Scream (***1/2) is still Scream 5
The sins of this film are outweighed by a brisk pace and some pretty gruesome kills.
Nightmare Alley (***1/2) Life is a Carnival
There are no surprises. Just misery in waiting.
Christmas Terror Two: Fatman (***) and Krampus (***)
Two films for those who need horrid stories for Christmas.
The Girl Who Got Away (**) didn’t get far enough
There are no real jump scares or even surprises that land, but it’s good enough for a person who doesn’t expect much out of a rental.
Another Look at Wrong Turn (**) just lingers on Dushku
…unfortunately Dushku missed her Ripley opportunity.
Netflix There’s Someone Inside Your House (*) not worth noticing
For anyone who wondered why there haven’t been any ABC After School Specials featuring murder, I present this film.
Halloween Kills (*1/2) Aimless Love
The first thing one knows when going into the movie Halloween Kills is that, contrary to what Laurie Strode insists, there is a pretty sure bet that evil doesn’t die tonight.
Universal Pictures: Frankenstein stories
Walk through the past, when Frankenstien scared kids like my dad at age 5.
Netflix Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass (*****) undersells and over delivers
Flanagan is once more creating life out of illusion.
Halloween Michael Myers Series: The Rank and File
A review of the first 10 Michael Meyers film, complete with ranking.
Malignant (**) – Cut out the cancer
Malignant is a film where director, James Wan, takes a step back from the big budget and tries to reconnect with the genre of films that pushed him into the big budget stratosphere.
Candyman then (***1/2) and now (*****)
As it turns out, Marvel made the right choice. Candyman, the “spiritual” (instead of exploitive) sequel to the 1992 original, is superior in every way. In fact, this film is so good, it makes Bernard Rose’s film essential viewing, if only to complete the context.
Amazon’s The Tomorrow War (**1/2) stuck in reverse
If you make it through the agonizing first hour, you’ll have something on between The Thing and Starship Troopers.
Flashback (**) Handle your High
There is entirely too much flashing, and not enough here for which to back.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (**1/2) diminishing returns
It’s doubtful anyone will dislike this entry, beyond the afore-mentioned lack of lighting, but it’s also no sure bet that it will be nearly revisited as the first two films. Subtract half of a point for sadly wasting John Noble.
A Quiet Place Part II (***1/2) Dives a bit
The best thing about that first film, however, is the best thing about the second film: Millicent Simmonds.
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 