Movie Reviews

        Profile is the latest film in this new genre of thrillers that take place entirely on a computer/phone screen, following in the footsteps of such films as Unfriended, Searching, and Spree. But unlike those movies, in which the screen-sharing gimmick runs thin the longer the movie goes on, Profile is a gripping, intense thriller that never lets up and uses the screen sharing gimmick perfectly. Amy (Valene Kane) is a struggling journalist looking for a gig…

        Those Who Wish Me Dead is a testament to the superstar that is Angelina Jolie. Director/co-writer Taylor Sheridan’s latest woodsy western thriller pits Jolie deep in the Montana woods as a forest fire rages and two incredibly dangerous hitmen chase her and a boy who has secrets about their boss. It’s a simple premise reminiscent of the mid-budget thriller of the 90’s, but it’s a tense, wild ride and Jolie is front…

      I don’t know what my expectations were for John Berardo’s Initiation, but one thing I do know is that I did not expect the film to be a slasher film reminiscent of Scream 2. This is a college murder mystery. A film where a seemingly idyllic and normal college experience is turned upside down by a series of murders on the campus which leads to an unraveling of dark secrets at the university. It…

        The Saw franchise is one of the longest running horror movie franchises, spanning eight films over seventeen years. From James Wan’s claustrophobic game-changer through the numerous sequels, the Saw franchise has become synonymous for its extreme gore, unique deaths, and chaotic plots that offer up twists, flashbacks, and tales of morality. Spiral: From the Book of Saw is the ninth entry in the Saw franchise and it is unlike any Saw movie we have seen before. Though there are aspects…

        Modern technology is great until it isn’t. With just our cellphones, we have worldly access to whatever we want. You need a restaurant recommendation? Update on the latest sports scores? See what your favorite celebrity is up to? Quickly learn how to make casserole? Self-diagnose yourself with an illness? Talk to your cousin who lives across the country? You can do all of that just on your phone and much, much…

      Thunder Force marks the fifth film in which Melissa McCarthy has been directed by Ben Falcone, a frequent co-star of McCarthy films and her real-life husband. As a comedic duo on screen, McCarthy and Falcone are excellent and play off each other seamlessly (the best example of this would be the airplane scene in 2011’s Bridesmaids). But as an actor-director duo, the results haven’t been as successful. McCarthy, a two-time Oscar nominee,…

        The title of the movie says it all. In one corner we have Godzilla, the giant blue-fire breathing lizard who scours the ocean and has a nose for other monsters roaming the Earth. In the other corner, King Kong, the giant gorilla who rules the mysterious Skull Island. Though having already met in 1963′ King Kong vs. Godzilla, the two cinematic behemoths have never met on a scale of this level…

        Bob Odenkirk is latest actor over fifty years old to get an “old guy kicks ass” movie, following in the footsteps of actors like Liam Neeson, Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan, Kevin Costner, Denzel Washington, and Keanu Reeves (you might not think Keanu counts, but he was 50 when he made John Wick) who have made these kind of movies before, some turning them into franchises. Looking at the list of actors I…

Here are my reviews of The Lost Sons, Sound of Violence, and The Spine of Night from the 2021 SXSW Film Festival.         THE LOST SONS   In April of 1964, a baby was stolen from a Chicago hospital and nobody knew who or why it happened. A few months later, a toddler is abandoned and people begin to wonder if this could be the baby that stolen roughly a year ago. The Lost Sons takes a look…

Here are my reviews of Broadcast Signal Intrusion and The Oxy Kingpins from the 2021 SXSW Film Festival.       BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION   Broadcast Signal Intrusion is the cinematic equivalent of a NASCAR driver driving a perfect race, having the lead the entire race only to have his tires blow out in the final lap. It is a film that for the first two acts and even part of the third act, the film was spectacular. I was…