September 7, 2019 “The Huntress: Rune Of The Dead” (*1/2 out of four) was a ponderous adventure story about an impoverished family (Peter Morlin, Moa Enqvist Stefansdotter, and others) living in the wilderness who have to suddenly arm themselves and prepare for the arrival of sudden evil which threatens to overtake them and their way of life. Crisp cinematography by Marcus Moller does all that it can to enliven and enrichen the story which moves like molasses and only comes to life in its final third. Steffansdotter tries in an underwritten role but this is still nothing worth hunting for Continue reading →
September 6, 2019 “Paradise Hills” (*1/2 out of four) was a lifeless fantasy film about a young girl (Emma Roberts) who is sent to a mysterious boarding school headed by a dutchess (Milla Jovovich) which reforms wayward girls but she tries to uncover the secrets of this mysterious school and escape. Striking cinematography by Lucas Vidal is pretty but otherwise this is pretty much of a bore. Jovovich is wasted in a role she can play in her sleep by now and Roberts is (bizarrely) made up to look like Lady Gaga. Seemingly inspired by “Alice In Wonderland” but completely lacking in any wonder or imagination. Continue reading →
September 6, 2019 “Bennett’s War” (*** out of four) was a stirring drama about a young soldier (Michael Roark) who is severely injured in combat with a broken back and leg and is medically discharged and has to overcome the personal and physical odds to become a champion motocross racer to support his loving family (Trace Adkins and Allison Paige). Powerhouse acting by all takes center stage here and makes this a must-see, even as some of the story melodramatics are a little hokey. Adkins, in particular, sears the screen as his dedicated and caring father. A small winner all around. Continue reading →
September 5, 2019 “Arctic Apocalypse” (** out of four) was a cheesy disaster movie about an influx of ice storms that triggers a new ice age in the Northern Hemisphere and a group of travellers (Joel Berti, Anna Sofie Christensen, Blake Dang, and others) who have to make their way and survive across the ice-covered landscape before they are frozen and killed. Never boring but not terribly original or exciting either. Inspired by the disaster movies from the 50’s and 60’s but seems even more directly influenced (and rips off) 2004’s “The Day After Tomorrow.” Continue reading →
September 5, 2019 “The Utah Cabin Murders” (*1/2 out of four) was a brutally unpleasant rip-off of “The Strangers” about two sisters (Tiffany Ceri and Jennifer Anderson) who go to a cabin in Utah and are immediately terrorized by two masked psychos who watched “Deliverance” once too many times. No suspense and instead supplies endless blood and fake shocks, in the place of moviemaking skill. Would it kill horror filmmakers to come up with some new ideas once in a while? Continue reading →
September 5, 2019 “Clownado” (* out of four) was an embarrassingly awful horror show about a series of cursed circus clowns who set out on a trek through the Southwest using tornadoes to torment and torture others and a stripper, an Elvis impersonator, a truck driver (John O’Hara, Rachel Lagen, Bobby Westrick), and other swell folks all get caught in their path. Numbingly awful film looks like someone’s bad home movies and some of the terrible acting really needs to be seen to be believed. This makes “Killer Klowns From Outer Space” look like “Lawrence Of Arabia” by comparison. Continue reading →
September 4, 2019 “Ready Or Not” (** out of four) was a tiresome horror show about a bride (Samara Weaving) whose wedding night turns into a literal Hell when her eccentric new in-laws (Henry Czerny and Andie Macdowell) force her to take part in a horror game which she has to fight to the death to stay alive. Holds your attention for a little while but eventually wears out, as it becomes unpleasant and ugly. Nice to see Czerny again but both him and his Macdowell are mostly wasted here. Both of them seem “ready” for a comeback by now but this ain’t it. Continue reading →
September 3, 2019 “Santa Girl” (** out of four) was a cloying confection about a high-school girl (Jennifer Stone) who is actually the daughter of Santa Claus (Barry Bostwick) and wants to experience being an ordinary girl before she marries the son of Jack Frost and takes over the family business and things get complicated when she falls in love with a classmate (Devon Werkheiser). Engaging performances do what they can with a silly script and a whopper of a story. Young girls who are the obvious target audience might like this more. Bostwick is ideally cast but disappears from the movie faster than anyone can say shock treatment Continue reading →
September 3, 2019 “Blood And Truth” (* out of four) was a simply unwatchable experimental action movie in which the viewer interactively plays as a special forces solider named Ryan (voice of Felix Scott) who is trying to stay alive after a London heist and doesn’t know who to trust and encounters treachery at every turn. All this probably makes this seem more original and exciting than it plays out, however. This incoherent mess is the first- and hopefully the last- of its kind. Viewers eager for the interactive thrills of video games should hook up their Nintendo Classics or XBox instead. Continue reading →
September 2, 2019 “Angel Of Mine” (*** out of four) was a powerful drama about a lonely middle-aged woman (Noomi Rapace) grieving over the death of her daughter who begins losing her grip on reality when she starts to suspect that the child of a new couple (Luke Evans and Yvonne Stravhovski) she meets may really be her daughter. Is she crazy or is there something to this premonition? Vibrant acting from all (especially Rapace) and Hitchcockian storytelling make this a must-see. Takes a little time getting going but emerges a grabber. This is a remake of 2008’s “Mark Of An Angel.” Continue reading →
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