My life at the movies.
Directed by Michael Dougherty. Starring Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, and Allison Tolman.
“Santa’s Shadow” Krampus and his nightmarish helpers descend on a dysfunctional suburban family. Great creature effects and solid performances compensate for an unfocused script that lacks resonance.
Directed by Jalmari Helander. Starring Jorma Tommila, Onni Tommila, Peeter Jakobi, and Tommi Korpela.
Bad title, good movie.
Okay, the title’s great once you’ve seen the movie, but as an attractor, it falls short. Might I suggest You Better Watch Out instead? Continue reading...
Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis, and Johnny Galecki.
I wanted to give this one five stars. I saw it in theaters during its original run. It’s a holiday tradition. A must-watch every Christmas. Except, it isn’t. I’ve only watched it two times in the last eight years. While I love it, Christmas Vacation is not aging well. Continue reading...
Directed by Karyn Kusama. Starring Logan Marshall-Green, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Michiel Huisman, and Tammy Blanchard.
Logan Marshall-Green plays a man invited to his estranged ex’s house for a dinner party. He brings his new girlfriend. As the evening unfolds, he withdraws, suspecting something sinister afoot. Is he right, or has his own troubled past caught up with him? Continue reading...
Directed by Drew Goddard. Starring Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, and Fran Kranz.
Five college kids head out for a weekend in a remote cabin secluded deep in the woods, where one unleashes a supernatural evil. Continue reading...
Directed by Ivan Kavanagh. Starring Rupert Evans, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Hannah Hoekstra, and Kelly Byrne.
Rupert Evans plays a film archivist worried his supermodelesque wife is cheating on him. When she turns up missing, he suspects a malignant force living in the walls of his home. Continue reading...
Directed by Niels Arden Oplev. Starring Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Ewa Fröling, and Lena Endre.
Michael Nyqvist plays a disgraced journalist recruited by an aging tycoon to investigate a forty-year-old murder. Noomi Rapace, in a fearless performance, plays a troubled investigator drawn to Nyqvist and his investigation.
More mystery than thriller, the competent cast and location photography held my interest, but couldn’t overcome the low narrative stakes.
Directed by Sidney J. Furie. Starring Barbara Hershey, Ron Silver, David Labiosa, and George Coe.
On the surface, The Entity tells the story of single mom Barbara Hershey who finds herself under repeated, violent sexual assault from an unseen force. But just below said surface lies a scathing indictment of the patriarchy. Continue reading...
Directed by Ingmar Bergman. Starring Holger Löwenadler, Anna Lindahl, Birger Malmsten, and Gertrud Fridh.
The opening shot of a freighter sailing into port under lightning-streaked skies looked so artificial, I wondered if it was intentional. Continue reading...
Directed by Christopher MacBride. Starring Aaron Poole, James Gilbert, and Peter Apostolopoulos.
Two young documentary filmmakers focusing on conspiracy theories stumble upon a centuries-old cult comprising the world’s most powerful people. Continue reading...
