January 19, 2022 “Robot Apocalypse” (** out of four) was an exceedingly derivative futuristic melodrama set in yet another dystopian future in which a lifelong computer hacker (Katalina Viteri) hacks into a military computer terminal but is then targeted by artificial intelligence and various bloodthirsty computers for extinction and she has to try to outwit the computers and somehow turn them against one another to stay alive. Loaded with video-game like special effects and CGI visuals and moves swiftly and nimbly but is yet another compoundrum of ideas from other movies (the usual: “Blade Runner”, “The Matrix”, “The Terminator”, etc). By this point, sci/fi filmmakers may need to turn to artificial intelligence to come up with some original ideas and new material Continue reading →
January 19, 2022 “Arctic Void” (*1/2 out of four) was a shapeless sci/fi melodrama about the remaining crew (Michael Weaver, Tim Griffin, Justin Huen) of an Arctic vessel who find themselves ashore after their ship loses power and the rest of their crew mysteriously vanishes; once on land but isolated from the rest of society they find their sanity and safety starts gradually leaving them. Minimalistic movie is hamstrung by very low budget but it’s script was already hollow and ordinary. “Arctic Avoid” would be a better title for this timewaster. Continue reading →
January 17, 2022 “The Reenactment” (* out of four) was an abjectly painful horror mess set for no particular reason in the ‘90’s in which a film crew (Megan Duffy, Stephen Wesley Green, and others) go to a haunted house which is hosted by an ominous interviewer (Tony Todd- do you need money this badly man?) and strange occurrences start happening. Loud shock effects, fake scares, and lots of dark shadows are a given; don’t look for anything resembling scares or any filmmaking skill. The legendary Todd is ludicrously wasted. Can’t someone provide the candy for him for a much-needed comeback? Continue reading →
January 17, 2022 “Scream” (** out of four) was a more-of-the-same entry in this series set 25 years after the events of the original back in Woodsboro as Ghostface returns once more to wreak havoc and Sidney (Neve Campbell), Dewey (David Arquette), and Gale (Courtney Cox) all return home to solve the mystery and bury the mystery and horror once and for all. Not a remake/reboot of the original but the fifth entry but it may as well have been; has the requisite amount of kills and jokes for fans but it all seems very by-the-numbers this time around and lacks the freshness of previous entries. Final showdown is particularly silly and arbitrary. This series should have likely died with original creator Wes Craven. Continue reading →
January 16, 2022 “Free Fall” (*1/2 out of four) was a sodden horror melodrama about a young woman (Andrea Londo) who is recovering from a recent suicide attempt who goes to visit her parents for their anniversary and immediately starts losing her mind and is beset by all kinds of hallucinations and delusions. Unpleasant and uninvolving film turns out to be yet another ripoff of “The Shining” but can’t hold a candle. Londo gives her best but this pretty much goes into “free fall” right after it starts. Continue reading →
January 16, 2022 “The Lost Treasure” (*1/2 out of four) was a shoddy adventure comedy about a fast-talking treasure hunter (Josh Marguiles) who is forced to embark on a journey into the jungle with a helpful assistant (Stella Tinucci) to prevent a megalomaniacal villain (Dezmond Gilla) from finding an ancient weapon that could destroy their island. Lame-brained story in the vein of “Indiana Jones” and “The Jungle Book” but lacking the heart (and budget) of both. Tinucci also wrote and directed but sadly there’s not much treasure she’s going to find here. Continue reading →
January 16, 2022 “The Jack In The Box: Awakening” (*1/2 out of four) was a dispiriting sequel to the even-worse 2019 original that not many I don’t think were clamoring for a follow-up to; this time around, a dying older woman (Nicola Wright) opens the title Jack and enters into a deal to cure her terminal illness in exchange for the lives of six innocent victims putting her at moral crossroads in which she has to question if her own life is more important than others. Stuffy and blah horror show without any style or imagination. Written and directed again by Lawrence Folder but there’s hardly any prizes in this “box.” Continue reading →
January 15, 2022 “The Curse Of La Patascola” (** out of four) was an overly bland horror thriller about two couples (Patrick R. Walker, Najah Bradley, A.J. Jones, and Gillie Jones) on a weekend camping trip who are terrorized by the title monster who is a famed vampire from Amazonian folklore and they have to unite and put all their differences aside to stay alive. Film initially holds you with some tension and good dialogue but ironically- it slows down and flattens out once the monster actually arrives which is when the film should shift into high gear. A.J. Jones also co-wrote and directed. Kelsey Woods’ strong music score is a plus. Continue reading →
January 15, 2022 “Shattered” (** out of four) was a stylish but staid suspense thriller about a millionaire businessman (Cameron Monaghan) who meets a beautiful girl (Lilly Krug) and they begin an affair but he soon realizes too little/too late that she is a sociopath and murderer intent on taking over his life and draining his finances. Well-made and well-acted enough to hold your attention but film seems to be following too familiar a pattern and is pretty obvious and predictable. Frank Grillo and John Malkovich are solid as usual in key supporting roles. Continue reading →
January 15, 2022 “Amityville Uprising” (** out of four) was a disposable horror melodrama set entirely at a police precinct in which a chemical explosion at a military base sets off a toxic acid rain which turns people into (what else?) bloodthirsty zombies and a few cops at the station (Kole Benfield, Mike Ferguson, and others) try to figure things out and stay alive. Latest movie of the week to utilize the “Amityville” name but the movies this actually rips off the most are “Assault On Precinct 13” and “Day Of The Dead.” Relatively easy to watch but just as easy to forget. Continue reading →
dlepikcom 