October 13, 2019 “Lucky Day” (*1/2 out of four) was an unlucky mess about a professional safe-cracker (Luke Bracey) just released from prison and half-heartedly attempting to go straight while a violent and unstoppable hitman (Crispin Glover) is out for revenge against him for the death of his brother. Sputters to a halt after a flashy opening and only gets dumber and uglier as it goes on. A disappointment from director Roger Avary who in better days co-wrote “Pulp Fiction” and directed the far more potent “Killing Zoe” in 1994. Continue reading →
October 12, 2019 “Cuck” (** out of four) was a monotonous melodrama about a psychologically unstable loner (Zachary Ray Sherman) who gains popularity as a vlogger but this only fuels his descent into madness and rage and escalates his progression to violence. Unpleasant story holds your attention for a little while but it eventually wears you out. Sherman ranges from effective to one-note in the lead. Legendary B-movie actress Sally Kirkland has a minor role as his mom but I doubt this is the comeback role she’s waiting for. Continue reading →
October 12, 2019 “The Birdcatcher” (** out of four) was a lugubrious WWII drama set in Norway in which a Norwegian Jew (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) flees her homeland and seeks sanctuary on a farm in which she is forced to conceal her identity and pretend to be a boy but this damages her psychologically and leads to problems for many around her. Earnest subject matter has some powerful individual moments but is too slow-moving to carry the weight and impact it needs. Boussina’s strong performance in the lead is a plus. Continue reading →
October 12, 2019 “Trauma Therapy” (*1/2 out of four) was a miserable thriller which may result in viewers having to seek therapy in which a group of patients (Chase Coleman, Brian Krouse, and others) attend a wooded retreat with a famous self-help guru (Tom Malloy) in which they all confront their problems but soon begin to question the methods of the counselor in charge but this in turn leads to escalating problems with their insanity and psychosis. Far too much mumbo and jumbo for one to digest and it’s pretentious and unpleasant as well. Good-looking cinematography from Pascale Combes-Knoke is the only asset. Continue reading →
October 12, 2019 “Along Came The Devil 2” (* out of four) a Godawful sequel to a movie that I don’t think very many were crying out for a follow-up about the girl from the original (Laura Wiggins) returning home and reuniting with her estranged father when she starts noticing more (yawn) paranormal activity and has to turn to the town’s reverend (Bruce Davison) for religious and spiritual help. Yet another solemn horror rundown of religious sermons, exorcisms, and demonic rituals. Won’t these movies please go back to Hell where they all belong? Continue reading →
October 12, 2019 “Warnings” (*1/2 out of four) was a dreary horror thriller about a couple (Raquel Pomplun and Demetirus Navarro) who purchase a new house in a lovely pictaresque town but soon find out (to the surprise of no one) that the house is haunted and inhabited by paranormal activity and they need to get out before it encompasses their lives and their sanity. Nothing you haven’t seen before and better in “The Amityville Horror” or its sequels or remakes and takes too long to get going. Navarro also directed so most of the “warning” signals should be placed squarely on him. Continue reading →
October 11, 2019 “Confined” (*1/2 out of four) was a numbingly unpleasant thriller that confines viewers for nearly an hour-and-a-half about a man (Donnie French) whose wife (Caitlin Drance) is kidnapped by a ruthless sicko (Chris Dettone) out for revenge against the couple for an accident that occurred years earlier and he gives her only one week to find her which puts him to a psychological and physical endurance test. Exploitative and cheaply made movie puts viewers at their own endurance test even at its relatively brief running time. Continue reading →
October 10, 2019 “Rabid” (*** out of four) was a chilling horror story about an aspiring fashion designer (Laura Vandervoort) who is horribly disfigured after an accident and undergoes an experimental stem cell treatment which restores her looks but soon turns her world upside down and she finds she’s a rabid and bloodthirsty killer which leads to an outbreak of rabies all across the city! Not great, as film tries to juggle a few too many different ideas and story threads, but definitely a cut above the norm, with good performances and lots of splattering effects. Stephen McHattie is superb as the villainous doctor who saves her. Continue reading →
October 8, 2019 “Devil’s Revenge” (*1/2 out of four) was a grim horror thriller about a down-on-his luck archaeologist (Jason Brooks) in Kentucky who is determined to find an ancient relic from (naturally) the depths of Hell but he soon finds that this relic may have found him and it jeopardizes him and his family (Jeri Ryan and Robert Scott Wilson). William Shatner- in between “Star Trek” convention appearances- picks up a few bucks as his deranged father. Does anyone remember when these movies used to be fun? Continue reading →
October 8, 2019 “The Parts You Lose” (** out of four) was a languid melodrama about a young boy (Danny Murphy) in a sleepy North Dakota town who befriends a dangerous fugitive (Aaron Paul) on the run but gradually becomes unsure as to whether he can be trusted or not and whether this endangers his family. Beautifully photographed by Evans Brown in Canada but story never gains much momentum and thus never attains much emotional power. A film of great “parts” that unfortunately don’t congeal into a satisfying whole. “Mud” with Matthew McConaughey told a similar story in 2012 with more rich emotion and impact. Continue reading →
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