“The YouTube Effect” (**1/2 out of four) was an occasionally thought-provoking documentary about YouTube which launched in 2006 with modest origins but went on to revolutionize the internet and change how we watch and consume videos and information and this shows the various pros-and-cons its had on society, the economy, and the worldwide media in general. Director Alex Winter (the actor) shows some interesting ideas with a dizzying array of robustly edited clips and videos and interviews but doesn’t know when to quit as it rambles on and goes on in too many different directions sometimes all at once.

Continue reading →

“The Madness Of Humpty Dumpty” (*1/2 out of four) was an utterly low-rent horror thriller about a young woman (Emily Webber) with early schizophrenia who moves back into her childhood home and begins experiencing bizarre occurrences with the title doll. Are these symptoms of her mental illness or is the doll possessed and about to kill? (You get 2 chances and the first doesn’t count). Third in this dreadful horror series is certainly no worse than previous entries but let’s just be nice and say this is a long way from “Child’s Play” and makes that look like Hitchcock in his prime.

Continue reading →

“Latency” (** out of four) was an overly controlled and remote psychological drama about a young woman (Sasha Luss) with severe gambling issues and agoraphobia who receives new equipment to enhance her game but this ends up overtaking her mind and thus her sanity as well. Some creepy images and pertinent observations on the destruction of gambling and psychosis are defeated by film’s plodding pace and aloof approach. Writer/director James Croke uses intelligence and craft but needs a shot of adrenaline.

Continue reading →

“The Exorcism” (*1/2 out of four) was a misbegotten trifle about an actor (Russell Crowe) who begins exhibiting otherworldly symptoms and strange behaviors while filming a horror movie and some wonder whether he’s backslid back into addiction or if he’s been possessed. Crowe is slumming here in (incredibly) his second exorcist movie in a year but it’s just as blah and dull as that one. Director Joshua Miller is the son of Jason Miller from “The Exorcist” which spawned countless imitations like these. Filmed in 2019 and should have rotted on the shelf until it went to Hell.

Continue reading →

“Continental Split” (**1/2 out of four) was a not-bad disaster action thriller about a seismic fault that threatens to split apart the U.S. and a group of scientists and government agents (Jessica Morris, Chris Bruno, Crew Morrow, and others) who race against the clock to prevent apocalypse now. Lack of originality and surprise prevents this from really detonating but its fast-paced and the visual effects are better than you might expect. An amalgam of plot points and cliches from “2012”, “The Day After Tomorrow”, and many others but better than most imitations of its kind.

Continue reading →

“The Bad Orphan” (*1/2 out of four) was a pretty bad suspense thriller about a husband and wife (Mark Taylor and Betsy Brandt) who are thrilled to adopt an 8-year old orphan (Chloe Chapman) but soon begin to realize that all is not right with her and she has manipulative and terrifying tendencies that threaten all of their safety. Painfully obvious and derivative thriller about yet another sick problem child. No relation to the “Orphan” movies, despite similar film posters and Chapman’s passing resemblance to Isabella Fuhrman.

Continue reading →

“Devil On Campus: The Larry Ray Story” (* out of four) was a simply dreadful melodrama based on the true story of Larry Ray (Billy Zane) who moved into the dorm of his daughter (Brenda Matthews) and then began exploiting the insecurities of her friends which led to numerous allegations and consequences. Zane’s performance (and accent) is so grating he sinks the entire film, which is pretty unpleasant and uninvolving to begin with. Another “true story” that doesn’t ring true at all.

Continue reading →

“MaXXXine” (**1/2 out of four) was a highly uneven melodrama set in 1980’s Hollywood in which an adult film star (Mia Goth) tries to make it through the seedy and difficult industry to achieve her big break but just as her career starts to be taking off- a serial killer is on the prowl which threatens to cause her to unravel. Initially stylish and scary and very well-directed by writer/director Ti West but it tails off some as it goes on and wallows in excess and unpleasantness before its pretentious and surreal conclusion. An interesting effort in parts that falls apart in the stretch. Film marks the third part of the “X” trilogy after “X” and “Pearl.”

Continue reading →

“Site 13” (*1/2 out of four) was an unlucky horror show about a lunatic doctor (Nathan Faudree) who awakens from a catatonic state in a mental institution and has to re-live his last visit by watching tapes from the site visit and realizes (too little too late) that he’s unleashed an otherworldly horror. Yet another found-footage movie with annoying hand-held camerawork and irritating jump cuts and unfortunately not many scares or thrills. Faudree also co-wrote, co-produced, and co-directed and deserves most of the blame for this clunker.

Continue reading →