November 9, 2018 “Die In One Day” (* out of four) was a deadly bore about a man (David White) desperately searching for his daughter (Lisa Marie Picciolo) who instead meets a mysterious actress (Kateryna Korchynska) who entices him to take part in a 24-hour game which turns out to be much more bloody and dangerous than he imagined. Unfortunately, the film itself is pretty unimaginative and pretty nonsensical and silly at the same time. Film’s poster may remind you of “The Purge” but this makes that look like Hitchcock by comparison. Watch “Die Another Day” instead. Continue reading →
November 8, 2018 “Watch If You Dare” (0 stars out of four) was an unwatchable mess about an incoherent collection of horror stories, each one worse than the next. In the first, a masochist decides to cut off part of his skin as a means of sacrifice and sadism. In another, a dinner guest shows up and finds out the hosts are cannibals and that he’s on the menu. Sickening and stupid but also low-rent and boring, and some of the dreadful acting really has to be seen to be believed. For masochists and freaks only. Continue reading →
November 7, 2018 “Cheat The Hangman” (* out of four) was a stultifyingly awful Western that will cheat the viewers who are seeking any entertainment or enlightenment. In the old West (actually contemporary Georgia and South Carolina but never mind), the son of a hangman (Barry W. Jerald, Jr.) becomes embroiled in escalating gunplay with the men who killed his father and finds that his own fate lies in the hands of a rival hangman who has to decide on his life. Laughably bad acting is matched by cheesy sets and ugly cinematography that looks at times like it was shot in someone’s backyard! This turkey makes any of Clint’s lesser Westerns look like masterpieces by comparison. Continue reading →
November 6, 2018 “Robin Hood: The Rebellion” (** out of four) was a chintzy retelling of the classic story about the legendary prince of thieves (Ben Freeman) who discovers that the love of his life Marian (Marie Everett) has been captured by the Sherriff Of Nottingham (James Oliver Wheatley) and him and his team of outlaws must attempt a daring rescue to save her. Climactic battle scene is over before you even know it! Freeman is good in the lead but his role is underwritten. Not bad but can’t match the fervor and passion of the 1991 Kevin Costner version although this is fairly on par with the 2010 Russell Crowe adaptation. Continue reading →
November 5, 2018 “Monster Party” (*1/2 out of four) was a gory mess about three none-too-bright teenage thieves (Sam Strike, Virginia Gardner, and Brandon Micheal Hall) who infiltrate a mansion dinner party hosted by an elite serial killer cult (Julian McMahon, Robin Tunney, and others) and try to escape before they become part of their victims list. Tunney and McMahon are amusingly cast as the cult leaders but film becomes off-puttingly weird and stupid and extremely bloody. Party elsewhere, you’ll be much better off. Continue reading →
November 4, 2018 “The First Date” (0 stars out of four) was absolute rockbottom dreck about a woman (Sherri Lyn Litz) who tries online dating and meets a mysterious stranger who shares her love for scary films but she soon finds out he’s a pretty scary person himself. Jaw-droppingly incoherent at times and loaded with abysmal acting and filmmaking. This looks like it was filmed by someone’s crummy cell phone. Continue reading →
November 4, 2018 “Party Crasher” (*1/2 out of four) was an amateurish horror show in which a fraternity house with assorted college losers and stoners (Ashton Moio, Jacob Artist, Jayson Blair, and others) throw a party but unbeknownst to them- a psychopath has mysteriously and elusively evaded their ranks. Bad acting and dumb writing make this a party well-worth not crashing. Some marginal stylish touches from director Brant Sarsen in the final third save this from being a complete loss. Continue reading →
November 3, 2018November 3, 2018 “The Marine 6: Closed Quarters” (** out of four) was a tired sequel about two former marines (Mike “The Miz” Mizanin and Shawn Michaels) who join forces to rescue a kidnapped girl (Louisa Connolly-Burnham) from a gang of international criminals who want a criminal trial thwarted or else they plan (what else?) worldwide destruction. Sixth entry in this series that began in 2005 merely exists as a showcase for Mizanin and Michaels as action heroes but those wanting to see their acting and action abilities would be better off watching re-runs of the WCW. To be nice, neither has the expansive thespianism or charisma of original “Marine” star John Cena and this one makes the original look like classic Arnold/Stallone by comparison Continue reading →
November 3, 2018 “The Hate U Give” (*** out of four) was a searing drama about a high-school student (Amandla Stenberg in an Oscar-caliber performance) who witnesses the death of her childhood friend by a police officer and features pressure from her family, from her community, and her own inner conflicted struggle to stand up and do what is right but she finds this is a very complicated decision. Multi-faceted multi-character drama tackles incendiary subject matter without taking any easy ways out and offers viewpoints from all sides. Stenberg is sensational in the lead role and is surrounded by strong supporting cast including Anthony Mackie as a violent neighborhood drug dealer, Common as her uncle who is a cop, and Russell Hornsby as her reformed ex-con father. Continue reading →
November 3, 2018 “The Nutcracker And The Four Realms” (**1/2 out of four) was a visually spellbinding but dramatically uneven retelling of E.T.A. Hoffman’s short story about a young girl (Mackenzie Foy) who follows a thread to a parallel world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice who she must escape from. A visual candy store of colorful cinematography and dazzling sets but story itself has its ups-and-downs and is confusingly told. Features enough sheer visual spectacle to make it worthwhile, despite its shortcomings, and “Nutcracker” completists will probably like this better. Cate Blanchett and Morgan Freeman add some style and energy in minor supporting roles. Continue reading →
dlepikcom 