claudio_carvalho Reviews

Finding Forrester (2000)

A Beautiful Film about Friendship

[9/10 · 24 March 2025]

In Bronx, New York, Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) is a sixteen-year-old teenager that enjoys playing basketball with his friends and although being a brilliant student, does not care much about school. A man known as "Window" watches their games and there are urban legends about him. One day, Jamal's friends dare that he visits the man, and he breaks into his apartment using the fire escape ladder of his building. However, he is surprised by the man and flees, leaving his backpack behind in the apartment. A couple of days later, the man throws off his backpack through the window when Jamal is crossing the street, correcting Jamal's writings in his notebooks. Jamal asks the man to read his writings, but the man demands that he writes 5,000 words saying why he should not enter his home again in the beginning of their friendship. Meanwhile, the prestigious private school Mailor-Callow offers a scholarship to Jamal since he is an excellent basketball player and has high grades. Soon Jamal also learns that the reclusive man that is tutoring him is the famous writer William Forrester (Sean Connery) from Scotland, who wrote one novel and vanished, and promises him never to say that knows him. Jamal befriends the wealthy Claire (Anna Paquin) and has a friction with his English teacher Robert Crawford (F. Murray Abraham), who immediately harasses him and accuses Jamal of plagiarism. Now he is threatened with being expelled from the school.

"Finding Forrester" (2000) is a beautiful film about friendship between an old man and a teenage boy through the books and writings. The plot is engaging from the very beginning, with excellent work of the cast. Director Gus Van Sant is also sharp in his direction. This film also introduces Rob Brown, who wanted to moonlight to pay his telephone bill and ended up as the protagonist of the film with an excellent performance in the role of Jamal Wallace. It is also great to see that this movie has not aged after twenty-five years. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Encontrando Forrester" ("Finding Forrester")

Breaking Bad: Phoenix (2009) Season 2, Episode 12

Deliveries, Website and OD

[9/10 · 23 March 2025]

Walt concludes his business and delivers his meth, receiving 1.2 million dollars, but loses the delivery of his daughter Holly. When he goes to the hospital, he meets Mary, Skyler and the baby. Meanwhile Jesse and Jane are using heroin and when he wakes up and does not find the meth in the kitchen, he believes he was robbed. He calls Walt but he does not give any explanation to him. Walt has a serious problem since he has money but cannot spend it since everybody from his family believes he is broken. Walt Jr. Builds a website to collect donations for Walt's treatment and Saul Goodman sees the solution to laundry his money. Walt holds Jesse's money ordering him to go to rehab first; otherwise, he will spend his money in drugs. When Donald discovers that his daughter is using drugs again with Jesse, he calls the police, but she promises to go to rehab on the next morning. Jesse tells her that Walt has to give him his share of US$ 480,000, and she calls Walt and blackmails him.

"Phoenix" is one of the best episodes of "Breaking Bad", with many happenings. Walts succeeds in delivering his meth, but now he has money but cannot use it since his family believes he is broken. Jesse is using heavy drugs with Jene, heroine, and she becomes a danger to the safety of Walt. However, destiny seems to have given a chance to Walt. The crook Saul Goodman seems to have found a solution to Walt for using his money now that Gretchen and Elliot Schwarz cannot be used again. Looking forward to seeing how Donal will react to what happened to his daughter. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Phoenix"

Wildling (2018)

Be Careful with the Wildling

[7/10 · 23 March 2025]

The girl Anna spends her life since she was a baby locked in the attic of her house in the woods. Her only human contact is with Daddy (Brad Dourif), her only contact with the exterior world is through a small window and she is raised fearing the monster Wildling. When she becomes a teenager and has her first period, Daddy gives shots of hormones on her belly to prevent her coming of age. One day, Daddy commits suicide, shooting his own head. Sheriff Ellen Cooper (Liv Tyler) finds Anna (Bel Powley), and temporarily brings her home, where she lives with her younger brother Ray Cooper (Collin Kelly-Sordelet), while waiting for DNA results to know whether Daddy, a.k.a. Gabriel "Gabe" Hanson, is her father. Anna has a normal teenage life, going to school with Ray and befriending other girls. When Anna goes to a party with Ray, she notes that her teeth and her body are changing, and she sneaks out the house to the woods. The bully Lawrence Fowler (Mike Faist) follows Anna and tries to rape her, but she kills him with her nails. Meanwhile, Ellen receives the DNA results and sees that Gabe is not her father. Who is Anna?

"Wildling" is a different horror movie, with a dramatic story of a girl that lives isolated from the world until her adolescence. The director and the cast Make a great work, despite a huge flaw in the plot. Why Daddy did not kill Anna, but tried to commit suicide instead? Maybe because of his affection for her. But why does he hunt her down later with other men, setting fire on the forest? Why did Deputy Roger Fowler not kill her in the jail? Then he threatens Ellen in the woods with a rifle. It seems incoherent to me. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Selvagem" ("Wild")

Chime (2024)

Dull and Pointless

[1/10 · 22 March 2025]

There are movies that should have never been made, and "Chime" (2024) is one of them. I do not know how producers spend their money in a garbage like that. I usually like to write a small summary of the flick in my review, but the use thebogofeternalstench wrote one named "Utter garbage" that perfectly describes this crap, and I do not dare to write mine. The good point is the running time of only 45 minutes, the best that this movie offers to the viewers. Why is it so overrated in IMDb is the greatest question about this movie? Payola? Probably. Or maybe friends of director/writer, cast and crew wishing to promote this garbage. Last but not the least, the director's last name is disrespectful to the great Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. My vote is one (awful).

Title (Brazil): Not Available.

Breaking Bad: Mandala (2009) Season 2, Episode 11

Never Trust a Drug Addicted

[8/10 · 21 March 2025]

When Combo is shot to death at the new territory he is working. Skinny Pete quits his position as a dealer. Meanwhile, Dr. Delcavoli introduces the surgeon Dr. Victor Bravenec to Walt and Skyler, and he says that the surgery must be carried out in a few weeks since Walt has improved his condition. He estimates the cost is between US$ 170,000 and US$ 200,000. But now Walt and Jesse need to find a means to distribute their meth. Their new partner Saul says that they need someone that buys in bulk and contacts a person that knows another person who knows a cautious distributor. Walt and Jesse go to the Pollo diner, but the man does not contact them. Meanwhile, Skyler finds embezzlement in the balance sheets and discusses with her boss Ted Beneke. Jane, who was recovering from drug addiction, falls again in the addition.

"Mandala" is a great episode of "Breaking Bad", with a scary beginning when a boy shots Combo several times. Poor Jane, returning to the addiction to heavy drugs. Gus Fring teaches a lesson to Walt, when he says "never trust a drug addicted". Skyler will finally have a baby. Looking forward to seeing what will happen in the next episode. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Mandala"

Till Death (I) (2021)

A Conventional Thriller with Nothing Special

[5/10 · 21 March 2025]

In New York, Emma Davenport (Megan Fox) breaks up her relationship with her Afro-American lover Tom (Aml Ameen) in a hotel room. Then she meets her controlling husband Mark (Eoin Macken) at his office in his law firm where Tom works, and he invites her to have dinner with him since it is their marriage anniversary. Emma met Mark when she was attacked by the criminal Bobby Ray (Callan Mulvey), who lost his left eye when Emma hit his eye with the car key and is in prison for many years. After dinner, Mark blindfolds Emma and heads to their isolated house in the countryside and they have a night of sex. On the next morning, Emma wakes up hand cuffed to Mark, and he commits suicide, shooting his head. Emma seeks her cellphone, but she finds it was trashed by him. She also looks for a knife or a tool to get rid of his body, but Mark removed everything from the house. Further, he drained the gas from the tank of his car. Out of the blue, Tom arrives at the house since Mark sent a message to him as if he were Emma. Suddenly, a truck arrives with Bobby and his younger brother Jimmy (Jack Roth), in the beginning of a cat and mouse game with Emma.

"Till Death" (2021) is a conventional thriller with nothing special but an unlikely story. In addition, there are many stupidities from Emma. Why didn't she break a picture from the wall and use the glass to severe Mark's hand instead of dragging his body everywhere. She has a chance to escape driving her car but hits it instead. The final pursuit on the frozen lake is ridiculous. The hot Megan Fox having a love affair with Aml Ameen is also hard to believe. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Até a Morte: Sobreviver é a Melhor Vingança" ("Till Death: Survival is the Best Revenge")

Good Will Hunting (1997)

A Troublemaker Genius

[9/10 · 21 March 2025]

In the South of Boston, the orphan Will Hunting (Matt Damon) lives at a derelict house, works in the MIT as a janitor and spends his leisure time with his friends Chuckie (Ben Affleck), Morgan (Casey Affleck) and Billy (Cole Hauser). They are troublemakers that love to drink and fight. When the famous Professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård) posts a difficult mathematics problem on the notice board to challenge his students, Will resolves the problem. Lambeau and his assistant Tom (John Mighton) post another problem and see Will resolving it, but he flees when they approach him. Meanwhile, the British student from Havard Skylar (Minnie Driver) at a bar and she is fascinated by him. When Will and his friend fight a rival gang in the street, they fight, and Will is arrested. Professor Lambeau, who is looking for his whereabouts, goes to court and the judge agrees to release Will from prison provided he works with Lambeau and is submitted to therapy. Will is sent to five psychiatrics that give up on him. Until Lambeau decides to take him to his former roommate and friend Sean Maguire (Robin Williams).

"Good Will Hunting" (1997) is a great movie directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck about a troublemaker genius. The plot is engaging from the very beginning, never boring and with magnificent performances, highlighting Robin William in the role of a free spirit shrink. The story is dramatic, romantic and funny moments and is one of the best works by Gus Van Sant. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Gênio Indomável" ("Untamable Genius")

Breaking Bad: Over (2009) Season 2, Episode 10

The Celebration Party

[7/10 · 20 March 2025]

Skyler decides to invite her friends to celebrate the improvement of Walt's health, and she thanks the friends and particularly Gretchen and Elliot Schartz for paying Walt's treatment. Walt gets drunken and forces Walt Jr. To drink tequila, despite Hank's advice. Then he meets Jesse and tells him the news. Walt apologizes to Hank later and decides to fix his house, buying a new boiler and replacing rotten pieces of wood. Jane receives her father Donald at home and treats Jesse in a cold way. Later she says that it was for his own protection.

"Over" is a filler episode of "Breaking Bad". Walt's stupid attitude towards his son and finding competition at the supermarket and saying that it is his territory are the only moments to highlight. The rest is not worthwhile to be mentioned or commented. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Over"

Last Known Location (2024)

A Great Thriller

[7/10 · 20 March 2025]

In Philadelphia, the lesbian English tutor Callie Holloway (Aimee Theresa) is kidnapped while jogging, locked in the basement of a house and forced to have intercourses with the abductor. A couple of months later, the psychologist Danay Edwards (Sophia Lucia Parola) is also kidnapped by the same man and forced to the same conditions as Callie. Philadelphia PD Detectives Theresa Dellassandro (Jamie Kerezsi) and Marcus Bridgeman (Dax Richardson) are investigating the cases and trying to find anything in common. When the bartender Marly Collum (Jennifer M. Kay) is also kidnapped by the man while going home, her new boyfriend Keith Bradberry (Patrick Hickman) reports her disappearance to the police and is interviewed by Dellassandro and Bridgeman that believe he may be a suspect. But soon a parking ticket provides a clue to be followed by them. Meanwhile, the women are raped every day by the maniac.

"Last Known Location" (2024) is a surprisingly great thriller not available in Brazil. The screenplay is tense and anguishing, with the three women submitted to humiliating conditions and abuses. The plot point is not expected and shows how insane the brothers were. The conclusion with a happy ending is unusual, but refreshing, in this type of story. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): Not Available.

Breaking Bad: 4 Days Out (2009) Season 2, Episode 9

Stranded in the Desert

[8/10 · 19 March 2025]

Walt has coughs with blood and believes he will die soon. He meets Saul Goodman and tells him that he has only sixteen thousand dollars of dirty money. They conclude that is not enough money for his family. Walt lures Skyler, telling her that he will spend four days visiting his mother, but goes with Jesse to the desert to cook a large quantity of meth instead. However, Jesse leaves the RV key in the ignition and drains the battery. Stranded in the desert, Jesse accidentally burns the portable generator to the ashes, dropping gasoline on it. He uses their water to extinguish the fire, instead of using the fire extinguisher. Now Walt needs to use his knowledge of chemistry to load the battery to start their van. Later Walt and his family visits Dr. Delcavoli, who has analyzed the results of his exams.

"4 Days Out" is a tragicomic episode of "Breaking Bad". Jesse lack of instruction and ignorance make them stranded in the desert, draining the battery of the RV and using the only available water to extinguish the fire in the generator. Walt learns how his health is and becomes angry, maybe because he turned into a drug dealer. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "4 Days Out"

No One Gets Out Alive (2021)

Atmospheric and Disappointing

[5/10 · 19 March 2025]

In 1963, archeologists find a mysterious stone box while digging in Mexico. On the present days, in Cleveland, the illegal Mexican immigrant Ambar (Cristina Rodlo) decides to live there when her mother dies. She finds a job sewing in an illegal factory and looks for a cheap place to live. He discovers a derelict boarding house for women owned by Red (Marc Menchaca), who asks her for one month deposit paid in advance. He says that he is renovating the place and there are only Freja (Vala Noren) and she living in the house so far. During the night, Ambar overhears noises and screaming from her room and has nightmares with a box. Soon she sees a weird man hitting his head against a door. One the other day, Red says that he is his mentally ill brother Becker (David Figlioli). Ambar needs a Texas ID to get a better job with her mother's cousin Beto (David Barrera) and her co-worker Kinski (Cheherezade Valentine Okotaka-Ebale) offers to get one for her. She gives all her money to Kinski that quits the job and disappears. When she asks Kinski's address to her boss, he fires her. Ambar is scared when she sees ghosts in her room and flees the house during the night. Without any money, she asks Red to meet her in a diner and deliver her deposit. He tells her that the money is in the boarding house, and she goes with him back to the house. But soon she finds out who Becker and Red are.

"No One Gets Out Alive" (2021) is an atmospheric and disappointing supernatural horror movie by Netflix. The cinematography is moody, and the storyline is promising until its half. However, the writers badly fail since they do not provide enough explanation about the stone box and the monster inside. In addition, there are several ghosts in the house capable of physical manifestation that do nothing to stop Red and Becker. Last but not the least, Ambar is left alone, without money in a foreign country, his relative Beto is murdered in a house with a monster. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): Ninguém Sai Vivo" ("No One Gets Out Alive")

My Own Private Idaho (1991)

Dull and Pointless

[2/10 · 19 March 2025]

In Portland, the bisexual Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a young man from Idaho who suffers from narcolepsy and survives working as a hustler on the street. He befriends the also bisexual hustler Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves), who is the son of the wealthy Jack Favor (Tom Troupe). He is waiting to be twenty-one years old to inherit a large amount. His mentor is the old rascal Bob Pigeon (William Richert) and Scott says that he loves him more than his own father. Mike is needy and wants to find his mother. He decides to visit his brother Richard "Dick" Waters (James Russo) in Idaho and Sick says that his mother is working Scott travels with him by motorcycle. Dick says that his mother is working as a maid in a hotel. However, the manager tells him that she traveled to Italy. Now the friends will travel to Rome, where their friendship will be affected.

"My Own Private Idaho" (1991) is a dull and pointless movie by Gus Van Sant. Using a theme similar to "Midnight Cowboy", with hustlers surviving on the streets, the approach is shallow differently from the timeless film by John Schlesinger. The acting is good, but the screenplay and the storyline are not good. My vote is two.

Title (Brazil): "Garotos de Preograma" ("Hustlers")

Unwelcome (2022)

Strange but Worthwhile Watching

[6/10 · 19 March 2025]

In London, Maya (Hannah John-Kamen) learns that she is pregnant, and her husband Jamie (Douglas Booth) goes to the grocery store to buy champagne to celebrate the pregnancy. However, three scums break into their apartment and beat them. Meanwhile, Jamie's aunt Maeve dies in the countryside of Ireland, and he inherits her house. Jamie and Maya decide to move to the house to have a peaceful life in the countryside. On the arrival, his cousin Niamh (Niamh Cusack) warns them that they should provide a bloody lever every day to the far darrigs, a.k.a. Redcaps, that live in the forest, but she could do it. Maya says that she would take care of the assignment. They see that the house needs some renovation, mostly a hole on the roof, and Niamh provides a list of constructors for them. However, they are all busy and the couple decides to hire "Daddy" Whelan (Colm Meaney), who has an advertisement on the road. On the next morning, he arrives with his crew, formed by his sons Killian Whelan (Chris Walley), the slow Eoin Whelan (Kristian Nairn), and his daughter Aisling Whelan (Jamie-Lee O'Donnell), when the problems of the young couple begin. When Maya sees the little creature far darrig, their problems increase, but Jamie does not believe in Maya.

"Unwelcome" (2022) is not a bad movie but could be great. The plot is strange but worthwhile watching. But there are characters unbearable that could be improved. The loser Jamie is one of them, who acts like a bully but is a shameful coward. His behavior could have been easily changed by the writers since she is unlikable. The Whelan family is cheeky, thief and disrespectful. Who would keep this type of people at home after seeing their behavior? Maya heard about the far darrigs from Niamh, but Maya enters the forest alone and asks them for help. The movie is flawed at least in this point and there is no explanation why Maya is considered their mother. The little creatures are a little silly but acceptable. I am not sure that young people in Ireland known this legend. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): Not Available.

Breaking Bad: Better Call Saul (2009) Season 2, Episode 8

The Lawyer

[8/10 · 19 March 2025]

While selling drugs, Badger is lured by Albuquerque police detective Getz and arrested by the police. Hank and his right hand in DEA Steven Gomez become interested in Badger since he is in possession of the pure blue meth and may have information about Heisenberger. Badger hires the criminal lawyer Saul Goodman and Walt goes to his office to pay his fees. However, Saul explains that Badger will be sent to prison, unless he denounces his supplier. Walt offers ten thousand dollars to Saul to release Badger without the denouncement, but the lawyer does not accept the deal. Now Jesse and Walt meet the lawyer with a different proposal, and he gives an alternative arrangement that ill cost eighty thousand dollars to them. Marie calls Skyler, but Walt answers the phone call. He learns that Hank is suffering from post-traumatic stress after the incident in Juares and Walt gives some advice to him.

"Better Call Saul" is an episode of "Breaking Bad" where the shady lawyer Saul Goodman is introduced and apparently will be part of the show. Walt poses as a badass but is naive and easily found by a private eye that works for Saul. Jane and Jesse are understanding each other very well. Hank apparently does not buy that Jimmy in-'N-Out is Badger's supplier. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Better Call Saul"

I'm Still Here (2024)

Indicated for Brazilian Idiots Who Praise but Do not Know What a Military Dictatorship Is

[10/10 · 19 March 2025]

In 1971, in Rio de Janeiro, the former congressman Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello) is a family man and engineer, who lives with his wife Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres) and their five children at Avenida Delfim Moreira, in front of the Leblon Beach. One afternoon, several men arrive at home and ask him to go with them to a "deposition" to the authorities while three of them stay with his family. Then they take Eunice and her teenage daughter Eliana with hoods to give a statement at an unknown place. Eunice remains arrested for several days while listening to the torture of other people. She returns home, move with her family to São Paulo and never see her husband again.

On 01st April 1964, the USA promoted a coup d'etat and military dictatorship in Brazil and trained military and police officers in torture. The beginning of the 70's was the cruelest period of this regime. Eunice Paiva is an example of a resilient woman fighting to disclose the truth and justice for her missing husband, whose corpse was never found and the responsible people never punished. The film is an adaptation of a book written by her son Marcelo and magnificently directed by Walter Salles. In 1985, democracy returned and now we live in a democratic country with corrupt politicians and presidents. I believe director Costa-Gavras would be proud to see this movie, highly indicated for Brazilian idiots that praise military dictatorship. "Anora" and the nudist Mikey Madison Oscar winners? Shame on you, "professional" critics! My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Ainda Estou Aqui" ("I Am Still Here")

Woman of the Hour (2023)

Based on a True Story of a Serial-Killer

[7/10 · 19 March 2025]

In 1978, in Los Angeles Sheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick) is an aspirant actress going to auditions but getting no role. He agent suggests her to go to the shallow TV show "The Dating Game" to be seen and known by the audience. She needs to ask questions to three bachelor candidates to select one to date and travel for a weekend to Carmel, California. However, candidate number three is the photographer Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), a serial-killer that has been killing women since 1971. One member of the studio audience, Laura (Nicolette Robinson), recognizes Rodney, but neither her boyfriend nor the security guard give attention to her claim. She tries to warn Sheryl, who selects Rodney as her date. What will happen to Sheryl?

"Woman of the Hour" (2023) is the magnificent directorial debut of Anna Kendrick, with a plot based on a true story of a serial-killer in the 70's. The non-linear screenplay shows a few known murders by Rodney Alcala. His criminal "career" is described in the Wikipedia for those that want to learn more about him. Anna Kendrick has also a great performance in the role of a woman that escaped from the claws of Rodney. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Garota da Vez" ("The Girl Next in Line")

Breaking Bad: Negro y Azul (2009) Season 2, Episode 7

Expanding Business

[7/10 · 16 March 2025]

Based on the dreadful murder of Spooge, Jesse is traumatized at home without contacting Walt. He visits Jesse, who is recovering from the experience, and refuses to distribute meth to his dealers Badger, Skinny Pete and Combo. Walt delivers the drug to the trio and learns that there is a rumor that Jesse killed Spooge and his reputation on the streets is that he is a badass killer. Walt believes they may expand their business based on Jesse's reputation. Meanwhile, Skyler looks for a job at the company she worked for and meets the son of her employer that hires her. Hank is having problems with his team since he does not speak Spanish, and his former behavior is not convincing his new colleagues. When he goes to the field with them, he learns how dangerous his new assignment is.

"Negro y Azul" is another good episode of "Breaking Bad". The greedy Walt now decides to expand the drug dealing business since Jesse is feared at the streets. Skyler retrieves her old job in the accountability department as bookkeeper thanks to Ted Beneke. Hank sees how dangerous the cartel is with the bobby trap using Tortuga's head on a turtle. The beautiful Jane is attracted by Jesse. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Negro y Azul"

The New Mutants (2020)

Terrible Storyline and Screenplay

[5/10 · 16 March 2025]

In a Cheyenne Reservation, Danielle "Dani" Moonstar (Blu Hunt) is the only survivor of a tornado. She wakes up at a facility administrated by Dr. Cecilia Reyes (Alice Braga), who explains to Dani that the place is intended to keep them safe and capable to control their powers. She is introduced to the amicable Rahne Sinclair (Maisie Williams); who is capable to turn into a wolf; to the obnoxious Illyana Rasputin (Anya Taylor-Joy), who is a killer capable of teletransportation; Sam Guthrie (Charlie Heaton), who has high-speed; and Roberto da Costa (Henry Zaga), who is capable to overheat. However, the power of Dani has not been manifested yet. She learns that the facility is enclosed in a dome created by Dr. Reyes that they cannot cross. Out of the blue, the traumas of the youngsters are turned into dangerous nightmarish daydreams: Rahne with the abusive priest she killed; Illyana with the men that sexually abused her; Sam with the mine where he accidentally killed his father and other miners; and Roberto with his girlfriend he burned to death. Soon they learn what the real intention of Dr. Reyes and the Essex Corporation is and the power of Dani.

"The New Mutants" (2020) is a disappointing movie with a terrible storyline and screenplay. The characters are interesting, it is great to see Maisie "Arya" Williams, the Brazilian Alice Braga and the great Anya Taylor-Joy, but the plot is too silly and weak. In addition, there is an unnecessary lesbian scene between Rahne and Dani totally out of context. The producers probably saved budget with poor quality writers. However, the special effects are good but wasted in a poor story. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Os Novos Mutantes" ("The New Mutants")

The Puppetman (2023)

The Cult of Dolos

[6/10 · 16 March 2025]

Michal (Alyson Gorske) is a traumatized young woman who shares her room with her best friend Charlie (Angel Prater). Her father, known as The Puppetman Killer, stabbed her mother to death when she was a girl. Although claiming that he did not kill his wife since he was possessed by an entity, her father will finally be executed by lethal injection. When Charlie hears a podcast recalling The Puppetman Case, Michal is affected by the news. Michal is also a sleepwalker and Charlie secretly films her and keeps the footages in her computer. Michal confides Charlie details of her personal life, when she lived in fosters homes, and how her abusive father committed suicide. During their vacation, they join with their friends Danny (Kio Cyr), who has a crush on Michal; Glenn (Cameron Wong), who uses asteroids to build his body; and Joanna "Jo-Jo" (Anna Telfer), who is a smoker; on the roof to drink since they are alone at the college. Out of the blue, Glenn discloses secrets about Michal's personal life and she becomes angry with Charlie, who promised to keep secret about her life. Suddenly, Charlie loses control of her body and jumps off the roof, dying on the sidewalk. Detective Al Caryn (Michael Paré) interviews the youngsters and concludes it was an accident. But soon the clairvoyant Ruby (Caryn Richman), who was Charlie's friend, contacts Michal and her friends to make a séance since they are all in danger.

"The Puppetman" (2023) is another good movie by Shudder, with the story of a young woman possessed by a devilish entity. Her father explains how his wife and he summoned the devilish entity Dolos in accordance with "The Cult of Dolos" book and how the innocent Michaela was affected by their ceremony. The film does not explain why the entity Dolos was calm down inside Michal but when Dolos awakes, it begins a crime spree, killing her friends. The conclusion shows that Dolos has not left Marion's body. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): Not Avaliable.

Breaking Bad: Peekaboo (2009) Season 2, Episode 6

The Enforcer and the Liar

[9/10 · 15 March 2025]

Jesse finds the whereabouts of the drugged couple that stole the meth from Skinny Pete and goes to the derelict house where they live. However, he stumbles upon a dirty and starving young boy that is the son of the woman. He gives some food to the boy and plays with him. When the couple arrives, Jesse subdues them with his revolver and the man, Spooge, proposes to pay him after opening an ATM that he has stolen. Meanwhile, Walt returns to high-school and Skyler receives a phone call from Gretchen Schwartz. She thanks her friend for paying for Walt's treatment and invites Gretchen to visit her. Gretchen visits Skyler and then Walt meets her at a restaurant where their past is partially disclosed.

"Peekaboo" is one of the best episodes of "Breaking Bad", especially the segment relative to Jesse. Poor boy, living in that condition with a drug-addicted "mother". This part of the show is very sad, but Jesse treats the boy in a surprising way. In Walt's segment, Skyler forces him to tell one more lie. Gretchen's Bentley is amazingly beautiful. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Peekaboo"

Birth/Rebirth (2023)

The Reanimator

[7/10 · 15 March 2025]

In New York City, the nurse Celie Morales (Judy Reyes) is a hard worker since she is a single mother that loves her five-year-old daughter Lila (A. J. Lister). The pathologist Dr. Rose Casper (Marin Ireland) is a weird workaholic, who spends time with corpses and masturbates men in the bathroom to collect sperm material to impregnate herself to collect material for her research. One day, Lila is not feeling well, and Celie leaves the girl with her next-door neighbor and friend Pauline (Rina Mejia), Celie accidentally drops her cellphone in the toilet bowl and does not acknowledge Pauline messages along the day. When she arrives home in the night, she learns that Lila is hospitalized and she rushes to the hospital, where she learns Lila had meningitis and died. She goes to the hospital morgue, where she meets Dr. Casper that tells her that Lila's body went to the city morgue that is closed. After the weekend, Celie tries to see the body of her daughter, but she is not at the city morgue. She goes to Dr. Casper's house, breaks into it and sees Lila alive. She learns that Rose is researching reanimation of dead people using a pig and Lila is the perfect human specimen for her experiment. They team up to keep Lila alive, and Celie moves to Rose's home and brings material from the hospital. One day, Rose collapses at the hospital with an infection and loses her womb. Now the only person compatible with Lila is the pregnant patient Emily (Breeda Wool) and Celie collects material for her. But when Emily decides to move to deliver in another hospital, Celie becomes desperate.

"Birth/Rebirth" (2023) is another great film by Shudder, with the storyline that recalls the cult "The Re-Animator" (1985). The plot is more dramatic and not trash but well developed. The performances of the lead actresses are outstanding, and the open end is the only dark humor in the film. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "(Re)Nascer" ("(Re)Birth")

Beware! The Blob (1972)

Lame, Stupid, Amateurish Sequel of a Cult Movie

[3/10 · 14 March 2025]

The oil pipeline worker Chester Hargis (Godfrey Cambridge) brings a small container with a frozen specimen of the Blob from the North Pole to be analyzed by his company. He leaves in the freezer of his house, but his wife Mariane (Marlene Clark) forgets the container on the kitchen sink, defrosting the Blob that eats a fly, the cat Samuel and Mariane. When it grows and while eating Chester, the youngster Lisa Clark (Gwynne Gilford) sees and drives to the house of her boyfriend Bobby Hartford (Robert Walker) seeking help. Sheriff Jones (Richard Webb) does not believe in her and says that she is high. But soon the creature grows and eats several people, including a police officer, two youngsters, a barber, his client Sheriff Jones and his officers believe there is a hysteria, but when the Blob invades a bowling, they see how serious the problem is.

"Beware! The Blob" (1972) is a lame, stupid, amateurish sequel of the cult "The Blob" (1958). The plot is unfunny; the acting is poor; the cinematography and the special effects are awful; there are obnoxious and stupid characters. The screenplay does not develop the one-dimensional characters that appears just to be eaten by the Blob. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): Not Available.

Breaking Bad: Breakage (2009) Season 2, Episode 5

Production, Distribution and Breakage

[8/10 · 14 March 2025]

Walt is getting better in accordance with his doctor, but his and Skyler's medical bills scare him. Meanwhile, Jesse pays his debts with Badgers cousin Clovis that increases the value to a large amount and finds a new house to live in, renting from Jane Margolis, who lives next door. Soon Walt and Jess cook meth again in the RV but Jesse is in charge of the distribution through his friends Badger, Skinny Pete and Combo. When Skinny Pete is lured and robbed by a client, Jesse shares the loss with Walt that becomes angry, but Jesse gives an economic lesson to him. Meanwhile Hank is promoted in the DEA, but he is not feeling well and seems to have health problems.

"Breakage" is another interesting episode of "Breaking Bad", where Walt and Jesse decide to produce and distribute meth. It is funny how we viewers cheer for drug dealers in this series, instead of for police officers. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Breakage"

Spiderhead (2022)

Promising Beginning, Disappointing Development

[5/10 · 14 March 2025]

In the near future, prisoners have an option to serve as guinea pigs at the Spiderhead penitentiary, where they are free to move inside and have comfortable cells. The most important, their sentences are reduced provided they volunteer to the tests. The facility is administrated by Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth) and his assistant Mark (Mark Paguio), who are also the ministrants of the experimental drugs in the inmates. Jeff (Miles Teller), who is serving for killing a friend while driving intoxicated, tests the love drug N-40 and has sex with the inmates Heather (Tess Haubrich) and Sarah (Angie Milliken). Then Steve asks who he loves, and he says none, and Steve asks him to choose who will use the feared Darkenfloxx, a drug that inflicts fear and pain to the user, but Jeff chooses none of them. On the next day, Steve brings Jeff to his room and gives Darkenfloxx to Heather, who commits suicide. While running to help her, Steve drops his keys on the floor and Jeff opens the drawer of his desk. He accesses his book of notes and learns a secret about Steve and Spiderhead. What will happen next?

"Spiderhead" (2022) is Netflix movie with a promising beginning, but with disappointing development. The situation of Spiderhead disclosed in the ending of the plot is absolutely implausible to happen. Chris Hemsworth as a scientist is funny to see. Maybe his assistant Mark could have been performed by Jason Statham (LOL). My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Spiderhead"

The Terminators (2009 Video)

This Is Really a Very Bad Movie

[2/10 · 13 March 2025]

An army of TR-4 androids are reprogramed at the Control Station Ellison and attack major towns in the United States. In Winston, a group of survivors are saved by Kurt Ross (Jeremy London), who worked at Ellison and programed several TR-5 androids. Now they need to go to Ellison to stop the annihilation of the American people.

When I saw IMDb User Rating of 2.1 and glanced at a couple of reviews, I decided to see this flick to confirm whether they were real. Unfortunately, they are, and "Terminators" is really a very bad movie. The screenplay is awful, with undeveloped characters and no explanation of what is happening. Most of the survivors are unlikable characters but Bronson is the worst. People insist to shoot the TR-4s that are not affected by bullets. Chloe and Tiffany do not clean the blood on their faces, what is ridiculous. The way to stop the TR-4s with a huge on off switch without any protection at the control station is hilarious. My vote is two.

Title (Brazil): "Terminators"