June 14, 2021 “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” (*** out of four) was a fun sequel to the 2017 smash about the wacky bodyguard (Ryan Reynolds) who has a continuing relationship with his assassin friend (Samuel L. Jackson) which grows increasingly dangerous as they try to save his wife (Salma Hayek) and various underworld and law enforcement (Morgan Freeman, Frank Grillo, Gary Oldman) become involved. Much like the original- this one never stops moving and throws in everything but the kitchen sink. Thin story is buttressed by enough explosive action and cockeyed humor to keep it off-the-wall from start to finish. Kudos also for being the first film to unite both Freeman and Jackson together on screen! Continue reading →
June 13, 2021 “Dinosaur Hotel” (* out of four) was a jurassic bore about a young woman (Chrissie Wunna) who takes part in an underground game show for wealthy high-rollers in which she and others (Aimee Marie Higham, Sofia Lacey, Nicole Nabi) stay in an isolated building in the wilderness and are hunted and preyed upon by regenerated dinosaurs who are out for the kill. If you ever wanted to see a cross between “Jurassic Park” and “The Hunger Games”, look no further; otherwise this is shoddy and stupid but also stilted and tedious. Even dinosaur fanatics should avoid checking into this “hotel.” Continue reading →
June 13, 2021 “Devil’s Island” (** out of four) was a mundane horror thriller about a young woman (Elle Alexander) who goes on vacation to the island of Bastoy in Oslo which she soon finds is the home of a group of delinquent boys who have been castaway from society due to their sadistic and violent ways. Not all that different when you think about it from Stephen King’s “Children Of The Corn” except that was scarier and made with more skill. Remains watchable while it lasts but instantly forgettable when it’s over. Continue reading →
June 12, 2021 “Feral State” (** out of four) was a jumbled melodrama about a dark and charismatic father figure (Ronnie Gene Blevins) who leads a group of misfit kids (Jaden Piner, Sif Saga, and others) as they wreck havoc throughout trailer parks and swamps in central Florida. Promising opening holds your attention but film stalls gradually afterwards and never fully comes back alive, mostly because it doesn’t have much story or plot complications. Film’s characters are more detached than enveloping. Blevins is strong in the lead. Continue reading →
June 12, 2021 “Shall We Play?” (** out of four) was a pretty wooden horror thriller about a troubled teenage girl (Jessica McLeod) who downloads the title app in an attempt to heal the many scars of her past but the app instead possesses her into the game and soon ends up dominating and destroying her life. Initially interesting mix of psychodrama and thriller elements but not enough to sustain sufficient interest for a feature-length film. For a much stronger and intense look at a similar story- re-watch David Fincher’s 1997 “The Game” instead. McLeod is good but this overall isn’t worth playing. Continue reading →
June 12, 2021 “Terror Eyes” (* out of four) was a terrorizingly awful horror show about three friends (Jennifer Blanc-Bien, Robert Romanus, Lisseth Chavez) on a road trip to the Joshua Tree who realize too little-too late that there are evil forces lurking that threaten them, their trip, and thus their survival and safety. Relentless handheld camerawork will likely result in viewers needing dramamine but others who stay with film needn’t bother, since film is literally an anthology of slasher and horror cliches especially for those many who’ve seen “The Blair Witch Project. ” Even those desperate for anything in the Redbox won’t find much “terror” in these “eyes.” Continue reading →
June 12, 2021 “Rogue Hostage” (**1/2 out of four) was a watchable action melodrama about a C.P.S. worker (Tyrese Gibson) who goes inside a supermarket and finds himself embroiled in a life-or-death hostage situation in which he has to fight to stay alive while a sinister bureaucrat (John Malkovich) and others assess the situation from afar with their own political and personal agendas. Zippy enough to make this an entertaining view but lacks both the grandeur and gravitas to elevate it to anything more than that and as a result it rings up empty. Gibson may as well be doing “Fast & Furious” outtakes; Malkovich is wasted. Continue reading →
June 10, 2021 “The Misfits” (**1/2 out of four) was a moderately amusing screwball caper comedy in the vein of “Ocean’s Eleven” about a seasoned professional thief (Pierce Brosnan- aging but marvelous) who is recruited by a group of younger thieves (Nick Cannon, Jamie Chung, and others) for a multimillion dollar gold heist but naturally plans go askew as various other underworld figures (Tim Roth, Rami Jaber, and others) get wind of this and become involved. One-time great action director Renny Harlin directs with a lighthearted bounce and fizz that has been missing from his work for several years and is aided by a dynamic cast. Film is overall pretty weightless but frothy and entertaining while it lasts. Brosnan could play this role in his sleep by now but is rock-solid as usual. Continue reading →
June 10, 2021 “Blackstock Boneyard” (*1/2 out of four) was a boneheaded horror thriller about two African-American brothers (David Jite and Dean Wil) who were wrongfully convicted and executed in the past in 1913 South Carolina and return from the grave 100 years later to seek vengeance and reclaim their land from an ancestor (Ashley Whelan) of the judge who convicted them! Insulting trivialization of events based on a true story; shoddy filmmaking and terrible acting are the real horror elements here. Originally titled “Rightful” but film is a wrong choice for moviegoers regardless of its title. Continue reading →
June 8, 2021 “Evil Everywhere” (*1/2 out of four) was a cruddy horror thriller set in 1987 in which an evil that was thought banished in a small-town 2 years prior has returned and one determined high-schooler (Jared Walker) tracks down a recluse (Mykee Morettini who also wrote and directed) who had stopped the evil previously and they attempt to unite before it swallows up and destroys their town for good. Amusing grindhouse-like entry gets off to a good start but you soon realize film is probably destined to play in grindhouses since it’s low-rent pretty much all the way through. Began filming in 2017, then was resumed in 2018, and was finally completed this year but doesn’t seem to have been worth all of the bother. Continue reading →
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