Macabre thriller with some humor is how I would describe Beasts Clawing at Straws. It consists of a series of vignettes about a disparate group of people whom you gradually—only very gradually—realize are connected with one another. To make it more complicated, characters evolve across time, so that who you think they are in the beginning is different from how […]
There are significant twists in this crime drama, but a fair amount of time is spent in figuring out who characters are. Like many horror films, the filmmakers keep you wondering and guessing, and in this case, that’s most of the movie. The reasons given are always that it’s too dangerous to be given details. No spoiler—this is
In a rather tangled two-part plot, writer/director Lawrence Michael Levine explores some version of the “life imitates art” juxtaposition. To illustrate his point he uses a recurring image of the main character in a meditative position surrounded by nature. The first scenario is presented with certain actors in certain roles followed by those same actors and characters
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
There is a good movie in “Antebellum” somewhere, with social commentary and a twist that could knock your socks off. Unfortunately, writers/directors Gerard Bush, Christopher Renz whose experience with short films and music videos isn’t enough to make this one work. Musician turned actress Janelle Monae (“Moonlight,” “Hidden Figures”) is completely committed in her role, which is the only reason this
The filmmakers really double down on “secrets”, the word in the title. In the story, secrets are nested in layers, and although I think it’s intended to increase the mystery, it simply became off-putting to me in the end. Noomi Rapace as Maja brings her ability to exploit a sense of intrigue as she has done so
“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
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
Film critic turned director Rod Lurie’s latest film “The Outpost” is based on CNN Reporter Jake Tapper’s book by the same name. It opens with quotes from military leaders regarding the unique dangers of this part of Afghanistan, background notes about time and place, title credits, the names of every character on screen, location credits,
With most feature films still holding onto hope for a theatrical release, “7500” will likely be the most suspenseful and edge of your couch thriller of 2020. Like most thrillers that find a way to isolate the protagonist and build a story around one or two people, “7500” limits the audience’s view to the cockpit