★★★ A flood of “elevated horror” in the last decade has provided genre audiences with a deluge of movies to binge, ranging wildly in quality. Towing the line between inspired or pretentious, many of these so-called “elevated” flicks fall into the latter category. Folk horror Lord of Misrule from producer/director William Brent Bell (Orphan: First … Continue reading Film Review: Lord of Misrule
Film Review: The Sacrifice Game
★★★★ Christmas horror meets home invasion and satanic ritualistic sacrifice in writer/director/producer Jenn Wexler’s off-the-wall The Sacrifice Game. After bouncing from festival to festival while building buzz amongst the genre community, this fun flick somehow still lives up to the hype. Set in the early 70s in the wake of the Manson Family murders, The … Continue reading Film Review: The Sacrifice Game
Film Review: Candy Cane Lane
★★ Is it just me or are holiday-themed movies getting lazier each year? New Eddie Murphy vehicle Candy Cane Lane definitely fits the bill as one of the least inspired major holiday offerings to stumble along for quite some time, alongside slightly-more-terrible Melissa McCarthy flick Genie. While host to a few cute moments, Candy Cane … Continue reading Film Review: Candy Cane Lane
Film Review: Night of the Demons Trilogy
Leave it to Scream Factory to resurrect one of horror’s most unsung series, beautifully restored and prettier than they have ever looked before. 1988’s original Night of the Demons comes in a crisp 4K release, complete with an all-encompassing feature-length documentary about the making of the film (You’re Invited: The Making of Night of the … Continue reading Film Review: Night of the Demons Trilogy
Film Review: Teddy’s Christmas
★★★ As the years go by, recapturing that same sense of whimsical delight once felt as a child for the Christmas holiday cinematically seems increasingly out of reach. Norwegian import Teddy’s Christmas, now dubbed to reach a wider audience, definitely encapsulates the spirit of the holiday for younger viewers to enjoy. The movie itself is … Continue reading Film Review: Teddy’s Christmas
Film Review: Your Christmas or Mine 2
★★★★ Left under the tree like the present you never knew you needed, Your Christmas Or Mine 2 brings holiday rom-com cheer to November in this lovable sequel to last year’s surprise Prime Video smash. Nearly everyone that made the first movie great returns both in front of and behind the camera, led once again … Continue reading Film Review: Your Christmas or Mine 2
Film Review: Silent Night
★★★ Legendary action director John Woo makes a return to the world of cinema in his newest feature, standard revenge flick Silent Night. The trailer seemed to promise a tighter, slightly more grounded approach for a director known expressly for his excess. Being mostly dialogue-free, Silent Night definitely strips away the one-liners and most of … Continue reading Film Review: Silent Night
Film Review: Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
★★★★ The 23-year wait for a sequel to Aardman Animation’s smash hit, Chicken Run, is hardly the longest stretch between films. And yet, any kid who grew up in the late 90s/early 2000s will no doubt eat up this belated, adorable feature like a particularly tasty chicken dish. Kids today have such short attention spans … Continue reading Film Review: Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Film Review: Genie
★★ A feel-great family movie, especially around the holidays, has the power to bring people together, and make them appreciate what they hold dear. Each and every year without fail, countless companies jump for the chance at their own new Christmas movie in the hopes that they will remain in the conversation for years to … Continue reading Film Review: Genie
Film Review: Hayseed
★★★★ In the spirit of Knives Out and other modern whodunnits, indie flick Hayseed depicts an engaging treat that challenges viewers to actually pay attention. Writer/director/producer Travis Burgess embraces his obvious inspirations with a loving touch of admiration that permeates the film. The phrase “passion project” is maybe a tad bit overused, yet that perfectly … Continue reading Film Review: Hayseed