“Jackals” (*1/2 out of four) was a turkey set in the wilderness in which a family (Jonathan Schaech, Deborah Kara Unger, Stephen Dorff) are besieged by a sadistic cult while they are vacationing in their cabin and the cultists (Ben Sullivan) want to take their son as their own. Umpteenth horror movie set in the woods (“Cabin In The Woods”, “Don’t Stop”, “You’re Next”, the list goes on) fails to breathe any new life into these old cliches. Remarkable cast for such tired material. Set for no particular reason in the 1980’s.

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“Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter” (*1/2 out of four) was a robotically told and monotonous action thriller set in yet another post-apocalyptic future in which Earth has been overthrown by artificial intelligence and one lone warrior (Tracey Birdsall) tries to restore balance and save humanity and civilization as we know it. Unfortunately, the future just isn’t what it used to be after an onslaught of numerous (and better) movies about the apocalypse and collapse of civilization. Birdsall (who resembles a grungier Pamela Anderson) is good but is eclipsed by routine and by-the-numbers story.

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“Broken Mile” (**1/2 out of four) was a strikingly told, if not altogether successful, melodrama thriller shot in one continuous take about a drug addict (Fransisco Filice) who awakens to find the girl that he was with is dead and he must stay on the run to avoid the consequences from both the law and her real killer as he tries to find solace and find out who he can and cannot trust. Cinema-verite guerilla filmmaking technique is fascinating and holds your attention even though the story begins to get repetitive and ugly after a while. A remarkable feat, if not exactly a remarkable film but well-worth watching. Justin McConnell’s colorful cinematography and Sean Motley’s eerie music score are undeniable standouts.

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“Ryde” (*1/2 out of four) was a grisly, heavy-handed horror thriller about a new ride-sharing service a la Uber that brings strangers a little too close together and how one deranged stranger in particular (David Wachs) starts picking up strangers and randomly killing them. All this movie does is just randomly kill your time. Director Brian Viciglia shows some style and flash (and obviously watched “Taxi Driver” a few times before filming) but the result is slight and forgettable.

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“Empire Of The Sharks” (*1/2 out of four) was a needless, confusing thriller set in a (yawn) post-apocalyptic future in which 98% of the world is underwater; a villainous warlord (Jonathan Pienaar) who controls an army of bloodthirsty sharks kidnaps the daughter (Thandi Sebe) of a legendary shark caller (Jack Armstrong) leading to things getting really bloody in them thar waters. If you’ve always wanted to see an uninspired cross between “Jaws” and “Waterworld”, then look no further. For the rest of us, the “Empire” strikes out due to by-the-numbers storytelling and characters whom you couldn’t care less if they become shark food. Where is Lorraine Gary nowadays when you need her?

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“Mississippi River Sharks” (*1/2 out of four) was a silly time-waster about a group of sharks who set their sights and appetites on a local Mississippi fair in which a television actor (a bewildered Jeremy London) and local news crew are attending. It’s pretty depressing that “Jaws” was 40+ years ago and featured more scares and style (and better acting) than these onslaught of recent shark movies. London is blank as usual and probably would have fared veteran taking part in another round of “Celebrity Rehab.”

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“The Tank” (** out of four) was an obvious, empty sci/fi thriller that will likely go right into the tank set in 2012 about 6 science workers (Marguerite Moreau, Brad William Henke, Jack Davenport and others) who go aboard a tank on an attempted mission to Mars. Story is told in flashbacks as everyone’s favorite bad guy (Christopher McDonald) is testifying at a congressional hearing about why the mission was a failure. Well-made and well-acted but it’s a lot of noisy running around and arguing over nothing. “Das Boot” remains the all-time classic about war on a submarine or tank and ages better every year.

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“Scales: Mermaids Are Real” (*1/2 out of four) was a saccharine, silly story for young girls about a 12-year old (Emmy Perry) who finds out she is a mermaid and has to re-adjust to her new identity with her mom and then subsequently finds that there are a group of hunters in the town who hunt mermaids and want to kill her! Almost laughable at times, with a climax on the beach between the hunters and the mermaids that almost has to be seen to be believed. Strictly for undemanding young teenagers or those who couldn’t get enough of the Cher/Winona Ryder 1990 comedy “Mermaids.”

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“Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets” (*** out of four) was a visually spectacular extravaganza set in the outer galaxy metropolis of Alpha in which two special operatives (Dane Dehaan and Cara Delevigne) are sent out to find out and uncover a dark force that threatens Alpha and the rest of the universe but find treachery and adventure at every turn. Director Luc Besson fills this to the brim with visual effects and never stops giving you something to look at and also never stops the story from moving. Too long at nearly two-and-a-half hours but never fails to be entertaining. Dehaan is solid in the lead role and is ably supported by a solid supporting cast including Clive Owen and Rihanna.

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