April 18, 2020 “The Quarry” (** out of four) was a stagnant adaptation of Damon Galgut’s novel which changes the story setting from South Africa to Texas in which a small-town drifter (Shea Whigham) comes to town and assumes the identity of a local preacher who he accidentally killed but the hard-nosed sheriff (Michael Shannon) begins to investigate which dredges up problems with Mexican drug dealers and local border race-relations. You keep thinking something substantial or significant is going to happen but it never does as film simply plods on in a familiar landscape of Southern characters and cliches. Final half-hour (when film should be peaking) is a particular drag. Only Shannon’s scenes carry any real charge. Excellent music score by Heather McIntosh. Continue reading →
April 17, 2020 “Bad Therapy” (** out of four) was mediocre and warmed-over Woody Allen about a middle-aged couple (Alicia Silverstone and Rob Corddry) who seek out marriage counseling with a therapist (Michaela Watkins) who turns their marriage and psychological basis upside down as she procedes to take romantic interest in the husband and seek him out for an affair! Outlandish premise is kept on track somewhat by its likeable cast but it never fully ignites as either a comedy or a romantic drama. Screenplay is by Nancy Doyne who did a lukewarm adapatation of her own novel. Continue reading →
April 17, 2020 “Behind You” (** out of four) was a hokey supernatural horror thriller about two sisters (Addy Miller and Elizabeth Birkner) who find a hidden mirror in the basement of their aunt’s house and this (naturally) unlocks an evil force which leads to the house being haunted and their lives being threatened. Far from the worst of this genre and does feature good-looking cinematography by Benjamin Allred and some scares but at the end of the day- it’s a story you’ve seen numerous times already in the past. Viewers may want to leave this “behind” them and re-watch any one of the “Insidious” or “Sinister” movies again. Continue reading →
April 17, 2020 “Mad House” (*1/2 out of four) was an incomprehensible indie horror film about a wealthy businessman (Matt Hastings) and his wife and daughter (Tequila Rathbone and Jess Turner) who are held hostage at home by three junkies who use his information against him and they all have to try and turn the tables on them to survive. More like a self-indulgent experiment than an actual movie with all kinds of interactive clips and text messages which is more off-putting and incoherent than entertaining. No relation to the 1990 comedy of the same name but too bad because they could have used some John Larroquette or Kirstie Alley to lighten things up. Continue reading →
April 16, 2020 “Corona Zombies” (** out of four) was a highly exploitative but somewhat amusing horror comedy set in the current state of events in which the worldwide coronavirus has caused a pandemic that has led to the formation of the title zombies who are trying to overtake the world but a determined group of survivors tries to fight back and resist. Full of tongue-in-cheek humor and zombie violence that makes this entertaining for a little while although a little of this goes a long way. Not exactly a good movie per se but this is FAR from the worst of this disreputable genre Continue reading →
April 15, 2020 “Be Still And Know” (* out of four) was a stillborn horror thriller about two former female friends (Kelsey Steele and Elizabeth Potthast) who attempt to reconcile their friendship by vacationing out to a wooded cabin where (is this a surprise to anyone?) they are menaced by a backwoods redneck (Jacob Briggs) who turns them against one another and causes them to re-evaluate their relationship and survival. Hard to believe that almost the exact same story could be told by two movies within the same week but seeing is unfortunately believing. This one is logy and lethargic enough to make even the remakes of “I Spit On Your Grave” or “Mother’s Day” look like Hitchcock by comparison. Continue reading →
April 15, 2020 “Black Garden” (* out of four) was an impenetrably dull story set in the future after World War III as a group of survivors fight to stay alive and one such survivor (Cara Culligan) makes contact with a radio broadcaster who she travels to meet but soon finds the real intentions of the other voice and what they have planned for her and the rest of the world. If you’re looking to kill time, this film beats it to death slowly and painfully. By the time you sort out the muddle, film is too boring for you to even care. Not even the black-and-white photography is particularly well captured which is a surprise because it was directed by noted cinematographer Shaun Wilson. Continue reading →
April 15, 2020 “Abominable” (**1/2 out of four) was an adequately done horror thriller about a research team (led by Robert Berlin) that embarks on a journey within the Himalayan mountains to obtain a plant that can improve medical research but soon find that a beastly creature is lurking around and is intent on killing them one by one and protecting its terrain. Refreshingly hard-edged and gory in certain scenes and is well-produced and well-made for this type of B-movie but lacks the scares and suspense to make it really satisfying. Film buffs will note many homages and similarities to “The Thing”. Continue reading →
April 15, 2020 “Blush” (*1/2 out of four) was a boring melodrama about a middle-aged housewife (Wendi McLendon-Covey) who feels alienated from her husband (Steve Little) and 13-year old daughter (Catherine Curtin) and begins to emotionally and psychologically unravel as she reinterprets and reanalyzes her life. Muddled and obtuse story takes its time but has no real story to tell; performances are fairly one note also and don’t do much to draw you into this banal material. Even so, this was nominated and drew accolades at last year’s Sundance Film Festival. Continue reading →
April 14, 2020 “Doppel” (** out of four) was a pretty ordinary low-budget thriller about a middle-aged couple (Kevin and Vickie Hicks who also wrote and directed) who begin to shoot homemade footage for a 25th wedding anniversary when a series of bizarre occurrences begin to happen that question their state of reality and relationship. Vickie Hicks is outstanding and helps keep this watchable but this story with echoes of “The Shining” doesn’t have enough thrills or originality to sustain itself. If you didn’t believe me about it being low-budget, this film actually was shot with someone’s Pixel phone. Continue reading →
dlepikcom 