Author: dlepikcom

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes” (*** out of four) was a sturdy prequel set 64 years before the events of the original in which Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) sees a chance for change in society and personal redemption when he mentors Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) leading to his eventual role as the tyrannical leader of Panem. Well-crafted and well-told adaptation of the 2020 novel and directed with a sure-hand by series veteran Francis Lawrence. Overlong at nearly two-hours-and-40-minutes but should definitely please series fans.

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“Leave The World Behind” (** out of four) was a bloated, diffuse melodrama about a married couple (Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke) who take a weekend getaway to a luxurious rental home which soon takes a turn for the worse when a malicious couple (Mahersha Ali and Myha’la) knocks at their door and turns their whole perspective and viewpoint on reality upside down. Not all that different from “The Strangers” back in 2008 except that movie was leaner and lesser-scaled- and also better. Star-laden cast helps to give this a professional sheen but it’s fatally overlong and overly weird. A strange vehicle for Roberts and even her ardent fans would best leave this one “behind.”

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“Good Burger 2” (*1/2 out of four) was a wholly unnecessary sequel 26 years later (!) after the original about Dex (Kenan Thompson) who returns to working at the title joint with Ed (Kel Mitchell) where they once again wage war against a rival burger corporation (Jillian Bell and Lil Rel Howery) that is determined to put them out of business. Likely to satisfy fans of the original and the Nickelodeon short t.v. series but short is what this (and the original) should have remained. Good-natured performances from the leads help but Mitchell’s annoying character and generally dumb screenplay will likely give you indigestion.

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“A Neighbor’s Vendetta” (*1/2 out of four) was a strenuously illogical suspense thriller about various friends (Sydney Cole Alexander, Chelsea Gilligan, Steven Good, and others) who all have affairs and backstab one another until things turn deadly when one of them dies and everyone’s worst instincts seem to be rising to the surface. Hard to believe that thrillers could still be ripping off “Fatal Attraction” almost 40 years later but seeing is unfortunately believing. Sleek lighting and cinematography are film’s only saving grace.

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“Johnny Z” (** out of four) was a spare-parts action thriller about the title half-human/half-zombie (Michael Merchant) who is trained by a martial arts master (Felix Cortes) and then subsequently seeks vengeance on the ruthless and evil corporation that created him leading to bloody war. Congenitally derivative story borrows plot threads from too many other films to count but is overall well-paced and Merchant’s strong performance helps to keep it watchable. Not all that different from “Johnny Mnemonic” with Keanu Reeves but is at least far better than that 1995 disaster.

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“Thanksgiving” (** out of four) was a stale slasher thriller set on the title holiday in which the residents (Patrick Dempsey, Rick Hoffman, Gina Gershon, and others) of a small Massachusetts town are terrorized by a homicidal slasher on the loose sending all of them into a maddening frenzy as they scramble to find out who the real killer is. No turkey but not anything to be especially thankful for either. Director Eli Roth packs in his usual gore and has some inventive kills but can’t keep film from feeling like a routine leftover from the 80’s. Either way, film is nowhere near as humorous and entertaining as the 2007 “Grindhouse” trailer that inspired it.

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“Black Noise” (** out of four) was a muffled action melodrama about an elite team of security specialists (Frank Corbie, Thomas Downey, and others) who are sent to a remote island to rescue a millionaire (Jackson Rathbone) but soon find duplicity, deception, and danger at every turn putting their survival skills to the core to make it off the island. The sort of “Expendables”-like action movie that filmmakers can make off the assembly line. Not bad but you’ve seen it all before and likely will again and better soon.

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“It Be An Evil Moon” (*1/2 out of four) was a bewildering bore about a disgraced mad scientist (Ian Ray-White) who derives a hair-growth formula which is derived from pickled wolfsbane (that’s right); at first, it seems to be a miraculous breakthrough but he soon realizes this has multiple medical complications and consequences. By the end of this clunker, you may wish you had spent your money on some Rogaine or Minoxidil instead. A real head-scratcher, to put it mildly. Ben Etchells’ stirring music score is one of film’s few assets.

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“They Wait In The Dark” (**1/2 out of four) was a better-than-average horror thriller about a young woman (Sarah McGuire) on the run with her young son (Patrick McGee) from an abusive relationship but both find they are haunted by the past which prevents them from having a good future together. Ultimately done in by standard horror genre cliches and pretensions but well-directed by Patrick Rea and infused with an aura of creepy dread that holds you till its obscure ending.

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“Your Lucky Day” (*1/2 out of four) was an unlucky remake of the 2010 thriller about the dispute over a winning lottery ticket which turns into a deadly hostage situation and all of the witnesses (Angus Cloud, Elliot Knight, Jessica Garza, and others) are faced with the dilemma over how far they’re willing to go and how many they are willing to kill for a cut of the winning $156 million ticket. Potentially incendiary premise never connects and is sunk by unlikeable characters and slapdash writing. One of Cloud’s final films before his death this past July.

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