Mercy

My View: Mercy  (2026)  PG-13  Mercy takes place in the near future, where a system is implemented that, if you are arrested for a capital crime, you go before an A.I. Judge, and you have only 90 minutes to prove your innocence. Detective Raymond (Chris Pratt) wakes up and is accused of killing his wife. He now has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the A.I. Judge (Rebecca Ferguson). January is usually a dumping ground for films that the studios don’t care about. So, this film, shot in 2024 and now being released, should tell you everything you need to know. Already a candidate for one of the worst films of 2026, Mercy is a dull film that hasn’t figured out AI or the fact that Chris Pratt is not a stage actor. For most of the film (except for doorbell and Alexa video scenes from the past), Pratt is handcuffed to a chair that, if his character doesn’t prove his innocence, will be his execution chair. The film wants to lecture us about a number of things wrong with the justice system, but it does it with an AI judge (played by Rebecca Ferguson) who, at times, gets upset if not called ‘your honor’ but can’t grasp common sense and practical deductions that are used to find clues in criminal investigations. The film wants to be a whodunit, but we already know from the get-go that Raymond is not guilty, and by thirty minutes in, I had figured out who the actual killer was. Too bad that by looking at the countdown clock that was always on screen, I knew we had another 60 minutes for the film to figure that out.  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again  Mercy Website Now playing in theaters nationwide

My View: Return to Silent Hill  (2026) R  Return to Silent Hill follows James (Jeremy Irvine), who has lost contact with his girlfriend, Mary, until he receives a mysterious letter asking him to come to a town called Silent Hill. He hopes to be reunited, but he discovers a malevolent force has overtaken the town. James is determined to locate his lost love despite the presence of terrifying characters, both familiar and unfamiliar. The film is based on the much-loved video game, and that’s exactly what it feels like when watching it. Except you can push any buttons to move your character to a new scene or have the fun of killing a horrible creature or two. Instead, it feels as if we are being given a tour of the video game. We don’t like James almost from the start, including the ‘meet cute’ between him and Mary, which comes off as an incredibly bad plot point. About two-thirds through this hour-and-forty-five-minute slog of a film, I lost all interest in seeing how this story played out. Someone please put another game in the system; I’m done with this one.  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   Return to Silent Hill Website The review will be up on Friday night.

Indiefest: Magellan  (2025)  In Magellan, Ferdinand Magellan (Gael Garcia Bernal) sets out on a voyage with the hopes of conquest and riches. Instead, Magellan will find in the Philippines madness and heartbreak. I think Gael Garcia Bernal gives a good performance in this film, but I am not sure, as almost every shot is a static, distant shot. I don’t think there was a close-up of Magellan in the first twenty minutes. The film is all about showing us the consequences of actions without showing us what the actions were. I think some critics are going to love this film, but I found its two-hour and forty-minute runtime too long, with scenes that just lay there. This film reminded me of the saying “watching paint dry”, though I would say it was like watching the paint dry on a beautiful picture painted by a master.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Magellan Website  Now playing in select theaters.

Indiefest:  H is for Hawk  (2025)  PG-13  In H is for Hawk, Helen (Claire Foy) becomes lost in grief when her father suddenly dies. On a whim, Helen buys a hawk named Mabel. Through this unlikely friendship, Helen learns that life can begin again, even after a loss. Grief hits us in different ways, and with Helen, she basically cuts off almost everyone and everything in her life except for a hawk named Mabel. Most people would look for an animal that can give comfort and love in return, but Helen finds comfort in the bond she develops with Mabel, the hawk. Claire Foy gives a heartfelt, moving performance as a woman who is extremely close to her father, and the only solace she can find is in her connection with a bird that hunts. It doesn't hurt that the always brilliant Brendan Gleeson plays Hellen's father in the flashbacks. Comfort literature has become all the rage, and H is for Hawk is about as close as you will come to a ‘comfort’ film. It’s a film where not much happens, but we see how close Helen becomes to Mabel and how that bond helps her heal.   My Rating: Full Price  H is for Hawk Website   Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film: Touched by Love (1980) PG  Lena (Deborah Raffin), a college dropout searching for direction, becomes a nurse’s aide at a school for children with medical problems. Lena is instantly drawn to what the school says is their “problem child”, a young girl named Karen (Diane Lane), who has cerebral palsy. Karen has become unresponsive, staying silent and moody. Lena learns that Karen is an Elvis fan, and they connect. Lena encourages her to write a fan letter, and Elvis replies. Diane Lane shines as Karen, and the strong supporting cast, including Michael Learned, John Amos, and Mary Wickes, adds warmth to this touching movie. My Rating: Full Price  Touched by Love Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Mercy: Fixtures Foreperson

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Wuthering Heights  (2026) R  The legendary love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. The intense and sometimes destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine. Written and directed by Academy Award winner Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) and starring three-time Oscar-nominated Margot Robbie as Catharine and newly Oscar-nominated Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), this is surely going to be one of the must-see films of the year.  Wuthering Heights Website  The film is in theaters on Friday, February 13, 2026  

Until Next Time!

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

My View: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple  (2026) R  28 Years Later: The Bone Temple takes place after the events of 28 Years Later. Spike (Alfie Williams) has joined Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal’s (Jack O’Connell) gang as they go on a killing spree. Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) forms a new relationship with one of the undead, setting in motion something with world-changing consequences. I loved our return to the world of zombies in 28 Years Later, calling it “a zombie tale that has incredible cinematography, a bombastic soundtrack, and an ending that you will not see coming.” I can say almost the same thing for this film, with the exception that this film has quite a bit of humor to it as the film centers on two people, Spike, who finds himself part of a gang led by an absolute nut, and Dr. Kelson, who starts up (are you ready for this?), a friendship with one of the bad guys from the first 28 Years film, the zombie he has named Sampson. This time, Spike is in the most trouble, as the gang he has unwillingly become a part of is led by a man, Sir Lord Jimmy, who thinks he is a direct descendant of Satan (known as Old Nick). Spike is just trying to survive without getting killed himself as the gang travels across the country, killing both zombies and regular people. In fact, they get more pleasure out of killing people than killing zombies, which they do with a striking matter-of-fact ease. Our other hero has tired of this life and takes a chance, trying to connect with Sampson. Ralph Fiennes gives us a remarkable performance as a man curious about how the zombies see the world and, by drugging Sampson into a stupor, has very one-sided conversations with him. This is an outstanding film that keeps the thrills and kills abundant, with a plot that you can't predict where it’s going, and a slice of humor found in unexpected places. It’s an incredible mix of just how bad people can be, while others can find humanity in the smallest interactions. Plus, did you ever think you would see a zombie film that features the playlist of Duran Duran? I sure didn’t, but I’m glad I did. I can’t wait to see what happens next! And yes, from the ending we see that there will be another 28 Years film in the future.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Dead Man’s Wire  (2025) R   Dead Man’s Wire follows Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgård), who, in February 1977, enters the office of a mortgage company, taking the president of the company hostage with a sawed-off shotgun wired with a ‘dead man’s wire.’ All Tony wants is some respect and the money that he feels is coming to him. Based on a true story (stay during the credits to see the real Tony Kiritsis in news reports), Bill Skarsgård gives a tour de force performance of a man who feels that his only move is to kidnap an executive of the mortgage company that he feels destroyed his dream of building a shopping mall. The film is buoyed by a performance by Coleman Domingo as a radio DJ who becomes the go-between the cops and Tony. I can’t say the same for Al Pacino’s performance as the head of the mortgage company that Bill wanted to be the one with the dead man’s wire attached to him. It’s a performance that is way too much Pacino and takes a lot of the air out of the film. Luckily, that conversation is pretty short, and the film picks up again quickly. Dead Man’s Wire is a captivating look at how a man's dreams can turn into a nightmare when the world is against him. My Rating: Full Price  Dead Man's Wire Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  The Rip  (2026) R   In The Rip, a team of Miami cops turn on one another after finding over $20 million in a stash house. Unsure whom to trust, tension escalates when outsiders get wind of the score, turning the night into a relentless nightmare. At the start of The Rip, we see the head of a police task force being hunted by two masked men. She sends a text message to someone, knowing that she is about to be killed. We find out that the message was sent to Lt. Dane Dumars (Matt Damon), the dead cop's second in command of the unit, who is incensed that there seems to be so little investigation going on in the killing of his boss. Thus begins a story full of twists and turns. It’s a story where you don’t know who to trust, including Dane’s best friend and fellow task force member JD (Ben Affleck), who we find out was having an affair with the slain cop. As you would expect, Affleck and Damon play off each other incredibly well. It’s disappointing that they couldn’t find a better part for Teyana Taylor, who is part of Dane’s team but is mostly in the background for most of the film. I found the action sequences a bit lacking, especially the night firefights, which are hard to follow. However, The Rip does a great job throughout most of the film, keeping you guessing just who to believe. Unfortunately, the film lets us down in the final scenes, which are both predictable and somewhat disappointing. It’s too bad that they couldn’t come up with a better ending and keep us in the dark until the end. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Rip Website  Now playing on Netflix

My View: All You Need is Kill  (2025) R  All You Need is Kill is about a young warrior named Rita who is trapped in a time loop after an alien invasion. She is forced to relive her death over and over until she meets another looped warrior named Keiji, and they team up to try to break the cycle. Based on the same novel as the Tom Cruise movie Edge of Tomorrow, the film is more about how Rita confronts her life as a loner who has to trust another person with her life, making it a very different experience to watch. The animation is outstanding, and the action sequences are fun and thrilling. This Japanese animated film is an electrifying and enchanting tale of courage, resourcefulness, and learning to believe not only in yourself but in another.  My Rating: Full Price  All You Need is Kill Website  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  The Voice of Hind Rajab  (2025) R  The Voice of Hind Rajab follows Red Crescent volunteers during a day when they receive an emergency call from a 6-year-old girl, Hind Rajab, pleading for help as she is trapped in a car under IDF fire in Gaza. While they try to keep her on the line, they do everything they can to get an ambulance to her. This is a heartbreaking, tense film. I will warn you, it will be a tough watch, especially for parents. Based on a true story, the film uses actual recordings of the 6-year-old girl’s calls to the emergency call center. Using only Palestinian actors in the roles of the Red Crescent volunteers, the film lets us get to know some of the volunteers before the call comes in. Once the girl calls, it’s a cat-and-mouse game to get permission from the authorities to send an ambulance to rescue her. It’s a film full of tension as the pace increases, the longer the girl is stuck in the car, as each phone call becomes more frantic and the danger ramps up. This is a film full of courage, humanity, and sorrow, one that will be with me for a long time. While I am giving this film my highest rating, I don’t think I could ever watch it again. And I have a feeling that many parents that start watching this film may leave the theater before it end.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  The Voice of Hind Rajab Website   Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film:  State of Play  (2009) PG-13  A nationally known reporter, Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) for a D.C. newspaper, discovers a series of deaths that are tied to a congressman (Ben Affleck) and a powerful company. With the help of the plucky newspaper blogger, Della (Rachel McAdams), they discover just how far the corporation will go to keep their secrets, and it could mean Cal and Della’s lives. This is one of those films where the star power is far more fun than the actual plot. The cast is impressive, with Robin Wright, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, and Helen Mirren in important roles. The storyline is a little messy, but it’s fun watching Crowe bully everyone around, and McAdams is great as the newspaper’s blogger that Cal takes under his wing to show her how to break a real story.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  State of Play Info  The film is available for rent on Apple TV+

Weird Credits:  From the credits of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple: Dr. Kelson Fire Performer

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Send Help (2026) R Linda (Rachel McAdams) has the boss from hell in Bradley (Dylan O’Brien), who tells her she has one last chance to impress him on an upcoming trip, or she is fired. When their plane crashes and the two find themselves stranded on a deserted island, things have changed. Now Linda is in charge, and Bradley is close to being fired or dead. When I saw the movie poster in a theater lobby, I didn’t recognize Rachel McAdams.  Send Help Website   In theaters on Friday, January 30, 2026.

Until Next Time!

People We Meet On Vacation

My View:  People We Meet on Vacation  (2026)  PG-13   People We Meet on Vacation follows Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth), best friends and almost exact opposites who live far apart, but for a decade, they have spent one week of summer vacation together. Will the two ever realize that they were meant to be more than vacation buddies? I am a fan of rom-coms, and this one works because the storyline is fun and the chemistry between the two leads works. Emily Bader is perfect as Poppy, the woman who is a writer who travels for a living, which fits her because she never aspires to be tied down to anything, especially the small town that she is from. Alex is the opposite as he loves their small town and wants order in his life. They have a meet-cute as both are off to college (reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally), and things do not go as planned, but both realize that maybe, just maybe, they have found a friend in each other. As usual in this type of film, the two don’t know they are meant to be together, but of course, we figure out that they are from almost the first few scenes. The film is fun and light and follows your usual will-they, won’t-they type of romance, with lots of breakups along the way to show the two that they just might be right for each other.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  People We Meet on Vacation Website Now playing on the Netflix platform

My View: Greenland 2: Migration  (2026)  PG-13   In Greenland 2: Migration, it’s been five years since the Garrity family found safety in the bunker in Greenland when the world was being destroyed by an interstellar comet. Unfortunately, the bunker is becoming unsafe, and the family will have to travel across the vast wasteland of Europe to find a new home. I didn’t like the first one, and this one has even less action and therefore is incredibly slow, with a lot of meeting new people who help the family out. The action sequences are few and far between, and when they happen, they aren’t even close to the scenes in the first film, which was its only saving grace. I will say that, unlike the first film, which made the son feel like an addict by making insulin a constant source of drama, this film only mentions it at the start of the escape and never brings it up again. This time, the family is in search of Eden, in a crater that somehow wasn’t affected by the comet. So, if you want to hear Gerald Butler cough a lot and Morena Baccarin cry a lot, go ahead and watch this one. At least in this film, they find little pockets of humanity, and in this day and age, that’s something.  My Rating: Cable  Greenland 2 Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide

My View:  Primate  (2025)  R  Primate is about a family living in Hawaii who have a chimpanzee named Ben as a pet. Left alone for the weekend, Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) invites her friends over for a pool party. Unbeknownst to the partygoers, Ben has been bitten by a rabid animal, and the once lovable, gentle chimp has become a killing machine. Primate is a movie that deserves an R rating, and even though it has a pretty and young cast, it’s not because of sex or language. It’s because it is bloody and grisly as heck. Most of the scares are not your usual jump-out-of-the-dark horror bits, but an evil presence that is just as horrific as Jason or Freddy. The action sequences are a little weak, but the horror aspect is ramped up as this is one scary and smart chimp that isn’t having a good night, unless you count all the dead bodies he racks up. For a January horror film, this isn’t a bad way to spend some time with a not-so-cute, pissed-off chimp.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Primate Website Now playing in theaters nationwide

Indiefest:  All That’s Left of You  (2025)  All That’s Left of You starts with a Palestinian teen getting swept up and hurt during a protest on the West Bank. As she waits to see if her son will recover, she tells the story of their family and their relentless struggle to survive through the years of Israeli occupation. This is a heartbreaking, emotional look at what has happened to the Palestinians throughout the years and how continuing violence can bleed through the years into generations as a three-generational family goes from having a home and business, to living in settlements that are constantly being taken away, and moving to another country is always on the table. The film is a bit too long, and the timeline gets a little confusing, but at its heart are some beautiful moments that show that the love of family can be a comfort in a time of unrest. This is a film of bravery, of loss of both homes and lives, and of how family sometimes is your only hope in tough times.   My Rating: Full Price  All That's Left of You Website  Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  Father Mother Sister Brother (2025)  R  Father Mother Sister Brother follows three families from three different places around the world. Each family is reunited when estranged siblings are forced to confront unresolved feelings and strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents. To say that this film is low-key would be an understatement. The movie is three stories about parents and their adult children, all of whom don’t know each other very well and, for the first two stories, don’t make any effort to improve the relationship. The movie is from Jim Jarmusch, a filmmaker that I am not a huge fan of, though I enjoyed his 2016 film Paterson. I'm just not a big fan of watching three people sit around, not talk about anything for 20 minutes, and then leave. Even with acting talents like Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, and Vicky Kreips, I found the film boring and unamusing. Only the third section, about two adult twins (Luka Sabbat, Indya Moore) paying their last respects to their late parents' apartment in Paris, was where there was any life to this film, mostly because of the back-and-forth chemistry the two actors displayed in some touching moments. Fans of Jarmusch’s style of filmmaking will, I’m sure, adore this film and find it warm, funny, and moving. I found it boring, somewhat cold, and strange. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Father Mother Sister Brother Website Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  The Chronology of Water  (2025)  The Chronology of Water tells the story of Lidia (Imogen Poots), haunted by memories of an abusive father and an alcoholic mother. Her journey is one of raw loss, fragile love, and painful self-discovery, as she struggles to heal old wounds through her art and the vulnerable relationships she forges. This film, written and directed by Kristen Stewart, is based on Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir about her journey through life. I had a hard time with the first half of the film, especially the voiceovers during Lidia’s early years. For a first-time director, this was a major undertaking, but it doesn’t always work. Stewart’s storyline in the first half of the film feels like a writing exercise Lidia would later give her students. It’s very arty, stream of consequence scenes, which feel taped together, that don’t always flow or work. Once Lidia puts her life together, the film follows a more traditional sequence, starting with her studies with author Ken Kesey. Imogen Poots gives an incredible performance as a woman searching for a way to deal with her past, and she finds it through writing. It’s not an easy journey to recovery, and this film isn’t an easy watch. However, watching Poots take her character down a long, very dark, winding road is a fascinating ride worth tagging along on.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Chronology of Water Website Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film:  Panic (2000) R  Alex (William H. Macy) has a secret; he kills people for a living. The only person who knows this is his therapist (John Ritter), whom he is seeing because Alex isn’t a happy man. He is married to Martha (Tracy Ullman), and they have a kid, Sammy (David Dorfman). Alex doesn’t want Sammy to follow in his footsteps as Alex did with his dad (Donald Sutherland). Alex doesn’t know what to do and, to make matters worse, he is fixating on a fellow patient from his therapist's office, Sarah (Neve Campbell). And to complicate things even more, dear old dad has given Alex his latest hit…his own therapist. This is a fun, strange, and at times very funny movie, carried by a great cast and Macy's amazing performance. I loved every character in this film, and it’s worth seeing for Barbara Bain’s performance as Alex’s mom. What will Alex do? Watch and find out.  My Rating: Full Price.  Panic Info The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon

Weird Credits: From the credits of Greenland 2: Migration: Wire Supervisor

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Scream 7 (2026). Sidney (Neve Campbell) has retreated to a quiet new town with her daughter, Tatum (Isabel May). But peace shatters when a new Ghostface emerges, targeting Tatum. Now, Sidney must confront a relentless evil that’s closer than ever. Neve Campbell returns to the series that won’t die. This is the first film in the saga directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), and Scream 4 (2011).   Scream 7 Info  The film slashes into theaters on Friday, February 27, 2026

Until Next Time!

We Bury the Dead

My View:  We Bury the Dead  (2024)  R   In We Bury the Dead, Ava (Daisy Ridley) travels to Tasmania to join a military-led body retrieval unit after a catastrophe has created corpses that are reanimating. Ava is searching for her husband, who she hopes has survived amidst the rising undead. This isn’t your usual horror film about zombies. Instead, it’s about grief and the steps we must take to confront that loss, no matter how you try to avoid the inevitable truth. Daisy Ridley gives a touching performance as a woman who is convinced that the love between her and her husband is so strong that he can survive even the end of the world, and she is willing to go to the ends of the earth to prove it. This is a slow advance into the world of zombies, as Ava goes deeper and deeper into trouble. We Bury the Dead is a different type of horror film that values learning about oneself over bashing in zombie heads (though Ava does that also).  My Rating: Full Price  We Bury the Dead Info  Now playing in theaters

My View:  The Dutchman  (2025) R  In The Dutchman, Clay (Andre Holland), a successful businessman whose marriage is crumbling, meets a mysterious woman (Kate Mara) who seduces him. As the night goes on, Clay realizes that this woman knows everything about him, including things that only Clay knows. It’s a night that is full of mistakes, mysteries, and a game that Clay is just a pawn in. This is a film that never escapes the fact that it is based on a play, and it feels that way. There are too many speeches that go out into the ether, where the characters seem to talk just to spout some wisdom that we don’t need. I enjoyed the performances, but it tries too hard to be strange without giving us any clue what is going on. By the end of the film, I didn’t care who survived and what was left of them.   My Rating: Cable   The Dutchman Website  Now playing in theaters

My View: The Best You Can (2025)  R  In The Best You Can, Stan Olszweski (Kevin Bacon) is a night security guard in a residential section when he gets a call about a break-in and meets Cynthia Rand (Kyra Sedgwick), a doctor who is married to a much older man, Warren (Judd Hirsch). A friendship develops between Stan and Cynthia over late-night texts discussing their lives, including Cynthia’s husband, who is showing signs of dementia, and Stan’s attempts to connect with a daughter he left behind in his youth. I adore Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, and anyone who follows the couple’s social media knows they love each other and have a ton of fun together. The chemistry on screen is amazing, and the two work off each other with such ease. Unfortunately, the script isn’t worthy of their efforts to save it. The dialogue feels unfinished, and the movie fails to provide meaningful conflict or stakes as the story simply drifts without engaging momentum. Despite the strength of the cast, I found myself losing interest early on. Unless you are just looking to admire two great actors, skip this film and check out their hilarious social media presence instead.  My Take: Cable  The Best You Can Website  Now playing on Netflix and available to rent on other platforms.

Indiefest:  Best Wishes to All  (2022)  R  A young woman from a big city (Kotone Furukawa), who has been away from her hometown for a long time, visits her grandparents in the countryside. As the visit progresses, the young woman notices that her grandparents are acting strangely. She finds them staring at a door in a hallway, imitating a pig’s grunt for minutes at a time while eating pork, or constantly asking if she is happy. Little does she know, her grandparents are hiding a dark secret. A secret hidden from her, about to be shockingly revealed. This is a wonderful and, at times, scary horror film that slowly reveals that the grandparents and maybe the entire community are hiding the reason everyone is happy and full of life. Best Wishes to All becomes dark, creepy, and full of madness, set in a world that, from the outside, seems normal and full of sunshine, shattering the world the young woman used to know and love.  My Rating: Full Price  Best Wishes to All Info  Now playing on AMC+ and is available to rent on Amazon Prime.

Indiefest:  Mistress Dispeller  (2024)  This documentary follows three people: a long-time married couple and the husband’s mistress. When the wife finds out about the affair, she hires someone to secretly end her husband’s extramarital relationship in an attempt to save the marriage. This documentary is on the Academy Award shortlist, and I can see why. It is a fascinating look that takes a turn you are not expecting, at least for this critic. I am amazed that they got these people to participate in this documentary and that we got to see as much into their lives as we did. It’s a look at the complexity of relationships and why we do things that might hurt others. This is a film that doesn’t judge; it just explores people's feelings and lets them do the same, allowing the subjects to tell their story without fear. You will be glued to your seat to find out what happens next.  My Rating: Full Price  Mistress Dispeller Website The film is available to rent on most platforms

Indiefest:  The Tale of Silyan  (2025) PG  The Tale of Silyan is a documentary about a farmer’s bond with a white stork in a community famous for its rooftop storks that intertwines with a North Macedonian folklore tale of a boy who becomes a stork. It’s funny: when I first began watching this film, I thought it would be a heartwarming story about a man who rescues an injured stork and whose life is changed. And, yes, that’s what part of the film is about, but the root of the film isn’t the man rescues stork story, it’s about a changing way of life and how a proud farming family is torn apart by economic factors that not only affect the people of the town but the storks who depend on the farming to supply them with food. The film begins with a happy, close-knit family of farmers and shows how this year’s crops are abundant and beautiful. However, things quickly change when the farmers realize that market prices have dropped so much that it’s not worth planting next season’s crops. Things go from bad to worse, and the only thing that saves Nikola, the elderly head of the family, is a stork that he rescues and nurses back to health, though he soon realizes that the stork is hurt so badly that it will never fly again, and can’t leave when the flock migrates. At times, this is a tough watch, as you see a way of life that is quickly disappearing, and if that way of life goes away, the storks will also disappear. The folktale told throughout the film is also a downer, as a boy becomes a stork and can no longer communicate with his family. However, this is a film full of courage, willpower, and humor, showing that there is still humanity and a glimmer of hope in an old man, down on his luck, who finds in a hurt stork who becomes an important part of the family. My Rating: Full Price  The Tale of Silyan Website     Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film:  Milk  (2008) R  The story of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), a man who believed he could help people and, by doing that, could change the world. He was a gay activist who fought for gay rights and was elected as California’s first openly gay official. It’s the story of a man who transformed his life and hoped that others would follow. Penn gives a moving, complex performance that shows Harvey wasn’t a perfect man, but the right man to speak up at the right time. It’s a hard movie to watch in that you know how the story ends, and the sadness of knowing Harvey died before seeing the big changes he hoped would take shape.  My Rating: Full Price  Milk Info  Available for rental on most platforms

Weird Credits: From the credits of We Bury the Dead:  Texture Artist

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Dead Man’s Wire  (2025) R  In February of 1977, Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgård) enters the office of a mortgage company, taking the president of the company hostage with a sawed-off shotgun wired with a ‘dead man’s wire.’ All Tony wants is some respect and the money that he feels is coming to him. Directed by Gus Van Sant (Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho), the film is based on actual events that made national news.  Dead Man's Wire Website  The film is in theaters on Friday, January 16, 2026

Until Next Time!

Top Fifteen Films of 2025

1).  One Battle After Another  (2025) R  In One Battle After Another, a notorious enemy named Steve Lockjaw (Sean Penn) has resurfaced after 16 years, broken into Bob’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) home, and kidnapped his daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti). Bob, a civil rights activist, must team up with an anti-government group to locate and rescue his daughter from an alt-right white supremacist group. It's not often that a September movie rises to the top of the Oscar ranks, but Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another manages to do just that. This film combines the laid-back hippiness vibe of The Big Lebowski with the political satire of Dr. Strangelove, while featuring a villain reminiscent of those in '80s and '90s action films—although this character might be the funniest bad guy ever portrayed on screen. One Battle After Another is (I hesitate to tell you this because some of you may want to stay away) the fastest two-hour and forty-minute film you will ever see. The film is a joy to watch and keeps surprising you with both bouts of violence and humor that keep you off-kilter (in a good way), which keeps coming. This is a fast-moving and witty look at America and its political system, but it’s done in such a way that it’s brilliantly executed, and I suspect many won’t realize what hit them until the end. It is going to be fascinating to see if Leo gets an Oscar nod, because it’s such a brilliantly understated performance, one that few actors could do. This is one of those performances that is so expertly crafted that you almost underestimate how good Leo is in the role. Sean Penn is hilarious as the ultra-rigid Colonel, who has a huge flaw (which I won’t reveal) and feels that his place in the history of the world is set in stone. Teyana Taylor as Perfidia is a force of nature as Bob’s partner and the leader of the revolutionary group. Her performance and the essence of her character are brilliantly captured in a scene where she fiercely fires an AK-47 while heavily pregnant. Perfidia is all about the cause, and it consumes her entirely. While she loves Bob, her passion for the revolution takes precedence over everything else. I could go on and on about every performance in this film, but I would be remiss without mentioning how much fun it is to watch Benicio Del Toro as a partner in crime whose character is every bit as cool and laid-back as Leo’s Bob is a bag of nerves. The hero of the story isn’t Bob but his daughter Willa, played with poise and style by Chase Infiniti. Infiniti portrays Willa as a young woman who has had to live with the legacy of a mother who was a radical and a father who has spent most of her years as a paranoid pothead, but has instilled in her a willingness to survive and the guts not to back down. One Battle After Another is a film that puts its foot on the gas from almost the first frame and doesn’t let off until its hilarious and satisfying end. I had a blast watching this film, and it’s not very often that the hype matches the worthiness of a movie. Please see this in a theater with an audience on the largest screen you can find; it will be worth the price of admission. Any film that pays homage to one of my favorite films, Bullitt, is a film that I want to see again as soon as possible. And you will too. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  One Battle After Another Website   The film is still in some theaters and is available to stream on HBOMAX and for rent on most streaming platforms

2).   Marty Supreme   (2025)  R   Marty Supreme is about Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a man in 1950s New York City who believes he is the world’s best ping-pong player. Marty is out to prove it and is willing to take on anybody to show he is the best. Timothée Chalamet gives a mesmerizing performance as a man who is convinced that table tennis is the next big sport to take the world by storm, and that he is the man to bring the sport the glory and attention it deserves. Because Marty believes he deserves it too. Marty is a character that you love to hate, but in the end, you also want him to succeed, in spite of himself. To say Marty is full of himself would be putting it mildly, as he is convinced he is not only great but that he deserves a lot more admiration and attention than he is getting. Chalamet gives us a man who has no humanity but is still, at his heart, has a humanity about him, that is there, you just have to dig a bit to find it, and Chalamet and filmmaker Josh Safdie allow us to see it, even if it is just a glance or two. This is a film that asks you to hold on to the coattails of Marty and hold on tight, because he is going to give you a ride that doesn’t seem to slow down or stop for anyone or anything. It’s a thrilling performance in a movie that makes you want to go to the theater. Marty Supreme is a ride that you won’t forget; you may need some oxygen by the end, and you will think back in wonder at what Mr. Chalamet and Mr. Safdie have created. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Marty Supreme Website  The film is currently in theaters

3).   Sinners  (2025)  R  In Sinners, twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) are trying to leave their troubled past behind and return to their hometown to open a dance hall. They soon discover that their hometown has changed, and a great evil is waiting to welcome them back. Back in 2013, filmmaker Ryan Coogler hit us right between the eyes with the outstanding Fruitvale Station, starring an up-and-coming young actor named Michael B. Jordan. Since then, Coogler has given us Creed and the two Black Panther films. In what is his most original and best film to date, we now get a vampire thriller that has roots in everything from legendary blues singers, prohibition, and Jim Crow to even Irish folk music. With a huge nod to Robert Rodriquez and Quentin Tarantino’s 1996 film From Dusk Till Dawn, the film follows twins Smoke and Stack, played by the brilliant Michael B. Jordan, as they come back from spending time in Chicago, where they may have stolen a whole lot of money and booze from the mob.They are back to open a blues joint with some locals’ help. Along the way, they gather a cast of characters to make their endeavor a success, including a local blue legend in Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo), their cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton in his feature film debut), a budding blues singer/guitarist, and a couple of former flames of the twins in Mary (Hailee Steinfeld), a love of Stacks that ended badly, and Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), Smoke’s one true love. Both relationships with the twins have history and baggage that hangs over the two couples like a huge dark cloud. Coogler spends the first hour giving us a clear understanding of the history that follows each of the characters, giving us insight into how they function in this world of gambling, song, stolen whiskey, and even religion. The film’s second half is the opening of the juke joint, which is a rousing success, until a trio of white musicians want to join the party, and the twins tell them to find somewhere else to party. However, we already know that these musicians aren’t there to make music but are to turn everyone they can into vampires, and it’s up to the twins and a few of their friends to stop them. Coogler uses this backdrop to tackle everything from lost love to race in America while making an entertaining and bloody horror film where the odds of the twins and their friends surviving the night look pretty grim. Sinners is a film that explores the strength of family, religion, and music and how the monsters that show up in the middle of the night might be worse than you ever thought. The action sequences are fast, bloody, and sometimes humorous, as the body count keeps rising.  Something has to be said about the performance of Miles Caton as Sammie. His singing and blues guitar playing is joyful, brilliant and moving. When he plays and sings, he commands the screen and you can't take your eyes off of him. Don’t be afraid of the two-hour and seventeen-minute run length, as the film moves at such a fast pace and instantly puts you in the middle of the Twins world that you will be sorry that the film has ended as soon as it does. So grab a beer, sit down to listen to some great blues music, and maybe get up to dance a bit. But here’s a bit of advice: if anyone asks if they can come in to join you, maybe see if they like garlic or have trouble with holy water. Just a suggestion that might come in handy. Catch it on the biggest screen you can, and stay through all the credits, as there are a couple of bonus scenes worth staying for, including a tremendous cameo. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Sinners Website    The film is available to stream on Prime Video and HBOMAX  and is available to rent on most streaming platforms  

4).  Sentimental Value  (2025) R  In Sentimental Value, after the death of their mother Sissel, estranged sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve), an actress, and Agnes Borg (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), a housewife and mother, are compelled to confront their distant father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård). Gustav, a once-famous but now almost forgotten film director who abandoned the family when the girls were still young, now wishes to produce a play based on his mother. He wants Nora to take on the lead role, something she vowed never to do. A lot of films that are made about actors, directors, and filmmakers feel just like that: actors portraying actors. I just reviewed a film that felt like that in Jay Kelly, where I knew it was George Clooney portraying a character. Then you get films like Sentimental Value, where the characters feel real, and while acting and filmmaking are part of the plot, they’re not what the film is about. Instead, Sentimental Value is about broken promises, childhood heartache, and making your profession more important than that of your family. Sentimental Value is about love, finding your passion, and how just because a house is called a home, it isn’t necessarily a home to everyone. This is a powerful film that follows four people on a journey to explore the past, how it affects them now, and if they can find and possibly handle the answers that they are searching for. Led by Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård, the cast is brilliant, offering performances that are incredibly rich in depth and impressively revealing the pain and grief the past has dealt them and how it has driven each person to a breaking point. Sentimental Value is one of the best films of the year, moving, painful, and at times inspiring. Exactly what kind of film both Gustav and Nora would be proud to make.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Sentimental Value Website  The film is in select theaters

5).  It Was Just an Accident  (2025)  PG-13   It Was Just an Accident is about Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi), who, after hitting a dog by accident with his car, encounters a man from his past, a past that quickly catches up with him. It Was Just an Accident is one of the best films of the year, and if politics doesn’t get in the way, it should be nominated for all the awards. The film is from Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi and deals with the aftermath of a group of friends who all met while being imprisoned by a brutal government. Panahi knows the subject matter well, having been thrown in jail charged with propaganda against the Iranian government. I won’t give away too much about this film, which is part thriller, part mystery, and has a bit of surprising comedy. It’s a film about justice, revenge, and how people’s lives are drastically changed by a system that continually puts its foot on the necks of those who even mildly resist. It Was Just an Accident is a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end and is one of those films you will continue to talk about for months. This is a movie from a filmmaker who is at the top of his game and knows how to push every button to create a film that will hit you to your core.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  It Was Just an Accident Website  The film is available to rent on AppleTV and Amazon Prime

6).  Train Dreams  (2025)  PG-13  Train Dreams follows Robert (Joel Edgerton), a man who drifts from job to job in the early 20th-century Pacific Northwest until he meets Gladys (Felicity Jones), whom he quickly loses his heart to and marries. Robert immerses himself in his work on the land and explores nature's wonders, all while navigating the challenges of love and loss. Train Dreams needs to be seen in theaters as the scenery is not only crucial to the story but is one of the main characters. Joel Edgerton does a masterful job playing a man who didn’t want much in life, other than to be out in the woods, until he met Gladys, and then all he wanted was to share his life and his woods with her. This is a film with intense highs and lows, some of which Robert never recovers from. He is a man who wonders if his work is worth being away from his family and if what he is doing is hurting the very fabric of the place he deeply loves. Train Dreams is a haunting film that gets under your skin, so much so that you think you can smell the trees and feel the sawdust alongside Robert as he works to fell tree after tree. The supporting cast is outstanding, with Felicity Jones playing Gladys, a woman who saw Robert and knew he was the one; Alfred Hsing as a man who works alongside Robert; and William H. Macy as a demolition man who tells nonstop stories and gives advice at a moment's notice. Train Dreams is a moving and incredibly beautiful film that, like Robert’s dreams, will stay with you for a long time. My Rating: Full Price  Train Dreams Website The film is in select theaters and is available to stream on Netflix

7).  Weapons  (2025) R  Weapons begins one morning, when at 2:17 am, every child except one from Mrs. Gandy’s class woke up and left their homes, never to be seen again. What happened to the seventeen children, and how can a community discover their fate? Weapons is a horror film that is equally disturbing and funny. I was expecting far more scares (and there are still plenty), but I wasn’t expecting the humor, which took me for a ride. I saw the film with a packed audience, and one moment they were laughing and in the next they were shrieking from fear. I can’t give away too much of the plot because the reveals are so well thought out and brilliant that I don’t want to spoil it for you. From the first moments when we see the kids in the dead of night leaving their homes and running with their arms out behind them while George Harrison’s song “Beware of Darkness’ is playing, to the hectic and shocking ending, this is a masterful tale of horror, suspense, intrigue about a group of people in a small town trying to make sense of a mystery they can’t cope with. The film features remarkable performances, particularly from Josh Brolin, who portrays a father grappling with the disappearance of his son, and Julia Garner, who plays the troubled teacher of the classroom attended by the 17 missing students. Weapons is an exhilarating ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eagerly anticipating each reveal and shocked by the unexpected twists. It is a strong contender for horror film of the year and is a movie that will spark discussions not just in the parking lot, but for years to come.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Weapons Website  The film iss available to stream on HBOMax and rent on most streaming platforms

8).  Blue Moon  (2025)  R Blue Moon tells the story of songwriter Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke), who was at the top of the Broadway world alongside his writing partner, Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott). However, Rogers has left Hart to work on his new hit musical, Oklahoma!. Heartbroken and longing for a woman he secretly loves, Elizabeth (Margaret Qualley), Hart decides to attend the afterparty for Oklahoma! in an attempt to drown his sorrows. It’s going to be a night that few will forget. Ethan Hawke gives the performance of a lifetime as Lorenz Hart, who is described at the beginning of the movie as “the saddest man I ever knew.” Hawke portrays one of our greatest lyricist of all time as a man who has no hope with two of the most important people in his life, his former song-writing partner, Richard Rogers (played by Andrew Scott) and a college student, Elizabeth (played by Margaret Qualley), who Lorenz is madly in love with, even though she is over 25 years his junior. Hawke, who is sporting a horrible comb-over (Hawke shaved the top of his head for the role), and through camera and movie magic, has shrunken his height from 5’10 to a little under 5 feet tall for Hart’s appearance. It is a remarkable and commanding performance of a man who has burned too many personal and creative bridges and continues to believe, against all hope, that he has a chance with Elizabeth. It’s a moving performance that makes us root for a man who won’t win any battles, except one of wits. Margaret Qualley is perfect as the beautiful and smart Elizabeth, who sees Hart only as a friend and a way to get into the Broadway world. I loved Bobby Cannavale as the bartender who sees Lorenz not only as a good customer but also as a friend. Who wants to stop Hart from drinking but knows he will always give in to a man he can’t resist. The film is an hour and forty minutes long, but it makes sure we wait, like Hart, for the moments between Elizabeth and Lorenz until the last third of the film. It’s like watching a man who we know is about to be killed by a firing squad, but he thinks he is about to be pardoned. Hawke is a wonder to watch as he is in every scene as Hart weaves his way through story after story, while also figuring out a way to get drinks he shouldn’t be getting. Blue Moon is a film that you are dazzled by a performance of an actor who is playing a man who makes words become songs we will never forget, just as we will never forget this performance that Ethan Hawke has given us. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Blue Moon Website   The film is in select theaters and is available to rent on most streaming platforms

9).  The Life of Chuck  (2024) R  The Life of Chuck explores the life and adventures of Charles Krantz, a man who is experiencing the end of his life while being celebrated by his friends and family. The Life of Chuck is one of those films that’s hard to review because its structure is complicated, and I don’t want to give away any of the surprises (and there are a few). One clue to this film is that it is based on a Stephen King novella, although more in the vein of The Shawshank Redemption or Stand by Me, rather than horror films like The Shining or It. The film is told in three parts and unfolds in reverse to tell us the story of Chuck. I will warn you that the first part is a little off-the-wall strange, and while Chuck makes an appearance, that part of the film is about two exes (Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan) who are trying to cope with a world gone off the rails and find support in re-connecting. Part two is about Chuck as an adult (played by ever-charismatic Tom Hiddleston), and part three is about Chuck as a teen (played by Jacob Tremblay) and as a kid (played by the adorable Benjamin Pajak). Along the way, there are some fantastic performances by Carl Lumbly, Mia Sara, and Mark Hamill (which I think is so good it could get him an Oscar nod). While not a musical, the film features some incredible and exciting dance numbers, with Hiddleston performing a thrilling and moving dance alongside the delightful Annalise Basso. The Life of Chuck is a film that slowly reveals its secrets, and while it throws you into a world that doesn’t make much sense at first, it becomes a joyful and life-affirming film that makes you feel glad you experienced the life of a man named Chuck.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See It Again   The Life of Chuck Website The film is avaialbe to stream on Hulu and rent on most streaming platforms

10).  Black Bag  (2025) R  In Black Bag, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) and her husband, George (Michael Fassbender), have a perfect marriage. Except for the fact that they are both intelligence agents that can’t talk about their jobs. When Kathryn is suspected of betraying her nation, George faces the ultimate test: loyalty to his loving wife or his country. Steven Soderbergh gives us a spy caper that lets two extraordinary actors perform at their finest. Black Bag is not your ordinary spy film, full of action sequences, but a film filled with smaller moments that are clever and exquisitely done, keeping you guessing on just who is guilty and who is innocent. It’s a game of cat and mouse, reminiscent of the great spy novels of Le Carre and Herron. Blanchett and Fassbender work together so well on screen that you believe that these two spies could save the world just by their charisma and wit. Black Bag is a polished, almost silky smooth spy caper where you don’t know who to trust or who to even suspect; you just know that George will figure it out. The only question is whether George’s love for his wife means that he will have to betray his country. The great thing about Black Bag is that you will find out in the end and thoroughly enjoy the mystery all along the way to that end. Black Bag is one of the best spy films of the past ten years, and anyone who loves watching a spy film that isn’t easy to figure out will love this film as much as I did.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Black Bag Website  The film is available to stream on Prime Video and rent on most streaming platforms

11).  A Little Prayer  (2023)   R   A Little Prayer is about Bill (David Strathairn) and his wife Venida (Celia Weston), who live and work in Winston-Salem. His son David (Will Pullen) works at Bill’s business and lives out back with his wife Tammy (Jane Levy). Bill is concerned that his son is drinking too much, and then learns that David is having an affair with a co-worker. Can Bill help mend the troubled marriage between David and Tammy? A Little Prayer is anchored by the subtle and moving performances of David Strathairn and Jane Levy. Strathairn as the father who struggles to keep his family together, while Levy as the put-upon wife of David, who puts on a brave and positive face, but inside is being destroyed little by little. Strathaim plays Bill as a man who has made mistakes in the past and is trying his best to make amends by being the peacemaker in the family. Unfortunately, his family keeps falling apart, tearing itself from the inside, and there isn’t much that Bill can do. All Bill can do is what he thinks is best, even if it means that things might get even worse. Levy is moving as the woman who always puts on a show of being happy when we see her in moments alone, where the pain and hurt are evident on her face or in her actions, such as wandering off into the backyard alone or being awake in bed while her drunk husband sleeps it off next to her. A Little Prayer is a film about people who have scars that have never healed. These wounds won’t mend until drastic changes are made, and not everyone is capable of making those changes.  My Rating: Full Price  A Little Prayer Website  The film is available to rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime

12).  Come See Me in the Good Light  (2025)  TV-MA   Come See Me in the Good Light is a documentary that spends a year following Colorado’s Poet Laureate, Andrea Gibson, and their partner, Megan Falley, during Gibson’s fight against cancer. It’s hard to say that a documentary about someone fighting terminal cancer is uplifting, but this remarkable film is. At the heart of the film is a love story, not only between two people who seemed destined to find each other, but also about loving life. Andrea Gibson is a magical person you just want to be around. That magic is evident when she is on stage performing her poems or when she is alone with Megan, just talking about everything from cancer results to laughing about silly phone messages. Gibson has learned to live every day as if it’s her last, and her life story is one of ups/downs and self-doubt about who Andrea was and her place in the world. Come See Me in the Good Light is a documentary full of passion, love, and tears. Mostly though, it is about how to live a life full of love.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Come See Me in the Good Light Website  The film is available in select theaters and to stream on AppleTV

13).  No Other Choice  (2025)  R  In No Other Choice, Man-su (Lee Brung-hun) is doing well as a long-time employee of a paper company, living with his wife and child in a beautiful home. When his company is bought by a competitor, Man-us loses his job and is about to lose his house when he comes up for another job. His only problem is that there are some men who are more qualified than he is for the job. His solution: eliminate them. This is a very dark comedy where every scene is carefully crafted to have an impact, whether immediately or later on in the film. One moment you are laughing about a man who is trying to decide what flower pot to throw down on a person to kill them, and then another moment when you realize that this person is intent on actually killing someone. Lee Brung-hun is masterful at showing such a wide range of emotions, giving us a hero we have to quickly decide whether to root for or want to see fail. Director Park Chan-wook gives a film that shows the desperation of the times, how reason and humanity can go by the wayside just to keep up with what the next household has. The question at the end of the film is, Are you happy with the outcome? It’s a question that Park Chan-wook would love to hear your answer to. My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again  No Other Choice Website  The film is playing in select theaters

14).  If I Had Legs I'd Kick You  (2025)  R   If I Had Legs I Kick Youfocuses on Linda (Rose Byrne), who is increasingly troubled by the burden of all that life has dumped on her. Between her sick daughter, a house that is falling apart, a husband who is always away, and a very hostile relationship with her therapist, Linda is barely holding on. At the center of the film is a gutsy and magical performance by Rose Byrne, about a character that you want to root for but can’t always because she keeps pushing the boundaries of common sense, while we wait for her world to finally crash down around her. This isn’t a film for everyone, as Linda keeps putting herself in situations that you think are not only bad ideas but could get her in major trouble. Linda is a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown with a husband who manages her life from a phone, a daughter who she has to monitor 24 hours a day because of an illness and a therapist who treats her like she isn’t worth his time (kudos to Conan O’Brien for a taking a role that not only isn’t funny but is our right hate-able). Byrne skillfully portrays Linda, a character who, in the hands of less talented actors, could easily become unlikable or a caricature. Instead, she makes Linda someone we want to root for and care about, hoping she receives the help—both physical and emotional—she needs before she collapses under the weight of responsibility, guilt, and motherhood. If I Had Legs I'd Kick You is a fantastic film that combines suspense, black comedy, and heart to tell a story about a woman who is trying to jump through all the hoops and keep in the air all the balls that life has given her but it’s just too much effort to do both simultaneously and Linda in her heart knows it. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  If I Had Legs I'd Kick You Website    The film is available to rent on most streaming platforms

15).   The Perfect Neighbor  (2025) R  The Perfect Neighbor is a documentary that tells the story of a minor disagreement between neighbors in Florida that escalated to repeated calls to the police and a horrifying, fatal turn that shocked a neighborhood and a nation. This is a film where you are a fly on the wall as this story unfolds because all the footage is from the perspective of the police body cams as they answer calls to the neighborhood. We see the constant buildup to the incident as the sheriff’s department interviews an older woman who is the source of the calls, complaining about the neighborhood kids going onto her property and harassing her. However, this isn’t your normal Fox Cops show; this is a horror film that we see unfold to us over months that lead up to the killing of a mother who was trying to confront a woman who had constantly called the police on both the adults and the children in the neighborhood. What makes this documentary different is that there isn’t a voice-over, only a day and time stamp. We see this sad story play out, knowing that something bad is going to happen, and there isn’t anything that can be done to stop it. It’s a harrowing watch that builds the tension as tempers rise on each call. Unlike the Cop episodes that we all watched on Saturday night, which tended to make instant heroes out of every cop they profiled, in this documentary, the police aren’t vindicated, nor are they at fault. It’s up to you, the viewer, to decide if the incident that happened was justified, brought on by a law, or if it was a criminal act. This is a film that will stick with you for a long time, and some images will haunt me. The Perfect Neighbor is a brilliant piece of filmmaking that is terrifying, moving, and brings about feelings of both anger and frustration. It is a powerful film that will inspire and infuriate.  My Rating: Full Price    The Perfect Neighbor Website  The film is available on the Netflix platform

Honorable Mention:  Hamnet, Predators, 28 Years Later The Long Walk, Sorry, Baby, Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk, Deaf President Now!, Warfare, Left-Handed Girl, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Splitsville, 2000 Meters to Andriivka, Twinless,  Cover-Up, The Baltimorons,  Natchez, Secret Mall Apartment