies and excessive intakes in what has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Some perceptive looks at capitalism and commerce and how it has become mired in the world’s craving for nutrition and health but doesn’t tell you much that you don’t already know. Film features musical interludes also that are bizarre and unnecessary and take away from film’s serious tone. Interesting to watch as a companion piece to “Food, Inc.” Continue reading →
September 1, 2018 “Dying For The Crown” (** out of four) was a thoroughly predictable thriller about a successful married woman (April Bowlby) whose career and marriage are threatened when she reunites with an old high-school friend (Kim Director) who still carries a vendetta over an incident from school years ago. Anyone who has seen a thriller will be able to predict this story in about 20 minutes flat. Not terrible for this kind of movie but unoriginal and uninspired and Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh did this similar story better in “Single White Female” over 25 years ago. Continue reading →
September 1, 2018September 1, 2018 “Elizabeth Harvest” (**1/2 out of four) was an intermittently intriguing melodrama about a woman (Abbey Lee) who marries a wealthy scientist (Ciaran Hinds) and comes to live at his magnificent estate but soon comes to find that not all is right and there may be something he is hiding in one of his secret rooms. Strikingly directed and photographed movie holds you in its eerie spell at first but eventually loses its way and grows monotonous. Carla Gucino has a key role as one of the husband’s help; she is the girlfriend of director Sebastian Gutierrez Continue reading →
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