July 13, 2023 “The Kept Mistress Killer” (** out of four) was a thinly conceived suspense melodrama about a woman (Alicia Leigh Willis) who interviews and is hired immediately by the company’s CEO (Matthew Pohlkamp) and they fall in love but she soon starts to suspect he may be a duplicitous killer after his ex-wife is found dead and a hard-nosed detective (Kim Grant) begins to investigate. Glossy but generic thriller pretty much goes through the motions and none of the twists or turns should be too surprising to many. Even most of the actors seem like they’re simply going through the motions here. Continue reading →
July 12, 2023 “Kinderfanger” (** out of four) was a strenuously uneven horror thriller about a teacher (Oliver Theory) who realizes that many of her students are disappearing and she realizes she will have to battle the various demons from her own past against a mystical child abductor (Dmitrious Bistrevsky) to solve the mystery of what’s really going on in her small town. First-half is sluggish and hokey but second half does gradually build some tension and mood and delivers a few scares. Promising directorial debut from noted cinematographer Bridger Nelson. Continue reading →
July 11, 2023 “Cascade” (** out of four) was an overly familiar suspense potboiler about a teenage girl (Sara Waisglass) who goes on a hike in the Canadian wilderness and finds a crashed drug plane and has to play cat-and-mouse with a ruthless gang (Josh Cruddas, John Tench, and others) who want her dead at all cost. Good-looking film is well-lensed by Diego Guijjaro on beautiful Canadian locations but covers well-worn and all-too-familiar territory. No relation to the television series of the same name. Continue reading →
July 11, 2023 “The Lesson” (** out of four) was a curiously unmoving melodrama about a young author (Daryl McCormack) who takes a position at the estate of a legendary writer (Richard E. Grant) and develops a relationship with his wife (Julie Delpy) all the while trying to hone his own observatory skills at writing. Earnest story is given credence by its strong pedigree and cast but it never connects much emotionally and is lacking in any vitality and passion. Director Alice Troughton directs with her typical leisurely and neo-classical style but she needs more “lessons” of her own on pacing and dramatics. Continue reading →
July 9, 2023 “Dead Man’s Hand” (*1/2 out of four) was a losing hand about a one-time gunslinger (Jack Kilmer) who has reformed with his wife and family and kills an outlaw (Forrest Wilder) in self-defense but this prompts outrage from the victim’s brother who is also the town’s corrupt mayor (Stephen Dorff) who swears bloody vengeance against him no matter the cost. Unusually ugly and dusty-looking Western with cheap and grainy cinematography that almost makes you want to clean the screen with windex but film is hardly worth the bother. Good cast are wasted on story that’s overflown with Western cliches. Continue reading →
July 9, 2023 “Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery” (** out of four) was a half-hearted continuation of Hallmark’s “Murder She Baked” series about Hannah (Allison Sweeney) and Mike (Cameron Mathison) whose wedding plans and blissful relationship is severely interrupted by a murder at a local gym which raises everyone’s suspicions and security. Overly bland trifle never gathers much magic as a romantic comedy or a detective thriller and soon sputters. There are 28 novels in this series so you can be sure there will be more film adaptations to follow hopefully with more conviction and bite. Continue reading →
July 9, 2023 “Soundproof” (** out of four) was a muddled character melodrama about a fragmented family (Georgina Rich, Ellie Bindman, Gabe Robinson, and others) who take a road trip to redemption but find themselves further falling apart due to various struggles and inner turmoil. Good performances help keep you watching but film is let down by lack of real storyline and gradually becomes more jaded and aloof as it goes along. Co-directors Mark Hayman and Margaret Rogerson work in a style that reminds you of mid-period David Lynch (particularly “Wild At Heart”) but film is only interesting in fits and starts. Continue reading →
July 8, 2023 “Wham!” (***1/2 out of four) was an excellent biography of the title ’80’s pop duo of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley who went onto international superstardom but underneath the pop gloss and screaming fans Michael’s sexuality and desire to be taken more seriously as a solo artist led to their breakup. A very interesting documentary even for those who were not fans of Wham or Michael’s music and may not have realized just how big Wham was; full of great behind-the-scenes moments and interviews and features dynamic commentary from Ridgeley and also edits in various commentary from Michael before he passed. Continue reading →
July 8, 2023 “Insidious: The Red Door” (** out of four) was a tired entry in this endless popular horror series set 9 years later after the previous entry about the family patriarch (Patrick Wilson) whose son (Ty Simpkins) is starting college but who is still haunted by visions and hallucinations from the past and attempts to finalize them once and for all. Fifth entry in this series is allegedly a direct sequel to the second entry and has a few minor scares but is really more-of-the-same and for die-hard fans of the series. Wilson also directed and does a respectable job in his debut but is undercut by material that is now past its expiration date. Continue reading →
July 7, 2023 “Super Volcano” (**1/2 out of four) was a diverting if forgettable disaster-action thriller set on the islands of Hawaii as a gigantic volcano threatens mass destruction and a team of experts (Ashley Ahlquist, Grant Bower, Ace Christensen, and others) race against the clock to save the people of the island from the never-ending flow of fire and lava. Fast-paced and full of overall decent effects for fans of disaster movies who aren’t too demanding. This won’t make anyone forget 1997’s superior (and similarly titled) “Volcano”, as script and story are pretty nondescript, but it’s an overall an efficient time-filler. Continue reading →
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