April 15, 2019 “Happy Birthday Hannah” (* out of four) was a lame, amateurish horror story about a girl (Natalie Klein) who is tormented by guilt about letting her younger sister drown years earlier and on the eve of her sister’s birthday- she and her none-too-bright partner (Brandon Burkley) are tormented by sights and sounds of the girl around their house. Practically the definition of the term low-budget horror with photography that looks like it was filmed through someone’s used cell-phone and the film isn’t so much edited as patched! Even besides that, though, this clunker proves to be yet another rip-off of “Poltergeist” and (naturally) “Paranormal Activity”. Sometimes dead isn’t better Continue reading →
April 15, 2019 “Bad Company” (** out of four) was a cheesy action melodrama about a group of troubled teens (Booboo Stewart, Giselle Bonilla, Kyle Massey, and others) at a remote boot camp which is besieged by terrorists and they realize they must fight back to prevent the terrorists from starting a nuclear war. Derivative story is about as unoriginal as its title and lifts story elements from both “Red Dawn” and “Toy Soldiers” but it remains watchable. Not quite bad but a good example of the need for making more creative stories and screenplays by now. Continue reading →
April 13, 2019 “A Dark Place” (** out of four) was a meandering small-town character study about a slow-witted local sanitation worker (Andrew Scott) who begins to investigate the sudden disappearance of a local boy which puts him at odds with local law enforcement and townsfolk but he is still determined to mangle his way through and seek the truth, no matter what opposition he may face. The type of film that David Lynch could have made effortlessly and electrically in the ’80’s but sadly- there’s no blue velvet or twin peaks here. OK for what it is but not memorable Continue reading →
April 12, 2019 “Creep Nation” (** out of four) was a stylish but empty melodrama about a man (Adam Seybold) determined to solve and avenge the death of his sister (Liv Collins) who was murdered while renting from a series of online creeps and this brings him into the descent of the underworld of the internet and organized crime. Well-directed and vibrantly shot and has its moments of flair but is weighed down by its own sordid and tawdry storyline and you’ll eventually become numbed by all the sleaze. Seybold is strong in the lead. Continue reading →
April 9, 2019 “Shazam” (*** out of four) was an enchanting adaptation of the DC comic book story about a streetwise 14-year old (Asher Angel) who finds he is able to magically transform into a crime-fighting superhero named Shazam (Zachary Levi) which leads to all-out war with an evil physicist (Mark Strong) who wants the superhero powers for his own. No masterpiece but film more than entertains with some impressive visual effects and solid action set pieces and a few unexpectedly touching moments regarding abandonment and adolescence along the way. A definite treat for comic book fans and DC fanatics. Continue reading →
April 7, 2019 “The Beach Bum” (* out of four) was a plotless mess about a carefree stoner (Matthew McConaughey) who ambles through life in Florida and sees no reason to change or take life seriously. Thus, there’s virtually no reason to take the movie seriously either. Yet another pointless mix of sex, drugs, and debauchery from director Harmony Korine who in better days wrote the classic “Kids”. McConaughey is pretty one-note but doesn’t have a whole lot to work with here and a top-drawer supporting cast including Jimmy Buffett, Snoop Dogg, and Martin Lawrence are completely wasted. Continue reading →
April 6, 2019April 6, 2019 “General Commander” (** out of four) was a middling action potboiler about a GRS operative (Steven Seagal) and his team of young recruits (Ron Smoorenburg, Sonia Couling, and others) who attempt to take down an international cartel but danger and deception lurks around all corners for them. By the standards of Seagal’s output over the last 20 years, this isn’t bad and features a sufficient amount of hand-to-hand combat and gunplay, but story is too murky and lumpy. Seagal mumbles and sleepwalks as usual and it might finally be time for him to retire his trademark wig. Vibrantly shot by Ross Clarkson. Continue reading →
April 6, 2019 “Pet Sematary” (** out of four) was a needless remake of the Stephen King classic about a doctor (Jason Clarke) and his family (Amy Seimetz, Jete Laurence) who move to Maine and meet a strange neighbor (John Lithgow) who leads them to discover a mysterious burial ground which brings the dead back to life and naturally havoc ensues. Some creepy moments and scares to be sure (the scene of their daughter getting killed is an undeniable jolt) but a definite feeling of deja vu hangs over the proceedings. Film also lacks the moody atmosphere and shock value (and laughs) that made “Pet Sematary Two” the best of the lot. Continue reading →
April 5, 2019 “The Haunting Of Sharon Tate” (*** out of four) was an elegant horror film set in the summer of 1969 in which rising actress Sharon Tate (Hilary Duff) and her friends (Jonathan Bennett, Lydia Hearst) were slaughtered by Charles Manson (Ben Mellish) and his followers. Director Daniel Farrands does a masterful job of weaving suspense with character development in convincing 60’s detail and sustains an uneasy tension as he plunges you into one of the darkest chapters in American murder history. Imperfect to be sure but overall well-done. Duff is strong in the lead. Helped immensely by Fantom’s haunting music score. Continue reading →
April 5, 2019 “Red Island” (*1/2 out of four) was a boring horror thriller about a vacationing couple (Georgie Daburas and Alex Essoe) who become stranded on an isolated island (hence the title) and are spooked and stalked by an unforeseen force. You keep thinking that something/anything will happen but nothing ever does as film drags and meanders towards its uneventful conclusion. Inauspicious directorial debut for noted cinematographer Lux but even his cinematography on this one looks pretty average. Continue reading →
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