“The Rebels Of PT-218” (**1/2 out of four) was a fast-paced if superficial melodrama set in 1942 at the height of WWII in which the Atlantic Ocean has become a dangerous battleground and a group of American soldiers (Eric Roberts, William Baldwin, Danny Trejo, and others) fight against the constant bombardment of German attacks. Lots of action and constant movement that put you right in the middle of the action but it starts to seem like a video game after a while rather than a historical war drama. Film may remind you of the recent “Midway” remake in many ways. Strong cast definitely gives it their all.

Continue reading →

“Hatched” (*1/2 out of four) was yet another “Jurassic Park” clone about a city under siege from a fast-evolving T-Rex and the army (Ricardo Freitas, Derek Nelson, and others) and the rest of the city (Megan Purvis, Nicola Wright, Amanda-Jade Tyler, and others) try to destroy it and survive. Nearly 30 years later and the original JP easily outstomps and outchews all its imitators. Cheezoid effects and paper-thin characters and story make this really tough going. It’s about time filmmakers “hatched” some new ideas.

Continue reading →

“Die In A Gunfight” (** out of four) was a scattershot pulp melodrama about a lifelong loser (Diego Boneta) who falls head over heels in love with a young woman (Alexandra Daddario) who turns out to be the daughter of his father’s nemesis. And that’s just the beginning of the story. Film zigzags from lighthearted comedy to violent action to dark character study making for a bumpy and uneven ride. Directed with zest and flair by Colli Schiffili and entertaining in spots but not enough to sustain at full feature-length. Filmed in just 23 days!

Continue reading →

“The Nest” (*1/2 out of four) was a muddled horror thriller about a troubled child (Maple Suttles) who buys a cute stuffed teddy bear at a garage sale but subsequently finds out that it is possessed and filled with parasitic creatures that enhance the girl’s anxiety and trauma and put an additional strain on her hard-working mother (Sarah Navratil) and grandmother (Dee Wallace). Creepy storyline and atmosphere goes nowhere slowly as film becomes overly glum and grim. Nice to see Wallace still cashing checks in token horror roles but this is pretty much a “nest” of cliches.

Continue reading →

“Acquitted By Faith” (**1/2 out of four) was an earnestly done spiritual Christian melodrama about a self-absorbed attorney (Casper Van Dien) who runs over a young girl (Deborah Allen) while texting-and-driving and faces the wrath of her parents (Tom Schanley and Jaci Velasquez) and the courts but soon finds faith in God that helps save both their lives. Alternately corny and compelling and becomes overly preachy and moralizing towards the end but sincere performances and intentions help keep it on track and watchable.

Continue reading →

“The Blackout Experiment” (*1/2 out of four) was a slavish imitation of “Saw” about 6 strangers (Troy Jones, Dom Cole, Yasmin Irvine, Stefani Rose, and others) who wake up in a room loaded with weapons after mysteriously blacking out and are forced to kill one another or forced to watch someone they care about die soon from a ruthless doctor (Cheverly Amalia) who is watching from afar. Gimmicky and gore-filled thriller is what happens when trash is recycled without any of the ingredients that made it fun to begin with. Amalia was also film’s executive producer.

Continue reading →

“The Forever Purge” (**1/2 out of four) was a sporadically effective entry in this blockbuster series set along the Mexican border in which two Mexican immigrants (Ana de la Reguera and Tenoch Huerta) migrate to Texas for a better life; meanwhile, remnants of the New Founding Fathers Of America want the purge reinstated permanently as a means to exterminate anyone who is an immigrant while other landowners (Will Patton, Josh Lucas, Cassidy Freeman) try to help and restore order. “The Purge” becomes topical as it bites off more than it can chew in utilizing its story to focus on politics, immigration, and murder. Final third delivers the goods with some tense action and suspense but on the whole film is overstuffed and overlong- and makes you think what directors Sam Peckinpah and Walter Hill might have been able to do with this material. Might be time to call an end to this series before it starts to feel like it’s going on “forever.”

Continue reading →

“Out Of Death” (** out of four) was a not-bad action melodrama set in a mountain wilderness in which a jogger (Jaime King) stumbles onto a drug-dealing operation involving the local cops and thugs (Lala Kent and Oliver Trevena); a retired local cop (Bruce Willis) soon arrives on the scene but can he be trusted or is he already part of the operation himself? Typical paycheck-DVD work from Willis although relative fast pace and crisp lensing from Peter Holland help keep it watchable and a cut above the routine. This was filmed at the start of the COVID pandemic in just 9 days!

Continue reading →

“A Date With Danger” (** out of four) was a thoroughly predictable and obvious suspense thriller about a woman (Lara Jean Chorostecki) who is new to town with her daughter (Jaida Grace) and meets a man (Matt Wells) who is a smooth charmer who turns out to be (yawn) a sociopath intent on turning their lives upside down. Yet another romantic thriller which viewers will easily guess within the first 20 minutes. Glamorously shot by Kevin Rasmussen and decently acted but this is overall “a date” to forget.

Continue reading →