“Murder Runs In The Family” (*1/2 out of four) was a fizzled suspense thriller about “an art therapist” (Laura Lieben) whose adoptive mother and biological mother both die under mysterious circumstances and she begins to suspect the involvement of her sociopathic brother (Eric Wigston) and that there might be more to him underneath his brotherly demeanor. Yet another suspense thriller without much suspense and without hardly any thrills and is weakened even further by some ham-handed acting. Originally titled “Finding A Killer”; do yourself a favor and find a better movie.

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“It’s A Wondeful Knife” (** out of four) was a meager horror thriller about a young woman (Jane Widdop) who saves her town from a psychotic killer but has numerous ensuing problems with anxiety and PTSD and upon the holidays finds herself in a parallel universe in which she realizes how life without her would have been much worse even as blod and gore starts piling up again. Promising beginning soon gives way as film becomes tiresome and silly especially the finale involving the town mayor (Justin Long). Clever title though.

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“Foe” (** out of four) was a rambling melodrama about a couple (Saiorse Ronan and Paul Mescal) who live in quiet isolation from the rest of society on a secluded farm; when a stranger (Aaron Pierre) shows up with an indecent proposal, their isolated existence and lives are thrown into disarray and turmoil. Beautifully shot by Matyas Erdely on stunning locations in Australia but film moves in fits-and-starts and never becomes fully engaging. Based on Ian Reid’s novel of the same name.

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“Corsicana” (*1/2 out of four) was a pretty awful neo-Western about a fearless deputy (Isaiah Washington) who reunites with his former partner turned fugitive (Jason Johnson) and they attempt to track down an outlaw (Lew Temple) and his vicious group of killers to the title oil-rich town in Texas. Yet another smorgasborg of Western cliches but this one is even more plodding and cheaply done than most and winds up a waste of time. Disappointing directorial debut for Washington who also co-wrote.

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“Sins In The Family” (** out of four) was a plastic suspense thriller about a happily married couple (Moniqua Plante and Jay Hindle) who are dedicated and devoted to their daughter (Natalie Sharp); however when her school guidance counselor (Meghan Heffern) begins to develop an unusual interest in her, they begin to suspect there might be much more lurking underneath her helpful demeanor. By-the-numbers thriller should be called AKA “The Guidance Counselor From Hell” but that probably makes this sound more fun than it really is. Competently made and acted but commits numerous “sins” of its own of silliness and unoriginality.

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“Fuzzy Head” (* out of four) was a brain-dead psychodrama about a woman (Wendy McColm) who has to search through her cognitive thoughts to review her childhood trauma and memories and unlock the secret about the death of her mother (Alicia Witt) and the many (Rain Phoenix, Fred Melamed, and others) who may have been involved. Incoherent movie is a garish jigsaw puzzle you don’t even want to begin to put together. This was a cult favorite at this year’s Slam Dance Awards festival but evidently they weren’t dancing quite enough.

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“The Great Escaper” (***1/2 out of four) was an exquisitely done melodrama based on the true story of Bernard Jordan (Michael Caine) who escaped from his hospital-care home where he resides with his wife (Glenda Jackson) to attend the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France which brings back a host of painful memories and unresolved emotions for him. Eloquently and delicately handled with plenty of emotion and powerful moments along the way, all the more so because this may be Caine’s final role and Jackson died before the film’s release. Their touching scenes together at the end anchor film. Kudos also to Craig Armstrong’s stirring music score.

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“Malibu Horror Story” (**1/2 out of four) was a proficiently done horror thriller about a team of paranormal investigators (Dylan Sprayberry, Robert Bailey Jr., and others) who search a sacred cave for clues in an unsolved case involving the disappearance of four Malibu teens but soon find that evil and terror awaits. One of the better found-footage horror genre movies, with some considerable tension and scares and nail-biting suspense along the way. Too minimalist and familiar overall but still much better than most of its kind. Some scenes are a direct homage to “The Blair Witch Project” which started this genre nearly 25 years ago.

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“Hell’s Coming For You” (*1/2 out of four) was an anonymous horror melodrama about an international bounty hunter (Dillon Dilliagaf) who is now paralyzed but faces grave enemies from former criminals he apprehended in the past and soon finds that all Hell is about to break loose (but not really). Star Dilliagaf is a real-life disabled paraplegic and probably deserves a much better starring vehicle than this forgettable trifle. All you can hope is that better scripts and roles will be “coming” his way soon.

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“Rumble Through The Dark” (** out of four) was a flat-footed melodrama set in the Mississippi Delta in which an aging bare-knuckled fighter (Aaron Eckhart) agrees to step back in the ring for one last fight to pay off him and his mother’s (Marianne Jean-Batiste) debts to the local mob and save their family house. Eckhart is solid as usual in a change-of-pace role for him and there are some poignant individual moments but these are lost within film’s routine framework and overlength. Rich music score by Brad Smith is a definite highlight.

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