myignisrules Reviews

Out of Darkness (2022)

Immersive thriller with horror elements

[6/10 · 14 March 2024]

Out of Darkness takes the terror of the unknown and deftly uses it as an allegory that shines a light, or in this case, a torch, on the dangers of prejudice. How hatred and fear of that which is different can only lead to darkness. Or in this case MORE darkness!

While it's hard to call this a straight horror movie, this thriller definitely contains some gory set pieces designed to shock viewers. The conclusion here also leans more towards drama with an ending that's more saddening than anything else. Still, it's one of the more impressive movies I've seen set in this timeline. Don't go into this expecting something akin to Prey and this Scottish tale of paranoia and survival set in a primitive world might just leave you as impressed as I was.

Talk to Me (I) (2022)

Not bad but it's no It Follows

[6/10 · 3 August 2023]

Coming from A24, the same studio behind great indie horror like Hereditary, The Witch and Midsommar have people claiming it's just as good and just as "scary" as those movies. It's not.

While I didn't find the jump scares to be effective, I did think the gorier bits worked well and the whole movie, predictable as it was, did have an unnerving tone especially leading up to the game going off the supernatural rails.

I can see why younger horror fans would think this is a fantastic movie, as horror movies go it will definitely strike a chord with teenage audiences but like Veronica I don't think this movie is as "brilliant" as it's being made out to be, especially when films like It Follows carries a similar tone but a much more effective execution.

The Reading (I) (2023)

Much better than I expected

[6/10 · 12 April 2023]

Maybe it's because I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about it. Maybe it's because I've never seend this side of Monique, whatever the reason, The Reading is a lot better than I thought it would be. I wouldn't call it a horror but as a thriller it delivered with solid performances esp from the two leading ladies, tension and solid pacing for the first two acts. Monique elevates what could've been just another meh story with the kind of performance I wished Mama delivered. To each his own but I think the bad reviews are a bit too harsh so I recommend checking this one out for yourself.

Children of the Corn (2020)

Nowhere near as bad as people are saying

[5/10 · 6 April 2023]

The kid actors are better here. The original movie is fondly remembered by fans due to the outstanding performance by John Franklin as Isaac, but a lot of people aren't aware of the fact Franklin was actually an adult when he played the role - he was 24 years old at the time of filming. This time around the role of mini cult leader goes to an actual child in the form of Kate Moyer as Eden and she absolutely nails it!

Check this one out for yourselves. It's got some inventive kills, decent pacing and the leads do a substantial job of keeping you invested all the way through. The ending might be the weakest element of the entire movie but as remakes go, I've seen worse and this one is a lot better than people are giving it credit for.

Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (2023 Video)

Batman and Horror is always a fun time

[7/10 · 31 March 2023]

When it comes to horror I can be a bit biased due to my love of the genre, but that aside I thought this was really good. While I enjoyed the color grading in Gotham by Gaslight a bit more as it truly invoked that story's era as well as the steampunk vibe it was going for, The Doom That Came to Gotham also looks stellar and the animation as well as the artwork is some of the best

Overall Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham has a solid premise set to a tight pace that never lets up, with fresh takes on both Batman's allies and adversaries and artwork that makes it stand out from the crowd of animated DC films that exist. It's adult themes (and actual life and death consequences) coupled with smart narrative choices makes this worth seeing and as Batman stories go it deserves to sit up high with some of the best we've got from this medium thus far.

We Have a Ghost (2023)

So boring!

[4/10 · 27 February 2023]

It's a big world out there and what works for some won't necessarily work for others, which is just my long-winded way of saying I did not like this movie one bit!

The jokes aren't funny, the emotional bits don't connect as well as they should and the whole movie is just too long and boring. I don't even think it works as a "kind of" good movie, you know the ones that aren't great but not a bad way to pass the time? Nope, We Have a Ghost was just an overall bad movie with a concept we've seen done better dozens of time over and I wish I could just exorcise this particular spirit from my memory.

Mindcage (2022)

Sleepwalkers would've been a more apt title for this snoozefest

[3/10 · 22 December 2022]

You ever have one of those moments when you go to the kitchen to make a big jug of Kool-Aid only to realize you're down to your last soon of sugar? Still, you want that glass of juice, so you make it anyway and now you're left with a watered down version of what you really wanted?

Poor Melissa Roxburgh (Manifest) she's the only one not sleepwalking through this movie that's basically what you would get if The Asylum decided to do a knockoff of Silence of the Lambs meets Fallen. Remember Fallen? It was the surprisingly good supernatural thriller starring Denzel Washington. I recommend watching that instead of this waste of celluloid.

Blockbuster (2022)

I didn't laugh once.

[4/10 · 10 November 2022]

While Netflix is known for presenting a lot of well received television series, most of those hits don't fall into the genre of comedy. Well unless you count the shows they procure from other networks like Friends, Fresh off the Boat and my go to comedic series to relax my brain, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. So when I saw the debut of Blockbuster and took into consideration the talented actors involved I figured there was a sixty-forty chance it was going to be worthy of my time. Sadly the odds didn't fall in my favor.

Uninspired, underdeveloped characters and a story that lacks any true emotions, they could've set this entire thing up in a Subway and it would have had the same appeal. Say what you will about Netflix's other foray into original comedy Disjointed, that show may not have been perfect, but it made me laugh ( a lot) and had characters I enjoyed spending my time with (shout out to Dabby and Dank fans).

Sorry but in my humble opinion Netflix's Blockbuster should take an example from the franchise its based on and just call it quits.

Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

More memorable and entertaining than the first one

[7/10 · 7 November 2022]

I'm genuinely surprised how good this movie turned out to be! A great sequel always has to be bigger in scale and stakes which is exactly what director Harry Bradbeer and his team of writers did adapting "The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery. The action sequences would fit right in on the big screen, especially that carriage chase in the middle act with a musical score to match the energy that bounds through the entire runtime and the set pieces as well as the costume designs all came together nicely to create a movie with a wholly summer blockbuster feel to it.

Lively, entertaining and most definitely memorable, Enola Holmes 2 manages to take the foundations set by its predecessor and elevate itself in every way you could possibly desire. I highly recommend giving this one a go.

Farzar (2022)

So stupid and that's the point!

[7/10 · 19 July 2022]

From the same minds that brought you Brickleberry and Paradise PD. That alone should tell you exactly you can expect from this series.

Personally I'm a fan of both shows and their raucous sense of humor is right up my alley. The voice cast consists of the same people who worked on those two previous shows and as viewers familiar with them will tell you, the characters shown here are deliberate rip-offs of the ones that came before such as Prince Fichael who is drawn just like his counterpart Steve (Brickleberry) and Kevin (Paradise PD). Same goes for most of the main cast with the only new addition being the awesome Lance Reddick as Fichael's egotistical father the Czar of Planet Fazar, Renzo. Although Reddick (Bosch, John Wick, Resident Evil series) is no stranger to the animated shenanigans brought to life by creators Roger Black and Waco O'Guin. Previously he voiced FBI Agent Clappers, a man with a particularly large set of rhymes with spectacles in Paradise PD.

So here's the thing, humor is objective and what works for some won't fly with others. I for one find the dirty jokes, fast-paced zingers and over the top plot points in Fazar to be a laugh riot. Lance Reddick's distinctive voice (anY Destiny 2 fans out there?) is one that drips with sophistication and gravitas, so to hear him dropping f-bombs left and right while discussing the downsides of having sex with a much older woman or throwing insults at his idiot son Fichael cracks me all the way up! It's like the first time I heard Morgan Freeman swear on screen (I think it was in the movie Wanted) it's both shocking and laugh out loud funny. I also love everything that comeS out of the mouth of the shows apparent antagonist. An alien named Bazarak who spends more time planning his attacks on the city of Fazar, than actually following through. It's all mindless, odd and deliberately stupid and depending on your sense of humor, it will either keep you in stiches or bore you to death.

Interceptor (2022)

Would've been good ten years ago.

[5/10 · 8 June 2022]

If you saw Elsa Pataky in her small but meaningful role in Fast Five or her Netflix series Tidelands, you'll know the lady has range. It's just a shame the ridiculous dialogue and embarrassing one-liners littered throughout this movie does her such a disservice. Interceptor is a movie that I think would've been a huge success, if it came out ten years ago but in an age where we have movies like Atomic Blonde, Salt or What Happened to Monday, this one just left me wondering how it got greenlit.

Umma (2022)

More of a thriller with horror elements

[6/10 · 14 April 2022]

Sometimes all you need a simple, straight-forward story and that's basically Umma in a nutshell. Sandra Oh (Killing Eve, The Chair) stars as Amanda, a woman who lives a secluded but happy life with her daughter Chris (Fivel Stewart: Atypical, T@gged). On the surface all seems well except for the fact that Amanda has an intense fear of electricity (electrophobia) caused by childhood trauma inflicted on her by her Umma (Korean word for mother). When her mother's ashes and cherished personal items are delivered to her by her uncle, Amanda's nightmares become reality.

There are a lot of shows and movies that makes fun of the fear some women have of becoming their mothers and while my Mom and I'm sure yours as well, are basically superheroes and goddesses, there are those that sadly are not. Umma written and directed by Iris K. Shim utilizes horror to explore these toxic relationships and how trauma left untreated tends to be passed on to the ones we love. Umma may not be what most would consider a hardcore horror movie, in fact you could argue it's more of a thriller with horrific elements but Sandra Oh's performance, as well as her natural and believable maternal chemistry with Fivel Stewart goes a long way in keeping you invested in these characters. MeeWha Alana Lee as Umma doesn't have a lot of screen time in the normal sense as she's more malevolent entity than anything else, but she's also a very strong presence here being genuinely creepy and terrifying when need be. The special effects aren't spectacular but they get the job done but the film works best when Umma's presence is subtle. There's an early scene of her sitting in a room that gave me chills, as well as a blink-and-you'll-miss-it one that took me back to The Exorcist, which says a lot.

So while I think marketing Umma as a straight up horror does more harm to this movie than good as most genre fans are probably hoping for more, I found it enjoyable and felt like it delivered a well thought out and uncomplicated narrative, the kind you don't need to dissect but at the same time it is trying to explore and maybe even exorcise a very specific kind of pain some viewers can personally relate to.

Agent Game (2022)

It's surprisingly better than I expected

[6/10 · 13 April 2022]

Agent Game. Horrible title I agree but you know what? I didn't hate it!

Now don't get me wrong, this straight to streaming (or maybe it'll show in theaters for a week, who knows) stars Mel Gibson and a bunch of other people who'll have you saying "hey! It's that guy/gal!". For example we have Katie Cassidy of The Arrow fame where she played Black Canary (or Canaries, I lost count) as Miller a CIA agent, Barkahad Abdi of the now meme-worthy "I am your Captain now" fame as Omar, a wrongfully detained Muslim man, with Adan Canto from The Cleaning Lady (by the way, this show is really good, you should definitely give it a go) and Jason Isaacs who's does a ton of great voice work but who I remember most recently as the charismatic Captain Lorca from Star Trek: Discovery, all make appearances here.

Surprisingly the actors involved are doing their best to make this paint by numbers espionage thriller work and I appreciated that as these types of movies are best for playing while doing your household chores and yet I found myself actually paying attention to the story! I'm not saying it's a great story but it does have enough going for it to make things engaging at times. There aren't many action sequences so if you're going in hoping for them you'll have to be satisfied with a handful here and there and a larger set piece at the conclusion and the film actually sets itself up with an open ended finale, so I'm guessing they have a sequel in mind. Call me crazy but I'm not mad at the idea.

In a world filled with mediocre straight-to-stream movies, Agent Game is a tad better than the rest. Not a lot better, but certainly not the worst by a long shot. Trust me, I'm just as surprised as you are.

The Outfit (2022)

A near perfect fit

[8/10 · 13 April 2022]

They don't make 'em like this anymore. I know I'm sounding like your grandma after she's finished watching a documentary on how hot Humphrey Bogart was or whatever but I honestly think film-noir thrillers that focus on developing the characters as much as it does telling a great story, are rarer than any upcoming Will Smith movies (that's my first and last of those, I promise!) Don't let the movie poster fool you, The Outfit isn't your run of the mill action movie with modern day mobsters. Instead this movie is a love letter to the classics of the genre and is set in the timeline of that era. Our main protagonist is Englishman and expert cutter (don't call him a tailor) Leonard played by Mark Rylance. My introduction to Rylance was in Spielberg's Bridge of Spies where he basically stole every scene he was in. He's widely regarded as the greatest stage actor of his generation and now that he has graced us with his presence on the silver screen, I'm left wishing I could've seen more of his work. To say Rylance was tailor made (get it? Okay, I'll stop now) for this role is an understatement and I honestly feel like no other actor could've pulled off such a crafty, nuanced yet deeply likeable personality the way he does. He's joined here by a small but talented cast of actors such as Dylan O'Brien as Richie the son of a Mafia Don, Zoey Deutch as Leonard's receptionist Mable, Johnny Flynn as Richie's reluctant bodyguard Francis and Simon Russell Beale as head honcho in charge and Richie's father Roy. There is not an ounce of fat on any of these performances in my opinion as everyone plays their part to near perfection. I've never heard of Johnny Flynn before but the man epitomizes old school gangster, with his on the spot dialect and cunningly ruthless personality. Dylan O'Brien is a young actor who I think is just waiting for that one role to truly show what he can do. I think this is the first time I've seen him in a villainous role but you know what? I bought it. Even Nikki Amuka-Bird (Old, Gold Digger) makes her brief scene as La Fontaine memorable. This movie could've easily ended up as something interesting but forgettable, if not for the solid performances of everyone involved.

The cinematography and score work very well together to evoke the period the story is set in, so well in fact I honestly didn't notice ninety-five percent of this movie takes place in one location! The pacing is perfect, the editing keeps things tight and the story itself, well it's best left vague here and I for one recommend seeing this the way I did, with no information (trailers suck these days am I right?) to spoil the fly-on-the-wall experience of watching this Hitchcockian thriller unravel.

By the near end I was ready to give this one a perfect score, that's how much I enjoyed it but for reasons known only to writer Johnathan McClain and Director Graham Moore (he also co-wrote the script), they added an extra five minutes to the story it most certainly didn't need. I was already sold on everything that went down, I didn't need what felt like a tacked on action sequence to further show or explain why this person was the way he was. It soured things a bit for me and took away from a story that at that point was pitch perfect. Some people just don't know when enough is enough.

That said I think The Outfit is one of the best films I've seen of the year so far. It's feels classic and modern all at the same time while telling the kind of noir-styled tale I always enjoy.

The Exorcism of God (2021)

A fun twist on an old trope

[6/10 · 17 March 2022]

You've seen one possession movie you see them all right? Ever since The Exorcist projectile vomited itself on to the big screen and into our horror loving hearts, movies about someone (usually female) being possessed and a priest doing battle with demonic forces became common place. Some good, some bad and most forgettable, the one thing they have in common is they're all pretty by the numbers in terms of story beats. That's why I found myself genuinely surprised by The Exorcism of God, a movie I nearly passed up thinking it was just going to be another forgettable possession flick, only to have it throw the rules out the window and deliver something pretty good.

Director Alejandro Hidalgo and his writing partner Santiago Fernandez Calvete takes the age old theme of a priest being brought in to exorcise a young woman and very early on flips the script by having the priest Father Peter (Will Beinbrink) fall for the demons seductive wiles (eeeww) and tainting his soul. Years later Father Peter, hard at work trying to feed and protect the children of a Mexican orphanage, discovers that his walk on the nasty side has produced a daughter who is now herself possessed by the same demon he hooked up with. See what I mean about it being different?

The imagery and special effects here go a long way in keeping your attention and I have to say the "possession" makeup is some of the best I've seen in years, possibly as good as Regan's was in The Exorcist. Lead actor Beinbrink as Father Peter is charismatic and sympathetic and the actors and actresses playing the possessed were effective in their roles. The most surprising however was seeing Joseph Marcell of all people in the role of a foul mouth, tequila drinking, and scene stealing priest named Father Michael Lewis. For those of you not in the know Marcell played Butler Geoffrey on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air so hearing him cuss at demons shocked the hell out of me in the best ways possible.

While the middle act gets messy and the movie does drag on a tad longer than it needs to, I would be lying if I said I didn't find this interesting. I mean how often do you see a movie where a demon tries to exorcise a priest?! It may not be what some would consider scary (although I totally see the casual viewer screaming the heads off for some of this) but The Exorcism of God deserves points for not taking the lazy route and at the very least, putting a fresh spin on a much worn out trope.

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022 TV Special)

Truly Magical

[10/10 · 4 January 2022]

Return to Hogwarts was just that, a look back at a moment in time when the world of Harry Potter made you believe in magic again. Beautifully constructed and wonderfully narrated by the actors themselves, I haven't watched any of these movies in quite some time as I have this thing were I'm always worried if I revisit films I adored as a kid, that element that made them come alive for me will somehow be gone now, so I rather just keep the memories safely tucked away in my mind. But after watching this I have to say I think I'll be getting on that train at King's Cross Station Platform 9-3/4 again very, very soon.

The Girl Who Got Away (2021)

A solid thriller that suffers due to its runtime

[6/10 · 22 August 2021]

The slow burn pace might not be for some folks and I'll admit I don't think this movie needed to be two hours long, but that said, I quite enjoyed this thriller and I would go as far as to say it's the best I've seen in some time. Set against the backdrop of a Mid-Western town, the kind of place that seems perpetually cold and isolated, it's the perfect setting for what unfolds. Actress Lexi Johnson T(The Nice Guys, This is Us) and Chukwudi Iwuji (John Wick Pt.2, When They See Us) are the main focus and do a wonderful job of carrying this movie on their shoulders. The cast isn't a huge one but everyone else is fine in their roles. The story itself is very well written and even when you think you know what's going on here, Morrisey manages to flip the script in a way that feels original and smart. Like most fans of this genre, I love a good mystery and I really thought I had it all figured out. Turns out I wasn't even close, anytime a movie can catch me off guard, I'm a happy camper.

The kills are very effective as well. Gruesome but not over the top and with a solid sound design that sells the brutality and them some. Another aspect of this story that helped it stand out from most similar thriller was the antagonist. Female killers are rare in these types of movies and female serial killers even more so. Actress Kate Tuckerman (The Matrix Reloaded) who plays the lethal Elizabeth feels like a true force to recon with here with her earliest scenes taking their inspiration from none other than Michael Myers of Halloween fame. My only disappointment is we didn't have enough of her on screen but when she's there, you WILL believe this sixty something year old woman could whoop an ass and then some!

Like I mentioned before, the runtime here is a bit problematic and with some editing here and there to keep the tension tighter, The Girl Who Got Away would've been pitch perfect. That said, if you're a fan of thrillers that don't pull punches when it comes to its kills and doesn't make it too easy for you to figure out its mysteries, you should definitely give this a look.

Naked Singularity (2021)

Definitely worth a look

[6/10 · 18 August 2021]

Naked Singularity is one of those movies you don't realize you're enjoying until you do. I know, sounds weird but I'm pretty certain I'm not the only one who's ever found themselves watching a movie that starts off pretty bare bones and simplistic, to the point where you're only paying it half of your attention. But somewhere between the likeable cast and the story that seems to be one thing but slowly becomes something else, you find yourself completely pulled into this world.

Starring John Boyega (Attack the Block, Star Wars Parts 7-9) as a young public defender whose big heart and disillusionment for the system he's forced to work inside of, gets him into trouble more often than not. One day he's requested to defend a past client Lea played by Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One, Sound of Metal) who has gotten herself in trouble once more, this time with possibly deadly consequences due to her relationship with small time drug dealer Craig (Ed Skrein - Deadpool, Game of Thrones) who wants her to use her job at the police impound lot to get a car out for him that has millions of dollars of drugs hidden inside it. With the help of his slimy but loveable friend Dane (Bill Skarsgard - It Chapters 1 & 2) they devise a plan to steal the car for themselves and hopefully not get killed in the process.

Now I know this synopsis makes it sound like a comedy heist type movie and on a certain level, this is what first time director and screen writer Chase Palmer is going for, but as a whole Naked Singularity is more wish fulfillment than anything else. It's about those dreams we have for a better life, if we had the money and the means to make them happen. Some of these characters like Dane and Lea want better lives for themselves, while Boyega's character Casi wants the chance to finally give the poor and down trodden people he represents in court, a real shot at fair justice. Take for instance his first case. He has to represent a Chinese man who doesn't speak any English and he's been detained for selling (of all things) batteries illegally. We're not talking car batteries here but simply the Duracell/Energizer ones. Because he doesn't speak the language this poor man doesn't know how to defend himself and because of this and a very apathetic judge played by Linda Lavin (The Good Wife/Alice) he's being kept in jail seemingly indefinitely. It's a case that's ridiculous as it is sadly true and due to Boyega's solid performance, the frustration and tiredness his character feels will resonate with you the viewer.

The first and second acts of this movie play almost like a straight up drama and sadly this may be to the movie's detriment. For those going in expecting Lucky Logan or Ocean's 11, this slow unfolding of events may allow for the characters to grow on you, but it also takes away from the energy needed to keep viewers invested. Thankfully Boyega anchors the movie well and you can tell his co-stars are feeding off what he's putting out. It might not be enough for most, but if you're anything like me and you stick it out to the final act, Naked Singularity sticks the landing and delivers the kind of wish fulfillment ending that makes watching movies worthwhile.

The title may sound like science fiction but the cosmic notion of one world where the good guys win is something we can all get behind and for that alone I'm recommending giving this one a go.

Beckett (2021)

Boredom thy name is Beckett

[4/10 · 14 August 2021]

John Washington has been on a roll of late, with his turn in Tenet most recently showing what he's capable of as an actor. But no matter how great a performer you are, there's only so much you can do to carry a movie that isn't well executed, which brings me to the slosh-fest that is Beckett.

Heavily inspired by the political thrillers of the 60's or 70's, for instance the iconic and thrilling 1976's Marathon Man kept popping into my noggin' while watching this movie and by the way, if you haven't seen Marathon Man, feel free to turn off Beckett and go watch that masterpiece of film making instead.

Anyways the setup here is a basic thriller staple. A couple on vacation are having a gay old time until things inevitably go horribly wrong. When girlfriend Alice, played by a woefully underused Alicia Vikander (Ex-Machina, Lara Croft) dies in an accident, Beckett is left as the sole survivor. But what should've been a tragic but ordinary end to his time in Greece turns deadly, as Beckett is chased by a cop and his cronies who want him dead for reasons he needs to figure out, if he's to survive.

It's not the acting. Washington nails it as the ordinary man caught in an extraordinary situation. He's not an action hero, doesn't have a history in the military or is secretly some bad-ass spy. He's just a man scared out of his wits, who wants to get home safe but who is unwittingly caught up in a conspiracy not of his own making. As I said before Vikander is here and gone, but their short time on screen together worked well. Everyone else barely makes an impact.

It's also not the score, which evokes those old school thrillers I spoke about before (this movie also made me think if Kurt Russell's Breakdown, a more recent thriller that is also way better than this one) and it wasn't the story, which on paper is a solid synopsis for this kind of movie. No I'm laying blame for the complete lack of energy and tension needed to make this work at the feet of director and editorial department.

Scenes ran way too long sucking the tension and my interest out of the room and now that I think about it, maybe the screenplay need some polishing too as I sat through what seemed like multiple versions of the same thing over and over again. Beckett runs, someone chases him, Beckett gets away with/without help, Beckett is spotted by baddies, Beckett runs again. This nonsense went on for way too long without any new plot points or beats being added which had me reaching for my remote to hit the fast forward button. If someone is fast forwarding through a movie they never saw before because they just want the redundant moments to be over, you know you have a problem.

This one was a huge disappointment for me folks. I honestly thought I was getting a slick, tightly shot action thriller, full to the brim with interesting characters and fun twists. Instead I got a weak imitation of much better movies I've already seen and at nearly two hours, that's precious viewing time I'll never get back. I already named two movies far superior to this one. Here's a third, The Fugitive, now got watch any of those instead of Beckett and you can thank me later.

Score 4.5 out of 10.

The Nest (2021)

If this is what they did with a small budget, I would love to see what else this team could do

[5/10 · 12 August 2021]

Not to be confused with The Nest that came out in 2020 or the one from 2019 or the television series of the same name, THIS Nest is a horror movie made on a small budget, but one that manages to deliver on the kind of ick factor and body horror that would make David Cronenberg smile.

Starring mostly unknowns and a legit genre staple and Scream Queen in her own right, Dee Wallace (Cujo, The Howling, Critters) this is the kind of horror that plays on those things that make you squirm in your seat. I struggle with trypophobia which simply means irregular patterns or clusters (like a beehive or a rash) triggers me and I have to look away. If this is an issue for you as well, there are scenes here that will definitely set you off but (thankfully?) due to the smaller budget, those scenes only pop up a few times during this ode to body horror. The cast is a small one and consist of mainly three people who play our family unit made up of Mom, Dad and a little girl who is gifted a teddy bear by a weird old man. It turns out the bear has some sort of sentient insect/s living inside it and using the poor child as its host, this parasite starts taking over friends and family members one by one.

The Nest starts off a bit shaky with actors Sarah Navratil and Kevin Patrick Murphy as parents Beth and Jack who take some time to settle into their roles making it difficult to see them as a loving couple. Ironically this awkward chemistry works to their benefit as the story progresses and paranoia over whether or not you can trust each other sets in. Dee Wallace is a horror movie goddess who makes everything she's in that much better. She's not on screen a whole bunch but steals every scene she's in, with my favorites being her interactions with Beth. Besides the main family and Wallace's Marissa, the other actors don't get that much screen time but they do what they're supposed to well enough so I guess that's fine.

Overall this isn't going to please everyone and as I mentioned before, it's a small budget film with limited locations and a handful of actors. But the practical effects by team Kayla Voytek and Jennifer Yates are very well done and combined with the truly stellar sound design by Aaron Putnam, both will crawl under your skin in the worst way. I also enjoyed the fact this movie manages to be its own original thing while still showing inspiration from classics like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Hidden and maybe even a bit of Rosemary's Baby. The themes of motherhood and how difficult it can be as a parent to balance your love for your children and your need to retain your individuality without feeling guilty was well executed and the conclusion was also a ballsy one reminiscent of the more morose horror movies of the 60's and 70's , The Nest will probably be overlooked for more flashy, big budget fare and that's a shame because it's creative writers, directors and artists like these that deserve to be in the spotlight for their work and in doing so, get the big bucks they need to show what they can do to a much larger audience. If you're a horror fan I recommend checking it out because if body horror is your thing, this is a Nest you won't mind visiting.

Score 5.5 out of 10.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

The Suicide Squad DON RIGHT!

[8/10 · 8 August 2021]

Talk about a complete 180! How do you go from the a generic, problem riddled movie with some likeable but ultimately wasted characters, to a story that's equal parts unpredictable, funny, surprisingly heartfelt and darkly comedic with the kind of over the top violence you'll never see coming? Why you hire James freakin' Gunn of course!

I don't know what I was expecting when I sat down to watch DC's The Suicide Squad (2021) but it certainly wasn't this and I mean that in the BEST way possible. Gunn's near perfect blending of the more fantastical elements you would find in the pages of any comic book and the realistic (almost insanely brutal at that) depiction of violence and madness come together to make a comic book adaptation the likes of which no one has ever seen before. The closest thing I could compare it too is the television series The Boys and even then, this is not that.

Gunn and his team also make the smart choice of choosing to highlight characters that most everyone would be unfamiliar with. This way we start with a clean slate and an open mind. With the exception of a few returning faces like Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman) and of course Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), we're invited to join an entirely new squad of D-listers on their impossible mission. This time around we also have main players Ratcatcher II (Daniela Melchior) Peacemaker (John Cena) Bloodsport (Idris Elba) Polka Dot Man (David Dastmalchian) and Sylvester Stallone, yes you read that right as the cutest murderer ever brought to screen King Shark and when I tell you you're gonna fall in love with each and everyone of these people, I am not exaggerating.

I don't want to waste time comparing this movie to the one that came before, but I just have to mention how absolutely bonkers it is James Gunn made the time to give us one-on-one moments with each and every single one of these squad members without bringing the pacing or the energy in this movie to a halt. I teared up over Polka Dot Man and that's a sentence I never thought I would ever write.

It goes without saying the actors here brought their A-game and more to their roles with the aforementioned Polka Dot played by Dastmalchian bringing both laughs and real emotion to his part. Equally so was Melchior in her role as Ratcatcher, excuse me Ratcatcher II. A very important distinction since the one and only Taika Waititi plays the role of her father, the man she takes her name from and the player who also made me choke up a bit with his/their tragic story. I would be remiss in my review if I didn't stop to talk about Robbie absolutely slaying it as Harley Quinn. She has some of the coolest, most memorably stand out moments in this movie with her monologue on why she did that thing she did (no spoilers) showing us a side of Harley that has never effectively been brought to the screen before. And can we talk about her action sequence? Are you kidding me?!! This is one of those moments I mentioned where Gunn uses his genius to blend the comic world with the real one. It gave us a "look" into the way HQ's mind works as she blocks out the truly horrific things she's doing in a way only Harley can.

John Cena as Peacemaker was intense and I honestly didn't expect such great things from him. His role was the one that made me think most of Garth Ennis' series The Boys and I genuinely look forward to seeing more from this character. Last but never ever the least, let's talk about the cutest thing in the room. No I don't mean Sebastian the rat, (although, yes, he's a cutie in his own right) No my friends I wanna talk about King freakin' Shark! Gunn and Vin Diesel made Groot the character everyone wanted to take home with them and now the same can be said about Stallone's King of the Ocean, or in this case, a possible Demi-god named Nanaue. The choice to play him as a child-like creature, with the appetite of a great white was brilliant and there was never a scene where Shark with his inquisitive nature and his need to have more "nom-noms" didn't steal the show. I can't wait to get my hands on a plushy version of this guy!

With one memorable action sequence after another, Gunn keeps audiences on their toes and made sure The Suicide Squad lived up to their name. There was more than one moment where I was shocked by which character died next and I loved every minute of it. From that opening scene that felt like a replay of D-Day to the final act of our last remaining anti-heroes going up against the unthinkable and unstoppable (by the way I'm so glad I avoided the trailers and articles as I honestly didn't know who the villain was supposed to be) every one of these scenes out did the next and I was never left wanting. And can we talk about that soundtrack? Such a HUGE difference from Ayer's choice to just stick every single iconic song in his movie, whether it worked in the scene or not. Here Gunn once again shows his love for the obscure but fitting songs, the way he did with Guardians of the Galaxy. I have a couple of friends who are gonna be loving themselves with this soundtrack and its scores.

So are there any negatives? Well it's always hard to pin these down after just one viewing when you're all hopped up on adrenaline and excitement, but if anything comes to mine for me it would be the first act. It took me a minute to adjust to the tone of this new story and it felt a bit jarring as things settled into a rhythm. But that might just be me as I wasn't expecting a movie such as this to have such a wonderfully weird tone. I also wished we got more Amanda Waller. Viola Davis is as elite an actress as they come and she was one of only two things I enjoyed in the first movie so I was hoping for more time with The Wall. Although to be fair, what I got was everything you would expect from this character (for those who know her well) and once again Davis proves there's no person more terrifying than the woman with her hand on the literal red button.

Last but not least was Idris Elba's Bloodsport. Easy now folks, put down the pitchforks and torches, I'm not saying I didn't like this character. What's not to like?! That has to be one of the coolest looking suits I've ever seen and the way it works was all kinds of awesome. Idris also delivers on some powerful moments in this movie especially when we're talking about the more emotional stuff. I just felt like compared to the rest of them, Bloodsport got a bit lost in the background. Maybe it's because he sometimes feels like you're seeing Deadshot in another form or maybe because with so many memorable characters to choose from, Bloodsport just falls a bit lower on the totem pole for me. The villains (with the exception of the big guy himself) didn't leave any impression, as well as the freedom fighters who sadly were only in this movie as scene stoppers and cannon fodder. Poor Alice Braga. Will this woman ever find a role in a comic book adaptation that isn't forgettable?

Again, this is just my personal nitpicks and as of right this second, I can't think of any reason not to call James Gunn's The Suicide Squad a home run of comic book movie making. I could go on and on about this but then I would be writing a novel and not a review, so I'll just say I loved the tone, the music, the action, the characters, the editing, the pacing, the visuals (OH MY GOD, THE VISUALS!) and of all the comic book movies out there, this one in my opinion will be one of the most rewatched in times to come.

Good luck to future Directors of this series who has to take up the baton and run with it. You're gonna need it!

Aftermath (IV) (2021)

Well acted but predictable 5.5 out of 10

[5/10 · 8 August 2021]

Aftermath is one of those standard thrillers you tend to find on channels like Lifetime and TNT. A young couple looking for a fresh start luck in on the opportunity to buy a luxurious smart house. Things start off well enough, only to slowly degrade as time goes by, putting a strain on their already strained marriage and to top it all off, there's something lurking in the shadows. Did I mention the previous owners died horrifically in said house? Don't worry, I'm not spoiling anything as this is literally the opening scene for this movie and it sets the tone for what's to come.

Shawn Ashmore, not to be mistaken for his twin Aaron (the former was an X-Man the latter starred in the awesome SyFy series Killjoys) plays Kevin, the husband half of our duo who cleans up after crime scenes for a living after he dropped out of college. Ashley Greene most well known from The Twilight Saga (I wonder how she feels about that) is his wife Natalie, an aspiring fashion designer and together with a few other actors, some more recognisable than the rest, make up the cast of this by-the-numbers thriller.

I'll give points for atmosphere. This movie is at its strongest when it focuses on the house and the young couple trapped in its nightmare. The house itself is quite lovely and if it wasn't for the murders, I could totally see myself living in it (that backyard is amazing) There are some solid suspenseful moments here and a great use of light and shadow in the darker scenes. The sound design also works well at upping the creep factor. Both Shawn and Ashley do a solid job of portraying a young couple who love each other, but are struggling with past indiscretions and financial burdens that threaten to tear them apart. I was rooting for them to make it through, which speaks volumes about their performances.

Otherwise what we have here is pretty standard. I figured out what was happening from the moment they moved into the house and checked out the closet. Maybe it's because I've seen so many films, it's become that much harder for me to be surprised. It doesn't mean other viewers will have the same issues I did, but for me the predictability made it harder to enjoy myself as I sat there and waited for them to pull the curtain back, not because I didn't know what was behind it but because it would mean the movie was over.

I think casual viewers will enjoy Aftermath, especially those that get a kick out of these types of thrillers, but for those who prefer something with a bit more twists and turns to it, Aftermath doesn't offer enough to keep your eyes glued to your television, instead of your phone.

Separation (I) (2021)

Not a bad take on the trauma of divorce and death on kids

[6/10 · 6 May 2021]

I was pleasantly surprised by the look of these supernatural monsters. With a nice balance of practical and special effects, we're given nightmare inducing puppets coming to life, an uber creepy contortionist clown, played by Troy James. You may not know his name, but if you watch The Flash on CW, you'll better know him as Rag Doll or any horror movie with a contorting character it's probably Troy James behind the makeup (Jangly Man in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark or the Backwards Man in Black Box to name a few) and the main 'baddie' which was some sort of witchy looking grim reaper type creature, all felt and looked original in appearance and most scenes involving them were genuinely creepy. The actors were all fine in their roles and kept me engaged for the entire runtime.

That said, it's not a perfect horror movie as it suffers from a runtime that feels a tad too long. The first act could've used a bit of editing to tighten things up and get us to the supernatural stuff sooner. It's also predictable as hell. I guessed about ninety percent of what was going to happen and I was one hundred percent right. Still, Separation isn't bad. It's the kind of horror movie I would show to someone who doesn't like hardcore horror, but who scares easily (I already have a victim in mind LOL) and if you're a true horror fan, I still think it's worth a look.

Son (I) (2021)

Think Rosemary's Baby the sequel

[7/10 · 11 March 2021]

How far would a mother go for her child? This is the question at the heart of this supernatural nightmare called simply, Son. While watching this, I couldn't help but think of it as a pseudo-sequel to Rosemary's Baby. Andi Matichak, who is most famous for her recent role as Laurie Strode's granddaughter Allyson in Halloween 2018, plays Laura, a young single Mom happily living with her son David (Luke David Blumm). There quiet lives are upended when one night Laura finds strangers standing over her son in his room, only to have the door slam in her face, locking her out. Very quickly after this young David grows very ill and with no medical cure in sight and no proof there were ever any intruders in her home, they become trapped in a waking nightmare where everyone thinks Laura is crazy, as she races to find a cure for her only child .

Director and writer Ivan Kavanagh does a superb job of balancing the psychological and supernatural elements of this story. You the viewer are left wondering if Laura's demons are real or imagined. Andi Matichak is wonderful in this role as well as I totally bought her as a young mother, even though I just saw her playing a teenager. Emile Hirsch also stars in this movie as a cop who cares for Laura and David and who is caught in the middle as the bodies begin to pile up. Speaking of which, the blood and gore here should please most horror fans and although there isn't a lot of it, the way it's utilized is very effective.

Of all the horror movies I've seen for the year so far, Son is definitely the best of the bunch. The slow pace might bore some but I thought it was pitch perfect and gave the dread room to grow and breathe. The lead actress does a stellar job of keeping you invested in her plight and while the story does feel a tad predictable in places, or at least it will to those who watch a lot of horror flicks, I still think Son is strong send up to horror films like Polanski's Rosemary's Baby and Alan Parker's Angel Heart.

Smiley Face Killers (2020)

Worst horror movie of 2020

[1/10 · 16 December 2020]

Here's what I got from this movie;

I think the director has a crush on lead actor Ronene Rubinstein. If he spent half the time focusing on the pacing and editing that he did on Rubinstein's six pack, I might've found something here worth watching.

I think Crispin Glover had a car payment to make because he's in this movie for about seven minutes and then he's gone.

This movie was 96 minutes long........ NO ONE DIES UNTIL THE 87 MINUTE MARK! I haven't been this bored with a movie since...... I DON'T REMEMBER EVER BEING THIS BORED WITH A MOVIE!

In conclusion, Smiley Face Killers has exactly ONE positive as a movie. It would be perfect to show to prisoners you need to extract information from. Is Guantanamo Bay still a thing? If so, ship a copy to them asap!