Tag: THRILLER

THE LAUGHING WOMAN (1969)

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Written & Directed By: Piero Schivazappa

Cinematography: Carlo Achilli and Sante Achilli 

Editor: Carlo Reali

Cast: Philippe Leroy, Dagmar Lassander, Lorenza Gueirieri, Valo Soleri, Maria Cumani Quasimodo, Mirella Pamphili 

Doctor Sayer, esteemed director of a philanthropic institution, hides a misogynistic and sexophobic personality to which he gives vent to weekends, dedicating himself in his isolated villa to sadistic games in the company of professionals expert in satisfying similar inclinations and staging their death in ways more imaginative. Taking advantage of the visit of one of his employees, Mary, decides to move from fiction to reality, imprisoning the woman and subjecting her to physical and psychological torture.

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Done with great style and craftsmanship, this film is more of a battle of the sexes type movie. As it plays like pop art and is filmed like a Giallo. 

Where a young woman falls under the spell of a masochist male and while catering to his every fetishistic whims.

He eventually does fall in love with her. Where we wonder by the end whonrealyl has the power and who was truly in control.

The film Does have some racy sex scenes that are titillating and also torturous. Making thaincoen across as FIFTY SHADES OF GREY way earlier. 

As this is like watching a porno with a plot only without any hardcore sex scenes. So that the thrills in this film is how far will it or the actors go. 

The soundtrack matches it scene by scene 

Though there truly seems to be very little going on and not much story. As the film seems to want tonturn you and and find thrills. As it tries to portray a cynical love story of sorts. That comes across as a thriller at times That sadly truly doesn’t have that much to say or offer.

It’s an erotic drama, or you could even say erotic thriller, though at heart this truly could’ve been more of an adult film with hard-core scenes as that seems to be its appeal because even the storyline is a little thin to make excuses for the places it goes, and there is supposedly an emotional component that it doesn’t feel that deep, But one could see how maybe the writer or director is trying to show a difference or how sex and emotions are linked for certain people.

Don’t exactly know what the film is trying to say. Doesn’t want us to watch all the pain this woman goes through and then pull the rug from Under us so that we watch as she survives but conquers and never was the victim At all? Though i’m sure certainly racy at the time. Now you just marvel at the production design and marvel at what they got away with.

As the film feels like a film not brave enough to be a full porno. So instead it tries to add a thin plot and stylish shots. That pornos of the time had, but maybe they wanted to put this out as a thriller. As it contains plenty of erotic scenes but while short you also hope that it is going to be a bout a little more. So don’t come into this film expecting too much more than titilation. So much so it feels more like a fetish film more than a feature film. 

Though with only the main two actors in the erotic scenes if it was a porno. It would ag e to have the audience focused on the main actors and being attracted to them. As there are barely any others to distract or pair off with. So it’s more a couples movie, hence romantic. 

This is the kind of film you would stay up late to watch as a kid on cable.

Grade: C+

MEGAN 2.0 (2025)

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Written & Directed By: Gerard Johnstone 

Story By: Gerard Johnstone And Akela Cooper

Based in characters created by: Akela Copper and James Wan

Cinematography: Toby Oliver 

Editor: Jeff McEvoy 

Cast: Alison Williams, Violet McGraw, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Ivana Sakhno, Aristotle Athari, Jemaine Clement, Timm Sharp 

Two years after M3GAN’s rampage, her creator, Gemma, resorts to resurrecting her infamous creation in order to take down Amelia, the military-grade weapon who was built by a defense contractor who stole M3GAN’s underlying tech.

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The first film was more of a campy guilty pleasure so I have no idea why they decided to make this film more of a sci-fi action movie. The least they could’ve done was if it was going to be action make the death or kill scenes maybe be a bit more horrific and violent. 

Watching this film, it’s a pale comparison as they do hear what most equals do it’s bigger. You can definitely tell that there was more money spent that has more of an epic vision but even the camping seems preplanned rather than just coming out of nowhere even worse they don’t even have Megan do her dance. It plays during the credits, but you can tell it’s not like she develops a new dance or even come up with a reason for it.

One of the first things you notice watching the film is Is there enough foreshadowing here? (said ironically) then One can’t decide if this movie is too long as it feels like an epic or if it’s Long enough, you just feel the length. Because it doesn’t fill it effecintely enough.

The film plays the middle field where it feels like an R Rated film but seems to stay in the vicinity of PG-13.

The film stays very convaluted where you wonder sometimes where is this going and does it have to be this complicated, but then again when the threat goes from more personal and domestic to almost worldwide. It can’t be too simple. While the film’s tries to offer the audience more comedy and thrills mixed together then the original. That is what the film’s weakness seems to be. In that it tries fan service and abandons its roots. Rather then staying true to itself and building to bigger badder type of thriller with a higher body count of characters you care about.

Just as it seems the returning supporting characters one gets more sceeen time while the other gets around the same as the first one and whose fate ends up questionable by the end of the movie. As it never makes clear or brings back the character. Making them ultimately disposable. It feels like the film isnsay oman you should be thankful to be here. 

One of the reasons why it might not be as strong. Is that the original screenwriter didn’t write this film. Akela cooper helped with the story but left the major scripting to the franchise’s director. Who didn’t write the first film? 

I was going to do a video about why Megan 2.0 bombed but producer Jason, Bloom of Bloom house pretty much hit the nail right on the head when he said no this isn’t a quote but pretty much the information was they put too much faith into the character and the characters following so that they thought they could do anything they wanted to do with the character and the audience would follow up And it ended up being a case of putting too much on the shoulders of the this little film

Which was originally just a surprise and understandable why they would wanna make a sequel but one of the points I was going to make you wanna put it in the summer when it was a hit in January which usually means there was nothing better out and this was the best that was around And did was hit a power hit like it did, but I think that was because it came out of nowhere and it surprisingly campy and fun for what was supposed to be a horror film

Even though it was more lightweight but requirements of fitting even when I watched it and I liked it, I thought it was lightweight. It could’ve been. I don’t know if it took off, particularly with younger audiences to for that PG-13 rating to really make a difference, but the unrated version which is basically added blood in a little bit more violence Seem to be release the audience

Now the film was successful and had a following yet it seems like they made it into more of an action comedy. The film is a little bit more in the still keeping that camp looking like a blatant copy of terminator too and it way. 

The magic of the original was that this campiness came out of nowhere and what was supposed to be atmosphere at that and for people who didn’t regularly go see her it was perfect because it was her almost like a Mocktail has no liquor, but the delicious taste of cocktail. They’re having fun with necessarily being on all the time, especially if it didn’t start so that was another factor of why the film bombed. 

Also it proves that MEGAN, the movie was more of like a phenomenon. It wasn’t necessarily a cult and it wasn’t popular enough or that the following people were demanding I’m wondering how this does for the Megan spin off they had planned or if that’s been canceled. 

Also didn’t know that This movie was coming out in the summer. where it’s going up against heavy hitters and the trailer didn’t make anybody wanna run to the theater so this is where the day and date or a movie and it being available pretty much like 4 to 6 weeks later actually hurts films like these because even if you are a fan of the first film and maybe had interest in seeing the sequel just wait and watch it on demand streaming as that is the quality and that this film looks like it’s not something you wanna rush out to go see it for movies and theaters like a movie you could wait for. I’m happy I saw on the big screen if I had a theater I definitely could’ve waited for just entertained 

The first one was a fluke that it was a hit in the first place and I can understand it got a small crowd behind it a fascination, so that you knew the sequel would eventually come out, but the man came out and then switching genres even Jason Blum agreed now was a bad idea.

If they were going to do that make sure you had a strong audience that would follow the franchise and characters wherever it went. As obviously the following wasn’t that strong and it even came out at the right time as far as how many years had passed but the wrong season. 

Which pretty much explains it all. 

Grade: C- 

OPUS (2025)

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Written & Directed By: Mark Anthony Green

Cinematography: Tommy Maddox-Upshaw

Editor: Ernie Gilbert

Cast: Ayo Edibiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Tony Hale, Stephanie Suganami, Melissa Chambers, Amber Midthunder, Tatanka Means

A writer travels to the compound of a pop icon who disappeared years ago. Surrounded by his cult of sycophants, as well as a group of fellow journalists, she soon discovers his twisted plans for the gathering.

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this is a strange film that seems to fit into the darkly Comedic cult figure film, think a film such as THE MENU. It seems to be a commentary on the cult of celebrity taken to a new level.

Where something mysterious is going along and it’s usually at an exclusive location cut off from the world or a kind of celebrity is at the center and all of his disciples where it’s kind of an eat the rich revenge tale. 

Now this film lives up to its story, even though it’s very predictable, and there are some points of originality when it comes to the story and the filmmaking. 

As the film goes from a dark comedy to a thriller very quickly, the one based on believing John Malkovich playing one of the best selling in popular rock stars of the 1990s it starts off already with this ridiculous notion not that he can’t play the role, but you just have trouble seeing him as that character with that history but once you get past that you should be fine but for a film, that’s already going to give you that kind of ridiculous notion

It becomes shocking that the film doesn’t follow suit in that manner when it comes to tone as everything else has played a little more seriously even the so-called twist at the end isn’t that surprising 

Though I can’t admit there is something captivating about the film. Maybe it just seems like a lost opportunity that it seems to go more for surface level when it could’ve been so much deeper and explored maybe the love and seduction of musicians or rock, stars pop stars and their audience and how just like a song or an instrument they can play their audience, especially when they’re willing and the things that they can make them do we’ve all her tails in gossip columns, or even in some biographies of what Rockstars can make seemingly ordinary people do or what people can do when supposedly influenced by music.

It shows how easily we can be led to believe the beliefs or philosophy of a celebrity with very little evidence or basis more than we will listen to an expert as we are trying to figure out the experts agenda, but we believe the celebrity is speaking from the heart and we trust them more as we’ve spent more time getting to know them

Luckily, the music in the film isn’t that bad that comes from John Malkovich‘s character.  (Having Nile Rogers do the soundtrack is a plus) Believing that getting him in the cast was such an achievement that nobody questioned the validity of him playing the role and he does his best with the role that he can, and he is believable That the film doesn’t quite pack the punch that it seems like it desperately wants to

Not to mention that half the comedy doesn’t quite land the way it expects itself too. It’s sort of like someone who thinks they’re funnier than they are as the film seems to think that it’s smarter than it is and while at times it makes good points and also grossly is overconfident 

Once the film gets to the third act and all his revealed, it also seems to want to go for a grossness factor to a certain extent. As it seems expected and also to show true pain in torture for the victims. 

Ayo Edibiri is very well cast in the lead and while she is compelling, I wish that the film could follow suit with her and for her and give her the necessary material to truly ground her in a film that is more worthy of her character and her natural talents 

Grade: C

CAUGHT STEALING (2025)

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Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Written By: Charlie Huston (Based on his Novel)

Cinematography: Matthew Libatique

Editor: Andrew Weisblum

Cast: Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Bad Bunny, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, Carol Kane, Griffen Dunne, Action Bronson 

Burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined.

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This is one of those films that is perfectly serviceable and entertaining yeah, there isn’t much that makes it feel too special and might be one of those films that because it’s of quality and there might be such low quality offerings that it might sometimes be over praised.

This is Austin Butler really getting his first chance to play a lead in a film since his Oscar nomination for Elvis so this film seems like it’s a true test of his box office potential.

tfilm feels like a throwback to where it is set late 80s early 90s New York City.

as even though it’s an adaptation of a thriller novel, it also seems to play as a throwback for its director Darren Aronofsky of the New York of his youth, and also may be a playing ground for his memory of setting such a crime story not only in New York City and getting to explore it in a more underground way, but also the various characters that were around and made up the city

as it is being pushed currently as a starring vehicle for Austin Butler and a high octane thriller it plays more like a surprising, more laid-back thriller, that is more about the characters in the circumstances more than necessarily the story or plot 

now, while it’s not the filmmaker‘s fault, the film seems like it’s gonna be more of a thrill ride when you see the trailer then it actually ends up being which is more of a contained thriller that while unpredictable doesn’t offer anything new in fact, it might be one of the most commercial films next to NOAH from Director Aronofsky. Though this proves to be a return to his roots. Not as surrealistic or artistic. Though still gritty that feels a bit manufactured but hits hard enough. This film ends up Showcasing him as more of a journeyman director 

Which is fine as the film stays entertaining and vivid while you watch it, but don’t know how much will stick with you once you’re finished and walk away from the film. In other words it’s cute a little noteworthy impossible, though I don’t know if it’s all that memorable. 

It feels more like a production then one might say naturally lived in as all of the actors are clearly having fun and giving their all which is kind of infectious for the audience.

The most surprising part of this film is how cruel it is, and it’s execution of characters and violence. They never quite marches to the beat of its own drummer. It always seems like it’s on plan on a plan. 

luckily Austin Butler doesn’t embarrass himself even if his backstory is one of the I guess cheesy parts of the movie but does explain how a lot of people come to New York to forget their past. Begin a new and be just another body or person going in and out and surviving from day-to-day 

One of the more memorable pieces of the film and its own game is Zoe Kravitz, and her performance in the film. As she is sexy, sweet and Street wise, she brings a certain knowing element to the film, which also offer her her most impressive and realistic performance to date. When she is not in a film, it’s felt and you can understand why, but it also loses one of the factors that had going for it.

Now of course when you have cinematographer Matthew Libatique. You know the cinematography is going to be beautiful and gritty, especially when dealing with the streets of New York, where he seems to be the go to cinematographer.

Like then, helps explain the emotional range of the main character also.

This is a crime comedy with colorful characters to distract the audience from the more strait laced lead. Who has to get freaky or colorful to survive. 

It’s wild that this film is set in the early 90’s, yet plays more a film from the 1970’s or 80’s. Dark yet fun.

in the end, the film isn’t bad and it’s perfectly entertaining, but it’s not as wild as many might believe or had hoped it’s strangely at times play it safe even for the times when manages the shock and be a bit heartless and hard edged that was needed more.

Grade: B- 

DEN OF THIEVES: PANTERA (2025)

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Written & Directed By: Christian Gudecast

Based on characters created by: Christian Gudecast and Peter T. Scheuring 

Cinematography: Terry Stacey 

Editor: Robert Nordh 

Cast: Gerard Butler, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Evin Ahmed, Salvatore Esposito, Orli Shuka, Stephane Coulon, Yasen Zates Atour, Christian Solimeno, Nazmiye Oral

Big Nick is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie, who is embroiled in the treacherous world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange.

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A direct sequel to the actions, characters in the story of the previous film, though written, and directed by the same Filmmakers of the first 

Film this film goes for a totally different and new style while still packing on the action and tension.

The first film was like an updated version of Michael man’s heat only hopped up on energy drinks, and it went way over the top and trying to portray machismo and reeked of testosterone and one upmanship throughout. It also was a cops and robbers tail with twist interns, but also deep character work, or we got to know both sides.

And this equal the few survivors of the first film are back again. This is more cops and robbers but more of the cop going undercover and you not really being able to Tell has he turned completely or is he still a cop trying to do his job.

Also, in filming overseas and that is what the film style is more laid-back and cool more European Just as stylish, though a little more smooth. It also forms a kind of buddy cop, criminal relationship that has its comedic moments, but stays dramatic.

Not as much need for character backgrounds as we know the leads already so that while the film is more flashy, it’s still keeps us invested, even though it doesn’t need to be as long as it is.

Cheaves what you would expect from a sequel it’s not Surprising as the first film but again we only really get to know the two leads where is everybody else is more a 1 to 2 dimensional character, and all the female roles seem to be here because they have to be or given very little to do other than look attractive. This is again more of a male fantasy film.

Though wish there was more of new co-Star Evin Ahmed in the film. As her character is one of the masterminds of the heists. Though it seems like she is more of a note of tension. That might be explored if this film ever has another sequel. Which one hopes happens.

That seems to track Bro-code loyalty, and still having a loose set of morals. Though there is plenty of car chases heist scenes, shoot outs in fighting to keep you entertained. Even though it is more of a thriller and O’Shea Jackson comes across more loose in this film. Though again his character seems in over his head and more the innocent amongst the others. 

Though it is a satisfying continuation. It’s missing that grit, but finds It’s own identity rather then be inspired by another and bringing some new cards to the table. While giving you what you expect. 

One of the roles Gerard butler was born to play and wished he played in more films such as this or at least characters like this more often. There isnMt as much grit characterization making this more Hollywood version of the sequel and also a lot more predictable. Though it hasn’t lost It’s style totally. 

Can admit by the end wanted to own a Porsche. If not just for the design for the sound it makes while driving it. 

Grade: B- 

OUT OF BOUNDS (1986)

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Directed By: Richard Tuggle 

Written By: Tony Kayden 

Cinematography: Bruce Surtees

Editor: Kent Beyda 

Cast: Anthony Michael Hall, Jenny Wright, Jeff Kober, Glynn Turman, Raymond J. Barry, Pepe Serna, Michele Little, Jerry Levine 

Farm boy Daryl Cage’s parents ship him off to the big city to live with his brother, hoping he will have a better life there. After a baggage mixup at the airport, Daryl finds himself in possession of a drug cache, which a ruthless drug dealer wants back. The dealer murders Daryl’s brother and the small town boy ends up all alone in the big city, being pursued by both the drug dealer and the police, who suspect him of the murder.

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This comes across as Anthony Michael Hall, trying to be a more serious movie star and more of an action thriller . That works and its own way though ultimately feels typical of the time period

As the film is not asking him to be another Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger here he is more just an innocent kid brought into intrigue and is trying to find his way out of it and luckily for him is adept. As part of the action is watching this kid who no one would Suspects slowly figure things out and become savvy and trying to get himself out of his dangerous situation

The film doesn’t offer anything new. It is vicious and it’s violence, though not gory it just seems mean spirited, especially towards innocent characters and even its criminal characters who don’t exactly deserve their fates at times. 

It’s also a film that shows the glamour of LosAngeles but also the dark underside of the underground of of it at the time. 

What I would really recommend this movie for is the performance of Jenny Wright as just her fashion throughout the film and her looks is so iconic and so of that period. It’s almost like everything stops when she’s on screen and you just wanna keep watching her. She also gives the most believable performance throughout the film.

At first the film does try to show the slow and illness of the farm and seems to brighten up when Anthony Michael Hall‘s character finally gets to LosAngeles and sees all the statue ask beautiful women and flirting on the plane with Jenny Wright character.

The crime angle of the film does offer quite a few double crosses and surprises, though for the season film viewer you will probably see it coming, though it stays entertaining this film isn’t exactly an action extravaganza, which is why it leans more into thriller territory, but it is a fun watch as long as you don’t take any of it to seriously.

This film didn’t push Anthony Michael Hall’s career quite into the stardom that he was hoping for, but it was a nice attempt for the time as he tries to lean away from not only being comedic, but also the more geeky nerdish type rules. 

One can admit this is a film. I remember the posters an advertisement for back in the day and one that I always swore that someday I’m finally gonna watch it. Unfortunately, it seems like it took me 40 years to finally catch up to it though not what I expected, it does capture the time. In all its glory or despair 

Grade: C+

FREAKY TALES (2025)

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Written & Directed By: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck

Cinematography: Jac Fitzgerald

Editor: Robert Komatsu

Cast: Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, Ben Mendelsohn, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Angus Cloud, Too $hort, Ji-Young Yoo, Jack Champion, Kier Gilchrist 

Four interconnected stories set in 1987 Oakland, CA. will tell about the love of music, movies, people, places and memories beyond our knowable universe.

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I’m Going to say this right now that this room is best to go into blind, as that is the best way to experience it, and might offer you more of a surprise or surprise is there anything. As even if you seen the trailer there’s still enough mystery to not know exactly what you’re getting into.

One thing that can be said Is that the film doesn’t really live up to its title as there are tails I don’t know how freaky they are, rather than just tales of an anthology. The film feels more like short stories, that take place around one another in the bay Oakland, California, as characters do cross paths with each other in different tails, but each one has its own kind of genre in story. It feels very Tarantino ask the light and more of a wannabe.

The thing that connects them might be violence and Oakland legends like Tom Hanks in Too $hort you are treated like legends in this film, and Too $hort has a cameo as well as being betrayed by someone else in one of the stories.

The stories here, pretty much cut and dry. They don’t offer that much in the way of surprises. One story focuses on punks versus Nazis and we get to know some of the characters involved. The next story is about two young African-American women going into a rap battle. The next story is a tale of redemption in the past in the last tail is more of a revenge tail inspired. It feels like by game of death the Bruce Lee movie.

Truthfully, the first tale could’ve been its own film in itself exploring the characters a bit more, but maybe it was in case of been there done that no not offering up as much of a diverse characters in the Punk cultural scene. 

The film fall short as it doesn’t really live up to its title and what are the stories, eventually connect your left, wanting more or expecting more from it, especially with the angle of this green substance, that really only comes into play effectively in one tale, but does work to connect or let the audience know Somethings about to happen. it’s a harbinger.

One wishes, the film was much better as it definitely has the creativity and talent involved. It just builds to a certain level and never goes past it even when it seems like it has the strength to go further and be better.

It’s around the 80s which gives a kind of a nostalgic, feel where you can look back and laugh at the fashions, but I also remember them as that was what was cool at the time as well as the culture.

The film Does offer plenty of cameos throughout the film

No, it isn’t mirable as it still keeps too similar themes but like a true short story collection, it has different types of tails where one can be more comedic. One can be more dramatic. It’s the same here, whereas one tail, or at least two tails are pure, more action territory. Another could just be a kind of a slight more success story.

Wow, the film has trouble living up to its title. It is still worth checking out.

I Grade: C+

LORNA’S SILENCE (2008)

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Written & Directed By: Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne 

Cinematography: Alain Marcoen

Editor: Marie-Helene Dozo

Cast: Arta Dobroshi, Jeremie Renier, Fabrizio Rongione, Alban Ukaj, Morgan Marinne, Olivier Gourmet, Anton Yakovlev, Gregori Manoukov 

Lorna, a young Albanian woman living in Belgium, has her sights set on opening a snack bar with her lover Sokol. In order to do so, she has become involved in a scam conducted by Fabio, a gangster.

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A good old fashioned film noir. it’s from explorers the fringe of a criminal underground and has the groundwork of a film noir that plays dark and realistic.

Then, when you think something positive is going to happen in the film, it reveals itself only to sing deeper into the darkness.

Here the femme fatale is the anti-hero of the film. She’s trying to do what she needs to do but isn’t as coldhearted as she would have everyone believe.

She is caught in a situation that should be easy for her to handle which morphs into a no-win one.

What makes this film feel different is that for all the traditional roles the characters play like the mole the mark the femme fatale the mobster the film doesn’t treat or show them as cliché or clueless. It makes them full three-dimensional characters

Wish I could say the film is a Home-run, but it’s not that it isn’t worth watching and the first film by the Dardenne brothers That Is really enjoyable in quite some time. As one haven’t really like any of their films that much since ROSETTA.

Though this one lends itself more to genre then their other films and seems a bit more cruel. then their usual humanist films. 

Grade: B

I WENT DOWN (1997)

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Directed By: Paddy Breathnatch 

Written By: Conor McPherson 

Cinematography: Cian De Buitlear 

Editor: Emer Reynolds

Cast: Peter McDonald, Brendan Gleeson, Tony Doyle, Peter Caffrey, Johnny Murphy, David Wilmot, Michael Mcelhatton, Antoine Byrne 

Irish action comedy. An ex-con is forced into taking on a new task by a ruthless crime-boss, but finds he is hindered by the partner he has been teamed up with. However, he soon realizes they must work together if they are to survive.

This film reminds me of the quirky indies that had stylized crime stories before it seemed like Quentin Tarantino cornered the market and with him a new generation who tired to copy and clone his style with throwbacks to bygone eras. 

Then having witty, snappy dialogue that told stories while not exactly always being about crime, but reveal ethics, morals, passions or lack of them.

This is one of those films that centers around crime, but is much more interested in the characters and dialogue. 

Though this film Will probably be accused of being one of them. This one has mroe heart 

As the film offers charm. It’s not something you haven’t seen before, but it is fun that the crime story that moves it along is almost secondary and there to keep the characters on their toes and moving from location to location. 

Jsit as the main characters are learning more and more about the job they have been hired to do and the history behind it. We are u raveling the mystery as to what is really going on.

At heart this is a buddy comedy of two nit wits. Not cut out for crime. even though both are ex-Cons. Who are trying to get out of the life, but keep getting pulled back in no matter how ahrdbthey try to escape. It’ also a road trip movie as they keep having to travel and go to new locations to suposedlt finish the job. 

For some audience members this film might remind them or have the same spirit as IN BRUGES only not as violent or dark. It also helps that this film has a similar cast member Brendan Gleeson when he was younger. 

In Fact this was one of his early roles that put him on the map and got him noticed.

The sayings and place cards between scenes are a bit annoying, but representative of the time period in film. Where it was thought witty or like chapter themes.  

There is a lack of style but plenty of laughs. Believable character work. Where you enjoy the company of the characters. As even when you find out the truth. You just have mroe compassion for them. As even the title is kind of a punchline. 

Grade: B

DROP (2025)

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Directed By: Christopher Landon 

Written By: Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach

Cinematography: Marc Spicer 

Editor: Ben Baudhuin

Cast: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violet Beane, Reed Diamond, Gabrielle Ryan, Sarah McCormack, Jeffrey Self, Ed Weeks

A widowed mother on her first date in years, who arrives at an upscale restaurant where she is relieved that her date, Henry is more charming and handsome than she expected. But their chemistry begins to curdle as Violet begins being irritated and then terrorized by a series of anonymous drops to her phone.

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This film was a major disappointment. As from the trailer It looked like it could be a little exciting, but more like kind of an event film that might be better seen on the big screen and maybe that’s true. Watching it at home on a regular screen, though I was willing to give it a chance as quite a few friends whose opinion I trusted recommended the film saying that it was fun seeing that it also got surprisingly really good reviews peaked my interest so I was excited to finally watch it

I could just never get into this film. I’ll admit the film kept me guessing as to who was behind it all that was through most of it while there were some fun twist the first half left me board and then it seems in the second half to go gonzo and go all over the top. 

Some of said that it’s like a modern day, Hitchcock thriller only with modern technology, and while I admit, using the technology in this thriller was original one of the things that didn’t work was, didn’t really care about the characters. There’s nothing wrong in their performances, even though the male lead played by  Brandon Sklenar was very boring And not that romantic or truly appealing

What was interesting about the film was the dynamic of not only the thriller element but also the power to control how an evening or date goes knowing what to reveal or how to behave to truly attract the other when usually most of us can be guarded in that first date as it is truly getting to know you, though there must be some kind of appeal I got you there in the first place.

Coming from Director Christopher Landon at this point he’s a filmmaker who feels a little late as most of his films come across as great high concept projects that for the most part Work but also seem to have a Debt to 80s and 90s films played in more modern times That sometimes work to their advantage as they are interesting stories, but the follow-through isn’t always as magical or appealing. He didn’t write this one either. 

As one loves a HAPPY DEATH DAY franchise, but his other films freaky in this film are good enough, but never quite when you over as much as freaky was violent horror that had a camping to it. This film tries to be more adult as a thriller, and tries to stay in the realm of reality, but it gets so ridiculous and never quite lean into that camping factor that it just comes off as silly and ridiculous at times not quite as Sterling as it is aiming for.

I think it’s a fine one time watch but it is very disposable and forgettable. Wish it had a stronger script, but then it might not be as loose for the audience is a popcorn movie through and through. That wasn’t for me, but I can see many enjoying. I just didn’t drink the Kool-Aid as the flavor was not to my liking.

Grade: C