Tag: Horror

REVIEW: ‘Frankenstein’ is a gothically gorgeous creation

Guillermo del Toro was made for this.

The latest movie from the visionary director is right up his alley, from the story itself to the aesthetic. The film is of course an adaptation of the 1818 Mary Shelley novel. In del Toro’s take, Oscar Isaac portrays Baron Victor Frankenstein. The movie picks up with the doctor in the cold wilderness of the North Pole. There, he’s found by a Danish Naval crew from a nearby ship.

It’s to the captain of that ship (Lars Mikkelsen) that he tells his story. He describes how he had a vision of stopping death after his mother’s passing, which led him into a career of medicine and science. Then from there, how it led him to bringing the Creature (Jacob Elordi) to life Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Frankenstein’ is a gothically gorgeous creation”

Halloween Adventures in B-Movie Horror 2025 Part 2

More Italian horror? More Italian horror! Yes, I watched two more scary spaghetti flicks along with another shot on video movie.

For this year’s Halloween we have a zombie picture, this one with some nuclear radiation, and a pair of slasher features. All three go into sleazy, bloody territory, which always makes things fun.

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Halloween Adventures in B-Movie Horror 2025: Part 1

Halloween is this week and I am excited! I have a good mask on the way and plan to head to a local brewery for some spooky inspired beers.

In anticipation for the big day, like always, I’ve watched a few horror flicks. As is tradition, their budgets are low, and the camp is high. First up for this year, a trio of flicks all related in one way or another to the medical field.

One takes place at a hospital, the second centers on a killer hunting a specific nurse, and the third includes a criminology student who suspects her doctor boyfriend may have committed murder. They also are all from the 1980s.

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REVIEW: ‘The Black Phone 2’ misses unique shine of first film

Four years after the line was disconnected, the ring has returned.

That’s true both in and outside of this movie. “The Black Phone 2” is a sequel to the 2021 picture, and inside the film, four years have also passed. Finney (Mason Thames) is now a teenager and isn’t in the best place since his experience surviving the Grabber. He gets into fights and is dabbling in drugs, worrying his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw).

That’s not her only concern, though, as she begins having vivid dreams of murder victims at a secluded camp. Feeling an urge to learn what the dreams are trying to tell her, she enlists Finney to join her in going to the camp, telling the staff there that they’re interested in being counselors. When they get there, in the middle of a blizzard, they soon encounter a terror from their past.

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REVIEW: While not a contender, “Him” still scores some points

San Antonio may not have a real professional football team playing at the Alamodome, but it has a fictional one now thanks to this movie.

In “Him,” Marlon Wayans portrays Isaiah White, who’s become the professional football league’s greatest of all time, leading the San Antonio Saviors to eight titles. His success on the field has not only brought several rings, but it also inspired the next generation, particularly promising quarterback Cam Cade (Tyriq Withers).

A college star, Cade had planned to participate in the pre-draft combine where he gets to flex in front of scouts, but he’s sidelined by an injury. He gets a second chance to attract league attention, though, in the way of a private invite by White, who wants to give the player a chance to prove he has what it takes. Cade agrees, but soon learns he’s in for more than he bargained for.

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REVIEW: ‘Weapons’ builds tension well, but loses way in second half

After writing and directing 2022’s “Barbarian,” Zach Cregger is back with another suspenseful flick that will keep you guessing.

His latest picture is “Weapons,” which centers on the mysterious disappearance of 17 children from their homes in the middle of the night. The children were all from the same classroom at a school in a small Pennsylvania town, and there are no leads to their whereabouts, other than that they all left at the same time.

The situation puts a negative light on the teacher of the class, Justine (Julia Garner), who much of the town puts some blame on for the disappearance. As Justine struggles with the situation, the film explores what she goes through, and how the incident is impacting other citizens as well.

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REVIEW: In taking new genre path, ‘M3GAN’ sequel loses original charm

The robot that became a social media sensation in 2022 is back, this time with martial arts skills and a whole lot of exposition.

A sequel, “M3GAN 2.0” takes place two years after the events of the first film. Gemma and Cady continue to live together, with the former now advocating for AI regulations while the latter still struggles to fully fit in. Meanwhile, a new robot, unbeknownst to the protagonists, escapes from its programmers and goes rogue.

With the robot, named AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno) now a threat, and the government suspecting Gemma is behind it, she, Cady and company have to go back to M3GAN for help. Surviving in cyberspace, M3GAN (Amie Donald) agrees, and she still has some of her attitude and sass.

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REVIEW: ’28 Years Later’ is an exhausting follow-up

What does this film have in common with its predecessor and 2013’s “The Purge?” Read on to find out!

After directing 2002’s “28 Days Later” and sitting out of its 2007 sequel, Danny Boyle has returned to helm the third movie in the series, “28 Years Later.” As the name implies, this takes place nearly three decades after the rage virus spread throughout the British Isles. Fortunately for the rest of the world, it has been contained to the islands.

Communities still exist on those islands, though, with enclosed towns on smaller islands loosely connected to the mainland. Only a few venture onto the mainland to scout and scavenge, such as Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). On his most recent trip, he brings his son, Spike (Alfie Williams), who’s come of age to participate.

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REVIEW: Strong emotional core, vampiric thrills power ‘Sinners’

What if “From Dusk Till Dawn” took place in the Great Depression?

That’s sort of what we have here in this new vampire thriller from writer and director Ryan Coogler. A period piece, “Sinners” is set in 1932 and takes place in the Mississippi Delta region. The movie stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, playing twin brothers Elijah and Elias Moore.

After making money as part of Al Capone’s Chicago mafia, they’ve returned to their roots to open a Juke Joint. The duo bring in family and friends to help run the venue and it turns out to be a success. In fact it’s such a success that it attracts a group of vampires.

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REVIEW: Mishandled tone makes ‘Heart Eyes’ a disappointment

The mask worn by the villain in this slasher is certainly great. The rest of the movie? Not quite so much.

The antagonist in this film shares the name of the movie itself. Heart Eyes is a serial killer who has been on a rampage the last few years, killing several couples on Valentine’s Day. The film picks up again on Valentine’s Day in the present, centering on a Seattle-based marketing professional named Ally (Olivia Holt).

Because of trouble at work and her single status, she’s not too excited for the holiday. Things only get more complicated when she meets Jay (Mason Gooding), a new colleague she has chemistry with, but sees as a work rival. Unfortunately, the two are mistaken as a couple by Heart Eyes and now have to go on the run from the killer.

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