Seeds

I love slow burns, i love creepy ass films, i love low budget cinema, well some low budget cinema, not this low budget cinema. Seeds is a slow burn for sure, but when it has a pay off, i go limp. This is one of the most boring films i've received a screener for, and i've received alot of boring ass screeners. It tries to looks artsy but instead it looks bland. The plot from any better director might have been great, an uncle fucking his niece and a demon monster is on the loose? Fuck yeah! Only not here, instead we get metaphors, which isn't a bad thing and we get a creepy & uninteresting uncle fucking his could be interesting but far from it and creepy ass niece. It feels inspired by May only no where near the craftsmanship of that film.

One Cut Of The Dead

One Cut Of the Dead is the best meta zombie film of the year, if you've seen it let it unfold for others, if you haven't then embrace it but don't expect the same type of meta as say The Dead Don't Die. On top of that it is also one of the better films of filmmaking in some time. It shows the hassles of pre production, the hellacious nature that can be the shoot, and the overall stress and love you feel when your project is finished. If you have Shudder, it is on there. If you live in Omaha i know Alamo will be playing it next month.

Wine Country

Had it not been for Amy Poehler directing, i wouldn't have been curious about Wine Country, but she did so i was. It looked awful and by the numbers, and it was. It is supposed to be some "classed up" tell about womens empowerment but all it was was a "classed" up, used lightly version of Grown Ups. 

Ad Astra

I've only seen a few of James Gray's films, with Lost City of Z being his best....until now. Ad Astra is great, and if you've seen the trailers check it at the door. This is nothing like the trailers, in fact this film is hard to talk about without spoilers. Not that any moment will ruin anything but it is best to go in blind and let this journey unfold before your own eyes. It delves into human psyche, cover ups, and even has a scene with killer *redacted. The trailer looked rather bland but this film is a trip, in fact as far as the recent space exploration films of the past 6 years, this is easily the best. This is possibly the best since 2009's Moon.

Rambo: Last Blood

The Rambo series is an odd one. First Blood is a great film, Rambo: First Blood Part 2, and Rambo 3 are 80s action films through & through. and Rambo was just a bloody fun flick. Now we get to Rambo: Last Blood, much like Rambo the first act kinda makes you laugh, but where that was from the actors this is from being sappy. Rambo pretty much punched you in the face with brass knuckles dipped in glass after the 20 minute mark but the second act here just feels like we are following a generic character. John Rambo isn't really a character where we need to see his home life, he isn't as complex or lovable as Rocky Balboa. And seeing him in a Taken esque movie is a good idea on paper but it ultimately could have been any other Stallone role. Now the last act, fuck yes! The last act is pure bad ass. The first hour isn't bad perse it is just generic, but the final battle is a bloody good time. Traps being set off, limbs chopped off, it is all you really need.

Three From Hell

The award for most unnecessary sequel of all time goes to....Three From Hell. I dreaded this film when it was announced as i love the way Devil's Rejects ended. I love Rejects, but the trailers for this did nothing for me either. The first act felt like a Rejects fan film, it was pretty bad. From there it improved slightly, Rob Zombie still seemed to try too hard as he did in 31 but this was still better than that piece of shit. The final act here is pretty awesome though, grit, gore, neon drenched luchadors. It isn't a good film but it is better than i expected, still on the lower tier of Rob Zombie flicks, which includes most of his filmography. 

Cobra Kai Season 2

I finally got around to watching season 2 of Cobra Kai, totally worth the wait. It picks up right where season 1 left off, characters grow, alignments change, and the fights top all the rest. Daniel is still the car salesman prick but you still see him as the baby face. Johnny is still the heelish out of touch, alcoholic but with a heart. Their warring factions have a great program that build to their blow off match in the finale, seriously it is pure batshit, think the church scene from Kingsman but with just kicks & fists. Season 3 will be interesting as fuck with the way things ended. It's still crazy that a TV sequel tops the original movies, but this has 2 seasons in a row.

Brittany Runs a Marathon

Brittany Runs a Marathon is a simple yet charming film. It examines body positivity and the struggles and goals people face and skewed views they might form while reaching goals towards others facing bigger problems. The cast is all solid, lead by Jillian Bell in a turn that might take her out of minor roles she has done the past few years.

IT Chapter 2

When i was a child, IT scared the fuck out of me, i feared clowns. As a teen i dove into film, read Stephen King and was enamored with Tim Curry. So IT was something i no longer feared, it was something i enjoyed, it was corny but Tim Curry made the film work. When the remake was announced i didn't really care at all, but i remember sitting at the airport on the way to Orlando and the trailer dropped, it looked pretty good. Come September 2017 the film blew me away, i saw it four times in theatres and i don't even know how many times on home video, it is my favorite film of the decade. Back in 2015 I said we'd never have another film like the Force Awakens, that the anticipation of that night would never be matched, and honestly it hasn't but It Chapter 2 is easily the most excited i've been for a film since Force Awakens.  From the start of the film i was hooked, the reintroductions of the characters was great. These aren't caricatures, these are fully developed characters that seem like old friends. The actors are great and nail their roles, they truly feel like adult versions of the kids we grew to love in Chapter 1 and their chemistry is fantastic. The film feels more disturbing than the first and it stems alot more from Pennywise's victims of choice, a bit younger this time around not to mention seeing more of Beverly's relationships with her dad and husband. Pennywise is secondary to the Losers Club but it is fine cause when he is on he is turned on. As for the Losers they truly make you love & appreciate friendship. The film oozes a great spookhouse vibe the entire time, it looks like a nightmare and feels perfect for this time of year. The ending might divide many, but you know what if you hate it consider it written by Bill Denbrough, if you loved it then congrats for enjoying a epic journey of a horror film from start to finish. This film gives you many emotions and i honestly loved every bit of it, from the kills and spider creeping me out, to tension and call backs, the film was everything i wanted it to be. Sure some of the de-aging seemed a bit off, but fuck it i'll let it slide as said actors are hitting puberty. The mixture of flashbacks and Pennywise terrorizing the Losers worked perfectly. Henry Bowers was a great secondary antagonist. I can't wait to see this film again. Also a blood covered Jessica Chastain is hot! Oh and atleast this version didn't have Bill & Mike riding their bike through a playground doing bull tricks.

Batman: Hush

Batman: Hush is a return to form for DC Animation. This is their best in some time, both for characters & fight scenes. The poignant ending with Batman's state of mind is where this universe needs to go. As far as an adaptation goes this is pretty far removed, ALOT of changes, but like many adaptations i'm cool with the changes, i enjoy a good rug pull, and the changes made sense for this medium. 

Match of August

1. Velveteen Dream vs Roderick Strong vs Pete Dunn: Takeover Toronto: North American Title

2. Walter vs  Tyler Bate: Takeover Cardif: UK Title

3. Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews vs Wolfgang & Mark Cofey vs James Drake & Zack Gibson: Takeover Cardif: NXT UK Tag titles

4. Donovan Dijakovic Vs Keith Lee: NXT TV

5. Oney Lorcan, Humberto Carillo, Jack Galagher, Tozawa & Swerve Scott vs Drew Gulack, Tony Nese, Angel Garza, Daivari & Mike Kanellis: 205 Live

6. Lucha Bros vs Young Bucks: All Out: AAA Tag titles

7. Noam Dar vs Travis Banks: Takeover Cardif

8, Jimmy Havoc vs Darby Alin vs Joey Janella: All Out

9.  Cesaro vs Dragonuv: Takeover Cardif

10. Pac vs Kenny Omega: All Out

11. Joe Cofey vs Mastiff: Takeover Cardif

12. Cody vs Shawn Spears: All Out

13. Chris Jericho vs Hangman Page: All Out: AEW Title

14. Charlotte vs Trish Stratus: Summerslam

15. Marty Scurl vs Bandido: Center Stage

16. Kasius Ohno vs Dragunov: NXT UK

17. Ibushi vs Jay White: G1

18. Drew Gulak vs Oney Lorcan: 205 Live: Cruiserweight Title

19. Buddy Murphy vs Daniel Bryan: SMackdown

20. Oney Lorcan vs Jack Galagher vs Tony Nesevs vs Daivari vs Kalisto vs Tozawa: 205 Live

21. David Smith vs Timothy Thatcher: MLW

22. Travis Banks vs Kenny Williams: NXT UK

23. Adam Cole vs Johnny Gargano: Takeover Toronto: NXT TItle

24. LifeBlood vs Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham: ROH

25. Ibushi vs Okada: G1

26. Ibushi vs ZSJ: G1

27. Hamberto Carillo vs Lince Dorado: 205 Live

28. Archer vs Evil: G1

29. ZSJ vs Kenta: G1

30. Naito vs Takagi: G1

31. ZSJ vs Archer: G1

32. Sanada vs Okada: G1

33. Briscoes vs GoD: Summer Supercard: ROH Tag Titles

34. Ospreay vs Kenta; G1

35. Ospreay vs Evil: G1

Critters Attack

Critters Attack was a blast, far better than the New Binge. New Binge was fun but felt like a fan film, this feels like there is more heart involved. Bloody, goopy fun, the popular teens(pre teens) taking down monsters fad is in full effect, plus Dee Wallace kicking ass. I'd love if we got these every few years as Critters has always been a welcome addition.