Category: Uncategorized

“Backdraft II” (*** out of four) was a gripping sequel to the 1991 hit about an arson investigator (Joe Anderson) from the Chicago Fire Department who begins investigating a series of increasingly destructive fires but soon begins to uncover that the works are from an international arms dealer who is using fires as a distraction and may be targeting members of his department. Gets bogged down in a few unrelated and murky story tangents but is kept on track by Anderson’s intense (and believable) performance and the conveying danger of fires and the bravery and camaraderie of those who fight them. William Baldwin and Donald Sutherland reprise their roles from the original.

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“The Snarling” (* out of four) was a lusterless horror thriller set in England in which a horror film crew (Laurence Saunders, Chris Simmons, Ben Manning, and others) are invaded and mauled by a slaughtering beast whose origins are unknown. Film liberally rips off “The Howling” practically right down to its title but there isn’t even many gore and attack scenes for rabid horror fans. “The Yawning” would be a better title for this timewaster. Saunders’ funny performance is film’s sole virtue.

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“Hell Of A Night” (*1/2 out of four) was a stylish but dumb and derivative horror thriller about a young college student who retreats to the country for a weekend getaway but finds out (to the surprise of no one) she is not alone and has to fight for her life to survive. Exceptionally good-looking horror movie (kudos to cinematographer Brian Childs who also wrote and directed) is also unfortunately exceptionally by-the-numbers and predictable with no surprises and hardly any scares. Hell of a shame, really.

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“The Curse Of La Llarona” (*** out of four) was a chilling horror thriller about a C.P.S. worker (Linda Cardellini) and her children who are drawn into a frightening supernatural realm for which they must enlist the aid of a troubled priest (Raymond Cruz) to exorcise the demons and save their lives. Yet another story about paranormal activity and religious horror but this one is exceedingly well-directed and acted (especially by Cardellini) and features some genuine scares and style. A real sleeper. Beautifully and atmospherically filmed by Michael Burgess.

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“Thriller” (** out of four) was a pretty routine urban slasher drama about a childhood prank gone wrong which comes back to haunt the group of South Central teens (Noah Abbott, Jessica Alain, Big Boy, and others) involved when their victim returns home for bloodthirsty revenge over Homecoming weekend. Mistitled slasher story is tepid at best and lifts quite a bit from “I Know What You Did Last Summer” among others but remains watchable. Mykelti Williamson (as a sympathetic cop) and RZA (as the school principal) add some style in supporting roles.

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“The Professor And The Madman” (*1/2 out of four) was a ponderous adaptation of Simon Winchester’s novel set in 1857 about a doctor (Mel Gibson) who is overseeing the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary and forms a relationship with another doctor (Sean Penn) who is a deranged lunatic and in prison. Both Gibson and Penn are good as usual but are unable to enliven or enrich this dry material which meanders in too many different directions and for far too long at over two hours. Made in 2016 and was re-tooled many times to no avail. Director Farhad Siminia successfully sued to have his name removed from the film. Bear McCreary’s rich music score is one of film’s few virtues.

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“Klippers” (*1/2 out of four) was a disjointed, dumb action potboiler about a hitman (Ofu Obekpa) who is hired by an evil millionaire (Robert Pralgo) to murder his ex-girlfriend (Libby Blanton) and attempts to follow through on this but things go astray when he realizes he starts to fall in love with her! Film begins passably but soon sputters and goes nowhere, as you gradually realize you don’t care about any of the characters or who gets “klipped.” Story borrows a lot from “A Prayer For The Dying” and “Faithful” and is almost as bad as those misfires.

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“After” (** out of four) was an earthbound love story about a new college student (Josephine Langford) who begins a turbulent relationship with a bad boy (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin) from the wrong side of the tracks which affects their families and their personal lives which causes them both to think if they are going to live happily ever after. Story never takes wing and is never particularly compelling or moving, despite engaging performances. Disappointing adaptation of the much more adult-oriented novel from Anna Todd.

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“The Pining” (* out of four) was muddled story that audiences won’t be pining for about a detective (Jackie Dallas) who begins to investigate a series of gruesome murders that lead her to a group-therapy leader (Tom Sizemore) who may know more than he is leading on but there are many other suspects and clues from the groups he has been leading. Absolutely incoherent story never builds any tension or suspense and subsides into meaningless and confusing story tangents instead. Dallas is good in the lead and does what she can with a nothing role; Sizemore is well-cast as a drug counselor.

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