“Bad Blood” (*1/2 out of four) was an anemic horror story about a caring social worker (Tosca Bell) who takes in a homeless boy (Brian Dunne) into her care but soon comes to realize he is a vampire and that her life may be in danger but is then at a moral crossroads over what to do about him. Dour-looking and dull; this might give “Twilight” a run for its money for the dullest vampire characters ever. “Bad Movie” would be a much more apt title for this clinker.

Continue reading →

“The House In Between 2” (*1/2 out of four) was a turgid pseudo-documentary about the return of home-owner Alice Jackson from the original and her returning team of paranormal investigators (Dustin Pari and Brad Cooney) who attempt to make it safe for her to return back home. Top choice for most unnecessary sequel of the year but this could likely have been titled “Paranormal Activity 8” and no one would be able to tell the difference (or care). Howlingly self-important and solemn at times but unfortunately this isn’t meant to be a comedy.

Continue reading →

“Lightyear” (** out of four) was a disappointing Pixar children’s story about the space ranger Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans- replacing Tim Allen) who spends years attempting to return home but on the way back encounters an army of robots led by the villainous Zurg (voice of James Brolin) who want to steal his fuel source. Perfectly watchable children’s animated tale but neither the story, characters, or animation are in the same leagues as the “Toy Story” series which this is based on and film is overall pretty ordinary. Tom Hanks and company are sorely missed.

Continue reading →

“Father Of The Bride” (*** out of four) was a delightful remake of the 1950 classic about a stubborn father (Andy Garcia) who learns that his daughter (Adria Arjona) has fallen in love and is about to get married and they have to plan out her wedding, just as him and his own wife (Gloria Estefan) have reached a divide in life and are about to divorce. Third telling of this story is about on par with the original and its previous 1991 Steve Martin remake, with a lot of heart, laughs, and Garcia and Estefan have dynamite chemistry together. Only complaint is Garcia’s character whose incessant negativity and complaining gets to be a bit much at times.

Continue reading →

“Collision” (*1/2 out of four) was an uninvolving action melodrama set over the course of one day in which a corrupt businessman (Langley Kirkwood) and his wife (Tessa Jubber) try to save their daughter (Zoey Sneedon) from a ruthless and violent crime lord (Vuyo Dabula) but soon realize they may have taken on far more than they bargained for and all of their lives are caught in a crossfire. Set in South Africa on the anniversary that apartheid ended but all this is just window dressing for an unpleasant crime story in which you’re not really rooting- or caring- for anyone. Inauspicious directing debut from award-winning French short-film director Fabien Martorell.

Continue reading →

“Mad God” (** out of four) was a hollow stop-motion animation feature set in a rainy city of futuristic Hell in which a corroded division bell descends amongst the city and a determined assassin emerges to uncover its truth as he navigates the city’s ugly landscapes and its dark underworlds. With Phil Tippett (“Robocop”, “Starship Troopers”) at the helm- you know you’re going to get some lush and hypnotic images but story becomes sludgy and monotonous after a while, especially because there’s no dialogue and very few actors. This was Tippett’s pet project that he worked on for over 30 years but it doesn’t really seem worth all the bother.

Continue reading →

“Blowback” (** out of four) was a wearily routine underworld melodrama about a criminal mastermind (Cam Gigandet) who plans a perfect heist and is ready to score and retire but is doublecrossed and left for dead by his partner (Randy Couture) and his girlfriend (Michele Plaia) but survives and embarks on bloodthirsty revenge. Tired story of backstabbings, empty threats, and shootouts. Nowhere near the worst of its grungy ilk but too by-the-numbers to make an impression. Story is more-than-a-little similar to (the even similarly titled) “Payback” but no one ever accused action filmmakers of originality too often.

Continue reading →

“Spiderhead” (*1/2 out of four) was an empty-headed suspense melodrama set in the not-too-distant future in which prisoners are offered to volunteer as medical subjects to receive a shorter sentence; one such prisoner (Miles Teller) volunteers for a test but soon begins to question the reality of his emotions and the true intent and motivation behind the administrator (Chris Helmsworth) behind all this. A disappointment from director Joseph Kosinski who also directed “Top Gun 2” (which also stars Teller); story is muddled and obtuse and it would help if you actually cared about any of the characters. George Saunders co-wrote the script and adapted his own short story so less sometimes really is more.

Continue reading →

“The Black Phone” (*1/2 out of four) was a luridly unpleasant horror thriller about a young boy (Mason Thames) who is abducted by a child killer (Ethan Hawke) and locked in the killer’s basement where he suddenly realizes he can communicate with the killer’s former child victims on a black phone. Repulsive subject matter involving child abduction and murder and film doesn’t even offer any scares or sick thrills. Film was adapted from a book by Stephen King’s son but film feels like regurgitated Rob Zombie. Hang up on this wrong number.

Continue reading →

“The Good Neighbor” (***1/2 out of four) was an absolutely riveting Hitchcockian suspense thriller about a journalist (Luke Kleintank) who meets a new neighbor (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and go out for drinks and get into a hit-and-run accident in which a woman is killed; he is then assigned to cover this story and becomes deeply involved with her sister (Eloise Smyth) but this immediately plunges him into a whirpool of guilt, remorse, and deception and puts him at odds with his sociopathic neighbor who wants to kill and cover all tracks by any means necessary. Serpentine story unfolds with many haunting layers of character study and tragedy and holds you in its vicelike grip till its chilling ending. Exceptionally well-directed by Stephan Rick and given more charge by strong acting (especially Rhys-Meyers).

Continue reading →