• 4K UHD Review – Frankenhooker

    If you’re a person of a certain age, 1990’s “Frankenhooker” is probably best remembered as a video store staple, complete with a “Talking Box” cover that offered a faint “Wanna date?” sound clip to help entice renters who normally wouldn’t be drawn to such B-movie entertainment. In the world of VHS history, the picture is memorable, almost legendary. The film itself is less so. Co-writer/director Frank Henenlotter has a strong idea for cinematic mischief with the feature, mixing sexploitation with bits of campy horror, but he’s often gasping for air in this mostly inert offering. “Frankenhooker” should be fun, or at least wild, but Henenlotter takes the long way to goofy entertainment, remaining shockingly slow with an endeavor that, amazingly, contains extraordinarily little Frankenhooker. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – Out Come the Wolves

    Director Adam MacDonald (who was just in theaters with “This Is Not a Test”) aims to explore relationship woes and the horrors of nature in 2023’s “Out Come the Wolves.” It’s a minimalist chiller that doesn’t contain any overt threat for most of its run time, with screenwriter Enuka Okuma working on psychological issues for the three main characters, trying to complicate relationships with unspoken feelings and barely concealed hostilities. The picture eventually switches over to killer wolf mode, and it’s the rare offering that doesn’t really benefit from an escalation into animal attack violence. “Out Come the Wolves” isn’t as satisfying as it could be, though it teases some interesting complications during its first half, getting into a tight situation of obsession and silent longing that’s more suspenseful than any forest dangers. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – Embalmer

    Writer/director S. Torriano Berry wanted to launch his own horror franchise with 1996’s “Embalmer.” There was even a plan to add to a growing list of Movie Maniacs, introducing the malicious ways of Undertaker Zach and his plan to stalk, kill, and zombify victims around his neighborhood. Berry also attempts to examine the ways of urban legends, but he selects a shot-on-video approach to the making of the movie, and it takes quite a bit of creativity to turn flat, low-res visuals into a growing screen nightmare. Berry doesn’t help the cause with his writing, showing little concern for consistent tone and suspenseful escalation as the picture basically sticks with four characters having conversations in a single space, periodically menaced by a madman who doesn’t even show up until the final act. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – Rebuilding

    Writer/director Max Walker-Silverman attracted some attention with his work on 2022’s “A Love Song.” He found praise for his sensitive handling of characterization and performances, on the hunt for emotions and people typically ignored by major releases. His indie heart remains beating in “Rebuilding,” which continues his journey into intimate storytelling, this time examining the worries of a cowboy who’s lost his ranch to a ferocious wildfire, left to rebuild his life with little to show for his work. It’s a timely tale of displacement, though Walker-Silverman isn’t making a disaster picture, willing to explore a human response to catastrophe. “Rebuilding” has every opportunity to slip into melodramatic extremes, but the helmer has no interest in overcooking the material. He goes mournful and oddly peaceful instead, creating a lovely understanding of resilience and community in a tender film that’s gracefully made. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – The Last House

    Netflix found tremendous success with 2018’s “Bird Box,” which offered viewers a bleak view of suburban survival, watching a family try to manage a mysterious, apocalyptic event. Screenwriter Matthew Robinson (who scored a critical hit with last winter’s “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die”) takes on basically the same premise for “The Last House,” which also follows the struggles of a family caught in a strange endurance challenge during what appears to be the end of the world. There could be a sensitive understanding of despair and isolation, following the characters as they handle a desperate situation. However, this is a Louis Leterrier picture, and the man who gave the world “The Brothers Grimsby” and “Fast X” isn’t too concerned with human nuance. Instead, he turns “The Last House” into a crude monster movie and, at times, a deeply unpleasant viewing experience. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Super Troopers 3

    2001’s “Super Troopers” was a minor theatrical hit that exploded on home video, developing a fanbase for the Broken Lizard comedy troupe, though not one that followed the team into subsequent efforts. It took 17 years, but eventually there was a “Super Troopers 2,” with Broken Lizard turning to crowdfunding to partially finance their dream of a follow-up, and the movie made a shocking debut, ending up with a healthy opening weekend gross after many doubted the brand name’s appeal. Once again, the filmmakers have taken their time, and now there’s a “Super Troopers 3,” with director Jay Chandrasekhar once again overseeing a loose collection of plotting and cop comedy bits, while the new picture tries to jazz things up with a wedding weekend story (the actual title of the feature is “Super Troopers 3: Farva’s Wedding”). The 2018 endeavor wasn’t anything remarkable, but it found a way to make Broken Lizard shenanigans semi-fun and passably exciting. “Super Troopers 3” feels more like an episode of television, with the offering going mild and mediocre with its presentation of comedic insanity. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Tony

    Earlier this year, director Matt Johnson delivered an offering of cinematic joy with the Canadian comedy, “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.” It was a hilarious, irresistible blend of character work and absurdity, hitting all the right notes as a freewheeling viewing experience that played to Johnson’s strengths as a manager of wonderful nonsense, backed by strong technical credits. Now he’s ready for more of a dramatic challenge with “Tony,” which explores a summer in the life of Anthony Bourdain, inspecting the formation of his passions for writing and cooking in the summer of 1975. Johnson doesn’t lose his nervous energy for “Tony,” but he strives to calm his usual jitteriness, trying to replicate his 2023 success with “Blackberry” with another loose take on bio-pic happenings, eschewing history to find his way to the core of Bourdain’s personality. And it clicks, finding a story of character development that’s superbly supported by acting achievements and atmosphere. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – One Night Only

    A combination of a holiday release date and zero competition for months certainly helped 2023’s “Anyone but You” become a sizable hit for director Will Gluck, with the studio providing a romantic comedy option at the multiplex for those hungry for anything softer and sexual. The recipe is back in play for “One Night Only,” with Gluck returning to material that aims to be slightly spicy and sweet for audiences, working with screenwriter Travis Braun’s concept of a dystopian future where sexual intercourse is only permitted for one 12-hour period every year. The movie offers a riff on “The Purge” and assorted entertainment, only Gluck hopes to find the funny in a bizarre concept for slightly madcap entertainment. “One Night Only” has jokes one can spot coming a mile away, and casting doesn’t bring out big chemistry, leaving the feature oddly deflated while Gluck strains to make something wild involving oversexed people racing to relive their urges. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Disney Worldbuilders

    Documentarian Leslie Iwerks has been making media about the creative process at Disney for quite some time, focusing on history and ambition in releases such as “The Imagineering Story,” “The Pixar Story,” and the recent “Disneyland Handcrafted.” She’s interested in the mechanics of creativity and how small ideas become very big things in the company, and Iwerks continues her filmmaking journey with “Disney Worldbuilders,” which examines the relationships between key creative figures and the theme park attractions that emerged from their imaginations. The documentary highlights the development of literal dreams for some, who grabbed concepts and visuals and developed a story to tell, eventually witnessing how these achievements were turned into walkable environments. “Disney Worldbuilders” welcomes viewers into attractions and lands with the creators, following emotions and memories, and Iwerks occasionally finds sincerity to highlight to help stave off the commercial-like turns of the endeavor. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Soulm8te

    2022’s “M3GAN” was a surprise success, riding a wave of viral video appreciation and helped along by a favorable release date, reaching audiences in the mood for a killer robot doll film that was energetically made. Big studio plans were soon formed around the world of “M3GAN,” including the creation of a sequel. However, 2025’s “M3GAN 2.0” died at the box office, suffering an unusual rejection from fans of the original picture, successfully killing off plans to keep the franchise going. Lost in the mess was “Soulm8te,” a spin-off endeavor also examining the dangers of AI-powered companions, which is finally seeing a quiet VOD release after some time in limbo. Instead of providing cutesy fun with a tiny dancing terror, the new feature looks to get very adult with the premise, with screenwriters Rafel Jordan and Kate Dolan (who also directs) out to generate an erotic chiller with the offering. “Soulm8te” launches with some sincerity and hope to explore our chatbot-infested world, but the lure of silliness eventually torpedoes the viewing experience. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – The Weird Kidz

    A longtime editor (“The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot,” “The Woman,” “Jug Face”) and veteran of assorted moviemaking jobs, director Zach Passero takes on the herculean challenge of assembling an animated picture with a limited crew and budget. “The Weird Kidz” is as low-tech as it gets, but Passero uses limited resources to his advantage, building a crazy story of monster encounters and teen curiosity that rides a wild tone of silliness and seriousness. The film won’t win any awards for cinematic polish, but the helmer has a neat little vision for the feature, handling flashes of nostalgia and goofballery with care, also embracing a chance to get a little darker with nightmare encounters. “The Weird Kidz” is for a specific audience willing to go with its recollection of the juvenile experience, and Passero, while not after something slick, finds plenty of amusing and surprising moments in this strange offering. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Olmo

    Co-writer/director Fernando Eimbcke goes personal with “Olmo,” which is a small film about life experiences and family ties. The production is dedicated to his loved ones, and the tale feels very personal, following the lead character as he navigates unwanted responsibilities and adolescent demands during a single day when everything seems to be happening. Eimbcke has a sense of humor about the trials of adolescence, but also a deep regard for its unusual challenges, especially when parental caretaking is involved. “Olmo” doesn’t push too hard in any direction, but the writing makes room for characterization, allowing viewers to understand the pressures facing the personalities as everyone fights for a little taste of freedom. It’s a well-observed and nicely acted feature, and a good fit for viewers in the mood for a small-scale coming-of-age picture. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Ice Cream Man (2026)

    Director Eli Roth has spent most of his career either lifting ideas from all kinds of horror movies, or paying tribute to his genre favorites. However, it should be noted that his latest, “Ice Cream Man,” isn’t a remake of the 1995 goofball chiller starring Clint Howard. Instead, Roth (and co-writer Noah Belson) seem to be riffing on 1980’s “The Children” with this look at the transformation of a town’s young population into murderous ghouls. Roth returns to his taboo-smashing ways, attempting to rile up audiences with his customary mix of extreme violence and strained silliness. “Ice Cream Man” is absolutely committed to bringing big displays of gore to viewers, but Roth isn’t trying as hard with the rest of the picture, unable to capture capable performances and preserve momentum as he launches another examination of sustained grisliness. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Big Baby

    Writer/director Spider One is perhaps best known for his work as a musician, fronting the band Powerman 5000 for over three decades, and he’s also Rob Zombie’s younger brother. Spider One is also working on a career making horror movies, previously helming such endeavors as “Little Bites” and “Bury the Bride.” The creative process of conjuring cinematic evil seems to be the guiding force of “Big Baby,” which isn’t a true slasher film, but a commentary on the process of inventing evil, often for an unenthusiastic audience. Spider One has a Big Idea and perhaps plenty of personal experience he’s funneling into the picture, which tends to connect when it confronts the frustrating nature of artistic creation. Unfortunately, there’s not enough excitement in the feature to support the psychological investigation, as so much of “Big Baby” plays irritatingly slow, with the helmer going half-speed with material that typically invites a more furious approach. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass

    As a cartoon duo, Tom and Jerry have traveled to big cities and small towns. They’ve gone into the depths of the ocean and into space. And, as recently as a 2021 live action/animation release, they’ve made a mess of things in New York City. For “Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass,” the cat and mouse are taking a trip into fantasy, visiting China to join a supreme battle for control of power and heavenly might. The endeavor is a Chinese production created for eastern audiences, using the global recognition of the stars to help boost the appeal of an offering that’s loaded with cultural references and atmosphere. And there’s plenty of noise included too, with “Forbidden Compass” working extremely hard to be a cartoony viewing experience featuring a lot of characters competing with Tom and Jerry to be the focal point of the picture. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • 4K UHD Review – Demonwarp

    1988’s “Demonwarp” has a lot to offer. There are young characters in states of distress, a booby trapped forest, Bigfoot on the loose, some zombie stomp, and a touch of alien activity. There’s sexploitation and exploitation, and low-budget action involving guns, chases, and fights. The picture should be a blast, but Emmett Alston (“New Year’s Evil”) doesn’t transform the endeavor into an unforgettable, unrelenting ride of B-movie highlights. Instead, “Demonwarp” struggles with pace and excitement, going awfully slow for something clearly built to be a joyride of genre-hopping, and the general sluggishness of the feature is a tremendous disappointment to behold. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – Unspeakable: Beyond the Wall of Sleep

    H.P. Lovecraft. The horror author has been popular with genre filmmakers for decades, but for director Chad Ferrin, his literary offerings are a bit of an obsession. After taking on the Lovecraft universe with no-budget endeavors such as 2020’s “The Deep Ones” and 2024’s “The Old Ones,” Ferrin goes back for more with “Unspeakable: Beyond the Wall of Sleep,” which is an adaptation of a 1919 short story. Once again, the helmer comes armed with very little money to make the picture, trying to launch a screen nightmare that delves into the science of the mind and penis monsters. Instead of becoming a vicious, disturbing effort, “Unspeakable: Beyond the Wall of Sleep” falls apart almost right away, watching Ferrin remain uncertain if he wants his movie to be a nightmare machine or campy comedy, while most of the cast is no help when it comes to summoning a proper fear factor. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo

    Writer/director Diego Cespedes travels to another time in “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo.” He returns to 1982, exploring the AIDS crisis in South America as it invades an unusual living situation involving a young girl and her quest to understand what’s going on around her. The helmer looks to explore a bitter reality with an almost dreamlike approach at times, taking in elements of culture and coping while striving to generate a poetic understanding of love. “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo” tends to wander as Cespedes works through atmosphere and relationships, but he’s committed to a core understanding of human connection during a time of great uncertainty. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Blu-ray Review – Good Boy

    We lost legendary director David Lynch in 2025, but his filmmaking spirit is sure to carry on for quite some time. His love of the unreal and heavy moods inhabits a most unusual picture in “Good Boy,” a micro-budgeted offering of eeriness from co-writer/director Ben Leonberg, who casts his dog, Indy, in the main role of a loyal pet finding his sanity tested when his owner holes up inside a cabin, dealing with life and medical issues the animal doesn’t understand. Leonberg doesn’t have much of a story, turning to atmosphere to carry the short feature (running just over 70 minutes), attempting to taffy pull a simple idea into a surreal examination of canine companionship and protection, told from Indy’s POV. There’s an interesting viewing experience to be had with “Good Boy,” but those hunting for direct chills and thrills might feel a bit disappointed with Leonberg’s approach here, which is more artful than intense. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

  • Film Review – The Devil’s Mouth

    “The Devil’s Mouth” is an offering of shark attack cinema, featuring a relentless predator stalking the depths to find fresh kills, terrorizing a collection of young characters trying to have a good time in Thailand. And yet, the most frightening element of the production is the hiring of director Jeff Wadlow. The helmer of “Fantasy Island,” “Truth or Dare,” “Cry Wolf,” and “Imaginary,” Wadlow is determined to have a career making horror pictures, though he isn’t exactly skilled when it comes to delivering suspense. He returns to genre entertainment in “The Devil’s Mouth,” which tries to summon a fear factor involving a bull shark on the loose in a claustrophobic system of caves. Wadlow has an ominous setting and certain threat level, but the movie eschews tension, preferring to land on obnoxiousness instead as annoying personalities take on obvious danger, while screenwriters Aja Gabel and Myung Joh Wesner stumble with dialogue and inventiveness. It becomes the rare shark attack film where viewers will root for the shark to win. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com