Come Play may have the dumbest-sounding horror premise I’ve seen this year: A supernatural creature haunts an unstable family via an iPad (truly the most terrifying creation in existence). However, as with an ever-increasing number of films with dumb-sounding conceits, Come Play makes the most out of its premise and provides a creepy creature flick… Continue Reading
It Chapter 2: Darker, Bloated Continuation Kept Afloat by Great Scares and Performances
4 out of 5 stars (One of the best of the year) Note: It Chapter 2 opens with a gory homophobic hate crime and contains scenes and discussion of suicide, domestic abuse, and alcoholism. It Chapter 2 is the continuation of the 2017 smash It, a film which combined the coming-of-age and horror genres to… Continue Reading
Brightburn: Superhero Subversion a Bloody Good Time
3.4 out of 5 stars (slightly above average) Brightburn is Not a Superhero movie. It may be about a young boy who crash-lands on Earth from an alien spaceship to two well-meaning farmers, but this kid is no Superman. He’s a ruthless killer with superhuman abilities. Brightburn is a fun, bloody horror spin on the… Continue Reading
Us: Jordan Peele’s Bizarre Horror Story is Unique, Terrifying
5 out of 5 stars (Classic) Jordan Peele’s Us is the first standout horror film of 2019. The follow-up to his 2017 debut Get Out, Peele comes into his own here as a director, with hypnotizing camerawork and a white-knuckle script that sees star Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther) deliver her best performance to date. Us… Continue Reading
The Nun: Horror film is Predictable, but Fun
2.5 out of 5 stars (Decent) The Nun is the newest installment in the popular Conjuring film series, though you don’t need to have seen the other films to get it. While it certainly isn’t as good as The Conjuring 1 and 2, the film is a suitably fun Haunted House Movie (or, Haunted Abbey… Continue Reading
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: Dino Sequel Darker, Scarier, and More Thrilling
3.5 out of 5 stars (above average) I am baffled by the critical reception to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Sitting at an unbelievable 51% critics rating on Rottentomatoes.com, reviewers are claiming this entry is stale, unimaginative, and lacking the magic of its predecessors. I completely disagree with those criticisms and believe the film actually improves… Continue Reading