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Wednesday, May 30, 2018

[4.25/10] Feral (2018)

Feral (2018)

Quick Review: Basically a down- grade version of "The Descent", but set in the woods (so original), and even with similar looking monsters from the modern horror classic it's being obviously inspired by, whose familiar scenario also involves banal 'virus' tropes, "Feral" has few 'gory fun' encounters and also an okay acting from the leads, but all in all it's a cheesy entry into the 'creature feature' sub-genre that will not be remembered for anything, but its decent practical effects.

Monday, May 28, 2018

[6.00/10] In Darkness (2018)

In Darkness (2018)

Quick Review: Fairly slow moving and sluggishly-paced for the most part, if still quietly intriguing, soaked in enigmatic atmosphere, and led by Natalie Dormer's concincing central performance as the blind yet deeply confident crime scene 'wintess', "In Darkness" may take a lot of time to warm up and build the suspense, but it really succeeds in being an unpredictable mystery thriller with a few clever trick up its sleeve and some twists and turns, no one could see coming or anticipate.

Friday, May 25, 2018

[5.25/10] The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018)

The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018)

Quick Review: A very unnecessary sequel to a horror movie that wasn't particularly great, "The Strangers 2" adds little to nothing to the 'home invasion' genre with its hackneyed plot-line filled with familiar elements, whose by-the-numbers approach is masked by some typical slice-n-dice slasher gore-fest. Despite a decent cast and fairly watchable first half, the film descends into complete and utter absurdity as it progresses, with some eye-rolling results.

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

[3.75/10] Dark Crimes (2018)

Dark Crimes (2018)

Quick Review: Premiered at a film fest in Warsaw in 2016, but actually released in this year, "Dark Crimes" or more like "Dull Crimes" is one of the most mind-numbing and totally edgeless mystery thrillers in recent memory. Shot and set in Krakow, this lifeless bummer attempts to be nasty and twisted, but despite its dramatic potential, it ends up being tiresome as hell, due to the flimsy script, unpleasantly bleak tone, lack of suspense, and and Carrey's sub- par central performance.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

[6.00/10] Early Man (2018)

Early Man (2018)

Quick Review: Certainly not one of Aardman Animations' most polished achievements, but still fun, amusing and charming enough to keep you entertainined, "Early Man" is rather superficial in terms of story and at times a bit too goofy, and while the imagery is not necessarily stunning, the craftsmenship of the stop motion is hard to fault, and the execution effortless as always, which kind of compensates for the sheer lack of depth, substance, purpose, emotion and notable characters.

Sunday, May 20, 2018

[8.50/10] Deadpool 2 (2018)

Deadpool 2 (2018)

Quick Review: Sure, it doesn't feel as refreshingly raunchy and goofily anti-heroic as the first, but in terms of execution, action, and production, this sequel is bigger, badder, louder, and even nuttier. Delightfully violent, shamelessly cheeky, full of spot-on movie references, and tying with the X-Men universe in a funny manner, "Deadpool 2" is a blast of a "family" sequel that benefits from Raynold's obsession with the protagonist, the few smartly indefinite villains and the badass fresh additions.

Friday, May 18, 2018

[6.25/10] Overboard (2018)

Overboard (2018)

Quick Review: It's by no means a successful remake, even if it puts its own ttwist on the 1987 classic, but judged merely by itself, "Overboard" never really falls overboard in terms of cheesiness and humor, as what starts off as a supposed to be silly spoiled-wealthy-latino-gets-a-payoff caper, very smoothly grows into a family comedy with huge heart that, while hardly laugh-out-loud funny, is heartfelt, sweet, and amusing, and works thanks to Faris and Derbez's ever charming chemistry.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

[7.00/10] Revenge (2018)

Revenge (2018)

Quick Review: Don't get deceived by the generic title, as this feminist take on the vengance sub-genre is a rough kick in the balls -- brutal, violent, and bloody as hell, and led convinsingly by the super sexy and truly tempting, yet uncompromisingly harsh performance by Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, the set-in-the-moroccan-deserts "Revenge" is a tastefully-shot explotation thriller, whose fancy looks, thanks to the stylish use of colors, filters, and lighting, contrast with its ferocious nature.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

[4.00/10] Samson (2018)

Samson (2018)

Quick Review: Biblical epic about the legend of Samson -- the Hebrew version of Hercules -- that plays it like an ancient superhero fantasy flick rather than a proper historical action drama, "Samson" is a poorly executed film that feels fabricated, staged, and inauthentic from start to finish, not to mention how stiff most of the acting is, and how cheesy the use of CGI is. At least Taylor James possesses some charm as the title protagonist, and some of the fights are entertaining to watch.

Monday, May 14, 2018

[6.50/10] Psychokinesis (2018)

Psychokinesis (2018)

Quick Review: A mash-up between "Kung Fu Hustle" and "Chronicle", but without nifty martial arts fighting of the first, and the dark edge of the latter, this unusual superhero movie is a step or two below the director's previous effort "Train to Busan", but than again, "Psychokinesis" remains enjoyable, in spite of its emotional essence and the act of rebellion it concerns, especially during the third act, which excites with gravity-free smash-them-up action, and delights with cartoonish effects.

Thursday, May 10, 2018

[6.00/10] Primal Rage (2018)

Primal Rage (2018)

Quick Review: Not just another set -in-the-woods Big Foot horror flick, "Primal Rage" shows a new side of the mythical monster Sasquatch you have never seen, which makes it a breath of fresh air, and although the approach itself verges on ridiculous, it helps the film to work as much as a guts-and-gore-driven slasher, as it does as a macabre creature feature with two solid lead characters you actually care about. Surprisingly, the masked Big Foot is not the only creepy thing in the film.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

[4.50/10] Anon (2018)

Anon (2018)

Quick Review: Neither as clever as "Gattaca", nor as entertaining as "In Time", Niccol's latest sci-fi thriller is as slick on the outside as it's hollow within - heavily 'digitized' in concept, hard to follow, often confusing, and terribly lifeless, "Anon" suffers from an overthought plot, lack of vigor and thrills to keep you involved, and not even its two big name stars, who struggle with the dull script, and the stylishly bleak futuristic visuals can make up for the 'forced' originality and often lazy execution.

Saturday, May 5, 2018

[7.25/10] The Insult (2017)

The Insult (2017)

Quick Review: Following the act of an civic fight grown into a rebellious national racial, cultural, political and religious scandal in e truly gripping and thought-provoking manner, this Lebanese thriller about modern day 'pride and prejudice' in the Middle East is crafted with style, substance, and sense of credibility, and even though "The Insult" is much stronger in its first, more dynamic half, than in its second courtroom-driven one, it maintains the tension, and boasts with some briliant acting.

Friday, May 4, 2018

[5.25/10] Spinning Man (2018)

Spinning Man (2018)

Quick Review: A small town killing mystery heavy on credibility, but low on tension, "Spinning Man" boasts with great cast, therefore, spot-on acting, well-written dialogues, and a bluish-tinged cold tone that fits the film's nature, but "Spinning Man"'s familiar premise, lazy pace and lack of actual intrigue during the murder investigation take away from its big potential, not to mention the climax is so underwhelming, it brings the whole thing down to a level of 'and that's it' disappointment.

Thursday, May 3, 2018

[4.00/10] Scarecrows (2018)

Scarecrows (2018)

Quick Review: Every bit as generic as its title, this cheap horror movie turns out to be more of a set-in-the- corn-fields slasher than a "Jeeper Creepers"-like creature feature, and although "Scarecrows" has a one or two original ideas of its own and a couple of gore-filled torture scenes, the overly hackneyed 'reckless and dumb teens on vacation' scenario, the obnoxiously shallow characters you enjoy to see dying, and the lack of tension slash this one's chances to be bloody fun at least.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

[6.50/10] You Were Never Really Here (2017)

You Were Never Really Here (2017)

Quick Review: As vastly unsettling as its grimly surreal and every bit as ambiguous as its title implies, "You Were Never Really Here" explores some dark themes and the further darker mentality of its real troubled main character, played disturbingly brilliantly by Joaquin Phoenix, in a such a perplexing fashion, it leaves you rather confused, yet somewhat satisfied with its strangeness, which contrast drastically with the movie's simplistic tone and look.