Tag: Josh Ethier

BUDDY (2026)

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Directed By: Casper Kelly

Written By: Casper Kelly and Jamie King

Cinematography: Zach Kuperstein

Editor: Josh Ethier 

Cast: Delaney Quinn, Caleb Williams, Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key, Patton Oswalt, Michael Shannon, Clint Howard

A brave girl and her friends must escape a kids television show.

There are some movies where the less you know going in, the better. BUDDY is definitely one of them.

This is a film that can be ambiguous and awkward, but always feels just a bit off and creepy. Yet somewhat comfortable 

If you’re familiar with writer-director Casper Kelly’s short for ADULT SWIM, TOO MANY COOKS you may already have an idea of the kind of strange, unsettling sense of humor he brings to the table. That short took something as harmless and familiar as television opening themes and slowly revealed something much darker bubbling underneath. This film plays with that same idea of innocence turning increasingly… well, not so innocent. And this film is definitely out there.

The first fifteen minutes might test your patience or your willingness to go along with it. As we’re introduced to what appears to be an actual children’s television show. Episode after episode, everything seems cute, cheerful and perfectly harmless. Then, almost imperceptibly, things begin to feel a little wrong. And then a little more wrong. Before long, you realize you’re not watching the movie you thought you were watching.

I won’t say much more, because discovering where BUDDY goes is part of the fun. The film has an unusual way of withholding information, and by the time it reaches the end, it leaves you with more questions than answers. Normally that might frustrate me, but here I found myself wanting to know more.

That’s probably the nicest thing I can say about the film: I wanted more.

The recognizable adult cast is used barely, with the kids essentially carrying the movie. And despite the innocent looking premise, this is absolutely not a movie for children. There is some disturbing violence involving kids that will understandably be difficult for some viewers.

But what makes the film refreshing is that it never seems particularly interested in giving you exactly what you expect.

This isn’t your typical horror movie. In fact, some people may find that disappointing. There are moments when you expect the film to push things further, only for it to pull back and leave you wondering what exactly you just watched.

Personally, I appreciated that restraint.

BUDDY is disturbing, strange and occasionally bizarre, but there’s something wonderfully curious about it. It feels like a movie that wants you to think about it afterward rather than simply move on to the next thing.

Is it for everybody? Absolutely not, But maybe that’s part of why I liked it.

There’s something to be said for a movie that doesn’t completely explain itself, doesn’t follow the usual rules and leaves you just curious enough to want to step back into its world.

So if you’re looking for something familiar, predictable and comfortably within the lines, this  probably isn’t your movie. But if you’re willing to take a chance on something weird? Give it a try.

No matter what, I have a feeling you’ll remember it.

Grade: B+

ORPHAN: FIRST KILL (2022)

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Directed By: William Brent Bell
Written By: David Coggeshall
Story By: David Leslie Johnson-McColdrick 
Based on characters created By: Alex Mace
Cinematography: Karim Hussain
Editor: Josh Ethier 

Cast: Isabelle Fuhrman, Julia Stiles, Rossif Sutherland, Hiro Kanagawa, Matthew Finlan, Samantha Walles 

After orchestrating a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family.

A movie where It’s surprising success got a sequel or prequel trying to open it up into a franchise that is not needed or truly asked for.

So while it could easily be written off there is an attempt here that makes it not necessarily feel cheapened but an attempt to Make Something worthwhile.

While not great at least it tries not to be as surprising as the original but still manages to keep up the suspense and thrills. Now we are more in on the surprise to see how she works to stay ahead of those who suspect her and keep manipulating those around her. 

The second half of the film or truly the last third offer up a twist that is unexpected like the original, but enlivens the movie so that it doesn’t feel like more of the same. It makes the film worthwhile, adding a dimension you’re not expecting.

It has Villains underestimating each other until a confrontation is needed to show dominance. Where the film tries to make us have sympathy for a sociopath to a degree. Which began with showing how vicious she can be.

While the movie is certainly brutal to show the viciousness and evil it never feels unnecessary. 

Julia Stiles in yet another horror extension, but at least she is very good in this one and can understand why she choose this role. Reminds you of how good she can still be when given the right role 

As always in these movies the black character already suspects something is up And can see through the facade. 

The film makes every scene look hazy most of the time. Almost wish that this was a Brian DePalma movie.

How do you do that by having a psychopath go against people who are much worse?

A Little cheesy but worthwhile as it stays entertaining for the most part even if at times it feels trashy with a delectable shiny sheen and gloss Also shows how she knows she will never be accepted.

Maybe this sequel feels so good and refreshing as most likely going in you aren’t actually expecting as much especially when it comes to quality.

A prequel origin story where we learn the details of the fate of the characters we vaguely hear about in the first film. 

It gets very campy 

Grade: B-

CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS (2022)

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Written & Directed By: Joe Begos
Cinematography: Brian Sowell 
Editor: Josh Ethier 

Cast: Riley Dandy, Sam Delich, Jonah Ray, Dora Madison, Jeremy Gardner, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Abraham Benrubi, Graham Skipper, Kansas Bowling 

It’s Christmas Eve and Tori just wants to get drunk and party, but when a robotic Santa Claus at a nearby toy store goes haywire and begins a rampant killing spree through her small town, she’s forced into a battle for survival.

A punk rock trashy horror film, that indulges in all that is a naughty bit of violence and gore excessively. That plays as a slasher massacre for an hour.

While the first thirty minutes is what seems like an endless set-up of characters. As the reason for the killer, Santa Claus comes and goes so fast that it’s almost an afterthought. Then the film just goes forward with nary a hint of backstory.

It is obviously meant to be more of a love letter to 80’s horror films set during the holidays. Though it seems more like a quick exercise in excess.

A kind of anti-Christmas movie that does match the director Joe Begos’s style and interest. Which I am usually a fan of, but oddly doesn’t feel like it works this time all the way through. 

The Death scenes are more excessive than creative or too noteworthy. Luckily the film moves quickly and might remind the audience of a kind of rock n roll Rob Zombie horror film only without the more artistic flourishes and visions of grandeur. Though the director Begos does add slight sci-fi flavor or b-movie indulgence by making the killer Santa practically a more terrifying Terminator, only in a horror film. 

The film is modern but could be made in the 1980s trashy. So that it feels a bit retro. It seems like It’s going for fun at least in the first half of the film. As the first 20 minutes seem like exposition little of which ends up mattering. 

It seems an attempt to explore a friendship on the verge of becoming more. 

The film has low-budget action that keeps the audience interested with a high body count. That proves that no one is safe or sacred.

The film feels more like a film to watch to pass the time. A popcorn movie of sorts may be nice to play in the background. As it is easy to follow visually.

The film isn’t too inspired or inspiring. It actually feels like a quickie. It’s a movie, movie.  Nothing too deep is meant to be taken seriously. 

The conversations feel like Twitter-type ones. Where the dialogue is supposed to be cool but it never does. Even with hip characters. 

These horror films are supposed to be Empowering for women. All these skilled so-called warrior men in horror films. Who can barely stop the monster or slasher, maybe not even cause a dent, but a so-called regular woman who uses her head ends up defeating them in the end. Becoming the final girl. 

That character used to be kept virginal to make them Saintly or sex but diluting thoughts or bloodstream as well as a duality that was special or made them different. Usually, a way to please religious rights or moral codes is by being exploitative but the one pure makes it to the end. Even after the trauma of losing friends and/or family with great losses. A weird extreme scared straight. Here the female is sexual 

In the end, this should be a fun dream fantasy project, but it’s bogged down in bad dialogue. To lead to some uneventful hookup and a long introduction for disposable Characters where only one truly lasts.

Grade: D+