“The Collective” (** out of four) was an overly routine action potboiler about a young kid (Lucas Till) who is recruited to join a dangerous group of underworld assassins (Don Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Ruby Rose) but ends up going rogue after his first assignment to stop a dangerous group of human traffickers and finds them and his initial team out to kill him. Film’s title is sadly appropriate since film is simply a collection of other and better movie ideas and premises, especially “The Bourne Identity” if you couldn’t guess. Johnson adds some style as the kid’s grizzled mentor but even he played this role better decades earlier in “Miami Vice.”

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“Spirit Of Fear” (* out of four) was a spiritless bore about a man (Christopher Lee Page) who awakens in an empty house with no memories and blood all over his arm and has to piece together memories of who he is and what transpired and how he got there. Page is almost the whole show and forced to carry the film single-handedly but film is a jigsaw puzzle you just don’t care enough to put together. Yet another pale imitation of “Memento” but viewers likely won’t have any memories of this trifle soon after it’s over.

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“To Kill A Stepfather” (** out of four) was a trite suspense thriller about a determined defense attorney (Alex Camacho) who returns home to find that her estranged mother (Elyse Mirto) is on trial for murdering her stepfather and she is tasked with defending her but is her mother being framed for this or is she really guilty? Intriguing storyline of a murder mystery involving a court case along with family ties is hindered by pedestrian script and direction. Similar storyline was previously covered in “Dolores Claiborne” and “The Chamber.”

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“What Comes Around” (** out of four) was an emotionally obtuse melodrama about a young girl (Grace Van Dien) who begins a relationship with an older man (Kyle Gallner) but they both realize that they have more issues than they initially thought which makes their relationship tough to get a handle on. Some good acting is overshadowed by film’s muddled screenplay and hollow dramatics which mute film’s impact. Director Amy Redford shows some nice touches but this was all-too-obviously adapted from a stage play “The Thing With Feathers” by Scott Organ.

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“Evil Tapes” (* out of four) was a jarringly awful anthology horror film composed of yet another series of “found footage” involving various people (Jess Adams, John Alan, Robert R. Bell and others) and the numerous terrors they encounter in a creepy small town. No coherence or plot and no point to any of this; it’s movies like these that really make you regret that “The Blair Witch Project” was such a hit. This is one “tape” you’ll likely want to erase and soon.

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“Gran Turismo” (**1/2 out of four) was an inspirational true story based on the PlayStation videogame series about determined race-car driver Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) who teamed up with a failed former driver (David Harbour) and an idealistic motorsport executive (Orlando Bloom) to compete in the world-class title event and shocked the world by becoming underdog champions! Film is reverently done and overall well-told and well-acted but somehow is never as fiery or exciting as it should be. Film also pales somewhat in comparison to 2013’s “Rush” which it sometimes resembles in scope and style. The real Jann Mardenborough is a stunt double here in the film.

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“Meg 2: The Trench” (** out of four) was a scattershot sequel to the surprise 2018 hit about a deep-sea diving team (led by Jason Statham) who encounter problems with a nearby malevolent mining corporation that awakens the title monster and soon there is blood in them thar waters again. In fairness, this is all overall better and more entertaining than the original but seems made up of spare parts from “Jaws 3”, “Deep Blue Sea”, and Statham action movies and stirred in a blender. Final third at least delivers some campy B-movie thrills and scares.

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“Poor Herman” (* out of four) was a poorly made horror comedy about four friends (Sara Alavi, Punjamean Martin, Fantasia Chattman, Maritza Arenas) who go to a Halloween costume party where they are (yawn) besieged by a deranged killer (Deonitus Phoenix Black) and have to fight to survive. Strains to be hip and stylish but just comes off as low-rent and vulgar not to mention stupid. Co-star Martin also wrote and directed; even at barely over an hour long, this is still pretty rough going.

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“Holistay” (* out of four) was an inept horror timewaster about two couples (Erin Gavin, Gavin O’Fearraigh, Gabriela Kulaif, Steven Martini) who accidentally double-book a guest house in San Diego and find that strange occurrences and paranormal activity start happening causing them to turn on each other and question their sanity and safety. Strictly amateur night in terms of cinematics and acting. Writer/director Mary Patel-Gallagher has a bit part as a house worker.

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“I Am Rage” (*1/2 out of four) was sub-routine potboiler about an ancient and vindictive cult embroiled in a violent blood trade who make the mistake of abducting a young woman (Hannaj Bang Bendz) who (yawn) turns the tables on them and turns out to be even more vicious and destructive than they are. One more re-hash of “I Spit On Your Grave” and also “Death Wish” that the world didn’t need; don’t filmmakers get tired of re-telling this same story again and again? Pretty location scenery in Scotland gives film it’s only distinction.

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