October 14, 2024 “Lord Of Wolves” (*1/2 out of four) was a tacky horror melodrama about a young man (Joshua Tonks) who inherits a pyramid-contraption after his housemate dies and this (yawn) summons a cult of wolf people who live in the underbelly of London which leads to all Hell breaking loose. Unlikeable and uninteresting characters often spout laughable dialogue against a backdrop of low-rent visual effects. It’s movies like this that make you appreciate even more “The Howling” (and some of its sequels). Continue reading →
October 12, 2024 “The Silent Hour” (*** out of four) was a tensely done action melodrama about a hard-boiled cop (Joel Kinnaman) with hearing loss and a deaf witness (Sandra Mae Frank) to a murder who find they have only themselves to rely on as they have to outsmart a sinister conspiracy involving other cops (Mekhi Phifer, Mark Strong, and others) and thugs that are out to kill them. Sharply made and directed and has sturdy momentum and final 45 minutes will have you holding on tight. Strong and Phifer stand out as usual in strong supporting cast. Continue reading →
October 12, 2024 “Bagman” (** out of four) was a not-bad horror thriller about a devoted father (Sam Claflin) whose childhood trauma and fear returns to haunt him and his family (Antonia Thomas and Carell Vincent Rhoden) in the form of the sinister title character (Will Davis) who wants them all terrorized and dead. Ultimately never transcends general and basic horror movie cliches and becomes more conventional as it goes along but is watchable throughout with good filmmaking and acting. Continue reading →
October 11, 2024 “V/H/S/ Beyond” (** out of four) was a wearisome continuation of this never-ending series about six VHS tapes that are found and how this inflicts fear and punishment on many (Brian Baker, Trevor Dow, Gerry Eng, and others) who try to make sense of them and survive. Overlong and overdone like so many others in the series but in fairness this is one of the better entries, thanks to stylish direction and cinematography and some occasional scares. For those keeping track, this supposedly is a direct sequel to “V/H/S” from 2012. Continue reading →
October 6, 2024 “Joker: Folie a Deux” (*1/2 out of four) was a terminally weird sequel to the 2019 original about Arthur Fleck/The Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) who is imprisoned at Arkham and awaiting trial for his crimes when he meets the love of his life in another inmate (Lady Gaga) as well as the music that will unlock his pain and set both of them free. Fans of the original (I wasn’t) may want to take a look but it’s awfully tough to take, with ridiculous musical montages and a story that is alternately bizarre and tedious. Phoenix is solid again and Gaga is strong but wasted. Continue reading →
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