February 26, 2019 “Havana Darkness” (*1/2 out of four) was a thoroughly routine horror melodrama about three friends (Carolina Ravassa, Guillermo Ivan, Zach Rose) who travel to Havana, Cuba to investigate the origins of a manuscript supposedly written by Ernest Hemingway but find themselves trapped inside an abandoned building and being stalked and killed by a masked murderer who doesn’t want the truth of the manuscript to come out. Cheapjack mishmash of “Saw” and countless other schlock horror movies with the Cuba scenery its only novelty. But film’s ugly cinematography and shoddy lighting renders even this to look dull. Continue reading →
February 25, 2019 “Lords Of Chaos” (** out of four) was an intermittently intriguing but odd story about a teenager (Rory Culkin) in Oslo who attempts to start the genre of Norwegian black metal but his plan hits several speed-bumps and he then is forced to start his own record label and open his own record shop in order to survive but this also leads to twists of fate and consequences he did not foresee. Interesting for fans of metal and hard-rock (with a particular nod to Kiss whose face-paint and makeup the band emulates) for a while but story gets bogged down in the middle and takes some strange turns afterwards till its very bloody ending. Culkin is strong in the lead role and holds the movie together and makes it worth watching for at least a little while. Continue reading →
February 24, 2019 “Deadly Excursion” (** out of four) was a tiresome thriller about a woman and daughter (Samaire Armstrong and Alexandria DeBerry) who go on vacation together and charter a sailboat but find out all-too-late that the captain is a real sicko who intends on making sure they never return home. Not bad by the standards of these things, with pretty location photography and decent acting, but it’s too routine and predictable to sustain interest for too long. Originally titled “Paradise Prey” Continue reading →
February 24, 2019 “1st Summoning” (*1/2 out of four) was a tired found-footage horror story about four student filmmakers (Hayley Lovitt, Jason Macdonald, Brook Todd, Ace Harney) who set out to explore a historic and occult building but soon find that the evil that once lurked in the building is (yawn) still very much alive and their lives are in peril. Yet another rip-off of “The Blair Witch Project” without much horror or thrills and makes you wish the found-footage genre would just go back to Hell. Hopefully, this will be the last “summoning” and imitation of that 1999 classic and filmmakers can move on to more original stories. Continue reading →
February 23, 2019 “Trading Paint” (** out of four) was a lukewarm car-racing/family melodrama about a veteran race car driver (John Travolta) who steps back into the car-racing arena when his conflicted son (Toby Sebastian) decides to race with one of his bitter rivals (Michael Madsen). Well-worn and overly familiar story about family conflicts, the thrill of racing, and personal and professional egos is at least given a boost by good cast and Sebastian is strong as Travolta’s son. Shania Twain has a key role also as Travolta’s love interest but her one-note and underwritten part didn’t impress me much. Continue reading →
February 23, 2019 “I See You” (* out of four) was a dreadful horror melodrama well-worth not seeing about a video blogger (Aaron Perilo) who records on camera his new relationship with a beautiful girl (Toni Torres) but he also unknowingly captures a series of gruesome murders in which the identity of the killer is hidden. Umpteenth found-footage horror movie will give you vertigo with its relentlessly shaky hand-held camera or a headache from its terrible dialogue and acting. Only 78 minutes long but believe me you won’t be complaining. Continue reading →
February 22, 2019 “Dirty Dealing” (*1/2 out of four) was a losing hand about a group of casino workers (Frida Farrell, Ariana Madix, Madelon Lane, and others) who form a plot to rob the casino when one of the girls’ son is diagnosed with leukemia and the casino’s manager (Michael Madsen) double-crosses them and refuses to help. Dispiriting to watch trash done without any conviction or much style and even more dispiriting to see one-time great character actor Madsen waste his talents yet again. Can’t somebody revive this guy’s career? Kerry Shahan’s swank production design is film’s only asset. Continue reading →
February 20, 2019 “What Men Want” (**1/2 out of four) was a sporadically funny if inconsequential remake of the 2000 romantic comedy about a female sports agent (Taraji P. Henson) who is knocked unconscious and wakes up and is unexpectedly able to hear men’s thoughts which spices up her romantic life and her work but is this a burden or a gift? Frequently silly but does have some laughs and is given a boost by Henson’s usual spirited and charismatic performance. Tracy Morgan has a funny supporting role as a basketball prospect’s father and Brian Bosworth, Erykah Badu, Richard Roundtree, and Shaq all show up in amusing supporting roles. Continue reading →
February 19, 2019 “My Little Girl Is Gone (Eve Of Abduction)” (** out of four) was a by-the-numbers melodrama about a single mom (Sarah Lind) about to be married who recently receives threatening messages to break off her relationship and her daughter is subsequently kidnapped. However, she soon realizes that the kidnapper is on her side and that her fiancee (Robb Derringer) is the one who she’s really in danger from. Yet another “Fatal Attraction” clone which is fatally predictable and obvious. Lind is sympathetic in the lead role Continue reading →
February 18, 2019 “Deviant” (* out of four) was an all-but-unwatchable sleaze melodrama about a young guy (Ricki Hostutler) who is also a sex addict which causes his life to fall apart and turn upside down as he finds himself becoming increasingly lurid and out of control. Writer/producer/star/director Hostutler unfortunately bares all of the blame for this brutally unpleasant and unrelenting film. “Shame” with Michael Fassbender told the same story far less crudely and less exploitively but exploitation is the name of the game here. Continue reading →
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