Blu-ray Review - Bloodbath at the House of Death

B4

As a British comedian, Kenny Everett offered silliness and sauciness to his audience, working to push a few boundaries on television. Offered a chance to bring his sense of humor to the big screen, and Everett surprisingly doesn't make a sex comedy, instead looking to pants horror happenings in 1984's "Bloodbath at the House of Death." It's not exactly ambitious work, but screenwriters Barry Cryer and Ray Cameron (who also directs) get a little strange with the tone of the endeavor, which plays extremely goofy at times, but also contains a few vivid scenes of slaughter. The movie doesn't really know what it wants to be, but there are a few laughs scattered around the picture, and Everett is absolutely working hard to please, going big in a feature that's most enjoyable at its wackiest. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Blu-ray Review - Way Bad Stone

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Sometimes, when Hollywood won't take action, you just have to do it yourself. 1991's "Way Bad Stone" is a shot-on-video production that attempts to replicate parts of the "Dungeons & Dragons" experience, with director Archie Waugh looking to sustain the sword and sorcery subgenre with this tale of magic and battling. Instead of finding exotic locations to help set the mood, Waugh settles on a forest area in Florida to detail the battle between… well, evil and evil. There's basically no money being spent on the picture, leaving it up to Waugh to sell the enormity the screenplay with help from big performances and bloody acts of violence. "Way Bad Stone" is ambitious, and there's some entertainment value found in the manner the cast tries to locate the spirit of the material, laboring to bring this world to life. It's not a strong feature, losing its way in the final act, but for those who have a high tolerance for SOV efforts and low-budget fantasy, there's a certain charm to the offering. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Blu-ray Review - The Fabulous Four

F17

Didn't we just do this? Earlier this year, there was "Summer Camp," which detailed the experiences of four older woman working on relationships while dealing with a vacation getaway. And now there's "The Fabulous Four," which follows four older women working on relationships while dealing with a vacation getaway. There's some serious déjà vu going on here, but this can all be traced back to the unexpected success of 2018's "Book Club," which found an audience for its sustained mildness and use of seasoned thespians. "The Fabulous Four" looks to drink from the same fountain, offering its target audience more silly shenanigans with capable actresses, but the screenplay (by Jenna Milly and Ann Marie Allison) is relentlessly awful. Hope for sharp humor is lost in the opening moments of the picture, and elements of heart are simply DOA. What's left is a dispiriting collection of sitcom moments that's increasingly dire to watch. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Love Hurts (2025)

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The comeback story for Key Huy Quan has been remarkable to watch. He was once a child actor who offered wonderful, natural work in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “The Goonies,” only to find career opportunities dry up as puberty hit, taking him away from acting for quite some time. Quan returned in a scene-stealing role in 2022’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” restoring his visibility with moviegoers and winning an Academy Award for his performance. With “Love Hurts,” Quan is giving this career revival its first major test, taking a starring role in the hardcore actioner, which marks the directorial debut for Jonathan Eusebio, who previously worked as a stunt performer in the “John Wick” series and “The Fall Guy.” “Love Hurts” is out to display flashy physicality and brutal violence, also looking to sell a few relationship issues along the way. The picture isn’t a stunner when it comes to storytelling, but it definitely packs a punch. And there’s Quan, who continues to impress with his enthusiastic acting, giving the endeavor his full commitment. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Kinda Pregnant

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Adam Sandler’s nephew, Tyler Spindel, returns behind the camera for another Adam Sandler production, featuring Adam Sandler relatives in supporting roles. The helmer behind “Father of the Year” and “The Wrong Missy” tries another crude comedy on for size in “Kinda Pregnant,” welcoming comedian Amy Schumer to the Happy Madison family, and she’s ready to unleash her love of R-rated shenanigans in the feature. “Kinda Pregnant” details the mental and physical gymnastics involved with a woman who turns to faking a pregnancy to solve her emotional problems. Laughs are intended, but this is a Spindel joint, so viewers will have to settle for plenty of groans and sharp exhales while watching this witless endeavor, which, of course, tries to marry the screaming highs of slapstick with the honeyed ooze of romance. It’s a terrible movie, but it does provide colorful background noise for a streaming audience, which might be the ultimate purpose for this picture. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries

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1997’s “Titanic” was supposed to be a failure. It went wildly overschedule and overbudget, even missing a key release date in the process, giving James Cameron’s epic take on an oceanic disaster a special industry stink as the world awaited its release. And when it was finally put into theaters, it stayed there for nearly a year, creating a dedicated fan base happy to return to the movie over and over again, racking up views as the romantic fantasy and tragedy of the picture was almost too much to bear. “Titanic” became a box office and pop culture behemoth, meeting its event cinema potential for generations of viewers. “Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries” dares to return to the days of production, as director Alexandra Boyd goes on a journey of remembrance, joined by other cast members armed with memories concerning their days on the set, creating an emotional reunion with thoughts, feelings, and experiences generated back in the mid-1990s, when Cameron was in the middle of crafting his most complex creative endeavor. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Renner

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“Renner” marks a return of sorts for actor Frankie Muniz. He’s been chipping away at an acting career over the last two decades, occasionally playing himself, but his new film puts him in a leading role for the first time in a long time, hired to carry a feature that attempts to expand his thespian range. Co-writer/director Robert Rippberger (“Those Who Walk Away,” “Strive”) joins a wave of storytellers looking to inspect the mysteries of artificial intelligence, and he lands on a drama about a young man and his computer-fu dealing with something he’s never encountered before: a woman’s interest. “Renner” is a glacially paced character study that eventually graduates to more physical interests, but Rippberger is in no hurry to get anywhere with the picture, overseeing a drab examination of an unraveling that’s way out of Muniz’s range. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Blu-ray Review - They Call Me Macho Woman

M5

Hell hath no fury like a woman prevented from purchasing rural land. That's basically the vibe of 1989's "They Call Me Macho Woman," which pits a seemingly average person against a gang of drug manufacturers in the middle of nowhere. It's a classic set-up for exploitation cinema, but writer/director Patrick G. Donahue doesn't have much finesse when it comes to the actual war between good and evil. However, he does have a stunt team, with the endeavor managing to offer a few slam-bang moments of physical danger, and there's some general oddity when it comes to the creation of tools used to take lives. "They Call Me Macho Woman" is mostly clunky, with Donahue visibly struggling to generate screen danger, but in a B-movie way, there's fun to be had with the effort, which certainly tries to put on a violent show for viewers. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Blu-ray Review - Observe and Report

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Acting as a counterpoint to the Judd Apatow brand of edgy-but-huggable comedy is Jody Hill. The director of "The Foot Fist Way" and a guiding force behind "Eastbound & Down" and "Vice Principals," Hill has built his name through a deployment of toxic absurdity, showcasing his favorite subject: the unholy wrath of the social reject who takes himself seriously. "Observe and Report" presents Hill with his largest cinematic canvas, and while the film doesn't always balance its bizarre mojo with razor-sharp skill, Hill deserves credit for sticking to his morbid vision, submitting an acidic, anarchic layer cake of mental illness with star Seth Rogen doing his best to capture such psychosis. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Blu-ray Review - The Instructor

I5

There's one thing to keep in mind while watching "The Instructor": you're not having a stroke. Remain assured that it's not you having a medical emergency, it's just the 1981 release's almost complete inability to tell a simple story of revenge. It's a martial arts extravaganza from writer/director/co-star Don Bendell, who has a vision for stunt moves and dark displays of crime and punishment, but he's caught working on several ideas for his endeavor, and none of them connect smoothly. "The Instructor" is a wild ride that often makes no sense, reflecting the work of a first- time filmmaker (actually, his only movie) who was in over his head, believing the visual power of karate action would be enough to support the whole effort. Go into this one expecting technical and editorial precision, and the room will start spinning immediately. Accept the ride as it is, and there's some amusement to be found, especially when rough physical confrontations arrive. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


4K UHD Review - Devil Times Five

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Evil comes in many forms, and Hollywood loves to periodically explore the wrath of kids, testing the lure of innocence with horror pictures centered on children committing acts of violence. It's always a dicey prospect, and 1974's "Devil Times Five" (a.k.a. "Peopletoys" and "The Horrible House on the Hill," which is the title on this release) goes a little harder when it comes to grisly moments of viciousness. In a rare change of pace, it's the adults who aren't alright, with "Devil Times Five" exploring the many ways young people seek to destroy old people. While this level of aggression has its B- movie appeal, there's also a different side to the story, examining various acts of emasculation and addiction to dramatically strengthen the feature, which could use all the help it can get. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Heart Eyes

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“Heart Eyes” is co-written by Christopher Landon, who’s found his niche in recent years as an architect of horror comedies, trying to crank up the humor on slasher cinema offerings. He’s been involved in the “Happy Death Day” franchise, “Freaky,” and “We Have a Ghost,” driven to take the sting out of scares while chasing silliness. “Heart Eyes” remains in line with Landon’s previous projects, this time bringing the action to Valentine’s Day, going holiday with a tale of a hulking killer on the loose, targeting lovers out in the open during a season of tenderness. It’s not a “My Bloody Valentine” remake, as Landon isn’t interested in being serious, taking his latest into overkill when it comes to cutesiness, ruining any potential fear factor the story has to offer. The odd tonality of the effort really disrupts the fun ride the writing is straining to deliver. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Love Me (2025)

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If you’re under the belief that original ideas are missing from the movies today, here’s “Love Me.” It’s the debut feature for writer/directors Sam and Andy Zuchero, and the siblings attempt to explore the human condition from an unusual perspective. Technology is the theme here, following the development of sentience as an ocean buoy and orbiting satellite strive to experience a relationship in a post-apocalyptic setting. The ruined Earth is the location for the picture, and the Zucheros often retreat into a digital world to help the characters connect, with animation representing most of the viewing experience. “Love Me” is specialized work for a specialized audience, and not something made for casual viewing. It’s not entirely successful in the storytelling department, but there’s vision to the endeavor that remains interesting, along with writing that tracks the messiness of relationships and the mysteries of life. It’s a big swing for the helmers, who attempt to deliver something quite unique while inspecting universal ideas on personal connection and experience. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - You're Cordially Invited

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Writer/director Nicholas Stoller’s career began with help from producer Judd Apatow, putting the pair to work creating R-rated comedies that used a lot of improvisation and a cast of comedians to find the funny in sometimes less-than-funny screenplays (including “Neighbors” and its sequel). Stoller hasn’t really pushed himself creatively since his helming debut (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), falling into routine, and such professional stagnancy continues in “You’re Cordially Invited.” A wedding comedy about battling guardians and their control issues, the feature is more of the same from Stoller, who oversees a “wacky,” profane picture that’s meant to delight with its comedic insanity and still touch the heart with some offerings of warmth and romance. “You’re Cordially Invited” isn’t an inspired endeavor, and while stars Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon are committed to the cause, the staleness of Stoller’s approach is overwhelming at times, and laughs are nonexistent. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Dog Man

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“Dog Man” began life as a spin-off of “Captain Underpants,” as author Dav Pilkey elected to expand his graphic novel universe and refresh its slapstick potential. After a 2016 debut, the series immediately found its audience, and Pilkey has recently released the thirteenth installment of the saga. As with “Captain Underpants,” such success is eventually chased with a big screen adaptation, giving the “supa cop” and his half-canine instincts a cinematic expansion in “Dog Man.” Writer/director Peter Hastings (an animation producer who last helmed a major feature in 2002’s “The Country Bears”) does an excellent job capturing Pilkey’s vibrant imagination and mischievous sense of humor, overseeing a highly entertaining and visually commanding offering. It’s an incredibly playful and snappy movie, and one that preserves most of what makes the book series so endearing and enjoyable. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Companion

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There are turns and twists in “Companion,” and for those especially sensitive to spoilers, it’s probably best to avoid reviews, commercials, trailers, social media posts, word of mouth, and the poster for the picture, as everything tends to expose what’s really happening in the feature. Writer/director Drew Hancock has a bit of sinister business in mind with the material, presenting a study of a relationship that’s not entirely built on a foundation of honesty. Robotics is a more accurate origin story for “Companion,” which transforms a tale of love into an odd situation of survival involving a character newly exposed to a harsh reality that’s carried on without her knowledge or consent. Hancock doesn’t have enough drama to really pack the run time, but he comes armed with solid ideas, strong performances, and fantastic visuals, crafting a mostly involving thriller that zigs and zags with some authority. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Not an Artist

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Co-writers/directors Alexi Pappas and Jeremy Teicher were previously focused on the wide world of sports. They explored the troubles of a long-distance runner in 2016’s “Tracktown,” and spotlighted an outbreak of love for a cross-country skier in 2020’s “Olympic Dreams.” They ditch athleticism for a different kind of competition in “Not an Artist,” which follows the general anxiety and collision of personalities that occurs at a retreat for creative minds and all the insecurities they can carry. It’s another winner for Pappas and Teicher, who do very well with characterization and mood, exploring the semi-comical ways of the getaway and all the internal chaos it inspires. “Not an Artist” eventually moves too far away from humor, but up to this point, it connects, presenting an amusing take on self-imposed pressures and life woes, sold with terrific performances that capture a few complex emotions. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Green and Gold

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1988’s “Mac and Me” was a film presented by McDonalds, finding the hamburger chain looking to reach its target demographic (children) with a movie that played to their interests and, hopefully, strengthened brand loyalty. “Green and Gold” is not another “Mac and Me,” but it does share a similar interest in merging entertainment with fast food, as Culver’s sponsors the feature, trying to offer its target demographic (senior citizens) a study of midwestern living, and perhaps encourage a post-showing burger run. Both pictures also share a common, and unexpected, darkness, as co-writer/director Anders Lindwall explores the death of the American dream in “Green and Gold,” going where many filmmakers have gone before during his study of farmland aches and pains. The offering isn’t original, and Lindwall is determined to hit every cliché he can, but he has a strong cast to help sell the effort’s emotional beats, making performances the most compelling aspect of the endeavor. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Film Review - Like Father, Like Son (2025)

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I want to believe that writer/director Barry Jay is trying to do something important with “Like Father, Like Son.” There’s a message buried deep in the picture about cycles of abuse, even reaching into hereditary traits to spotlight the continuation of evil, and Jay looks to use such simmering rage to inspire a horror film of sorts. It’s a psychological take on slasher cinema, striving to be a bit more menacing than the usual in serial killer tales. However, the execution of “Like Father, Like Son” is completely botched, as Jay has no real clue how to deliver this study of generational pain without turning the whole thing into a cheap looking, poorly acted, and roughly crafted feature that doesn’t possess a single scene of profound feelings. Jay oddly goes for trashiness with the endeavor, and it’s a painful sit, watching the movie fumble every idea it has. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com


Blu-ray Review - Ali G Indahouse

A7

While he rocketed to superstardom with help from his most famous creation, Borat Sagdiyev, actor Sacha Baron Cohen was initially invested in a different character. Ali G is described as a "faux-streetwise poseur," finding success on "Da Ali G Show," where Cohen would unleash his imagination and great love of uncomfortable comedy. Ali G was the breakout creation, and with television triumph comes cinematic aspirations. Borat would prove to be Cohen's biggest success, but Ali G came first, with 2002's "Ali G Indahouse" attempting to give the "chav" more room to play and a plot to follow, getting away from interview shenanigans that made the T.V. show such a delight. Stripped of improvisational moves, Cohen is forced to stick to a script for the feature, which tries to create a world for Ali G, and opportunities to screw everything up. "Ali G Indahouse" is loaded with customary crudeness from Cohen (who co-scripts with Dan Mazer), and the rigidness of storytelling with this creation is present. However, the effort has many laughs and pleasingly bizarre situations, watching Cohen work hard to sustain the appeal of Ali G, lacking the safety net of seven-minute-long segment run times. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com