Send Help- We kick off the new year with a Sam Raimi experience. The gross-out horror aficionado brings a tale of survival, isolationism, and some surprising tenderness (in a strange way). Meet Linda Liddle. An awkward but hardworking corporate strategist who is looking for her promised promotion from the owner/CEO. Unfortunately for her, he is no more. Taking his place is his egotistical, cruel frat boy son who takes an immediate dislike to her. On a business trip to Thailand to complete a large merger, Linda suffers further ridicule at the hands of the new boss and a few of the ladder-climbing "bros" in his circle. As fate would have it, the plane goes down and the only survivors are Linda and her boss on what seems to be a deserted island. Oh, the things that can happen when the role of "boss" is reversed. If you go through Raimi's filmography, you will see some common themes to his films with the exception of his Spider-Man trilogy. You'll have a brew of dark humor and over-the-top vomit-inducing gore and nastiness. As you sit through this one, there are several spots your brain tells you, "Oh yeah, this is Raimi." What I really liked about Send Help were the clues that were set up regarding Linda's prowess when she and her boss are on the island. I don't want to say the explanation is subtle, but her proficiency is explained without having to be verbal. I did like that a lot. The plot is somewhat surprising. It is what you think it is, then it's not. Then it is again. Then you really don't know where this is going at the climax. There is some surprising closeness between the lead characters that develops. Maybe. Hard to tell because both have agendas. He makes a play that doesn't make a lot of sense at the time he does it but you'll find later that his instinct may have been spot on. The film is wild. It takes you on a journey where you're not exactly sure how it will end. But I was enthralled for most of it. Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien star.
*** 3/4 stars
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come- Poor Grace MacCaullay can't catch a break. After surviving a horrific night in 2019's Ready or Not, she discovers the murderous Le Domas family was only the tip of the iceberg. The Le Domas's were just one of six powerful families involved in a grand bargain for world domination. Grace's survival has activated a new chain of events that must be addressed in the same blood-soaked manner. Unfortunately, her estranged sister, Faith, has been forced into the fray to ensure Grace's "cooperation" with the new proceedings. Ready or Not was an exceptional horror comedy. The sequel equals more of the same. It lacks some originality because it is basically the same plot. But that doesn't mean it isn't still fun. The kills in the first were more absurdly hilarious than they are here but that's to be expected. Some of the bickering between the sisters didn't make sense at certain times as fighting to stay alive is never a great time to open up old wounds. Overall, as far as sequels go, I still had a lot of fun with this one. But I will say I believe they've ridden this horse as far as they can. Which only means there will be a third film somewhere down the line. Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, David Cronenberg, and Shawn Hatosy star.
***1/2 stars
***1/2 stars
Primate- Come and listen to my story about a chimp named Ben. A friendly little guy who was pretty Zen. Then one day a mongoose bit him and made him cry. And now Ben wants everyone to die. Okay, my bad Beverly Hillbillies reimagining aside, that's the film's premise. Intelligent family pet gets infected with rabies, rips off a few faces, and creates the central life and death struggle of the plot. If you said this was Cujo replacing a Saint Bernard with a chimp, I wouldn't say you're wrong. The former is a much better horror-thriller than this one. Try as it might, Primate just didn't create the same sense of dread or claustrophobia. And the CG was a bit dicey at times. I also didn't care much about the horny teenage crew that was getting wrecked. I've seen worse horror movies, but this one had no charisma about it. Nothing that amused me due to its ludicrous nature. Just a movie that took a cute creature and turned him into a psycho killer for...reasons I suppose.
**1/2 stars
Lee Cronin's The Mummy- This reimagining of the iconic horror franchise is written and directed by, who else? Lee Cronin. If you're not familiar with his work, he directed 2019's "A Hole in the Ground" and 2023's "Evil Dead Rise" (a personal favorite of mine). The story follows an American family living in Egypt whose, oldest daughter, Katie, is kidnapped for reasons unknown by her family. Katie is found eight years later in a sarcophagus, her body wrapped in parchment after a plane crashes carrying said sarcophagus. Her mother and father, now living in New Mexico, are overjoyed to have their daughter back. But almost immediately we know something is very wrong with Katie. Could it be the self-harm? The slow corruption of her siblings? The floating? What could it be? This is a movie that only works because people are dumb. Katie's parents knew or SHOULD HAVE known they weren't equipped to handle this the millisecond they saw her in her hospital bed. When you see her appearance, you'll know what I mean. That said, I think the brutality and gross imagery this film throws at you is fairly effective. The funeral wake is something to behold. Plus, the plot is brought together nicely at the end when some good old frontier justice is served up. It's revenge that pulled at my heartstrings. Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, and May Calamawy star.
***1/4 stars
Obsession- Comedian Curry Barker wrote and directed this disturbing tale of "Be careful what you wish for." Baron ("Bear") is a timid young man who has deep romantic feelings for his childhood friend, Nikki. However, he can never muster the courage to tell her how he feels. While searching for a gift for her in a mystic shop, he purchases a novelty called a "One Wish Willow" that allegedly grants one wish when broken. Frustrated with himself for letting yet another missed opportunity to let Nikki know his feelings pass, Bear makes his wish for his friend to fall in love with him and breaks the Willow. In the days that come next, Bear will get his fondest dream. And his worst nightmare. This film was so unhinged. It makes you cringe. It makes you laugh. It makes you wince. A couple of items are a bit contrived. Like how does a housecat open a pill bottle with a childproof cap? But the rest of the film is so demented you'll let it slide. What's really great about Obsession is it drops clues as to what's going on beneath the surface that you don't necessarily start putting together until the movie is over. Like what's really going on in one character's noodle during the times of intimacy. And the reason you don't necessarily put 2+2 together is because crazy is hitting you in the face often when the story hits its stride. Masterclass performance by Inde Navarette as Nikki. She's scary good in this. Emphasis on scary. Honestly, it's one of the best horror performances I've ever seen, and I have seen my share of horror movies. If you're looking for a comparison, think Mia Goth in the movie "Pearl."
****1/2 stars
The Mandalorian and Grogu- Jon Favreau takes on the unenviable task of directing the first theater-ready Star Wars film in seven years. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Arguably the biggest tentpole franchise in history has taken some bad beatdowns due to poor decision making. But the upside is in The Mandalorian and Grogu, Lucasfilm is trying to put their best foot forward taking a popular streaming series to the big screen. Question is will it translate? We find our two intrepid heroes working as independent contractors for the fledgling New Republic. Their primary bounties are hunting scattered warlords from the defeated Empire. One such mission leads them into tentative alliance with twin Hutt crime lords, siblings to Jabba. They want their kidnapped nephew, Rotta, back with them. When Mando and Grogu find Rotta, they realize all may not be as it seems which could put them in the crosshairs of vengeful Hutts. So, I'll say a few things. I enjoyed this so much more than the sequel trilogy. But that's damning praise at best. Liked it better than Solo which I will always view as not bad but a waste of time. But it also falls far short of the impact and gravity of Rogue One. So, among Disney SW, Mando and Grogu is a solid #2 amongst their theatrical releases. However, it still has its issues. Let me start by saying, it's fun. It's entertaining. It's not memorable. Nothing here really advances either character's story arc. It's almost like a day in the life type of story. Comic book aficionados will understand this. It's like those "palette cleansing" issues between major story arcs. Filler to be honest. This was a story that didn't feel epic enough for the big screen. It could have very easily been covered in 2-3 episodes on Disney+. I understand that Disney and Lucasfilm want to make this as kid friendly as possible. However, it really got the adrenaline pumping the few times Mando went "John Wick." I wanted more of that. Plus, it was hard for me to get past some inconsistencies. For instance, Mando was totally disarmed of all his weapons twice in the film. Then suddenly when he's freed, he's immediately fully armed again? How'd he get his stuff back? I guess we weren't supposed to notice that. Or, after almost dying, he's up cracking heads two minutes from recovery. I hope this doesn't become a thing. I know the actor is a pretty big deal these days. However, given the lore of the Mandalorian code, I don't want the removal of his helmet to be a contrivance of every project. And I hope it's not in his contract that you have to see his face at least once. So now we get to little Grogu. You melt from the cuteness. There's nothing about this character not to like. But a lane must be chosen. Is he this mischievous childlike creature who doesn't have a huge grasp on a lot? OR, is he a maturing warrior who is capable of holding his own without Mando? His character fluctuates too much. From "Ohhhh, he's so cute" to "He's a bad little dude." I'm not completely bagging this movie. It doesn't deserve that. As I said earlier, it's fun. All the elements you liked about The Mandalorian series are all right here for you. I just wished the scope was greater. Going from television to theater should feel bigger. It should have higher stakes. And this didn't. Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver star.
***1/2 stars
Scream 7- The franchise that re-defined the horror genre in the 90s returns for its seventh installment. The series did somewhat of a reset with Scream 5 that was successful for two films. Due to...circumstances you can read up on, this installment is yet another reset of the franchise which doesn't bode well on the surface. But you never know until you focus your eyeballs, right? Franchise Scream Queen, Sidney Prescott, returns now living in Indiana. Pursuing a quiet life, she's married to the local police chief and runs her own coffee shop while simultaneously raising a teenage daughter who is around the same age she was when her "bloody adventures" began. Sidney's serene life is eradicated when Stu Macher, long thought dead, begins contacting her and a new Ghostface begins stalking her daughter. How could Stu have survived all these years without Sidney or anyone knowing? And is he acting alone? Even with frenemy Gale Weathers' help, can Sidney crack the mystery before everyone close to her dies? This movie had a chance to be good due to co-creator Kevin Williamson's involvement as director. Sadly, it didn't help. It's a shame that our politically charged environment forced the franchise to make a 180-degree turn from the direction it had in parts five and six. Honestly, I thought the Scream series was handling the merger of old school with new blood better than Disney did with the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Actually, Scream 7 wasn't horrible until the big reveal. Not only was it lackluster, it made zero sense. In fact, sense may have fallen into the negative zone. Ghostface's kills were exceptionally brutal and sudden as always. And the one thing I always liked about Sidney is she has always been a protagonist who fights back fiercely. But this "back to basics" approach part seven seemed to take fell flat in the end. I missed Melissa Berrera and Jenna Ortega in this one. Their story was branching off in some interesting directions that was bringing new life to the franchise. Unfortunately, their continued involvement wasn't meant to be. Scream 7 is proof that an ending can bring a movie's stock crashing down. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Joel McHale, Matthew Lillard, Mckenna Grace, David Arquette, Anna Camp, and Asa German star.
**1/2 star
Scary Movie- The Wayans Family is back in the saddle of the franchise they began at the start of the millennium. And they have been sorely missed since Scary Movie 2 in 2001. The franchise just wasn't the same without their crazy brand of comedy. The Wayans bring the franchise back to its roots as a parody of the Scream series along with a dash of this and a dab of that, notably takes on Terrifier, Sinners, M3gan, Longlegs, Get Out, The Substance, and even John Wick. Now I usually give a brief overview of a film's plot but, sadly, I can't with this one. Because there isn't one. At least not of note. I don't know what to say about this other than it was a hodgepodge of parts almost like Frankenstein's Monster. I found this extremely try hard. It was gag after gag after gag with no structure. I understand the first two movies had gags galore as well. But those, like any good comedy, still needs some coherence. A glue that connects all the pieces. This felt like an arm was connected where the leg should be. The head connected on the back. In addition to the horror genre parodies, you had send ups on modern politics, gender, and race crammed into a short time frame. It was a lot and most of the time, too much. You had enough commentary on everything for two movies. I'm not one who says keep controversial things out of my movies. Quite the contrary if those items are handled cleverly. But so much of this was ham-handed. The film smacked you in the face with a dead tuna. Repeatedly. I laughed a few times, but this was a missed opportunity and I'm so disappointed by that. The Wayans are much better than this and I expected better. There are two mid-credit scenes, one involving Chris Elliot's character from Scary Movie 2 if you remember that. Honestly, his mid-credit scene was the funniest part of the movie. Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Heidi Gardner, Cheri Oteri, Anthony Anderson, Shaquille O'Neal, Marlon Wayans, Kim Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Damon Wayans, Jr. star.
**1/2 stars
Masters of the Universe- A staple of my youth returns to the big screen courtesy of Travis Knight. He's same guy who directed Bumblebee several years ago. He must have a penchant for 80s nostalgia, huh? This of course is the second stab at bringing the toy franchise to life after the previous 1987 attempt which succeeded/failed depending on who you speak to. We begin on the planet Eternia where young Prince Adam is going through the growing pains of trying to be everything he believes his father wants him to be, including a great warrior. When the capital city of Eternos is blitz attacked by the forces of the evil sorcerer, Skeletor, Adam is sent to his mother's home world of Earth by the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull along with the Sword of Power which houses godlike energy. Several years later on Earth, a now adult Adam obsesses over finding the sword he lost in the portal. When he does, he'll take on an adventure beyond his wildest dreams. First thing, this is a truer adaptation of the MOTU mythos than the 1987 version which tried to Star Wars the concept. The nostalgia of this one tries to hit those of us who grew up with the 80s animation in the feels and succeeds to a large degree. It's cheesy, campy, and ridiculous very much by design I believe. This is almost a comedy as there's so much humor injected. A fair amount lands. Especially the innuendo of a few names. Some doesn't. Even some of the silly camp of Skeletor is captured. You remember if you ever watched the cartoon how the character was evil but also funny as you know what. The opening sequence of Skeletor's attack on Eternos is exceptional. All of the battle sequences are well done. But there are some issues. Pacing being the top one for me. This movie is two hours and twenty minutes. Twenty-five could have easily been shaved off to make the production much tighter. There's just a bit too much of Adam trying to find himself when he always pretty much knew what he was. Maybe not on the level he first believed but he knew the Sword of Power was meant for him. And speaking of the Sword of Power, McGuffin much? But I guess they were going for a Mjolnir thing, so I'll give a pass on that. And then my personal pet peeve. I need more Battle Cat in my life. He was there this time but not nearly enough. I'm sorry but after Skeletor, BC is my second favorite character in the whole MOTU mythos. Overall, this is a good watch for the nostalgia junkies and even campy enough for the kids. I don't know if I would want to sit through this again but it's not the worst thing you've ever seen. Note there are two mid-credit scenes and one end credit scene. One mid is something that will make you grin featuring a character and device used in the 80s cartoon. The other is a foreshadowing. The end is one of those "you thought that was all?" Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendez, James Purefoy, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin, Jared Leto, and SIR Idris Elba star.
***1/4 stars
The Bluff- These next few entries will be short and sweet. I'll call them collectively "The Prime Trio" as I recently watched all as streamers on Prime. First up, a swashbuckling action-thriller. Ercel Bodden is a wife and mother living in a British commonwealth on a tropical island. She cares for her disabled son and somewhat rebellious sister-in-law while her husband, a ship's captain, is out at sea. When her husband is captured by a ruthless buccaneer, her idyllic life will be shattered, and Ercel is revealed to be not what she seems. The film has good fight scenes and action sequences. It throws in a hint of viciousness at times. There's a particular cannon scene I'm thinking of that is shown in fairly graphic detail. Movies like this always give me a bit of a chuckle now. These are not superhumans and the amount of damage they endure and still fight like nothing has happened to them amuse me to no end. Standard actioner. Nothing overly special. Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Karl Urban and Temuera Morrison star.
*** stars
The Dreadful- Now we enter the realm of Gothic horror. During what I believe would be medieval times, two peasant women, a wife and her mother-in-law, live on the outskirts of society, waiting for the man in their lives, Seamus, to come home from war. One is a devout, pious Christian. The other. Not so much but she tries to fake it. When Seamus's friend returns from the war without him, events are set in motion that will spiral both women's lives. This film has a mood about it. A dark atmosphere. But it's slow and not scary in the least. One actress in the film I will say shows why she might be Hollywood's go-to for portraying deeply religious murderous freaks. She's done it before. I wonder if that says something about her. This movie also makes a cardinal sin of an abrupt ending with a very curious payoff if you can call it that. Not awful but not worth your time unless you're bored. Sophie Turner, Kit Harrington, and Marcia Gay Harden star.
**3/4 stars
Pretty Lethal- The third and final entry is a comedic action-thriller following a troupe of young American ballerinas trying to make a dance competition in Budapest. After a series of mishaps, the five dancers and their teacher find themselves as unexpected guests at a local Inn. To their chagrin, they discover the Inn is run by a small-time crime family and then the mayhem truly begins. I'm sure it's probably been done before but ballet dancing as a martial art is new on me. I have to say it was ingenious watching these women fight with their twirls and kicks even if unrealistic. It did make for a few sweet kills though. And then the implication that they're the toughest people among gobs of gangsters BECAUSE of what they are put through as dancers is amusing. This is a nice little sit-down adventure that will make you laugh and kind of shock you with a bit of gruesome violence. Iris Apatow, Avantika, Lana Condor, Maddie Ziegler, Millicent Simonds, and Uma Thurman star.
***1/4 stars
*** stars
Cold Storage- This sci-fi horror comedy from Johnny Campbell features a deadly threat from space coming to Earth when a piece of a decommissioned Skylab survives re-entry with said threat attached. The threat infects whatever creature-host it comes in contact with leading to gruesome death. Contained by the U.S, government and placed in an underground Kansas detainment facility, the threat is controlled for years. Until it isn't. Which isn't good news for two night guards working at the self-storage business the government has rented the ground level to. As the last entry, this film is amusing if not laugh out loud funny. The threat is very cringe inducing. Everything in the film has its place. The cast performs adequately. For me it didn't go far enough with either the absurdist comedy or the horror. This is not a bad movie in the least. I just would have liked the envelope pushed a bit more. Liam Neeson, Georgina Campbell, and Joe Keery star.
***1/4 stars
The Strangers: Chapter 3- The third film in director, Renny Harlin's, re-imaging of the original cult classic tries end the trilogy with a bang. After approximately a 10-minute flashback sequence detailing one of the murderous trio's first kills as a group, the story picks up exactly where Chapter 2 ended. Survivor (Final Girl), Maya, continues to fight for her survival against the group that previously murdered her fiancé and left her badly wounded in an Oregon hospital. Revelations will be made. Maya's psychological endurance will be tested. Will she escape the madness, fall victim to it, or become part of it? I come to the same conclusion after each film in the trilogy. Was this trip really necessary. There's a fine line I'm going to discuss here. There are many occasions in movies where I need to see how the donuts were made. I need a plausible explanation. The original Strangers movie from 2008 was not one of those movies. The fact you never knew who these people were created a wall of terror all its own. It screwed with your mind enough that masked psychopaths did a horrifying invasion into a random couple's life for the simple fact "they were home." They also annihilated this couple psychologically before doing anything physical to them. It was a masterclass of horror storytelling. This trilogy ruined the mythology for me. I didn't need to know the origins of Pin-Up Girl, Dollface, and Scarecrow. Well, let's say I didn't need to know this way. Too many lulls and too try hard are glaring weaknesses in each film. Maybe some will like the fleshing out the trilogy gives over the original. Personally, I think you'll like these three movies better if you never saw the original. But I have and I can't forget the dread it made me feel which these three don't come close to.
**1/2 stars
The Bride!- Maggie Gyllenhaal wrote and directed this next wild Gothic romance. Enter Mary Shelley. Literature and horror fans alike should know the name. In the afterlife, she's a bit restless. She had one more story to tell before leaving this mortal coil. What to do, what to do! An opportunity presents itself in the form of Ida, a woman living in 1930s Chicago who has deep connections to the mob of gangster, Lupino. Shelley's possession of Ida leads to unfortunate circumstances for both. Enter "Frank", an unusually scarred man who approaches this time period's most renowned re-animation scientist, Dr. Cornelia Euphronius. He wants something from her. Something that will cure his extended period of loneliness. And, as "luck" would have it, a young woman just recently died. When Ida and Frank unite, it'll be one for the ages. Well, this one was certainly surreal to say the least. Think of it as Universal movie monsters and Bonnie & Clyde having a baby. It's a wacky concept filled with more wacky. Parts of this were entertaining. We have great dual performance by Jessie Buckley. Normally something like this would be crazy enough to be right up my alley. Except that sometimes the narrative was so bizarre, following it became a little muddy. Are we sure we know who has control of Ida's body at times? Crazy dance numbers. Oh, yes, "Frank" cuts a rug. Monster canoodling. It's all here. I didn't hate this, but if the execution had been a little cleaner, this could have been one of my best movies of the year it's that insane. But the muddiness did make it a bit of a miss. Christian Bale, Annette Benning, Penelope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jake Gyllenhaal star with the aforementioned Buckley.
**3/4 stars
***1/4 stars
How to Make a Killing- This is a very unusual black comedy-thriller. We have death row inmate, Becket Redfellow, confessing to a priest how he came to be in the predicament he is in just a few hours before his scheduled execution. Becket came up through very modest means, raised by a single mother until her untimely death while he was still a child. Before her death, she makes him promise to never give up fighting for the life he deserves to have. What does this mean exactly? It seems mom may not have always been a pauper and Becket may be heir to a large fortune. But what is adult Becket to do about a family who doesn't know him with seven heirs in line for the family fortune ahead of him? Some diabolical wheels could be turning aided by a mysterious childhood friend who has an agenda of her own. If this film is attempting to convey a message, it's a confusing one. Is money the root of all evil? Is it true money can't buy happiness? The first question, maybe a yes. The second? Becket himself says this is a lie in the movie. But is it really? Particularly with the twists and turns Becket encounters. I guess it's left to your own personal interpretation. Then there's his "friend" Julia who is really an odd wildcard thrown into the mix for reasons I suppose. There isn't much character development with her outside of being a recurring monkeywrench in Becket's life. Overall, the narrative of this film is a bit of a headscratcher. But the movie is amusing in its sardonic way. Becket is still somewhat likable even when you should find him loathsome. Although in the end you might find him completely irredeemable. I think if I would have laughed a little more or had Julia's character been better defined, I would have liked this better. As is, it's still a solid watch. Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Topher Grace, and Ed Harris star.
***1/4 stars
The Drama- Yet another dark comedy, this time of the "romantic" variety. Emma and Charlie are a young couple very much in love until a fateful night out with the best man and matron of honor for their wedding turns disastrous. In a truth-spilling conversation each recounts the worst thing they have ever done in their lives. Emma's reveal turns the night on its head. Now Charlie questions who he is engaged to and if he can go through with the upcoming nuptials. As his life starts to spiral out of control, can he and Emma ever have a happily ever after? The prevailing theme of the film is just how much can love conquer? Are there things that are just too big to overlook? Is a dastardly thought or deed acceptable if there's a gray area? The execution of this plotline is a little sloppy at times. Human emotion is not rational, I understand, but some of the meltdowns don't make sense, or they do, but just not in the way they should if that makes sense. I think this movie would be better if played as a farce instead of a melodrama with a few comedic notes. At almost two hours, it's a film you might want to sit through if you are a fan of the leads. But it's definitely not a necessity. Zendaya and Robert Pattinson star.
*** stars
Faces of Death- Here is a reimagining of a 1978 horror documentary. Or, as some would have it "shockumentary" of the same name. Margot is a content moderator for a Tik-Tok like video platform. She begins encountering strange extremely violent snuff videos she initially writes off as fake. Through further investigation, she becomes more alarmed by other similar videos. Due to a past online incident her superiors don't take her alarms seriously. As Margot travels farther down the rabbit hole, is she coming unglued or making herself a target? Faces of Death is gruesome. No issue there. It does make a statement about what online zombies many of us have become. Plus, on a nostalgic note, it gives you some footage of the 1978 film as Margot is doing her research. Just the one thing that struck me over and over again is how dumb characters in horror movies are. No common sense whatsoever. I guess that's what makes a lot of the slasher-type horror work but it just washed over me in a big way watching this. And I found it to be a bit meandering. "A" for effort but it doesn't quite make the list of "must see" for me. Barbie Ferreira stars.
**3/4 stars
***1/2 stars
Evil Dead Burn- The sixth entry of this gore fest horror franchise finds up-and-coming director Sebastian Vanicek in the chair. It serves as a sequel to 2023's Evil Dead Rise. So, what have the "Deadites" cooked up for us this time? The curse of the Necromicon (Book of the Dead) falls upon the Price family. Aspiring author, Joseph, researches his grandfather, Benjamin's, studies of the book, Deadites, and the lost Kadarian Dagger that can destroy these demons. It's research that alerts the Deadites to target the family in an attempt to locate the dagger. With the demons causing calamity to fall upon one family member, the Price family gathers at their Lakehouse where they will spend a horrific night unpacking family drama, as well as, fighting off Deadites and trying not to become these monstrosities themselves. What do you expect when you sit down with an Evil Dead movie? Blood for one. Lots of it. Check. Twisted kills and body injuries that make your entire body cringe. Check. Sardonic, absurdist humor amongst the grisly carnage. Check. To many fans' chagrin, the new E.D. features have lost the slapstick appeal of the original Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell trilogy that was so beloved. But I would counter that these two icons are still executive producers on the new films starting with 2013's reimagining of the franchise. So, I don't think they would be attaching their names to these movies if they weren't onboard with the new direction of less pratfalls and darker snark. As with every movie in the franchise, Burn just does nasty things and provides sickening images that make you extremely uncomfortable. Burn, in particular, takes two instances that are rarely seen even in horror when it comes to who you can kill violently on screen. And I have to admire that even though its horrifying to watch, they have the audacity to go there. There are no sacred cows in this franchise and it's all the better for it in my opinion. Plus, Burn gives us a scene I found very unique with how it was shot where one character is desperately attempting to crawl away from the carnage and there is just utter chaos harassing her at every turn. That was a standout of pure loud terror that still made me smile in all its absurdity. So, bottom line Evil Dead Burn has all the elements you have come to expect in this franchise. I didn't like this as much as the previous Evil Dead Rise, but it's still loads of fun nonetheless. If your idea of fun is cartoon-level mutilation with a wryly dark sense of humor. When the credits run, don't leave. There are mid and end credit scenes the last of which is a huge surprise that alludes to...well that would be telling.
***1/2 stars
Is God Is- Aleshea Harris makes her directorial debut adapting her own 2018 award winning play. Twin sisters, Racine and Anaia, are set on a course of revenge against their father by their horribly disfigured mother (who their father disfigured). Tracking down their father's associates, concubines, and other children, they eventually come to the man himself. Will they have the will to carry out their "mission from God?" The film is a thriller, revenge movie, and dark comedy all in one. Those elements are executed fairly well. However, it takes a good 35-40 minutes before the plot kicks into high gear. I did like the methods used to frame the father as diabolical such as the flashback scenes where you deliberately don't see his face or just the lower half of it. I do think a mother setting her daughters on a vengeance quest against someone she knows is monstrous is a bit far fetched. Especially if she professes to love them. Elements of the film were a little Tarantino-esque for me but not to the same almost absurd levels he can take situations. This is a movie built on high emotions even between the sisters as they find themselves in opposition with each other on several occasions. I know these emotional asides are necessary, but they slowed the action down considerably at times. Solid movie but not quite in the highly recommend category for me. Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Vivica A. Fox, Sterling K. Brown, Janelle Monae, Mykelti Williamson, and Erika Alexander star.
***1/4 stars
The Odyssey- Let's make this simple. Christopher Nolan directs his next would-be epic based on the famous poem by Greek poet, Homer. You know the story. The King of Ithaca, Odysseus, makes a 20-year journey home from the Trojan War only to find his home besieged by suitors for his wife's hand in marriage. I have liked some of Nolan's work in the past. I am by no means one of his fanboys. Some of his work I find long and tedious. But when he gets it right, he gets it right. The Odyssey is a spectacle on the big screen. It looks and feels epic. I'm not usually a fan of movies that clock in at three hours or more, but I didn't "feel" this one. My mind and body didn't think I was sitting for almost three hours. I was riveted through much of the film. Odysseus's trials felt scary and dangerous. There was a suddenness at times that you feel if you're watching a horror movie. Something I do really appreciate Nolan for here is the non-linear style he presented. I've said in the past, this type of storytelling can be a mess if not handled correctly. Nolan did it flawlessly here. The transitions were simple to follow. It made the movie really seem to "unfold" as we went along. All acting performances were solid. As good as this is, I won't say the movie is flawless. Nolan was able to incorporate a bunch, but I kept having the nagging thought of "no mention of Achilles?" He was a major character in The Iliad and an important part of The Trojan War. I know his ghost appears in Homer's poem. I guess Nolan didn't find it to be that important to include him. It just felt odd. Nolan also takes some creative license with Odysseus making him more of a flawed tragic hero with deep regrets regarding past actions. Particularly the genocide of the Trojans which he helped mightily in engineering. From my recollection, Odysseus was a ruthless strategist and warrior who had little regard for the blood he spilled. It might have been interesting to tell the tale onscreen from that perspective, but I guess everyone needs a hero to root for, right? In any case, this is a film well worth your time and effort to sit through. Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, John Leguizamo, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, Corey Hawkins, Mia Goth, and Charlize Theron star.
****1/2 stars
Mortal Kombat- Here we go again. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a fourth live action movie based on the globally popular fighting game. Sequel to 2021's MK reboot, the audience continues to follow the Earthrealm's neverending fight against the forces of Outworld and its emperor, Shao Khan. You know the hitch. Lose 10 tournaments to Outworld, and Shao Khan takes full control of your realm. This time the thunder god, Lord Raiden, and Sonja Blade recruit washed up martial arts action star, Johnny Cage, to join with Liu Kang, Jax Briggs, and Cole Young (remember him from 2021) as the Earth's tournament combatants. Treachery, mixed alliances, double crosses, and trips to the netherworld abound among the carnage that is...MORTAL KOMBAT!!! You have to say that last part in your head as part of the MK theme music. Not a lot to say here. Parts of this movie were fun. The fights were well choreographed. And if you were a fan who took issue with Cole Young in the last film, well, just watch. Of course, what would any MK movie be without the gruesome "FATALITY?" And we get several. But outside the fighting, the plot's paper thin. The attempts at back stories, side stories, or anything outside of the fights themselves makes you lose interest pretty quickly. However, we do get a "GET OVER HERE!" That'll make you smile. So on the MK scale, this one ranks probably second to the 1995 original. Yeah, it's climbing a foothill and calling it a mountain, but it's something, right? Karl Urban stars.
*** stars
Spider-Man: Brand New Day- Well here we are again. The fourth Sony/Disney solo excursion of the Webhead in the MCU. Jon Watts turns over the director's chair from the last three Spider-Man films to Destin Daniel Cretton of Shang-Chi fame. Spider-Man: No Way Home is going to be a hard act to follow no matter who is in that chair for the emotional resonance alone. Was Cretton and the rest of the cast up for the challenge? Four years after the events of No Way Home, our hard luck hero, Peter Parker is alone, longing for the companionship of his best friend, Ned, and the love of his life, MJ. But as the world has forgotten Peter, his alter ego has been a celebrity of sorts on the streets getting the key to the city and having a working relationship with NYPD detective, Jean DeWolf and Damage Control, a government agency that investigates superhuman activity. Speaking of said Damage Control, a mysterious figure is attacking agency headquarters in the city seemingly looking for...something. Said figure also seems to have the ability to jump from body to body and has employed some superhuman assistance for the attacks. When the Wallcrawler tries to thwart one of the attacks, he sets himself up in this new figure's crosshairs as well. It also doesn't help that his powers are going through a transition at the worst possible time. And if he's in the crosshairs, so are those he cares about the most. This Spider-Man movie put me through the emotional wringer like no other. I felt Peter's loneliness, isolation, and longing. His mustering courage to finally speak to Ned and MJ only to be crushed when he sees MJ in another's embrace. Then there's the anger and, at times, pure fury that overtakes him as his powers reach an overload status. And its those times of fury that we truly see how powerful and dangerous he can be. Then there are the tender moments he has with MJ all while dancing around what they were to each other in the past. How about the heartbreak of visiting May's gravesite periodically? Unlike his previous appearances in the MCU, this is a Peter who is no longer a kid, and it feels like it. But it's not all an emotional roller coaster. The fun-loving elements that make Spidey Spidey are still in there. His quips while webbing up baddies, his occasional bungling, and his overall good nature are still there. What I really like about what Cretton does here is playing up how smart Peter is. The Andrew Garfield Spider-Man movies did this a bit, but this one really gives you insight on how much of a genius intellect Peter has. This is not him playing with Stark tech any longer. The gadgets and solutions are pure Peter Parker Boy Genius. There are a few guest appearances by other MCU characters. Let's start with the Punisher. I don't think I'm giving anything away if you've seen the trailers. I know some online have criticized Frank Castle's characterization in this in this and I can understand to a degree. He's not always the Punisher you know from the comics. But the way his relationship with Spider-Man plays out here works for this movie. The two have a kind of reluctant "buddy" dynamic. A kind of "remind me why I tolerate you again?" It's fun and, in some instances, heartwarming. Until someone gets shot. But I'm not going into any further detail. Then there's the Hulk. Again, I don't believe I'm giving anything away if you've seen the trailers. This felt like a contrivance to me. His appearance here is a bit more plot-worthy than say Lobo in Supergirl, but the film could have survived without him. There's one more MCU guest appearance that's mostly here for fun and I'll leave it at that. As for the "villain" in Brand New Day, this was a shocker. There's not a lot I can say except her power display is impressive when it's fully unleashed. It's also a foreshadowing of something to come. Speaking of foreshadowing, there is one end credits scene. I think it's a pretty clear precursor to something upcoming in the near future. I will say that if you are expecting Brand New Day to be a lead-in to Avengers: Doomsday you might be a bit disappointed because this definitely isn't that. This film is very much its own bag. A bag that does have certain implications but not for Doomsday. One thing I will say I wasn't crazy about was the aesthetic of the Webhead's web shooters on the outside of his costume. A little too much Nicholas Hammond 70s cheese for me. So where would I rank this among the nine solo Spider-Man movie releases? Number one is still No Way Home in my world. Maybe it's the "most recently seen" syndrome going on her for me, but Brand New Day is solidly second. This is must-see cinema in 2026. Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, and Sadie Sink star.
****1/2 stars
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.
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