Victor (Leslie Odom Jr.) is a widower raising his teenage daughter, Angela (Lidya Jewett). After performing a seance with her friend Katherine (Olivia O’Neill), the two girls disappear in the woods for three days and come back decidedly more evil than they had been previously. It’s up to Victor, Katherine’s parents Tony (Norbert Leo Butz)Continue reading “‘The Exorcist Believer’: You’ve Seen Worse, You Know You Have!”
Tag Archives: review
‘Talk to Me’: A Thanksgiving Gratitude
Not too long ago, I was fortunate to see the film Talk to Me. Because I’m as self-centered as I am full of appreciation, I’m tying Thanksgiving, an emotionally charged celebration rooted in colonization by whites, to a movie depicting the consequences of exploiting a little-understood people–but also, me and my feelings. In Talk toContinue reading “‘Talk to Me’: A Thanksgiving Gratitude”
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’: Prepare for Disappointment
Mike (Josh Hutcherson) is a loner in desperate need of a job, seeing as he got into trouble at his last post for mercilessly pummeling a dude he thought was kidnapping a kid. (He’s obsessed with finding his little brother, who was kidnapped, by lucid dreaming about the incident as often as possible.) His meanContinue reading “‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’: Prepare for Disappointment”
‘Evil Dead Rise’: The Mommening is Fun and Well-Intentioned
A sequel\reboot\something…it’s canon, whatever it is, in the Evil Dead universe–it’s produced by Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, and Bruce Campbell, who has a voice cameo as well. In this chapter of the saga of the demon-y deadites we have a bickering but sweet family trapped in their apartment building with the possessed matriarch, Ellie (AlyssaContinue reading “‘Evil Dead Rise’: The Mommening is Fun and Well-Intentioned”
‘Smile’ is Worth Your While
Rose (Sosie Bacon) is a therapist at an emergency psychiatric unit. Her tightly ordered world is upended when she meets a patient named Laura (Caitlin Stasey), who has visions of unholy apparitions smiling at her. Shortly after, she cuts her own throat. When Rose starts seeing the grinning specters herself (the curse is passed toContinue reading “‘Smile’ is Worth Your While”
Nia DaCosta’s ‘Candyman’: Not for Everyone, but Beauty is in the Eye of the Bee-holder
A sequel to the 1992 film, it continues the story of baby Anthony as a grown man (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), now a painter living with his girlfriend Brianna (Teyonah Parris). He’s drawn to create an art installation about Candyman, complete with a piece that invites museum-goers to call him themselves. Candyman’s turf Cabrini-Green has beenContinue reading “Nia DaCosta’s ‘Candyman’: Not for Everyone, but Beauty is in the Eye of the Bee-holder”
Scott Derrickson’s ‘The Black Phone’: I Have Mixed Feelings
Based on the story by Joe Hill, who’s credited as an executive producer, and made by Blumhouse. Colorado, 1978. A small town is menaced by The Grabber (Ethan Hawke), a serial killer who targets adolescent boys. Our Final Boy is Finney (Mason Thames), who’s brave but needs to learn to stand up for himself. HeContinue reading “Scott Derrickson’s ‘The Black Phone’: I Have Mixed Feelings”
Netflix’s ‘Choose or Die’: Choose to Watch It!
Kayla (Iola Evans) is a broke wannabe computer programmer. Her best friend Isaac (Asa Butterfield), a broke wannabe game designer, has bought a role-playing video game from the ’80s, Curs>r. It promises a $125,000 reward for anyone who can beat it, piquing Kayla’s curiosity. Once she gets it converted from cassette to her laptop, sheContinue reading “Netflix’s ‘Choose or Die’: Choose to Watch It!”
1988’s ‘Death Spa’ is Objectively Terrible, But I Still Kinda Love It
The Starbody Health Spa: where athletic folks come to sweat, socialize…and die! A vengeful spirit is using the computerized gym equipment to murder patrons, and it’s up to owner Michael (William Bumiller) to stop it before all his members are killed, in increasingly gruesome ways. Oh, where to begin? I first became aware of thisContinue reading “1988’s ‘Death Spa’ is Objectively Terrible, But I Still Kinda Love It”
‘The Wretched’ is Actually Mostly Pretty Un-Wretched
Ben (John-Paul Howard) is a teen delinquent hanging out with his dad Liam (Jamison Jones) while his parents decide whether they are divorcing. His boring summer working at the marina and being hassled by rich assholes is interrupted when his neighbor is possessed by an ancient witch who eats kids. The movie was written byContinue reading “‘The Wretched’ is Actually Mostly Pretty Un-Wretched”
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