Hearts Beat Loud

This is a perfect role for Nick Offerman. Take High Fidelity, scale back the snobbishness of those characters, age em about 15 years(for the sake of character ages, not in terms of film releases), give them a family, and boom, you have his character in this. While not quite as elitist as Rob Gordon, they still share similarities. It's a touching film, a small & simple, yet smart film. It is also a film that references Animal Collective.It's a charming film, and riht now it is only 99 cents on Amazon, go check it out for that price, or get the fuck out of the store!

Border

Border is a bizarre love story, is it a love story? Border is a fantasy about trolls, that much is true. Border is a creepy, unnerving and semi ugly film that you can't help but watch. Ugly not only in terms of characters appearance but some actions, ugly in terms of sex, ugly in terms of stuff it almost forces you to watch. I applaud this film, i liked this film, i didn't love it, i don't know if i'll ever rewatch it, but it was always stick with me.

Heavy Trip

Heavy  Trip, the Finnish/Norwegian Heavy Metal comedy, is one of the funniest films of the year. Relatable story of a ragtag group of metal heads not giving up on their dream. Knowledgeable metal dialogue mixed in to a road flick with truly hilarious moments.

How To Talk To Girls At Parties

If you see one film about British punks vs pretentious artsy aliens that has S&M undertones this year, make it How to Talk to Girls at Parties. A funny and touching coming of age film with a great soundtrack that drips style and embraces being weird. This is a cult film through & through, and i am so glad 2018 has given us a few of them. Part Repo Man, part The Apple, part Sing Street. As a Neil Gaiman fan, it saddens me i haven't read the comic yet but that will soon change. Being based on a comic aside, this is one of the more refreshing films of 2018, a highly refreshing year of film!

Christmas Chronicles

Netflix's new Christmas film, the Christmas Chronicles, is a rare breed, an awesome netflix movie, also the rare awesome modern Christmas movie. A thing that isn't rare, an awesome performance by Kurt Russell, adding another to his rogue gallery. This is a role he was born to play, a sarcastic Santa that sings and wears a red leather jacket. It is a funny & touching film and one i plan to watch again before Christmas.

Sabrina(no, not the awesome series)

In my last blurb i said i used to receive a lot of shit screener possession films, this makes plenty of those look like the Exorcist. Is Netflix trying so hard to be the top dog in streaming horror that they put their name on any piece of shit? I see the deal with Cam, i get it, but this? Cinema is dying and this isn't helping. This is all the more reason why i doubt i'll see the Possession of Hannah Grace.

May the Devil Take You

This film went under my radar until i read the the director of The Night Comes For Us, had a second Netflix feature available. I watched that last night, it was a blast, so it is 2 in 0? No, 1 in 1. THis film felt like the cheap screener crap i get sent every month. It was being jizzed on as a Sam Raimi tribute, and they aren't wrong, but just because something pays homage, does not mean it is good. This was crap. You want Evil Dead esque? Watch Wither!

The Night Comes For Us

Take Asian crime thrillers of the 80s & 90s, add in flavor of Free Fire & John Wick, or The Raid for you Raid fans, amp up the violence & blood, and you get The Night Comes For Us. The story goes slow at first, for the first 20 minutes or so....then, murder, fights, mayhem. That is the best way to describe this film and it is gorgeous.

Green Book

Peter Farrelly has delivered not just the best Farrelly Brother(s) flick in probably 20 years, but for a drama...it is also the funniest in that same chunk of time. A film with social commentary much needed for today, Mahershala Ali gives his finest performance and one of Viggo Mortensen's best roles, if not his best.

Boy Erased

In 2015 Joel Edgerton brought us the Gift,  a chilling,  creepy and for all extensive purposes a big budget Lifetime movie.  4 years later he brings an even creepier,  even more chilling film in Boy Erased.  This is a horror film,  it is more terrifying than horror films . Jesus camps and conversion therapy.  Beating the gay out of people,  telling them they are sick for choosing this path, placing blame on the devils work such as drugs and alcohol , judging a man based on stance or handshake. Edgerton himself gives a horrifying performance,  as does Russel Crowe.  Nicole Kidman is great and so is Lucas Hedges. Edgerton has become a director to watch.

Creed 2

By time the Rocky franchise hit Rocky IV,  it had already morphed into a slick,  big budget mirror of the 80s filled with excess. Creed(and 2006s Rocky Balboa before that) brought back the story and more serious nature of the first two. Creed 2 continues that tradition yet brings in elements of Rocky III and IV.  Apollo Creed's over the top theatrics are brought in to Adonis' Mania entrances,  but injecting more human nature in with his family and Rocky himself.  There is alot of heart in this film.  The Drago's are perfect heels here,  they make Viktor to be a beast,  yet he and Ivan are both torn.  If there is a third I'll be stoked,  but it ends perfectly,  so if it dies, it dies.

Superfly

I love blacksploitation films,  I love
Superfly, but when i found out they were remaking it,  I was conflicted,  the trailer did nothing for me but I read some good reviews from friends,  and they were right.  This is less blacksploitation and more 90s Urban drama,  and it has some amazing squib work in it and the plot unravels perfectly in this pretty stylish film . Now after this I say,  bring on Scarface.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

In 2012 Wreck It Ralph did what most Pixar films can't,  made me love a CGI animated film.  I thought a sequel would be along within 3 years or so,  but double it and here we are.  While I love the first,  I didn't quite love this one. I liked it,  I laughed at times,  snorted km fact, but the story don't do it as much.  I love the internet but this was more of a buzzfeed,  vine internet as opposed to Joblo.  The characters are still great,  and their are some great moments but I wasn't totally wowed....until the stinger.  Perfect troll of a stinger .

Juliet, Naked

Juliet,  Naked is a super charming look at music fandom,  love,  parenthood, past mistakes  and self worth.  I wish it had shown a bit more of 90s Alt rock but the human nature of not owing anyone anything and being able to change your mind should hit a chord with many.

Fantastic Beasts 2

Maybe it is because I'm not a reader of the books(i read the original Potters) but I don't get all the hate from both fans and critics for Fantastic Beasts 2.  Sure it may not have the pure beauty of the Potter flicks but it is not as loaded,  as was the previous Beasts flick.  I liked the darker tones with Grindelwald and the screwball humor of Newt. My only complaint is the cgi of the magic demon panthers.

Future World

James Franco is an odd director,  he makes plenty of films but i have only loved one, The Disaster Artist.  His latest,  Future World,  not to be confused with the Westworld sequel,  is possibly his worst.  A wannabe Mad Max with terrible acting,  characters, plot and overall look. 

Cam

When i found out Blumhouse was doing a horror film about a Cam girl, i was stoked, add in a cool trailer, i was sold. The film, while getting how camming really is(online) the plot is to be desired, it was dull and felt cheap, not cheap as in low budget, not cheap as in a sexual way, but cheap in a porn way, which could be fitting for this....but not for Blumhouse. If it had not been Blumhouse, i still might have checked it out, but for them, i was expecting better production, acting & plot. What could have been a cool Twilight Zone esque film instead felt like early 00s straight to video trash...and i love trash, just not this. Excuse me, i now must go to MyFreeCams....i mean, what?

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is the best Coen Brothers film since Inside Llewyn Davis, sure it is only two films ago, but Hail Caesar did nothing for me. This isn't just a return to form for them, it is also Coens unhinged. Are you a fan of screwball Coen humor? You got it. Are you a fan of Coen brothers violence? You got it. Musicals? Boom, you got it. This is one of the most Coen...Coen Brothers films they have made.It is the Creepshow of westerns, funny & macabre.

I Kill Giants

This totally wasn't the film i was expecting. I had not read the comic and the trailer i had seen didn't reveal much, but damn, this is a touching film akin to A Monster Calls. A Monster Calls is more powerful, but this here is a worthy companion.

Suspiria

Luca Guadagnino's Call Me By Your Name was one of the best films of 2017, when it was announced he was doing Suspiria....i was unsure what tot think because Call Me By Your Name had not been released yet. I was weary of David Gordon Green directing it but wound up loving his Halloween. Luca's version is more Ken Russell than Dario Argento, atleast in the final act(well 6th act according to this film). It is more grounded than Argento's, a film that he elevated with visuals. This film here is visual but it isn't an experience, it is is more of someone trying to make art. The original was art, this here is pretentious at times, well alot of the time. It is a striking film that could have used a bit of trimming here or there, but it looks beautiful, stars some beautiful women, Dakota Johnson is HOT in this, eat your heart out 50 Shades, and it is beautifully scored. It feels like someone said, i'll make an art house version of an art house film, the whole serious and artsy horror such as AHS or It Comes at Night. That isn't to say this is a bad film, not at all, not by any means, it is great, and it is a great companion to the original, totally different films, a remake done right.

AHS Apocalypse

It's no secret my preferred seasons of AHS are Murder House and Coven, so naturally i was stoked for Apocalypse. When the first episode aired i didn't know what to think. I liked that it was different but where is the connection of seasons? Enter Michael Langdon the satanic son of Tate. Okay. Few episodes go by, all the characters die. Okay. Enter the witches. Yay! From this point we see flashbacks showing the events after Coven that lead up to the apocalypse including a stop at the hotel. The final episode ties quite a bit together but there are still alot of unanswered questions. I've said before i'm done with the show, but this crossover brought me back. I liked this more than Cult, i actually finished this, it wasn't a chore like Roanoak, it was more consistent than Hotel and Freak Show . It is no where as good as Coven but still better than Asylum, the episodes featuring the Murder House were easily my favorites, but that was easily my favorite season.

Hot Summer Nights

Hot Summer Nights is yet another awesome 2018 coming of age film. One part Adventureland, one part Rules of Attraction. Moments of innocence followed by moments of violence. Pretty stylish debut feature film and it has an awesome soundtrack.

The Last Movie Star

While Detroit Rock City will probably always be my favorite Adam Rifkin film, The Last Movie Star might be his best. A touching tribute to Burt Reynolds which is more powerful with his passing. Also some of Reynold's best acting. Would be a great double bill with Kodachrome.

The Girl In the Spiders Web

Years ago i blindly saw THe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the original, i thought it was great, so i began to read the books and eventually saw the other two in the series, the Girl That Played with Fire and the Girl That Kicked the Hornets Nest. When it was announced David Fincher was directing a remake of Tattoo, i was stoked. The film was great, but the translation into US made it feel more like a by the numbers espionage flick. The newest, which skips Fire and Nest and instead adapts the fourth book, is more of the same. It goes for more of a Mission Impossible vibe with action and the pacing is actually pretty fast but the action in question is a bit choppy and the story is a bit contrived.

The Grinch

Since i was about 13, i've waited for a Scott Mosier film.This weekend, we finally got one! It isn't the film i wanted, it isn't the film he deserves, but it was fine. I'm not a big fan of alot of CGI cartoons but i like the old Grinch, plus it is Mosier, so fuck it, why not? It was enjoyable, i didn't really laugh, but it is what i expected from Illumination. The plot is your basic Grinch story, one alot of us can relate to that get bummed during the holidays, it is better than the Ron Howard version i'll say that. It was charming, but i saw it, if i want the Grinch, i'll stick with the OG.It hit me though, in this universe, Santa doesn't exist. If he did, he would have been caught in Cindy's trap, or restored Christmas after the Grinch stole. So Whoville is just like the rest of the world, only more jolly, i get it, i like it, they got rid of Trump! It's 2021 in Whoville, the Grinch just has anxiety and wants to be left alone with his dvd collection!

Killer Kate

There is a reason i avoid alot of films recommended by horror websites. Alot of time. in the case of a film like the Apostle it is hipster horror brouhaha, but alot of the time is it bottom of the barrel underground titles that are worse than most screeners. Killer Kate is a better version of a shitty screener flick, not that i don't enjoy some of those, but in this case...i didn't enjoy it. This is a terrible constructed, poorly written, contrived, horribly acted piece of shit. It has blood, but none are done in a cool effects shot, there are so many missed opportunities. I hate writing bad thoughts on a film, but ugh, fuck this movie. I felt jipped by renting youtube movies in  the past, now yet again. Alas it is the struggle of a cinephile, watch film, watch film, watch film! 

Wildlife

When i heard Paul Dano was directing a film i was stoked. The premise, not trailer did too much for me but this is a film with great acting that shows how fucked human nature truly is. Whether is be from cheating, revenge or misogyny. 

Apostle

Gareth Evans came into my world with the Raid, and honestly, i was underwhelmed by it. The second one was more of the same, all the stuff i found dull in the first was more dull in it, all the stuff i loved in the first, i loved more in it. With his latest, the Apostle, it adds to a list of dull, boring and pretentious netflix movies. This one is better than most of the crappy netflix movies, but fuck, this might be the most boring film i've seen in some time.

Overlord

Overlord starts off with your ragtag men on a mission but quickly goes for the jugular and doesn't let up for quite a while. Once it does characters that were quickly developed in the first scene fleshed out, and we get some good tension. It doesn't really go horror til about midway in, from that point it is pure bloody goodness. This flick has heart, it has humor, it has gore, characters have good dynamics, it's gory as fuck. It is a big budget B Movie, i've said that alot this year, but this year has kicked ass in film. The zombies are pretty much how Resident Evil should have booked theirs. At times i was reminded of Planet Terror with the aesthetic. I've seen my fair share of Nazploitation flicks, and especially horror themed ones, this is Nazi horror done right. It isn't splatstick like the Dead Snow flicks, it's a WW2 survival that just happens to have uber zombies in it. Sure there might be a scene or 2 that make you uneazy, but this is one of the funnest horror flicks this year. Easily the best zombie film/show since Train to Busan!

It's Always Sunny: Season 13

The first episode of this season was great, hit all the It's Always Sunny nails. The next couple were very meh, especially the airplane episode, but that all changed with the times up episode, it showed what this show it, and it was glorious. Dennis's car & the bathroom episodes were pure gold and the clip show was nothing short of brilliant. The Eagles episodes were special for me, i am not a football fanatic, but i have friends that bleed Eagle green, and i see their love, i feel their love, and i felt that same love come from this show, especially the second part, showing Rob McElhenney genuine emotion, it was beautiful. The finale was super touching. I love this show so much!

Slice

Here is a film with a fun cast, a entertaining premise and a cool vibe, but honestly didn't do much for me. I was entertained, but mainly just enjoyed it for a one time viewing. I think the film picks up in the final act, and the final scene, the commercial, is pure gold.

I Think We're Alone Now

I Think We're Alone Now, is probably my favorite "last man on earth" flick since the Omega Man. Atmospheric, funny when needed, and solid performances by Peter Dinklage & Elle Fanning. The story of a loner being isolated and then finding a fellow survivor that must grow on him spoke to me. He had a routine, he had peace & quiet, his books, movies & metal music, what isn't to love? Ohhhh, that! Yeah...that might happen in this flick!

Match of October

1. Ricochet vs Pete Dunne vs Adam Cole: NXT TV. North American Title

2. Buddy Murphy vs Cedrick Alexander: Super showdown. Cruiserweight Title

3. LA Park vs Pentagon: MLW

4. Toni Storm vs Meiko Satotmura: Mae Young Classic

5. Mieko Satomura vs Mercedes Martinez: Mae Young Classic

6. Undertaker vs HHH: Super Showdown

7. Kenny Omega vs Kota Ibushi vs Cody: King of Pro Wrestling. IWGP Title

8. Kushida vs Marty Scurll: King of Pro Wrestling: IWGP Title

9. Tanahashi vs Jay White: King of Pro Wrestling

10 Mustapha Ali vs Hideo Itami: NXT

11. Tom Lawlor vs Shane Strickland: MLW

12. Nick Aldis vs Cody: NWA 70. NWA Title

13. Johnny Gargano vs Tony Nese: NXT

14. Cody & the Young Bucks vs SCU: Glory by Honor

15. Tony Nese vs Lio Rush vs Gran Metalek vs TJP vs Cedrick Alexander: 205

16. oVe & Larry D vs Shane Strickland, Rich Swan, Jason Cade, & Matthew Palmer: Cage of Horrors: Revolver

17. Nick Aldis vs Christopher Daniels: Honor Club

18. Suzuki vs Ishii: Never Openweight Title. NJPW/Rev Pro Global Wars

19. Young Bucks vs Addiction vs Evil & Sanada vs Best Friends: ROH

20. Io Shirai vs Zeuxis : Mae Young Classic

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

I almost wrote this show off cause of the original, then i watched the trailer last week, glad i did, cause this show fills the Stranger Things void. It's like an R rated Harry Potter with elements of the Adams Family. The show is oozing in horror film references and is beyond atmospheric, the jokes work, the gore is plenty and the characters are perfectly developed. This show is endlessly entertaining, if you're a horror fan, you'll find plenty to love, if you're not, maybe you'll be bridged into discovering some of the classics.

Beautiful Boy

This isn't a perfect film, this is a tough film though. It is tough to sit through, it is cringe worthy at times, not because of quality but through substance, substance abuse that it. Steve Carell & Timothee Chalamet both deliver great performances, the only fault hindering this from being great is pacing issues. It could have used a bit of trimming here & there but the real meat & potatoes comes from the acting. The acting alone makes you feel what it is like to go through addiction and to love someone going through addiction.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Sure it was 100% accurate, sure the production was troubled, but Bohemian Rhapsody is probably the best Bryan Singer film, well best part Bryan Singer film. This flick might take Rami Malek to the next level, he is great in it. It told a story of a inspirational rock god, showed the highs, the lows but shows you how powerful music truly can be.