Reviews

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a 2023 fantasy comedy film written/directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Vacation, Game Night, Vacation Friends, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Horrible Bosses, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, and In the Dark). It was co-written by Michael Gilio (Jolene and Kwik Stop). It's been in development since 2013. The budget was $150 million and it grossed $208.2 million worldwide at the box office!!!!

Before imprisonment, bard Edgin Darvis (played by: Chris Pine from Star Trek franchise, Smokin' Aces, Wonder Woman franchise, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Hell or High Water, and Don't Worry Darling) served as a member of the Harpers, an order of peacekeepers, until disciples of a Red Wizard he had arrested and killed his wife. Accompanied by barbarian Holga Kilgore (played by: Michelle Rodriguez from The Fast and Furious franchise, Machete franchise, Resident Evil franchise, and Avatar), Edgin attempted to make a new life for himself and his daughter Kira (played by: Chloe Coleman from 65, Avatar: The Way of Water, and My Spy) by turning to theft, teaming with amateur sorcerer Simon Aumar (played by: Justice Smith from Jurassic World franchise and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu), rogue conman Forge Fitzwilliam (played by: Hugh Grant from The Gentlemen, Operation Fortune, Glass Onion, Nine Months, and About a Boy), and Forge's mysterious acquaintance Sofina (played by: Daisy Head from Wrong Turn, Underworld: Blood Wars, and Ophelia). While raiding a Harper stronghold, Edgin attempted to steal a "Tablet of Reawakening" to resurrect his wife, but he and Holga were captured while their accomplices escaped. After two years' imprisonment in arctic Revel's End, the pair, unaware they have been pardoned, escape to Neverwinter and learn Forge has become Lord there after its prior lord fell mysteriously incapacitated.

Forge has been taking care of Kira, convincing her that Edgin's selfish greed led to his arrest. It is revealed that Sofina is a Red Wizard. They meet up with Simon's former crush Doric (played by: Sophia Lillis from Gretel & Hansel, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, Asteroid City, and IT) who can shapeshift. The band of misfits are forced to work together to achieve their own separate goals. They get the help of a teleportation staff obtained from Holga's halfling ex-husband Marlamin (played by: Bradley Cooper from A Star Is Born, The Mule, Silver Linings Playbook, Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Avengers franchise, and The Hangover trilogy), they are attacked by Thayan assassins sent by Sofina. Xenk (played by: Regé-Jean Page from The Gray Man, Mortal Engines, and Bridgerton) fights off the assassins and helps the group escape from Themberchaud. They all must trust each other enough to battle these evil forces that are trying to stop them in their journey. Can they pull it off????

Dungeons & Dragons has always been pretty popular with a certain group of people and it's kinda expanded over the years. Honor Among Thieves tries to be completely different compared to the original D and D films. The production design, locations, costumes, fx, and score are all high quality here. The script is solid but I feel like it tries way too hard to be funny at times and I honestly kinda wish Honor Among Thieves is a little more serious at times. Dungeons and Dragons seemed to be crafted specifically for lead actor Chris Pine with sarcastic humor approach that he usually brings to his characters. He is really good here, then again like I said before this role was definitely written for him so he's in his comfort zone when it comes to acting.

It's great to see Michelle Rodriguez in back to back big movies this year (Fast X) because she hasn't done much lately. She's a bad ass and her chemistry with Pine is great in this. Hugh Grant typically would be a really strange choice for the villain but since it's so comedy heavy it actually works here. As he gets older, he's been doing all kinds of different material which is nice to see. Yes, this is comedy so it fits but at the same time playing a bad guy is very different from his usual roles so it really shows his acting range here. Honor Among Thieves has a very solid supporting cast that includes Chloe Coleman, Justice Smith, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, Daisy Head, and Bradley Cooper. This one has a decent amount of action. It's a very fun and entertaining movie, it's worth checking out. It's available on Paramount Plus right now for streaming, RECOMMENDED!!!!

Kandahar (aka Mission Kandahar) is a 2023 action film directed by Ric Roman Waugh (National Champions, Greenland, Angel Has Fallen, Snitch, and Felon). It was written and produced by Mitchell Lafortune (Last Breath). It was produced by Gerard Butler (Machine Gun Preacher, Chasing Mavericks, The Vanishing, Hunter Killer, and Copshop). It grossed $9.1 million at the box office!!!! Tom Harris (played by: Gerard Butler from The Fallen Trilogy, Gamer, 300, Greenland, Den of Thieves, Law Abiding Citizen, and RockNRolla) is a freelance undercover operative working for the CIA to insert malware into an Iranian nuclear research facility.

Tom's cover is a field technician for a Swiss communications contractor. His mission is successful, and the malware causes the facility to self destruct, preventing the Iranians from acquiring more nuclear bombs. The Iranian government has been monitoring a British journalist in Iran named Luna (played by: Nina Toussaint-White from The Feed, Bodyguard, The Sister, and GameFace). She receives evidence from a whistle blower of the CIA's ongoing sabotage of Iran's nuclear programs. After the facility is destroyed, she is arrested by an Iranian security agency. She tells the Iranians she suspects a link between the facility's destruction and the Swiss contractor because their contracts are next to government sites. The next day, Harris's partner is murdered by the Iranian Special Force after they are compromised. Tom visits his CIA handler, Roman Chalmers (played by: Travis Fimmel from Vikings, The Baytown Outlaws, Warcraft, Dreamland, and Raised by Wolves). Roman is a Muslim convert, living under the outward pretense of a Dubai socialite. Tom accepts Roman's lucrative CIA contract for a job in Afghanistan. Due to an intelligence leak, the news names Tom as the operative responsible for the destruction of the nuclear facility.

With his cover now blown, the mission in Herat is aborted. Roman directs Tom and his translator Mohammad "Mo" Doud (played by: Navid Negahban from Homeland, 12 Strong, and Aladdin) to an extraction point in Kandahar. Pakistan wants to ransom Tom to the highest bidder. They are chased by the Iranians and a Pakistani agent Kahil Nassir (played by: Ali Fazal from Death on the Nile, Furious 7, and House Arrest) in Herat. They elude Kahil and the Iranian pursuers in escape to the desert. Tom and Mo seek aid from Tom's friend, an Afghan warlord not associated with the governing Taliban. Mo reveals to Tom and the warlord that the warlord killed Mo's son years ago. This sets up a dangerous and awkward situation. The two men must find a way to get through all the back stabbing and everyone that's trying to eliminate them for good during the mission. Can they get through this chaos and follow through on their plan to complete the mission????

Kandahar is another entertaining collaboration between director Ric Roman Waugh and action star Gerard Butler. You can't go wrong when these two work together. This is a nice mix of action, drama, thriller, and war. Gerard Butler gives a solid performance as the lead here, he knows exactly what to do with these type of movies. It's loaded with action and this one has a nice script with suspense filled story. It has a decent supporting cast which includes Vikings star Travis Fimmel. Kandahar kinda reminded me of The Covenant from the same year. Both films were released really close to each other which is interesting. It has great locations, quality production design, and attention grabbing score. It's one of the better action releases and it has some strong replay value. RECOMMENDED!

Fool's Paradise is a 2023 satirical comedy film written and directed by actor Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Cool Kids, I want you Back, and How it Ends) in his directorial debut. It grossed $855,173 during it's limited theatrical run. A mute John Doe (played by: Charlie Day from The Super Mario Bros, Fist Fight, Pacific Rim: Uprising, and Hotel Artemis) with the mental capacity of a five-year-old is released from a mental hospital when the state cannot afford his treatment. He begins living on the streets and taking direction from whomever he comes across. While making a biopic about Billy the Kid, the Producer is incensed that method actor Sir Tom Bingsley (played by: Charlie Day from Horrible Bosses 1/2, The Lego Movie 1/2, Pacific Rim, and Going the Distance) refuses to leave his trailer.

Since this costs the film time and money, the Producer (played by: Ray Liotta from Goodfellas, Cop Land, Smokin Aces, Narc, Cocaine Bear, Hannibal, and Field of Dreams) resorts to using a stand-in. The Producer comes across the John Doe selling oranges on the street and hires him due to the striking resemblance to Bingsley. Meanwhile, Lenny (played by: Ken Jeong from The Hangover Trilogy, Scoob!, My Spy, Dr Ken, and Community) is a struggling publicist who has not been able to maintain one client since moving to L. A. and bribes his way onto studio lots to look for talent. Lenny sees John Doe filming the biopic and misunderstands his name to be "Latte Pronto" due to the Producer demanding coffee. After Bingsley dies in a misguided method acting technique of hanging himself, "Billy the Kid" is forced to continue filming with Pronto as the star. Although hindered by Pronto's lack of acting talent and his continued looks directly into camera, his co-stars Christiana Dior (played by: Kate Beckinsale from the Underworld franchise, Click, Van Helsing, Vacancy, Pearl Harbor, and Total Recall) and Chad Luxt (played by: Adrien Brody from Winning Time, The Pianist, Predators, Peaky Blinders, Summer of Sam, and King Kong) are inspired by the unique avant-garde performance and emulate his acting style.

Critics praising Pronto's performance of breaking the fourth wall by looking into the camera. At the after party, Lenny asks Pronto to confirm they will never end their business relationship. When Pronto cannot respond to Lenny's request. He gets an offer to star in "Mosquito Boy" directed by Lex Tanner (played by: Jason Sudeikis from Ted Lasso, Horrible Bosses 1/2, We're the Millers, Booksmart, and Hall Pass). Pronto is blamed in the media after getting arrested during the production. Pronto is injured and a stand-in is used for the majority of the movie. The movie is a colossal failure at the box office and Pronto's representation leaves him. Dior is frustrated with her husband's failing stardom so she divorces him, takes the children, and begins dating Luxt. Pronto goes back to living on the street. Pronto befriends a homeless man named Dagger (played by: Common from Smokin Aces, John Wick Chapter 2, and Suicide Squad) and saves his life, gaining media acclaim and is awarded the Key to the City by the Mayor of Los Angeles. The Mayor privately encourages Pronto to run for office on an anti-corporate platform since his acting career is over. The rich and powerful Cote brothers (played by: Tom O'Rion from Major Dad and John Malkovich from Con Air) have Pronto kidnapped to discourage his political career. He gets another chance at acting after dealing with so much bad luck and he agrees to leave politics to the Cote brothers. Can the once rising star get back into his former life before it's all too late????

Are you a Charlie Day fan? If so, you might really enjoy this one considering he's the star, he wrote the script, and he directed this satire. Day definitely went with a weird approach for this comedy. He made the lead character a mute in Fool's Paradise. I find it very bizarre because he's hilarious and his voice is unique plus it always add to his style of humor.

I think he had a solid performance here but honestly it wasn't what I was expecting from him. It has some interesting costumes, set designs, and cinematography that makes it stand out a little more compared to your typical comedy. The best thing about Fool's Paradise is it's all star cast. It's loaded with talent and familiar faces, Day must have called in all his favors for this one. It has Ray Liotta, Jason Sudeikis, John Malkovich, Common, Ken Jeong, Adrien Brody, Kate Beckinsale, Jason Bateman, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Edie Falco, Jimmi Simpson, Dean Norris, Glenn Howerton, and George Lopez. I enjoyed Fool's Paradise because it's very weird and somewhat original but I'm honestly not sure how much I would want to revisit it in the future. It's definitely worth checking out at least once.

House Party is a 2023 comedy film directed by Calmatic (White Men Can't Jump and Various Music Videos) in his feature directorial debut. It was written by Jamal Olori (Atlanta, SNL, and Swarm) and Stephen Glover (Atlanta and Swarm). It's considered as a reboot of the 1990 film of the same name. In Los Angeles, Kevin (played by: Jacob Latimore from Detroit, Collateral Beauty, The Chi, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Damon (played by: Tosin Cole from Till, Doctor Who, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens) are two best friends who work as house cleaners and aspiring club promoters. Kevin also aspires to make music and get a steady income to support himself and his young daughter Destiny. The two of them are dropped from a promotion gig by Kyle and his gang due to Damon having illicit involvement with Guile's cousin. While the two of them are working at a mansion, Kevin is informed by his childhood friend and current supervisor Venus (played by: Karen Obilom from Doom Patrol and Games People Play) that he and Damon will be fired due to cameras catching them goofing off on the job. Damon finds out that the mansion they are cleaning belongs to LeBron James (played by: himself from Space Jam: A New Legacy and Trainwreck), who is in India on a two-week meditation retreat, and proposes that he and Kevin host a party there for LeBron's celebrity contacts.

Kevin asks his friend Venus to him out with this situation. They take advantage of a lapse in security to break into LeBron's trophy room and steal his Cleveland Cavaliers 2016 championship ring. Damon is later beaten up by Nick and his gang, but then sees his idol Mya (played by: herself from Cursed and Chicago). Mya offers for Damon to leave the party with her, but Damon declines in order to help Kevin keep the party from falling apart. LeBron's ring has been stolen, and try desperately to find it. Kid Cudi (played by: himself from X, Need for Speed, and Westworld) tells them that the Illuminati possesses a copy of every sports championship ring, and the duo are desperate enough to take up his offer. All hell keeps breaking loose and they are forced to fix everything quickly before it becomes a bigger problem. They need secure the replacement ring and repair the damage to the mansion before King James returns home. Can these two turn this mistake into something good????

The House Party reboot is definitely better than the last few sequels but it doesn't compare to the original trilogy. It was originally supposed to be an HBO Max exclusive but it ended up getting a limited theatrical run before it's premiere on there. The two leads here have great chemistry and it elevates this production. The comedy is hit or miss with this reboot but it has some really hilarious moments thrown in. The supporting cast is decent but it has some major cameos in this one featuring some familiar faces plus an amazing surprise towards the end which makes this worth checking out no matter what. It could have been a little more consistent but it was fun and entertaining for the most part. It has some decent replay value. I'm hoping this new version gives the originals more attention. I'm very curious if they will do a sequel to this one. Give it a shot, it's on HBO Max right now!!!!

Sisu is a 2022 action revenge thriller film written and directed by Jalmari Helander (Big Game, Wingman, Rare Exports, Ukkonen, and Zero Deux). It was produced by Petri Jokiranta (Big Game, Rare Exports, Jungle of Dreams, A Man's Job, and Eila). The budget was 6 million and it grossed $14 million at the box office!!!! In late 1944 during the Lapland War, Aatami Korpi (played by: Jorma Tommila from Rare Exports, Big Game, The Christmas Party, Kimmo, and Priest of Evil) lives alone with his horse and faithful Bedlington Terrier while he prospects in the Lapland wilderness. Aatami uncovers a rich gold deposit, where he collects a hefty amount of nuggets and heads towards Rovaniemi. Along the way, Aatami encounters a large Waffen SS platoon led by the ruthless SS Obersturmführer Bruno Helldorf (played by: Aksel Hennie from Max Manus: Man of War, The Martian, Headhunters, and The Cloverfield Paradox), who are destroying villages during their retreat towards Norway and have taken several Finnish women captive. Helldorf takes little interest in Aatami, letting him pass. Aatami is soon accosted by a second group of soldiers who discover his saddlebags full of gold and prepare to execute him, but he swiftly kills them all. Alerted by the gunfire, Helldorf investigates and discovers the massacre and one of Aatami's gold nuggets.

Helldorf and his tank pursue Aatami to the edge of a minefield, where Aatami's horse is killed by a landmine. After retrieving Aatami's dog tag, Helldorf's second-in-command Wolf (played by: Jack Doolan from The Boys, Marcella, Cemetery Junction, and White Gold) learns over the radio of Aatami's past. After losing his family while fighting as a commando during the Winter War, the vengeful Aatami became a legendary "one-man death squad" nicknamed Koschei ("the Immortal"). Helldorf defies his orders to continue retreating in order to hunt down Aatami and take the gold. The German soldiers dispatch dogs to follow Aatami's trail. Aatami sends his own dog away before using petrol from one of the German trucks to cover his scent. It's an all out war for the brutal loner against this vicious group of soldiers looking to end the blood thirst for once and for all. Will Aatami get his revenge against the Nazis before they take full control over everything????

Sisu delivers all the goods when it comes to what you would hope for when you are watching a revenge flick! The Revenge sub-genre is one of my favorites but they don't really make that many of these right now. John Wick kinda sparked more interest in it so that's probably why we have newer features like Sisu. I tried to see this one in theaters but it didn't last long around here. Who doesn't enjoy seeing Nazis getting slaughtered? Sisu gives the audience plenty of that during it's running time. The main character is very interesting, I've generally been more interested in antiheroes rather than your typical cliche good guy. Jorma Tommila has a great performance here and he is brutal in this.

Jorma Tommila is mainly known as a character actor when it comes to Finnish cinema but he grabs all your attention as the lead in Sisu. Aksel Hennie is a quality counterpart to Jorma, he's is a nasty character with no morals. Aksel Hennie has one of the better nazi villain turns in a long time. You just want to see this man die. This one has a solid supporting cast. Sisu never holds back when it comes to the kills and violence. It's loaded with suspense and thrills, it keeps you on your toes. This film stays with you after you experienced it. It's very entertaining in the most possible dark way. Sisu has amazing replay value, it's a must own. It's one of my personal favorites of the year, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later (aKa Halloween H20 and Halloween 7) is a 1998 slasher film directed by Steve Miner (Friday the 13th 2, Friday the 13th 3, House, Day of the Dead, Warlock, and Lake Placid). It was written by Robert Zappia (The Tom and Jerry Show, Prey for the Devil, and Tappy Toes) and Matt Greenberg (Reign of Fire, Pet Sematary, 1408, Seventh Son, The Prophecy 2, Children of the Corn 3, and Masters of Horror). It was produced by Kevin Williamson (Scream franchise, Dawson's Creek, The Following, Sick, Tell me a Story, and Cursed). It is the seventh installment in the Halloween franchise. H20 is a direct sequel to 1981's Halloween II. The budget was $17 million and it grossed $75 million at the box office!!!!

Nearly twenty-years have passed since Michael Myers (played by: Chris Durand from Scream 2 and Uncle Sam) escaped from Smith's Grove and returned to his hometown of Haddonfield to kill his long-lost sister, Laurie Strode. Following an explosion caused by Dr. Sam Loomis at Haddonfield Memorial Hospital, Michael's body was never found, and he was presumed dead. On October 29, 1998, Marion Wittington (played by: Nancy Stephens from the Halloween franchise), Loomis' former colleague who took care of him until his death, returns home to the house they shared in Langdon, Illinois, only to find that it has been broken into and discovers that the file on Laurie Strode (played by: Jamie Lee Curtis from the Halloween franchise, Trading Places, True Lies, Prom Night, Terror Train, A Fish Called Wanda, and Knives Out) is missing.

This leads the killing machine to his sister. In Summer Glen, California, Laurie (having faked her death to stay hidden from Michael) lives under the identity of "Keri Tate" along with her son, John (played by: Josh Hartnett from 30 Days of Night, The Faculty, Sin City, and Black Hawk Down), is the headmistress of Hillcrest Academy, a private boarding school, where she is supported by her secretary Norma Watson (played by: Janet Leigh from Psycho and The Fog) and guidance counselor Will Brennan (played by: Adam Arkin from Sons of Anarchy and Northern Exposure)), who she is also in a relationship with. Her past has caused her to suffer from chronic nightmares as well as becoming an alcoholic. Back at the academy, most of the faculty and students are preparing to leave for a trip to Yosemite. Laurie has forbidden John to go, afraid that something bad will happen to him while he is gone.

John's girlfriend, Molly Cartwell (played by: Michelle Williams from Dawson's Creek, The Fabelmans, Venom 1/2, and Manchester by the Sea), is unable to attend as well prompting fellow couple, Charlie Deveraux (played by: Adam Hann-Byrd from Jumanji and The Ice Storm) and Sarah Wainthrope (played by: Jodi Lyn O'Keefe from She's all That and Whatever it Takes), to forego the trip so that they can all have a Halloween party on campus. Ronny Jones (played by: LL Cool J from Deep Blue Sea and Mindhunters), a security guard lets John and Charlie sneak out of school. Laurie reveals her identity to Will and in the process discovers a connection between her age when Michael first came after her which is also how old her son is now. Upon going to call John she finds out that not only are the phones not working, but that he did not go on the trip. She arms herself with a revolver looking for them. Michael Myers is out for blood and he wants a deadly re-connection with his family. Can Laurie survive this monster once again? Or Will everyone close to her pay for her past life????

Halloween H20 is one of the best sequels when it comes to the iconic horror series. I know this one gets mixed reviews from time to time but I've always loved this one. I will admit, it's one of tamer entries when it comes to slasher franchise, it completely ignores the previous few sequels like they never existed, and Michael Myers basically doesn't pop up much until the 2nd half of the movie but it still delivers. It has a great script and it's great to see things pick up from the original Halloween sequel with the legendary Laurie Strode returning.

It does have a Scream vibe to it but that's not a surprise considering who the producer was. John Carpenter was originally going to return for H20 but he demanded too much money so the studio went with horror veteran Steve Miner instead as the director. He is one of the most underrated filmmakers in the horror sub-genre. Halloween H20 has a nice pace/flow, suspense, and everything else is at a high quality. Jamie Lee Curtis is amazing in this. It's like she's never left the iconic role. This sequel has a great supporting cast with so many familiar faces including an Oscar winner. Personally, I don't think any sequel or prequel since this one has even came close to H20. I hope this gets more love with this brand new home video release because I feel like it's very underrated. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

The Black Phone is a 2021 horror film co-written, produced, and directed by Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange, Sinister, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and Hellraiser: Inferno). It was co-written by C. Robert Cargill (Doctor Strange, Sinister 1 and 2) and it's based on a short story from Joe Hill (Locke & Key, Horns, In the Tall Grass, Creepshow, and NOS4A2). It was produced by Jason Blum (The Purge franchise, Insidious franchise, Get Out, Split/Glass, Happy Death Day 1/2, Halloween, and Upgrade) It had a budget of $16 million and it grossed $155.6 million worldwide at the box office. It's currently available for streaming on Peacock if you want to check it out before you consider buying it!!!!

In 1978, a masked serial child abductor nicknamed "The Grabber" (played by: Ethan Hawke from The Purge, Sinister, Training Day, Moon Knight, Daybreakers, and Gattaca) prowls the streets of a Denver suburb. Siblings Finney (played by: Mason Thames from For All Mankind and Walker) and Gwen Blake (played by: Madeleine McGraw from Ant-Man and the Wasp, Pacific Rim: Uprising, Toy Story 4, and American Sniper) live in the area with their abusive, alcoholic father (played by: Jeremy Davies from The House That Jack Built, Justified, Helter Skelter, and Lost). At school, Finney is frequently bullied and harassed. He has a friendship with a classmate Robin (played by: Miguel Cazarez Mora), who fends off the bullies. A boy from another school that Finney knew named Bruce (played by: Tristan Pravong from Forever and a Day). He is abducted by the Grabber. Gwen, who has psychic dreams much like her late mother, dreams of Bruce's kidnapping and sees that he was taken by a man in a Oni mask driving a black van. Detectives interview Gwen but struggle to believe her claims. The Grabber abducts Robin, as well as Finney days later. Finney awakens in a soundproofed basement. On the wall is a disconnected black rotary phone that the Grabber says does not work. Later, Finney hears the phone ring and answers it. He starts talking to some of The Grabber's past victims and some even give him advice on how to survive this living nightmare. Is he losing his mind or this is a grim reality that's trying to help him escape death from this real life monster????

The Black Phone reminds me of an earlier Stephen King type of novel which is iconic because it's based on his son Joe Hill's short story. The Black Phone is a nice mix of horror and suspense thriller with supernatural elements thrown in. The horror sub-genre has been very hit or miss lately but this is one of the better ones recently and definitely one of the best of this year. The script has some nice character development and it builds up tension until the very end. I haven't seen most of these kids in anything but the casting was spot on especially because most of them were new or unknown during this so it felt more realistic. I've been a big fan of director Scott Derrickson for years now and he basically left Doctor Strange Two to do this smaller horror feature when he had creative issues with that bigger sequel.

Ethan Hawke gives one of his darkest and creepiest performances as The Grabber in The Black Phone. He's the best thing about this production, he increased the quality of everything in this with his portrayal of a very disturbed man. The Grabber has potential one of the best villains in a long time. This one has some solid violence and gore but it's more psychological than anything. The finale act really delivers and it has some twists. This is a must seen for horror and Blumhouse fans, it's currently still available for streaming on Peacock plus this great brand new home video reissue release from Universal Pictures, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

Evil Dead Rise is a 2023 supernatural horror film written and directed by Lee Cronin (The Hole in the Ground, 50 States of Fright, Minutes Past Midnight, and Ghost Train). It was produced by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead franchise, Spider-Man franchise, 65, Umma, The Grudge franchise, Don't Breathe 1/2, Crawl, Poltergeist, Time Cop, Hard Target, and Drag Me Into Hell) and Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead franchise, Burn Notice, Black Friday, My Name Is Bruce, Jack Of All Trades, and Crimewave). It is the fifth installment of the Evil Dead film series. The budget was an estimated $19 million and it grossed $146.7 million at the box office!!!!

One day earlier, upset at learning she is pregnant, guitar technician Beth (played by: Lily Sullivan from Barkskins, Picnic at Hanging Rock, and Mental) visits her sister Ellie (played by: Alyssa Sutherland from The Mist, Vikings, and Blood Vessel), a tattoo artist and single mother to teenagers Danny (played by: Morgan Davies from The Hunter) and Bridget (played by: Gabrielle Echols from Reminiscence), and child Kassie (played by: Nell Fisher from Northspur), in their home at Monde Apartments, a condemned Los Angeles apartment complex. The building is shaken by an dangerous earthquake while the children are in its basement parking lot, uncovering a concealed chamber.

Danny investigates it, discovering religious artifacts, three phonograph records from 1923, and a strange old book that he takes up to his room, believing he could possibly sell it and use the money to help Ellie. The initial record details rejected efforts by a priest to research the book, revealed to be one of three volumes of the Naturom Demonto. The subsequent record reveals the priest continued his research in secret and recites an incantation that summons demonic entities known as Deadites. The building's power fails and Ellie is possessed by an unseen force. She returns to the apartment in a trance, menacingly threatens her family. They are forced to fight against the person that they all love the most. They want to save her from this evil but is it even possible at this point? They are struggling to defend themselves as Ellie's army of Deadites start to outnumber them, can they win this brutal battle????

I personally think Evil Dead Rise should have been called something else because it honestly doesn't feel like a real Evil Dead movie to me. It does feature some traditional elements that allows it to be connected to the legendary horror series but it just comes off as a completely different film. I wish it was more like the opening to this which was great. That had the most Evil Dead vibe when it comes to Rise. This just feels like very gruesome possession flick to me. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this one. It's one of goriest and most brutal mainstream horror movies of the year.

It doesn't hold back when it comes to violence, kills, and blood. The script definitely delivers when it comes to the suspense and thrills. The isolated apartment complex works well when you take in it's atmosphere. The cast is really solid in this especially the two leads Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan. Evil Dead Rise has excellent special fx, production design, cinematography, and music. It's one of the better horror films of the year but please do not go into expecting a traditional Evil Dead feature because this one is very different. This is the type of movie that you appreciate a little more after a revisit since you know what to expect while checking it out again. It's now available for streaming on HBO Max if you are curious before making a purchase. RECOMMENDED!!!!

All Hell Breaks Loose is a 2014 horror film directed by special effects artist Jeremy Garner (Melvin, Crowbar, Killing Me, The Children of Terra Firma, & Deet 'n Bax Save Th World). A. H. B. L mixes some of the usual favorite sub genres for exploitation cinema including bikers, revenge, & satanism. It was shot in Oregon on a budget of 20,000 in 3 weeks. It even has that familiar "grindhouse" look to it. A throwback to all of those independents that pushed the boundaries that played in certain theaters & drive in spots across America back in the day. It opens up with a vicious preview of what's to come later on in this disastrous adventure.

Friends are enjoying their party & time together as they tell silly campfire stories getting messed up. Bikers (Sundown played by: Joshua Frazier from Most Daring, Knucklehead played by: Big Dave Levick, Ratso played by: Casey Vann from Grimm, & Pedophile Pete played by: Tommy Hestmark from Vicious) show up & they go on a murderous spree as they slaughter most of them, they are on a mission. They are only looking for one thing there, a VIRGIN!

That same group of diabolical bikers from hell known as Satan's Sinners (Chuck played by: Ryan Gregg from Lucky's Treasure, Statch played by: Todd Robinson from Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, El Vez played by: Hunter O'Guinn from The Silence, & Clarence played by: Jackass's "Danger" Ehren McGhehey from Portlandia) have expanded since then decide to crash a newlyweds Nick (played by: Nick Forrest from Lucky's Treasure) & Bobby Sue (played by: Sarah Kobel Marquette from Crowbar) wedding celebration after being married all alone. Satan's Sinners murder the nerdy Nick & kidnap Bobby Sue to sacrifice her to Satan to save them from damnation. A mysterious cowboy (played by: Joseph Sullivan from The Darkest Corner of Paradise & The Children of Terra Firma) claiming to be God brings Nick back to life to save his new bride from the unholy motorcycle gang. Nick goes to Sheriff Parks (played by: William Ross) & a questionable preacher Jeremiah (played by: Leif Fuller from Melvin) for help. The once deceased groom is now armed with divine intervention & dangerous firepower. He will keep dying over & over until he becomes the hero in this battle against evil!

I don't know why but motorcycle gangs, Satan, & revenge make a great combination when it comes to pure entertainment. All Hell Breaks Loose is executed so good that it honestly feels like a lost exploitation film from the 1970s. It's something I could see Quentin Tarantino & Robert Rodriguez producing. I have noticed a decent amount of independent horror starting to bring back grindhouse & that exploitation flavor to modern day cinema. It delivers everything you would want for this sub genre hybrid plus it has a nice balance of comedy added in. It makes up for it's low budget with it's main cast, soundtrack, & many gruesome visuals.

I am not surprised by that last part since it was directed by a special effects artist. These days more of them are taking a chance & getting behind the camera for their own projects. All Hell Breaks Loose is non stop fun & it has you rooting for the ambitious geek against the wicked Satan's Sinners. This one is a under-rated gem & needs more exposure to the world. Hopefully, I can help out a little with this review. If you enjoy stuff that plays homage to past & makes their picture quality resemble the favorites from before you will get kick out of this. It adds to the personality of this production & it gives it that familiar feeling that you have grown to love when it comes this type of genre production. The soundtrack also adds to the environment & energy of this feature. It's almost like another character in this.

Cruel Summer is a 2016 horror film directed by Phillip Escott & Craig Newman. It's based off a true event from Sheffield in 2004 plus inspired by a few other situations from other crimes a few years before. It was finished on a 10 day shoot financed on their own. It opens up with a little preview of the chaos that's about to come later on. Danny (played by: Richard Pawulski from All in the Valley) is a teenager with autism, his escape from reality is the amazing countryside where he likes to camp. He goes in alone to separate himself from everything. It's his favorite distraction from his every day problems. Julia (played by: Natalie Martins from Poltergeist Activity, Kill or be Killed, & The Barge People) makes a outrageous claim against the troubled teen to the wrong person.

This rage motivates a plan of revenge. Lead by Nicholas (played by: Danny Miller from Grange Hill, Emmerdale, & Lightfields) with their other friend Calvin (played by: Reece Douglas from The Knife That Killed Me, Waterloo Road, & Think Again), these 3 are not going to stop anything from righting this wrong committed by Danny last summer but will the other 2 get all the facts before they go too far? Nicholas tells his friends that Danny is a pedophile & only gets away with it because of his disease. The insecure & jaded Nicholas can't stand the fact he thinks Danny had his ex girlfriend Lisa before him when he thought she was a virgin. Julia has created a path of destruction & torture based off her false claims on the innocent Danny. They trick Danny's mom like they are his friends to get information on where to find her son. Calvin & Julia both question this retaliation as Nicholas starts to go way too far on this brutal mission. Lies become a reality to the easily manipulated & their actions can be forgotten. Only the truth can end this sadistic treatment!

Cruel Summer is much more than a social commentary on bullying & how people are treated. When you watch something based off a true story like this it haunts your mind & sticks with you for awhile. It goes further than entertainment & something to just waste time on. Nicholas is one of the most unlikable characters you'll ever see on screen & the fact that he was real makes it much worse. He's the ultimate bully, when I say that I just don't mean for the helpless Danny. He pushes both of his friends to their terrifying limits with no remorse. He brought out something they didn't know they had inside of them. Every time they showed hesitation he made sure that it went away with his aggressive peer pressure. Cruel Summer is honestly hard to watch because Danny doesn't have a hurtful bone in his entire body. He can't defend himself & he doesn't realize what's going on until it's too late. This tragedy could have been stopped with the simple truth but everyone let this brutal event get to the point of no return. It captured the pain, the confliction, & the aftermath when people go too far. Everything from the look, the cast, & the overall production made you forget it was a low budget movie. The isolated setting was like another character in this. This is a great example of where quality over quantity is used right.