Author Archives: Keith Garlington

REVIEW: “Man of War” (2026)

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It may be set within the very real and present Russian and Ukrainian conflict. But the new feature “Man of War” still embraces many of the familiar movie tropes that have fueled military action films for decades. If that’s your cup of tea, director William Kaufman doesn’t disappoint. His latest puts a magnifying glass on both the horror of the war and the resolve of the Ukrainian people. At the same time, this is every bit a full-throttled, bullet-riddled action movie. And once it finds its rhythm, it rarely ever slows down.

In February, 2022, former Special Forces soldier Michael Connor (LaMonica Garrett) sits in his Barcelona apartment attempting to drown his personal demons with booze. But he’s interrupted by a video call from his terrified adopted niece Riley (Rosmary Yaneva), who is doing humanitarian work in war-torn Ukraine. He proceeds to watch as she is abducted by a group of Russian mercenaries led by the almost cartoonishly sadistic Koniev (Daniel Bernhardt) who promptly ends the video call.

Image Courtesy of Well Go USA

Determined to rescue his niece, the workmanlike Connor contacts his old friend and handler Charlie (Jason Patric) who uses his CIA connections to trace Riley’s location via her smart watch. Charlie then gets Connor aboard a transport plane with a private mercenary team who have their own mission in the Ukraine. After landing in Kyiv, Connor is picked up by Dany (Andrew Howard), one of Charlie’s local assets who agrees to guide him to Riley in exchange for his family’s safe passage out of the city.

The story (co-written by Kaufman and Paul Reichelt) ramps up pretty quick, but it does take time to somewhat build out a dynamic between Connor and Dany. Connor’s singular mindset turns him cold towards the wartime horror they encounter. His focus is solely on finding Riley and getting her to safety. Conversely, the plight of the Ukrainian people is often told through the lens of Dany who isn’t as willing to look past the suffering of his people. While the two initially butt heads, Dany inevitably becomes the conscience Connor needs.

But it’s the action that quickly takes center stage as the duo shoot their way out of Kyiv, through enemy occupied forests, to the outskirts of Kharkiv, and eventually into the besieged city which the Russians have flooded with special forces, assassins, and saboteurs. Kaufman and tactical advisor Max Kraus unleash an almost steady wave of gritty, pulse-pounding military firefights. The final twenty minutes are especially intense as ferocious gun battles are waged through tight-quartered office spaces and into the ravaged city streets.

Despite its modest budget, “Man of War” succeeds in generating a truly visceral combat experience. Yet there are some noticeable visual inconsistencies. The film’s color palette is often at odds with itself, specifically in the movie’s first half. That’s also when the editing is its shakiest, incorporating a few too many quick cuts that can be borderline disorienting. At the same time, Kaufman and his DP Mark Rutledge show impressive skill throughout the film’s action-charged second half, using the camera in a number of clever ways to make us feel as if we are a part of the combat.

Image Courtesy of Well Go USA

As for the performances, Garrett has all the grit and intensity needed for us to buy into his character. He doesn’t get to do much outside of killing baddies, but he does that extremely well. Howard makes a good foil. He’s tough and rugged but also brings a needed sensitivity. As for Bernhardt, he certainly looks the part. But he vanishes for too much of the movie to be a truly worthwhile lead villain. Then there is Patric who only gets a small supporting role but who is a nice addition nonetheless.

“Man of War” could have dug a little deeper into its protagonist. It certainly could have added more weight and nuance to its villain. And while it remains mindful of the real-life war being waged in the Ukraine, it’s a little on-the-nose when depicting its impact on the Ukrainian people. Still, the movie excels in what it does best – action. Whether it’s the blistering rhythm or the tactical precision, the action sequences are thrilling and often make us feel as if we’re observing the real thing. And we get plenty of them which should satisfy any action junkie looking for a fix.

VERDICT – 3 STARS

Netflix Shares its 2026 Fall Movie Preview

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With temperatures still pushing the century mark (for some us), it’s nice to know that relief isn’t far away. Fall will be here before we know it. And while that thankfully means cooler days are ahead, it also means that a new movie season is on the horizon. In light of that, streaming behemoth Netflix has announced the platform’s full slate of movies in their just released Fall Movie Preview.

Netflix has a very unique place in the feature film world. And while some are quick to dismiss much of their movie catalog, there is no denying that Netflix has delivered some truly great films, especially over the past several years. Just last year, they were the distributor behind three of my top four movies of 2025. So suffice it to say, Netflix has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the movie space. And that doesn’t look to change in 2026.

Their Fall Movie Preview is stacked with an assortment of features that is sure to appeal to casual viewers, genre fans, arthouse lovers, awards voters, and everyone in between. Their lineup is full intense thrillers, blockbuster spin-offs, wild comedies, thought-provoking documentaries, and intriguing foreign language films. Here is a taste of the many Fall movies Netflix has in store for its 325 million(ish) subscribers…

SEPTEMBER…

SEPT. 8 – Untold Mr. T: I Pity The Fool

Sports Documentary

Before the gold chains, mohawk, and Hollywood fame of The A-Team and Rocky III, there was Laurence Tureaud. This is the extraordinary origin story behind one of the most unlikely and beloved icons in entertainment — Mr. T.

Director: Scott Weintrob

Executive Producers: Scott Weintrob, Steve Michaels, Ben Bitonti, Eden Sutley, Paul Levesque, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Marc Pomarico, Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Chapman Way, Maclain Way

SEPT. 9 – “Why Did I Get Married Again?”

Comedy, Drama

In Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Again?, the couples reunite in celebration as Marcus (Michael Jai White) and Angela’s (Tasha Smith) daughter prepares to tie the knot. After being apart for quite some time, they learn quickly that as much as things change, they stay the same. Realizing their children have grown up to be so much like them, they must reflect on the examples they’ve set and ask themselves that age-old question, “Why did they get married … again?”

Director/Writer: Tyler Perry

Cast: Tyler Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Jill Scott, Richard T. Jones, Tasha Smith, Michael Jai White, Lamman Rucker, Sharon Leal, Armani Greer, Everett Osborne, Da’Vinchi, Laya Deleon Hayes, Jaden Michael, Charles L. Smith II, Derrick A. King, Sydney Winbush

SEPT. 10 – “Call My Agent! The Movie“

Comedy, Drama

Five years after the agency closed its doors, Andréa (Camille Cottin) is finally ready to direct her first feature film. When her lead actor quits and she falls out with her producer, she joins forces with Noémie (Laure Calamy) — now a reality TV producer — believing she can easily manipulate her. But as Andréa faces a complete recasting, on-set disasters, and a legal battle threatening the custody of her daughter, everything begins to unravel. One by one, the former ASK colleagues converge on this high-tension film set. Each arrives with their own role, their ego, and a fair share of old grudges — little do they know what this reunion truly has in store for them. 

Director: Emilie Noblet

Cast: Camille Cottin, Laure Calamy, Thibault de Montalembert, Grégory Montel, Nicolas Maury, Fanny Sidney, Liliane Rovère, Laetitia Casta, Vincent Macaigne, Ophélia Kolb, Anne Marivin, and Laurent Lafitte

SEPT. 25 – “UNABOMBER”

Drama

Inspired by true events, UNABOMBER follows Ted Kaczynski’s (Jacob Tremblay) transformation from Harvard prodigy into the infamous Unabomber. Subjected to controversial psychological experiments by Professor Henry Murray (Russell Crowe), Kaczynski’s troubled past resurfaces decades later when his manhunt, led by FBI agent Joanne Miller (Shailene Woodley), brings to light the chilling consequences of ambition and isolation.

Director: Janus Metz

Cast: Russell Crowe, Jacob Tremblay, Shailene Woodley, Annabelle Wallis, Alexander Ludwig, Steven Ogg, Marc Menchaca

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OCTOBER…

OCT. 2 – “Tyler Perry’s Doing Life”

Drama

A single mother fighting to survive and a reformed ex-con with untapped talent find in each other an unlikely second chance.

Director/Writer: Tyler Perry

Cast: Naomi Baker, Jay Reeves, Tamberla Perry, Karen Obilom, Jasmine Sargent, Lucky Johnson, Danielle Moné Truitt

OCT. 7 – “Who Is Martin Mull?”

Documentary

Musician, cult comedian, unlikely TV fixture, acclaimed painter — Martin Mull spent his life becoming someone new, and no version was ever what anyone expected. This candid, star-studded documentary, directed by Bob Saget and Neil Berkeley, traces Mull’s restless reinvention, which has taken him from smoky folk clubs to primetime sitcoms to gallery walls. Told in his own words and those of the friends who watched it happen, including Steve Martin, Tom Waits, David Alan Grier, this is the witty, honest and life-affirming story of a comedy icon who, as he puts it, “had a hell of a ride.”

Directors: Bob Saget and Neil Berkeley

Producers: Sean Bradley, Tara Billik, Neil Berkeley

OCT. 9 – “Animals”

Thriller

In select theaters and on Netflix Oct. 9
When their son is kidnapped, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate and his wife find themselves drawn into a web of deception. As they scramble to raise the ransom payment, they’re forced to make choices that could tear their world apart.

Director: Ben Affleck

Cast: Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher, Christopher Woodley, Matt Gerald, Jacob Estrada, with Luis Gerardo Méndez and Steven Yeun

OCT. 16 – “Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald”

Documentary

From director Judd Apatow comes an intimate portrait of one of comedy’s most singular voices. Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald traces the life and career of the stand-up and Saturday Night Live legend, from his rise as the deadpan anchor of “Weekend Update” to his enduring legacy as a comedian’s comedian — a master of the absurd, the dry, and the unexpected. Built entirely from archival footage, personal photos, and rare home videos contributed by fans and friends, the documentary lets Norm tell his own story in his own voice. This is a tribute to a comic genius whose influence on stand-up and television comedy remains unmatched.

Director: Judd Apatow

Producers: Judd Apatow, Amanda Rohlke, Ross M. Dinerstein

OCT. 16 – “Sacrifice”

Satirical Thriller

During a star-studded charity gala brimming with celebrities, billionaires, and empty speeches, a movie star in the midst of an existential crisis (Chris Evans) is taken hostage by a radical warrior (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her devoted followers. As the night descends into chaos, both an inward journey and an outward adventure ensue, where the line between performance, belief, salvation, and sacrifice begins to blur.

Director: Romain Gavras

Cast: Chris Evans, Anya Taylor-Joy, Vincent Cassel, Ambika Mod, Sam Richardson, Jonatan “Yung Lean” Leandoer, Jade Croot, Miriam Silverman, Charli xcx, with John Malkovich and Salma Hayek Pinault

OCT. 16 – “The Disciple”

Documentary

The true story of an outsider whose relentless determination catapults him into the Wu-Tang Clan’s inner circle, where ambition and creativity converge to record an album poised to ignite global controversy.

Director: Joanna Natasegara

Executive Producers: The RZA, Joe Gebbia, Jason Ropell, Abazar Khayami; David Kimbangi, Farhana Bhula and Ollie Madden for Film4; Trevor Burgess, Gary Hess and James Costa for Bird Street Productions

OCT. 16 – “Therapy Done Right”

Comedy, Drama

A pragmatic psychoanalyst loses faith in conventional psychological methods and begins pushing boundaries with his patients. Everything seems to work — until a writer suffering from a creative block walks into his office.

Director: Hernán Goldfrid

Cast: Ricardo Darín, Diego Peretti, Antonia Bengoechea, Inés Efron, Andrea Politti, Pata Echegoyen, Carlos Santamaría, Miriam Odorico

OCT. 30 – “SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of”

Documentary

SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of chronicles the rise, fall, and enduring legacy of one of the most influential sketch comedy series in television history. Through intimate interviews with surviving members of its legendary cast and an emotional reunion in Toronto, the film explores the creative partnership that transformed a small Canadian television production into a cultural phenomenon that launched some of comedy’s most celebrated icons.

Featuring candid reflections, never-before-shared stories, and rare archival material, the documentary examines the artistic innovation that made SCTV a trailblazer while revealing the extraordinary friendships that have endured for more than fifty years. The film is a testament to the timeless power of collaboration and the lasting influence of artists whose work continues to influence comedy around the world.

Director: Jason Hehir

Producers: Chapman Downes, Whitney Johnson, Andrew Hafnor, Molly Montgomery, Kelly Meinhardt

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NOVEMBER…

NOV. 4 – “A Dog’s Perfect Christmas”

Holiday Drama

From the bestselling author of A Dog’s Purpose, a tale of a family in crisis where a teenager, her grandfather, and his trusty basset hound struggle to keep the household together at Christmas.

Director: Cathryn Michon

Cast: Dennis Quaid, Milo Ventimiglia, Brooke Lena Johnson, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Jennifer Tilly, Mary Steenburgen, Thomas Haden Church (as the voice of Winstead)

NOV. 6 – “Possible Love”

Drama

In select theaters Oct. 23
Possible Love follows the intertwined relationship of two married couples facing different paths and hidden desires. Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) lives quietly with her laid-off husband, Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu), and their young son, Cheol, until a funeral brings them into the orbit of Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong), a documentary filmmaker chronicling laid-off workers, and her husband, Sang-woo (Zo In-sung) — a couple whose affluent lifestyle stands in sharp contrast to their own. When Mi-ok agrees to be filmed, she grows close to Ye-ji, and finds herself uneasily drawn to the unreadable Sang-woo. As their worlds collide, fractures begin to appear in their daily existence. Marking his first release in eight years, highly acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong (Burning, Poetry, Secret Sunshine) brings his signature nuance to Possible Love, capturing shifting emotions, conflicts, and contrasting outlooks that shape these relationships.

Director: Lee Chang-dong

Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, Cho Yeo-jeong

NOV. 11 – “Avedon”

Documentary

From world leaders to pop culture icons and international supermodels, Richard Avedon’s influence helped create the blueprint for our image-driven world. His photographs didn’t just reflect culture, they shaped it. Avedon traces the life and legacy of an artist who used photography to reinvent the world around him. Drawing on unprecedented access to his personal archives — never-before-seen stills, intimate behind-the-lens footage, and new interviews with his closest collaborators — the film explores how his singular eye both reflected and reshaped the visual language of the 20th century and why even the most iconic image is only half the story.

Director: Ron Howard

Producers: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Dallas Brennan Rexer, Sara Bernstein, Christopher St. John, Justin Wilkes

NOV. 13 – “Heartland”

Drama, Thriller

Former country megastar Misty Jones (Jessica Chastain) comes out of seclusion to investigate the disappearance of her missing niece, a rising country musician, and must grapple with her own past and Nashville’s seedy underbelly. Her search uncovers a murky side of Nashville where no one, including Misty, is who they seem.

Director/Writer: Shana Feste

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Garrett Hedlund, Carter Faith, Ross Lynch, Paul Sparks, Jennifer Nettles, John Hawkes

NOV. 18 – “Gentle Monster”

Drama

In select theaters Oct. 30
From director and writer Marie Kreutzer (Corsage, Austria’s submission for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards), Gentle Monster tells the story of concert pianist Lucy (Léa Seydoux), who has just relocated her family to a country house hoping to ease her husband Philip’s (Laurence Rupp) severe burnout. Before they have a chance to set up their new home, an early morning police visit tears their life apart. Trapped between the man she loves and the fear of what he may have done, Lucy must face the situation alone as her world unravels. With a cast that includes Jella Haase, alongside legendary Academy Award nominee Catherine Deneuve, Gentle Monster asks what we do when someone we love turns out to be someone we never really knew.

Director/Writer: Marie Kreutzer

Cast: Léa Seydoux, Laurence Rupp, Jella Haase, Catherine Deneuve

NOV. 20 – “Primetime Preacher$”

Documentary

In the golden age of Christian broadcasting, three of America’s most powerful televangelists transformed evangelical Christianity from a largely apolitical movement into a powerful force in American politics whose influence still reverberates today — until greed, rivalry, and scandal ignited a holy war that captivated the nation.

Directed and Produced: Joe Berlinger

Producers: Rachael Profiloski, Emma Ho, Michael Costigan, Jason Bateman

NOV. 20 – “Steps”

Animated

Think you know Cinderella’s “evil” stepsisters? Think again. Sick of living in Cinderella’s shadow, Lilith (Ali Wong) steals the Fairy Godmother’s (Bette Midler) magic wand and hijacks the Royal Ball with her sister, Margot (Stephanie Hsu), breaking the Cinderella story as we know it and dooming the kingdom to the tyrannical rule of Priscilla (Nikki Glaser), a villainous schemer who swoops in and snatches the throne. Now, Lilith must team up with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) to fight biker trolls, outrun evil henchmen, and escape the Screaming Woods on an epic quest to save the kingdom — but most importantly, their relationship.

Directors: Alyce Tzue and John Ripa

Voice Cast: Ali Wong, Amanda Seyfried, Stephanie Hsu, Nikki Glaser, Daniel Radcliffe, Young Mazino, Peter Dinklage, Bette Midler, Damian Priest

NOV. 25 – “The Mosquito Bowl”

Action, Drama

In theaters Oct. 30
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, four of America’s top college football stars set their fame aside to enlist in the Marines. As they prepare for the brutal invasion of Okinawa, they’ll play in a legendary game featuring some of the greatest players in history — a game that, for many, will be the last they ever play.

Director: Peter Berg

Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgård, Ray Nicholson, Tom Francis, Brent Comer, Dominic Bogart

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DECEMBER…

DEC. 2 – “La bola negra”

Drama

In select theaters Oct. 16
From Cannes-winning directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi — popularly known as Los Javis — La Bola Negra follows three generations of men across pivotal moments in Spanish history, bound by pain, desire, and love. Carlos (Milo Quifes) longs to belong in a fractured Spain. Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente) finds connection across enemy lines. And Alberto (Carlos González) uncovers a long-buried family secret — one that finally gives voice to truths the past tried to erase. 

The film also stars Miguel Bernardeau (Rafael), Goya winner Lola Dueñas (Teresa), Academy Award winner Penélope Cruz (Nené), Golden Globe winner Glenn Close (Isabelle), and Emmy-nominated Julio Torres (Juan Pablo).

Directors: Javier Calvo, Javier Ambrossi

Cast: Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Julio Torres, Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close

DEC. 11 – “In Waves”

Animated

In select theaters fall/winter 2026
In Los Angeles, AJ (Will Sharpe), a shy teenager, meets Kristen (Stephanie Hsu). She lives for surfing; he loves skateboarding and drawing. They fall madly in love, and a happy future seems within reach. But everything changes when Kristen faces a sudden illness. Together, they face adversity, driven by the strength of their love, their friends, and their newly shared passion for surfing and the ocean.

Director: Phuong Mai Nguyen

Voice Cast: Will Sharpe, Stephanie Hsu

DEC. 11 – “Bad Day”

Action Comedy

An action comedy about a single mom fighting to keep one little promise to her daughter on the absolute worst day of her life.

Director: Jake Szymanski

Cast: Cameron Diaz, Danielle Brooks, Rhenzy Feliz, John Higgins, Mark Duplass, Jessica Belkin, Ed O’Neill, Rob Corddry, Ayden Mayeri, Ben Schwartz, Retta, Emma Pearson, P.J. Byrne, Sherry Cola, Edi Patterson, Beck Bennett

DEC. 18 – “Ray Gunn”

Animated Sci-Fi

In select theaters fall/winter 2026
In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn (Sam Rockwell) is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder, and a multimedia star named Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson).

Director: Brad Bird

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Waits

DEC. 23 – “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth”

In IMAX Nov. 25
Brad Pitt returns to his Academy Award–winning role as Cliff Booth, only this time it’s 1977 and it’s a very different Hollywood. 

Director: David Fincher

Screenwriter: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Brad Pitt, Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Peter Weller, Matt Groove, JB Tadena, Corey Fogelmanis, Karren Karagulian

First Glance: “Ghost Soldier” New Trailer

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The new trailer for “Ghost Soldier” kicks off by setting up the kind of story that has been told countless times in action movies. A quiet yet lethal stranger living off the grid steps in to protect helpless victims from powerful and oppressive villains. But near the trailer’s midway point, director William Eubank takes a pretty wild and unexpected turn. It ends up turning a fairly cookie-cutter concept into something I’m genuinely excited to check out.

Jim Caviezel plays the film’s solitary but deadly protagonist, Henry “Fitz” Fitzgerald. He’s a former Green Beret and weapons systems engineer living in the wild of Wyoming. When a powerful corporation begins seizing land from a local farmer and his family, Fitz intervenes. But once violence erupts, Fitz fights back, fully armed with big guns, futuristic tech, and goofy old-school one-liners that brought a nostalgic smile to my face. The always fun Shea Whigham also stars. “Ghost Soldier” doesn’t look especially groundbreaking. But it does look to be a lot of fun. That’s all I’ll be looking for.

“Ghost Soldier” lands in theaters on November 6th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

REVIEW: “The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn” (2008/2026)

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To this day, “The X-Files” remains one of my very favorite television shows to ever grace the small screen. The main series ran from 1993 to 2002 and was followed by two revival seasons in 2016 and 2018. The show was a fascinating mix of mystery, science fiction, and horror, built upon a monster-of-the-week structure, with standalone episodes featuring mutants, creatures, aliens, and SO much more. But there were also the serialized mythology episodes focused on a vast global conspiracy to conceal and control the existence of extraterrestrials.

The beating heart of “The X-Files” was the relationship between FBI special agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and his partner Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). Mulder was an impassioned believer in the paranormal, monsters, and alien life. Scully was a skeptic who was originally assigned to debunk Mulder’s beliefs with cold, hard science. Their dark and often unsettling adventures ran for most of the series and into two feature films.

The second of those films was “The X-Files: I Want to Believe”. Creator and showrunner Chris Carter wrote and directed the movie which languished in development hell for nearly six years before finally releasing in 2008 to very mixed reactions from both critics and fans. It was later revealed that Carter was forced to cut out some significant scenes after the studio deemed the film to be too frightening. Now nearly twenty years later, Carter gets to present his full vision in a newly restored director’s cut which he titles “The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn”.

The name “Vrach Frankenshteyn” is fitting in a couple of ways. Translated “Doctor Frankenstein”, its a reference to the film’s creepy mad-scientist storyline. And as Dread Central noted, the subtitle is a cool meta-nod to Carter’s original vision being stitched back together and resurrected from the dead after being buried for two decades. And the changes do indeed make a difference. “Vrach Frankenshteyn” recenters the story and restores the horror elements resulting in a darker, creepier, gorier, and noticeably better X-Files experience.

Interestingly, unlike most every director’s cut, “Vrach Frankenshteyn” is actually seven minutes shorter than the original 2008 “I Want to Believe” release. Carter does add material which mostly works to enhance the slightly gorier horror moments. But he trims a lot of fat, beginning with the romantic elements between his two lead characters which offered nothing new that hadn’t already been explored in the show. He also tightens up the pacing by cutting scenes that ultimately didn’t really fit with core of Carter’s vision.

Set in and around snowy Somerset, West Virginia, the story follows the FBI’s search for a missing agent, Monica Bannan (Xantha Radley). Special Agent in charge Dakota Whitney (Amanda Peet) seeks out former agent Dana Scully, who now works as a staff physician at a Catholic hospital. Whitney needs Scully’s help in finding Fox Mulder, who is hidden away in isolation after bogus charges put him on the FBI’s wanted list. Now the FBI needs his help and they’re willing to drop all charges in exchange for his assistance in finding their missing agent.

Why Fox Mulder you ask? A defrocked and disgraced Catholic priest, Joseph “Father Joe” Crissman (Bill Connolly) who claims to have psychic visions, has led the FBI to numerous human limbs buried deep in the West Virginia snow. He claims the visions guided him to the locations, but Whitney and her hyper-cynical fellow agent, Mosley Drummy (Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner) have their doubts. So they bring in Mulder to use his X-Files experience to determine if Father Joe is to be believed or if should be a chief suspect.

With his director’s cut, Carter’s pruning accomplishes its goal of tightening up his film’s focus. He shrewdly weaves the supernatural and the psychological into a story that has the form of a classic gritty crime mystery. And that’s what gives “Vrach Frankenshteyn” its distinct X-Files vibe. He also smartly utilizes the Mulder and Scully chemistry that has long served as the fuel for the series. They may not work together in the way we’re used to. But the story shows just how symbiotic their relationship is and always will be.

It may be easy to dismiss “Vrach Frankenshteyn” as little more than an extended episode. But as a massive fan of the series, that’s hardly a criticism. Carter’s thinner yet gnarlier version slims down and tightens up a story that reminds many of us why we still love “The X-Files”. It may not move the needle in any significant way for the characters or the franchise’s beloved grand conspiracy. But neither did many of show’s best episodes. They simply entertained us in a dark and twisted X-Files kind of way. To its credit, “Vrach Frankenshteyn” does exactly the same.

VERDICT – 4 STARS

REVIEW: “Insidious: Out of the Further” (2026)

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Full Disclosure – I’m not the most informed when it comes to the Insidious movies. I’ve seen some but certainly not every installment in the long-running and financially successful horror franchise. The good thing is you don’t need to be well-versed to get the gist of these stories. They have been accessible to most everyone and thankfully that remains true for its sixth entry, “Insidious: Out of the Further”.

The film series kicked off with 2011’s “Insidious” and its last film was 2023’s “Insidious: The Red Door”, a direct sequel to 2013’s “Insidious: Chapter 2”. “Out of the Further” takes a fresh turn by centering itself around a new protagonist who has a unique connection to the purgatorial dimension known as the Further. Yet writer-director Jacob Chase maintains several firm connections to the earlier films, and his story fits nicely within the franchise’s ongoing continuity.

Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

In Pittsburgh, Gemma (Amelia Eve) is a young mother raising her 9-year-old Maya (Island Austin) in the family home she grew up in. It’s a house with its share of painful memories. Yet despite her boyfriend Nick (Brandon Perea) repeatedly urging her to leave, Gemma is determined to build the home for Maya that she always wanted. But that proves difficult after chilling revelations from Gemma’s past threatens her and her little girl.

It begins with Gemma having dark and intense dreams, often about her late mother. Then there is the creepy elderly trio who are suddenly roaming around their neighborhood. Gemma’s encounter with one of the strangers transports her into the Further – a dark realm populated by lost and tortured souls who crave life. As Gemma is being overtaken by the demons, she is surprisingly rescued by Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye, reprising her role from the earlier films), a psychic medium who died in 2011 and now lives in the Further.

Elise directs Gemma to her assistant in the living world, Claire (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) who is able to communicate with her mentor in the Further. Through Claire, Elise informs Gemma that she possesses the rare ability to transport demons back into the living world. For that reason she has been targeted by an especially malevolent entity named Cyrus (Sam Spruell) who deviously plans to use Gemma to escape from the Further by any means necessary.

Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

Chase has a lot of fun tinkering with the established Insidious mythology while also expanding it in some wildly imaginative ways. To be honest, the rules of the world don’t always make sense, and it can get a little bogged down in all the talk of travelers, couriers, acolytes, etc. But there is a wickedly fresh idea at the film’s core and Chase draws inspiration from both “Poltergeist” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” to bring it to life. And it opens the door for some interesting possibilities for the future.

To its credit, “Out of the Further” isn’t the kind of rehash that often comes when we’re six movies into a series. Instead it’s a surprisingly effective soft reboot with enough of its own distinct DNA to prove the Insidious franchise still has legs. It’s rich with nightmarish atmosphere, introduces devilish new demons, and has some delightfully disgusting moments (those who fear the dentist chair, beware). It will certainly satisfy longtime fans and I wouldn’t be surprised if it earns a few new ones as well.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS

First Glance: “Beware Boiúna” Full Trailer + Poster

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Now here’s the “Anaconda” remake we really needed. Director Mike P. Nelson and screenwriter Alan B. McElroy team up for “Beware Boiúna”, a survival horror creature feature that could easily be considered part of the Anaconda universe (if there is such a thing). But it’s not. “Beware Boiúna” is its own thing. And by the looks of the first trailer, Nelson is going for the classic old-school monster movie jugular. And I plan on being there for it.

The story is set along the Curuçá River, deep in the Amazon rainforest. A humanitarian group on a routine medical mission encounters a colossal mythical serpent who isn’t too happy with trespassers in her domain. Suddenly the team is fighting for survival against the awakened and angry Boiúna. Kiana Madeira, Jessica Rothe, Logan Marshall-Green, Jackson Bews, and Juan Pablo Shuk star in this wild genre throwback that looks to take Brazilian folklore in some wildly entertaining directions.

“Beware Boiúna” slithers into theaters on October 2nd. Check out the full trailer and poster below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.