[3.75/10] Father Figures (2017)

Father Figures (2017)

Quick Review: Arguably the worst, and most painfully unfunny comedy of 2017, not only "Father Figures" lacks even the slightest bit of charm, but its lame plot is too contrived and ludicrous to care, and not even the veteran stars involved in it are able to handle the uninspired script they are forced to work with. Helms and Wilson's chemistry is on-and-off as the 'fatherless' middle aged twins, and the films desperate attempt at evoking emotions at the end is plain laughable, and ill-fitting.

[0.00/10] Beyond the Woods (2018)

Beyond the Woods (2018)

Quick Review: A contender for 'the worst horror flick ever', the beyond horrendous "Beyond the Woods" is the ultimate example of how not to execute a film -- from the utter lack of plot, meaningless chats in heavy Irish accent, lousy acting, and flat characters, to the laughable demon, amateurish direction, very cheap TV looks, and atrocious special effects, everything about this supernatural garbage is simply unbearable to sit through. Thankfully, the 80-minutes run time is your saviour.

[6.75/10] Pyewacket (2018)

Pyewacket (2018)

Quick Review: Sinister, emotional, smart, and gripping all at one, this effective creeper works as much as a coming-of-age drama dealing with the relationship between troubled mother and daughter as it does as an atmospheric, tension-filled occult horror devoid of any cheap scares, and although "Pyewacket" requires patience for being true slow-burner, the unsettling climax is such a clever shocker, and Pyewacket itself is so horrifying in its true from, it's totally worth all the anticipation.

[5.00/10] Terrifier (2018)

Terrifier (2018)

Quick Review: A blood splattering slasher with no brains or purpose, "Terrifier" features one of the most twisted, sadistic, and creepy-looking clowns in horror history, indeed, as well as buckets of over-the-top guts and gore, executed in 80s' fashion practical effects, but the lack of plot and backstory, along with the one- note characters you could not care less for, make this pointless slash-'em-up flick worth-seeing just for the gruesome kill scenes, and Terrifier's uncompromising cruelty.

[4.75/10] Still/Born (2018)

Still/Born (2018)

Quick Review: Nothing you haven't seen before, this low-budget horror flick has a solid premise that could have been realized into something really sinister and scary, but instead its creator chooses to use familiar tricks that ruin its potential. Starting off confidently, but falling apart as it unfolds, "Still/Born" thinks it's smart enough to keep you intrigued with its perplexing plot, but the latter is so easy to figure out, plus, it never uses its creepy assets to the fullest, namely the wicked entity.

[6.25/10] Pacific Rim Uprising [3D] (2018)

Pacific Rim Uprising [3D] (2018)

Quick Review: Without Del Toro's touch, this brainless sequel feels a bit derivative and rather fabricated, plus, it is louder, messier, and less epic in scale compared to the first, and yet "Uprising" delivers exactly what it promises -- a CGI-driven 3D extravaganza of monstrous Jaeger vs, well, Jaeger mayhem, saving the Kaijus for its immensely entertaining final twenty minutes full of explosive over-the-top action and spectacular mass urban destruction.

[6.75/10] I Kill Giants (2018)

I Kill Giants (2018)

Quick Review: More imaginative in concept than it is in execution, if still very enchanting in its own peculiarly grim way, "I Kill Giants" blends dark fantasy and raw realism so capably, it's hard to distinct the two, but that's where its magic lies in, enhanced by the emotional punch it strikes at the end. Saldana may be the big name here, but it's Walfe's bold, yet fragile turn as the odd Barbara that drives the whole film, plus, considering the modest budget, the giant monsters all look formidably cool.

[4.00/10] Demon House (2018)

Demon House (2018)

Quick Review: Yes, it's refreshing to see a horror film that doesn't rely on cheep scares and CGI imagery in its attempt to frighten the viewer, choosing to do so by slowly building tension and sense of paranoia , but this one fails to realize its premise effectively enough to articulate the fear as neither "Demon House" feels and looks like a true documentary, nor the paranormal investigation is plausible, not to mention the noisy, confusing and messy execution, and dime technical gimmicks.

[6.50/10] Paradox (2017)

Paradox (2017)

Quick Review: A Chinese action thriller set in the lavish Thailand for a change, "Paradox" barely stands out with its occasionally generic plot following a policeman who faces a gang of organ traffickers in search of his missing daughter, but the taut pacing, along with possibly the most impressively-choreographed combat scenes of 2017, intensify this flick highly enough to keep you on your toes, with the help of Louis Koo's strong turn, and Tony Jaa's out-of-this-world fighting skills.

[3.75/10] 10x10 (2018)

10x10 (2018)

Quick Review: This stalker turned abduction turned revenge wannabe thriller is Ewing's first feature movie, as well her first effort in more than a decade, and her lack of experience is written all over the screen - from the absurdly contrived hijack scene at the start, to the implausible twist, laughably over-the-top final act and barely intriguing mystery inbetween, "10x10" is a silly, badly-scripted and incompetently-directed nonsense of a story, whose gifted stars deserve a much better material.

[6.75/10] The Invisible Guardian (2017)

The Invisible Guardian (2017)

Quick Review: Driven by a strong female protagonist, who's personal backstory is just as unsettling as the subtle, yet quietly absorbing major plot revolving around ritual murders, "The Invisible Guardian" is a murky, atmospheric serial killer chiller which doesn't rely on shocking twists and turns to keep you intrigued, letting its intricate story filled with implicit clues to lead you through the riddle. The perplexing finale gives the film a further enigmatic feel.

[5.75/10] Insidious: The Last Key (2018)

Insidious: The Last Key (2018)

Quick Review: Dealing with abuse and captivity, this prequel to the first sequel enters new horror territories other than the supernatural ones, Shaye's odd aura is the movie's key strength, and Botet transforms into yet another fearsome, if underused, creature as the demonic KeyFace, but you need to survive an hour in order to get to the supposedly scary bits, plus, "The Last Key" feels too familiar to be able to stand out with something truly haunting.

[6.50/10] Tomb Raider [3D] (2018)

Tomb Raider [3D] (2018)

Quick Review: Daring enough not to be boring, yet too generic to be properly exciting, this unnecessary, if well-crafted reboot is one of the better video game adaptations due to its more down-to-earth and less fantasy-laden approach a'la Indiana Jones, the capably-executed action scenes, and Vikander's delicate and determined turn as Lara Croft, but "Tomb Raider"'s inconsistent pacing, predictable by-the-numbers plot and lack of adventurous thrills put it into the 'average' category.

[4.00/10] Devil's Tree: Rooted Evil (2018)

Devil's Tree: Rooted Evil (2018)

Quick Review: A low-grade horror flick that claims it's based on 'true events', which is ridiculous enough in itself, "Devil's Tree" fails to make the best it can out of its sinister, if gimmicky premise, choosing to steal familiar elements from such classics as "Blair Witch Project" and "The Conjuring", instead of developing its own, original story, with the biggest let down being the poor twist at the end and the even poorer acting by everyone involved in it.

[7.75/10] Annihilation (2018)

Annihilation (2018)

Quick Review: Benefiting from its director's highly creative vision, and an intelligently vague script, which refuses to provide all the answers to the big thought-provoking questions it raises, "Annihilation" is a thinking person's sci-fi mind-bender of a film with unique concept, skillfully subtle execution, and an artful imagery of extraordinarily pretty environmental deformations wrapped in a colorful haze that match the film's messed- up DNA, and mesmerize as much as the nuanced characters.

[7.50/10] Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)

Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)

Quick Review: Just as massive in concept as it's wildly imaginative in its execution, "Along with the Gods" blends fantasy and realism smoothly enough to convey its powerful moral message about the purity of human soul, and to impress with its vivid recreation of the beyond, focusing as much on the extraordinary CGI- enhanced visuals as it does on its imperfect, yet genuine protagonist, and leaving a big emotional impact at the end of the journey.

[6.00/10] American Assassin (2017)

American Assassin (2017)

Quick Review: As a spy thriller, this one barely breaks any grounds, offering an improbable story devoid of credibility, but taken purely as a revenge flick, "American Assassin" works to a certain extended, mainly due to Dylan O'Brien's dedicated lead performance, and his desire to uncover a different side of him as an action star. Set in many locations across the whole world, the film is engaging to look at, plus, the solid cast give their best to make it as entertaining as possible.

[6.25/10] Muse (2017)

Muse (2017)

Quick Review: Utterly dripping with atmosphere, Balagueró's latest wins points for being unique, untypical, and unpredictable, but unlike his horror masterpiece "[REC]", "Muse" succeeds in being tonally ominous, but fails to generate the sense of dread and fear effectively enough to make its otherwise pretty intriguing, if occasionally confusing story more memorable, in spite of its director's incontestable technical skills behind the camera and skillful techniques in maintaining creepiness.

[4.00/10] Children of the Corn: Runaway (2018)

Children of the Corn: Runaway (2018)

Quick Review: Yet another poorly-conceived and gimmicky entry in the classic horror franchise, "Children of the Corn: Runaway" is for better or worse more focused on the likable and solidly-acted female protagonist and her personal struggles, rather than on the terror itself, and while the fans of creepy kids flicks might give it a chance, the rest will find the contrived plot-line as an excuse for some fake gore, which fails to mask the film's corny dullness.

[6.75/10] The Girl in the Fog (2017)

The Girl in the Fog (2017)

Quick Review: A real atmospheric Italian crime thriller with a haunting visual tone and enigmatic feel that matches its disturbing 'missing child' plot-line, "La Ragazza nella Nebbia" grows more and more engrossing and twisty as the mystery unfolds, keeping you wondering who is the actual abductor, and is the girl alive or not, by revealing all the clues one step at a time, accompanied by the convincing performances from the international cast, with Jean Reno being the standout here.

[5.50/10] Death Wish (2018)

Death Wish (2018)

Quick Review: A pretty far-fetched remake that comes dead on arrival, "Death Wish" is too straightforward to be a thrilling experience, and yet, the whole a surgeon-turned-justice seeker affair is so exaggerated, it's has zero plausibility. In typical Roth fashion, the graphic death scenes leave nothing to imagination, which makes them a bloody fun to watch, but the miscast Bruce Willis is barely invested in his urban Grim Reaper role, which kills the film's potential of being a guilty pleasure.

[6.25/10] Step Sisters (2018)

Step Sisters (2018)

Quick Review: Awfully familiar, yet hugely enjoyable, the ambiguously titled "Step Sisters" falls flat on its face, failing to avoid all the sorority cliches concerning rivalry, betrayal, and reconciliation, hence, the plot gets foreseeable from miles away, but this dance flick still maintains its high level of energy and sense of rhythm, with its highlights being the pounding step routines, performed skillfully by an attractive female cast charged with charisma, vigor, swag, attitude, and true sass.

[6.75/10] Breathe (2017)

Breathe (2017)

Quick Review: Though rushed at first, Andy Serkis' debut feature is slow-moving, and tad overlong, and yet for a movie dealing with illness, "Breathe" has a surprisingly positive approach, telling its moving real-life story in a truly uplifting, feel-good manner, without being less inspiring than it intends to be. So beautifully- shot, it's as pretty as a painting, the films works as a powerful love story too, depicting 'true love' so credibly, thanks to Garfield and Foy's strong on-screen relationship.

[6.00/10] When We First Met (2018)

When We First Met (2018)

Quick Review: Possibly inspired by the life rule 'you can't change your destiny', even when a miracle offers you the opportunity to, Netflix's time travel rom-com follows the painfully hackneyed 'go back in the past to fix things' formula, but luckily, it uses it wisely enough not to feel too cliched or repetitive, and even though the adorable twist is easy to figure out, "When We First Met" is a charming and enjoyable love story with goofy sense of humor, and a pretty sweet, amusing-to-watch cast.

[7.00/10] Forgotten (2017)

Forgotten (2017)

Quick Review: Though verging on confusing at times, this solid Korean mystery thriller has quite a few tricks up its sleeve, which it utilizes in such a twisty fashion, the unpredictable curveballs it throws at you will leave you literally speechless. Starting off rather unimpressively, but further on transforming its 'vanished person' story into a multi-layered plot filled with turns and shocks, "Forgotten" may lack slightly in execution, but concept-wise it's pretty genius, plus, the acting is reasonable.