Primate is an animal horror film directed by Johannes Roberts, who co-wrote the script with Ernest Riera. The movie debuted at the 2025 Fantastic Fest before Paramount Pictures gave it a wide release in January 2026.

Lucy Pinborough (Johnny Sequoyah) is returning home to Hawaii, bringing along her friends Kate (Victoria Wyant) and Hannah (Jessica Alexander). There is tension between Lucy and her father, Adam (Troy Kotsur), a deaf author who has a pet monkey named Ben. As Lucy settles in, she reconnects with her sister Erin (Gia Hunter) and childhood friend Nick (Benjamin Cheng). Before Adam goes to a book signing, a mongoose breaks into Ben’s enclosure and bites him, unknowingly giving him rabies. As the girls take advantage of Adam being gone, Ben starts to behave terrifyingly, leading to a gory night of terror.

This is a unique review because, with horror films, I often criticize how horror films can focus too much on gore and shock value instead of clever scares. That is not the case here. Because the monkey is not CGI, but an animatronic, it made the attacks feel very real and unsettling. That brought moments of real tension and spine-tingling moments.

I am not the first reviewer to point this out, but the problem is that you do not really get to know the characters. Even though they had names, outside of Adam, I had trouble remembering them. They could have been called Girl One, Boy One, etc, and I would not have batted an eye.

That is not the fault of the actors. They definitely helped pull you into the terror of having a seemingly tame animal go wild after getting bitten. It was a writing issue that exposed how the characters needed to be expanded upon.

Also, the monkey’s strength is never explained, but it seemed to be a plot convenience. For instance, he is strong enough to rip jaws off people’s faces, but he cannot break through a door where two very petite women are holding the doorknob? That took you out of it just a wee bit.

Those issues aside, the movie is a solid Friday horror night with your friends. It has a tense premise, and the gore is actually played thrillingly. It never felt forced, and the runtime is perfect, never making you feel that it overstays its welcome. I also thought the score by British music composer Adrian Johnston helped to enforce the moments of pure terror. With all of these factors, I can see how horror fans will have a good time.

Bottom line, Primate is every pet owner’s worst nightmare. A seemingly docile animal becomes wild and unhinged to terrorize the very people who care for it. It had some flaws, but ultimately kept you invested.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Gory violence, Disturbing scenes, Strong foul language

FAVORITE QUOTE: Lucy… bad.

Check out the trailer below:

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Payback: Straight Up is the director’s cut of the 1999 crime thriller. It was written and directed by Brian Helgeland. It was made by Icon Productions and released by Paramount Pictures. It was based on the “Parker” novel The Hunter by Richard Stark.

Porter (Mel Gibson) is a career criminal who arrives in New York City after surviving a betrayal by his wife, Lynn (Deborah Kara Unger), and his partner, Val Resnick (Gregg Henry). They shot him and left him for dead. Porter finds a Taxi dispatcher and drug dealer, Arthur Stegman (David Paymer), who warns Val and his mistress Pearl (Lucy Liu) that Porter is back. As Porter demands the money owed him, he runs afoul of the Outfit, a criminal organization, corrupt cops, and Chinese gangsters. To survive, he reconnects with Madame Rosie (Maria Bello), but even she seems in danger as Porter searches for Val and the money he is owed.

Gibson famously did not like Helgeland’s edit of this movie and fired him during post-production, hiring frequent collaborators to reshoot the film with a new villain. In 2006, the Austin Film Festival debuted Helgeland’s version of the film, and it would be released on DVD soon after.

I would like to say that I did not like the soundtrack for this version. Scott Stambler stuffed the film with Jazzy overtures that did not match what was happening. Stambler is not a bad composer, but his choices did not work with this movie.

As for the story, it keeps you going. You are thrown into it with no context, but once it gets moving, you are pulled into the action. I did enjoy the revenge angle of it and thought that Porter was an intriguing protagonist who wants his ill-gotten gains from his fellow partners. I also liked the “crime does not pay” aspect of it. That was an arching theme that I appreciated.

The cast was also impressive. Everyone did an excellent job with their roles. Gibson and Bello had excellent chemistry with each other, especially in the climax of the plot. Everyone else was excellent as well, providing their talent to the film.

Speaking of the climax, I was not a fan of this version’s finale. I felt like Porter went through a whole lot of violence for nothing by the time the ending comes around. On top of that, it just kind of ends, leaving you scratching your head. I am not a fan of those open endings for this kind of movie.

However, if you are looking for a brutal revenge story of a thief who was betrayed, you might enjoy it. As I said, the performances are excellent, and it has a good pace to keep you invested in the plot.

Bottom line, Payback: Straight Up has a somewhat baffling finale, but also has some interesting aspects to it. Gibson is a force to be reckoned with on screen, and that is very apparent.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Bloody violence, Strong foul language, Sexual content, Substance abuse

FAVORITE QUOTE: Always be grateful for what you get. That’s rule number one.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

Marty Supreme is a 2025 sports drama film directed by Josh Safdie, who co-wrote it with Ronald Bronstein. Central Pictures handled the production company, and released by A24.

Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet) is a shoe salesman living in 1952 New York City, dreaming of becoming a table tennis champion. He is having an affair with his married childhood friend Rachel Mizler (Odessa A’zion). Marty leaves for London, where he has an affair with actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow). Marty convinces her wealthy husband, Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary), to sponsor him after Japanese champion Koto Endo (Koto Kawaguchi) defeats him. When he returns to New York, Rachel reveals that she is pregnant and her husband has kicked her out. This forces Marty to make a series of poor decisions so he can go to Japan and face Endo in a rematch.

Despite being billed as a biopic, this film is entirely fictional, though much of the plot is “borrowed” from the life of the late table tennis champion Marty Reisman. Personally, I think Reisman would have been offended by the movie.

I will say that the sets, music, and fashion helped you to believe that this was the 1950s. Darius Khondji (Mickey 17) delivered excellent cinematography. I thought that aspect was phenomenal.

The cast was also excellent. Chalamet was brilliant, as was Paltrow. It was good to see her in a context outside of the MCU these days. However, O’Leary was the breakout contender. He portrayed Rockwell with a focus that was hard to miss. It is criminal that he did not get nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Unfortunately, I have the duty as a reviewer to report that this movie did not live up to the hype surrounding it. It was incredibly overrated, with an inconsistent tone, choppy editing, plot contrivances, and several plot threads that do not get explored.

When creating a film that is alleged to be about a real person, even if the plot is made-up, you need to cheer for that person. Marty was not a man you could cheer for. He was a cheat, a liar, a con artist, a jerk, and an egotistical maniac. Not once did I find a redeeming quality in him as he chaotically sped through the plot. At times, I actively hoped his opponents would win.

Basically, despite the pretty dressing, this film was an example of the media and the entertainment industry trying to make a cultural moment where it should not have been. Even if Chalamet had not made his faux pas about opera and ballet, I do not think it would have made a difference.

Bottom line, Marty Supreme has excellent performance and dynamic aesthetics. However, the movie was overhyped and overrated.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong foul language, Sexual content, Some bloody violence, Crude humor

FAVORITE QUOTE: I have a purpose. You don’t. If you think that’s some kind of blessing, it’s not. It puts me at a huge life disadvantage. It means I have an obligation to see a very specific thing through. And with obligation comes sacrifice, okay?

Check out the trailer below:

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Payback is a 1999 crime thriller directed by Brian Helgeland, who also wrote the screenplay. It was made by Icon Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is based on the Richard Stark novel The Hunter.

Thief and gunman Porter (Mel Gibson) is betrayed by his partner Val Resnick (Gregg Henry) and wife Lynn (Deborah Kara Unger) after ripping off Chinese mobsters connected to Val’s mistress Pearl (Lucy Liu). After being left for dead, Porter recovers and returns to New York City, wanting vengeance. Unfortunately, he runs afoul of some corrupt cops and Val’s mob-connected bosses who do not appreciate his desire for vengeance.

The movie is infamous for Helgeland being fired during post-production, with Gibson tapping collaborator Terry Hayes to rewrite the script for reshoots. Reports state that over thirty percent of the movie was reshot with a voiceover added and Kris Kristofferson being cast as a new villain called Bronson, the head of the “Syndicate.”

I decided to watch the theatrical cut, which received mixed reactions from critics, though audiences seemed to enjoy it a bit more.

The performances are top-notch. Gibson seems to be in his element as a career criminal who wants revenge. The rest of the cast does an excellent job as well, rounding out the story with solid performances. Maria Bello portrays Rosie, a love interest for Porter, and I thought her character was excellent.

Honestly, I can see why the reviews were mixed. While the story had a lot of action, a lot of the enemies were just kind of thrown in. They had no connection to the original story or Porter’s motivations other than getting his money back. They come out of nowhere, so you just have to go with it. Also, the comedic scenes seemed a bit out of place.

That being said, it was a pretty enthralling film. Porter, based on the infamous Parker, is an interesting thief to follow. I appreciate that it did not glamorize his life as a criminal, but showed just how much trouble his life of crime caused him. There is no chance of a safe life for him as he navigates the situation he finds himself in. From that perspective, it was a decent movie.

Chris Boardman does a good job with the score. His music replaces the original soundtrack, but I thought it matched the gritty vibe of the theatrical version, building the tension where it was needed.

Bottom line, Payback is a mixed bag. It has excellent performances and a solid plot, but it has some issues with characters. Still, it is an enjoyable heist film starring Mel Gibson.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong foul language, Substance abuse, Sexual content including BDSM, Bloody violence

FAVORITE QUOTE: Nobody likes a monkey on his back: I had three, and they were cramping my style. I was gonna’ have to lighten the load.

Check out the trailer below:

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The Big Fake is a biopic heist film directed by Stefano Lodovichi, with Sandro Petraglia and Lorenzo Bagnatori handling the script. The movie debuted at the 2025 Rome Film Festival before being picked by Netflix for a 2026 streaming debut.

Toni (Pietro Castellitto) is an artist who moves to Rome in the 1970s with his two best friends, metalsmith Fabione (Pierluigi Gigante) and Don Vittorio (Andrea Arcangeli), a newly appointed priest. Toni struggles to make a living as an artist until he meets Donata (Giulia Michelini), who hires him to forge paintings since he can imitate other artists. She connects him with a local thug named Balbo (Edoardo Pesce), who hires him to forge documents and passports. Toni begins a romantic relationship with Donata as he falls deeper into a life of crime, but has an affair with Virginia (Aurora Giovinazzo), the niece of a client. Fabione joins a violent political group and asks for his services, testing Toni’s loyalty to his friends.

Apparently, this is based on the true story of real-life art forger Antonio Chichiarelli, who was rumored to have helped the Italian government forge documents as well. He was accused of committing several other crimes besides art forgery and forging documents.

This film wants you to have empathy for him. The way the actor portrayed the character, the score, and even the shading, wanted to make him into some sort of rebel. That might have been the goal, but it failed. Toni is a piece of scum. He cheats on his girlfriend, he forges others’ work, he helps criminals get passports to flee, and he frames a friend for a crime. All of this he does willingly, so forgive me if I do not think he is some sort of stand-up citizen.

Also, they kept saying that Don and Toni looked alike. Uh no. Different hair styles, different hair color, different eye color, a significant height difference, and Don is clean-shaven while Toni has a mustache. They looked completely different. It made no sense, and its payoff felt unearned.

That is not to say that the film is bad. It certainly is not. I thought that it had a compelling plot and an interesting subject. You watch how money can corrupt a good person and how jealousy can lead to betrayal. It is set in a very turbulent time in Italy’s history, which acted as a solid backdrop to the plot.

Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I find European cinema to be overrated, especially with the pandering American mainstream critics give it. However, this one is a decent find as it has a solid plot with interesting characters set in a compelling moment in history.

Bottom line, The Big Fake will not generate award-season buzz, but it is a decent European thriller to watch on Netflix.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Some sexual content, Strong foul language, Some bloody violence

FAVORITE QUOTE: I’ll leave you this one as a token of my affection.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

DeepStar Six is a 1989 underwater sci-fi horror film directed by Sean S. Cunningham, with Lewis Abernathy and Geof Miller handling the script. Carolco Pictures produced the film, and TriStar Pictures released it in theaters. It was also known as Alien From The Deep in other markets.

At the experimental underwater naval base DeepStar Six, Navy officers and civilian scientists are testing whether a “habitat” can exist at deep-sea levels while also monitoring several nuclear bombs. During an exploratory mission, oceanographer Joyce Collins (Nancy Everhard) informs Captain Phillip Laidlaw (Taurean Blacque) that there are underground caverns. Despite warnings from marine biologist Dr. Scarpelli (Nia Peeples), the Captain agrees with project head John Van Gelder (Marius Weyers) to destroy the caverns. As they proceed, one of their subs is attacked by a strange creature, causing the death of the Captain while trying to rescue Collins, who is saved by pilot McBride (Greg Evigan). Medical officer Diane Norris (Cindy Pickett) assumes command and orders an evacuation. However, mechanic Snyder (Miguel Ferrer) ignites the nukes, misunderstanding the procedure. This allows the creature to infiltrate the ship, wreaking havoc wherever it goes.

As deep-sea horror goes, this one was passable. The critics hated it upon release, but I do not care. I found the creature design frightening, and the sequences of characters holding their breath or trying to swim to safety were sufficiently spine-tingling.

Now, it did have some issues. You cannot tell who the main character is, and, at the same time, it does not feel like a team effort. Sure, you can point to McBride and Collins, but they had about the same amount of screentime as everyone else. I also think the nuclear aspect was unnecessary. That subplot took away from the sea monster’s screen time. If the monster had been seen earlier and given more time, the feeling of dread would have been compounded.

The cast is excellent. Sure, they were hampered a bit by the script, but that was not their fault. Everyone put in a solid effort to convey the terror of the moments. Of course, it is always good to see Nia Peeples in a film. She is an underrated actress, and she was superb in this movie.

What you are looking at is a film about deep-sea terror, survival, and the will to survive. It will not appeal to everyone, but it has cult classic vibes for its terrifying final boss and its appeal to the horrors of the ocean. If you like that kind of horror flick, I think you will enjoy it.

Bottom line, DeepStar Six is a tale of oceanic horror that you can enjoy, despite its flaws. The cast does a great job, and the sea monster is terrifying.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Bloody Violence, Sexual content, Strong foul language

FAVORITE QUOTE: I mean, causing two nuclear explosions in one afternoon has to be some sort of record.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a novel, comic book, movie, or anime you would like me to review.

Duel is the feature film directorial debut of none other than Steven Spielberg. It was originally released in 1971 as a television special on ABC before getting a theatrical debut by Universal Pictures.

David Mann (Dennis Weaver) is a mild-mannered salesman who is traveling across Indiana to land a client before he leaves on vacation. As he drives, he passes a slow-moving, rusted semi-truck. To his surprise, the truck begins to follow him. He stops for gas and speaks to his wife (Jacqueline Scott), who is angry about an incident. Returning to the road, he realizes that the massive truck is stalking him, possibly even trying to run him off the road. As they continue a cat-and-mouse game, David begins to wonder if he will survive this trip.

Richard Matheson wrote the short story “Duel” based on a purportedly real road rage incident that he was involved in. He would write the screenplay and pitch it as a TV series before George Eckstein picked it up for an ABC Movie-Of-The-Week. Spielberg was given the short story by his secretary, and he immediately applied to be the director, creating his legacy as a director.

It is no wonder that the film captured the attention of the at-home audience before winning over ticket-holders at the box office. It captures a feeling of isolation as you travel the open road. Despite the beautiful scenery, one driver with a grudge could put you in danger.

My only real issue with the film, except for one scene, we do not really know who David Mann is. We know a few things about him and see how the tense situation causes him stress and later, dread. However, the sheer terror that he feels as he is being chased by the truck driver is enough to keep you invested.

Part of the reason for that is the performance of Dennis Weaver. He gives an incredible performance of a man trying to drive, simply for his job. You definitely felt his fear as he drove to escape a truck that was almost moving at supernatural speeds.

Spielberg made the right call to jump on this film. He had done a few TV shows, but this was his movie premiere and later his feature-film debut. He crafted it well and brought it together in a stunning climax. It brings on the thrills and the chills as you watch a man trying to escape a foe he does not fully understand.

Bottom line, Duel is a cult classic in the truest sense. You will be pulled into the story as it captures that fear of the open road.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Mild foul language, Violence

FAVORITE QUOTE: You just never know. You just go along, figuring some things don’t change… like being able to drive on a public highway without somebody trying to murder you. And then one stupid thing happens. Twenty to twenty-five minutes out of your whole life… and all the ropes that kept you hanging in there get cut loose. And it’s like there you are, right back in the jungle again.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

Crime 101 is a heist thriller directed by Bart Layton. It was made by Working Title Films and released by Amazon MGM Studios. I have not read the similarly titled novella by Don Winslow, so I will not be comparing the movie to its source material.

Mike (Chris Hemsworth) is a thief living in Los Angeles, pulling off heists across California with the help of his fence, Money (Nick Nolte). LAPD Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) is convinced that he is out there, but his colleagues doubt him. Mike begins targeting burned-out insurance broker Sharon Coombs (Halle Berry) for his next score while he dates Maya (Monica Barbaro). Money begins to think that Mike is losing his nerve and sends the unpredictable thief Ormon (Barry Keoghan) to watch him, endangering everyone involved.

We need to talk about Mark Ruffalo. His acting has gotten progressively worse over time. I will defend him in the Avengers films and even his work before Thor: Ragnarok, but man, is his whole “I am a straight male loser” schtick getting old. He needs a new direction in his career, and it is apparent in this film.

As for the movie itself, it has a solid plot, a great setup, an interesting protagonist, and a truly unpredictable rival. Those moments in the plot were good and definitely pulled you in. I found those aspects of the film decent and interesting if you are looking for a movie to put on with some beer and popcorn. However, the movie suffers from two issues.

To start, the movie is sort of a paint-by-numbers thriller. It does not bring anything new to the table. It goes through the motions of a thief who is trying to find a way out and meet someone to help him. Meanwhile, you have the cops trying to hunt him down as a new player arrives to make things stressful.

Secondly, the lectures got old really fast. Yep, we have Ruffalo and Berry’s characters going on rants about rich people and whatnot. Ironic, since every single celebrity cast in this is a millionaire, including the director. I am so sick of these hypocrites lecturing about someone’s economic details. It comes off as hypocritical.

It is a shame because even with the first problem, the movie could have been entertaining enough, but I am not interested in millionaires complaining about other millionaires or hearing their social commentary. Boring.

Outside of what I said earlier, the rest of the cast did a good job. I cannot complain about their performances. No one stood out, but no one, outside of Ruffalo, did poorly either. It was refreshing to see Hemsworth in a setting outside of comic book films.

Bottom line, Crime 101 is definitely a movie that gets in its own way. While it has an interesting premise, it gets bogged down in lectures and nonsense.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong foul language, Brutal violence, Sexual content including nudity

FAVORITE QUOTE: That’s the thing about walk-away money. You have to be able to actually walk away with it.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

Down Periscope is a military comedy directed by David S. Ward, with a screenplay written by Hugh Wilson, Andrew Kurtzman, and Eliot Wald. It was made by 20th Century Fox and produced by Robert Lawrence.

Navy Lieutenant Commander Thomas Dodge (Kelsey Grammer) is up for a command of his own, much to the shock of his commander, Carl Knox (William H. Macy). However, Rear Admiral Yancy Graham (Bruce Dern) assigns him to command an antiquated diesel submarine, the USS Stingray. Dodge protests, but Vice Admiral Dean Winslow (Rip Torn) suggests that if Dodge wins some war games, he could command his own vessel. Dodge meets his second-in-command, Marty Pascal (Rob Schneider), diving officer Lt. Emily Lake (Lauren Holly), part of a pilot program for female submarine officers, and a myriad of oddballs who are assigned to him. As they conduct the war games, Dodge begins to wonder if the odds are being stacked against them.

No, it is not perfect. It relies too much on slapstick humor and gags, making the humor seem less clever than it could have been. I also felt that there could have been better casting among the crew members, especially since it was such tight quarters.

That being said, there is a certain charm to these nineties comedies. They were unafraid of political correctness and leaned into the strengths of their cast to help make it come together. In that way, this movie works and provides a few laughs.

Grammer is always a delight, and he leads the film very well. He brings the Frasier Crane charm to the role as a stuffy and perpetually aggravated naval officer, annoyed with the antics going on around him.

As I said, I think they could have done better with the casting of the submarine crew. That being said, all of the main cast did very well. Schneider, Torn, and Macy were excellent. Holly was also a good addition to the cast, adding some much-needed flair.

If you are looking for a comedy to turn your brain off and enjoy a simple plot with simple stakes, you will enjoy it. Is it the funniest movie ever shot? Hardly. But it is a time capsule to a time when Hollywood just wanted to make the audience laugh.

Bottom line, Down Periscope is a humorous piece of nineties cinema. You will have a good time if you go in with simple expectations.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong foul language, Crude humor, Comedic violence

FAVORITE QUOTE: By a strange coincidence, you do, sir. But sir, this mission you are giving is... close to impossible... If I pull this off, that is, take both ports, I would like command of my own nuclear sub.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

No Other Lie is a documentary featuring reporter Kassy Akiva as she navigates a land dispute in Israel. The film streamed on Daily Wire Plus.

The Academy Awards decided to give their formerly prestigious Best Documentary Feature Film to the documentary No Other Land. The filmmakers claim that Israel is bullying Palestinian settlers out of the Masafer Yatta area. The problem is, it was all false. Akiva sets out to gather the facts that the Oscar-winner conveniently left out of their Hollywood movie.

Akiva sits down with experts, politicians, and activists to paint a very different picture than the one presented by Hollywood. For instance, the film claims that Palestinians have been living on the land since the 1800s, but aerial footage shows that it has largely been vacant, with it being used as an Israel Defense Forces training zone.

This film does not take a sledgehammer to the Hollywood film, but a scalpel, with our host meticulously taking apart the claims made. We get a broader look at the tense situation without any sort of Hollywood spin.

A shocking scene reveals that several, often liberal, activists will intentionally try to provoke tensions for the sake of content and to spread propaganda. It highlights the importance of looking beyond headlines and thumbnails.

One of the most interesting sequences is when we are shown the ancient Jewish city of Susya, a site that is over 1,600 years old. It shows that it has a deep connection to Israel and Judea.

Technically, there are a few places where the editing felt a bit too quick or chaotic, but overall, it is well-made. The cinematography highlights the beauty of the region, our host is insightful, and the people interviewed were informative. It is an interesting and often sobering look at a place not many Americans can even find on a map.

When approaching situations like the Israeli conflicts, it is important to explore the truth. Unfortunately, Hollywood is not interested in awarding truth, but agendas that celebrate the “current thing.” Akiva and her crew went into a tense situation to reveal the truth and lay out the facts, helping to debunk an Oscar-winner in the best way possible.

Check out the trailer below:

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Disturbing topics including terror, Minor foul language

In full disclosure, I am acquainted with Akiva and have worked with her on other projects.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

DreamWorks released the fantasy film Rise Of The Guardians in 2012. It is directed by Peter Ramsey and written by David Lindsay-Abaire. It is based on The Guardians of Childhood novels by William Joyce.

The Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) was busy preparing millions of eggs for all the little kids, as Sandman filled them with dreams, as the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher) traded teeth for quarters, and Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin) was already prepping for Christmas. However, at the North Pole, something was afoot. A black cloud came over Santa’s globe, which showed all of the lights of the children who believed. This black cloud was none other than Pitch Black (Jude Law). Calling together his fellow guardians, they discovered that a new one was to be chosen. This was Jack Frost (Chris Pine), a fun-loving little imp who has yet to be believed in.

I have not read the book series by William Joyce, so I cannot compare it to those novels. As such, I will review it as a movie.

No doubt about it, the plot is intense. One by one, the Guardians lose power. However, Pitch Black starts to cause the children of the world to forget. With the Sandman, who represents a child’s dreams, Santa Claus, who represents a kid’s wonder, the Easter Bunny, who represents a kid’s hope, and the Tooth Fairy, who represents a kid’s memories, we see how the plot develops. As the kids start to forget them, the Boogeyman starts to spread fear and slowly becomes more powerful.

What follows is a heart-warming story about discovering your true identity, finding the wonder in life, and the power of belief. Hollywood often ignores these kinds of stories, so seeing a film embrace these aspects of childhood was very refreshing.

I want to praise the voice cast. Everyone does a superb job and brings their characters to life. It was a treat hearing their voices bring these legends of childhood to the big screen in a profound way.

Also, I loved the animation. The DreamWorks team deserves all of the accolades for the effort put into this movie. The character designs were sublime, bringing each one to fruition. I also thought the background illustrations and the action sequences added to the overall quality of this film.

Bottom line, with Rise of the Guardians, DreamWorks has gone above and beyond the call of duty to create for us an excellent film.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Lots of magic, scary images, and talking to the moon. Also, the Guardians are now warriors who also do battle with Pitch Black & his Nightmares.

FAVORITE QUOTE: Darkness. That’s the first thing I remember. It was dark, and it was cold. And I was scared.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is a horror sequel directed by Emma Tammi and written by Scott Cawthon. It would premiere at the TCL Chinese Theater in December 2025 before getting a wide cinematic release. It was made by Blumhouse Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.

Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson) is trying to move on from the incident at the Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza restaurant with his younger sister, Abby (Piper Rubio). Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) is trying to heal after confronting her father, serial killer William Afton (Matthew Lillard). However, when paranormal investigator, Grace (Mckenna Grace), and her team arrive at the first Freddy’s location, they unlock an evil force bent on revenge against the whole town.

I am confused why this sequel was hated so much. Sure, it is not as scary as its predecessor, but I still found it frightening. While audiences had at least appreciated it, critics did not, earning it a Golden Raspberry nomination for “Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel.”

After viewing it, I do not understand why this movie gave mainstream critics such a massive hivemind of negativity. Sure, I have not played the video games, but I have learned enough about them to get the idea.

Now, it is not a perfect sequel. The plot spends way too much time watching Mike and Vanessa try to reconcile the events they endured before. I also thought Abby’s science fair subplot was a bit dull. It could have also benefited from a higher body count. I do not say that often, but it would have worked.

Outside of that, I enjoyed the movie. It has a solid setup, a strong villain, and plenty of jump scares to keep you engaged in what is going on. If you grew up going to a place that featured pizza and animatronics that felt vaguely sinister at times, you felt that connection. I was certainly on the edge of my seat at different points in the film.

The Newton Brothers (Vendetta) did an excellent job with the soundtrack. Their music captured the moments, enhancing them and pulling you into the scenes.

As for the cast, everyone did a good job. Despite no one having a breakout or singular performance, the actors and actresses brought their best to the movie, making it enjoyable. I will say, I thought adding Megan Fox to the cast as the new Chica was a clever move. She definitely added an edge to the role.

Bottom line, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is an imperfect, but chilling sequel to the video game franchise adaptation. I had a good time watching it, and I think you will too.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong foul language, Bloody violence, Disturbing scenes

FAVORITE QUOTE: It’s so easy to become blinded by ambition, even with the best of intentions, you don’t see the devil sitting right beside you.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

Uptown Girls is a 2003 comedy-drama directed by Boaz Yakin. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and GreeneStreet Films handled the production.

Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) is a New Yorker living on the trust fund left for her by her late rock star parents. She spends her days hanging out with her friends, Ingrid (Marley Shelton) and Huey (Donald Faison). After her funds are embezzled, she is forced to take a job for music producer Roma Schleine (Heather Locklear), being the nanny to her daughter, Ray (Dakota Fanning). The free-spirited Molly butts heads with the mature-for-her-age Ray, who constantly insults her nanny. As Molly’s life continues to unravel, she finds solace in her role as Ray’s nanny as they slowly grow close.

When this movie first debuted, the critics savaged it with some even calling it obnoxious. That is a shame because it is a true gem of a film. It has a charming feel to it that only grows as the plot develops.

For one thing, the cast is fantastic. Faison, Locklear, and Shelton were excellent in their roles, adding flair to the plot. They were perfect to bookend the moments and to ground our protagonists.

It goes without saying that Fanning was stellar. Even at such a young age, she had a talent that she continues to bring to the big screen today. She is sharp, edgy, and helps to round out her character.

Of course, Brittany Murphy is adorable. She had an undeniable natural talent that was obvious. She was taken from us too soon, and that is a shame because I believe we would have gotten so many organic performances like this one.

As for the movie itself, it does have a few subplots that either get wrapped up too quickly or are ignored altogether by the climax. Despite this, it is a touching film about a kid who needed a parent, but got a nanny, and about a nanny who needed to grow up. It has some very funny moments and some serious moments, but it never felt disjointed. Everything was on key, working to give a story of loss, gains, and growing up.

Bottom line, Uptown Girls is a charming story with a lot of heart, and I am glad that it has been reevaluated as a cult classic.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Foul language, Rude humor, Minor violence, Substance abuse, Brief sexual content

FAVORITE QUOTE: It’s so eighties it’s making my hair poof.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

Risen is a 2016 period film surrounding the death of Christ. It is directed by Kevin Reynolds, who co-wrote the screenplay with Paul Aiello. It was made by Columbia Pictures, Affirm Films, and LD Entertainment. Sony Pictures Releasing brought it to theaters.

Clauvius (Joseph Fiennes) is a war-weary Roman Tribune assigned to oversee the death of Yeshua (Cliff Curtis) of Nazareth, who has been on the cross since before Passover. Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth) tells him to put the “Nazarene” out of his misery. However, when Clauvius arrives at Golgotha, the Earth shakes as if angry, with Yeshua dying shortly afterwards. A Rabbi named Joseph (Antonia Gill) comes to bury him, but the Sanhedrin wants more. Clauvius assigns guards to the tomb, but three days later, the grave is found empty. Clauvius is pressured to find the Nazarene’s body in an effort to stamp out a potential rebellion, but an encounter with Mary Magdalene (María Botto) changes everything.

The cast does a good job. I especially found Fiennes’ role to be fascinating. He was a bit wooden, but you do not see a whole lot of the Roman perspective on the life of Christ. So watching him trying to figure out if a Prophet actually rose from the grave was very interesting, especially with how he portrayed him. I also liked Botto as Mary Magdalene. She did the role very well, and I applaud her acting chops in this film.

The film has a very intense crucifixion scene in the beginning, and that was hard to take. While not as gruesome as Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, it did take me by surprise. It definitely took great lengths to get everything accurate, not just to the crucifixion, but on small details about Rome and Jewish culture. Though the movie took some liberties with the story, it did its best to stay true to the Bible.

I can also happily report that it is not cheesy. A lot of Christian flicks, even those taking place in ancient times, can fall into that category. Not this one. This movie does not shy away from the gruesome nature of the historical context, nor does it present things as overly bright and cheery. It had a solid pace, and while it is imperfect, it pulls you into its story of searching for the truth behind Christ’s resurrection.

If there is one thing I would like to praise, it is the cinematography by Lorenzo Senatore. He did an excellent job of helping you to feel the vibe of the scene. He also had these incredible wideshots that capture the beauty of the scenery.

Bottom line, Risen is a solid story. The scenery, the story, and the eventual reveal are amazing components of the story of Christ in this film’s context.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Bloody violence, Gruesome images

FAVORITE QUOTE: No? I don’t remember seeing you there. Probably because you ran. Didn’t you? Shall I tell you what you missed? Feel it.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

BTS: The Return is a documentary following the K-pop band reuniting after a hiatus. It is directed by Bao Nguyen, with Netflix picking it up for their streaming service.

Jimin, J-Hope, Jin, RM, Jungkook, Suga, and V, my precious Bangtan boys, are finally back! After finishing their mandatory military service, the seven of them reunited in Los Angeles and started working on their 2026 comeback album, Arirang (which already sounds like it’s going to destroy me emotionally). They even teased a new song called “Swim,” and it’s giving me life already.

The documentary is literally everything I didn’t know I needed. It’s a little bit chaotic and randomly edited in that classic Bangtan way, but that’s what makes it so real. You get to see inside their creative brains: how they brainstorm, how they fight with ideas, how they reminisce about their journey from tiny practice rooms to stadiums. It’s so vulnerable and human. These are literal global superstars, and yet they still feel like the same seven dorks who stole my heart years ago. My little introvert heart was screaming the whole time because seeing them open up like that? I felt so protective and emotional.

I’m not even kidding, I was tearing up in some parts. They’ve paved the way for so many K-pop groups, but no one does it quite like BTS. They defied every odd and became a worldwide phenomenon, and now they’re back like nothing ever changed (except they’re somehow even more powerful).

One thing that’s been living rent-free in my head, though… why are they still under Hybe? Like hello? These boys are so massive that the company literally put the whole group on hiatus instead of replacing them, which is basically unheard of in K-pop. Most groups get new members the second someone enlists or hits “old” age. BTS could probably buy Hybe ten times over at this point. Part of me is like… maybe they should just own it? Because it kinda feels like the label is low-key holding them back from even bigger things.

Anyway, rant over~ This documentary is such a beautiful look into the creative process of the biggest band in the world. If you’re an ARMY, you need to watch it immediately. The boys are back, and my heart is so full. They just keep bringing joy and healing to the world, and I’m here for it.

Check out the trailer below:

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Thematic elements, Minor foul language

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

Mercy is a techno-thriller directed by Timur Bekmambetov and written by Marco van Belle. It was released in theaters by Amazon MGM Studios before streaming to Prime Video.

In the year 2029, Los Angeles utilizes the Mercy AI Court to act as judge, jury, and executioner to help quell the skyrocketing crime rate. Det. Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) finds himself on trial in front of the AI Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson), accused of murdering his wife, Nicole (Annabelle Wallis). As one of the architects of the program, Raven uses the program to try to solve the crime, but when it is revealed that his drinking drove his wife to have an affair, the probability of guilt increases. With ninety minutes on the clock, he speaks to his daughter, Britt (Kylie Rogers), and his former partner, Jaq Diallo (Kali Reis), hoping to find his innocence.

I have no complaints about the acting. Pratt and Ferguson are at the top of their game. They have good chemistry, bouncing off each other as the accused facing an AI judge. They definitely made the film work, keeping it from being a total drag.

On that note, the movie has a problem in that it wants to be a new version of Minority Report while also tapping into the modern fears of AI and social media. Since it was confined to the Mercy Courtroom for the bulk of the film, it lacked the ambition of other movies that explored the idea that some amorphous third party was issuing justice to people. Had it been expanded, I think it could have worked better.

That is not to say that it is unwatchable. It has an intriguing plot and plays off the emotions of the setup very well. It was also constructed competently, relying on a ticking clock that made you feel the urgency of the matter. It also does not dive into politics, so that was a nice touch.

However, the movie did not want to explore the morality of a court system that is powered by AI. For instance, the film says that if you get sent to this court, you have to prove your innocence, so “innocent until proven guilty” is thrown out. This is never addressed as a flaw in the program, and I find that to be troubling. Again, I find this is a lack of ambition.

Bottom line, Mercy is a competent film with good emotional resonance and decent performance. Its major flaw is its lack of ambition in both its setting and themes.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Substance abuse, Strong foul language, Some blood violence, Disturbing images

FAVORITE QUOTE: I guess we’re in the same boat. Turns out I’ve failed the people I love the most. But we’ve got this one chance to make up for it. Together.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

War Machine is a Netflix sci-fi military thriller directed by Patrick Hughes, who co-wrote the script with James Beaufort. The movie had a theatrical debut in Australia thanks to Roadshow Films.

An Army Staff Sergeant (Alan Ritchson) enters Ranger training as 81 after promising his brother (Jai Courtney) that he would do it before his sibling passes away. While he impresses Sergeant Major Sheridan (Dennis Quaid) with his physical prowess, it is clear that 81 suffers from PTSD. Sheridan tests him by making him the leader of a test mission with other trainees. When the trainees enter the mountains for their mission, they discover a deadly robot that seems to have one objective: kill them. 81 must lead his team through tough terrain so they can survive and make it back home.

Ritchson is getting a lot of screentime lately, and it is not a puzzle as to why. He is good at these tough-as-nails protagonists struggling with personal issues. He does that here and does it well. Sure, he is a bit muted in his performance, but it works for this particular role.

The rest of the cast is not very fleshed out. They are just there to react to Ritchson’s character. This includes Quaid, who is always fun to see, even with smaller roles like this one. He is never a bad call. Esai Morales also has a small but noticeable role, and I like it.

As for the plot, it does take a bit too long to get to the main objective, surviving a brutal robot that only wants to kill. While it is teased during the first act, it needed just a tad bit more to get you ready for the big reveal.

Outside of that, I did not hate it and, in fact, had a good time watching it. Our protagonist has to deal with his personal traumas while trying to help his team survive a threat they do not fully understand. From this perspective, it was a solid thriller with a lot of brutal action sequences and surprises along the way. I can say that it is not perfect, but it is still entertaining with its themes, plot, and characters.

I also liked how the sound engineering was done. With a movie like this, the component can be overlooked, but I felt that the sounds are what build the tension as 81’s unit tries to survive the robotic threat. And boy, does this robot feel like a threat, especially when you learn its origins.

Bottom line, War Machine is a military thriller with sci-fi vibes. Ritchson does a good job as the protagonist, and it has plenty of thrills.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Brutal violence, Some blood and gore, Strong foul language

FAVORITE QUOTES: You jam it hard enough, it chokes.

Check out the trailer below:

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Code of Silence is a 1985 action thriller directed by Andrew Davis. Orion Pictures released the film, premiering at number one at the box office. The American Film Institute recognized it on their 2001 AFI’s 100 Years...100 Thrills list.

Chicago PD Sergeant Eddie Cusack (Chuck Norris) is leading a drug bust against Colombian mob boss Luis Comacho’s (Henry Silva) men. Things go wrong when the gang is attacked by Italian mobster Tony Luna’s (Mike Genovese) thugs. Cusack’s men get caught in the crossfire, with Detective Cragie (Ralph Foody) shooting an innocent civilian. In the fallout, Comacho vows revenge on Luna, causing a gang war. Cusack vows to protect Luna’s innocent daughter, Diana (Molly Hagan), after Comacho’s men kill her family. After testifying against Cragie, Cusack finds that no backup is coming in his showdown with Comacho.

This movie was originally planned to be the fourth Dirty Harry film with Clint Eastwood returning. When Warner Media passed on the script, Orion Pictures picked it up and planned to cast Kris Kristofferson in the lead before ultimately settling on Chuck Norris, who reportedly enjoyed the filmmaking experience. It would be his second most successful film, following Missing In Action.

It is easy to see why. The movie has a solid plot and uses Chicago's setting to its absolute best. It has some excellent action sequences, several fight scenes that utilize Norris’ skills, and a pretty good cast.

You feel the wide spaces of the scenes shot on the riverside, while also feeling the claustrophobia of the inner city. Cinematographer Frank Tidy did an excellent job in framing each scene.

The plot is also straightforward. It does not try to be something it is not, just an action thriller with a good cop who faces a popular bad one in the midst of a gang war. There is a subplot of a rookie detective, played by Joe Guzaldo, who witnesses the bad shoot and struggles with whether to side with Cusack or not. That was a nice touch, adding some flair to the overall story.

It does have some pacing issues. The sequence where Cusack follows Diana around to make sure that she is safe took a bit too long. It needed to be a bit tighter with those scenes. I also felt like the retired cop, played by Allen Hamilton, whom Cusack leaves Diana with, needed a bit more fleshing out. He just comes out of nowhere, and we are supposed to think he is safe?

As I mentioned, the cast is pretty good. Norris is at the top of his game, playing the tough guy, not afraid to bend the rules, but also never crosses the line. Silva is also perfectly cast as the villain. He comes off as ruthless and cunning, with no issues taking out cops. This was Hagan’s feature film debut, owning the role and going on to have a lucrative acting career in movies and television.

This is a highlight in Norris’ career. While he did get some fight scenes, this film allowed him to take a more challenging role. It was a gamble that ultimately paid off for him, continuing his domination of the “tough guy” role that made him a staple in Hollywood.

Bottom line, Code of Silence has a few issues, but it is Chuck Norris at his finest. It has a solid plot and an excellent supporting cast, making it an excellent entry into his filmography.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong violence, Foul language, Thematic elements

FAVORITE QUOTE: When I want your opinion, I’ll beat it out of you.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants is an animated superhero film directed by Curt Geda. It was written by Kevin Burke and Chris “Doc” Wyatt. The movie premiered at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con.

Batman (Roger Craig Smith) and Green Arrow (Chris Diamantopoulos) are training Damian Wayne (Lucien Dodge) to be the new Robin, who feels like he is living in the shadow of Nightwing (Will Friedle). Meanwhile, the Penguin (Dana Snyder) convinces Mr. Freeze (Oded Fehr) to break Bane (Carlos Alazraqui), Killer Croc (John DiMaggio), Clayface (Dave B. Mitchell), and Chemo (Dave B. Mitchell) out of Arkham Asylum. Using his scientific genius, Mr. Freeze turns them into monsters to attack Gotham City, but can Batman count on Green Arrow, Nightwing, Robin, Flash (Charlie Schlatter), and Kirk Langstrom (Phil LaMarr) to save the city?

There is nothing to complain about the animation. It is solid with cool character designs and background illustrations. It creates a more futuristic Gotham City that is not as dark as other versions of the city, making Batman more of a protector than a crusader, but I did think it worked for this film.

As I said of this film’s predecessors, it is a toy commercial. That cannot be denied. Because of this, it does not do a lot of character building. Chemo is not a Batman villain, so he comes out of nowhere. It would have made more sense for Solomon Grundy or Poison Ivy to take on that role.

While I will admit that the movie is meant to sell toys, I still had a good time. It riffs off that Silver Age with its outlandish plot of villains turning into kaijus while Batman pilots a Gundam to battle them. It works out for the context of the plot, and you have a lot of fun watching Batman and his allies take on these literally larger than life villains.

I do wish that Mr. Freeze had the motivation of protecting his wife. In this one, he simply wants to turn Gotham City into his own private frozen kingdom. This makes him more selfish. Had it been about turning Gotham into a place where he and Nora could live, that would have made more sense.

Aside from those flaws, I still had a good time. This is a kids’ film meant to introduce them to Batman and his allies, so it worked in that way. If you think it is meant to be some dark version of the character, you will be disappointed, but if you go in ready for Batman to fight monsters in a mech suit, you will love it.

Bottom line, Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants has its flaws, but it is a fun conclusion to the trilogy. It is a toy commercial, but you can have a good time going into it.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Violence

FAVORITE QUOTE: Maybe they’re just recruiting for an all-villain flag football league?

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.

Days of Thunder is a 1990 sports film directed by Tony Scott. It was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson. Tom Cruise developed the story with screenwriter Robert Towne. It was released by Paramount Pictures.

Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) is recruited to drive in NASCAR by racing team owner Tim Daland (Randy Quaid). He and the crew chief, Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall), become antagonistic, but a mutual respect soon grows. Cole eventually develops a rivalry with fellow driver Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker). After an accident where the two are injured, they are treated by Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman), who develops feelings for Trickle. While Cole recovers, Tim gets a new driver named Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes), who is determined to replace Trickle as the new NASCAR champion.

Cruise leads an incredible cast of characters. Everyone does an excellent job. Besides our lead, Duvall and Kidman are superb in this movie, helping to round out Cruise’s character.

If I could nitpick one thing, Elwes’ character just comes out of nowhere. He is meant to be a rival to Cole, but he did not get enough development for me to feel like he was actually a threat. They should have done a few tweaks so he felt more intimidating. That is not Elwes’ fault, just an issue that needed resolving.

Besides that, this is a pretty exhilarating film. I was hooked watching the growing rivalry between Cole and Burns, seeing how the stakes keep growing in the races. It built up the tension through the dangers shown on the race track. Even the sound engineering with the car engines and the mechanics works so well with it. It brought it all together for one solid climax.

The score by Hans Zimmer only adds to this. Zimmer is one fantastic composer, and it shows in this movie. His soundtrack helps pull you into the action, drama, and tension as the plot progresses.

Bruckheimer is a brilliant producer, consistently choosing winners. This is definitely one. You are pulled into the racing world with an antagonist who is faced with the dangers of his sport while also chasing a desire to drive. It made for some incredible filmmaking and fun.

Bottom line, Days of Thunder is a solid racing film with an incredible cast. It pulls you into the world of racing and the drive to be the best.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong foul language, Violence, Brief sexual content

FAVORITE QUOTE: I’m gonna give you an engine low to the ground... extra thick oil pan to cut the wind from underneath you. It’ll give you thirty or forty more horsepower. I’m gonna give you a fuel line that’ll hold an extra gallon of gas. I’m gonna shave half an inch off you and shape you like a bullet. I’ll get you primed, painted, and weighed, and you’ll be ready to go out on that racetrack. Hear me? You’re gonna be perfect.

Check out the trailer below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.