October 23, 2023 “Old Dads” (** out of four) was an uneven comedy melodrama about three middle-aged dads (Bill Burr, Bobby Canavale, Bokeem Woodbine) who find themselves in the midst of a mid-life identity crisis as they try to balance work, parenting, and their ideals. Earnest and likeable performances from the three leads combat a very thin story and a script that varies from amusing to endearing to crude and dumb at times. Comedian Burr’s directorial debut and he also co-wrote and produced. Continue reading →
October 23, 2023 “Parable” (*1/2 out of four) was a pointless, predictable horror thriller about a troubled preacher (Michael Richard) who accidentally summons an evil demon and has to try to keep it contained and controlled but there’s a group of friends (Carla Classe, Jan De Wet, and others) who are attempting to set it free. Umpteenth rip-off of “The Exorcist” covers all the expected bases (religious omens, loud shock effects, etc.) with no style and little skill. Somehow, this won some independent horror award festivals in New Orleans and Mexico City. Continue reading →
October 23, 2023 “Cocaine Cougar” (* out of four) was amateur hour about a cougar high on cocaine who escapes an animal testing facility and wrecks havoc on all of Los Angeles while various residents (Dawna Lee Heising, Dustin Ferguson, Melissa Brasselle, and others) try to track him down and put an end to his reign of terror. Obviously inspired by the surprise success of “Cocaine Bear” (as if you couldn’t guess from its title) but this movie is even more crude and stupid. Three different directors are credited for this toothless mess. Continue reading →
October 23, 2023 “The Quachita Beast Incident” (* out of four) was a complete time-waster about a man (Scott F. Macdonald) who goes for a hike in the Arkansas wilderness and is terrorized and mauled by a gigantic Bigfoot and has to utilize all of his survival skills to stay alive. If you’re looking for a movie with little dialogue and endless time watching someone hike, then this is the movie for you. Minimalistic and low-budget (and dull) in the extreme. Continue reading →
October 22, 2023 “Fog City” (** out of four) was a one-note horror thriller about a group of friends (Jonny Beauchamp, Luke Benward, Juliette Goglia, and others) who have to seek shelter when a mysterious fog overtakes their town and turns them all against one another in gory and mischievous ways. Not a remake of “The Fog” but easily could have been since it has essentially the same story. Film is good-looking and proficiently made but never rises above mediocrity. In fairness, though, and come to think of it- this is far better than the 2005 remake of “The Fog.” Continue reading →
October 21, 2023 “Herd” (** out of four) was a glum horror thriller about a young couple (Ellen Adair and Mitzi Akaha) on a vacation in the countryside who find themselves in the midst of a zombie outbreak and an oppressive militia who may be even worse than the zombies. Director Steven Pearce and cinematographer Brennan Full show some promise and beautiful imagery but they’re swallowed up by a storyline and themes that need fresh blood. Guys, it’s time to give the zombie/militia genre a rest because I honestly don’t know much more that can be done with it at this point. Continue reading →
October 21, 2023 “Night Of The Hunted” (*1/2 out of four) was a static horror thriller about a young woman (Camille Rowe) who goes to a gas-station store and is trapped there physically and psychologically by a vindictive sniper (Stasa Stanic) who refuses to let her leave. In-name only remake of Jean Rollin’s pre-AIDS story and also a remake of 2015’s “Night Of The Rat” but the film it may remind you most of is 2003’s “Phone Booth” which was far slicker and more skillful. Rowe tries but film is suspenseless and empty. Continue reading →
October 20, 2023 “In The Shadows” (*1/2 out of four) was a slapdash horror thriller about a young boy (Brooks Roseberry) who is sentenced to a mental institution after violently stabbing his mother to death; 35 years later, he escapes with bloodthirsty revenge on his mind while a series of cops (Michael Pare, Jennifer Banko, and others) and a doctor (Richard Romanus) attempt to apprehend him. Needless rip-off of “Halloween” with some shades of “Friday The 13th” thrown in. Pare ambles his way through his umpteenth role as a cop and one-time horror child icon Banko is wasted as his partner. For lifetime subscribers of Fangoria Magazine only. Continue reading →
October 20, 2023 “Outpost” (** out of four) was an uninvolving horror thriller about a woman (Beth Dover) recovering from a violent attack who seeks solace on a retreat but soon finds herself in more personal hot water from a redneck (Dylan Baker basically playing a grown-up version of the character he played in “Planes, Trains, And Automobiles”) who won’t leave her alone. Just a compendum of horror cliches that are re-stirred and re-heated but still feel like a rehash. Inauspicious feature-film debut from tv director Joe Lo Truglio. Continue reading →
October 18, 2023 “Look Who’s Stalking” (*1/2 out of four) was a synthetic suspense melodrama about a successful doctor (Alissa Filoramo) who moves after being stalked by an unknown person and takes a new job in private practice but soon finds that the stalking starts up again and she has to double-check everyone she knows in life and who she can trust. Cleverly titled “Fatal Attraction” clone unfortunately has not much else that’s clever and certainly nothing that’s original. Filoramo’s strong performance helps but this still is hardly anything worth taking a “look” at. Continue reading →
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