Author: jbg

CLUNY BROWN (1946)

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Directed By: Ernst Lubitsch

Written By: Samuel Hoffstein and Elizabeth Reinhardt 

Based on The Novel By: Margery Sharp

Cinematography: Joseph LaShalle

Editor: Dorothy Spencer 

Cast: Jennifer Jones, Charles Boyer, Peter Lawford, Helen Walker, Reginald Gardiner, Reginald Owen, Sir. C. Aubrey Smith, Richard Haydn 

Amateur plumber Cluny Brown gets sent off by her uncle to work as a servant at an English country estate. While there, she becomes friendly with Adam Belinski, a charming Czech refugee. She also becomes interested in a dull shopkeeper named Mr. Wilson. Belinski soon falls in love with Cluny and tries to keep her from marrying Wilson.

Sadly this was the last film director Ernst Lubitsch finished on his own before passing. Away the following year, though he went out with a bang in this it seems lesser known or at least lesser talked about classic film. 

It feels like this film has so much in entendre throughout the film, (there is a character actually named Betty Cream, played by the scene stealing beauty Helen Walker) but still manages to be heartwarming as it is charming with sharp dialogue and has an innocence, whereas overall it feels more fluffy than serious

Jennifer jones has a star making role as the title character. A naïve tomboy. Trying to find her place in the world where she won’t be taking advantage of. Our character is still hopes and the way Jones player in the role is so winning.

At first, you’re not sure where this film is going or what the story will be until she arrives roughly about 10 minutes into the film. After that, it mostly never leaves her and even when it does, it’s usually characters talking about her. Not to mention. You have to admire lady who masters a true trade

And also offers something you don’t see too much more in films, where a film is more written around a character or a characters and whoever is the star of the film really gets to make an impression throughout.

Charles Boyer’ character at first was annoying, but you were to a charms, especially considering most of the other characters are so stiff and dull. Though at first, you wonder if he’s just a con man and then you realize he might not be, but he mostly is getting what he wants and being quite the rascal doing it, especially while putting the other characters in their places for the most part

What I enjoy about the films that each character gets their time to shine maybe not in quite star making, but each of them has their own scene to shine in that really defines their character be more comedic or more serious

The film is witty and warm. As after all, it is a comedy of manners and errors with real world historical references that were modern at the time that make the film feel a bit more real, even if it feels more like a fantasy set in the real world at times.

A lesser known film that makes magic out of a little and a few details. Then again look at who directed it. He had that kind of touch with most of his films. 

Very old school of quality that is plenty of fun it takes its time to get there. Though classic that can play for the whole family. The adults will probably appreciate the film more 

In the end, bringing a love story romance for most even where it doesn’t necessarily feel like it belongs. You can see why it’s a classic.

Grade: B 

MAYDAY (2026)

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Written & Directed By: John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein 

Cinematography: Barry Peterson 

Editor: Jamie Gross and John Lee 

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh, Marcin Dorocinski, Maria Bakalova, David Morse, Clark Johnson, Wendy Crewson, Josh Hamilton

Lieutenant Troy Brennan takes part in a top secret surveillance mission over Soviet airspace. Things take a sharp turn, however, when he is forced to eject from his plane over the Russian wilderness. He is rescued by a paradoxical Russian native and the two begin to appreciate both their differences and commonalities.

There are some movies you finish and immediately think, “Well… that was fine.” And honestly, that’s probably the best way to describe this one.

I went into it expecting something disposable, and while it certainly isn’t reinventing the action-comedy wheel, I have to admit that I had a decent time with it. 

because this is very much a paint-by-numbers kind of movie. You’ve seen this story before. You’ve seen these characters before. You can practically see some of the plot turns coming from the next room.

But every once in a while, it has just enough personality to keep itself from becoming completely forgettable.

Ryan Reynolds is interesting here because, thankfully, this isn’t quite the Ryan Reynolds we’ve seen a million times before. He still has that familiar rhythm and personality, but instead of firing off a wisecrack every thirty seconds, a lot of his humor comes through his reactions to the increasingly ridiculous situations around him. He almost becomes the audience surrogate. The guy looking at everything happening around him and thinking, “Are we seriously doing this?” surprisingly, that works.

Kenneth Branagh, meanwhile, is doing a lot of the heavy lifting literally. He’s getting into the action himself, which is something I’m not particularly accustomed to seeing from him. At this point in his career, watching Branagh throw himself around in an action movie is kind of charming. I don’t know if he’s channeling Sean Connery, taking notes from Liam Neeson, or simply having a really good time, but the man deserves some credit. He’s surprisingly convincing.

Branagh has directed action before, of course, with films like THOR and JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT. So this isn’t exactly unfamiliar territory for him. But seeing him actually inhabit this kind of older action-hero role is one of the more entertaining aspects of the movie.

The problem is that the rest of the film doesn’t exactly rise to their level.

It feels like the kind of movie that probably explains why it ended up on streaming rather than in theaters. There’s supposedly an epic quality to the story, much of it set against Cold War-era Russia, the KGB, and all the usual ingredients for a big, muscular action thriller. Yet somehow, everything feels surprisingly muted.

The movie is set in the 1980s, which at least gives it an excuse to use Russia and the KGB as its primary villains without having to invent some overly complicated modern conspiracy. But even with that built-in atmosphere, the film rarely feels as big as it seems to think it is.

And then there’s the strange feeling that Ryan Reynolds could almost be replaced by just about anybody. He’s not bad. He’s just… there.

Considering how naturally Reynolds fits into buddy comedies, you would think this would be tailor-made for him. But the movie never quite gives him enough material to bring his usual gravitas or comedic energy. Instead, he’s mostly along for the ride.

Oddly enough, the whole thing reminded me of BEHIND ENEMY LINES, except somebody decided to make this movie more of a buddy comedy and turn down the action just a little.

maybe that’s why I didn’t hate it.

It’s familiar, but it’s not completely lifeless. It’s basic, but it occasionally has some spirit. It doesn’t offer much you haven’t seen before, but it at least tries to put a slightly different spin on a very familiar formula.

It’s perfectly watchable, occasionally fun, and elevated by a couple of performances that are more entertaining than the material itself. But once the credits roll, I’m not sure there’s much left to say other than, “Yep. That was a movie.”

Not bad. Not great. Just ok 

Grade: C

MOTHER MARY (2026)

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Written, Edited & Directed By: David Lowery 

Cinematography: Andrew Droz Palermo and Rina Yang

Cast: Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, Fka Twigs, Hunter Shaffer, Sian Clifford, Jessica Brown Findlay, Kaia Gerber, Alba Baptists 

Long-buried wounds rise to the surface when iconic pop star Mother Mary reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer, Sam Anselm, on the eve of her comeback performance.

This is a movie that one didn’t dislike and found fascination at times within it, though at some parts of the film, found myself struggling to meet the film, even halfway

There’s clearly a lot happening here, and I admire what writer-director David Lowery is trying to do. The acting is strong, the visuals are inventive, and even the situations themselves feel inspired. There’s a real dramatic idea underneath all of it. The problem is that, somewhere along the way, you start wondering why are you still sitting here waiting for it to fully arrive.

The first half really catches you attention. There’s an energy and mystery to it that makes one curious about where it was going. But by the middle, that curiosity began turning into patience. The second half starts to feel a little empty and monotonous, and while the film continues to look beautiful, the visuals sometimes feel like they’re doing more of the heavy lifting than the story.

And yet, I can’t say I didn’t appreciate it.

This is essentially constructed like a play: a limited location, a handful of actors, and a story that depends heavily on the relationships between them. But Lowery finds clever ways to make the world feel larger than the space we’re actually in. There’s imagination here, and I have to applaud that. This is clearly one of those more personal, artistic projects where a filmmaker is allowed to follow his instincts rather than simply give us what we expect.

The film also leaves plenty of room for interpretation. You can read it as a story about collaboration, ambition, loss, regret, or the complicated ways people remain connected even after they’ve spent years apart. There’s a particularly interesting feeling of loss running underneath everything. The sense that these characters have both lost something important and are still trying to figure out whether they can somehow get a piece of it back.

And then there’s Michaela Coel, who is fantastic.

She has a presence that immediately pulls you in, and she gives the film an emotional center that it desperately needs. I honestly just want to see Michaela Coel in more things. She’s one of those performers who can make you interested simply by watching her think. She walks away with the movie. As I am a fan of her other work, obviously 

I really wanted to love this film. I admire its ambition, its originality, and the fact that it actually has something to say. I just wish there were more movie in between all those ideas.

Maybe that’s partly on me. This is the kind of film that asks you to meet it on its own terms, sit with its rhythms, and decide for yourself what it means. And perhaps I simply wasn’t in the mood for that particular challenge.

I can absolutely see myself revisiting the film years from now and appreciating it differently. It’s divisive, certainly, but it’s also the kind of film that gives people something to argue about afterward and honestly, I’ll take that over a movie I completely forget five minutes after leaving the theater.

So while I respect what Mother Mary is attempting, and I genuinely admire the vision behind it, I can’t quite give it the glowing review I wanted to.

It’s ambitious. It’s beautiful. It’s original. I just wish it had given me a little more to hold onto.

Grade: C

THE ROOM NEXT DOOR (2024)

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Written & Directed By: Pedro Almodovar 

Based on the Novel “WHAT ARE YOU GOING THROUGH” By: Sigrid Nunez 

Cinematography: Edu Grau 

Editor: Teresa Font 

Cast: Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Alessandro Nivola, Juan Diego Botto, Alex Hogh Andersen, Victoria Luengo, Esther McGregor

Ingrid and Martha were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation.

This isn’t a bad film. In fact, it’s almost frustrating that it isn’t, because there’s so much to admire here, and yet so little that I actually connected with.

Every frame is beautiful. The colors, compositions, interiors, costumes, and carefully chosen shots often look like paintings. There’s a rhythm to it, too, almost like a beautifully directed stage production. But after a while, It started feeling less like one was watching a movie and more like I was visiting a very expensive museum exhibit And while appreciated, just wasn’t necessarily having a good time.

The biggest problem for me is that the dialogue often feels written rather than spoken. The characters seem to deliver information rather than reveal emotion. It’s almost like reading a very wordy novel where the author tells you everything, leaving you to create the images and feelings yourself. Except this is a movie Qqand Pedro Almodóvar is giving us all those images already.

There are moments of genuine beauty and meaning, but emotionally, the film feels strangely cold. Almost like a modern 1950s melodrama that forgot to turn up the melodrama.

And that’s particularly disappointing because Almodóvar is one of my favorite filmmakers. He has always had this wonderful ability to make chaos feel ordinary, make the mundane feel fascinating, and turn emotional extremes into something colorful, funny, messy, and alive.

Here, everything feels much more controlled.

Almost too controlled.

The film eventually becomes monotonous, like listening to someone tell you a story when you keep waiting for them to finally get to the point and then realizing you’re not particularly interested in the point.

I also couldn’t shake the feeling that this was partly an appreciation piece for its two magnificent leading actresses. If you’re already a fan of them, there’s plenty here to admire. And honestly, they deserve to be celebrated. But the movie sometimes feels more devoted to their presence than interested in giving us something emotionally involving around them.

It’s gorgeous. It’s sophisticated. It’s carefully constructed. There’s absolutely nothing technically wrong with it And maybe that’s the problem.

I kept waiting for the movie to surprise me, move me, shake me or at least make me feel something beyond “That’s a lovely shot.”

It almost feels like watching a Vogue fashion spread: beautifully designed, impeccably photographed, sophisticated enough to discuss over cocktails, but after a while you’re wondering where the actual story went.

Ultimately, The film feels like a film to study, admire, dissect, and appreciate more than one to simply enjoy And maybe that’s exactly what Almodóvar intended.

But for me, it was like going on a date with someone who has plenty of qualities you admire. They’re intelligent, beautiful, interesting, accomplished, and probably wonderful to other people. There just isn’t any chemistry. So you wish them well And if everyone else wants to rave about them, I won’t argue.

Though by the end if you can afford it. You want to know who the interior designer and costume designer were. As those are immaculate. 

Grade: B- 

GIRLS LIKE GIRLS (2026)

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Directed By: Hayley Kiyoko  

Written By: Hayley Kiyoko and Stephanie Scott 

Story by: Chloe Okuno and Hayley Kiyoko 

Cinematography: Sonia Tsypin 

Editor: Christine Armstrong and Sabine Hoffman 

Cast: Maya Da Costa, Myra Molloy, Zach Braff, Levon Hawke, Alozie LaRose, Sierra Sidwell, Hunter Dillon, Sophia Carriere, Alexa Mareka 

Coley, 17, from rural Oregon, navigates intimacy after her mother’s passing. Meeting Sonya sparks new feelings, but self-doubt hinders their connection. Sonya, unfamiliar with dating girls, is uncertain. They learn to embrace emotions.

The film is light and airy feeling like a perfect summer romance 

A nostalgic throwback that feels modern but yet would fit in the early 2000’s in which it’s set 

Wondering if it is autobiographical fantasy for the Writer- Director Hayley Kioko from her song and music video it seems a full length feature extension from. 

It works as a typical romantic film that just happens to be queer or a queer awakening film that lends itself more to a paperback romantic novel origins. As the film feels like, The type that this is adapted from by the writer director who also wrote the original novel.

The films easy to watch you can’t help but route for the main characters and their back stories are handled with care that seem to be heavy and emotion, but very light material wise all the two girls bond and are left in their own world. There is no bullying there doesn’t seem to be prejudice from any friends or family so really the only challenge throughout the film seems to be being emotionally available and open to one another and trust there’s nothing or no one in the outside world really challenging this romance.

As throughout the film, it seems like the main character played By Maya Da Costa seems to be the one who is facing the most challenge of letting go and growing up and living her life and not staying mentally in her sorrow.

It also doesn’t hurt that everything in this film is very pretty. So there’s nothing that’s ugly or mean spirited and there’s nothing bad to look at as most of the cast is beautiful as are the locations and the town that they’re staying in. The cast is lovingly diverse. It’s one of those dream towns where everyone seems cool with everything. No prejudice, no class struggles, no bigotry. So the film won’t offend anyone and one can see why some might be attracted to it.

There is a slightly romantic rival, and once they are with them instead of the scenes, seeming as romantic beautifully shot and intense, there’s a coldness in a practicality that feels cold and a little bit of disgust. 

It’s an assured debut by Director, Hayley Kioko, who keeps it light and sweet with a little bit of death and is quite assured behind the camera as an actress and musician. She seems to have learned and picked up the necessary skill and await what her next film will be here she shows she has the goods to continue along this path.

Happy this got a limited release theatrically though really the material feels more like a streaming or the type that these days would be more streaming original only because it’s a little more lightweight, which isn’t unexpected watching the trailer

The film is more likable than one might expect

Grade: C+

SHE’S THE HE (2026)

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Written, Edited & Directed By: Siobhan McCarthy 

Cinematography: Bethany Michalski

Cast: Nico Carney, Misha Osherovich, Malia Pyles, Suzanne Cryer, Tatiana Ringsby, Mark Indelicato, Emmett Preciado, Aparna Nancherla 

Before graduation, Ethan and Alex pose as trans women in a last ditch effort to quell gay rumors. It’s all a joke until Ethan realizes: she really is trans. The two must reckon with their changing friendship, coming out, and coming-of-age.

This is a Queer film where the leads are trans and, Non-Binary. Which there isn’t a problem because  there are such few films and representation for them. So at least here they get a chance to beat themselves or speak for themselves.

As the two leads who are non-binary and trans, are supposed to play their roles as straight boys trying to disguise themselves as trans to save themselves and to try and get one of their dream girls to fall in love with them go through that process one discovers that they might actually be trans themselves and is not pretending as much.

The film is mostly a comedy and plays out like one of those teen comedies from the 80s 90s or even 2000s or logic. It’s thrown out the door, but which sounds like a good plan works and goes as well as satirizing high school movies in general straight and queer.

What shocked me here was not the comedy which is a little like the recent film BOTTOMS but without as big of a budget, it was the heart and emotion that this film has it’s not played out throughout, but it is an essential part of the film, which is the film’s heartbeat which truly is what saves the film. As it helps cover up the low budget technical shortcomings and presentation. 

As, if this film had just been straight comedy, it would’ve worked, but it wouldn’t have felt necessarily as worth the story or the fountain as it gets you the audience at certain moments that prove to be universal and truly show the depth of the characters and the situations they find themselves in. While swimming in the Moore, universal broad comedy aspects of it all.

This is an unexpected delight that I think people

Should give a chance to, and maybe it will open up their ways of thinking to acceptance and support for the LGBTQ+ community and understand the challenges and fears that they go through.

It’s a film that can be both educational and fun for the audience other than language maybe should be aimed or show more teenagers as it’s appeal seems to be aimed at them a little more

Not to mention is definitely very quotable. 

Grade: B- 

THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (2026)

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Directed By: Aaron Hogarth, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc, Fabien Pollack 

Written By: Matthew Fogel 

Editor: Eric Osmond 

Cast: (Voices of) Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Glen Powell, Donald Glover, Keegan-Michael Key, Brie Larson, Benny Safdie, Luis Guzman, Issa Rae, Kevin Michael Richardson 

Mario ventures into space, exploring cosmic worlds and tackling galactic challenges far from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom.

Did we need a sequel to the original movie? No, but considering it’s box office,  we knew there would be one eventually. Plus it’s a franchise just as there are so many SUPER MARIO BROTHERS. You knew this would probably come along which at least expand on the super Mario world in the first place and ads familiar faces with some new from the super Mario Brothers lore.

Though again this film feels so unnecessary. Almost like filler, that I am hoping it might be recruitment for kids who it’s obviously more aimed that and giving something to die hard Mario brothers fans the world over. 

As the first film felt like the film we all wanted back when the game was popular and when they came up with that disappointing live action movie this sequel just feels while quirky on autopilot as it’s not as much fun. The story is kind of hazy and just a reason to put these characters all back together. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I can’t say it’s as fun or entertaining unfortunately, kind of takes away from the first one or reminds you how much you liked the first one and why can’t this one be just as fun. 

The film stays cute though never quite necessary. Sometimes it’s actually even fun, but it does remind me of that BABE sequel; BABE: PIG IN THE CITY where babe doesn’t even really talk or if he does, he says very few words it seemed like with the first film the voice actors managed to make their characters be felt here. It just feels like they have less to say or at least less humor and more definitely dependent on actions and silly physical scenes more. not to mention the addition of just more characters and celebrity voices.

It’s better than when there would be an unenthusiastic straight to streaming your home video animated sequel as this is definitely big and grand. It just doesn’t feel as much fun or inventive as the first film maybe as it came along too fast and didn’t have time to really consider a storyline or wanted to keep it then just so we could stay with the characters and hope that would satiate the audience and the fans.

At least the score helps lift the overall tone. Even if it is mostly memorable music from the video games.

For the fans, I believe this song will be possibly enough, but if you’re not really in the super Mario Brothers, I feel like this will kind of be even more disappointing.

Grade: C

RUTHLESS (2023)

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Directed By: Art Camacho

Written By: Art Camacho, James Dean Simington, Javier Reyna and Koji Steven Sakai 

Cinematography: Brandon Ruiz 

Editor: Rylan Rafferty 

Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Jeff Fahey, Mauricio Mendoza, Melissa Diaz, Keisa Elwin, Tonantzin Esparza, Texas Battle, Manu Intiraymi 

A high school coach, whose teenage daughter was murdered, takes matters into his own hands by going after the men who kidnapped his student for their human trafficking operation.

it’s rare to see Dermot Mulroney play a leading role and it’s definitely a rarity for him to play in action hero leading role. At first being a vigilante and then it seems like seeking revenge and to tell you the truth this film feels like it was more written for Steven Seagal, only because Dermot Mulroney‘s character seems to have no sense of humor is always straight to the point and has a hankering for loving to break arms, wrists, rather than just go for the kill which becomes a kind of dark humor flight in this world

The rest of the story is paint by numbers and mostly predictable. It does offer a few little twist towards the end, but for the most part, you know what’s going to happen. This film also has to have a record for most people injured, but not killed in an action film b on-screen. 

This is the type of film that would’ve played on a Friday or Saturday night on HBO as an original action film for them, though it might’ve had a few more stars in the film other than Moroney and Jeff Fahey. Which might be why I have a particular weakness for the film as it’s kind of nostalgic for me at least. 

There are many scenes and this film that are over the top and a bit ridiculous that only add to making this a guilty pleasure. I didn’t say a guilty pleasure but definitely a guilty pleasure as it gets more silly as it seems to go along now Moroney is perfectly cast in the lead role and you just wish the script was there for him a bit more and support in store.

As one wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel to this chest, hopefully a little bit stronger in the writing as this film would’ve been more of a showcase if we had more regular or had as many action heroes from the past nowadays it’s more about actors so they are the new action heroes but they wanna show range and not in that position. They didn’t mind trying to stretch, but they knew what their job was and the roles they were most likely always going to get.

Can’t really say that any action sequences are that memorable they’re believable enough, even though in some you can see the Korea geography, and the waiting for the hit to be thrown and for some that will make it more realistic, and for others, they’ll seem too slow and unstylish as they don’t like to see the seems 

If you’re just looking for something that’s entertaining, it isn’t really gonna make you think and you’re just a really bad Dermot Mulroney fan. This is the movie for you.

Grade: C

LOU (2022)

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Directed By: Anna Foerster

Written By: Maggie Cohn And Jack Stanley 

Story By: Maggie Cohn 

Cinematography: Michael McDonough 

Editor: Matt Evans and Paul Tothill

Cast: Allison Janney, Jurnee Smollett, Ridley Asha Bateman, Logan Marshall-Green, Matt Craven, Daniel Bernhardt, Greyston Holt, RJ Metherstonhaugh 

As a massive storm rages, a young girl is kidnapped. With no other option, her mother teams up with the mysterious older woman next door to pursue the kidnapper. The journey through the wilderness will test the women’s limits and expose dark and shocking secrets from their pasts.

There’s a very specific subgenre of action movie that has become increasingly common over the last decade: the “serious, award-winning older actor decides to punch people for two hours” movie. Usually it’s Liam Neeson, sometimes it’s other veteran male stars looking for a late-career reinvention or at least a reliable paycheck. Lou is essentially the female version of that formula, with the always-great Allison Janney stepping into the role of grizzled action hero.

And honestly? On paper, that sounds great.

Watching Janney play against type. armed, dangerous, and trudging through a stormy wilderness to rescue a kidnapped child is the film’s biggest hook. There’s something genuinely fun about seeing an Oscar-winning dramatic actress suddenly become an unlikely action star. It’s refreshing. It’s different. It should work.

Unfortunately, LOU wastes most of that goodwill by being painfully generic.

The film tries to downplay the novelty of having an older female action lead, which is admirable in theory. it doesn’t want applause just for existing. But in doing so, it forgets to be memorable in any other way. The plot is so basic and familiar that you can predict nearly every beat before it happens. It feels assembled from leftover parts of better thrillers.

Worse, the movie seems to realize how routine it is and starts throwing in twist after twist to compensate. But instead of making things more exciting, those twists become increasingly absurd less “shocking revelation” and more “wait… what?” By the end, the film becomes almost laughably convoluted, trying so hard to surprise you that it stops making sense.

Which is frustrating, because the action itself is actually pretty solid. Director Anna Foerster stages several tense, rough-and-tumble sequences that work well. The stormy Pacific Northwest setting gives the movie an atmospheric edge, and when fists start flying or arrows start landing, the film briefly wakes up.

But those moments are too few.

Even the cast seems only partially invested. Jurnee Smollett does what she can, and Janney remains watchable because she’s Allison Janney and seemingly incapable of being bad, but much of the supporting cast looks like they’re simply fulfilling a contract. Everyone involved deserves better material.

That’s what makes Lou such a disappointment. It had a clever premise: an older woman as the hardened action lead, rewriting a familiar male fantasy. That alone should have made it stand out. Instead, it settles for being a serviceable streaming thriller competent enough to fill 100 minutes, forgettable enough to disappear from memory by the next day.

A missed opportunity. Not terrible. Just aggressively average.

Grade: D+

PRIMATE (2026)

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Directed By: Johannes Roberts 

Written By: Johannes Roberts and Ernest Riera 

Cinematography: Stephen Murphy 

Editor: Peter Gvozdas

Cast: Tony Kotsur, Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Charlie Mann, Tienne Simon 

Looking forward to a relaxing vacation with friends, Lucy returns to her cliffside home in Hawaii after her first year of college. After all, with her father away on business, they have the house all to themselves. However, their reunion takes a dark turn when Ben, the family’s beloved chimpanzee, begins to show strange aggression. As Ben becomes an unpredictable threat to humans, Lucy must find a way to escape the raging primate and survive the night. But what good is fighting back when pinned down by a brutal force of nature?

Out of all the monkey movies that I have seen, this might be a favor only because it is truly a guilty pleasure.

The film tries to put everything together like it makes sense but when you try to describe the plot to someone and what happens in the story, it just sounds so ridiculous even if it is rather simple.

This film is basically if they made a sequel to Stephen King’s CUJO only with a monkey, because it’s pretty much kind of the same story only more victims and ways in which to bring more victims, a kind of standoff of trying to survive, and then a final confrontation where winner takes all.

This is good if you really just wanna watch a horror movie that’s just brutal. As that is one of the most impressive aspects of the film are the special effects. Especially the Gore effects and it’s graphic violence. This is also a film that has plenty of jump scares, which actually helps this is one of those more classic horror film formulas. Which is meant to scare an unnerve, and it works for the most part.

It’s just not that smart, but luckily it gets to the point rather fast. This isn’t a film where we spend the first half getting to know the character is getting to know the monkey and then realize something must be wrong and then the second half is more of a thriller. Which realizes what it is and tries to get to the point. It’s pretty much a B-movie in glossy clothing. In other words, a low browse satisfactory popcorn movie thank you. Will most likely forget soon after.

The film doesn’t have any real stars, but it does put Academy Award-winning Tony Kotsur in a pivotal role for the film as he is probably the biggest name in the cast. Next to a rather odd uncredited actor here for a cameo mysteriously.

This is The first johannes Roberts film I have enjoyed since THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT and he has made a bunch of film since then.

Though with most of the victims at first seeming to be female, but then they try to even it up by adding males, which they set up early in the script. It does end up becoming equal as at first it would seem rather sexist that all the females would be in peril and be getting killed off and increasingly brutal ways.

The film even has its first scene which is a death scene that takes place actually later in time in the film, but yet is the opening scene meant to grab your attention. Why not just have him murder another random person for that opening scene and then keep the other attendants peril for when it naturally happens in the story it’s just a weird edit

If you are a horror fan, I would say check this film out, but definitely don’t pay for it. Watch it for free streaming. Where you can and you can pretty much put it on for the background. Though it wouldn’t hurt to pay attention. Even if you know where it is going. As it doesn’t break any new ground you’re just surprised at how violent it actually gets as it seemed more shocked, like a PG-13 extravaganza and ends up a hard one, but for violence mostly.

It stays entertaining throughout and is never boring

Grade: C