1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

[5.50/10] Jigsaw (2017)

Jigsaw (2017)

Quick Review: A notch above the previous four sequels, thanks to the more psychological and less torture porn-led approach, "Jigsaw" makes out the best of its not-so-big budget with some gruesome guts and gore effects, and cunningly-executed and unsurprisingly disgusting kill scenes, but the expected twist towards the final act is so over-complicated in its long and very confusing explanation about 'what actually happened' that the whole thing becomes laughably contrived in its absurdity.

Monday, October 30, 2017

[4.00/10] Jeepers Creepers 3 (2017)

Jeepers Creepers 3 (2017)

Quick Review: Horribly uninspired, poorly-executed, clumsily-paced, all over the place, and not even so-bad -it's-good, this long-delayed sequel is just as problematic as the history behind it -- neither darkly creepy as the first film, nor cheesy fun as its predecessor, stuffed with too many characters, but no clear protagonist to care about, "Jeepers Creepers III" has the sub-par quality of a TV film, and can't even make up for its many shortcoming with proper gore or any memorable scares at all.

[5.25/10] The Crucifixion (2017)

The Crucifixion (2017)

Quick Review: Revolving around a murder during an exorcism, this one is more of a mystery rather than a pure horror film, as it focuses mainly on the details of the investigation itself, using the horror elements only to enhance the effect. Though very formulaic, "The Crucifixion" works in parts due to the authenticity of its amazing shooting locations in rural Romania, which give it an eerie feel and while all the possession scenes deliver the creeps, the actual scares are few and far between.

Friday, October 27, 2017

[9.50/10] Thor: Ragnarok [3D] (2017)

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Quick Review: The most amusing and imaginative MCU film yet, "Thor Ragnarok" is a cosmo-ride fueled by an '80s-inspired sci-fi epicness that matches Taika Waititi's quirky sense of style, signature humor, and lurid vision. Thanks to its first-class CGIs, spectacular battles, and state-of-the -art set pieces, this colorfully radiant sequel is astonishingly eye-candy to look at. The upgraded Thor regales, Hulk smashes and crashes, Valkyrie is ultra-cool, and the cruel Hela puts one hell of a dark edge.


[7.25/10] Happy Death Day (2017)

Happy Death Day (2017)

Quick Review: Cunning and funny, but also with a heart, "Happy Death Day" is a fresh take on the slasher subgenre that instead of leaning on frights and gore uses its brains and sense of humor to achieve effect. Yes, its crazily loopy plot seems a bit gimmicky at first, but Landon's crafty approach is filled with enough tricks and twists to elevate the movie to a level of ingenuity. Rothe's presence and emotional range is what makes her character, who evolves a lot as a person, so charismatic.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

[7.00/10] 1922 (2017)

1922 (2017)

Quick Review: Largely benefiting from Thomas Jane's committed lead performance and Hilditch's ability to generate dread through the sinister fell of the film, whose beautifully old-fashioned visuals recreate the era so authentically, "1922" is a proper slow-burner that succeeds as much as a psychological thriller about true guilt, as it does as pure horror film, being dark, ominous, visceral, and unsettling all at once, and delivering subtle, yet very effective scares that will make your skin crawl.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

[4.75/10] Geostorm (2017)

Geostorm (2017)

Quick Review: An actually moronic film that tries too hard to be smart, but neither has the clever script, nor the bright dialogues to achieve it, "Geostorm" may not be a complete disaster of a disaster flick, as there are a few fun to watch, if sleazily-executed mass destruction scenes, and a couple of amusing lines, but the scientifically absurd plot, cliched moral message, sappy drama, and sub-par CGIs turn it into a cheese- fest with no entertainment value that even Butler can't enjoy.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

[4.00/10] Nails (2017)

Nails (2017)

Quick Review: A reminiscent of J. Balagueró's hidden gem "Fragile", but a lot less scary and intense, and nowhere nearly as atmospheric and skillfully-crafted, "Nails" is a B-grade horror flick with decent premise and an adequate main performance by Macdonald, but the limited, barely creepy setting, undercooked script, cheap scares and sub-par creature effects wrack its potential. At least, the little twist towards the end sort of works, shaking up the otherwise straightforward plot-line.

Friday, October 20, 2017

[6.75/10] The Beguiled (2017)

The Beguiled (2017)

Quick Review: Arguably Coppola's finest film yet, "The Beguiled" is an absolute work of delicate beauty -- the pale colors and low-key lighting clash with the warm, southern feel of the setting, but also create a subtly Gothic, obscure tone that works in harmony with the grim nature of the story, which appears a bit superficial and lusty at first, but becomes more grisly and ambiguous as in unfolds. The brilliantly-acted characters play with their frailty and vulnerability in a tricky, insidious manner.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

[3.00/10] Cold Moon (2017)

Cold Moon (2017)

Quick Review: Yes, not only "Cold Moon" is everything but frightening and makes absolutely zero sense from the beginning to the end, not even bothering to explain a thing about its ludicrous plot-line, but it is also a complete disaster technically -- everything from the super-messy editing and dreadful direction to the amateurish special effects is below the standards even for a B-horror like this one. The only 'positives' are its old-fashioned, yet trashy visuals, and a few cheesily funny moments of unintentional hilarity.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

[6.25/10] The Babysitter (2017)

The Babysitter (2017)

Quick Review: In an expected McG fashion, this new horror comedy is as hilarious as it's absurd, but very enjoyable nonetheless, thanks to its director's ability to take a complete advantage of a seemingly overused premise and turn it into a fun and entertaining movie that never takes itself seriously -- amusingly satanic, often disturbing, and gory as hell, "The Babysitter" works because of its deviously hot title character, and the cute protagonist who overcomes all of his fears overnight.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

[5.50/10] The LEGO Ninjago Movie (2017)

The LEGO Ninjago Movie (2017)

Quick Review: Without a doubt the weakest of the three LEGO films so far, this overly busy animation never finds its inner balance - with a first half that is so frenetic and chaotic, it feels like it is being directed by M. Bay, and a lot better and more plot and character-oriented second half that offers some nice graphics with a proper 'far east' feel, "The LEGO Ninjago Movie" is a mixed bag that has a very cool concept, but fails to capture its true essence.

Monday, October 16, 2017

[4.75/10] Wish Upon (2017)

Wish Upon (2017)

Quick Review: Essentially a hybrid between "Final Destination" series and "The Box", "Wish Upon" is yet another hackneyed and forgettable teen horror that feels too familiar to be able to thrill, and totally devoid of any scares and real 'creep factor'. It partially makes up for that with some inventive, gruesome, gory, and fun-to-watch death scenes that are the only good thing about it, plus, Joey King is adorable, cute and engaging enough to make this utter nonsense occasionally watchable.

Sunday, October 15, 2017

[6.75/10] Girls Trip (2017)

Girls Trip (2017)

Quick Review: Confident, raunchy, naughty, often hysterical, and tons of fun from beginning to end, and featuring characters as bright and vibrant as its visuals, the sassy, yet classy "Girls Trip" is a wild ride that celebrates friendship in a very joyful manner, but also demonstrates love, affection and support. This bonkers, briskly-paced comedy delivers some pretty big laughs along the way, but what makes it so successful is the dynamics between the 4 characters, and the perfect casting.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

[4.00/10] The Monster Project (2017)

The Monster Project (2017)

Quick Review: Just as uninspired as its title, and featuring a demon, a vampire and a skinwalker all equally as lame, "TMP" deserves kudos for using some decent practical effects for its monsters, but everything else about it is sleazy to say the least -- from its drain 'found footage' visual style, shot frequently with obnoxious 'night vision' effects, to the generic plot, annoying characters, and lack of any true scares, this project is a huge cinematic disaster.

Friday, October 13, 2017

[7.00/10] Wind River (2017)

Wind River (2017)

Quick Review: A somewhat simple, yet intelligent murder mystery that's intricate enough to intrigue you, but also refreshingly plausible to make you care, "Wind River" is equally as brutal, devastating and humane noir western, whose pale color palette, snowy setting, and chilling blizzards create a bleak feel that matches the crude nature of the story. Cleverly-written, and led superbly by Renner and Olsen, this unsettling, dialogue-driven riddle of a film will glue you to the screen until the end.

Thursday, October 12, 2017

[5.00/10] Ghost House (2017)

Ghost House (2017)

Quick Review: The otherwise well- paced plot is pretty formulaic for the most part, therefore, the entire thing feels oddly familiar, and the acting leaves a lot to be desired, but being set in Thailand, "Ghost House" has an exotically haunting atmosphere, which works in the film's favor, and increases the creepiness, and while this ghost story/demonic possession hybrid attempts to spread fear only through 'jump' scares and practical ghastly images, the eerie tone alone would give you the chills.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

[4.50/10] The Limehouse Golem (2017)

The Limehouse Golem (2017)

Quick Review: Rich in detail, well- photographed, captured with a real 1800's tone, and decently-acted by the cast involved, "The Limehouse Golem" is undoubtedly pretty to look at, but its overly complex serial killer mystery plot combined with the lazy pacing, and poor editing kill most of the suspense and turn it into a very uneven period thriller that gets its act together too late in a final act that provides a twist you could see coming from miles away.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

[6.75/10] Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)

Quick Review: Dreamwork's latest feels like a big breath of fresh air for numerous reasons -- original, fast- paced, and often delightfully manic, "Captain Underpants" is a fun story about friendship and teamwork that also parodies the school system in a hilarious manner. The two little guys are crazy sweet, the villain is as cool as he's mad, Underpants himself is adorably silly, and the crisp, vibrant, and colorful graphics are charming, and technically flawless.

Monday, October 9, 2017

[6.50/10] Better Watch Out (2017)

Better Watch Out (2017)

Quick Review: Taking place almost entirely in a single family house, this holiday horror is not exactly diverse in terms of setting, but it more than makes up for that with a clever and unpredictable script which has more surprises than a Christmas stocking -- what starts as yet another cliched, home invasion flick with silly preteen characters suddenly throws a huge curveball at its audience and turns into a totally demented, often nasty, and disturbing shocker that's just as crazy fun as it is violent.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

[5.75/10] Amityville: The Awakening (2017)

Amityville: The Awakening (2017)

Quick Review: Neither the worst, nor among the best entries in the drained Amityville series, for a 10th entry, "The Awakening" is on one hand inevitably familiar, but on the other it doesn't feel awfully recycled as it has a few tricks up its sleeve to set itself apart, and those along with the eerie atmosphere increase the creepiness. Though not particularly terrifying, this sequel provides a few decent scares along the way, and the cast all do a solid job.

Saturday, October 7, 2017

[7.50/10] Blade Runner 2049 [3D] (2017)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Quick Review: Proudly displaying one striking shot after another, this sequel is a piece of art in terms of looks, thanks to Villeneuve's vision and Deakins' lavish cinematography which combined create a dazzlingly murky atmosphere that matches the futuristic neo-noir tone of the movie. Although it's captivatingly enigmatic, quietly gripping, and superbly-acted "Blade Runner 2049"'s slow pacing, long running time, and lack of vigor, action, and memorable thrills might be challenging for some.

Friday, October 6, 2017

[3.75/10] Goon: Last of the Enforcers (2017)

Goon: Last of the Enforcers (2017)

Quick Review: An often hideous, and totally unnecessary sequel to a forgettable original, "Goon: Last of the Enforcers" feels just as tired and exhausted as its central character, and fails to improve upon the first one on any level, continuing to use the violence as a gimmick to provide some sort of entertainment, besides all the annoyingly familiar and corny domestic melodrama as a backstory, but it neither amuses, nor it delivers emotionally or otherwise.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

[6.75/10] Gerald's Game (2017)

Gerald's Game (2017)

Quick Review: One of the better S. King adaptations, this unpredictable fight for survival with a twist works as much on a psychological level as it does as a pure horror flick with a dark backstory, thanks to the well-balanced script and Flanagan's all so clever direction, which has some tricks up its sleeve. Carla Gugino's strong performance adds credibility, plus, the revealing last ten minutes are so sinister and effective, they lift "Gerald's Game"'s shock value high enough to jolt you hard.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

[4.25/10] The Vault (2017)

The Vault (2017)

Quick Review: Reasonably finely-shot and acted, but rather poorly-conceived, and painfully corny, "The Vault" works much better as a heist movie than it does as a horror flick, which makes it watchable in the first 30 minutes or so, but as soon as the film enters the horror territory, "The Vault" goes downhill real fast, turning into a cheese-fest, whose underground setting is a lot scarier than the entities themselves. James Franco is insanely underused, but Eastwood truly delivers.