New horror thriller “The Night House” gets much right in the first two acts. The film’s use of location in upstate New York is beautifully isolated, the color palette of natural earth tones seen throughout the film demonstrates its attention to aesthetics. The selling point is underrated actress Rebecca Hall, who should have gotten Oscar […]
Part II follows along nicely from the first one, although I don’t think the first one really warranted a sequel. The vignettes from the previous one were helpful. And certainly the eeriness of the silence punctuated with loud squawking of the monsters is even more effective this time. It produced a number of jumps and convulsive gasps on
With a new title, marquee names on the poster and no jigsaw puppet, “Spiral” is a reboot of sorts to the “Saw” franchise (2004-2017) that ran out of steam around its third installment. Technically, “Spiral” is the ninth film in the franchise, and while there is new blood in front of the camera, director Darren
Yakov (Davis) is in a rather fragile state as a result of a traumatic event and subsequent stay in a protected Hassadic Jewish community. Those around him are supportive and helpful in guiding him through the transition back into normal life. He assures them he is just fine, only strapped for funds. When his old rabbi and friend
It’s very difficult to write a good horror story, and Kindred serves as an example of what can go wrong. Making the story horrific and plausible where the plausibility enhances the terror is key to a successful horror film or book. Jordan Peale’s Get Out is a prime example of success. Even though there’s only a remote chance that any of us will come
“I Still Believe”, the religious romance film, was one of the last times local film critics sat for a movie screening in person. That was early March, and while most of us have reviewed countless film titles, by way of screener links from our homes over the last five months; it’s become very clear the
First time feature film director Egor Abramenko’s Russian sci-fi thriller “Sputnik” makes the most out of a “less is more” approach. First off, the 1980’s retro theme from wardrobe, vehicles, even composer Oleg Karpachev’s score, fit the bill and isolate the viewer in this bleak Cold War scenario. Second, “Sputnik” writers take a very “X-Files”
Dave Franco, the younger of the Franco Brothers has now thrown his hat into the director’s ring, like older sibling James (“The Disaster Artist”). “The Rental” is a conventional horror genre flick; four friends, mysterious house, isolated surroundings, you know how these things go. It stars Franco’s wife Alison Brie (“Sleeping With Other People”), and
You barely have time to get your bearings before Underwater charges full steam ahead with its anxiety inducing deep sea horror. Relative new Director William Eubank and his screenwriters, Brian Duffield (Insurgent) and Adam Cozad (Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit) borrow heavily from institutional horror and science fiction films. Rarely does Underwater showcase original thinking or
Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) might be one of the most lovable filmmakers around whose compassion and creativity on and off set, will allow him to work inside and out of Hollywood for the rest of his days. However, his producing credits have me questioning his taste. Mama, Afraid of the