February 1, 2021 “Mummy Resurgance” (*1/2 out of four) was a colorless horror thriller about a group of curious archaeology students (Shawn C. Phillips, Megan Purvis, Amanda Jade-Tyler, and others) who awaken an ancient mummy who is bloodthirsty and they find themselves stuck in a sinister time warp in which the only way out is to defeat the mummy and stay alive. The mummy itself looks like someone with strings and mopheads hanging off and the humans aren’t that much better! Film is just a pileup of mummy cliches done with little flair or style. No relation whatsoever to the much better (and bigger-budgeted) “Mummy” series of 20 years ago nor the Tom Cruise remake; don’t expect this to strike up a “resurgance” in mummy movies anytime soon. Continue reading →
February 1, 2021 “Palmer” (*** out of four) was an endearing drama about a recently released ex-con (Justin Timberlake) who forms a relationship with a young boy (Ryder Allen) from an abusive and neglected home and tries to adopt him in spite of the resistance from the system due to his criminal past. Moving story takes a little time to get going but Timberlake’s believable performance and a terrific performance from young Allen make it rewarding. Final half-hour is particularly moving. Well-observed and captured by director Fisher Stevens. Continue reading →
February 1, 2021 “The Ritual” (* out of four) was a rockbottom bore about a struggling actor (James Edwards) who decides to sell his soul to the devil for fame and success but doesn’t realize what exactly he’s done till (naturally) it’s too late. Static story is basically a three-character monologue between the actor and the devil and angel (Anja Cilia and Filipe Donica) and is a real snooze. Might have worked as a play but as a feature-length film it’s off-putting and empty. Promoted as a horror movie which it is not. Continue reading →
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