Scream 7

My View: Scream 7  (2026)  R   In Scream 7, 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. The first Scream was a great horror film, with incredible writing and some fun kills that kept you guessing until the end. However, the franchise has gotten progressively worse as it has gone along, including the last couple that just defied any sort of logic, even for horror films. So after Neve got lowballed by the studio and didn’t appear in 6, I had high hopes with her coming back and Kevin Williamson, the writer of the first film, at the helm. I enjoyed the opening of this film, with two idiots visiting the Scream BNB, but after that bit of fun, the film goes downhill fast. The kills are unimaginative; there isn’t any of the Williamson wit in the script, and the movie seemed to go on forever. The film even tries to make Sidney/Neve guilty for not appearing in Scream 6. Really, Kevin? I think it’s time to retire the black gown and the Ghostface mask and move on to something new. My Rating: Cable   Scream 7 Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide

Indiefest:  Pillion  (2025)  R  Pillion follows Colin (Harry Melling), who 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. This is a romantic love story in which we join Colin on his journey into a relationship in which one person dominates the other, and they both enjoy it. What makes this film work is that we are clueless about where this relationship is going, as Colin is, so we see everything, every new experience, through his eyes. And we are often as surprised as he is about where the relationship goes. My favorite scene is very early in the film, when Colin is allowed to visit Ray’s apartment. Nothing is explained to Colin; he must figure it out on his own, and we see where he fits in when Ray sits on the couch and pats the seat next to him. Instead of it meant for Colin, it’s an invitation for Ray’s dog, and Colin is left to stand behind the couch, as we wonder what the heck he has gotten into. The film does a magical job of keeping us as unbalanced as Colin is. In fact, at some point, you go along as Colin does, allowing the film to take you on a ride into a strange love story. The film works because of the chemistry between the two actors, and we get the feeling that Ray will not make Colin do anything he isn’t willing to do. I will warn you that this film shows quite a bit of the sexual nature of this relationship and may not fit everyone’s taste. That being said, I loved this strange, unconventional, heartwarming story with a bit of humor that works thanks to the performances on screen, which feel real. Strange, but real.  My Rating: Full Price  Pillion Website  Now playing in select theaters

My View:  Man on the Run  (2025)  R   Man on the Run is a documentary about Paul McCartney forming his new band, Wings, after the breakup of the Beatles. The film features home videos and photos of Paul and Linda from the band’s formation in the 1970s and its tours through the years. This documentary from Morgan Neville does an outstanding job of showing how difficult it was for McCartney to continue his career after the Beatles. The film is a treasure trove of home movies, recording sessions, and interviews with both Paul and Linda, as well as numerous band members who made up Wings over the years. What surprised me was the songs I had forgotten from those early post-Beatles McCartney albums. Some great, some good, and a few were pretty bad, but it was an artist discovering his voice again without his partner in crime. This is a film not about an ex-Beatle but about an artist finding his way into adulthood and bringing us along for the ride through his music, including his love for Linda. It’s an amazing journey into a life that the world thought it knew but really didn’t.   My View: Full Price   Man on the Run Website     Now playing on Amazon Prime

My View: The Bluff  (2026)  R  The Bluff is set in the 19th-century Caribbean, where former pirate, Ercell “Bloody Mary” Bodden (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) is forced to protect her family from a past that she wishes she could erase when her former captain, Connor (Karl Urban), shows up seeking revenge. I enjoyed this action romp that revisits the pirate motif with lots of action and some rousing fight sequences. Priyanka Chopra Jonas gives the action sequences her all and, after a slow start, is believable as a feared and formidable bloodthirsty pirate. The last third of the film is a blast (no pun intended) as Bloody Mary fights for her family against seemingly overwhelming odds, but she has a few tricks (and bombs) up her sleeve, along with a knife or two.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Bluff Website   Now playing on Amazon Prime

Indiefest:  Dreams  (2025) R  In Dreams, Jennifer (Jessica Chastain) is a powerful American socialite who is in charge of a foundation that supports the arts. She meets Fernando (Isaac Hernandez), an undocumented Mexican ballet dancer, with the idea of helping him get work. Their friendship starts a secret affair that could destroy everything Jennifer has worked for. The film is directed by Michel Franco, known for his award-winning films Heroic (2023), New Order (2020), and After Lucia (2012). I am a big fan of Jessica Chastain, but this is not one of her best. She seems somewhat uncomfortable in the role, and some of the dialogue she is given sounds as if it were written in another language and then poorly translated into English. The film is dull, except for the ballet sequences, and Isaac Hernandez is magnificent in those scenes. However, the rest of the film is filled with Chastain wearing incredible outfits, and that’s about it. The film feels cold, and what little heat it provides is just in those dance sequences.  My Rating: Cable  Dreams Website   Now playing in theaters

Forgotten Film:  Urban Legend  (1998) R  Like the original Scream (1996), this is a film where the victims are very aware of what could happen to them, which makes it all the more fun. It takes place on a college campus where a group of students have taken an Urban Legends class, and then students start dying from being killed like the legends that they learned about. Like Scream, the cast is what makes this film work, with Jared Leto, Tara Reid, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Michael Rosenbaum, Rebecca Gayheart, and Alicia Witt as our heroine who figures out why the killings are happening. Added to the mix is our old horror friend, Robert Englund. While not as good as the original Scream, it's still a fun horror film with some grisly kills and a few twists to keep you guessing. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Urban Legend Info  The film is available to rent on Apple TV+

Weird Credits: From the Credits of The Bluff: Leading Helpers

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Hoppers  (2026) PG  Hoppers takes place after a group of scientists invent a way to “hop” a human mind into a lifelike robot-animal body. Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda), an animal-loving teen, ‘hops’ into a robotic beaver to thwart a construction company from destroying an animal habitat. Mabel discovers that the animal world is full of surprises, including her unwitting role in an animal uprising. The film was inspired by scientists using robotic animals to study their behavior without a human being present.  Hoppers Website  In theaters on Friday, March 6, 2026.

Until Next Time!

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!