• Blu-ray Review – Descendant of the Sun

    Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird, it’s a plane! It’s a man dressed in gold speeding around the sky in a beam of light! After 1978’s “Superman” managed to deliver a truly epic take on the comic book superhero, also scoring big at the box office, copycats were sure to follow. One of the more bizarre riffs on the Richard Donner film is 1982’s “Descendant of the Sun,” with the Shaw Brothers trying to transform the American blockbuster into a tale of Chinese folklore. The production attempts to mirror the saga of Kal-El and his heroic destiny, going the wuxia route with director Chu Yuan, who strives to deliver a spirited take on action/fantasy cinema, keeping the endeavor loaded with violent encounters and special effects as good takes on evil for control of a kingdom. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • 4K UHD Review – Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark

    “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” originally aired as an “ABC Movie of the Week” in 1973, presented as an evening with something scary for the Halloween season. It was a quickie endeavor, beginning production just over a month before it was presented to the public, but it apparently left a lasting mark on viewers, continuing to do so through the power of syndication. Much like “Bad Ronald” and “Trilogy of Terror,” “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” is a genre effort that’s managed to capture the imagination of many, with its offering of the creeps managing to sustain the picture’s reputation for decades, even inspiring a 2011 remake from producer/co-writer Guillermo del Toro. One certainly can’t challenge the simple pleasures of T.V. terror, and while the offering is far from commanding, director John Newland manages to summon some appealing weirdness with a tiny budget and extremely limited production time. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • 4K UHD Review – The Phantom of the Opera (1998)

    For 1998’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” director Dario Argento sets out to find the horror and dark romance of the story, also co-scripting the endeavor, putting his own spin on Gaston Leroux’s 1910 tale of obsession. What Argento actually ends up with is something of a mess, with a clear line between creative intent and budgetary reality. “The Phantom of the Opera” means to be erotic and sincere, but the production often veers into extreme horror and slapstick comedy shake up the viewing experience, and Argento shows very little control over the frightfully uneven, unpolished movie. The helmer hopes to deliver an overwhelming viewing experience of sight and sound, only to end up with one of his most disappointing films. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • 4K UHD Review – Terror Firmer

    1999’s “Terror Firmer” is an adaptation of the book, “All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned from The Toxic Avenger,” written by Troma Entertainment honcho Lloyd Kaufman and James Gunn. Trying to dramatize the real-life hellacious experience of making movies, Kaufman hopes to bring his expertise to the screen, doing so with Troma’s usual offering of bodily fluids, gore, nudity, slapstick comedy, and an aging punk attitude. “Terror Firmer” could’ve been a rascally endeavor poking fun at the Troma process and the torture of low-budget filmmaking, but Kaufman isn’t in a self-reflective mood. Instead of B-movie illumination, Kaufman simply makes the same kind of Troma feature all over again, getting aggressive with gross-outs and volcanic overacting, returning to his ringmaster role for a cinematic circus that feels endless. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Voicemails for Isabelle

    Surprisingly, “Voicemails for Isabelle” isn’t based a book. It’s romantic novel material from writer/director Leah McKendrick (“Scrambled”), who’s working with subgenre formula to deliver an easily digestible viewing experience built on big feels and easily avoidable relationship issues. The helmer is serving pudding to the masses with the picture, but she has a fully committed performance from Zoey Deutch to keep things interesting, with the actress going nuclear to help bring some spirit to an otherwise mediocre collection of wild tonal shifts and strange dramatic detours. “Voicemails for Isabelle” tries extremely hard to be lovable, but McKendrick overdoses on cliches and can’t quite find the true heart of the material, pushing the whole endeavor into sitcom territory instead of generating a more meaningful understanding of grief and human connection. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Chapter 51

    “Chapter 51” is a film about filmmaking, using all kinds of cinematic formats, and it’s structured like a television documentary. Confusion runs throughout the offering, as writer/director/actor/cinematographer Tyler Shields (2015’s “Final Girl”) is out to make a study of madness surrounding the creation of “Dissident,” which is meant to be the biggest film of all time. However, Shields doesn’t have a lot of money to realize the reality of his story, following an investigation into the vicious ways of a serial killer targeting actresses connected to the picture. “Chapter 51” is an odd collection of satire and sleuthing, and the material’s understanding of Hollywood egomania isn’t provocative. The endeavor is more of a technical exercise for Shields, who gets more excited about imagery than storytelling. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Toy Story 5

    A lot of people were understandably trepidatious when Pixar Animation elected to make “Toy Story 4.” The original trilogy has come to mean a lot to fans, including many who’ve grown up on the movies, and any non-short extension of the franchise was viewed as a corruption of creativity. And then “Toy Story 4” was released, revealing itself to be a fully charming, hilarious, and meaningful addition to the saga. Now there’s “Toy Story 5,” with co-writer/director Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL-E,” “Finding Dory”) attempting to keep the saga of the playthings and their eternal battle with anxiety alive for at least another feature. And, once again, Pixar has the right idea to keep returning to “Toy Story,” creating another gem of a picture that offers time with old friends and makes a few new ones. It also dares to take on the modern world of omnipresent tech and how physical pals manage to exist in the long shadow of digital distractions. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Maddie’s Secret

    John Early is known for his comedic roles, developing a reputation for his commitment to wacky business through a variety of projects. He makes his directorial debut with “Maddie’s Secret,” also taking care of scripting duties and starring in the feature, portraying a character experiencing a professional high while reaching a mental health low. The endeavor has the outward appearance of something campy, with Early taking on the central role as a troubled woman in the middle of a major crisis. “Maddie’s Secret” is certainly an unusual movie, with Early teasing broadness while remaining impressively compassionate with the material, which leads into light and dark moments. The helmer has quite a challenge of tonality to master with the offering, and Early does a commendable job balancing ideas and emotions in the effort, which is always surprising with its plot turns and directorial confidence. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – The Death of Robin Hood

    The tale of Robin Hood has been told time and again, routinely bewitching storytellers with its clash of good vs. evil, romantic ways, and elements of class warfare. Think swashbuckling with a 1938 adaptation, or animated with a Disney picture from 1973. There was a blockbuster take in 1991, and, most recently, an attempt at modernization in 2018 with a film few will admit to seeing. Robin Hood has been done to death, and that’s precisely the entry writer/director Michael Sarnoski needs to give his take on the legend a unique dramatic fingerprint. “The Death of Robin Hood” isn’t about men in tights or a study of injustice. It’s a mostly hyperviolent understanding of barbarity and a calcification of a man’s soul. Sarnoski (who did well with 2021’s “Pig” and 2024’s “A Quiet Place: Day One”) aims for cinematic textures with the undertaking, and while his instinct for pacing is way off, his aim is true when it comes to creating a gritty, vicious understanding of the famous outlaw’s moral ruination. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – The Voices of Our Mother

    Demonic possession movies are common, but that’s not stopping writer/director Mark O’Brien from trying his luck in the subgenre. He offers “The Voices of Our Mother,” which isn’t strictly an exorcism picture, and that’s a good thing, as the screenplay spends a lot more time with a collection of siblings coming together to deal with their troubled, possible evil-infused mother during a grim time of mental health decline. There are secrets to be revealed and an entire personal history to inspect, and O’Brien’s focus on more human matters is what keeps the film as upright as possible. “The Voices of Our Mother” isn’t fully committed to the whole idea of familial confrontation, eventually giving in to genre demands, but parts of the production are executed with some style and dramatic potency, helping to deliver a sufficiently involving examination of distressed people trying to deal with the intensity of their past. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Finnegan’s Foursome

    Last year, writer/director/actor Edward Burns went the sequel route with “The Family McMullen,” looking to revive career momentum with a return to his big debut, 1995’s “The Brothers McMullen.” The feature managed to give Burns renewed career focus, bringing him back to the comfort of family stories and Irish heritage. This work continues in “Finnegan’s Foursome,” which adds the game of golf to the usual stew of character concerns, difficult relationships, and lengthy conversations. Burns goes the paid vacation route with the endeavor, bringing his cinematic interests to Ireland for an examination of a competitive clan working through personal and professional issues while touring various golf courses. “Finnegan’s Foursome” maintains enthusiastic performances and some mild charm, but Burns is out to create a very casual offering with his latest, and one really starts to feel the excessive run time in the second half of the picture. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Leviticus

    Horror from Australia is having a moment. The success of 2023’s “Talk to Me” certainly attracted attention, with the directing duo Danny and Michael Philippou following it up with 2025’s “Bring Her Back,” delving into the creepiness of the unknown. Writer/director Adrian Chiarella hopes to sustain this momentum with “Leviticus,” which strives to take the concept of a haunting into different, more personal directions. The picture takes its title from a charged biblical passage condemning homosexuality, and Chiarella follows this hatred into small town life, observing a crisis of desire coming for two teens facing punishment for their attraction. “Leviticus” is something in the realm of a supernatural tale, but the screenplay is primarily out to study human magnetism and ostracization, which is where the feature finds its greatest dramatic successes. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • 4K UHD Review – Keeper

    Writer/director Osgood Perkins is working fast these days, and perhaps for good reason. He scored a major hit in 2024’s “Longlegs,” blessed with a slick marketing campaign to bring big screen chills to the summer season. The feature worked for some viewers, and Perkins was right back at it in 2025’s “The Monkey,” reviving his love of slow-burn creepiness in a Stephen King adaptation that worked for, well, less viewers. Perkins isn’t wasting any time once again, returning with his second release of 2025 in “Keeper,” which continues his career obsessions with macabre imagery, screen stillness, and shock value, only he’s really in no hurry to offer much of anything this time around. “Keeper” is a small picture, sticking mainly to one location, and it’s not effective as a chiller, finding the helmer essentially repeating himself with another glacially paced nightmare. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • 4K UHD Review – Married to the Mob

    Director’s Jonathan Demme’s career was headed in the wrong direction during the 1980s. The troubled production of 1984’s “Swing Shift” seems to slow down his Hollywood momentum, and general audience disinterest in 1986’s “Something Wild” didn’t help the cause. Endeavoring to make something spirited, Demme found success with 1988’s “Married to the Mob,” and for good reason, as the picture is a wonderful collection of comedy, oddity, and threat sold in a distinctly Demme-ian manner. While it contains moments of sudden violence, “Married to the Mob” remains light and quite funny, supported by excellent, engaged work from the cast and screenwriting that delivers an engrossing story of rising tensions with mafia interests. It’s the first step in Demme’s rise to industry supremacy (albeit a short reign), and arguably one of his best films. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – Hunting Season

    Action fans craving a hit of sustained suspense might be thoroughly underwhelmed by “Hunting Season.” There are a few blasts of violence along the way, but screenwriter Adam Hampton isn’t fully interested in going the one-man-army route with this story of a father trying to protect his teen daughter from the evils of the world around them. Instead of consistent carnage, Hampton tries to manufacture a study of parental love and isolation, getting somewhere with the fatherly elements of the tale. “Hunting Season” is an odd one, as a portion of it works on a dramatic scale, and there’s a surprising amount of viciousness in the picture, giving it some snap. But there’s hideous overacting as well, and director Raja Collins (“Crescent City”) doesn’t have command of pacing, leaving the offering uneven, but with promising moments. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – She Came from the Woods

    Co-writers Carson and Erik Bloomquist aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel with “She Came from the Woods,” presenting a horror film set at a summer camp, which is a location repeatedly used in the genre. What they want to do with the great outdoors is make a slightly cheeky chiller about an evil presence on the property, hoping to have some bloody fun with this mildly exaggerated take on terror entertainment. And it works, mostly, with the screenplay noticeably hustling when it comes to introducing characters and a spooky history to decode, and there’s enough physical activity to give the endeavor some more animated sequences. “She Came from the Woods” is capably handled by director Erik Bloomquist, who pays tribute to the history of nightmare cinema while also hoping to contribute to it, coming up with an engaging romp involving malevolent spirits and family strife. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Stop! That! Train!

    The parody picture took a bit of a hit last week with the release of “Scary Movie.” The Wayans Family avoided actually crafting a sharp offering of tomfoolery, relying on unrelenting crassness instead, which, of course, was rewarded handsomely at the box office. “Stop! That! Train!” won’t find the same success, but the production certainly understands what the subgenre is all about, returning viewers to the style of Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker and their way with “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun,” trying to remain as cheery as possible while poking fun at movies, celebrities, and the general foolishness of the feature. “Stop! That! Train!” isn’t big on laughs, but it has the right idea, having fun with broad antics and characterizations, and director Adam Shankman tries to make the film tap dance with an extremely limited budget, filling the endeavor with lively performances. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – The Furious

    Every now and then, an action movie breaks through the routine, displaying unusual energy when it comes to the destruction of property and the smashing of bodies. “The Furious” is the new black, emerging from director Kenji Tanigaki, who’s worked for the last 30 years as an action choreographer, overseeing the labor of talented stunt teams to bring violence to the masses. He pours all that seasoning into his latest production, which works hard to outdo the competition, mounting a series of conflicts out to deliver pure brutality and cinematic physicality. The story is the usual in genre entertainment, following two men as they pursue a criminal organization that’s kidnapping children, but the production has something a little more in mind when it comes to acts of aggression. “The Furious” is a wild ride for the most part, dazzling with its intensity and intricate manufacturing of hostility, sure to delight genre fans who’ve been searching for a fresh surge of big screen adrenaline. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Never Change

    American Teen is a production company that specializes in making crude comedies for streaming audiences, including “The Binge” and its sequel, and last spring’s “Pizza Movie.” They return with “Never Change” (which could be a subtle comment on the company’s formulaic ways) offering another rough examination of arrested development, this time exploring the pains of 35-year-olds forced to return to high school to complete their education. Screenwriters John Reynolds and Marty Schousboe (who also directs) have a fun idea to explore, which twists the usual take on class reunion cinema, but they don’t have much interest in a sharper sense of humor for all this strangeness. “Never Change” pounds on the senses with its vulgarity and attempts at meme-style jokiness, but patches of clear thinking remain, giving the film the occasional inspired moment and an assortment of amusing performances. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Find Your Friends

    Writer/director Izabel Pakzad makes her feature-length debut with “Find Your Friends,” which attempts to merge the concerns of Gen Z women facing the brutal realities of adulthood with a grindhouse-style revenge chiller from the 1970s. The picture is all about overstimulation, challenging viewers to remain invested in aggressive personalities getting into real-world trouble as friendships are put to the test during a long weekend in the desert. Pakzad pays tribute to drive-in cinema with the endeavor, aiming to make violence gnarly and psychological troubles persistent, striving to present younger viewers with a horror show that reflects today’s social and emotional dangers. It’s a fine idea for a terror picture, but actually sitting through the movie is a supreme challenge, as Pakzad plays a strange game of excess, which tends to undercut the primal fears being explored here. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com