[7.00/10] Cruella (2021)

Cruella (2021)

Quick Review: A tastefully-crafted, glamorously dashing, and gloriously fashionable take on an iconic villain, with a chic 60s retro vibe and ultra- stylish costumes, "Cruella" uncovers the origin of its delightfully wicked, shape-shifting anti-hero, who Stone is having a blast playing, but it is the other Emma as the self-absorbed, snobbish and possessive Baroness, who oozes cruelty throughout their hilariously twisted ego/talent rivalry, filled with tricks, secrets, and darkly dramatic turn of events.

[7.25/10] Wrath of Man (2021)

Wrath of Man (2021)

Quick Review: Stylish in execution, gloomy in looks, smartly-edited, and driven by Statham's grieving, albeit cold, merciless, violent, and totally badass H, who takes no prisoners in his quest for vengeance, "Wrath of Man" has a fairly simple plot, but the clever narrative structure in 3 acts gives it layers of depth by merging the main story with a sub-story and a tragic backstory into one riveting, enigmatic and action-packed whole, even if it goes a bit out of control in the mayhem-y third act.

[6.50/10] Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021)

Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021)

Quick Review: What this classic action thriller with e fiery twist makes up for its strictly conventional plot is Sheridan's slutry direction, the taut pacing, slick execution, and a bunch of intense scenes involving a couple of menacing villains, notably Gillen, but what really drives the film is the chemistry between the terrified and grieving Connor, and the audacious smokejumper Hanna with traumatic past, who the striking Jolie portrays with sass and charisma.

[5.00/10] The Unholy (2021)

The Unholy (2021)

Quick Review: A sinister premise with great potential, let down by a sub-par execution, use of same old tired jump scares, and supposed-to-be ghastly images ruined by sleazy CGIs, "The Unholy" benefits from its gifted lead, creates an eerie tone, and reveals an effective twist, but it refuses to dig deeper into Mary's intriguing backstory, nor it delivers genuine suspense or true frights in its sluggish main plot, and the end result is a shallow, tedious and often cheesy religious horror.

[5.75/10] Army of the Dead (2021)

Army of the Dead (2021)

Quick Review: After the supercool mayhem-y opening, "AotD" gets into generic mode with a sluggish 'build the team' setup, but makes up in its second half, thanks to the eery king and queen of the undead, who help it remain watchable and fairly fun, in spite of the tonal and pacing issues, but considering its overlong runtime the film fails to deliver a satisfactory zombie action and gore, or a fresh apocalyptic setting, and it's let down by largely uncharismatic characters you can hardly root for.

[4.50/10] The Woman in the Window (2021)

The Woman in the Window (2021)

Quick Review: A Hitchcockian-ish mystery thriller with little sense of enigma, flimsy suspense, and thrills that are either cheap or obvious, "TWITW" relies on Adam's ability to carry the story, but due to a weak script, its "Rear Window"-esque plot ends up more dull and messy than intriguingly puzzling, and culminates with an underwhelming twist, plus, the film wastes a brilliant secondary cast, who all play underwritten, one- dimensional characters.

[7.75/10] The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

Quick Review: A creative blend of classic animation and polished CGI work that results in an imaginatively-designed and vividly-crafted visuals with a touch of quirk, "M vs M" is a real treat for the eyes, and though straightforward, it's still a fun, wild, witty, and hilarious road trip family story with a poignant dad-daughter 're-connection' at its heart, but what dazzles as bright as the graphics is the charmingly zany characters and the vigor between them.

[4.75/10] Great White (2021)

Great White (2021)

Quick Review: A predator flick with little to no tension, zero bite, dodgy CGIs and occasional shark attacks, "Great White" is your average shark affair with generic plot and shallow characters you can hardly care for, but at least it takes advantage of its natural surroundings, offering some beautiful aerial ocean shots during the overlong, sluggish and tiresome build-up, which leads to a passably  thrilling, albeit predictable final act with a few worthy scenes that fail to make up for the rest of it.

[6.50/10] Oxygen (2021)

Oxygen (2021)

Quick Review: Making out the best of its limited, yet hi-tech and utterly claustrophobic setting, as well as Laurent's talent, presence, and her ability to single-handedly carry the entire movie, portraying fear, panic, and despair with credible tension as a women trapped in a cryochamber, who tries to figure out who she is, how did she get there, and how to escape, "Oxygen" is a well-directed and constantly taut sci-fi thriller with twists, turns, and clues which lead to shocking revelations.

[6.00/10] Shiva Baby (2021)

Shiva Baby (2021)

Quick Review: Those who struggle with limited settings may find it a bit monotonous, as the film takes place entirely at a crowded Jewish funeral service, and it kinds of stereotypes this ethnic group in certain areas, but thanks to the clever script with a dose of raunchiness, and Rachel Sennott's truly show-stealing central performance, "Shiva Baby" ends up being an intense, moody, wit-filled, anxiety-ridden comedy that perfectly captures the impactful uneasiness of its charming heroine.