July 13, 2024 “Bag Of Lies” (** out of four) was a marginal horror thriller about a husband (Patrick Taft) desperate to save his dying wife (Brandi Botkin) and makes a deal with The Bag- an ancient evil relic that can save her but can also unravel his and her sanity. Ultimately done in by standard horror framework and cliches but its acting, filmmaking, and script are better than most of its ilk. No relation to “Body Of Lies” (which was much worse). Continue reading →
July 8, 2024 “Continental Split” (**1/2 out of four) was a not-bad disaster action thriller about a seismic fault that threatens to split apart the U.S. and a group of scientists and government agents (Jessica Morris, Chris Bruno, Crew Morrow, and others) who race against the clock to prevent apocalypse now. Lack of originality and surprise prevents this from really detonating but its fast-paced and the visual effects are better than you might expect. An amalgam of plot points and cliches from “2012”, “The Day After Tomorrow”, and many others but better than most imitations of its kind. Continue reading →
July 8, 2024 “The Bad Orphan” (*1/2 out of four) was a pretty bad suspense thriller about a husband and wife (Mark Taylor and Betsy Brandt) who are thrilled to adopt an 8-year old orphan (Chloe Chapman) but soon begin to realize that all is not right with her and she has manipulative and terrifying tendencies that threaten all of their safety. Painfully obvious and derivative thriller about yet another sick problem child. No relation to the “Orphan” movies, despite similar film posters and Chapman’s passing resemblance to Isabella Fuhrman. Continue reading →
July 7, 2024 “Devil On Campus: The Larry Ray Story” (* out of four) was a simply dreadful melodrama based on the true story of Larry Ray (Billy Zane) who moved into the dorm of his daughter (Brenda Matthews) and then began exploiting the insecurities of her friends which led to numerous allegations and consequences. Zane’s performance (and accent) is so grating he sinks the entire film, which is pretty unpleasant and uninvolving to begin with. Another “true story” that doesn’t ring true at all. Continue reading →
July 7, 2024 “MaXXXine” (**1/2 out of four) was a highly uneven melodrama set in 1980’s Hollywood in which an adult film star (Mia Goth) tries to make it through the seedy and difficult industry to achieve her big break but just as her career starts to be taking off- a serial killer is on the prowl which threatens to cause her to unravel. Initially stylish and scary and very well-directed by writer/director Ti West but it tails off some as it goes on and wallows in excess and unpleasantness before its pretentious and surreal conclusion. An interesting effort in parts that falls apart in the stretch. Film marks the third part of the “X” trilogy after “X” and “Pearl.” Continue reading →
July 6, 2024 “Site 13” (*1/2 out of four) was an unlucky horror show about a lunatic doctor (Nathan Faudree) who awakens from a catatonic state in a mental institution and has to re-live his last visit by watching tapes from the site visit and realizes (too little too late) that he’s unleashed an otherworldly horror. Yet another found-footage movie with annoying hand-held camerawork and irritating jump cuts and unfortunately not many scares or thrills. Faudree also co-wrote, co-produced, and co-directed and deserves most of the blame for this clunker. Continue reading →
July 5, 2024 “Amp House Massacre” (*1/2 out of four) was strictly formula stuff about a group of social-media influencers and friends (Kara Royster, Pedro Correa, Ciera Angelia, and others) who party at a mansion in Hollywood Hills where they are stalked by a killer who reveals their deepest-and-darkest secrets before killing them off. The kind of movie that was a lot more fun in the ’80’s but is hollow and by-the-numbers now. Film’s ending is a real letdown, if you make it that far. Continue reading →
July 5, 2024 “Daddio” (*1/2 out of four) was a rambling melodrama about a world-weary taxi driver (Sean Penn) who picks up a passenger (Dakota Johnson) and the two engage in a series of conversations pontificating the meaning of life, relationships, and their existence. What may have worked as a two-character play or a film short is unbearably tedious at feature length and winds up a pointless waste of time. Johnson once again shows she’s a strong actress and holds the screen but Penn is at his mumbling and disheveled worst as the driver. Continue reading →
July 4, 2024 “Hate To Love: Nickelback” (***1/2 out of four) was a rollicking documentary about the title hard-rock band who came out of nowhere from Canada in the early 2000’s and overcame initial adversity and indifference to become an enormously popular band for over 2 decades but have faced more than their share of personal/professional/health hurdles while being lambasted by many but loved by so much others. A very interesting and well-done documentary showing the behind-the-scenes difficulties that many may not have realized from what has seemed like an indestructible band. Excellently directed and edited and very moving at times, whether you “hate” or “love” Nickelback. Continue reading →
July 4, 2024 “Boneyard” (** out of four) was a meager suspense thriller about various law enforcement agents (Mel Gibson, 50 Cent, Nora Zehetner, Brian Van Holt, and others) who all collide in attempting to capture a brutal serial killer who collects and disperses bones of different female victims. Good cast is unable to enliven all-too-familiar and unpleasant material; the underrated Van Holt fares best as the lead detective on the case but Gibson and 50 are both wasted. Based on a true story but seems even more based on previous serial-killer stories “Seven” and “The Bone Collector.” Continue reading →
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