Companion- Ahhh, new year, a new slate of movies. And we'll start the year off with a quirky darkly comedic thriller. A young woman named Iris recounts the day she met her boyfriend, Josh. As the memories unfold, we're informed of the fateful trip the two of them took to an isolated lake house to party with friends, Kat, Eli, and Patrick. Kat's boyfriend, Sergey, who owns the house is there as well. After a night of merriment, tragedy strikes the next day sending Iris's life in a tailspin. As truths are revealed, it's clear Iris will never be the same. I've always been drawn to the strange and unusual which is why I had so much fun with this. You're thrown a lot of curves. Nothing is as it appears to be. There are several funny moments. There are horrifying moments. There's a rich tapestry that keeps you involved wondering where this movie is going to end up. Plus, there is a social consciousness the film is an allegory for domestic abuse. 2025 is starting with a bang. If we can expect movies like this, bring it on. Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid star.
***3/4 stars
Heart Eyes- The bastardization of another holiday through the lens of horror, Heart Eyes aims to drench the day of lovers in gory blood. It's Valentine's Day in Seattle and Ally is having a very bad day. She's recently broken up with her boyfriend. The ad she designed for the jewelry company she works for has been brutally ridiculed. And the cherry-on-top is the good-looking guy (Jay) she met in a coffee shop (a meeting she bumbled her way through) has been brought into her company to fix the ad she botched. Could things get any worse? The answer is always. The Heart Eyes Killer, a serial murderer who has targeted couples in various cities in the last three years, has decided to make Seattle his latest stop. And wouldn't you know, he happened to see Ally and Jay in a "fake" intimate moment and has the two of them in his sights. Heart Eyes is a unique movie. It really is a rom com with a slasher story woven in. There are times you might forget you're watching a horror movie because there are decent stretches of the film where the killer is absent. But when Heart Eyes does appear, it's bloody and brutal. Exactly what you demand of a slasher flick. There are some things I found absolutely preposterous such as why, even at night, are there only three cops inside of a metropolitan police station. But hey, what can you say about plot armor, right? The surprise for me though was I was actually intrigued by the budding relationship between Ally and Jay. The leads pulled this off very well. They made you care about them through the usual rom com tropes that can become very saccharine very quickly. Surprisingly enough, Heart Eyes could be considered a quirky date movie. Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, and Jordana Brewster star.
***1/2 stars
The Gorge- Scott Derrickson directs this Apple TV sci-fi horror action film. It's the story of two elite snipers charged with guarding a mysterious gorge in an unknown location. Each sniper takes a post in large military-style towers on opposite ends of the gorge. Contents of what's in the gorge unknown, both are assigned to their posts for one year with the task of eliminating anything that might try to come out at any cost. You might be shocked to hear this. I was a bit shocked as I was watching this. There's actually a very sweet romantic movie woven into the fabric of the chaos. It surprised me for two reasons. Scott Derrickson is not known for romantic content. And why would you expect that from the director of movies like Doctor Strange, Black Phone, and one of my all-time favorite horror movies, Sinister? The second reason. I generally don't like the male lead in this movie. I usually find him smarmy, and he has a bad case of "punch me" face. But I felt his vibe in this one. He worked well with his female co-star. Their story was sweet amidst the horrors they eventually encounter. While I wouldn't say the horror angle of this was particularly scary, it was creepy and weird. And when the lead starts flying, it's a bloody good time. Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Sigourney Weaver star.
***1/2 stars
Captain America: Brave New World- The MCU begins 2025 with the fourth installment featuring their star-spangled hero. This time the Russo Brothers had over the directing reins to Julius Onah and Anthony Mackie takes over for Chris Evans as the title character. Flash forward a few years since we've last seen this iteration of Cap from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier TV series. Sam Wilson has cemented his status as the new Captain America. Complete with a new vibranium suit (courtesy of Wakanda), Sam has become a known commodity to friend and foe alike throughout the globe. And he's also become pretty accomplished with the iconic shield. Also returning is Sam's (and the Avengers) political nemesis, General "Thunderbolt" Ross, this time as the newly minted U.S. president. Both become embroiled in an intricate plot that seeks to discredit Ross at all costs, including possibly starting the next world war. Last year's Deadpool and Wolverine I believe was a "We're back" declaration by the MCU after a couple of down years where nothing seemed to connect, and everything felt very random after Endgame. However, that movie, while loads of fun, felt like a one-off type of feature (it may not be). Brave New World feels like the MCU is trying to establish some connecting tissue again. There are plotlines that harken back to previous material. And without giving too much away, this film does make "Eternals" an important piece of the MCU. Some of you may hate that. I have heard the less than flattering critiques of that production. But it is what it is. The other big plot point is the introduction of a new substance in the MCU that may not be familiar to those who are not as comic savvy but all too familiar to those who are. You have to wonder. Is this Disney's sly way of saying "They're coming?" Plus, I think it's safe to say if you have been living with internet access, two more Avengers movies are on the horizon. The seeds are planted here. Brave New World does a lot of world building that we haven't seen in the MCU for a bit. And while the usual MCU levity is there, I give Brave New World credit for taking a dip into some dramatic waters such as Sam feeling if he's an adequate replacement for Steve Rogers particularly since he made the decision NOT to take the Super Soldier Serum. There's Ross's longing to get back in the good graces of his daughter who hasn't spoken to him in the years following The Incredible Hulk. There are other significant dramatic arcs, but that would give too much away. The action sequences are fine. It's nothing Earth shattering, just normal standard things you've grown accustomed to in these films. There is a new Falcon who I thought would be annoying upon introduction, but proved to be a decent character who has a good rapport with Sam. All told, I thought Brave New World did a good job of building bridges and acknowledging the past without doing too much. It felt coherent. It's a movie more along the lines of the political intrigue of The Winter Soldier than the straight superhero actioner of Civil War if you're comparing Cap movies. There is only one end credit scene which is a bit strange. But it is a dread foreshadow of what's to come. On the road to the next Avengers film, this is a good foundation to build on. Harrison Ford and Giancarlo Esposito co-star. There are other notables, but I'll save those for now.
***3/4 stars
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0 *= Dreck! Barf City!
1-2 *= No redeeming qualities whatsoever
2-3 *= Varying degrees of mediocre
3-4 *= Worth a look to almost excellent
4-5 *= Must see viewing
5 *= You have reached the top of the mountain. And it is good.
