What's not to love? Josh Hutcherson invests the protagonist Mike with true heart, so that you actually care what happens to him and his little sister Abby. The story keeps you invested from the first frame. This movie is effectively creepy with just the right amount of dread, dark humor, and ghost story. Five Nights at Freddy's gets the animatronics right, seriously impressive! One of my pet peeves is when the movie screen gets so dark you can't really see what's going on but this film gets the darker scenes right by clearly displaying the fright. I appreciate that FNAF manages to appease its fan base whilst making itself appealing to us newbies. This is your perfect little Halloween thrill, so enjoy.
Reviews
12 Reviews
No One Will Save You
(2023)
Our Future is Cottagecore
3 October 2023
Are you looking for a spooky movie to watch in the dark this October? Look no further than No One Will Save You! The best way for me to describe it is Cottagecore meets Steven Spielberg meets Arrival by way of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I loved this film and am already excited to see it again! Kaitlyn Dever is brilliant from opening to closing scene. You really can't take your eyes off of her. She has been a favorite of mine since Justified. She plays all of her characters with an authentic grace and her Brynn is heartbreakingly real. The cottagecore aesthetic is on grand display throughout the entire movie. It doesn't take long for the circuit breaker to go off in the film signaling to the audience that we aren't in Kansas anymore...enjoy the experience!
The Out-Laws
(2023)
Cute Idea Undercut by Unnecessary Crudeness
7 July 2023
This movie has a whole lot going for it not the least of which is the terrific cast! Cute couple, cute story, cute idea all undercut and undermined by unnecessary crudeness. I get that you might not want cuteness overload but maybe know your audience before peppering your movie full of repeated sexualized dialogue. Biggest disappointment? Three of the female characters are hypersexualized for no other apparent reason than someone thought it was funny but who? Two other female characters are highly underutilized. It is always frustrating when you can see what the film has going for it only to realize that a director or a producer or a screenwriter (or perhaps all three) felt the need to sabotage their work by using vulgarity as a replacement for comedy.
Do Revenge
(2022)
Not So Clueless Mean Girls Meets Hitchcock
17 September 2022
From the opening frame hearing the voiceover I was all in, start to finish, and then repeat for the sheer bliss of it! This is a very clever update of Strangers on a Train. I have been waiting for this candy colored Hitchcockian homage most of my adult life. Camila Mendes is cotton candy perfection as the complicated, driven Drea. Maya Hawke brings Stranger Things danger to Eleanor who has the best emotional support "animal" ever. Please to meet you Oscar Winner Olivia Colman! Austin Abrams relentless smolder is coiled, then released as Max the most popular person on campus! Let's Do Revenge!!!
8-Bit Christmas
(2021)
More Like 2-Bit...
12 December 2021
I was really looking forward to this movie but I ended up very disappointed! A rough rehashing of A Christmas Story that keeps missing the mark at every turn. There is a sentimental story here of fathers relationships with their children and their everlasting bonds but it is unfortunately overshadowed with crude humor and dull storytelling.
Dopesick
(2021)
Feeling No Pain
16 October 2021
I'm not going to lie...Dopesick is hard to watch. A disgustingly rich family who wants to get even more disgustingly rich preys on hardworking blue collar workers (and the doctors who treat them) with lies and deception over the pretense of alleviating pain to improve quality of life. A real life example of Big Pharma doing literally anything for their financial bottom line, no matter the cost to the unsuspecting public, by manipulating the facts to suit their twisted end game!
Jungle Cruise
(2021)
When Indy Met the Skipper!
31 July 2021
Take some Indiana Jones, mix in some Pirates of the Caribbean, add a large dose of The African Queen, throw in a dash of Dr. Doolittle and you get your own private Jungle Cruise! Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt bring the charm as Frank the Skipper and Dr. Lily. I enjoyed the adventure!
House Arrest
(I) (2012)
B Movie A Heart
26 July 2021
This is a B movie. The direction, sound, editing, writing, and a few of the supporting players leave something to be desired but House Arrest has a whole lot of heart. Stacey
Dash is charming and sincere as Chanel. I found myself rooting for her to get her happy ending!
Burning
(2018)
Cinematic Slow-burn
27 May 2019
If you are itching for a cinematic slow-burn then I highly recommend Burning. This Korean mystery, directed by Chang-dong Lee, and starring Ah-in Yoo, Steven Yeun, and Jong-seo Jun is spellbinding. I suggest you go on this journey as unprepared as I was, so that the truth of it will reveal itself to you in all of its pain and glory...
See You Yesterday
(2019)
Time Travel in Ten Minutes
18 May 2019
This well written, superbly acted time travel flick is quite magical whilst still holding at least one foot firmly planted in reality. I was extremely impressed with Eden Duncan-Smith as a high school science prodigy, daughter, sister, and friend. She is a force to be reckoned with and I was quite wrapped up in this story. The time travel is explained and appears to only work in ten minute increments. That is not a whole lot of time in the era of Black Lives Matter to right injustices but that does not stop our two main protagonists from giving it their best shot. Now, can we talk about that ending?
Downward Dog
(2017)
Heaven = Downward Dog
24 June 2017
My happy place! I have watched the 6 episodes already released for viewing and each one was brilliant! I find myself have mini-marathons each week by watching the new episode and then re-watching it behind (in order) of the previously released episodes. I then have little Downward Dog parties with friends and family...I simply can not get enough of Martin. Samm Hodges is a delight voicing Martin and Ned is a natural actor. Allison Tolman brings Nan to life and you can clearly see why Martin is devoted to her. If there is a Heaven then Downward Dog is playing on an endless loop for all eternity...
The Dirties
(2013)
Low Budget Done Right
11 June 2014
I watched this film on the recommendation of my 16 year old son. I love the reality of it. I work in a high school and this director (who is also the star of the film) hits the high school vibe spot-on! All of the actors playing students look and act like teenagers (unlike most Hollywood films). The light tone turns dark soon enough with an unexpected twist. This is an extremely low budget film done right. Kudos to the bicycle scene filmed playing Lissie's Kid Cudi cover of Pursuit of Happiness. You should expect to see more films directed by Matt Johnson in the years to come. Overall this little gem is pretty impressive!
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