Between this and “Barbie,” 2023 is about to be the year of the talking doll. “M3GAN” follows a young roboticist (Allison Williams) who creates an animatronic doll (portrayed by Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis) to bond with her recently-orphaned niece (Violet McGraw), only for strange things to start happening. Gerard Johnstone directs while… Continue reading ‘M3GAN’ Review: Reminder that Dolls and A.I. Are Still Creepy
Pretty audacious for the studio to put the word “ends” in the title of this film when you know damn well it isn’t the final installment of the franchise. “Halloween Ends” is the third installment of the requel trilogy that picks up four years after last year’s “Halloween Kills.” Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her… Continue reading ‘Halloween Ends’ Review: The Franchise Should Take Its Title’s Advice
When the title is the best part thing about your film, you’re in trouble. “They/Them” is the directorial debut of screenwriter John Logan, and follows a group of teens who attend a gay conversion camp (run by Kevin Bacon), only to be stalked by a masked killer. Jason Blum produces through his Blumhouse banner. When… Continue reading ‘They/Them’ Review: A Slasher Low on Scares, High on Snores
Well, at least Ethan Hawke seemed to have fun… “The Black Phone” follows a young boy (Mason Thames) who is kidnapped by a serial killer (Ethan Hawke) and must find a way to escape. Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and James Ransone also star, while Scott Derrickson directs and co-writes. I’m not the biggest fan of… Continue reading ‘The Black Phone’ Review: Let It Go to Voicemail
Sometimes it is wonderful when a movie is exactly what its trailer made it out to look like. “Freaky” puts a twist on the body-swap tale, when a notorious serial killer (Vince Vaughn) switches places with one of his teenage victims (Kathryn Newton). Katie Finneran, Celeste O’Connor, Misha Osherovich, and Alan Ruck also star as… Continue reading ‘Freaky’ Review: Vince Vaughn Is Having a Bloody Good Time and You Will Too
What do you get when you combine “John Wick,” “Death Wish,” “Ex Machina” and “RoboCop?” This movie, apparently. “Upgrade” stars Logan Marshall-Green as a man who is left crippled after a mugging, only to be given the chance to walk again thanks to an experimental chip implanted in his spine. He quickly discovers the chip… Continue reading ‘Upgrade’ is Very Bloody, Very Familiar and Very, Very Fun
I’ve seen people comparing this film to “Groundhog Day” and “Edge of Tomorrow” but have we all forgotten about this past February’s “Before I Fall?” “Happy Death Day” stars Jessica Rothe as a college girl who is murdered on her birthday, only to wake up and realize she is reliving the same day on a… Continue reading ‘Happy Death Day’ Worth Taking a Stab At
A directorial debut this competent and effective? Get out!! [I’ll wait for your applause] “Get Out” is a horror film from writer/rookie director Jordan Peele (you know, the guy from that terrifying comedy sketch show “Key & Peele”). It stars Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams as a young interracial couple who go to the strange… Continue reading ‘Get Out’ an Ambitious, Competent Horror/Comedy
An ending can often make or break a film; a strong case can be made this film’s ending breaks it. “Split” is the latest film from writer/director M. Night Shyamalan and follows a man with a multiple personality disorder (James McAvoy) who kidnaps three teenage girls (Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson and Jessica Sula). A… Continue reading ‘Split’ Features Great Performances, Not So Strong Execution
The Reel Deal 