Nightbitch

 

Nightbitch is a body horror without the horror. At the core it is a film about motherhood and all women must go through.  It uses morphing into a dog as a way to brilliantly talk about the primal rage inside. It is a touching and unnerving film, the unnerves come from the reality of struggles more so than the animalistic moments, but the touch comes from that same factor. This is a film about love and how you can still grow in your 30s and 40s. 

Kraven

 

What a crazy past 5 years it has been for cinematic comic book universes. DCEU ends....and with a joke that sums up the entire series....and I enjoyed the series. The 20th Century Marvel films ended by being tied into the McU Multiversaly. Now we get the end of the....Sonyverse? Sony will continue SpiderMan but no longer his spin offs. Venom was a fun conclusion and should have ended everything, Madame Web existed....and Kraven.....should have not been made. These were all cash grabs no one was asking for and Kraven might be the most boring of the bunch.  Wooden acting, choppy action, cringe dialogue.  Good bye, and hello MCU and DCU....I guess. 

Lord of the Rings

 

I love Lord of the Rings, i grew up watching the animated films, read the books and i find the Peter Jackson trilogy to be some of the best crafted films ever produced. The Hobbit trilogy was fun but lacked the punch of the OG. Ring of Power i could not get into so i wasn't really stoked for an animated film but if it was any bit as fun as the old animated films then i'd be there.....it was not. In fact it is the opposite of fun, it is rather boring. The animation style i thought would have some epic shots but it just looked bland. 

Nosferatu A Symphony of Horror

 

Nosferatu is public domain and sadly many films suffer from this, look at Mickey & Winnie. Next week Robert Eggers will bring us a film that looks masterful, this here....is not not. This is the other Nosferatu, and it stars Doug Jones whom just seems to sleep walk as if he were a zombie in this. Sadly this film is just plain boring and generic. 

Heavier Trip

 

Heavy Trip was one of the more fun little surprises of the past 10 years. The sequel however is quite the chore. The charm & general fuckery of the first is gone and instead we get a forced film that thinks itis edgier than it is. 

Carry On

 

Jaume Collet Serra is not a director i love, or even like. I have enjoyed films of his but he is truly a director for hire, case in point, Carry On. Another case.....stop watching everything. Sometimes enjoying a directors films makes you realize in whole you don't really care for their filmography and it carries over....to Carry On. Jason Bateman is pretty damn good but everyone else sleep walks. 

Aggro Dr1ft

Harmony Korine is an interesting film maker. Most of his films i admire, but very few do i love. Spring Breakers looked interesting and my old roommate was stoked to see it, so even after not loving his previous films, i checked it out and loved it. I also loved Beach Bum, so i was stoked for Aggro Dr1ft. It is experimental and only on the Edglrd site so i checked it out. I admire this film but fuck is it a chore. I would call it pretentious but it has a middle finger up in the air the same time towards pretention. 

Yule Log 2

 

Two years ago Adult Swim gave us the Yule Log and that was one if the most insane films in recent years. Now they have a sequel, no longer told in the yule format but rather a Hallmark movie and it works as both a spoof of those films and a worthy sequel because while not as bonkers as the first it is still full on insanity.

Salem's Lot

 

Salem's Lot had a rough production.  Would it ever be released? Would WB burn it? Well it came out this year on Max and kind of went under the radar. Part to do with streamers pumping out content others to do with no one cared. I finally watched it and it is well made but it feels like many King adaptations, cheap and lackluster. It kicks in at the end but even then it feels more like modern horror TV than a straight up film. Not a bad thing but this is an empty lot.

Cuckoo

 

Cuckoo is a film that looked great, then reviews said it gets pretty bonkers. While it is a well crafted film it is pretty standard. Dan Stevens as usual is great,  as is the entire cast but ultimately the film felt jumbled. Any time it gained momentum it lost it, but the last act picks up quite a bit, but at the end it doesn't stick to landing  

Black Cab

 

Black Cab is an interesting film, part character study, part supernaturl, part could be slasher. Nick Frost's character is deranged, is he a killer? Is he haunted? THe haunted imagery is quite striking, as it Frost's cold performance. It is a light watch yet a bleak and effective film. 

Rita

 Rita is a beautiful film on Shudder with some gorgeous imagery and a unique concept. As the case with many Shudder films, especially foreign titles, the pacing is a bit off. There were moments i beyond bored but i was captivated at the same time. 

Match of November

 Men's War Games 

Bron vs Sheamus vs Ludwig

Women's War Games 

Y2K

      

Kyle Mooney knocked it out with his debut Y2K. This is a cheesey and funny nostalgia trip that combines Sci fi and horror into a nice coming of age package. The entire cast seems to be having fun, the character tropes fit perfectly for the time period. It pokes holes into how mad the 99 and 00 were and pokes more holes into hacker films of that time. This is a fast paced quick watch that is one of the most entertaining of the year. 

Red One

 

Red One is a film that takes itself too seriously. It is a bore to sit through, feels generic and the cast looks like they are cashing a paycheck....and that was an insane paycheck due to the cost of this film. If you want a fun family action Christmas film then check out Christmas Chronicles instead. 

Street Trash

 

The original Street Trash is trash....and i mean that in the best way. The new Street Trash is trash but is that a good thing?  It is enjoyable but not very good, it knows what it is and for that reason it is bullet proof but it still feels like many post Grindhouse films.There is some cool effects and badass moments but overall it felt like a chore. 

Nutcrackers

 

Nutcrackers, the latest from David Gordon Green, is a bit of a throwback for him being comedy and all.....as well as a throwback for Ben Stiller. Sadly this is no Pineapple Express nor a Zoolander and it is every bit the mess that everyone assumes the Halloween movies are. 

The Unbreakable Bunch

 

I LOVE wrestling, i LOVE horror. Having wrestlers vs aliens is a dumb idea but one that could and should be fun. Instead we get a film that feels like a doc.....having wrestlers play....wrestlers and discussing life on the road....that is cool.....only IF it was a shoot. The aliens...."aliens" pop up here and there and carry things, that's about it. Then they have their blow off....and it was a blow off alright. This feels under Wild Eye, under Full Moon, under most screeners. The Unwatchable Bunch. 

Hellboy: The Crooked Man

 

When Neil Marshall's Hellboy came out 5 years ago, people freaked. The Del Toro films aren't untouchable by any means, nothing is. While the Del Toro flicks are a blast, Marshall's was not. Now we have another Hellboy....and this one went so under the radar that no one seemed to care. The trailer looked so generic and like a fan film that i kept forgetting about it. Upon seeing it, it feels like one and it doesn't know when to end. The acting is wooden, the action is choppy, the effects are non existent, this is hell....boy.

Doc of Chucky

 

Doc of Chucky is a long yet fast paced horror doc. It dives into the 7 films in the original cannon and is quite informative as it doesn't sugar coat a whole lot. I wish it had been even longer and tackled the remake and TV series but alas I will not complain.  At 5 hours I watched it in parts, which I only do for docs but as entertaining as it is you can easily watch in one sitting. 

Wicked

 

I've always loved Oz. Whether it be the originals of the early 1900s, the more campy versions of the 70s and 80s or even Sam Raimis. I always wanted to see Wicked but never have, the idea is intriguing even though I dislike the idea of sympathizing the villain. Upon seeing the film it is presented in such a way where it makes sense. The Wizard always being a fraud, Glinda always being pompous(just watch the 39 version). This one was great from the moment the Universal logo hit all the way until we get our witch. I still am intrigued as to where the story goes and that made Wicked 2 shoot to one of my most anticipated of 2025. This truly feels like a Thanksgiving/Christmas season event film. 

Your Monster

 Your Monster could have been a bleak yet sweet little horror film but instead it feels choppy and the characters are developed worse than exposed film. I love Melisa Barrera but this role just was nothing for her to sink her teeth into.  The plot itself should have been an easy plot but it never takes off. I appreciate the commentary in the film but that is about it, well that and the great ending. Just wish the rest of the film went for the jugular too.

The J Horror Virus

 In the early to mid 00s J Horror was at an all time high. Even in the US it hit huge cause of all the remakes, most were pretty piss poor but it opened windows for discovery. Now we get a doc tackling the rise of J Horror. It is quite informative and truly shows the love these films have. 

The Front Room

 The Front Room is a film that on paper was intriguing. Could have great suspense, some fucked up moments and tackle social issues. And it did have that, only the suspense was cut due to odd tones being placed all over, fucked up moments came too late.....and even if you truly even want to call them fucked up, looking at you water, and the social issues....well that was done fine. The film isn't a bore, it just doesn't know how it wants to present itself. Was too hokey for the subject matter but too serious to be camp. 

Speak No Evil

 I wasn't huge on the original Speak No Evil, and i thought the new one looked rather bland. Upon seeing it not only is it bland, but it doesn't even pack the punch of the original. While i found the original to be bland i atleast appreciated the downbeat ending. This plays it safe. 

Woman of the Hour

 

Anna Kendrick's debut feature is one that is very topical. Not so much the source material obviously but true crime in general. Getting a woman's touch was needed for this film and she nails it perfectly, both in directing and acting. 

VHS Beyond

 

VHS is a mixed bag of a franchise with a mixed bag of short stories. Most are forgettable, but i still tend to give em a watch. The latest, VHS Beyond is possibly my favorite since the original. The alien twist is unique but the shorts still don't really stick. 

My Old Ass

 

I never saw Megan Park's debut film The Fallout, but I shall seek it out soon after seeing My Old Ass. This is a coming of age film with a Sci fi twist that balances humor and heart and knows how to pull the heartstrings.

Oddity

 Oddity is an oddity is that it is a rare Shudder film with style and substance. It is atmospheric as fuck and oozed in style but it is a bit long in tooth at times. It feels very Mike Flanagan, in a good way, but like many modern horror films it falls victim to overhype which is no fault of its own. The nightmare imagery alone makes this film worth while. 

The Exorcism

 

I received a screener of The Exorcism a few months ago but never watched it. I saw it pop up on Shudder so gave it a spin. It has a unique twist on the exorcist subgenre but ultimately it feels just as bland as most. Throw on most demonic Shudder films and it will feel like this...only this has a bit more subtext thankfully. 

Match of October

Punk vs Drew McIntyre Hell In A Cell Bad Blood 

 Roxanne vs Giulia : NXT Womens Title

Wes Lee vs Zachary Wentz 

Trick Williams vs Ethan Page: NXT TItle 

Time Cut

I wish Christopher Landon had directed Time Cut, he perhaps could have made it work. Instead2 0l it is a slasher with no slashing and a time travel film that feels modern. Travel to 2003 and act like that much has changed? Okay, maybe in progression but clothes from about 2001 to now are pretty damn similar. It took itself too seriously at times when it should have been a bit campy. 

Heretic

 The trailer for Hertic intrigued the fuck out of me. I was worried the film itself would be bland though,  it is anything but. Hugh Grant gives an over the top yet creepy performance and our two leads nail their parts with waves of emotion. There is depths to all these characters and we watch the first act as a ticking time bomb. As the film unfolds the more bonkers it gets. There is alot to say about religion here aswell as control but that is best saved for discussion of said film.

If

Damn.....damn you John Krasinski. I was intrigued by the idea of If but the trailer didn't seem like anything other than a studio film. I figured it would either be a 90s throwback to dumb kids films or overly sappy...  and while it does feel like a 90s kids film and it does add sap.....there is so much more. So much thought, imagination and heart is in this. It knows how to make you smile and how to make you cry, sometimes at the same time. This film if magic and for those of us that have lost someone makes us ask what If....

Rebel Ridge

 Jeremy Sauliner is a great filmmaker, only thing is I only love two of his films. Murder Party and Green Room I adore, the rest of his work is damn fine yet not my cup of tea. You know, the real agree to disagree. Anyhow, I usually find them riveting yet dull, overly long with pacing issues, and Rebel Ridge.....while possibly his best behind Green Room, suffers from this aswell. 

Strange Darling

 Well it may not be the worst film of the year but Strange Darling is down there. I was kind of excited for this after Fantastic Fest but upon seeing it, it is nothing more than modern exploitation that thinks it is artsy only unlike the Substance, this has no substance, it is just mean spirited and dull. 

I Like Movies

 

I Like Movies is a charming yet awkward coming of age film. It has charm in the acting, the vidio store environment and character interactions yet it is awkward in those interactions. It is a coming of age for sure as our lead is a total neckbeardy douche that becomes somewhat likable. Tis the point though, also i found it funny they showed films that came out after this took place as i feel the lead would rip into that....am i the? Oh fuck.....

Wolfs

Wolfs might be Jon Watt's best film. Clown was decent as was Cop Car, his Spider Man films....are well....Spider Man films, except No Way Home, that is next level. Wolfs however feels like a lost 90s crime film. Both Brad Pitt & George Clooney are great in this with tense moments and dark comedic timing. It has some great twists and at times feels like a Shane Black project. I truly wish this had been given a longer theatrical window. 

Mr. Crocket

 

Mr. Crocket is a fantastic concept with a human story that carries the film. The horror elements are creepy and the more humane portions has alot of heart. Not everything works and is drags alot in the middle but it has a atmospheric vibe. Simply a one time view through & through but i can see this gaining an audience, too bad it is lost on Hulu......and on that end it feels very Hulu....for better or worse. 

Mads

 

I used to love films about fucked up nights out, i still do. I used to have fucked up nights out.....i still sometimes do. Mads is a film about a fucked up night out, it is a trip of a horror film, literally and shines a light....or darkness on the impending doom. It's not quite enjoyable but it quite admirable. 

Never Let Go

 

Never Let Go might be Alex Aja's most atmospheric yet also weakest film. It is bleak as fuck, has great acting and an amazing concept full of twists and some super creepy imagery but it feels as if something is missing. It's not dull per se it just feels a bit wooden. 

Azrael

 I LOVE Samara Weaving, she is one of if not my favorite actress going. She is a total babe that plays strong characters in kick ass films. Here in Azrael, she is still a total babe, and she is a strong character but the film itself is a bit dull. It has a unique premise it just never gains steam. It is far from a bad film just on the bottom of Samara's body.....of work. 

Daddy's Head

 

Daddy's Head is a bleak & atmospheric film on Shudder. It has some haunting imagery and is quite unnerving at times but it did not do too much for me. I could appreciate it but it will not stick with me. Style over substance but even then it loses you. 

Frankie Freako

 

I love Astron 6, whether it be well crafted films like the void or pure pulp & camp like Psycho Goreman, but Frankie Freako just did nothing for me. I love the idea and the concept in it and it has some charm to it but it felt like a chore made by a Ghoulies fan wanting a job at Troma. 

The Bikeriders

 

Jeff Nichols is a great filmmaker and The Bikeriders had momentum going in but ultimately this bike crashed. What could have been an artistic version of a bikesploitation film becomes a dull & poorly paced chore. It does have some great cinematography and acting but that is about it. His weakest film in my opinion. 

Venom The Last Dance

 Venom: The Last Dance is a flawed yet fun film.I thought the first was awesome yet the second one was a let down. The third one has some sweet kaiju imagery, a subplot that actually works and the entire cast seems to be having a good time. While I want the Sony Spidey films to end, this here is a worthy send off.

Saturday Night

 

SNL has always been a staple in my life. When finding out last year that Jason Reitman was helming Saturday Night, the film based on the 90 minutes leading up to the first episode, I was excited. Who better than the son of Ivan to get this close? Well Jason has crafted his masterpiece.  This is a chaotic, coke fueled slice of the 70s that looks and feels the part. I was reminded of Martin Scorsese throughout and it even feels very PT Anderson (a man that himself feels very Scorsese). All the casting is phenomenal especially that of George Carlin, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. This could be the years best. 

Big Shark

 I'd be delusional if I said that Big Shark has not occupied my brain. This was one of my favorite cinema going experiences of the year and an overall enjoyable film. Don't get me wrong. It's terrible beyond words, but what do you expect from Tommy Wiseau? He has polished....."polished"...his craft and his dialogue....."dialogue" has improved......"improved" but he still has not learned from the past, in fact some moments the sound quality is the worst since Birdemic. But to see Tommy sing, fish, play basketball....."basketball", deliver "heroic lines", dance and hunt a shark all makes it worth it. Oh Hai, Shark.

Joker: Folie a Deux

 

Many people know I collect Joker memorable,  in 2019 I absolutely love Joker. I didn't need nor did I want a sequel, I was actually against the idea. It was a perfect stand alone gritty piece of cinema that shouldn't have been part of a series or universe.  Then the trailer dropped and I changed my tune, I still didn't need it but I wanted to see it(I mean I would have seen it no matter what). Upon seeing the film it still was not needed but I loved quite a bit of this. It is definitely flawed and the reality/fantasy aspect really is blurred here. The musical numbers aren't as big of a part as promoted, it just plays for the fantasy here and there but ultimately we're not necessary.  The ending I loved and is something that played in my mind the entire film but can not be discussed to avoid spoilers. 

Festival of the Living Dead

 What is worse, the many Night of the Living Dead sequels/remakes or the Soska Sisters? Well i will tell you combining these two into one. This might not be the worst film of the year but it is up there, this might not be the Soska's worst....but it is up there, this might not be the worst of all the Night cash ins.....but it is up there. Acting, plot, gore, everything is awful and nothing works. Even the winks to the original are pure cringe.