“The Jack In The Box Rises” (*1/2 out of four) was a sputtering horror sequel about the title evil incarnate who is discovered on the grounds of an exclusive girls’ prep school and numerous students (Isabella Colby Browne, Leona Clarke, and others) discover it and have to fight to the death to prevent it from opening and spreading and unleashing. Strictly for those who thought the original “Jack In The Box” was robbed at the Oscar shows; either way, film is no prize in terms of craftsmanship or scares and gets stale pretty quickly. It’s films like this that make you realize how great the original “Child’s Play” was by comparison.

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“Gossip To Die For” (** out of four) was a mostly routine pulp suspense thriller about a troubled NYPD detective (Susan Ateh) who is scrambling to solve a series of high-profile murders that are predicted when published online and she clashes with a fellow detective (Jay Rincon) as they race against the clock to prevent further murders. Rock-solid performance from Ateh and some occasional hard-boiled dialogue aren’t enough to give this much distinction from other suspense thrillers. Originally titled “Deadly Gossip.”

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“Shark Warning” (*1/2 out of four) was yet another needless killer-shark movie about a man (Andrew J. Katers) who returns to his hometown 2 decades after a shark killed his brother; upon finding out that the same shark is still roving in the waters, he gathers up various friends and family (David Chokachi, Angela Cole, and others) to hunt it down and kill it once and for all. Film’s poster will likely remind you of “Jaws” and so will virtually everything else in the film, except that was done with supreme skill and tension and still holds up well nearly 50 years later. You likely won’t remember this one 50 hours from now.

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“Earthquake Underground” (** out of four) was a meager disaster thriller about a young architect (Matthew Gademske) who struggles to save his pregnant girlfriend (Angela Cole) after a massive earthquake submerges the hotel they are staying in and the city around them is collapsing. Strictly-by-the-numbers action movie made for disaster-movie addicts but the only intermittent visual effects and pedestrian dialogue will likely leave them as disinterested as everyone else. What is up with all of the nonstop disaster movies lately?

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“Dead Sea” (*1/2 out of four) was a lethargic suspense thriller about a young woman (Isabel Gravitt) and her friends (Genneya Walton and Audriana Volken) who are stranded at sea and are picked up by a group of boatmen (Dean Cameron and Alexander Wraith) but soon realize they have been kidnapped and sold in potential sex slavery and have to fight back to survive. Plodding and familiar story doesn’t have enough scares or tension to make it remotely worthwhile. Nice to see Cameron again but clunkers like this make you think he should have stayed in “Summer School.” Watch “Dead Calm” again instead.

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“The Last Breath” (*1/2 out of four) was a boring suspense thriller about a group of friends (Alexander Arnold, Kim Spearman, Julian Sands, and others) who go on a Caribbean scuba trip exploring the wreckage of a WWII ship but find themselves besieged by a group of killer sharks. Nothing at all that “Jaws” (or some of its sequels) did and did better years ago. Good-looking cinematography from Eric Bourjeson is the only highlight throughout. Sadly, this was “the last” film from cult actor Sands.

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“Alien Apocalypse” (*1/2 out of four) was a dishearteningly derivative sci/fi thriller about a spaceship that returns to Earth carrying deadly samples that threaten to wipe out mankind and various scientists and military personnel (Michael Pare, Paul Logan, Christina Rose, and others) try to race against the clock to prevent worldwide destruction. Cheesy story made by those who watched “Independence Day” far too many times; not even the action scenes or visual effects can help this one much. Does Pare get paid for essentially playing the same role in all these movies lately?

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“America Is Sinking” (** out of four) was an unexceptional disaster melodrama about the melting of the polar ice caps which results in massive earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis throughout the country while various scientists and military personnel (Michael Pare, Johnny Pacar, Lindsey Marie Wilson, and others) scramble to save the world. Competently made with some good visual effects shots of floods and storms but even those (and many story elements) are borrowed from “Deep Impact.” Pare is wasted in a role that requires him mostly on the phone in his umpteenth role as a general.

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