October 8, 2022 “Among The Living” (*1/2 out of four) was a dreary horror thriller set in (yawn) the midst of a deadly worldwide outbreak in which an older brother (Dean Michael Gregory) fights to protect his younger sister (Melissa Worsey) while they are isolated at a cabin from ravenous zombies who have a predatory thirst for blood. Yet another in the derivative vein of “28 Days Later”, “Cabin In The Woods”, and (of course) “Night Of The Living Dead” and not all that different from this week’s similar (and better) “In Isolation.” It’s horror filmmakers themselves who need to thirst for new blood and new ideas. Gregory’s strong performance is one of film’s few vital signs. Continue reading →
October 8, 2022 “In Isolation” (**1/2 out of four) was a better-than-average horror thriller about four friends (Darya Avratinskaya, Valeria Lugai, George Rakito, and Ilya Ilinykh) who go to a remote countryside for a vacation which is interrupted by a severely injured man who informs them that there is a worldwide pandemic that has just started and they have to fight together against looters even as they find themselves falling apart mentally and psychologically and turning against each other. Director Alexey Meets reframes horror genre cliches with mood and style and with proficient scares and tension at a very economical 87 minutes. Film can’t quite transcend its predictable and familiar roots but doesn’t waste time or scenes and is overall worth checking out for genre fans. Continue reading →
October 8, 2022 “The Inhabitant” (*1/2 out of four) was a listless horror thriller about a troubled teenager (Odessa A’zion) who encounters a series of supernatural events that threaten to tear apart her sanity and her turbulent family (Dermot Mulroney and Leslie Bibb) and she has to sort out her personal demons in order to psychologically/physically/personally stay alive. Molasses-moving movie moves in all different directions, none of which are engaging or you haven’t seen done before and far better. Mulroney is wasted as her sinister dad. A’zion is having a bad week after “Hellraiser” and now this and hopefully she’s able to “inhabit” some better roles in the future. Continue reading →
October 8, 2022 “Hellraiser” (* out of four) was a horrendously dull remake of the 1987 Clive Barker classic about a young woman (Odessa A’zion) who stumbles upon an ancient box unaware that it carves up the evil entity of the Cenobites led by Pinhead (Jamie Clayton) who want to eradicate mankind. In this version Pinhead is a woman but that’s about all that distinguishes this from previous entries, as story is senseless and (worst of all) boring. Original series creator Clive Barker served as co-producer but this still feels like Hell to sit through. Continue reading →
October 7, 2022 “Ash And Bone” (* out of four) was a miserable horror thriller about a rebellious teen (Angelina Danielle Cama) whose father and stepmom (Harly Wallen and Kaiti Wallen) decide to move her into the countryside for quiet bonding time but they are soon besieged by (yawn) an urban legend involving cannabilistic and sadistic rednecks and she needs to utilize her volatility and instability to fight back and help them all stay alive. It’s grade-Z movies like these that make you almost wish “Deliverance” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” had never been made. Both Harly and Kaiti are real life husband-and-wife which is a bit curious since they have no chemistry together onscreen. Continue reading →
October 7, 2022 “Operation Seawolf” (** out of four) was a a vaporously generic WWII movie set towards the end of the war in which a grizzled submarine commander (Dolph Lundgren) was called back to lead a group of skippers on a German U-boat to attack NYC while various American military (Frank Grillo and Hiram A. Murray) plot out their return defense attack. Highly routine story covers all-too-familiar territory and is dressed up with a big-name cast but Lundgren is wooden as usual and Grillo is wasted once again in an easy-paycheck role. Film’s CGI effects are mostly tacky but there are some impressive external and aerial shots. Continue reading →
October 7, 2022 “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” (**1/2 out of four) was an imperfect but endearing melodrama about a lonely teenager (Jaeden Martell) who befriends a reclusive billionaire (Donald Sutherland) who soon dies but thereafter the teenager starts receiving texts from his phone which sets the stage for an onslaught of twists and turns in his life. Story is meandering and plodding at first but becomes more involving as it veers from coming-of-age story to elements of Hitchcock thriller and also a vengeance drama. Mitchell’s likability helps compensate for film’s rough changes in structure and mood. You’d never guess this was based on a short story from Stephen King but this is overall one of his better film adaptions in a while and is in the pulp vein of “Stand By Me” and “It”. Continue reading →
October 5, 2022 “Sissy” (** out of four) was an uninspired youthful melodrama about teen best friends (Aisha Dee and Hannah Barlow) who run into each other after more than a decade; one of them invites the other along on a bash for her bachelorette party but the other soon realizes they are going to be stuck in a cabin with their former school bully (Emily De Margheriti) who wants revenge. Many critics loved this new take on independence, bullying, empowerment, and the ties that bind but I’m not one of them. Plodding film meanders along with only the sincere performances of its leads to keep it afloat. Star Barlow was also one of the co-writers and co-directors. Continue reading →
October 5, 2022 “Croc” (*1/2 out of four) was a lumbering horror thriller set in the English countryside about a soon-to-be-married couple (Sian Altman and George Nettleton) whose wedding is mauled by an angry and hungry crocodile who starts to devour all of the guests and they realize only they can stop it. Anyone who knows science and wildlife knows that crocodiles need warm weather to survive and the English countryside is notorious for its cold weather but that’s the least of film’s problems; film looks drab and plain and even the crocodile-attack scenes aren’t all that inspired. Watch “Crocodile Dundee” again instead. Continue reading →
October 5, 2022 “Don’t Worry Darling” (**1/2 out of four) was an elegant but empty melodrama set in the 1950’s in which a housewife (Florence Pugh) begins to suspect that the utopian idyllistic community and existence that her and her husband (Harry Styles) and friends (Chris Pine, Olivia Wilde, and others) isn’t as perfect as it appears as cracks begin to appear that show it’s disturbing underlining and reality. It’s easy to be seduced by director Wilde’s exquisite set design and color and uniformly strong cast but others may find that this story is a bit too similar to “1984”, elements of “Blue Velvet”, and (especially) “The Stepford Wives.” Definitely a showing for Wilde’s talent again on both sides of the screen but next time she should work with more original and fresher material. Continue reading →
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