November 5, 2021 “Slumber Party Massacre” (*1/2 out of four) was a completely pointless remake of the 1982 cult hit about a group of sorority girls (Hannah Gonera, Frances Sholto-Douglas, Mila Rayne, and others) who are chased to the death by a driller killer whose weapon of choice is a large electric drill (which somehow looked a lot scarier in the original). With the exception of some feminist themes and wordplay, this is a paint-by-numbers thriller without any sparks or scares. At least the original and its sequels had some unintentional yuks and screams. Continue reading →
November 4, 2021 “Deadly Due Date” (*1/2 out of four) was a deadly predictable suspense thriller about a young couple (Ashlynn Yennie and Phillip Boyd) who run into a pregnant classmate (Ella Yannon) at their high-school reunion and agree to adopt her child but don’t realize she has sinister and subversive plans for them all. One more suspense thriller without much suspense and without much thrills since the story is so by-the-numbers and rudimentary. Glossy cinematography by Robert Vardaros is one of film’s few assets. Continue reading →
November 4, 2021 “Planet Dune” (** out of four) was a pretty disposable action melodrama about a crew (Sean Young, Sharon Desiree, Sienna Farrall, and others) on a mission to rescue a marooned base on a desert planet who find themselves hunted and attacked by gigantic worms who live under the planet’s surface. Yet another cheap knockoff of a high-profile/big-budget blockbuster (in this case “Dune” if you couldn’t guess from its title) although the movie it rips off mostly is “Tremors”. Having said that, it’s fairly fast-moving and does have a few good action scenes. Not bad but not exactly worth running to the Redbox machine for either. Continue reading →
November 4, 2021 “Antlers” (*1/2 out of four) was a flaccid horror thriller about a middle-school teacher (Keri Russell) and her brother (Jesse Plemons) whose a sherriff become embroiled with a mysterious student (Jeremy T. Thomas) who carries secrets that lead to terrifying encounters with an ancestral creature that threatens to end all their existence. Pale imitation of “Poltergeist” and also “The Sixth Sense” without much originality and with even lesser scares. Russell tries but is unable to enliven or enrich the proceedings; strong supporting actors Graham Greene, Amy Madigan, and Rory Cochrane are wasted in minor roles. Continue reading →
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