The Strangers: Chapter 3

My View: The Strangers: Chapter 3  (2026)  R  In The Strangers: Chapter 3, it’s time for Maya (Madelaine Petsch) to go from victim to attacker, as she seeks a final, brutal confrontation with the masked killers that have made her life a living hell. I didn’t like the first film (Chapter 1), feeling that all the scares were ‘jump out of the dark’ ones, though I like Madelaine Petsch (she was great in Riverdale as the stuck-up Cheryl Blossom that could shoot a mean bow and arrow). I saw but didn’t review Chapter 2, which mainly was Maya running around, almost getting killed, though we got a bit of the Strangers’ origin story (it’s pretty weak). So, on to the finale, Chapter 3. I’ve been reviewing films for fifteen years now and seen a ton of movies. This is the first film that I almost walked out on. Not once, but twice. To have to sit through three films, rooting for Maya to escape or maybe even get revenge, and be rewarded with a piece of crap writing that had to be ghostwritten by 15-year-olds who thought “wouldn’t it be cool if” kind of plot, is inexcusable. Please don’t bother seeing this, because I don’t want the filmmakers even to think, hey, wouldn’t it be cool if we did another one? No, no, it wouldn’t! Instead, watch the 2008 film The Strangers, written and directed by Bryan Bertino, starring Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler. It won’t make you want to scream at the screen.My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   The Strangers: Chapter 3 Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Dracula  (2025)  R  Dracula is about a 15th-century prince who, after his beloved wife dies, denounces God and, in turn, inherits an eternal curse: he becomes Dracula. Condemned to wander the centuries, he defies fate and death, searching for his lost love, killing all who get in his way. This is more of a gothic romance than a horror film. The film is helped by Caleb Landry Jones’ portrayal of a man who has been haunted by the death of his beloved, cursed to live forever teaching for his one true love to return. However, the film never delivers the heat that the romance needs, and is hurt by Christoph Waltz playing a weird vampire-hunting priest who talks way too much and does very little else. The ending is a big letdown, but if you get a chance, it’s worth a watch to see the Gargoyle henchmen that Dracula has in his castle. My Rating: Cable  Dracula Info  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Solo Mio  (2026)  PG  Solo Mio is about Matt (Kevin James), who is left at the altar at his destination wedding in Rome. Matt decides to continue the trip alone and is about to discover friendship and love in unexpected places. I am not a huge Kevin James fan because he always overplays his comedy hand. So, it’s nice to see James try to take it down a notch and not go overboard in this lovely, harmless romantic comedy film. Nowhere on my cinema bingo card did I expect James to legitimately sing an aria with the legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli. The film has some heart (not a lot, but some) and tries hard. James is helped out by Nicole Grimaudo, who plays his love interest. Grimaudo is delightful in the role and does much of the heavy lifting in the film. They have a nice, easy chemistry that helps make the love connection believable. I could have done without all the high jinks the supporting cast does, including the constant mugging that Kim Coates displays, but the Italian scenery is gorgeous, and the music is fun. I will say that the ending did pack a few surprises, making this film, while not great, satisfying. And hey, did I mention Andrea Bocelli? My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Solo Mio Website   Now playing in theaters 

Indiefest:  The President’s Cake  (2025)  PG-13  The President’s Cake is about 9-year-old Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef), who in 1990s Iraq is tasked with baking her class’s cake to celebrate Saddam Hussein’s birthday. Lamia sets out alone in the big city to find the ingredients for the cake in a country in the midst of the Gulf War, where sugar and other baking ingredients are almost nonexistent. A beautifully told tale of a young girl's quest across a city during a dangerous time when an iron fist ruled the country and corruption was the norm. Your heart goes out to Lamia, who knows that if she fails to bring a cake to school, she will bring shame to her family and possibly face an even worse outcome. Her allies on this quest are her grandmother, her best friend Saeed, who doesn’t always follow the rules, and her pet rooster, Hindi. You will fall for Lamia, and your heart will race on her many close calls as she reaches against all the odds for ingredients that seem more like searching for gold than cake ingredients.   My Rating: Full Price  The President's Cake Website  Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest: The Moment  (2026)  R  The Moment is a mockumentary following a pop star (Charli XCX) as she gears up for her first headlining tour. I didn’t know much about the singer Charli XCX other than that she had something called ‘BRAT summer' and had some big hits singing with other stars like Iggy Azalea. So I didn’t really know much about her or her music. The great thing about this movie is that you don’t have to know anything about Charli XCX other than that she is having a moment in the spotlight, where she and her team are desperate to keep it going so she can headline a big tour. What I enjoyed about this movie is that we don’t like Charli all that much. She’s kind of a jerk and is willing to throw people under the bus to keep her career going. It’s not to say that Charli is a bad person, just someone who wants to succeed. The film is helped by the fact that Charli is playing herself, so all she has to do is react to what is happening to her. The film is helped by a great supporting cast, including Rosanna Arquette as a clueless record executive who only wants the ‘BRAT’ summer to keep going, and Alexander Skarsgard as a movie director hired to film Charli’s tour but sees it as his project to take over and mold to his vision. Skarsgard is perfect as a man who insults people while pretending to get along with them. It’s funny that this is a movie about a music star and her tour, but there isn’t a whole lot of music in it. I will warn people who have a hard time with flashing lights, because director Aidan Azmiri uses them and quick full-screen text to comment on what is happening to Charli and her tour. I will say that some scenes don’t work as well as they should, such as one where Charli goes to a high-priced resort and has an experience with a woman who cleanses the skin with words rather than facials. I think fans of Charli XCX will enjoy The Moment more than someone like me or a casual fan, but there are enough funny, memorable moments to make it a fun time.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Moment Website  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest: Scarlet  (2025)  PG-13  Scarlet is an animated film about a medieval-era princess who has trained all her life to handle herself in any situation. After failing to avenge the death of her father, the king, Scarlet finds herself injured in a surreal world. Desperate to return to the real world, she meets a young man who helps her understand that revenge isn’t always the best path forward. I often have trouble with Japanese animated films because they are often based on TV shows or manga books, and knowledge about the characters is needed to fully enjoy them. This is not the case with Scarlet, a standalone animated film loosely based on Hamlet with a little bit of Joan of Arc thrown in. It’s a gorgeously animated revenge film that takes our heroine to an underworld where she tries to find a way back to the living to get her revenge. Scarlet is ruthless on her journey, but along the way, we see that learning about life and forgiveness is beautifully told.  My Rating: Full Price  Scarlet Website  Now playing in IMAX and will be playing in other theaters starting Feb. 13th.  This is a review from Dec 2025 that I decided to repost due to the film going into wide release.

My View:  Whistle  (2025) R  Whistle is about a group of unwitting high school students who come across a strange object, an ancient Aztec Death Whistle. The group doesn’t realize what they have until people in their group start dying. This is your typical young high schoolers (and their teacher, sorry, Nick Frost) doing something stupid, like blowing into a scary Aztec whistle they know has the word 'death' on it. The scares aren’t bad; the deaths are grisly and inventive, and you don’t know how our young, sometimes really stupid, heroes are going to get away. I also liked the romance between our main character, troubled Cyrys (Dafne Keen), and the smart, cute, and seemingly out of Cyrys’s league, Ellie (Sophie Nelisse). The ending isn’t horrible, and there are a couple of cool settings in a Halloween-type maze and a steel mill. And by the way, stay through the first part of the credits for a bonus scene. And remember, don’t blow into any ancient Aztec whistle that looks really creepy.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Whistle Website   Now playing in theaters

                                                               

Forgotten Film: Dracula (1979) R A ship is wrecked off the coast of England, and a lone survivor is found on the beach. That man is Count Dracula (Frank Langella), and a family takes him in, where he meets Lucy (Kate Nelligan), and the Count sets his sights on making Lucy his bride. Little does Lucy know that the Count has a secret: he is a vampire. Langella caused a huge commotion in the stage play on Broadway, and his performance in this film shows how comfortable he is in the role of a man who has lived a long time and wants to find someone to share it with, even if it means she will become undead. What sets this film apart from other Dracula films is that, unlike most Dracula films throughout time, it was directed by a top-flight director, John Badham (Saturday Night Fever, WarGames), and features a cast that includes Laurence Olivier, Donald Pleasance, and Trevor Eve. My Rating: Full Price  Dracula Info  The film is available on Apple TV and Amazon.

Weird Credits: From the credits of Dracula:  Fake Weapons

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Pillion  (2025) R  Colin (Harry Melling) lives at home with his parents and works as a parking enforcement officer, a job he hates. The only thing he seems to love is singing in a barbershop quartet. One night, while singing with his group in a bar, he meets Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a man Colin feels is way out of his league, and Ray asks him out. Soon, Colin is swept off his feet by this motorcycle-riding, incredibly handsome man. Just one catch: Ray wants Colin to be his submissive. The film has been a tremendous hit on the film festival circuit and is up for three BAFTA Awards.   Pillion Website The film will be in select theaters in late February.

Until Next Time!

Pixels

Family Faire:  Pixels  (2015)  PG-13  Aliens have come to wreak havoc on Earth.  It seems, though, they have misinterpreted video feeds of classic arcade games.  Now it’s up to a gang of video gamers to save the Earth from a weapons attack in the form of video games. Can someone just give Adam Sandler a hug because he looks miserable making crappy film after crappy film? This film should have been fun and funny.  Instead we get a film that wants us to believe that someone like Kevin James can be president and that the character Adam Sandler plays is so devastated by not winning a video game contest that it ruins his life. The only actor who gives a performance with any energy is Peter Dinklage, and it’s just not enough to save this sorry film. The movie has so much product placement in it that I expected the closing credits to say “Pixels brought to you by Bud Light.” At the screening I attended, with about 20 minutes left in the film, the fire alarm went off in the theatre. While waiting for the film to restart, my fellow critics and I were able to figure out how the rest of the film would go; it’s that predictable. The best way to describe this film: unimaginative and boring.  And don’t pay extra to see it in 3-D - it was not shot in 3-D, and it shows.  So save your quarters and don’t see this mess of a film.    My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   Pixels Facebook Page

Indiefest:   Paper Towns  (2015)  PG-13  Quentin (Nat Wolf) is taken on an all-night adventure by his friend and neighbor Margo (Cara Delevingne).  Soon after Margo goes missing, Quentin and his friends decide to go on an adventure of a lifetime to search for Margo. I loved this film about a young man and the girl who inspires him to go outside his comfort zone. The film is perfectly cast, especially with Nat Wolf, who does a brilliant job as the shy and reserved Quentin. Cara Delevingne is brilliant as the rebellious girl who inspires Quentin to go on his quest. The rest of the cast is a blast to watch, especially Austin Abrams, who plays the nerdish Ben, one of Quentin’s best friends. The film is part mystery, part road trip which makes it move at a quick pace. It’s a film you will enjoy from start to finish.  My Rating: Full Price   Paper Towns Website

Indiefest:   Tangerine  (2015)  R  Transgender prostitute Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) has just gotten out of prison.  She is shocked to find out that her boyfriend and pimp, Chester (James Ransone), has left her for another woman. Sin-Dee is on a mission to find the cheating couple with the help of her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor).  This is an interesting film shot entirely on iPhones but doesn’t look like it was. Mya Taylor’s performance as Alexandra, a woman who is trying to keep her best friend out of trouble, is the best thing about this film. Taylor gives her role a funny, sparkling turn, which makes her stand out from the rest of the cast. Shot of the streets of downtown L.A., the film, has a realistic feel to it and makes L.A., itself, one of the characters in the film. The film doesn’t always work, especially some of the scenes with a cab driver (Karren Karagulian) who has a thing for Sin-Dee, but anytime Taylor is on screen, the film gets better.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Tangerine Website

Indiefest:  Unexpected  (2015)  R  An inner-city high school teacher (Cobie Smulders) finds out she is unexpectedly pregnant. At the same time, a student of hers, Jasmine (Gail Bean), discovers that she is also pregnant. The two soon become friends over this unplanned shared experience.  Cobie Smulders gives a moving and briiliant performance as the teacher who sees her career hopes and dreams fading due to her pregnancy. She works well on-screen with Bean as the film progresses. Gail Bean is outstanding as the smart and determined Jasmine, giving her an air of inner strength and making her a character who demands respect for the choices that she makes. This is a film that explores the choices and sacrifices that women make when dealing with pregnancy. It’s to the credit of the two leads that the film works as well as it does. While not a groundbreaking film, it’s an interesting experience showing two women trying to come to grips with the reality of their situations.   My Rating: Full Price   Unexpected Facebook Page   

Forgotten Film:  Tess  (1979)  PG   A young woman (Nastassja Kinski) in Victorian England becomes the pawn of two men in her life.  Kinski gives the performance of a lifetime as Tess, a woman who is preyed upon by men, and there is nothing that she can do about it. It’s a sad, heartbreaking film but one worth watching due to Kinski’s incredible performance.     My Rating: Full Price   Tess Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Pixels: Flamist Artist

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Listen to Me Marlon (2015)  The film uses a newly discovered archive of over a hundred hours of audio to create a documentary with Marlon Brando’s own voice.   Listen to Me Marlon Info

\Until Next Time!

  

Pacific Rim

My View:  Pacific Rim  (2013)  PG-13   In the near future, giant monsters, named, “Kaiju,” have risen from a crevasse beneath the Pacific Ocean and are causing overwhelming destruction to the world. The only hope for Earth is a new type of weapon, a gigantic robot known as Jaegers, driven by two human pilots. The Jaegers are man’s last, best hope, but will they be enough to ensure the survival of the human race?  This is director Guillermo del Toro’s homage to the Japanese monster films of the past.  The film has elements from the Godzilla movies of the 60’s-70’s,  Real Steel (2011), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, with just a tip of the hat to Ray Harryhausen and his 1955 film, It Came from Beneath the Sea.  The reason you'll want to see this film are the battle sequences between the Jaegers and the Kaiju as they are spectacular and fun to watch.  The CGI special effects are amazing and make the film worth seeing in 3-D.  The film, though, is a let-down with its weak characters.  The main protagonist, Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam), is to simple and one-sided, and we never really get behind the man and see why he is so driven to defeat the Kaiju. Most of the characters are somewhat uninteresting to the point that I almost wanted the film to be only about the two scientists played by Charlie Day and Burn Gorman.  Their constant battle of opposing ideas and trying to be the center of attention gives the film much needed energy and life to the script. I did enjoy that a female in the cast, Rinko Kikuchi, who plays Mako, gets to kick some serious monster butt.  Moviegoers though, don’t see this type of film for its dialogue or award winning acting; audiences go to see big, giant robots fight hand-to-hand combat with gigantic monsters.  If you're a monster lover, this film has plenty to go around.  Be sure and stay through the first part of the closing credits as there is a great bonus scene.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee     Pacific Rim Website

My View:    Grown Ups 2 (2013)  PG-13   Three years after reuniting with his old high school friends, Lenny (Adam Sandler) has relocated his family back to his hometown. Things are not quite working out as well as Lenny had hoped as the past is not easily escaped, especially if your friends are some of the root of your problems.  I would like back my three hours I spent watching this film.  I realize that the film is only 91 minutes long, but I would like double time for the pain this film put me through.  The film has a paper thin slice of a plot, comprised mostly of scenes with Sandler and his gang of Chris Rock, Kevin James and David Spade making fun of each other like 12 year-old boys. The first scene shows you the level of the film's humor as a deer has made its way into the house and pees on Sandler in his bedroom.  It just goes downhill from there.  There are lots of cameos in this film, and so many, it seems, that if you've shared a beer with Sandler in the last few years, you were cast in this film.  It’s a sad state of affairs when one of those cameos is the highlight of the movie.  Taylor Lautner is the funniest person in the film, playing a frat boy who terrorizes the gang.  Unfortunately, it’s not a big part.  If you liked the first Grown Ups, you'll probably find a few chuckles in this one.  But if you didn’t like the first film, stay far, far away from Grown Ups 2.   My Rating:  You Would Have to Pay Me to See It Again     Grown Ups 2 Website

Indiefest:  The Way, Way Back  (2013)  PG-13  Duncan (Liam James) is not having the best of summers. Instead of spending his summer vacation with his father in California, he is forced to spend it with his mom (Toni Collette) and her new boyfriend (Steve Carell) at his summer beach house. When Duncan discovers a water park, called Water Wizz, that’s when he meets Owen (Sam Rockwell), the manager, and Duncan’s summer finally starts to get a little better. This is one of my must-see films of the summer!  James plays Duncan’s shyness and awkwardness to perfection and Rockwell, in a role reminiscent of Bill Murray in the 1978 film Meatballs, just nails the part of Owen, the carefree water park manager.  The supporting cast is impressive and funny, though I think Carell’s talents are wasted as the strict, unmoving boyfriend of Toni Collette’s character.  This film is funny, touching and has a heart as big as the monster slide in the  park.  Don’t miss this perfect summer film.  My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again     The Way, Way Back Website

Forgotten Film:   Ace in the Hole  (1954)  A journalist, Charles Tatum (Kirk Douglas), who is stuck in a small town market in the West, discovers a story of a lifetime - a man is trapped in a cave.  A major operation begins to save the man, and Tatum is willing to do just about anything to prolong the rescue just so he can pump up his bylines.  It looks like a journalism slam dunk until things start to go horribly wrong.   Billy Wilder directed and co-wrote the script, which is full of rapid fire dialogue and biting commentary.  Douglas is picture perfect as the fast talking reporter who smells a story he can exploit.  This is a film that is still relevant today with its plot on how media can exploit a story for their own purpose.   My Rating:  Full Price    Ace in the Hole Info

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  The Canyons  (2013)  This film, starring Lindsay Lohan, was rejected by both the Sundance Film Festival and South by Southwest.  Lohan’s co-star is a porn actress who goes by the name of James Deen.  I think that sums up the movie.     The Canyons Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  The Host (2013)  PG-13  Aliens have invaded the Earth and have taken over the minds and bodies of most of the population. Melanie (Saoirse Ronan) sacrifices herself to let her boyfriend and brother escape and allows an alien named, The Wanderer, to take over her body/mind.  While it's not a great movie, I did enjoy the excellent supporting cast that includes William Hurt and Frances Fisher.  The film isn’t cringe-worth like Twilight and just doesn’t quite hit the mark.   My Review:  Bargain Matinee    The Host Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Grown Ups 2:  Pool Boy

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:   Elysium (2013)    Set in the year 2154, the Earth has been separated between the haves and the have-nots, with the wealthy living in a man-made space station while the rest of the population lives on the overpopulated home planet.  Now a revolution has started that could bring equality or it could destroy both worlds.  Matt Damon and Jodie foster star in this film directed by Neill Blomkamp who brought us 2009’s distinctive hit District 9.   Elysium Website

Until Next Time!