April 20, 2020 “Doctor Death” (** out of four) was an obvious, predictable thriller about a woman (Gina Vitori) badly injured in a skiing accident whose life is saved by a determined doctor (Anthony Jensen) but after she is released- he becomes obsessed with her and will stop at nothing including surveillance and murder to have her by his side! Umpteenth “Fatal Attraction” derivation is decently acted and shot but provides little in the way of surprises or revelatory charge. My prognosis for this one is a few weeks in Redbox machines and then discharge. Continue reading →
April 20, 2020 “Above Suspicion” (**1/2 out of four) was a well-crafted but improbable melodrama about a rookie F.B.I. agent (Jack Huston) about to make a drug bust in Kentucky of a multi-tentacled dealer (Johnny Knoxville) and falls in love and begins an affair with his drug-addled informant (Emilia Clarke) but once she finds out he’s married and that she’s pregnant- this leads to even more stormy passions and murder. Director Phillip Noyce and Elliott Davis do a first-rate job of recreating the sultry atmosphere of beautiful Kentucky locations but Huston’s character’s actions and motivations simply are not believable at times and weaken the proceedings, even if this is based on a true story novel by Joe Sharkey. Clarke’s sensational Oscar-caliber performance galvanizes the film, however, and makes this still worth seeing. Continue reading →
April 19, 2020 “For The Weekend” (*1/2 out of four) was a dismal story about a group of estranged friends (Tommy Bechtold, Ashley Haden, Zach Hardy, and others) who try to repair and re-establish their relationships by renting a remote desert home for one of their birthdays but things change when one of them disappears and all their suspicions soon come to the surface. Can’t decide whether it’s a mystery, a character melodrama, or a “Hangover”-like comedy and thus fails at all of them since none of the characters or likeable or entertaining. Film’s climax is particularly dumb but at least it’s over soon afterwards. Continue reading →
April 19, 2020 “I See You” (*1/2 out of four) was a lackluster thriller not likely to be “seen” by many about a middle-aged couple (Helen Hunt and Jon Tennet) whose marriage is on the rocks; he is then called upon to investigate the disappearance of a young boy which pries them apart even further as dark secrets from the past are suddenly arisen. Both Hunt and Tenney do what they can with a languid script and story which never gets off the ground and drags monotonously and winds up a waste of time. Take this one to the emergency room instead. Continue reading →
April 18, 2020 “The Quarry” (** out of four) was a stagnant adaptation of Damon Galgut’s novel which changes the story setting from South Africa to Texas in which a small-town drifter (Shea Whigham) comes to town and assumes the identity of a local preacher who he accidentally killed but the hard-nosed sheriff (Michael Shannon) begins to investigate which dredges up problems with Mexican drug dealers and local border race-relations. You keep thinking something substantial or significant is going to happen but it never does as film simply plods on in a familiar landscape of Southern characters and cliches. Final half-hour (when film should be peaking) is a particular drag. Only Shannon’s scenes carry any real charge. Excellent music score by Heather McIntosh. Continue reading →
April 17, 2020 “Bad Therapy” (** out of four) was mediocre and warmed-over Woody Allen about a middle-aged couple (Alicia Silverstone and Rob Corddry) who seek out marriage counseling with a therapist (Michaela Watkins) who turns their marriage and psychological basis upside down as she procedes to take romantic interest in the husband and seek him out for an affair! Outlandish premise is kept on track somewhat by its likeable cast but it never fully ignites as either a comedy or a romantic drama. Screenplay is by Nancy Doyne who did a lukewarm adapatation of her own novel. Continue reading →
April 17, 2020 “Behind You” (** out of four) was a hokey supernatural horror thriller about two sisters (Addy Miller and Elizabeth Birkner) who find a hidden mirror in the basement of their aunt’s house and this (naturally) unlocks an evil force which leads to the house being haunted and their lives being threatened. Far from the worst of this genre and does feature good-looking cinematography by Benjamin Allred and some scares but at the end of the day- it’s a story you’ve seen numerous times already in the past. Viewers may want to leave this “behind” them and re-watch any one of the “Insidious” or “Sinister” movies again. Continue reading →
April 17, 2020 “Mad House” (*1/2 out of four) was an incomprehensible indie horror film about a wealthy businessman (Matt Hastings) and his wife and daughter (Tequila Rathbone and Jess Turner) who are held hostage at home by three junkies who use his information against him and they all have to try and turn the tables on them to survive. More like a self-indulgent experiment than an actual movie with all kinds of interactive clips and text messages which is more off-putting and incoherent than entertaining. No relation to the 1990 comedy of the same name but too bad because they could have used some John Larroquette or Kirstie Alley to lighten things up. Continue reading →
April 16, 2020 “Corona Zombies” (** out of four) was a highly exploitative but somewhat amusing horror comedy set in the current state of events in which the worldwide coronavirus has caused a pandemic that has led to the formation of the title zombies who are trying to overtake the world but a determined group of survivors tries to fight back and resist. Full of tongue-in-cheek humor and zombie violence that makes this entertaining for a little while although a little of this goes a long way. Not exactly a good movie per se but this is FAR from the worst of this disreputable genre Continue reading →
April 15, 2020 “Be Still And Know” (* out of four) was a stillborn horror thriller about two former female friends (Kelsey Steele and Elizabeth Potthast) who attempt to reconcile their friendship by vacationing out to a wooded cabin where (is this a surprise to anyone?) they are menaced by a backwoods redneck (Jacob Briggs) who turns them against one another and causes them to re-evaluate their relationship and survival. Hard to believe that almost the exact same story could be told by two movies within the same week but seeing is unfortunately believing. This one is logy and lethargic enough to make even the remakes of “I Spit On Your Grave” or “Mother’s Day” look like Hitchcock by comparison. Continue reading →
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