January 11, 2023 “Edge Of The World” (*1/2 out of four) was a ponderous historical drama that won’t keep many viewers on the edge of their seats; in 1840’s Borneo, the young explorer Sir James Brooke (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) embarked on a crusade up the river to end slavery, piracy, and head-hunting and found himself up against many personal and oppressive obstacles but refused to give up on his quest for peace. Powerful and inspirational story lacks any sweep or emotional penetration and is instead a real snooze. Director Michael Haussman attempts to paint on a large canvas but he all-too-obviously watched “Dances With Wolves”, “Last Of The Mohicans”, and also “Apocalypse Now” a few times before filming. Continue reading →
January 11, 2023 “The Siege Of Robin Hood” (*1/2 out of four) was a slapdash return to Sherwood Forest about the vicious Sheriff Of Nottingham (David Macrae) who violently attacks the family of young Robin Hood (Paul Allica) who then teams up with Sir Lancelot (Dave Beamish) to end his bloody reign and enforcement once and for all. A vanity production for star/co-writer/director/co-producer/editor Allica but this is a junior-high production of a story that’s been told far too many times and better, with shoddy effects and sets. By now, it might finally be time to lay the Robin Hood saga to rest for a few centuries. Continue reading →
January 10, 2023 “Slayers” (* out of four) was a slayingly awful horror thriller about a group of social-media influencers and thrill-seekers (Kara Hayward, Malin Ackerman, Abigail Breslin, and others) who become trapped in the lair of a vicious vampire and the only one who can save them is a legendary vampire hunter (Thomas Jane). Dumb-and-dumber writing and plotting makes this particularly grueling and the in-your-face direction and filmmaking is no help. Jane’s unlikeable character feels like an additional stake to the heart. By this point, his career needs a transfusion of new and fresh blood. Continue reading →
January 9, 2023 “Wolves Of War” (*1/2 out of four) was a subpar-WWII melodrama set at the end of the war in which various British officers (Ed Westwick, Jack Parr, Matt Willis) go into enemy territory into Bavaria to snatch an American hostage (Rupert Graves) held by the Nazis and attempt to finally put an end to the war in the process. Cheaply done war story with shoddy filmmaking and sets defeating any sense of realism. Story elements and a few scenes may remind you of earlier WWII films but let’s just be nice and say this just doesn’t have the grandeur or scope of “Saving Private Ryan.” Continue reading →
January 9, 2023 “Wifelike” (* out of four) was a muddled futuristic mess about a grieving widow (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who is assigned an artificial intelligence humanoid (Elena Kampouris) in the mold of his deceased wife; he subsequently finds out that a malicious corporation is attempting to sabotage her programming in an attempt to end artificial intelligence once and for all. By the end of this clunker (and after all the countless other movies about artificial intelligence), you might be rooting for them to succeed. Film incorporates elements of future dystopia, widowed grief, mass paranoia, and even a police chase thriller but it’s all ineptly put together. Continue reading →
January 8, 2023 “Nocebo” (** out of four) was a half-baked horror suspense thriller about a fashion designer (Eva Green) who has a mysterious illness that baffles doctors and perplexes her husband (Mark Strong); an alternative medicine specialist (Chai Fonacier) arrives and offers relief but they soon wonder her real underlying intentions and how the cure she has given may have severe medical/psychiatric consequences. Intriguing storyline has a few pulsating scares and images but doesn’t shift into high-gear and thus peters out. Good performances do what they can to keep this on track. No relation to either the 2014 or 2016 films of the same name. Continue reading →
January 8, 2023 “Engaged To Be Murdered” (*1/2 out of four) was a ridiculous suspense thriller about a mother (Sarah-Jane Redmond) whose son (Madison Smith) begins dating a new girl (Erin Boyes) who she does not quite trust but then strange occurrences begin happening that leads her to believe there might be other factors at play which could threaten them all. Decent performances are helpless against a script that gets more illogical by the minute and is full of extraneous plot points. Terrible ending is the final icing on the moldy cake. Continue reading →
January 8, 2023 “The Willowbrook” (*1/2 out of four) was a lifeless horror thriller about a renowned health-and-wellness instructor (Jessica Bishop) who invites one of her clients (Erin Day) to recover from recent drug abuse and an overdose at her manor but the client soon realizes the dark and dangerous existence at the manor beneath its helpful facade. Beautiful cinematography is a major highlight throughout but unfortunately it’s window-dressing on an old frame as film is tediously derivative of “The Shining”, “The Stepford Wives”, and also “Flowers In The Attic.” Bishop was also one of films’ producers. Continue reading →
January 8, 2023 “The Friendship Game” (*1/2 out of four) was a disjointed suspense potboiler about a group of teenagers (Peyton List, Dylan Schoombing, Brendan Meyer, and others) who stumble upon a strange object that tests their commitment and friendship to one another and turns their semblance of sanity inside-and-out while they try to continue their lives of privilege and partying. Yet another movie about lifestyles of the young and shameless but it’s haphazardly put together and goes nowhere. List is good in one of her first horror roles but her fans needn’t bother playing this “game.” Continue reading →
January 6, 2023 “Cowboys vs. Dinosaurs” (** out of four) was a synthetic action adventure thriller about an explosion at a local mine in Montana which unearths pre-existing dinosaurs who start to maul the town and it’s up to a local cowboy (Rib Hillis) and others (Eric Roberts, Casey Fitzgerald, Vernon Wells) to take action and put a stop to them and send them back to the pre-historic age. One more K-Mart derivation of “Jurassic Park” which are starting to get worn out by now but it moves relatively quick and does feature a few good kills and action scenes. Hillis is rock-solid in the lead role; Roberts is wasted in another easy paycheck role. Continue reading →
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