The Invisible Man - Review

Remember those grand plans of a Dark Universe just a few short years ago? And how quickly they vanished with the failure of its first entry? Though a connected series of films that would’ve seen numerous stars in the monstrous roles may no longer be in the cards, Universal is determined to use the classic monsters in some fashion, and The Invisible Man proves that the smaller, simpler approach may just be the route to go.

The Call of the Wild - Review

It’s hard to imagine how the pitch for this version of Jack London’s classic novel went over so well as to get Harrison Ford to co-star opposite a CGI dog. It could’ve been an easy paycheck, a love for the source material, or maybe even some late development switch from a real pup to this version. Any number of reasons may fit, even if the CGI canine doesn’t.

The Lodge - Review

By now, with years of upscale, artistic horror films becoming more and more prevalent, the appearance of a new, exciting vision in horror is almost becoming mundane or expected. Nevertheless, it’s hard not to appreciate the flow of great horror, and to see those that rise above the rest. The Lodge just so happens to be one of those films, a nightmarish descent into madness led by an impressive performance from Riley Keough.

The Assistant - Review

In an era of hashtags and movements, the subject of sexual harassment has never been handled in such a horrifying light as it is in The Assistant. Taking some inspiration from one of the bigger Hollywood villains of recent years, the film inches closer and closer to the inevitable conclusion that secretive systems enable secretive lives, and those who are inclined to speak up, quickly silenced.

Sonic the Hedgehog - Review

The poster child for potential disasters being directly influenced by the internet and its loudest voices, Sonic the Hedgehog has just about everything working against it. First off, video game movies have a storied history of flopping, either creatively or financially. Second of all, the source material is so devoid of narrative information, taking a blue hedgehog, and building a story from basically nothing is not easy, and the final product certainly proves that.

Downhill - Review

On paper, Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a film together seems to carry at least a little bit of potential. The two actors have excellent comedic timing in their own right, so together their chemistry should elevate any movie they come into contact with, at least to some degree. For Downhill, they do make the film marginally better, but the overall result of this American remake is one breathe away from a full on disaster.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) - Review

After a tumultuous start, it appears that Warner Brothers and DC have righted the ship on their version of a connected universe. With multiple hits, either critically, financially, or both, under their belt, the newest comic adaptation may be the biggest test yet. Birds of Prey, a spin-off of the panned 2016 film Suicide Squad, is tasked with building on that while replacing the dark and drab vibe of that disaster with the bright, colorful, fun that should follow Harley Quinn. Fortunately, it absolutely succeeds in that mission.