2022 has been a pretty lackluster year for the horror genre. It’s been a year where “big swings” by filmmakers have become more important than good stories or (dare I say it) actual scares. It’s been a year where several old franchise favorites have returned in what amounted to pretty dreadful reboots. Thankfully there have … Continue reading
First Glance: “Savage Salvation”
Robert De Niro plays a small town sheriff in the upcoming crime/revenge thriller “Savage Salvation”. Peculiar title aside, the story looks to cover a lot of familiar crime movie territory. But interesting casting and some potentially good action may make this a pretty fun and gritty feature. It’s directed by Randall Emmett who’s recently been … Continue reading
REVIEW: “All Quiet on the Western Front” (2022)
(CLICK HERE for my full review in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 German novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” and Lewis Milestone’s 1930 landmark American film adaptation remain among the most defining anti-war treatments to date. Neither the book or the movie were vague about their ‘war in hell’ message, and both … Continue reading
First Glance: “Plane” (2022)
Let me be honest. There’s nothing about the new trailer for the upcoming flick “Plane” that will have any critic rethinking their awards season ballots. Yet I have to admit, I really get a kick out of these wacky (and sometimes undeniably bad) action romps. And sometimes a little disposable nonsense is all I really … Continue reading
REVIEW: “The Requin” (2022)
“Jaws” it’s not. Nor is it in the same category as “The Shallow”. Heck, I wouldn’t even lump it in with “The Meg”. But “The Requin” has sharks in it so at least they all have that in common. Unfortunately for it, the presence of sharks alone doesn’t make a movie entertaining. And in this … Continue reading
New on Home Video: 4K UHD “Escape From Alcatraz” (1979)
Kino Lorber Studio Classics has two Clint Eastwood gems as part of their November home video lineup. The first is a beautiful 4K UHD release of Eastwood’s terrific 1979 prison thriller “Escape From Alcatraz”. Inspired by J. Campbell Bruce’s 1963 non-fiction book of the same name, the film saw Eastwood re-teaming with director Don Siegel … Continue reading