June 11, 2022 “Double Threat” (** out of four) was a slick but empty action thriller about a woman (Danielle C. Ryan) who is being hunted by the mob who meets a young man (Matthew Lawrence) who is also being chased and they embark on an odyssey across country to try to stay alive. Reasonably fast-moving and with good production values but story covers all-too-familiar terrain and predictability. Both Ryan and Lawrence previously starred together in “Mistletoe Mixup”; let’s hope the third time for them will be the charm. Continue reading →
June 11, 2022 “V For Vengeance” (** out of four) was a lively but cheesy pulp action thriller about two estranged sisters (Jocelyn Hudon and Grace Van Dien) who must join forces to rescue their younger sister (Alix Villaret) when she is kidnapped by a group of bloodthirsty vampires who also killed their parents. Guilty-pleasure movie does move fast and is done with a moderate amount of style and conviction although it’s pretty thin stuff overall and you will likely forget it within minutes. Not to be confused with “V For Vendetta.” Continue reading →
June 10, 2022 “Tales From The Other Side” (*1/2 out of four) was a pretty awful horror hodgepodge about three kids on Halloween night who go visit a legend in their town named Scary Mary (Roslyn Gentle) who recounts to them 6 horror stories which will eventually lead to a terrifying reality and they soon realize this is one Halloween they may not survive. Yet another horror film in the vein of “Creepshow” or (obviously) “Tales From The Darkside” but without any scares or intelligence. Horror fans would best pick an “other” movie instead of this trifle. Continue reading →
June 5, 2022 “Jurassic World: Dominion” (** out of four) was an unnecessary sequel set 4 years after the last one in which the world as we know it has changed and dinosaurs live alongside humans creating a fragile balance; elsewhere, a megalomaniacal businessman (Cameron Scott) calls many world-renowed scientists (Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and others) to regroup for their opinions and viewpoints on this but they all soon realize their lives are in danger. Film rehashes many of the ingredients of previous entries but without any of their sense of awe or wonder. Some great visual effects and good action scenes to be sure but it all rings hollow and bears the mark of going back to the well once too often. Nice though it is to see the reunion of Neill/Dern/Goldblum- they had far better chemistry (and snappier dialogue) in the 1993 original. Continue reading →
June 5, 2022 “There Are No Saints” (** out of four) was a lukewarm action melodrama about a man (Jose Maria Yazpik) wrongfully imprisoned whose wife is murdered and son kidnapped and he then embarks on ruthless revenge against the various underworld figures (Ron Perlman, Tim Roth, Brian Cox, Neal McDonough) but finds deception and treachery at every turn. First-rate cast helps put window dressing on a tired story of revenge and sadism; has its moments here-and-there but doesn’t congeal into a satisfying whole. Paul Schrader wrote the typically uneven screenplay. Continue reading →
June 5, 2022 “White Elephant” (*1/2 out of four) was a threadbare action thriller about an ex-Marine enforcer (Michael Rooker) who has to battle his own conscience and code of honor when he is forced to work for the mob and becomes caught in the crossfire of various underworld figures (Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Lorenzo Antonucci, and others). Good cast is wasted on a routine story of double-crossings and shootings; final 30 minutes (finally) delivers the goods but by the end it’s too late. Sadly, Willis’ real-life health problems are evident here. Continue reading →
June 5, 2022 “Row 19” (** out of four) was a not-bad Russian horror suspense thriller about a young doctor (Hayden Daviau) and her daughter (Marta Kessler) who are on a late-hours airplane flight caught in the midst of a terrible storm when passengers suddenly start dying and she starts losing her grip on reality and reliving horrific memories from childhood. Professionally made and features an efficient amount of scares and action but story gets overly cerebral and cornball especially in its final third and can’t stay in the air. Continue reading →
June 4, 2022 “Father Stu” (*** out of four) was an agreeably done melodrama based on the true story of Stuart Long (Mark Wahlberg) who started out as a ruthless boxer and then suddenly found a higher calling in life as a priest even as severe health problems derailed his life. The type of film that is make-or-break based on its lead performance and Wahlberg once again shows his charisma and power and carries this movie whole-heartedly even through minor lulls. Mel Gibson is well-cast in a key role as Long’s loutish and alcoholic father and Malcolm McDowell has one of his better roles in years as a monsignor. Continue reading →
June 4, 2022 “Interceptor” (*** out of four) was a rock-solid action thriller about an army captain (Elsa Pataky) who finds herself under attack when the remote missile station she is commanding is attacked by terrorists but soon find that they don’t know who they’re messing with. Routine action story is proficiently done with fierce hand-to-hand combat scenes and very stylish direction from noted Australian author Matthew Reilly who never stops giving you something to look at. Chris Helmsworth (Pataky’s husband) has a minor role as a television salesman. Continue reading →
June 4, 2022 “Dashcam” (0 stars out of four) was a mind-numbingly awful horror show about two friends (Annie Hardy and Amar-Chadha Patel) who embark on a road trip that turns into horrific violence and they livestream what soon turns into the most terrifying night of their lives (and maybe yours). Hard to tell what’s most unwatchable in this film, between the headache-inducing handheld photography, Hardy’s screaming (and rapping at the camera!), or the cluttered computer visuals onscreen but either way it’s an unendurable mess. A new low of found-footage horror films and also for Blumhouse Productions. Continue reading →
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