Author: dlepikcom

“The Prey: Legend Of Karnoctus” (*1/2 out of four) was a junky sci/fi action thriller about a platoon of U.S. soldiers (Nick Chinlund, Adrian Paul, Danny Trejo, and others) in Afghanistan searching for Taliban who are trapped in a cave and are hunted down by a deadly monster one-by-one. Cheaply done melange of “Predator”, “The Cave”. and ’80’s schlock-action; once they’re in the cave in which film should be peaking it instead only gets monotonous and dull. Good B-movie cast helps a little but even they fall “prey” to this trifle.

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“The Other Side Of Darkness” (** out of four) was a scattershot environmental melodrama about a young girl (Maggie Callahan) who receives a mysterious birthday gift that leads to her and her friends (Olivia Billings, Drake Tobias, and others) on a journey across the Midwest and uncover a sinister plot to dismantle and destroy America’s power grid. Earnest and well-intentioned story full of pro-environment values and morals but limited in its dramatic interest and emotional power. Callahan is good in the lead but viewers would best pick an “other” film.

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“Blonde” (*1/2 out of four) was a superficial (and superfluous) fictionalized biopic of the legendary Marilyn Monroe (Ana de Armas) from her impoverished beginnings as Norma Jean Baker with her volatile parents (Julianne Nicholson and Tygh Runyan) to her various sexual escapades with playwrights and athletes (Adrian Brody, Bobby Cannavale, and others) later in life to her untimely death. Film goes on forever and bombards you with so much numbing detail about her life but tells you absolutely nothing you likely don’t know about her. De Armas looks a little like Monroe and tries her best but is hamstrung by film’s shortcomings that give her almost no character to play.

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“The Woman King” (*** out of four) was a striking historical epic set in 1820’s Africa in which a fiercely independent general (Viola Davis) trains a next generation of warriors (John Boyega, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, and others) to fight their enemies and retain their kingdom but have to resolve various personal conflicts from within. Not much plot per se but sweepingly told and directed by Gina-Prince Byethewood (from a story she co-wrote with actress Maria Bello) with explosively done battle scenes and sure-handed acting from Davis and Boyega and others. Vibrantly shot by Polly Morgan on beautiful locations.

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“Hellblazers” (**1/2 out of four) was an overall proficient sci/fi thriller about a Satanic cult that touches down in a Midwestern nowhere town and it’s up to the town sheriff (Ed Morrone) and the townsfolk (Bruce Dern, Tony Todd, Adrienne Barbeau, Meg Foster, and others) to buckle down and stop their invasion. Far from original script and storywise but is given a definite boost by its who’s who cast of cult actors and definitely by Morrone whose rock-solid in the lead. Not great but better than most of its disposable genre and well-made on a limited budget. Set for no particular reason in the 1980’s.

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“Bones And All” (*1/2 out of four) was a lugubrious adaptation of Camille DeAngelis’ 2015 novel about two young outcasts (Timothee Chalamet and Taylor Russell) who are cannibals and find each other in life and find they need each other to survive and stay alive and they embark on an odyssey road trip across the American heartland. Some nice scattered moments are swallowed up by film’s meandering pace and pointless storyline. Film attempts to be a love story, a coming-of-age melodrama, and a dark-humored horror movie so it’s no surprise it winds up a bit of a mess. Chloe Sevigny and Jessica Harper look almost unrecognizable in minor roles.

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“Girl At The Window” (** out of four) was a lukewarm suspense thriller about a girl (Ella Newton) who becomes convinced that the new man (Vince Colosimo) her mother (Radha Mitchell) is dating is the dangerous serial killer who has been preying on the town and sets out to prove it. Elegantly constructed thriller has various homages to Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” but never shifts into high-gear and is weakened by extraneous elements of unpleasant violence. Also known as “The Clockwork Killer” but either way is hardly worth your time.

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“The Apology” (*1/2 out of four) was a sorry suspense melodrama about a woman (Anna Gunn) who is observing the 20-year mysterious disapperance of her daughter when her brother-in-law (Linus Roache) shows up in the midst of a brutal snowstorm with some dark secrets about the past and what led to her daughter’s disappearance. Good performances fail to enliven or enrich the static proceedings; film may have worked far better better as a play instead but as a feature film it’s suspenseless and boring. Janeane Garofalo is wasted in a nothing supporting role as Gunn’s friend. She and others in the cast should offer a sincere “apology” to viewers and their fans.

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“Ouija Hosts” (* out of four) was a practically worthless horror potboiler about a group of filmmakers (J. Taviner, Louisa Warren, and others) on a paranormal reality show who film in an abandoned haunted building in which (surprise, surprise) sinister forces are still present and come back to life and threaten everyone’s lives. Umpteenth attempt at making a threadbare horror movie surrounding a ouija board; the 1987 cult-classic “Witchboard” told this story much scarier although the films this dud may remind you of is “Halloween Resurrection” and “The Blair Witch Project 2.” Don’t bother “hosting” this time-waster.

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“The Mean One” (* out of four) was a terrible one about a girl (Krystle Martin) whose parents are murdered by a bloodthirsty figure (David Howard Thornton) in a Santa suit and she realizes it is up to her to put an end to his brutal reign and save the Christmas holidays. Chintzy and uninspired horror thriller offers almost no horror or thrills and more than lives up to its title. Incredibly, this was based on Dr. Seuss’ classic “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” but seems instead like it was inspired by the evil works of Scrooge.

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