December 3, 2022 “Mandrake” (*1/2 out of four) was a torpid horror thriller about a probation officer (Deirdre Mullins) who is assigned to supervise and rehabilitate a notorious female killer (Derbhle Crotty) but finds that this affects her own mental health and sanity as she becomes subject to violent hallucinations and visions of a disturbing Hell that turns her life upside down. Moody film holds your interest for a little while but soon bogs down as it becomes alternately tedious and disgusting in equal measure. Viewers who make it to the end of this may need to seek out their own mental health treatment. Continue reading →
December 3, 2022 “The Eternal Daughter” (* out of four) was an eternal bore about an artist (Tilda Swinton) and her elderly mother (Zinnia Davies-Cooke) who return to their family home and discover long-buried family secrets that threaten to destroy their present lives and thus their future. You keep thinking something significant will happen but it never does as film moves like molasses and goes nowhere. Even the usually excellent Swinton is stiff and dull. A real disappointment from talented writer/director Joanna Hogg. Continue reading →
December 3, 2022 “Death Hunt” (*1/2 out of four) was a lackluster action potboiler about a land developer (Omar Tucci) and his girlfriend (Marlene Malcolm) who find themselves hunted in the wilderness by (what else?) three deranged rednecks (Greg Johnston, Terry Macdonald, Rick Amsbury) and have to fight back to stay alive. Yet another ripoff of “Deliverance” but film also brazenly rips off the cult hit “Surviving The Game” as well. Either way, you’ve seen it all before and better so there’s not much worth “hunting” here. Continue reading →
December 3, 2022 “A Wounded Fawn” (*1/2 out of four) was a tiresome horror story about a vicious serial killer (Josh Ruben) who lures an unsuspecting young woman (Sarah Lind) to his estate to be his latest victim but she soon realizes there is more to him beneath his charming veneer and tries to turn the tables on him and escape. Alluring retro 70’s/80’s filming holds your attention at first (you literally will think you’re watching a film from 30-40 years ago) but it’s all window dressing for a routine slasher-and-stalker story and becomes far too long and too unpleasant. Somehow, this was selected as a critic’s favorite at the Tribeca Film Festival but not by this FB critic. Continue reading →
December 3, 2022 “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (** out of four) was a heavy-handed sequel to the inexplicably popular 2019 comedy melodrama about a hard-boiled detective (Daniel Craig) who has to travel to Greece to unspool his latest case involving a billionaire (Edward Norton) and various others (Janelle Monae, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista) who may have been involved in a murder. In fairness- I was NOT a fan of the original so this is somewhat of an improvement but story still feels awkward and contrived with far too many twists and turns by the end and murky character motivations. Strong cast gives this an undeniable sheen and boost but I’m sorry- Craig’s Southern accent still sounds creepy and weird. Continue reading →
December 1, 2022 “Holly And The Hot Chocolate” (** out of four) was harmless but predictable fluff about a famous food critic (Hannah Gaffney) who finds herself stuck in a Capraesque small town for Christmas where she stumbles on a life-changing hot-chocolate recipe that could change everything and while she’s there she falls in love with one of the locals (Ryan Farrell). Typical Hallmark romantic comedy full of upbeat sentiments and bright cast but made with too much sugar and empty calories to be filling. Continue reading →
December 1, 2022 “Killer Design” (** out of four) was yet another predictable suspense thriller about a prospective interior designer (Sarah Armstrong) whose life is saved by a young woman (Chelsea Gibson) whom she subsequently hired as her assistant but she soon uncovers terrifying secrets about her and finds out she is a sociopath intent on invading and wrecking her life. Decent acting and filmmaking fail to put new paint on a well-worn and derivative storyline. Film remains watchable for the most part but falls apart in its silly climax. Time to “design” some new suspense and thriller stories by now. Continue reading →
December 1, 2022 “The Long Dark Trail” (*1/2 out of four) was a long and boring timewaster about two teenage brothers (Nick Psinakis and Michael Thyer) who escape the home from their abusive father and seek and attempt to find their long-lost mother who has joined a dangerous cult deep in the heart of the woods of Pennsylvania and they have to rescue her and attempt to bring her back home. Intriguing storyline of the ties that bind and separatism and dark family secrets goes nowhere- and is also pretentious and bizarre. Psinakis also wrote and directed. Continue reading →
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