April 13, 2023 “Butch Sundance And The Wild Bunch” (*1/2 out of four) was a feeble Western about the legendary title character (Ross Jirgl) and the Sundance Kid (Jilon VanOver) and the rest of the Wild Bunch (Geoff Meed, Josh Horton, and others) who pull off a million-dollar train robbery and are then chased to the death by a local sheriff (Jeffrey Combs). To say that this doesn’t even belong in the same category as the 1969 classic (or even the 1979 prequel) is an understatement as film leisurely moves through far-too-familiar Western terrain and simply cashes in on a name, rather than adding to it. Bruce Dern, Dee Wallace, Vic Browder fill out the supporting cast but are wasted in one-note roles. Viewers and fans of the series will likely yell “oh shit!” when they jump into this one. Continue reading →
April 12, 2023 “Sunset On The River Styx” (*1/2 out of four) was a gloomy horror melodrama about two young lovers (Phillip Andre Botello and Jakki Jandrell) who form a forbidden alliance that is intercepted by their mistakes of the past which have spiraled to their present and future and also a vampire death cult that threatens to tear them apart. Overstuffed mix of young-lovers drama, horror thriller, and teen angst that doesn’t gel as it should mostly due to snail-like pacing. Idan Menin’s lush and candy-colored cinematography is a highlight but doesn’t do enough to ameliorate overall tedium. Continue reading →
April 11, 2023 “Zomblogalypse” (* out of four) was an insufferable adaptation of the British cult web series which this movie will inspire no one to watch about three survivors (Andrew Dunn, Joanne Mitchell, Lyndsey Craine) of a zombie apocalypse who try to ease their boredom and frustration by documenting their day-to-day survival on a video blog. Yet it’s nothing compared to the boredom and frustration you’ll feel if you waste nearly two hours on this moronic dreck. One of the characters makes references to George Romero who is likely turning over in his grave right now thanks to duds like this. Continue reading →
April 11, 2023 “Grimcutty” (** out of four) was an overly grim horror thriller about a teenage girl (Sarah Wolfkind) and her younger brother (Callan Farris) who try to survive when they find that the title internet meme comes to life and threatens to overtake them and destroy their safety and sanity. Initially tense and has some intriguing elements but eventually decays into sheer corn and loses its grip. Wolfkind is solid in the lead; director John Ross shows some promise in his first feature-length film after directing shorts and t.v. series. Continue reading →
April 10, 2023 “Infidelity Can Be Fatal” (** out of four) was a stylish but empty thriller about a private investigator (Lanie McAuley) who is hired by a sinister new client (Matthew Maccaull) and she ends up falling in love with him instead but soon begins to suspect he may be a duplicitous killer. Proficiently made and directed but undercut by its predictable script and derivative story elements. When will all these “Fatal Attraction” wannabes ever realize that without any story surprises or shock elements they have no impact? Continue reading →
April 9, 2023 “Chupa” (**1/2 out of four) was a modestly likeable children’s drama about a disaffected teenager (Evan Whitten) who visits his family in Mexico and finds a mythical creature hiding in his grandfather’s shed which he develops a strong bond with but a determined poacher (Christian Slater) is actively tracking and attempting to hunt him down. Easygoing performances and some sweet moments between the boy and the creature make this watchable family entertainment but others might find it a tad too similar to “E.T.” and also (to some extent) “Pete’s Dragon.” A change-of-pace for director Jonas Cuaron who previously wrote “Gravity” and “The Shock Detective.” Continue reading →
April 9, 2023 “Darker Shades Of Summer” (*1/2 out of four) was soft-core/sex trifle about a married couple (Daniel Godfrey and Abbie Knight) who go on an experimental retreat where they are tested by all kinds of sexual temptations and triggers which push their faithfulness in each other and their marriage to the absolute limit. Glamorously shot by Hyago Rodriguez and features plenty of sex for those who want it but not much of anything else as film goes nowhere with bad performances and dialogue making the trip that much slower. Film desperately attempts to mimic both the title and story elements of “50 Shades Of Grey” but come-to-think-of-it that film was terrible also. Continue reading →
April 9, 2023 “A Lot Of Nothing” (*1/2 out of four) was a heavy-handed melodrama about a happily married couple (Y’lan Noel and Cleopatra Coleman) who see a nearby neighbor and cop (Andrew Leeds) on the news for shooting a child and decide to take the law into their own hands by kidnapping him but they both begin to reflect on one another the moral and legal repercussions of what they’re doing and whether this really is doing the right thing. Pertinent subject matter is told far too awkward and unconvincingly and contrivances eventually blunder this into ridiculousness. Noel and Leeds’ strong performances give this a boost but Coleman’s histrionics prevent you from taking any of this seriously. By the end, you simply can’t argue with film’s title. Continue reading →
April 8, 2023 “Ten Doors” (* out of four) was a slipshod horror show about the intertwining tales of 3 authors (Amber Lee, Shelley Novak, Robert Shepherd) and how their various sinister and supernatural elements threaten to overtake them and all their followers unless they can uncover the curse that is at the root of all of them. Mumbo-jumbo horror story made even more brutal by terrible acting and filmmaking. Co-director Gordon Price previously made the cult thriller “The Devil’s Door” but he may want to expand his horizons (and titles) before all “doors” in filmmaking are closed to him for good. Continue reading →
April 8, 2023 “Visions Of Filth” (0 stars out of four) was an excruciatingly awful psychodrama about a dying naked man (Martin Payne) in his apartment who spends his final days reflecting on- and reliving- some of the brutal sex crimes he has inflicted on some of his past victims. Aptly titled movie filled with scenes of Payne wandering naked, masturbating, and thinking back on his sexual attacks against helpless victims; if that’s your cup of tea, have at it. The kind of movie which makes you watch in nauseous disgust. Payne deserves credit for his brave performance but otherwise this is for masochists only. Continue reading →
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