Author: dlepikcom

“Venom: The Last Dance” (** out of four) was a tired third entry in the Marvel comic series about Eddie and Venom (Tom Hardy) who face pursuit from various figures (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifians, and others) from both worlds which forces them to realize it might be the end of their symbiotic relationship together. Filled with the usual tongue-in-cheek humor and visual effects that you would expect from Marvel entries but it’s all pretty half-hearted and by-the-numbers and for fans only. Final half hour sci/fi blowout makes this worthwhile for Marvel diehards.

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“Terrifier 3” (*1/2 out of four) was a grueling sequel about the continuing adventures of Art The Clown (David Howard Thornton) who descends on the town of Miles County and proceeds to slash and dismember them all one by one all while wearing a Santa Claus outfit. As gory and in-your-face as the previous entries but like the previous entries it goes over-the-top into being disgusting (and overlong). Brutal, in every sense of the word, and only for those who thought the previous entries were Oscar material. Thornton’s vivid performance is film’s only bright spot.

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“Rippy” (*1/2 out of four) was an ironically titled mess that rips off countless other horror movies about various locals (Michael Biehn, Tom Block, Martin Blum, and others) who are up in arms when they find townsfolk ripped to shreds by the title creature and they frantically try to track it down and kill it. Uninspired horror thriller moves over all-too-familiar territory from other films (“Silver Bullet” in particular). Sad to see the talented and underrated Biehn in schlock like this.

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“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).

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“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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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.

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