• Film Review – Faces of Death (2026)

    1978’s “Faces of Death” is largely appreciated as one of the most notorious cult films around. The faux documentary about real-life murders and disasters earned a mighty reputation as a “dare you to watch” title, tempting horror fans and sleepovers with its presentation of gore and macabre situations. The original release launched a franchise that petered out after the seventh chapter of the series was issued in 1999, but the brand’s legacy hasn’t completely faded from view. Enter co-writer/director Daniel Goldhaber (“How to Blow Up a Pipeline”), who elects to celebrate the intimidating atmosphere of the original endeavor with “Faces of Death,” which isn’t a remake, but more of a riff on the 1978 picture, using its special way with evil to inspire a new slasher offering that plays into our world of social media-led desensitization. Goldhaber doesn’t craft a particularly dominating genre experience, but he captures some sinister business with the effort, which carries an effective sense of dread and a feeling of encroaching madness. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Exit 8

    “Exit 8” is an adaptation of a 2023 video game, which offered players a chance to experience a special kind of disorientation with its first-person perspective and maze-like construction. Bringing the gaming experience to the screen provides co-writer/director Genki Kawamura with a tough creative challenge, tasked with preserving the concept of the game while finding ways to flesh it out some, giving viewers a different kind of exploratory event. “Exit 8” is largely contained to the seemingly endless hallways of a Japanese train station, but the script tries to offer a more dramatic understanding of panic and confusion. There’s obvious repetition in play, and the limitations of the basic idea driving the story are found, but Kawamura creates a strikingly cinematic tour of madness at times, working with excellent technical achievements and nicely rattled acting to help explore this unique puzzle. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Bunnylovr

    Actress Katarina Zhu makes her feature-length directorial debut with “Bunnylovr,” going the micro-indie route with her examination of loneliness and the sex worker experience. Zhu also handles the screenplay as well as starring in the picture, giving her a level of creative control to help explore a strange cinematic space involving the intimate experiences of someone who deals with intimate experiences for a living. “Bunnylovr” doesn’t develop into anything more than study of bizarre tensions and longing, and Zhu doesn’t pump the feature up with dramatics, showing no interest in going bigger with the endeavor. Instead, she settles on a few scenes of human connection that carry unusual atmosphere at times, helping the effort achieve stretches of seduction and anxiety that offer Zhu as a promising young filmmaker to watch. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

    2023’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” was treated like an event film release. Here, at last, was an animated production looking to please the hardcore Nintendo fanbase, giving them exactly what they want after 1993’s live-action “Super Mario Bros” left the faithful puzzled and tremendously disappointed in a pass to make something incredibly odd with a seemingly easy lay-up moviemaking opportunity. Illumination endeavored to play it safe with a softer, colorful adaptation, and the house of “Minions” was rewarded with a massive box office success. And now there’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” with the sequel setting out to generate an even larger world for the main characters to explore, putting directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic to work stuffing in as many Nintendo cameos and environments as possible, setting the series up to explode with spin-offs and continuations galore. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” remains action-packed and vibrantly animated, but there’s new heaviness in play as the endeavor gets carried away selling a brand instead of telling a story. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • 4K UHD Review – King of the Gypsies

    The grand successes of 1972’s “The Godfather” and 1974’s “The Godfather Part II” certainly had an influence over the film business, and producer Dino De Laurentiis wasn’t about the let such glory pass him by. 1978’s “King of the Gypsies” isn’t a sprawling story of family and crime (Dino isn’t about to pay for that), but it shares some of the domestic turmoil and community exploration with the Francis Ford Coppola classic, finding writer/director Frank Pierson (1976’s “A Star is Born”) tasked with bringing Peter Maas’s 1975 book to the big screen. The ties that bind remain as tight as ever in the picture, which surveys growing tensions between rival Romani clans and follows the itchiness of a young man who doesn’t want anything to do with it. It’s a messy adaptation with extreme forms of acting, but Pierson looks to celebrate culture and drama with the endeavor, finding periodic success with the madness of it all. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • 4K UHD Review – Tromeo and Juliet

    Before he was Mr. DC Universe and before he gave Marvel significant hits with the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies, James Gunn was just a young man with a dream to make movies. And to help begin his journey into the industry, he went to Troma Entertainment for help, who were delighted to pay almost nothing for the services of a desperate writer. 1996’s “Tromeo and Juliet” is Gunn’s first produced endeavor, and he’s working hard to play into the Troma Way, serving up a “loose” Shakespeare adaptation that’s big on dead animals, farts, a close-up nipple piercing, screaming matches, a penis monster, and plenty of head trauma. Director Lloyd Kaufman has no interest in making a different kind of movie, once again recycling “Tromatic” attitude and shock value for “Tromeo and Juliet,” retaining his love for overlong scenes, amateur performances, and low-budget storytelling that favors the minimal in production polish. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – Twist and Shout

    1984’s “Twist and Shout” is often labeled as a sequel to 1983’s “Zappa.” Technically, this is true, as the story follows most of the same characters established in the original film, and co-writers Bille August (who also directs) and Bjarne Reuter (who adapts his novel) return to maintain exploratory momentum, catching up with the kids as they turn into adults, mostly against their will. Familiar faces are present, but “Twist and Shout” doesn’t feel organically connected to “Zappa,” as the production heads in a slightly more melodramatic direction for the follow-up, while characterizations feel alien this time around, often watching the personalities make the strangest choices in an offering that’s ultimately unsuccessful when it comes to probing the needs of the young adult heart. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – Zappa

    Before director Bille August when big with international successes such as 1987’s “Pelle the Conqueror,” and eventually went Hollywood with 1993’s “The House of the Spirits,” 1997’s “Smilla’s Sense of Snow,” and 1998’s “Les Misérables,” he was invested in making pictures about the ways of adolescence. An adaptation of a Bjarne Reuter novel, “Zappa” examines a troubling year for three students engaged in various criminal activities while navigating their different home lives. It’s not a gentle sit, as darkness is present throughout the endeavor, putting August and Reuter to work on a screenplay that makes sense of personal lives and social demands, also investigating the trials of pubescent interests and difficult relationships. “Zappa” isn’t hysterical work, staying introspective and a bit menacing at times as it surveys volatile emotions, successfully depicting the confusion of a strange time when childhood transforms into adulthood. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • 4K UHD Review – Ruby

    1973’s “The Exorcist” was a greatly influential film, inspiring producers to try to repeat its success, especially in the realm of low-budget cinema. 1977’s “Ruby” doesn’t seem like an obvious knockoff at first, initially spending time as a mild tale of menace involving the vengeful spirit of a slain gangster and his fixation on the drunken gun moll who betrayed him, but the feature eventually reaches a point of demonic possession. Director Curtis Harrington doesn’t seem particularly interested in defining anything about the movie, while the screenplay (by George Edwards, Steve Krantz, and Barry Schneider) has its own identity crisis to work through, trying to pull together various subplots and characters into a single cohesive film. “Ruby” is messy and, at times, unforgivably dull, with Harrington putting a lot of faith into his cast to carry the viewing experience when it could use a lot more fury when it comes to genre elements. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – Inside Jennifer Welles

    Adult film actress Jennifer Welles amassed a significant fan base during her stint in the industry, and she was looking for a way to go out on top. 1977’s “Inside Jennifer Welles” is the performer’s swan song, committing herself to an “autobiographical” tale of experiences collected during her years in New York City, recreating random encounters that helped to bring a certain thrill to her life. Welles is listed as the director as well (an uncredited Joseph W. Sarno called the shots), helping to sell the feature as a personal diary of sorts, complete with narration from Welles that reaches Penthouse Letter-like cartoon intimacy. “Inside Jennifer Welles” isn’t big on story, but it retains plenty of carnal events that keep the star front and center, maintaining some sense of humor while delivering all the heat Welles is known for. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – The Fireworks Woman

    Before he was the mastermind of “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” before he scored a major hit with “Scream,” before he tried to do something different for a change in “Music of the Heart,” Wes Craven was…well, just trying to find a gig. 1975’s “The Fireworks Woman” is an adult movie from the helmer, who pivoted to the ways of obsession after disturbing viewers (and even himself) with 1972’s “The Last House on the Left.” While newly tasked to deliver a more sexual viewing experience, Craven’s interests in dark tales and disturbed people remain in play in “The Fireworks Woman,” which hopes to offer a bit of titillation as carnal events are created. However, the picture is more invested in alarming the raincoat crowd with its surreal understanding of submission and punishment, testing patience with its crude filmmaking and general ickiness. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • 4K UHD Review – Mama

    It’s important to take Guillermo del Toro’s executive producer credit seriously, as “Mama” bears all the signs of his previous work. It’s a ghost tale with an almost storybook atmosphere, despite its search for forbidding areas of confrontation between the unaware and the undead. It’s spooky and weird enough to work, with a knockout resolution that maintains the story’s integrity — the cinematic equivalent of finding a four-leaf clover, especially in horror entertainment. Sure, flaws are readily apparent and length is an issue, but “Mama” is after an atmosphere of spookiness, trusting in the art of unease. It’s skillfully made and manages to provide the willies with only a few cheap shocks, making the movie something of an anomaly in a genre that routinely amplifies its scares and pulls its punches. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Eat Pray Bark

    When one encounters a title like “Eat Pray Bark,” a certain type of movie immediately comes to mind. And co-writer/director Marco Petry is perfectly happy to deliver such a viewing experience, going big hearted and puddle deep with the offering, which follows the concerns and confusion of travelers looking to make sense of pet behavior with help from a special trainer. The picture intends to be a comedy, soaking up character quirks and strange situations in the Tyrolian mountains, but the German production isn’t fully prepared to deliver laughs. Petry offers a lighter touch instead, going very easy on the senses with mild dramatic entanglements and personal issues. “Eat Pray Bark” isn’t something that demands attention, but for viewers interested in a gentle distraction partially highlighting the world of canine behavior, this is at least a capably acted feature, and some of the open world locations can’t be beat. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Wardriver

    There’s evidence in “Wardriver” that screenwriter Daniel Casey (“Kin,” “F9: The Fast Saga”) is greatly inspired by the films of Michael Mann and the surprising success of 2011’s “Drive.” He’s created another criminal creature of the night, and one who’s skilled in the way of computer crimes, using his car as a kind of hacking station, putting the character on the move as he goes about his dirty business. The writing looks to provide a bumpy road of lustful interests and underworld entanglements, putting director Rebecca Thomas (a television vet) to work generating a cool sense of mystery and movement for the picture. It’s all been done before, but “Wardriver” handles well during its first half, creating a tight space of trouble for the players in the game, and technological additions are interesting, providing a fresh reminder that online security is often no security at all. The endeavor loses a lot of potency as it unfolds, but Casey and Thomas get halfway there with the film, generating proper mood and threat before most of it melts away. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – The Patient

    Writer/director Mukunda Michael Dewil specializes in low-budget filmmaking, previously helming pictures such as “The Immaculate Room,” “Vehicle 19,” and 2024’s “Prey.” He returns to limited scope and low stakes in “The Patient,” challenged to make a thriller that takes place almost entirely inside a single hospital room. There’s potential in close-quarters tension, especially when elements of confusion are introduced via a character’s brain injury, sending him into war with his own mind as Dewil explores the messiness of memory. “The Patient” doesn’t aspire to reach Hitchcockian highs with its premise, and while Dewil scores some early interest in the central medical bed crisis, he doesn’t sustain it past the opening act, running out of things to do before the effort reaches an anticlimactic ending. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – A Magnificent Life

    Sylvain Chomet is best known as the writer and director of the French animated film, “The Triplets of Belleville,” which managed to charm art house audiences in 2003. He’s returned on occasion, with 2010’s “The Illusionist” and he tried live-action moviemaking on for size in 2013’s “Attila Marcel,” but Chomet falls back into animation with “A Magnificent Life.” And it’s a personal story as well, using colorful artistry to bring the life and times of French playwright, novelist, and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol to the screen. It’s an usual choice for a bio-pic viewing experience, but Chomet has his passion for the subject, endeavoring to push past reputation and work to better understand the man’s drive to create and endure adversity. “A Magnificent Life” is a gorgeously crafted effort, but it’s extremely specific in its fandom, with Chomet charting the growth of creative expression and emotional challenges, but he struggles to get his arms around the “true story,” offering a picture that’s always appreciable but only periodically illuminating. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – They Will Kill You

    Just last week, there was “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” which followed a desperate character as she spends an evening trying to escape a building filled with Satanists who want to murder her. And now there’s “They Will Kill You,” which features basically the same premise, once again tracking the progress of a reluctant warrior facing waves of Devil-worshiping aggressors around a contained setting. Co-writers Alex Litvak and Kirill Sokolov (who also directs) don’t score points for originality, and their execution is all out of whack, launching a hyper-violent actioner that’s more about video game-inspired conflicts and missions than a cinematic ride of survival. “They Will Kill You” gets old quick, with Sokolov putting his faith in overkill to make a distinct impression with the picture, coming up short with chaos and character as the endeavor labors to find a single moment of true invention. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – She Dances

    Longtime actor Rick Gomez makes his feature-length directorial debut with “She Dances,” sharing a co-writing credit with star Steve Zahn, who also makes his screenwriting debut. The pair call in a few favors to help add familiar faces to the picture, but they don’t need much assistance with the endeavor, which touches on family communication and support, also offering at least some understanding of dance competition atmosphere. “She Dances” isn’t a major dramatic event, but it retains a lot of heart, giving Zahn one of his most appealing roles in a long time, playing with levels of silliness and solemnity as the writing inspects the fragility of feelings during a father’s journey to confront his strained relationship with his daughter. And there’s nobody better to play the part than Audrey Zahn, Steve’s real-life daughter, who brings her history of dance and a natural comfort with the camera to help secure the careful tone of the dramedy. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Pretty Lethal

    “Pretty Lethal” is the latest co-production from 87North, the company best known for their work in the action genre, bringing such endeavors as “The Fall Guy,” “Nobody,” and “Bullet Train” to life, while their origin story is tied to the industry-changing ways of the “John Wick” franchise. Writer Kate Freund sets up a proper physical challenge for the stunt team with the story, which concerns an American ballet squad caught up in vicious gangster business in Hungary, forced to battle their way to safety. Director Vicky Jewson (“Close”) isn’t dealing with the most original filmmaking assignment, but she’s up for keeping things hostile, guiding the material through a few set pieces that make use of balletic moves and Central Europe-style intimidation. “Pretty Lethal” is reliable entertainment with a handful of highlights, reaching its potential when it finally gets around to creating panicked scenarios for the main characters. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice

    “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice” is a crime story that recalls the heyday of Quentin Tarantino knockoffs during the mid-1990s, where other filmmakers, chasing a trend, offered their take on fast-talking hoodlums and their often violent problems. New to the mix is an element of time travel, giving writer/director BenDavid Grabinski an interesting angle to work with as he tries to disrupt the usual in tough guy activity with a sci-fi twist. It’s something of a surprise to watch “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice” fail to build up much in the way of excitement and laughs, especially when it has certain conflicts that could be more combustible in the right hands. Grabinksi (who did okay with 2021’s “Happily”) goes the wrong way with the endeavor, which struggles with its low-energy approach and hackneyed way with action sequences. What should be an insane feature bursting with surprises ends up far sleepier than expected. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com