The Strangers: Chapter 1

The Strangers: Chapter 1 is a 2024 horror thriller film directed by Renny Harlin, with a screenplay by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freeland, from a story by Bryan Bertino. Serving as the third film in The Strangers film series created by Bertino, it is the first installment of a new trilogy of standalone sequel films, where Chapter 1 will follow a similar premise to the the first film and takes place in the same continuity as the first two installments.

After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.

The cast includes Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Gabriel Basso, Rachel Shenton, Richard Brake, Ella Bruccoleri, Ema Horvath, George Young, and Rebecka Johnston.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 made its debut in theaters on May 17th, courtesy of Lionsgate.

Back in 2008 The Strangers hit theaters and became a cult classic pretty much instantly. The film, which was said to be based on true events, brought to the forefront the idea of random acts of violence which is a problem in our country. The idea of complete strangers terrorizing innocent people for no apparent reason whatsoever is a terrifying proposition, especially when the victims are at their mist vulnerable. I personally loved The Strangers and was 100% on board with building out a franchise, although for one reason or another it took 10 years before the release of the sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night (our full review here). Considering my love for the original film and the long wait for the sequel, this movie was a big time disappointment for me which was definitely a bummer. I wasn’t sure if we would see this franchise again or not, but here we are with what is designed to be the resurgence for a new trilogy, and it all starts with The Strangers: Chapter 1.

I hate to be the one to say this but when it comes to this movie the bad far outweighs the good, but it still has redeeming qualities. It is essentially the same exact premise as the original film so I knew what to expect, and this had me focusing more on the characters and the overall build-up to the final act. I thought the opening was pretty solid overall as it set the tone with this sketchy and very unwelcoming small town where this couple ends up stranded while on a road trip. The film did a nice job making viewers feel uneasy as they awaited what was sure to be a very long night for this couple. I thought the score/soundtrack was very effective thanks to composer Justin Caine Burnett, who made the most of his biggest project to date. I liked the use of music throughout the film which gave viewers this sort of false sense of security, and I loved how the score went up to a 10 during the more tense scenes. Burnett really helped to make this feel like a The Strangers film and you can’t ask for much more than that.

I also want to give credit to cinematographer José David Montero for ensuring the film had a ton of really great shots of our favorite trio of murderous psychopaths. I really liked the look of the three intruders this time around, and the Jason Voorhees pre-hockey mask vibe I was getting from the male character had me pretty excited. He was much bigger this time around, and I also preferred the masks on the two female characters as well. To be honest I liked everything about the three killers, the way they carried themselves, the fact that they barely spoke which is true to the original, and the vibe that you get making it clear that they want to make these people suffer as they fully intended to drag things out as long as possible. I also really liked that they stuck with the iconic old Ford truck as well.

As I mentioned earlier the premise for The Strangers: Chapter 1 is very simple and basically a direct remake of the original film, or I suppose a remake/prequel depending on where they take things with the next film. With that being said I was surprised by the fact that the most glaring weaknesses for the film were tied to the story and the characters. The film was made on a shoestring budget of $8.5 million which is just barely below the budget of the original film, so I didn’t expect any real star power or really anything like that but to say the ball was dropped when it came to casting and the screenplay would be an understatement. Brian Bertino set the groundwork for the story so all screenwriters Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freeland had to do was not mess with the formula too much which was apparently easier said than done. At times the story was just painful, and the majority of the dialogue was cringeworthy.

I blame poor writing for the most part because at the end of the day the actors are doing what they are told, especially lower-tier actors just trying to make a name for themselves, and it is up to the director to ensure the vision for the film translates to the screen. Unfortunately director Renny Harlin seemed ill-equipped to deliver what fans needed from this film, which to be honest wasn’t really asking a lot. I absolutely hated the lead male character of Ryan, played by Froy Gutierrez, right from the start. I didn’t need a lot from him but to me he was just unlikable, and the fact that he wasn’t supposed to be unlikable just made it worse. A few of his earlier interactions in the film with the local townspeople soured him for me, but it continued on throughout the film as the way he reacted to stressful situations just annoyed me.

It wasn’t the usual overexaggerated reactions you sort of expect from these films or just the “why would you do that?!” moments, but more so these odd and just unnatural reactions. As I said I don’t think the blame should fall solely on Gutierrez as I do believe he put forth his best effort, just the writing and the dialogue was so bad at times that he was fighting a losing battle. Thankfully they kept things simple with the character of Maya played by Madelaine Petsch, and all things considered she looked the part and kept things moving well enough. I mean she didn’t really move the needle for me but she was fine. The marketing team did a heck of a job promoting the film leading up to the release, its just too bad those in charge of the actual film failed to deliver. Plus I would love for someone to explain to me why this movie received the R-rating because I am getting sick of this rating getting attached to films when it feels incredibly unwarranted.

THE VERDICT

A lackluster attempt to reinvigorate the franchise plagued by lazy writing and a lack of creativity, The Strangers: Chapter 1 trips all over itself when it matters most yet still somehow retains a glimmer of hope for the next film in the new trilogy. As I talked about during the review the film has redeemable qualities and does some things well, but unfortunately the good is overshadowed by the bad.

I’m really not asking for a lot with these films, and to be honest I don’t even expect them to be scary. I just want a commitment to the formula, simple as that. Hopefully the next film gets this bad taste out of my mouth especially after The Strangers: Prey at Night, otherwise this franchise will forever be remembered as all bark and no bite.

TED TAKES RATING - 5.2/10

The Strangers: Chapter 1 is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a 2024 science fiction action film directed by Wes Ball (Maze Runner film trilogy) from a screenplay by Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Patrick Aison, and produced by Joe Hartwick Jr., Jaffa, Silver, and Jason Reed. It is intended to be the sequel to War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) and the fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise. The film stars Owen Teague (It, It Chapter Two) in the lead role alongside Freya Allan (The Witcher), Peter Macon (The Orville), Eka Darville (The Defenders, Her Smell), and Kevin Durand (The Butterfly Effect, X-Men Origins: Wolverine).

Development on a new Planet of the Apes film began in April 2019, following Disney's acquisition of Fox, with Ball attached as writer and director that December. Much of the script was written during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with casting commencing in June 2022, following the script's completion. Teague was cast in the lead role that August, with the film's title and additional casting revealed in the following months. Principal photography began in October 2022 in Sydney and wrapped in February 2023.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes made its debut in theaters May 10th, courtesy of 20th Century Studios.

In anticipation of the release of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes I went back and re-watched the trilogy of the reboot films including Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). I did this in the span of two days and it was absolutely glorious. This franchise is incredibly popular for good reason, and I was counting the days until I could finally see Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. I made sure I was at the theater opening day and my expectations were through the roof. So, did it live up to my crazy high expectations? Keep reading to find out!

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was absolutely awesome and it definitely lived up to my expectations. I couldn’t wait to see where they took the story after War for the Planet of the Apes, and I really liked the decisions that were made with the screenplay. The final act in that film hit so damn hard, so it was important that this film found a way to match that emotion. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes actually opens where the previous film leaves off which makes for as smooth of a transition as you could hope for. I actually finished my re-watch right before heading to the theater and it felt seamless so I highly recommend a similar approach.

Plus instead of taking place right after the events of the previous film or maybe even a few years later, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes takes place generations later allowing for unlimited possibilities in terms of where they wanted to take things. In many ways this film feels like a resurgence for the franchise, and it made sense to try and take things in a different direction considering Caesar was the primary focus of the first 3 films. It definitely caught me off guard when Caesar died, but I loved how his legacy and everything he stood for lived on in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. I couldn’t have asked for a better follow-up to one of my favorite films in the franchise, and as icing on the cake it perfectly sets thing up for more movies and I am here for it.

I loved how the story of Caesar was such a centerpiece for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and it was just so satisfying watching these new characters talk about how much he meant to the ape population. He was the true definition of a leader that made every decision with the best interests of his kind in mind. Caesar has been my favorite character throughout the franchise, but I really loved Maurice and the relationship the two shared. I was sad that these two characters would not be involved with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, but the introduction of Noa as the new generation version of Caesar and Raka in more of the Maurice role eased my concerns very early on. The film has more of a coming-of-age feel to it as Noa is forced into adulthood after a tragic chain of events leaves him terrified and alone. He embarks on a journey to find his family and learns a great deal about how strong he is along the way. Although Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes does feel like the build-up to more films in the franchise it is never boring and had me on the edge of my seat right until the very end. This is another sequel that earns its rightful place in the franchise.

I am truly in awe of the fact that the Planet of the Apes films include some of the best character development in recent memory considering the main characters are apes. Each film picks up where the previous film left off making it that much more important for viewers to have a pretty good grasp of what took place in the first three films. In my opinion the overall story is fairly straightforward but the events unfold in such a way that makes everything feel that much bigger.

The Planet of the Apes franchise is known for offering a great cast of voice actors and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes continues the trend. Now admittedly this cast includes many lesser known voice actors, trust me when I saw they are up for the challenge. I thought Owen Teague (Bloodline, Montana Story) was awesome as Noa as he embodied a character struggling to live in his fathers shadow. Peter Macon (The Orville) was fantastic as Raka, easily one of my favorite characters and by far the most likable.

Kevin Durand (Abigail), not to be confused with NBA superstar Kevin Durant, really set the tone as Proximus Caesar, the films primary antagonist. The two primary non-CGI roles are played by Freya Allan as Mae, and William H. Macy as Trevathan. Allan was giving me an Alicia Vikander in Tomb Raider vibe if you get my drift, and she was beautiful even as a woman who likely hadn’t showered in years. Macy is always incredible and he once again brought his powerful presence to an important role here. I won’t touch on everyone but I felt like the entire supporting cast of voice actors deserve a ton of credit.

In many ways this franchise is driven by special effects and CGI, which should be obvious considering what the movie is about, but Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes really takes it to another level from a technical standpoint. This movie looks incredible, and just like with the other films in the franchise I found myself in awe of how good the visuals were. But what continues to impress me most is the focus on the other technical elements like cinematography, score, and the ability to tie everything together perfectly. In my opinion the impact of the score became bigger and bigger with each film and that trend continues with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. This franchise has a powerful emotional element and having a score that can really maximize how the story impacts viewers is invaluable. Director Wes Ball, a graphic artist turned director best known for the Maze Runner franchise, really impressed me here. He has a great eye for top-tier visuals and knows how to ensure all of the important elements of filmmaking come together to make for a great viewing experience.

THE VERDICT

Yet another stellar entry in the massively successful dystopian war drama franchise, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a powerful coming-of-age story featuring intense action sequences and unmatched visuals as it sets the stage for a new trilogy. Heading to the theater with high expectations can be a dangerous thing, but when a movie is able to meet those expectations all is right in the world. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the culmination of a film series that just gets it, and is a reminder that the theater is still undoubtedly the best way to see movies.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.7/10

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Fall Guy

The Fall Guy is a 2024 action comedy-thriller film directed by David Leitch (Deadpool 2, Bullet Train) and written by Drew Pearce (Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation). It is an adaptation of the 1980s TV series of the same name created by Glen A. Larson, and is scheduled to have a world premiere at SXSW on March 12, 2024.

After leaving the business one year earlier, battle-scarred stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) springs back into action when the star of a big studio movie suddenly disappears. As the mystery surrounding the missing actor deepens, Colt soon finds himself ensnared in a sinister plot that pushes him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt.

The cast includes Ryan Gosling (La La Land, Blade Runner 2049, Barbie) Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place, Oppenheimer), Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Winston Duke.

The Fall Guy made its debut in theaters on May 3rd, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

I have been pumped for the release of The Fall Guy for months for several reasons, but most notably was the involvement of two of my absolute favorites in Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. I wasn’t super familiar with the series from the 80’s the film drew inspiration from, but once I saw the first trailer I knew my excitement was warranted. As I leaned back in my comfy reclining movie theater seat with a bucket of warm buttered popcorn I knew this movie needed to be pretty damn good to match my expectations, and I am pleased to say it was that and then some.

The Fall Guy opens with narration from Gosling’s character Cole Seavers as he is ultimately the focus of the film. Seavers is an accomplished yet somehow modest stuntman who embraces the mantra of take a licking and keep on ticking. He gets his ass kicked day in and day out on movie sets, but a certain camera operator named Jody (Emily Blunt) catches his eye and the two form a connection that has the potential to blossom into something special. But after Cole is the victim of a brutal on-set accident leaving him reeling with a broken back and a damaged ego, Cole disappears leaving Jody in the wind leading to an awkward and hilarious sequence of events when the two cross paths a year later. The Fall Guy is packed to the brim with action and great one-liners that will have you laughing for the next week at least.

The story for The Fall Guy is fairly straight forward but very effective within the overall vision for the film. The film is really only loosely based on the old series, but I felt like Drew Pearce was able to successfully adapt the vison from Glen A. Larson as he did a really nice job staying true to the Cole Seavers character even though the overall story trajectory was vastly different. They found a way to create a character that fit Ryan Gosling’s skillset perfectly, making for a guy that is easy to root for while also getting a ton of great laughs out of the audience. The Fall Guy is really a tribute film to the stunt men and women who have gone mostly unnoticed over the years as they put their bodies on the line for our entertainment. The film does a fantastic job paying tribute while still providing a solid story with plenty of meat on the bone. I thought the third act was great and it was so much fun watching it all come together. Plus as you can imagine with Gosling’s involvement the film is hilarious with a ton of great moments that I couldn’t wait to tell my wife about.

Ryan Gosling is the man, that fact is simply undeniable. Now I’m not going to sit here and act like I am a diehard fan of The Notebook or anything ridiculous like that, but you give me Crazy, Stupid, Love., The Place Beyond the Pines, or The Nice Guys and I am all in. The guy just oozes charisma and his on-screen presence is unmatched which is why I am forever a fan of his. Obviously he was on another level in Barbie (our full review here) as well, but you already knew that. The Fall Guy offered the perfect opportunity for him to play to his strengths and he took full advantage delivering an impactful performance as stuntman Cole Seavers.

Now that I have successfully established my healthy man crush on Ryan Gosling I can turn my attention to an actress that leaves me equally star struck, the gorgeous Emily Blunt. First and foremost Blunt is effortlessly beautiful here as she always is, but the chemistry she shares with Gosling really moved the needle for me. The relationship between the two characters is a big driving force for the film and one of the big reasons I enjoyed it so much. I really liked how their relationship was front and center for the film allowing the two stars the opportunity to shine.

Taking on supporting roles are two favorites of mine in Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Winston Duke. I have been a fan of Taylor-Johnson ever since he starred in Kick-Ass (2010), and although he is unrecognizable now considering he seemed to pack on 20lbs of muscle he has blossomed into a damn good actor. My favorite role of his in the last several years would probably be his supporting role in Tom Ford’s 2016 crime thriller Nocturnal Animals. He plays a fairly small role in The Fall Guy as well in terms of screen time although the story is centered around his character. I thought he was fantastic here and it was clear he was having a ton of fun with this role. I mean who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to crack a few jokes at Ryan Gosling’s expense. Winston Duke, best known for his role as M’Baku in Black Panther plays the stunt coordinator who works directly with Gosling’s character and the two have formed a strong bond over the years. Watching these two together was great as they helped to turn the film into a good old fashioned buddy comedy and I was eating it up. I also enjoyed watching Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham play more of the villain role.

Clearly The Fall Guy couldn’t afford to skimp on the action sequences and the film absolutely delivers the goods. I had a blast with all of the fast-paced action sequences, and I really liked how so many of the stunts had the “behind the scenes” feel to them considering the premise of the film. I also read that although Gosling did have stunt doubles for the film, he did perform a few of his own stunts which is pretty damn impressive if you ask me. One of the stunts he takes on himself involves surfing on a metal that is getting pulled by a truck, because why not?! One of my favorite Gosling films is Derek Cianfrance’s 2012 crime drama The Place Beyond the Pines where Gosling performs many of his own stunts which include some intense dirt bike riding. He may not be Tom Cruise Mission Impossible level crazy, but Gosling is more than willing to get his hands dirty so kudos to him.

Stunt man turned director David Leitch has proven to be a godsend for the film industry delivering some of the most epic action films in the last 7 years. His debut film was Atomic Blonde (2017) where he partnered with Charlize Theron and showed all of us what he was capable of, and followed that gem of a film up with Deadpool 2 (2018), Hobbs & Shaw (2019), and most recently an absolute blast of a film starring Brad Pitt, Bullet Train (our full review here). If you see his name attached to a project you can bet your ass the action sequences and stunts will be top-notch, and I am so glad he had the opportunity to make The Fall Guy to pay tribute to his stunt family.

THE VERDICT

An action-packed and laugh-out-loud hilarious tribute to the unsung heroes of the film industry, The Fall Guy unites two of Hollywood’s best in Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt as it triumphantly sends audiences careening into the summer movie season. I can’t even begin to tell you how much replay value this movie has, and I guarantee it will be even better with the second viewing. I just hope the studio makes the decision to release a 4K Blu-ray with bonus content because I will be snagging that baby on day one. Get out there and support the fearless stunt people and see The Fall Guy in theaters as soon as possible, you can thank me later.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.1/10

The Fall Guy is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Challengers

Challengers is a 2024 romantic coming-of-age sports drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Bones and All), and written by Justin Kuritzkes. The film was originally expected to premiere at the 80th Venice Film Festival, but was pulled from the festival by Amazon MGM Studios due to the ongoing 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

Tashi, a tennis player turned coach, has transformed her husband from a mediocre player into a world-famous grand slam champion. To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, she makes him play a challenger event -- close to the lowest level of tournament on the pro tour. Tensions soon run high when he finds himself standing across the net from the once-promising, now burnt-out Patrick, his former best friend and Tashi's former boyfriend.

The cast includes Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist (West Side Story).

Challengers made its debut in theaters on April 26th, courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Before the trailer even dropped for Challengers all I needed to hear was the name Zendaya and I was sold. I knew the movie would be worth watching, but I still wasn’t even close to being prepared for what I was about to experience. This movie completely caught me off guard, and I will never look at Zendaya the same way again. She was absolutely incredible here, delivering a performance for the ages. She honestly blew me away with an incredibly captivating on-screen presence that really set the tone for the film.

Challengers is really a clinic on the acting front from all involved, and I absolutely loved the amazing score and what I thought was some really creative camera work. The film just has this ability to transport viewers in such a way that you feel like you are existing shoulder to shoulder with these characters as the story unfolds, and that is just the magic touch of director Luca Guadagnino.

Challengers is labeled as a sports drama film, but it is really so much more than that. This is a coming-of-age story of intense ambition and what really amounts to emotional warfare. The line between the love for the sport of tennis and the sanctity of marriage and the bonds of friendship is blurred throughout the film. Challengers utilizes a technique of storytelling where it jumps back and forth between time periods rather often as it builds towards the culmination of what is essentially a tipping point. The screenplay from Justin Kuritzkes was just awesome as he was able to leave little breadcrumbs for viewers as they slowly figured out why these characters have reached this boiling point of emotions.

You can just see it on their faces that so much has happened leading up to the culminating match which is also how the film opens, and the journey to get to that point feels raw and just authentic. I just loved how the story was able to come to life and merge the infatuation with sports and the complex inner-workings of relationships.

Obsession is a dangerous thing especially during our formidable years, and if that obsession is geared towards someone as beautiful as Zendaya’s Tashi Donaldson, you better watch out. Bottom line, this dude knows his way around storytelling so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he is married to Past Lives writer/director Celine Song. I look forward to keeping an eye out for what he decides to work on next because I am officially a fan.

The cast of Challengers is absolute fire from top to bottom, and speaking of heat you better wear your sunglasses because my girl Zendaya was burning like the sun from the beginning of the film. To say that she has blown up as an actress would be an understatement, but this is a very different role for her. Zendaya plays such a strong-willed and fiery character with unmatched determination, but what I liked most was the emotional complexity she displayed. She is at the core of the love triangle between the main characters, but it is so difficult to tell whether she is more invested in the relationships or her love of the game. She looks absolutely incredible in Challengers, and to me it felt like this character was written with her in mind.

Far from what I would consider to be a household name, but West Side Story actor Mike Faist was just fantastic in this role. Faist plays the role of Art Donaldson, a talented tennis player who is also a bit more reserved and in touch with his emotions. Faist has amazing chemistry with Zendaya from the outset, and I really enjoyed watching these two on-screen together. Josh O’Connor plays Patrick Zweig who is more of the alpha-male of the duo and borderline sociopath.

It was almost surreal watching O’Connor play this role because I grew up around people like him, someone that is dangerously capable of doing anything and everything to get what they want while more often than not leaving a path of demolition behind in the process. He is the opposite of a sympathetic character, yet at the same time you can’t help but be pulled in by his overwhelming confidence which more often than not equates to a cocky douchebag attitude. Bottom line, O’Connor is a beast in this role and a big reason why the characters are able to flourish throughout the film.

On the technical side of things Challengers hits so damn hard. First of all this is not a movie that is able to rely on the usual bells and whistles as it relates to special effects or CGI, instead it goes old school with great camera work, a ridiculously satisfying score and great sound effects, and cinematography that puts viewers right on the court. As soon as the movie started the music brought to us compliments of composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross had me dangling like a fish on a hook. It was just so damn perfect and gave Challengers an immediate identity and I was loving every minute of it.

The score also benefits from some fantastic slow-motion sequences which I really enjoyed as they seemed to add a sense of depth to the emotional weight of that specific scene. I also really liked how one second the music would be booming through the speakers and all of a sudden it would stop just as the action on the screen paused, and it would kick back on as things got going which I thought was a really nice touch. I have been listening to the films soundtrack off and on at home since seeing the movie. The camera work was really cool too as it seemed to really tie into the game of tennis, going as far as having a camera on the actual ball during a tense volley. I have known for quite some time just how talented and accomplished director Luca Guadagnino is but he still found a way to surprise me with Challengers.

THE VERDICT

An intoxicating cinematic experience featuring a transformative performance from talented actress Zendaya, Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers is a top-tier coming-of-age sports drama and an instant classic for the genre. Tennis fans will be in awe from start to finish and left begging for more, but this film will hit different for anyone willing to give it a chance. Get out and see Challengers sooner than later because this is a theater experience not to be missed.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.4/10

Challengers is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Abigail

Abigail is a 2024 horror film from Radio Silence—the directing team of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett behind the terrifying modern horror hits Ready or Not, 2022’s Scream and last year’s Scream VI, from a screenplay written by Stephen Shields (The Hole in the Ground) and Guy Busick (Scream franchise, Ready or Not). The film is said to be based on and a reimagining of the 1936 Universal Classic Monsters movie Dracula's Daughter.

After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.

The cast includes Melissa Barrera (Scream franchise, In the Heights), Dan Stevens (Gaslit, Legion), Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Freaky), William Catlett (Black Lightning, True Story), Kevin Durand (Resident Evil: Retribution, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) Angus Cloud (Euphoria, North Hollywood), Alisha Weir (Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, Darklands), and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad).

Abigail made its debut in theaters April 19th, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

I am proud of the fact that I appreciate the majority of movie genres, but if I had to pick a few of my favorites would be horror, comedy and action. So naturally if you find a way to combine all three you can count on me being first in line at the movie theater on opening day. I went to see Abigail with the hope that it would somehow scratch that itch, and I was not disappointed. For me this is honestly the pinnacle of the genre mix I was referencing, a hilarious and bloody action horror comedy that is fast paced and exciting.

Abigail starts out like any other heist thriller but quickly turns into much, much more. This film is funny, action-packed, extremely bloody, and full of personality as it blends the vampire genre with the over-the-top kidnapping of a vampire with ties to the seedy underworld. The characters quickly realize that what they thought would be a big time payday is actually much more than any of them could have bargained for, and it was going to be a very long night. Bottom line, I had a ton of fun with Abigail as it further reinforced my appreciation for this genre and its willingness to always think outside of the box. The film does feel like M3GAN (our full review here) at times but is more of the no-holds-barred over-the-top vampire version.

I was impressed with the story as it had quite a bit more depth than I expected. I mean lets be honest, Abigail really didn’t need to have an elaborate screenplay to get asses in the seats because viewers came to see the bloody violence it promised. But to my surprise the story actually has quite a few layers to it as it delves into the criminal underworld. I laughed out loud a ton and really enjoyed the dialogue, primarily the back and forth banter between the unique mix of characters. The sequence of events provided more than enough entertainment value to make for a fantastic genre entry, but the screenplay opened the door for what could be a sequel or even better yet a new franchise. Personally I have my fingers crossed for either one and I will be seeing Abigail again very soon.

I thought the cast was fantastic with the perfect mix of different personalities and plenty of likeable characters. Melissa Barrera leads the way as the mysterious and strong-willed Joey who is in charge of keeping an eye on Abigail as the crew awaits receipt of the ransom demands. Barrera plays a complex character who makes it clear from the beginning that she cares about the well-being of the little girl they kidnapped. I loved her character and continue to applaud her decisions to take on these roles in the action horror/slasher genre after joining the reboots of the Scream franchise. Dan Stevens plays Frank, easily the most unlikable character as he clearly thinks he is smarter than everyone else and is out for himself. Stevens provides the necessary presence of the mastermind of the crew and I thought his character worked well within the dynamic of the film.

Ireland born actress Alisha Weir plays Abigail and I thought she was fantastic. This is a pretty unique role as she is initially portrayed as this cute and innocent little ballerina who slowly begins to reveal a much more sinister side. Weir never once came across as corny to me, and I felt like she had a ton of fun with this role as she performed a dance number right before ripping out her victims throat. Kathryn Newton, who recently starred in Lisa Frankenstein and the 2020 film Freaky is no stranger to the wackier side of the horror genre.

Newton was one of my favorite characters as she had this certain attitude about her making her character fun and easy to root for. William Catlett, Kevin Durand, and Giancarlo Esposito all play smaller roles but each brought great value to the film. In particular I enjoyed Durant as he played the musclebound dummy who was convinced that being stronger than everyone was more than enough. He contributed to quite a few laughs for me. Also a bittersweet shoutout to late actor Angus Cloud in one of his final roles. I really liked his character and thought he delivered one heck of a performance as the black sheep of the crew.

I won’t necessarily say that the action sequences and technical elements are the bread and butter for Abigail, but they wouldn’t be far from the truth. Anyone excited to see this movie was looking forward to watching a blood-sucking 4-foot nothing little girl going on a murderous rampage, and this film absolutely delivers. Abigail looks fantastic as a vampire which is a testament to the special effects crew and the makeup team. Fans of M3GAN (our full review here) will pick up on the similarities of the two films right away, and trust me when I say that is a really good thing. The star of Abigail is this seemingly harmless and innocent little ballerina who turns out to be a vampire, and they had a ton of fun with this. Several times throughout the film she would be covered in blood and just decide to do a dance number before murdering someone, and yes it was as fantastic as it sounds each time. The action sequences were very intense, and I thought the score/soundtrack tied everything together perfectly. Once it gets going Abigail is a fast-paced action horror film that is never boring.

THE BAD

As far as my expectations for the film Abigail met and exceeded them, simple as that. Now as I talked about in the review I love films like this as long as the execution is up to snuff, and that was without a doubt the case here. The idea of the film is as ridiculous as it sounds, but people need to understand that this is the definition of escapism entertainment. I felt like this world that was created within Abigail felt real, and for me that is more than worth the price of admission. Now is the violence and the dialogue over-the-top more often than not? Sure it is, but that is the point. Genre fans will have a difficult time picking Abigail apart.

THE VERDICT

A gloriously blood-soaked and action-packed pirouette under the bright lights for the action horror genre, Abigail does not hold back and was an absolute blast to experience in theaters. I had so much fun with this movie and just appreciated the tone and the feel which remained consistent throughout. The story was interesting, the characters were great, the humor was on point, and the special effects and action sequences were so damn satisfying. If you have any appreciation whatsoever for this genre, Abigail is without a doubt a film that you need to see sooner than later.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.6/10

Abigail is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Civil War

Civil War is a 2024 epic war film written and directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation). The film premiered at the South By Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas, on March 14th, 2024.

In the near future, a group of war journalists attempt to survive while reporting the truth as the United States stands on the brink of civil war.

The film stars Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man, The Power of the Dog), Wagner Moura (Narcos, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Lady Bird, Dune), Cailee Spaeny (Bad Times at the El Royale, Priscilla), and Jefferson White (Yellowstone).

Civil War made its debut in theaters April 12th, courtesy of A24.

THE GOOD

I could hardly contain my excitement I was so pumped for this movie, and let me just start by saying it did not disappoint. I will follow A24 to the ends of the Earth when it comes to the movies they attach their name to, but this had to be on another level for me after seeing the trailers. Civil War is an intense and very unique cinematic experience that I honestly enjoyed from start to finish. It wasn’t the non-stop action some might expect considering the premise, but instead the film is much more intimate as the events unfold from the perspective of a group of war journalists.

I honestly loved how they decided to approach the film and felt like it gave a certain authenticity to what transpired on-screen especially considering it could have easily felt either too political or just too over-the-top. Civil War is about self-preservation and the willingness to accept what has become a grim reality. Now don’t get me wrong the film is very intense and includes some fantastic action sequences, but trust me when I say that the more intimate scenes are what viewers will be thinking about when they head home from the theater.

The story for Civil War was a big bright spot for me, but for slightly different reasons than I initially expected although I already had high expectations with Alex Garland writing the screenplay. Now the idea of a present-day Civil War was an obvious selling point in terms of the shock factor it offered and just the overall “could this really happen?!” part of things, but the film really does a fantastic job of allowing viewers the opportunity to experience what is happening without telling them how to feel about it, if that makes any sense at all.

I found myself thinking about the backstory of these characters and what got them to this moment, which added a great deal of weight to what was happening and how it impacted them. It was made pretty clear that these characters had seen some pretty messed up things throughout their careers as war journalists, but to now be experiencing something similar in the place that was suppose to be their safe haven added incredible depth to the film.

As far as the screenplay it is pretty obvious what is happening but Garland opted to not spend too much time on the specifics as far as how we got to this point, and I thought that was the right approach because it allowed viewers the opportunity to connect the dots on their own while feeling all of the emotions the characters were feeling. Civil War could have easily focused more on the action element and still offered up a very entertaining experience, but I think they made the right decision by delivering a film that really hit that much harder well beyond the gunfire and explosions. It is sort of hard to effectively describe the surreal the experience the film provides.

I won’t give anything away of course but at one point the group encounters a sniper and his spotter in full on ghillie suits with their rifle pointing at a building that the group just encountered fire from as they drive through. The group stops and takes cover and begins to engage in conversation with the two men asking who they are getting their orders from, and they reply nobody is giving us orders, this guy is trying to kill us and we are trying to kill him. When asked who he is they respond by saying they have no idea. This interaction stuck with me and sort of felt like a culmination of the films underlying message. I went in assuming that the film may come across as a bit political but somehow Garland found a way to avoid seeming to obvious in that sense and instead creating a terrifying not-that-far-fetched reality that will leave viewers equally entertained and uneasy. Garland is a fantastic storyteller and he proved that yet again here.

The cast for Civil War was absolutely fantastic. With Kirsten Dunst and Wagner Moura leading the way, the acting was a big reason why the film is able to hit so hard. The core of the premise is the connection between this group of veteran war journalists and the bond they have as they embark on uncharted territory. Dunst portrays a seemingly unflinching war journalist who has seen it all, but even she can’t help but be shaken by encountering the same thing she witnessed in third world countries on U.S. soil.

Dunst perfectly displays the emotions of a woman who has committed her entire life to her work to the point where it is all she knows. Moura was fantastic as well and the chemistry he had with Dunst was a big reason why the film worked so well. He brought a certain level of confidence and charisma to his character, so when you started to see how much the events of the film were beginning to really impact him it stood that much more. The film does not hit as hard as it does without the performances delivered by Dunst and Moura, simple as that.

Now with that being said, two other performances were big as well and they were delivered by legendary actor Stephen McKinley Henderson and Cailee Spaeny. Spaeny plays a wet-behind-the-ears and incredibly eager war journalist who is determined to follow in the footsteps of Kirsten Dunst’s character. Early on it is clear that she looks up to Dunst but viewers are also given this feeling that there is more to the story. I personally enjoyed her character and felt that she epitomized the roller coaster of emotions throughout the film. What can I honestly say about McKinley Henderson that hasn’t already been said, the man knows no bounds. He plays the veteran journalist who is unwilling to let go of this career that he has dedicated his entire life to, and to be honest I had chills the majority of the time he was on-screen. He is always incredible and once again delivers here.

I won’t spend too much more time talking about the performances, but I do need to touch on my guy Jessie Plemons and what he meant to the film. Now his role is essentially confined to just one scene, but to say that this was the most emotionally charged scene in the entire film would not be an understatement. Plemons and his signature red sunglasses will terrify you for so many reasons, and even though I had an idea of what to expect from the trailer I still wasn’t prepared.

After I left the theater it was really his face that I was seeing when I thought about Civil War, and that is a testament to his ability as an actor as well as the screenplay finding a way to shake viewers without the need for special effects, and that is pretty damn impressive. Even more crazy is the fact that Plemons joined the cast just days before shooting his scene after the original actor dropped out. Plemons was recommended to Alex Garland by Dunst, who also happens to be his wife. I also have to give a shoutout to Nick Offerman who plays a role that was very unique for him but he delivers as always. Although he had a small role it was cool to see Yellowstone’s Jefferson White in the film.

On the technical side of things Civil War is nothing short of fantastic. Whether we are referring to the guns blazing final act or some of the more intimate action sequences, the film always feels authentic. I really liked the scenes where you were on the edge-of-your-seat anticipating what was going to happen next. I loved the production value and the cinematography making for quite a haw-dropping experience, including seeing downed military helicopters in parking lots or a highway littered with abandoned vehicles. Cinematographer Rob Hardy worked with director Alex Garland on his sci-fi thriller Annihilation, and once again he proved his worth.

Speaking of Garland, this dude is really making a name for himself as someone who just has a vision and does whatever he needs to do to make that vision a reality. I am blown away by his versatility as a director considering deliver epic sci-fi films like Annihilation which I already mentioned and the 2014 film Ex Machina, while also completely changing course with his 2022 horror drama Men (our full review here). Clearly he has an appreciation for a variety of genres when it comes to film, but more importantly his ability to create such an immersive on-screen experience that always feels big and alive definitely seems to be his trademark. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors. It was also important for the film to have a soundtrack and score that kept up with the intense feel of the film, and I felt like Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury absolutely delivered.

THE BAD

I had very few issues with this film. I really liked the direction Garland went with Civil War in terms of the story unfolding from the perspective of the war journalists, but I do feel like the trailers could be a bit misleading. For example the film is not non-stop action so viewers expecting that may be disappointed. Instead the overall feel is much more personal but in no way is that a knock on the film, as Kristen Dunst said in an interview it somehow feels like a big-budget blockbuster while still having that indie film feel which I thought was a great way to describe it.

THE VERDICT

A thought-provoking and unflinchingly volatile war drama featuring stellar performances and a uniquely intimate feel, Alex Garland’s Civil War is an absolute must-see and A24’s highest grossing film for a reason. This movie will rock viewers right to their very core, and that is the point. Garland isn’t coming at you with political views or anything like that, instead he gives viewers a front row seat to the unthinkable yet not so far-fetched reality of a war amongst ourselves. Civil War is a fantastic film and I highly recommend seeing it in theaters.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.9/10

Civil War is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Monkey Man

Monkey Man is a 2024 revenge thriller film directed by Oscar-winner Dev Patel in his directorial debut, from a story by Patel, and a screenplay he co-wrote with Paul Angunawela and John Collee (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World). The film was originally set to debut on Netflix, but has since been given a theatrical release as part of Jordan Peele’s production company Monkeypaw’s film deal with Universal.

Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage Monkey Man stars Dev Patel as Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash.

After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.

The cast includes Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley (District 9), Sobhita Dhulipala (Made in Heaven), Pitobash (Million Dollar Arm), Vipin Sharma (Hotel Mumbai), Ashwini Kalsekar (Ek Tha Hero), Adithi Kalkunte (Hotel Mumbai), Sikandar Kher (Aarya), and Makarand Deshpande (RRR).

Monkey Man made its debut in theaters on April 5th, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

I went in to the theater expecting a revenge thriller with a John Wick feel to it, but let me just tell you right now Monkey Man is so much more than that. I am borderline obsessed with the revenge thriller genre as I have said many times, so naturally I gravitate to these films. Now I may have a hard time really explaining the why of it all, but everything about this movie just felt like it was on another level. Some of the obvious comparisons to the John Wick films, which are amazing by the way, is the incredible technical elements with the wild fight sequences, the camera work, cinematography, soundtrack/score, etc. It goes on and on but basically what I am trying to say is this film dots every I and crosses every T.

I assumed that the biggest comparable element to the John Wick films would be the actual screenplay and overall premise, but to my surprise that is really where Monkey Man sets itself apart. The reason why John Wick murdered everyone who got in his way was pretty straightforward; his wife died of cancer and her dying gift was the cutest puppy you’ve ever seen, and some idiot decided it was a good idea to murder said puppy. Needless to say, that did not end well for him or anyone else who decided to get in the way after the fact. In Monkey Man, the character known only as “Kid” had a front row seat to the brutal murder of his mother and lived the rest of his life haunted by this memory.

He felt that because of all the emotional pain he had endured throughout his life, he had to match it with physical pain which he experienced sacrificing his body in a back alley no-hold-barred ring. As the story unravels it becomes clear that Kid is hell bent on avenging the death of his mother in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, and to say that it was gloriously satisfying to watch him embark on this harrowing journey into the vibrant underworld of India would be an understatement. I won’t spoil anything as per usual but this is something you absolutely need to see for yourself. So big time kudos to the original story from Patel, and the screenplay he co-wrote with Paul Angunawela and John Collee.

Now as far as the cast is concerned, holy shit is Dev Patel amazing in this. He has quietly become one of my favorite actors over the years as he delivered top-tier performances in films like the underrated gem Chappie (2015), Lion (2016), and arguably his best role to date in the 2021 fantastic A24 drama film The Green Knight. I was already convinced of his abilities as an actor well before seeing Monkey Man, but this performance was just different. Patel gives everything he has to this role, and I was honestly in awe of him from start to finish. Sharlto Copley is my guy and has been since the 2009 sci-fi drama District 9, and even though he plays a pretty small role here he was still great as always.

I really liked Indian actor Pitobash as Alphonso, as he perfectly portrays someone who first comes off as very unlikable but you quickly begin to relate to him and I thought his chemistry with Patel was genuine and very important to the film. I’m not sure what to say about actress Adithi Kalkunte aside from the fact that she is incredibly gorgeous and one of the few women I would even consider replacing my childhood poster of Cindy Crawford with, and that is saying a lot. I thought Sikandar Kher was really good as the films primary antagonist, because believe me when I say you will despise him with every fiber of your being right from his initial introduction. Vipin Sharma did a really nice job serving as sort of a mentor figure to help Kid reach his full potential.

From a technical standpoint I was seriously blown away by Monkey Man from the opening sequence right until the end credits. This film has such a unique and just visceral feel to it, and to be honest I am having a hard time describing what I was feeling while watching it. I was blown away by the amazing visuals but was also enthralled by this powerful story. In many ways I felt like the film compared to Ryan Coogler’s vision for the first Creed film, which I thought had more of a personal feel to the shooting style so that viewers felt like they were a part of the action. Both films actually have really powerful opening sequences with the camera following the main characters from behind. I mean even just the point where the title is displayed on-screen, even that somehow felt so intense and immersive. I felt like I was in the crowd during every fight.

The way Patel’s character carried himself, it all just had such a “real” feel to it. The way the camera worked in unison with the incredible cinematography and the amazing score/soundtrack, I just didn’t want this movie to end and I can’t wait to see it again. All I kept thinking to myself was holy shit is this awesome, this really is what its all about when it comes to the theater experience.

The fact that this is Patel’s feature-film debut as a director is absolutely insane to me, and either the stars somehow aligned perfectly for Monkey Man, or we are witnessing the birth of one of the next great creative minds in the business. After reading a few articles that talked about how difficult is was to get this movie made including nearly losing his financing when COVID hit, I am going to say it is the latter. I’m not at all surprised that he took home the Audience Award at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival. Now speaking of the soundtrack, Monkey Man includes some ridiculously amazing music and I need to own the official soundtrack like yesterday. I would even buy it on CD if that is still even a thing.

THE BAD

Monkey Man was everything I could have possibly wanted it to be and the some, I genuinely am having a hard time finding anything wrong with it. Now it is incredibly graphic and violent and certainly earns the R-rating, but it never felt unnecessary to me. It is super fast paced and some of the action sequences are pretty crazy which I guess could be overwhelming for some people, but I loved every second. I felt like the film was inspired by some other Bollywood films like the instant classic award-winning film RRR (our full review here), so if that genre in general rubs you the wrong way that could be an issue here. I feel like I am still complementing the film so let me go ahead and say that this is upper-echelon for the revenge thriller genre, simple as that.

THE VERDICT

An absolute triumph of a revenge thriller that solidifies Oscar-nominated actor Dev Patel as a legitimate dual-threat, Monkey Man blew me away from the opening sequence with incredible visuals and nonstop edge-of-your seat action. I simply cannot recommend this movie enough, and even though it does share similarities with the John Wick franchise, the uniqueness of the feel and the setting is what most viewers will appreciate most. Monkey Man is a truly powerful film that demands repeat viewings, and I can’t wait to add it to my collection of 4K Blu-rays. Do yourself a favor and see this on the big-screen as soon as humanely possible.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.3/10

Monkey Man is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a 2024 monster film directed by Adam Wingard. Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), and the seventh installment and fifth film in the MonsterVerse. It is also the 38th film of the Godzilla franchise, the 13th film in the King Kong franchise, and the fifth Godzilla film to be completely produced by an American film studio. The film stars Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, and Fala Chen. Hall, Henry, and Hottle reprise their roles from the previous film.

This latest entry follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire made its debut in theaters March 29th, courtesy of Warner Bros.

THE GOOD

At the end of the day movies like Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire are a big reason why we go to theater. Moviegoers enjoy the spectacle of the theater experience, making it that much easier to justify the big screen and booming sound. With that being said, this movie in particular is well worth the price of admission. I had a blast with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, as I laughed several times, and more importantly I found myself in awe of the visual powerhouse that this film is. It looks fantastic, simple as that, and it sounds just as good. If you don’t see this in theaters you are doing yourself a disservice, especially if you consider yourself to be a fan of the MonsterVerse. Kong and Godzilla look amazing, and it was just so satisfying to watch these two iconic larger-than-life characters remind us why they are the kings of the monsters.

I feel like talking about the technical elements of the film first makes sense considering that is what most viewers will be going to see, and you will not be disappointed. My suggestion is to see Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire on the biggest screen possible because it has so much to offer. I thought the CGI was damn near flawless, and I really liked how the film found a way to add a certain level of humanity to Kong which had me invested in what would become a very immersive experience. For a good chunk of the film I found myself just taking it all in and just appreciating the visuals right down to every single hair on Kong’s body. This is a massive film no question about that, and the action sequences do not hold back.

The cinematography was great throughout the film as well, and in particular I loved the opening shot of Rio de Janeiro and the Christ the Redeemer Art Deco statue overlooking the city. This city has become synonymous with big-budget film franchises including the Fast and Furious franchise. Just an incredible sight and I am really glad it was included in the film. I also really liked the creative camera work as it helped to make viewers like they were in the action. Director Adam Wingard has done a very nice job making sure these films give fans what they are looking for, and this was yet another example of that.

As far as the screenplay is concerned, its not going to blow you away or anything but I thought it was fine. The film sets the stage nicely in terms of establishing the necessary boundary between Kong and Godzilla after the last film, and I really liked the buildup to the final act. In the film Godzilla’s dominance is obvious but he is clearly more feared in terms of what it would mean if he goes off the reservation sort of speak, but the primary focus for the story is the humanity that is given to Kong which I thought they did an excellent job with.

Viewers will connect with Kong as the last of his kind who is searching tirelessly for others who likely no longer exist. I really liked how although Kong is clearly older now and worse for wear, his determination and fight is as strong as ever especially when it comes to those he cares about. Kong has always been incredibly loyal and I really liked how they once again established the unique bond between him and Jia. I am team Kong for sure, but Godzilla is a badass and I certainly won’t be pissing him off anytime soon. At one point Kong is essentially ridiculed for his connection to the humans and I thought that element of the story really helped to add depth to the bond that has been created. Also the monkey will certainly be a fan favorite. Overall I thought the story was satisfying from start to finish and carried just enough emotional weight to take things beyond the excitement of the visuals.

I personally loved the cast for the film, particularly the return of Brian Tyree Henry from 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong as the films primary comic relief. Tyree Henry is a favorite actor of mine thanks to how versatile he is, but I do think he shines when he is able to make audiences laugh. I have really enjoyed his character as the bumbling podcaster that everyone thinks is full of crap that was introduced in the 2021 film and he keeps it going here. I laughed out loud quite a few times and pretty much every time it was because of him. Plus he gets a lot more screen-time in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire which was a big plus for me. As much as I want to see the big boys demolishing buildings it is nice to have a balance. I also really liked Dan Stevens and thought he had great chemistry with the rest of the cast. He also added to some of the laughs along the way.

Rebecca Hall returns as Ilene Andrews, this time with shorter hair, and I thought she was fantastic. She reminds me of Bryce Dallas Howard in the more recent Jurassic Park films in terms of how strong of an on-screen presence she has. Hall’s character also takes on the majority of the emotional weight of the film in terms of her relationship with her daughter Jia, played by Kaylee Hottle, which I thought she handled perfectly. I look forward to seeing more from Hall from this franchise.

Back to Hottle, I thought the young actress was fantastic yet again. She communicates only using sign language but she still manages to be a very impactful character with body language and her facial expressions. For such a young and inexperienced actress who made her acting debut in Godzilla vs. Kong three years ago, she really makes an impact. I hope she continues to get opportunities to prove herself as an actress. Although her screen time is limited I was pumped to see New Zealand born actress Rachel House in the film, she is one of my favorites and I just cannot get enough of that accent.

THE BAD

As much as I enjoyed Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire I’m not going to sit here and act like it was perfect. First and foremost I didn’t love the pacing and felt like the film was a bit slow at times which should not be the case with a movie like this. Now granted a ton is happening in the film and quite a few elements of the story had to be put out there, I just think it could have been a bit cleaner to eliminate the “slow points”. Now in no way am I saying the film is too long because it clocks in at just under 2-hours, it just could have been a bit more seamless.

The fact that the screenplay was very goofy at times did take away from the potential grittiness of the film, but personally I didn’t have an issue with that but I think some people will. I actually really liked the dynamic with Brian Tyree Henry’s character and what he brought to the film, and just the banter in general. Just understand that this is much goofier than Kong: Skull Island, for the sake of comparison.

THE VERDICT

An epic action-packed showdown that needs to be experienced in theaters, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a visual powerhouse of a film with a satisfying story and a well-rounded cast. As I talked about in the review its not perfect and it does lack some of the grittiness of the previous film, but overall I left the theater more than satisfied and ready for what the franchise has in store next. Oh and don’t bother sticking around expecting a mid-credits or post-credits scene because the film does not scratch that itch.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.2/10

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Immaculate

Immaculate is a 2024 horror thriller directed by Michael Mohan, from a screenplay by Andrew Lobel, with Sydney Sweeney serving as a producer under her Fifty-Fifty Films banner. The project was financed by Black Bear Pictures, the company behind films like Our Friend, Little Fish (our full review here), I Care A Lot, and Dumb Money (our full review here), and acquired by Neon for distribution.

Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarks on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.

The cast includes Sydney Sweeney, Álvaro Morte, Benedetta Porcaroli, Dora Romano, Giorgio Colangeli, and Simona Tabasco.

Immaculate made its debut in theaters on March 22nd, courtesy of Neon.

THE GOOD

I feel like for every horror movie I review I talk about how much I love horror movies so I will spare you unnecessary rambling, but I will say that I have been begging for a good R-rated horror movie to hit theaters. Now it is certainly possible to make a quality horror film with a PG-13 rating, but the task is a bit more difficult in my opinion. Now I recently watched the indie horror film Stopmotion (our full review here), and although it was R-rated it almost felt like the rating was wasted. That movie could have been PG-13, no doubt in my mind.

I also recently watched the horror film Imaginary (our full review here), which is PG-13, and although most people have been trashing on that movie it was pretty good and an example of making the most of that rating. But back to what I was saying, I have been desperate for a horror movie with an R-rating, and after watching the trailer for Sydney Sweeney’s Immaculate I was very much intrigued. So, was I finally able to scratch that itch, or was this yet another failed attempt at giving viewers something that will last well after the end credits? Keep reading to find out!

Please excuse my language but this movie was fucking intense. I consider myself to have a very high tolerance and not only did Immaculate have me cringing more times than I can count, my mouth was literally wide open as the screen went black and the end credits appeared. As always this review will be 100% spoiler-free, but I will find a way to try and express just how hard this movie hits. As a horror fan, I want a film to stick with me after seeing it, to follow me home and have me checking the dark corners of every room before I go to bed. I’m not as interested in jump scares or a typical ghost story that really doesn’t hold as much weight outside the four walls of the theater.

A good example that comes to mind is Ari Aster’s Hereditary (our full review here), and although it does have some of those supernatural elements, the film has several real-life influences that followed me home from the theater. That is probably why I watched this movie three times in theaters, plus I couldn’t get enough of bringing people to see it for the first time and seeing their reaction to certain scenes. Another good example is The Night House (our full review here), which tells a story rooted in real-life tragedy. Bottom line, Immaculate is a brutal religious horror thriller that does not hold anything back. The storytelling is top-notch, the acting is as good as it gets, and the technical elements elevate what culminates in a truly satisfying cinematic experience. I feel like with horror movies it is usually pretty easy to pick out which element of the film was put on the backburner, but with Immaculate all of the boxes that matter are checked with purpose.

Let’s take a minute to talk about the acting because it is ridiculously good. Sydney Sweeney, who is a producer on the project and from what I have read was very involved beyond just starring in the film, was simply amazing. Her role is not for the faint of heart and she embodies this character in every conceivable way, and to be honest I may forever look at her differently. She was simply that good in this. Throughout the film I kept thinking to myself this is such a difficult role to play because of the emotional toll it would take on someone given the subject matter. I won’t go much more in-depth than that but trust me when I say Sweeney deserves to be recognized for this performance, simple as that. Unfortunately horror movies are notoriously snubbed come awards season, but maybe Immaculate will find a way to break the trend.

Although Sweeney leads the way, the supporting cast is fantastic as well. Simone Tabasco, who, like Sweeney, starred in the HBO series The White Lotus, has limited screen-time but definitely left her mark. I really enjoyed the performance delivered by the gorgeous Benedetta Porcaroli in her role as the nun that befriends Sweeney as she gets acclimated to this mysterious convent. Porcaroli, a fairly unknown but very talented Italian actress, is seriously great here and I felt like her performance and chemistry with Sweeney helped to elevate the overall effectiveness of the film. The most influential role in the film aside from Sweeney was played by Álvaro Morte as he portrayed the charismatic Father Sal Tedeschi. The Spanish actor plays the film’s primary antagonist who first appears to be an ally to Sweeney’s character but slowly reveals his more sinister motives. I thought Morte was absolutely fantastic, and the film does not work as well as it does without him.

Immaculate is that rare horror film that does pretty much everything at a high level, and to say I was impressed would be an understatement. The storytelling is unmatched as I was intrigued from the start and never lost interest, not even for a second. The pacing of the film is pretty much perfect without a single wasted scene thanks to some great editing work. The film clocks in at around an hour and 30 minutes and it really flies by. Oftentimes you will be too busy cringing to be bored, trust me. Right from the start I was in awe of the cinematography and the camera work as we were treated to some powerful shots of this historic convent in the Italian countryside. The score from Will Bates, who crushed it with Dumb Money (our full review here) last year, was absolutely fantastic.

For me a horror film needs to set the tone with a certain feel that is only possible when the cinematography and score blend together seamlessly, and they really hit the nail on the head here. Immaculate feels dark and very real which allowed me as a viewer the opportunity to be fully immersed in what was happening on-screen, and for my money what more can you ask for? Admittedly I am obsessed with films that place a premium on cinematography and score, but it is rare that I have the opportunity to experience them on this level within the horror genre. I recently re-watched David Lowery’s 2017 film A Ghost Story, and although I am not quite sure why it is even considered to be a horror film, the score and cinematography in that are incredible.

I need to give some well-deserved props to director Michael Mohan and screenwriter Andrew Lobel. Mohan really hasn’t worked on too many noteworthy projects aside from perhaps the 2021 Prime exclusive drama thriller The Voyeurs, which also starred Sydney Sweeney, but he has turned me into a believer. Immaculate without a doubt put him on my radar as a director to watch, and I expect that this film will open the door for future opportunities. Lobel, the man behind the screenplay for the film, is even more unknown than Mohan. His filmography is as bare bones as it gets including a 2005 horror short film called Delirium and the Dollman, which he wrote and directed.

Seemingly coming out of literally nowhere, Lobel contributed one of the better horror screenplays in recent memory. The story itself is damn near flawless in my opinion, but what is most terrifying about it is the fact that it really doesn’t seem that far-fetched, at least in my opinion. I assume Lobel has other ideas for future projects floating around in that twisted mind of his, and I hope he gets more opportunities in the future as well.

THE BAD

I try to offer disclaimers when it feels necessary in terms of the content that some people may be sensitive to, but where do I even start with Immaculate? I’m not even kidding, as I have made pretty clear during this review the movie is very intense. The film has some very graphic depictions of pregnancy and childbirth which is probably the main thing I should point out, also those of you who can’t handle the sight of someone throwing up should proceed with caution. It also includes some hard-to-watch body horror elements. But as far as issues I had with the film I honestly really don’t have any as it without a doubt exceeded my expectations.

THE VERDICT

A brutally intense religious horror thriller bolstered by a career-defining performance from talented actress Sydney Sweeney, Immaculate is the artistic embodiment of its title right down to a disturbing yet satisfying no-holds-barred final act. It really doesn’t matter how you want to break this film down because it just does everything extremely well, but as I talked about during my review it is not for the faint of heart. I still can’t get the image of a blood-soaked Sydney Sweeney screaming at the top of her lungs out of my mind, but trust me when I say I mean that as the ultimate compliment.

Plus whether it’s a nightmare or a dream, I don’t mind seeing her in my sleep. I mean seriously, what can’t she do?! Sweeney is quickly working her way up my list of favorite actresses, and if she does a coming-of-age movie next she may find her way into the top 3. Immaculate really is that good, and whether you consider yourself to be a fan of horror or not, you need to see this movie. Simple as that.

With Longlegs, Humane, The First Omen, and Abigail on the horizon, this could be the year for R-rated horror films.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.7/10

Immaculate is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Imaginary

Imaginary is a 2024 supernatural horror film directed and produced by Jeff Wadlow (Never Back Down, Kick-Ass 2), from a screenplay by Wadlow, Greg Erb (Night Swim), and Jason Oremland. The film is produced by Jason Blum through his Blumhouse Productions banner and Tower of Babble.

When Jessica returns to her childhood home with her family, she finds her old stuffed bear Chauncey and that her stepdaughter Alice has grown attached to it. After Alice's behavior becomes concerning and the games that she and Chauncey play turn increasingly sinister, Jessica starts realizing that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed bear she believed him to be all those years.

The cast includes DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Betty Buckley, Pyper Braun, Taegen Burns, Veronica Falcón, and Dane DiLiegro.

Imaginary made its debut in theaters March 8th, 2024, courtesy of Lionsgate.

THE GOOD

To be honest I didn’t expect a ton from Imaginary considering the PG-13 rating and the overall premise of the film, but I’m here to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Now this certainly isn’t the scariest movie I have seen in last several years, but it is without a doubt one of the better PG-13 horror movies I have come across in quite awhile.

Imaginary builds tension with a very interesting story that kept me engaged throughout, above average acting especially for a horror film, and some genuinely creepy moments made possible by a great soundtrack and what I felt was a dark and balanced feel. I really liked the story and I was actually completely caught off guard by what I felt was a really cool twist that actually gave me legit chills, which at the end of the day is all I can really ask for with a horror movie. I thought the editing team did a fantastic job, and the pacing of the film was great as it never seemed to drag.

As a horror movie Imaginary does some really good things that put a smile on the face of this horror fanatic. For the most part the film relies on the less-is-more approach as you see shadowy figures from time to time while keeping you guessing as the story unfolds. The film also brings to the table some solid jump scares if that is your thing, but for me I want that uneasy feeling that eventually gives me chills and it delivers on that as well.

Imaginary tells a tragic story of childhood trauma in a very unique way giving viewers breadcrumbs as they eventually connect the dots and make sense of what is really going on. For me the story works because it has that powerful emotional element which really gives viewers something to sink their teeth into. I thought Imaginary had the feel of the Insidious franchise at times which is a good thing of course.

One of the reasons the film works so well is because viewers are introduced to characters that you can’t help but root for. I thought DeWanda Wise was fantastic in the lead role of Jessica, a step mom who is struggling to connect with her two step children while also attempting to unravel the mysteries of her own childhood after moving back into the home she grew up in. I was 100% bought into Wise’s character, and for me she felt relatable and genuine. For the film to work you really needed to become invested in her character, and a fantastic performance from Wise made that easy to do.

Pyper Braun and Taegen Burns play the two stepdaughters with Braun playing the little girl who embraces this imaginary friend. Braun plays Alice, a very troubled little girl who has struggled to come out of her shell and connect with other kids, and althought she wasn’t perfect in this role I thought she delivered a very commendable performance. When this new imaginary friend of hers is first introduced Jessica sees it as a good thing and a way for Alice to express herself, but this new relationship quickly takes a dark turn as Jessica learns that her past may not be full of the fond memories she thought it was.

THE BAD

Imaginary had its fair share of flaws which kept it from becoming a great horror film. First of all although I was very impressed by the visuals and the special effects, a few of the decisions left me scratching my head. Once the film abandoned the less-is-more approach I touched on earlier in the review viewers were given a better look at some of the so-called monsters, and although some of what the films serves up are fantastic, some not so much. At times the visuals almost felt borderline sci-fi which was a bit weird for me.

I just wish they would have stayed the course and remained consistent with the visuals. Also although I felt like the characters and the screenplay as a whole was a big strength for the film, a few things could have been better which took away from the overall impact of the film especially in the final act. Betty Buckley’s character of the odd neighbor Gloria felt a bit all over the place for me, and at times the screenplay seemed to get a bit lazy as it was attempting to bring the story full circle.

THE VERDICT

A surprisingly effective horror film with Insidious vibes offering an immersive and at times chilling story, Imaginary struggles with consistency but still delivers one of the better PG-13 genre entries in recent memory. I talked about my issues with the film and clearly it is far from perfect, but to say this is a bad movie just isn’t fair. It could have been better but they were willing to take chances and I for one appreciate that. If you go in with your expectations in check and give the film a chance Imaginary delivers an experience that for my money is worth a trip to the theater.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.5/10

Imaginary is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Stopmotion

Stopmotion is a 2023 British live-action psychological horror thriller film directed by Robert Morgan in his feature-length debut. Morgan, who studied Animation Filmmaking in college, also wrote the screenplay with Robin King. The film has a unique and creative approach combining live action and stop motion animation. Stopmotion had its world premiere at the 2023 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas on September 24th, 2023.

Ella Blake, a stop-motion animator struggling to control her demons after the loss of her overbearing mother, embarks upon the creation of a film that becomes the battleground for her sanity. As Ella’s mind starts to fracture, the characters in her project take on a life of their own.

The cast includes Aisling Franciosi, Caoilinn Springall, Stella Gonet, and Tom York.

Stopmotion made its debut in theaters February 23rd, courtesy of IFC Films,

THE GOOD

When I first watched the trailer for Stopmotion I was genuinely intrigued by what seemed to be a creepy and unique style of film. I was reminded of the creepy dollhouse and little figures created by Toni Collette’s character in one of my favorite horror films, Ari Aster’s terrifying gem Hereditary (our full review here). In that film Collette’s character is a miniaturist, which is essentially an artist who works with small-scale objects like little figurines, dolls, dollhouses etc. Obviously that is very different from the stop motion animation style of this film, but in Hereditary her work is deeply rooted in the film and I got the same vibe from Stopmotion. A few clips from the trailer also reminded me of the old Puppet Master films, so naturally I made my way to the theater hoping for a satisfying experience that would give me chills. So, did Stopmotion deliver the goods or fall flat when it mattered most? Keep reading to find out!

I may not have gotten the chills I was hoping for but Stopmotion did a lot of really good things and delivered one of the more unique experiences I have had with a horror film in some time. But it is not without it’s flaws which I will touch on later in the review. I’m not big into stop motion as an artistic medium but I get the appeal and I feel like it has a ton of potential when it comes to the horror genre thanks to the limitless creativity it provides, and the simple fact that the animation style in itself is creepy. Stopmotion takes full advantage of that by creating a dark and immersive horror film more than capable of making your skin crawl. I really liked how the film utilized stop motion animation which was no doubt terrifying at times. Plus you need to have a great score/soundtrack if you really want to set the tone with a horror film and Stopmotion delivers on that big time.

As far as the cast is concerned I was impressed with the performances and felt like each character seemed genuine and each provided value in their own way. Aisling Franciosi gets the majority of the screen time as she plays troubled stop motion animator Ella Blake. First of all, Franciosi is gorgeous in that mysterious and gothic sort of way. She offered a certain edge to her character and I felt like her performance set the tone for the film. Franciosi may not be a household name but the Irish-Italian actress has been making headway as of late starring in the 2018 revenge thriller The Nightingale (preview and trailer here), and the recently released Dracula film The Last Voyage of the Demeter (preview and trailer here). I think she is a very talented actress and has a bright future ahead of her. Starring alongside Franciosi is young actress Caoilinn Springall who starred in the 2020 sci-fi drama The Midnight Sky (preview and trailer here) alongside George Clooney, known only as little girl. I won’t give anything away but Springall is very important to the film and her chemistry with Franciosi proved to be invaluable. The rest of the supporting cast was solid as well including Tom York as Ella’s concerned boyfriend Tom.

The initial draw for me when I first heard about Stopmotion was without a doubt the visuals and the unique style of the film and it did not disappoint in that respect. The use of stop motion animation was heavily engrained in the film from the start and it created that immersive world within a world feel which I really liked. Ella’s imagination and creativity seems to flourish as the story unravels, making for some very unnerving and terrifying creations. I loved how creepy the stop motion characters looked and I really liked how as Ella continued down this dark path of her twisted imagination as she began to experiment with less traditional methods. I personally have a high tolerance and it takes a lot to bother me, and I will say that Stopmotion wasn’t afraid to push the envelope with some of the aspects of blood and gore, and even added in a bit of self mutilation for good measure. London born composer Lola de la Mata crushed it with the soundtrack which was easily one of my favorite elements of the film.

THE BAD

Stopmotion is one of those horror films that has all of the tools at it’s disposal but for one reason or another it can’t quite bring it all together to deliver a top-tier final product. As I talked about earlier in the review the film has a ton of great things to offer for fans of indie horror, it is just lacking in some areas. I would say that my biggest issue with the film is the lack of depth with the screenplay as it fails to build on the narrative that it promises. The stage was set perfectly in terms of the overall premise and the feel of the film, which was incredible at times thanks to creepy visuals and a fantastic score.

The story was supposed to center around Ella’s fractured relationship with her mother, a talented and demanding stop motion animator who taught her everything she knows while keeping her daughter under her thumb creatively. Going in I was made to believe Ella’s relationship with her mother would be the driving force for what would lead Ella on a dark path of no return, but to be honest there was nothing extreme or traumatic about their relationship that lead me to believe Ella was damaged goods. Even the events that lead to her mothers death were honestly bland and boring by horror film standards.

I just found it hard to buy into what was supposed to be fueling Ella’s journey into a morbid infatuation with her art. To bring up Hereditary again that family was seriously messed up for a reason thanks to a graphic and traumatic incident early in the film that left me with my mouth wide open with a “I can’t believe that just happened” look on my face, but viewers weren’t afforded such a powerful moment in this film which is unfortunate. I also felt like the final act did a disservice to the film as certain things just didn’t make sense and felt rushed. A film like Stopmotion lives and dies by the overall experience which is clearly rooted in the feel and the visuals, but for me the screenplay took away from the lasting appeal. Director Robert Morgan co-wrote the screenplay, and I read an interview where he explained that he personally has 20+ years of experience with stop motion animation so it seems to makes sense why the story took a back seat to the other elements of the film. I thought his overall idea was on point but in the end the execution was flawed.

THE VERDICT

Creepy and atmospheric indie horror aided by a chilling score and grotesque yet satisfying visuals, Stopmotion is an ambitious and creative genre entry but is ultimately derailed by a watered-down screenplay. The film does so many great things and I will watch it again for that reason, but it bums me out that it could have been so much better. Sure by the end of the film Ella has some serious issues, but how she reaches that point felt anticlimactic and lazy taking away from the effectiveness of what would become her eventual unraveling.

I still recommend checking out Stopmotion for the sheer uniqueness of the film, and if you can look past elements of the screenplay you will be very impressed with everything it has to offer. Plus casual horror fans will likely be in for more than a few sleepless nights.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.5/10

Stopmotion is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

I.S.S.

I.S.S. is a 2024 science fiction thriller film directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite and written by Nick Shafir. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12th, 2023.

Tensions flare in the near future aboard the International Space Station as a worldwide conflict breaks out on Earth. Reeling from this, the astronauts receive orders from the ground: take control of the station by any means necessary.

The cast includes Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Maria Mashkova, Costa Ronin, and Pilou Asbæk.

I.S.S. made its debut in theaters January 19th, courtesy of Bleecker Street. 

I’m not a huge sci-fi guy as far as the genre in general, so going into I.S.S. I had some fairly moderate expectations. When I first watched the trailer I had a feeling it would be a fairly linear film in terms of where the events take place and that was definitely the case. From my standpoint, that is both good and bad, depending on what style of film you prefer in terms of the overall experience. For me, I prefer a bit more action, or just more actual story to unfold as opposed to relying on built up tension between characters, and a larger event that you really don’t feel connected to. This style of storytelling requires significant investment from viewers otherwise they leave the theater feeling uninspired and honestly a little bit bored. I never felt a real connection to any of the characters which took away from the overall impact of the film.

With I.S.S. I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more focus on character development as far as viewers having the opportunity to get invested in the characters. The film opens with two of the characters on the rocket heading to the international space station, so you never really have a chance to get a feel for who these people were prior to the events unfolding. The film does offer up a bit of backstory as the plot unfolds but we don’t get any flashbacks or anything of that nature. I understand why they took this approach because it did seem intentional in terms of the overall claustrophobic feel of the film, but I personally would’ve preferred having the opportunity to care a little bit more about the characters. I don’t think I.S.S. was ever boring which is a positive of course, but the “keeping things moving” approach of the screenplay took away from the overall impact of the film.

From a technical standpoint I.S.S. is as bare bones as a film can be. Aside from a few exterior shots the film takes place primarily inside the space station, and don’t get me wrong it does look authentic and they did a really nice job with the set design, but as far as powerful shots or great cinematography the film really doesn’t have much to offer. It didn’t take long for me to get bored of seeing the same things over and over, which is how I imagine people aboard the space station begin to feel. I will say that I was bought in enough to appreciate all of the cool parts about adapting to life aboard the space station, like securing yourself to the wall to sleep, or opening a beverage and watching the contents slowly rise out of the bottle.

I thought the cast was solid although I don’t think anyone stood out in terms of a really spectacular performance. As I talked about the tension between the characters is the bread and butter of the film, and for the most part everyone is believable and seem bought into their characters. With that being said, the behaviors of the characters felt a bit predictable which for me really took away from the overall impact of a film like this. Chris Messina stood out to me the most which may simply be because of the fact that he is an actor that I really like, but I was impressed by Ariana DeBose in her role. I liked where things were going with John Gallagher Jr.’s character but that story arch seemed to run out of steam before it really got going which is a shame.

A linear thriller that relies heavily on effectively building tension to keep viewers engaged, I.S.S. is a mostly enjoyable film that lacks emphasis on character development. I commend the film for sticking with its identity for better or for worse, I just feel like it could have been much better with a few tweaks to the screenplay or even perhaps adding 20-minutes or so of character backstory.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.1/10

I.S.S. is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Beekeeper

The Beekeeper is a 2024 action thriller film directed by David Ayer (Fury, Suicide Squad) and written by Kurt Wimmer. It stars Jason Statham (Snatch, The Meg), Emmy Raver-Lampman (The Umbrella Academy, Blacklight), Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games film series), Bobby Naderi (Argo, Bright), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show, Creed films), and Jeremy Irons (The Lion King, House of Gucci).

"Mr. Clay" (Statham) is a former operative of a clandestine organization called "Beekeepers". After his friend and neighbor dies by suicide after falling for a phishing scam, Mr. Clay sets out to exact revenge against the company responsible.

The Beekeeper made its debut in theaters January 12th, courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.

THE GOOD

As a red-blooded American man who could easily survive months on buffalo wings and red meat, I am a Jason Statham guy through and through. I first came across his work with the 2002 film The Transporter which was a glimpse into what would become a wild career for one of the most badass actors working today. The England born actor has graced the big-screen with his chiseled jaw and shaved head for over 50 projects to date, some of my favorites being the previously mentioned The Transporter and the follow-up films, Death Race, Crank: High Voltage, The Mechanic, Homefront, his role as Deckard Shaw in the Fast and Furious films, and more recently Guy Ritchie’s heist thriller Wrath of Man (our full review here).

It can be considered a bad thing for an actor to get stuck in that vicious cycle of typecasting, but with Statham it just makes sense. He is destined to play the guy who beats the ass of each and every single person stupid enough to piss him off. Which brings me to the latest Statham project, The Beekeeper, which I have been looking forward to since the first trailer released. Did it live up to my high expectations? Keep reading to find out!

I don’t want to get ahead of myself but we may have yet another dynamic director/actor duo on our hands with David Ayer and Jason Statham because The Beekeeper was absolutely fantastic. This is easily a top 3 Statham movie for me and I dare to say it may even be my favorite which is really saying something. The sheer entertainment value of this film was just an another level. The revenge thriller genre is honestly pretty cut and dry, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is easy to put all of the pieces together to deliver what hardcore fans of the genre crave. You need an engaging story that resonates with viewers, a character that is easy to root for, and some good old fashioned 90’s style action sequences.

Jason Statham is incredible, the story had me rooting so hard for him I had to fight the urge to stand up and cheer, and the action sequences put a permanent ear to ear smile on my face. I also really liked how the film found a way to include a comedic element considering just how brutally violent it is. I don’t care what it says about me that I enjoy this type of content so much, but if you are a big fan of the revenge thriller genre like I am this movie will have you fired up. I’m not exaggerating when I say that The Beekeeper is reference material when it comes to this genre, and it was even better than I could have hoped. This is quality entertainment ladies and gentlemen, simple as that.

As far as the story is concerned, The Beekeeper is short and sweet in the sense that by the time you’ve had your second handful of popcorn Statham’s character has already cracked several skulls and is knee deep in his revenge tour. They don’t waste any time whatsoever with the screenplay, but yet they somehow still manage to set the stage perfectly in terms of building up a character that is easy to root for, and a bunch of people that are the scum of the earth and even easier to root against. Writers don’t always get the glory they deserve so I feel it is worth taking a moment to appreciate Kurt Wimmer because he is a dude, simple as that. Wimmer speaks my love language when it comes to revenge thrillers, as he also co-wrote the script for the 2009 film Law Abiding Citizen, one of my favorite films in this genre and one I have seen easily 20 times.

Watching it with people who are seeing it for the first time is one of my favorite things because of the shock and awe of certain parts of the film. The fact that critics trashed this movie is yet another reason why I despise the stereotypical out-of-touch movie critics who wouldn’t know real entertainment if it bit them right on the ass. The critic consensus for Law Abiding Citizen direct from Rotten Tomatoes is as follows: “Unnecessarily violent and unflinchingly absurd, Law Abiding Citizen is plagued by subpar acting and a story that defies reason”. Huh?! I just can’t. Do yourself a favor and check out Law Abiding Citizen ASAP if you haven’t already because this genre is seriously underappreciated.

Back to the task at hand, The Beekeeper taps into our vulnerability in the age of social media or the digital age in general, particularly those of us who are elderly and easily taken advantage of. As Statham’s character says in the film, stealing from the elderly is like stealing from a child, only worse because oftentimes the elderly are left to fend for themselves with nobody looking after them. I despise people who take advantage of good people for personal gain, and this idea of fighting for the helpless against those hell bent on ruining lives just to make a dollar sure makes for some quality entertainment.

Plus this form of fraud, although exaggerated in terms of the technology used for the purposes of the film, remains a very serious problem today. Phishing scams are as prominent as they have ever been considering the fact that just clicking a link could open the floodgates as far as your personal information. I also appreciated how The Beekeeper still managed to have a comedic element amid the violence and subject matter in general which felt reminiscent of the John Wick films.

I was very impressed by the cast for The Beekeeper, and as I have made fairly clear I thought this was one of Statham’s best movies in terms of how it played to his strengths. He does best work as the brooding man of few words as he takes out the scum of the earth one by one, and he is on another level here. I feel like Statham has built enough of a following at this point to where his name alone can fill a theater as long as the trailer looks like fun. It was cool to see Josh Hutcherson as a bad guy, and I thought he was great in this role. Hutcherson plays this power hungry entitled little a-hole who finds satisfaction in ruining the lives of others. Bottom line, his character is very easy to hate which helps to progress the story. Veteran actor Jeremy Irons is fantastic as always in his role.

I’m not real familiar with singer and actress Emmy Raver-Lampman who plays FBI agent Verona Parker who is also the daughter of the elderly woman Statham’s character is out to avenge. Raver-Lampman ends up on a bit of a collision course with Statham as she teeters on hunting down the man leaving a pile of bodies in his wake, or letting him exact some much-needed vigilante justice. She reminded me of Terrence Howard’s character in The Brave One. I haven’t seen it but apparently she is in the series The Umbrella Academy which seems to be the thing she is best known for according to her filmography. As a seemingly unknown actress I thought she was really good here and I hope this role leads to more opportunities for her. I also really liked Bobby Naderi as Parker’s partner. The two had really good chemistry and he provided a nice balance of a sympathetic character who had an obvious appreciation for the vigilante justice he was witnessing first hand.

From a technical standpoint I have two words, holy shit. The Beekeeper is an hour and 45 minutes of Jason Statham kicking ass in the coolest way possible. I felt every punch and broken bone as it reverberated through the theater speakers, and each one was more satisfying than the last. The fight sequences were great, whether Statham was relying on old fashioned hand-to-hand combat or lighting bad guys up John Wick style with a hail of gunfire. The Beekeeper has some unique and sometimes hilarious kills as well, showing off some impressive creativity. The final fight Statham gets into with Taylor James’ character Lazarus which felt like the boss battle was brutal and so damn satisfying.

Lazarus is this psychotic South African mercenary who feels like he came straight from David Ayers’ The Suicide Squad and he is the first person to even come close to putting a dent in Statham’s seemingly bulletproof character. Speaking of Ayer he deserves a ton of credit for what he was able to accomplish here, further reinforcing the fact that he is more than deserving of big-time opportunities in this business. I also thought the soundtrack was perfect in the way that it matched the intensity of the film, because it is never boring not even for a second. Because The Beekeeper wastes very little time getting the action going it relies heavily on the technical elements and everything was top notch.

THE BAD

I can honestly say that I had very few issues with this film, particularly anything that I would say took away from its overall potential. With that being said, you can certainly pick apart this style of film if you want to nitpick specific details, but at the end of the day similar to the John Wick films, The Beekeeper sort of exists on the edge of reality. As an example as far as the story viewers needed to become invested quickly to allow what happened next to really matter, and that required some expedited storytelling to set the stage for the revenge tour. This of course comes at the expense of what people would deem “unrealistic” but at the end of the day film is escapism so I am more than okay with this approach. If you want to sit back and say “oh that would never happen” or “that person would never do that”, you may want to stick with documentaries or biographical dramas. Just my opinion.

THE VERDICT

An absolute gem of a revenge thriller that will have hardcore genre fans smiling ear to ear and begging for more, The Beekeeper is vintage Jason Statham and a cinematic triumph for director David Ayer. I don’t know how else so say it, I just loved this movie from start to finish, and it is hands down my most enjoyable theater experience so far this year. I get that it is still early, but the bar has been set. Call me old fashioned but when it comes to replay value I simply can’t get enough of watching good guys beat the crap out of bad guys, which is why I can’t wait to see this again.

I really hope the film has enough success to justify a sequel, but if not I will happily watch The Beekeeper on repeat once it hits Blu-ray. Do yourself a favor and see this bad boy in theaters ASAP, you can thank me later.

And just remember, The Beekeeper always protects the hive.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.2/10

The Beekeeper is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Night Swim

Night Swim is a 2024 supernatural horror film written and directed by Bryce McGuire, and based on the 2014 short film of the same name by McGuire and Rod Blackhurst. The film stars Wyatt Russell (22 Jump Street, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Kerry Condon (Better Call Saul, The Banshees of Inisherin), Amélie Hoeferle (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), and Gavin Warren (First Man).

Ray Waller (Russell) is a former major league baseball player forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness. He moves into a new home with his concerned wife Eve (Condon) and their two children (Hoeferle and Warren). Secretly hoping, against the odds, to return to pro ball, Ray persuades Eve that the new home’s shimmering backyard swimming pool will be fun for the kids and provide physical therapy for him. But a dark secret in the home’s past will unleash a malevolent force that will drag the family under, into the depths of inescapable terror.

James Wan and Jason Blum serve as producers under their Atomic Monster and Blumhouse Productions banners, respectively.

Night Swim made its debut in theaters January 5th, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

I’m a big fan of Blumhouse and will give anything they do a chance, plus the trailers for Night Swim were fantastic in my opinion. Early on I couldn’t quite wrap my brain around how this premise would make for a feature-length film, but I was intrigued nonetheless. Not only did it seem like the production value for the film was top-notch, I really liked the cast which featured Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon who was amazing in last years award-winning drama The Banshees of Inisherin (our full review here).

So as the film neared release I reached out to a buddy of mine asking if he wanted to tag along and his exact words were “I’m not going to see a stupid PG-13 horror movie about a swimming pool”. I tend to take what he says with a grain of salt but he did have a point. Nonetheless, you know damn well I had my ass planted in that comfy movie theater seat with a warm bucket of popcorn hoping I would have the opportunity to tell him he missed out. So, was Night Swim a pleasant surprise or was the seemingly ridiculous premise just too much? Keep reading to find out!

Alright so I didn’t exactly call him up right away and tell him how stupid he was for not coming to see the movie with me, but I did send him a text that was likely much more positive than he expected. Considering the fact that my expectations were in check for the most part Night Swim actually had some good qualities as far as horror films go. Once the title hit the screen at the end right before the credits, I felt okay about it. I had my issues for sure which I will talk more about later, but the overall experience felt polished with great production value and some really good acting from the cast, as well as all of the great technical elements you would want from a horror film including an eerie score and some very creepy and effective visuals. Plus at the end of the day if you are easily scared Night Swim at the very least will surely keep you out of the swimming pool for awhile.

I knew the cast would be a strength for the film going in and that was the case. Although he won’t be mistaken for a A-list actor anytime soon I have become a fan of Wyatt Russell, the son of cinema legends Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. Russell has been afford some decent opportunities as of late which he has taken advantage of, including a role in Richard Linklater’s 2016 film Everybody Wants Some!! (full review here), the Marvel series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and the new sci-fi series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, also starring his dad. Russell has proven he has legit range as an actor and I really liked him in this role.

Starring alongside Russell is Kerry Condon and I thought she was great. She took on the role of the sympathetic wife and mother who was began to suspect something wasn’t right pretty early on and I thought she was believable throughout the film. The son and daughter are played by Gavin Warren and Amélie Hoeferle and I liked both of their characters. All things considered I thought both delivered very solid performances and helped to keep up the eerie feel of the film. As I said overall the cast was very much a bright spot for the film.

As outlandish as the premise seems on paper, Night Swim actually has some decent material to work with as far as the screenplay. There is definitely more than meets the eye as far as the origin of the story behind this sinister swimming pool, and I was actually impressed with the core of the overall story. In some ways the premise resembles The Amityville Horror in the sense that it is very much a haunted house type film with the element of evil stemming from this swimming pool. Unfortunately they had plenty of missteps in terms of where they decided to take the story which is unfortunate, but I will talk more about that later. Just the fact that I wasn’t just shaking my head for the majority of the film felt like a win.

THE BAD

Night Swim managed to surprise me in many ways but by the end it felt like a missed opportunity. As I mentioned the production value was top notch and the acting was above average, but the screenplay for all of its promise held the film back. Early on it felt to me like the setup was damn near perfect in terms of establishing backstory and getting viewers invested. I found myself genuinely intrigued as the story unfolded and I wanted to know what would happen next, until I didn’t. Unfortunately the story seemed to stumble and run out of steam right around the third act as it struggled to maintain that gritty horror feel. Bottom line, this movie absolutely needed to have an R-rating, simple as that. I just feel like this movie needed to be much darker to realize the vision they were hinting at from the beginning, but it just wasn’t meant to be.

To be honest I get really annoyed when these horror films decide to go PG-13 essentially handcuffing themselves when it comes to the hard-hitting horror films genre fans like myself gravitate towards like The Ring, Sinister, Hereditary, The Dark and the Wicked, or the more recent horror film Smile (our full review here). What these films have in common is a story that sticks with you because of how intense and gut-wrenching the film is by the final act. In order to make a PG-13 horror film really work, you need to be incredibly creative or simply embrace the fact that you aren’t really trying to terrify viewers. I am confident that if Night Swim went with a R-rating it would have been much more effective and another notch in the belt for Jason Blum and Blumhouse.

THE VERDICT

A serviceable horror thriller with above average production value and a talented cast, Night Swim brings to the surface some effective scares but is ultimately confined to the shallow end by a PG-13 rating. This could have been so much better, but to say it is unwatchable really isn’t fair. Casual horror fans will have plenty to be excited about with Night Swim and will likely avoid the pool for awhile, but unfortunately decisions were made that just left too much meat on the bone. At the very least this is something a little different and if you go in with tempered expectations it is worth a watch.

TED TAKES RATING - 5.6/10

Night Swim is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Ferrari

Ferrari is a 2023 biographical drama film directed by Michael Mann and written by Troy Kennedy Martin about Enzo Ferrari, the Italian founder of the car manufacturer Ferrari. It is based on the 1991 biography Enzo Ferrari: The Man and the Machine by motorsport journalist Brock Yates.

Set during the summer of 1957, the pic finds ex-Formula 1 racer Enzo Ferrari in crisis. Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing 10 years earlier. Their tempestuous marriage struggles with the mourning for their one son. Ferrari struggles with the acknowledgment of another. His drivers’ lust to win pushes them out to the edge. He wagers all in a roll of the dice on one race, the treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy, the iconic Mille Miglia.

The cast includes Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Gabriel Leone, Patrick Dempsey, Sarah Gadon, and Jack O’Connell.

Ferrari made its debut in theaters on December 25th, courtesy of Neon.

THE GOOD

Actor Adam Driver first landed on my radar with the HBO Original raunchy comedy-drama series Girls when it premiered back in 2012. The series which was created by Lena Dunham who I have mixed opinions on but I won’t get into that here, was fantastic for the most part. It is often described as a raunchier younger-aged version of Sex in the City, and if you haven’t seen it I highly recommend it. Although the series focuses on the female characters hence the name, Driver who appears in 49 of the 62 total episodes plays an incredibly impactful role as the very unique and troubled former boyfriend of the main character played by Dunham.

He was easily a favorite of mine in the series and his character development was a big reason why the series worked so well in my opinion. We would next see Driver in a small role in the underrated Coen brothers drama Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), a big role as Kylo Ren in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019), one of his best performances in the drama Paterson (2016), and a very impactful role alongside Matt Damon in Ridley Scott’s 2021 film, The Last Duel (our full review here). Bottom line, Driver has risen as one of the more talented and versatile actors so it came as no surprise to me that he would be offered the role of Enzo Ferrari. My appreciation for Driver as well as my interest in the history of the well-known car brand had me very excited to check this film out at release. So, was Ferrari yet another opportunity for Driver to shine as an actor, or was it a misstep in his career? Keep reading to find out!

Adam Driver was phenomenal in what I would say was easily one of his best and most transformative roles, and I personally thoroughly enjoyed Ferrari. The film has its faults and may rub some viewers the wrong way which I will talk about later in the review, but when it comes to all of the important elements that make a great film it delivers. Driver is nearly unrecognizable as the incredibly flawed Enzo Ferrari with his slicked-back gray hair and stylish black sunglasses. He looks much older in the film and carries a certain confidence about him that was a trademark of the Ferrari founder. The cast in general was really good here, but the film also shines when it comes to the incredible setting as we get a look at how absolutely beautiful Italy is.

I had my issues with how the story unfolded at times which I will also talk more about later, but by the end of the film, I felt like everything came together and more than anything else I felt like it offered a clear albeit complex view of Enzo Ferrari. The film is about 70% focused on the personal lives of the characters making the racing element of the film feel like a bit of an afterthought. I was fine with this approach as it felt necessary considering everything that transpired, it just feels worth mentioning so people have a better idea of what to expect when going to see the film. Ferrari is a bit slow-moving in the sense that it is a character-driven film, so viewers looking for more of a thriller to keep them engaged will be disappointed.

I touched on it already but the biggest strength of the film is the cast, primarily the performance from Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari. Fans of Driver will be enthralled by his performance as he truly becomes someone else right before your eyes. Driver was already one of my favorite actors as I mentioned earlier but his performance here just further reinforced my appreciation of his work. This was not an easy role to play as it required a great deal of emotion and just an overall genuine feel of who this man was, and he crushed it. Acting alongside Driver was the beautiful Penélope Cruz as Laura Ferrari. A strong-willed woman who dealt with a great deal of heartbreak in her life, I was very impressed by her performance and thought she had a natural chemistry with Driver. Plus I felt for her character which speaks to how much emotion she was able to display on-screen.

Shailene Woodley stars as the centerpiece of Enzo Ferrari’s double-life, and I enjoyed her performance as well. I did feel like in many ways she was overshadowed by Cruz’s performance, but that was inevitable as she played such a big role in the story from the start. The supporting cast was a bit split as far as screen-time is concerned, but I thought Gabriel Leone was great as Alfonso de Portago, Jack O’Connell delivered as he always does as Peter Collins, and last but not least my guy Patrick Dempsey was fantastic as the handsome silver fox veteran racer, Piero Taruffi.

From a technical standpoint, Ferrari is polished and shining right down to the rims. It was apparent right away that the finer elements of filmmaking would be prioritized, and that had been excited from the jump. I am big on a film that loves to try and tell a story with powerful shots and immersive cinematography, and that was my experience with Ferrari. As a character-driven biographical drama film, it was important for viewers to feel like they could experience things from the perspective of Enzo Ferrari during the summer of 1957, and I felt like they did that. It was evident throughout who would be the focal point of the film, I mean granted the title gives it away, but it all prioritized Ferrari and his relentless fight to preserve his company in the face of an incredibly messy personal life.

Talented cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt did a great job maximizing what he had at his disposal shooting on location in Italy, offering a ton of fabulous shots that helped to tell this important story. I was also very impressed by the score from composer Daniel Pemberton as it helped to fuel the more emotional and tragic moments during the film. I also thought the period details for the late 50s were spot on, from the wardrobes to the cars, right down to the overall filming style. Credit to director Michael Mann for his vision and work behind the camera, and also to Troy Kennedy Martin for a very impactful screenplay.

THE BAD

Ferrari isn’t a perfect film from the standpoint that it may not appeal to a broader audience for a few reasons, but the biggest reason is that it is intended for true film lovers and those with a genuine interest in the subject matter. For example, all of the elements that make a great film are well above average making this a real treat for film enthusiasts, but that does come at a price. Although it was a wide-release film in many ways Ferrari feels like a limited release in the sense that it is very clearly not overly concerned with winning over mainstream audiences with all of the bells and whistles sort of speak. At its core, the film is a deconstruction of Enzo Ferrari with a focus on his messy personal life. The bottom line, those expecting a fast-paced and exciting film about racing will be disappointed. If you need to scratch that itch I suggest checking out Gran Turismo (our full review here) which is now streaming on Netflix.

Ferrari also feels a bit confusing at times in terms of the story to the point where I felt like I was missing important things. Luckily it all comes together in the third act as it was seemingly intentional as far as just trying to leave breadcrumbs for viewers, I just think they could have done a better job of how they approached this method of storytelling. I also found the special effects to be a bit off at times in terms of realism, but that didn’t take too much away from the film. Some people have complained that it was hard to always understand the dialogue because of strong accents, and I did notice this at times as well but not enough to say it was a big concern.

THE VERDICT

A compelling and deeply emotional biographical drama fueled by a monster performance from Adam Driver, Ferrari is a slower-paced character-driven film that requires patience from viewers as the story unfolds. Just be patient though because the final act is next-level intense. As I talked about during the review the film may feel a bit slow for the average moviegoer lacking interest in the subject matter, but there is a ton to appreciate here for those of us who appreciate the finer elements of filmmaking. Just don’t expect an adrenaline-fueled racing film because this is not that type of movie. Driver continues to make his case as one of the more intriguing actors working today, and the rich history behind the Ferrari brand alone makes this film worth your time.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.8/10

Ferrari is now streaming on Hulu. Check out the latest trailer below.

Migration

Migration is a 2023 computer-animated adventure comedy film directed by Benjamin Renner, co-directed by Guylo Homsy, and written by Mike White (creator of The White Lotus). Produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures, the film features the voices of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, David Mitchell, Carol Kane, Casper Jennings, Tresi Gazal, and Danny DeVito. The story follows a family of mallards who try to convince their overprotective father to go on a vacation of a lifetime and attempt to migrate from New England, through New York City, and to Jamaica.

Illumination announced Migration in February 2022, with Renner, Homsy, and White attached as director, co-director, and writer, respectively. Renner, who had previously helmed traditionally animated films, was tasked with adapting his simple drawing style for a computer-animated film. In hiring Renner, studio head and producer Chris Meledandri sought to focus on a filmmaker's vision for the project in comparison with Illumination's recent films. John Powell will compose the score, marking his second collaboration with Illumination following The Lorax (2012).

Migration made its debut in theaters on December 22nd, courtesy of Illumination.

THE GOOD

I had been looking forward to Migration for a while now not only because it just looked like it would be a really good animated film, but because it was an opportunity to once again share my love for cinema with my two boys. My little guys are 3 and just turning 5, and they had seen the trailers at least 30 times, watching them on repeat on several occasions. They couldn’t get enough of the part where the pigeon (voiced by the hilarious Awkwafina) gets hit by a bus, laughing uncontrollably at this part every single time. It put a smile on my face seeing how excited they were for this movie, so as soon as it hit theaters we grabbed our Minions: The Rise of Gru (our full review here) popcorn pale and made our way to the theater. So, was our latest movie outing a success or did we have to make an early exit to the arcade? Keep reading to find out!

Great news! We did find ourselves in the arcade eventually, but not until after we enjoyed what turned out to be another great animated comedy from the crew over at Illumination! Migration is hilarious, exciting, and heartwarming, and for me, that is the recipe for success when it comes to a good old-fashioned family film. I was immediately drawn in by the incredible chemistry between the cast of voice actors, as well as the vibrant and expansive animation style of the film. Just as the story is about seeking adventure and allowing yourself the opportunity to experience new things, the film feels like it opens up to this big and exciting new world allowing viewers to experience all of the feelings right along with the characters.

I liked the great underlying message as far as the story, and I felt like they did a fantastic job giving each character their own special moment. My 3-year-old and 5-year-old never took their eyes off the screen during the entire film, and that alone is an achievement. Granted I continued to shovel popcorn into their bowls at a moment’s notice and my 3-year-old had to sit on my lap during one of the “scarier” scenes, but all in all pretty damn good if you ask me. After a very positive experience taking my oldest to see Minions: The Rise of Gru and now with how much we enjoyed Migration, it is safe to say Illumination is winning over my household.

What I felt was unique about Migration was the fact that even though the list of voice actors is on the smaller side in terms of recognizable names, it is still one of the film’s biggest strengths. I feel like these days so many of these animated films try and overwhelm viewers with big names to the point where the poster looks like the end credits with just name after name after name to make you think it is worth watching. Migration instead hones in on a select group of voice talent that brings immense chemistry to the screen making for a very special cinematic experience. I am a big fan of Kumail Nanjiani and have been since he did the hilarious HBO comedy Silicon Valley. He has since blown up quite a bit as an actor, starring in The Big Sick (2017), Stuber (2019), The Lovebirds (2020), and Eternals (2021). Now as a comedian turned actor humor is his biggest strength, but he has proven he does have the ability to be versatile as an actor. In Migration, he is perfect as the protective and very overbearing father with a big heart. I just love how energetic Nanjiani’s voice can be which makes him quite an asset for a film like this.

Starring alongside Nanjiani is the talented Elizabeth Banks, who voices his wife Pam. I feel like Banks is a bit underrated as an actress when it comes to overall talent as well as the fact that she now also directs, including the films Pitch Perfect 2 (2015), Charlie’s Angels (2019), and the recently released ridiculous action comedy Cocaine Bear (our full review here) - now streaming on Prime Video. As far as her part in Migration, her chemistry with Nanjiani was a huge sell for me as their relationship as parents was a big reason why the film worked so well. They played off of each other perfectly, and I just loved how everything came together for them. I mean sure we are talking about animated ducks here, but it all just felt so genuine to me. The rest of the supporting cast was awesome as well, with Tresi Gazal and Casper Jennings voicing the kids Dax and Gwen, Awkwfina as the fast-talking pigeon Chump, and my guy Danny DeVito as Uncle Dan, who as always is incredibly recognizable as far as his voice. Also a well-deserved shoutout to Keegan-Michael Key, who has been on a run lately after also starring in Wonka (our full review here).

On the technical side of things, I thought Migration was damn near flawless as expected. Illumation has a great grasp on their style of animation especially when it comes to appealing to young kids, and once my little guys became obsessed with the trailer I knew it was going to be a winner. Everything just looks so good and feels so immersive, making sure that eyes stay glued to the screen which is always a plus for parents. I feel like most kids’ movies these days rely on the musical element to help keep kids engaged, but Illumination has proven that they can be just as effective with great animation, a good balance of humor, and quality storytelling. So yeah, for my money the film looked fantastic. And as far as the soundtrack is concerned, the talented John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Don’t Worry Darling), crushed it yet again in his second collaboration with Illumiation after 2012’s The Lorax.

THE BAD

Although I won’t sit here and act like this is the next great family film, Migration does everything that matters well. The story is fun and immersive, and viewers will have a blast with the incredibly likable characters, and that is what you hope for with these movies. It just won’t be mentioned when it comes to the conversation of the next great animated film as it doesn’t do anything exceptionally well as they didn’t try to reinvent the wheel sort of speak as far as the style of the animation etc, and honestly that is more than okay.

Illumination successfully delivered a damn good film that I will surely add to my Blu-ray collection. Now with younger children who tend to struggle during the “scarier” scenes in these films, they had a few moments where my 3-year-old wanted to sit in my lap but they were few and far between. Mostly just a chef who looked like he worked in a restaurant in Portland, Maine, trying to turn the cute ducks into an entrée. Nothing like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (our full review here), which may have scarred my kids for life thanks to that damn wolf, although it was a fantastic film and highly recommended. Sure I am exaggerating slightly, but it did keep them from going to the theater for several months.

THE VERDICT

A hilarious and heartwarming story featuring incredible chemistry from the cast of voice actors, Migration soars into the clouds as yet another fantastic family-friendly adventure from the talented team at Illumination. I had a great time with this film, but more importantly, my kids loved it, and having the ability to share my love for cinema with them always melts my heart. Migration quite simply serves up all of the important ingredients that you need for a successful family comedy while dashing in just enough of the grab-the-tissue moments along the way. So do yourself a favor and load the kids up in the old minivan to give momma a break and head to the theater, everyone will thank you later.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.2/10

Migration is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Iron Claw

The Iron Claw is a 2023 biographical sports drama film written and directed by Sean Durkin, based on the life of professional wrestler Kevin Von Erich and the Von Erich family.

The story of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of wrestlers from the 1960s onwards that had enormous success, and popularized the iron claw professional wrestling hold. However, they not only had to battle inside the ring, but fight the "Von Erich curse" outside of it.

The talented cast includes Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons, Holt McCallany, and Lily James.

The Iron Claw made its debut in theaters on December 22nd, courtesy of A24.

THE GOOD

If you have read any of the reviews that Andrew or myself have put out into the world odds are you are aware of our fanboy-level obsession with all things A24. You can pretty much guarantee that if they attach their name to a project, it will be worth watching. And I remember when they first announced The Iron Claw and teased the cast, Andrew and I were ecstatic. I mean their involvement was enough to get our asses in the seats on opening day, but the cast they put together was noteworthy. I grew up around wrestling to a certain extent mainly because my cousin was obsessed to the point where my uncle would order the big Wrestlemania’s on Pay Per View, and we even played the videogames. Admittedly I enjoyed the spectacle of it all, and the entertainment value was undeniable. The Rock, The Undertaker, Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and many more, these guys earned every dollar and made sure each one of these big events was memorable.

Admittedly I had zero knowledge of the Von Erich family and what they meant to the world of wrestling in the 70’s and the 80’s, but the fact that this film was going to tell their story had me intrigued. Instead of doing research in advance, I decided to hold off and be surprised once the film hit theaters. So, did The Iron Claw meet or exceed my high expectations for the latest film from A24? Keep reading to find out!

Wow, just wow. This movie was seriously so damn good, and from the glorious black and white opening sequence I was basically in awe right up until the end credits, at which time I was a mess by the way which I will talk more about later. As I said I went in blind as far as the story behind the Von Erich family, and to say I was blown away would be an understatement. Just so incredibly powerful and tragic, and to be honest it is hard to even fathom the fact that the events that transpired in the film actually happened.

People like to talk about how fake wrestling is but this story is a reminder that there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to the sport of wrestling, and the big and not so big names who put it on the map in its heyday. I thought the screenplay was pretty much flawless. As far as the cast which I was personally extra excited about, man they crushed it. The soundtrack was incredible as it brought viewers back to the late 70’s/early 80’s. I feel like Blue Oyster Cult’s 1976 song (Don’t Fear) The Reaper is in everything in the last 20 years or so, and trust me I am not complaining.

The star of the show for The Iron Claw is without a doubt the story, and boy did it hit me like a freight train. Now as I said I went in with little to no knowledge of what to expect in terms of the history of the Von Erich family, and I am glad I did. At just over 2 hours they barely fit into this film the tragedy that this family experienced over the years, personally and professionally, and I honestly found myself just shaking my head like how is this even possible? The primary theme of the film is this so-called “Von Erich curse”, which was attached to the family early on in the career of Fritz Von Erich (born Jack Barton Adkisson) after they experienced the first of many unimaginable tragedies.

For the film to successfully tell this story in a way that effectively captivates viewers on an emotional level, it was important to tap into the psyche of this family so that as the story unfolded you felt the weight of what was happening, and just the sheer magnitude of it all. It honestly felt suffocating at times, and this speaks to how they told this story in such a raw and intimate way. At times throughout the film, we hear Kevin Von Erich narrating just to add emotional weight to the film, and I thought this was very effective.

I mean I could seriously talk about this film for hours and hours just in terms of what this family endured, and I am honestly still in a state of disbelief. At its core, this story is about the unbreakable bond of family and the idea of the relentless pursuit of the so-called “American Dream”. Just like the trademark wrestling move that inspired the film’s title, The Iron Claw crushed me by the end leaving me reaching for the tissues. I experienced head-to-toe chills a few times as this was without question one of the best screenplays in recent memory.

If there was ever a time Zac Efron was deserving of some serious credit as an actor, that time is now. I was feeling pretty good about absolutely demolishing an entire bucket of delicious warm buttery popcorn until Efron showed up on-screen. I mean seriously, holy shit did he get jacked for this movie. He’s been pretty shredded as of late anyway but I swear he doubled his muscle. As a straight man who is very comfortable with his sexuality, his physique is a damn distraction, and I don’t even feel weird admitting that. Like, his muscles had muscles. His co-stars described him as a maniac because of his transformation as he prepared for his latest endeavor. Now physical prowess aside, Efron crushes this role. This is easily his best performance to date, and the emotion he was able to bring to his character simply blew me away.

As a member of the family tragedy brigade, a group I would not wish on anyone but a close-knit group nonetheless, his character resonated with me on a very personal level. From a big family myself with four boys that has always lacked the emotional maturity to navigate significant tragedy, many times throughout the film I felt the emotions Efron’s character was feeling in such a way that it almost felt surreal. I could go on all day talking about how my life felt connected to that of Kevin Von Erich, but I will tone it back for this review. The final act of the film was just a masterclass from Efron, and if he doesn’t get consideration come awards time I will be rioting, simple as that. I didn’t think it was possible to like him more as an actor than I already did.

I had to start with Efron because he is the focal point of the film, but The Iron Claw includes a ton of amazing performances which I will try to touch on without turning this review into a novel. Holt McCallany, who I have been a fan of since the amazing Netflix series Mindhunter, takes on the role of family patriarch Fritz Von Erlich. I’m going to refer to him as Holt mainly because I am too lazy to ensure I spell his last name correctly each time, but as an actor, he just has a certain presence about him that was perfect for this role. The Von Erich family is old school in the sense that they lived by a certain code that Fritz instilled in them from a very young age, and where they could not effectively communicate emotion they made up for it with hard work and perseverance. I thought Holt brought the right amount of charisma and stoic energy to the role to ensure that the entire family dynamic came together.

Alongside Holt is Maura Tierney as the family matriarch, Doris Von Erich. I thought Tierney was great in this role as you could see the pain in her face as she suffered tragedy no mother should ever have to experience. I loved each actor’s portrayal of the brothers, but my favorite performances aside from Efron were Harris Dickinson as David Van Erich, and Shameless and The Bear star Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Van Erich. Dickinson has been making a name for himself as of late starring in The King’s Man (2021), Triangle of Sadness (2022), and Where the Crawdads Sing (2022). He plays an important role as David Von Erich who although he is the 3rd born in the family, is still one of the siblings that is integral to the personal and professional success of the family, and Dickinson nailed it.

Speaking of actors being on a hot streak, Jeremy Allen White seems to have become a household name overnight after the success of the Hulu comedy-drama series The Bear. White plays Kerry Von Erich, formerly an accomplished Olympic athlete, who ended up having one of the most notable wrestling careers in the Von Erich family. I knew I would enjoy his role in the film and he delivered. White is proving himself as one of the most capable dramatic actors working today, and this role serves as yet another notch in his belt.

I was very impressed by Stanley Simons, a relatively unknown actor, as he took on the role of Mike Von Erich. In many ways, Mike seemed to be the black sheep of the family in the earlier years, and Simons did a great job becoming his character. I liked Lily James in her role as the wife of Kevin due to the strong chemistry she shared with Efron. Like I said I could go on and on talking about the performances, but the entire cast was incredible, and the physical transformations for Efron and White in particular put the performances over the top for me.

From a technical standpoint, where do I even start?! I mean seriously, The Iron Claw transports viewers back to the late 70’s/early 80’s in such a way that at one point I thought I would walk out of the theater and people would be rocking crop tops and tracksuits. Writer/director Sean Durkin deserves a ton of credit for all that he achieved with this film. The costume and set design was just incredible as it brought this world to life and made sure that these actors transcended their actual identities and became the Von Erich family. From the outfits to the hair, the the cars used in the film, the vintage feel was evident throughout.

The camera work was fantastic as well, adding a great in-your-face feel to some of the more dramatic sequences. And last but not least, I loved, loved, loved the score and soundtrack for The Iron Claw. I am a sucker for late 70’s/early 80’s rock, and the film included some classics from bands like Blue Oyster Cult and Rush, as well as present-day artists like Doja Cat and Jack Harlow. Just a great overall mix of tracks, brought together seamlessly by a hard-hitting score from composer Richard Reed Parry.

THE BAD

This is top-notch filmmaking from top to bottom, simple as that. But with that being said, the subject matter of the film could easily prove to be too much for some viewers. Most notably the film portrays the incredibly difficult subject of suicide, and it is a focal point for a good portion of the film. So if that is a subject you are especially sensitive to I would proceed with caution, but otherwise I can’t think of any other issues I had with the film.

THE VERDICT

An incredibly tragic and powerful true story about the unbreakable bond of family anchored by a captivating masterclass of performance from actor Zac Efron, The Iron Claw is one of those rare cinematic experiences that culminate in a heartbreaking and transcendent final act. I honestly can’t stop thinking about this movie, and I am still having a difficult time wrapping my brain around what this family went through. Although it deals with a very difficult subject matter, The Iron Claw is an exceptional film that needs to be experienced in theaters.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.5/10

The Iron Claw is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Wonka

Wonka is a 2023 musical fantasy film directed by Paul King (Paddington, Paddington 2), who co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby. It tells the origin story of Willy Wonka, a character in Roald Dahl's 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.

The film stars Timothée Chalamet taking on the lead role of Willy Wonka, featuring his early days as an eccentric chocolatier. The cast also includes newcomer Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Tom Davis, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Grant.

Wonka made its debut in theaters on December 15th, 2023, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

THE GOOD

I’ll start by saying I’m not a big fan of musicals, and to be honest I tend to avoid them when possible. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I still have yet to see La La Land, and I LOVE me some Ryan Gosling. Sure I have been taken by surprise and I have enjoyed my fair share of musicals, like The Greatest Showman or Dear Evan Hansen, but in general to say that I don’t seek them out would be an understatement. Now I am always willing to give a musical a chance if it has enough redeeming qualities that interest me, and as a big fan of the original 1971 film Wonka deserved a shot. So, was it worth my time or was I in for a long and painful two hours? Keep reading to find out!

I will get to the point right away, Wonka won me over right from the start. I thought the cast was just fantastic, the story was simple yet immersive and full of life, and the film captured that feeling of unrelenting optimism and positivity in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. In many ways, this is the type of film people need right now, as Willy Wonka reminds us that sometimes we just need to stay the course and believe things will work out in the end. I found myself rooting for him from the start, and the backstory involving his mother hit me pretty hard as well. Trust me when I say that the film does include a strong emotional element, and may even require a few tissues.

I was impressed with how well each character was able to develop and become an important part of the overall story, and I also thought they did a great job balancing the “Willy Wonka Magic” in a way that never really felt too silly or over-the-top. I was genuinely intrigued by Wonka’s creations and was tempted on several occasions to make my way to concessions for some chocolate. Most importantly I thought the film offered the perfect balance of musical and feel-good comedy, making it so people who are fans of both genres have more than enough to sink their teeth into. The film is also very funny without trying too hard which speaks to the talent of the cast.

I enjoyed so many things about Wonka, but star Timothée Chalamet stole the show. I read an interview with director Paul King where he said that Chalamet was his choice for the role right from the start to the point where he didn’t even require him to audition. King said he watched some videos of Chalamet during his high school days and knew he had the singing and dancing talent. Bottom line, this director’s intuition made this movie in my opinion. Similar to how Tom Holland was able to capture the essence of the character of Peter Parker in Spider-Man, Chalamet brings that feel of boyhood wonder needed for the early years of an optimistic and kind-to-a-fault Willy Wonka. I already knew that Chalamet was leading the way for the next generation of Hollywood stars before Wonka, I would dare to say he is the next DiCaprio in terms of his talent and versatility as an actor, but this performance undoubtedly paves the way for a resurgence of this film franchise.

The supporting cast was fantastic as well and I loved my guy Keegan-Michael Key as the Chief of Police. Key is the perfect well-intentioned bumbling police chief who is driven by his love for chocolate, which lands him on the wrong side of justice with quite the waistline. I was impressed with actress Calah Lane as she took on the role of Noodle, the orphaned girl who sticks her neck out for Chalamet’s Wonka creating what becomes an unbreakable bond. Her story is equally heartbreaking and amazing, and I just loved everything about her character. Lane is fairly unknown as an actress but something tells me that after her performance here and proving that she can act alongside the talent of Chalamet, we will be hearing her name again sooner than later. English actor and comedian Tom Davis was fantastic in his role as Bleacher, and Olivia Colman was equally as enjoyable alongside him as the scheming and untrustworthy Mrs. Scrubitt. Big shoutout to Jim Carter, Rich Fulcher, Rakhee Thakrar, and Natasha Rothwell as the tremendous crew trapped in Mrs. Scrubitt’s laundry who welcomes Wonka with open arms. I loved all four characters and looked forward to each time they were on-screen. Matt Lucas, Paterson Joseph, and Mathew Baynton are also really good as the film’s primary antagonists. Oh and don’t even get me going on Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa, so good.

From a technical standpoint, Wonka is just fantastic. From the costumes, set design, and special effects, it all just felt true to the world they were attempting to create with this film. Viewers needed to buy into the idea of a young Willy Wonka and how his adventure began at a young age, and in my opinion, they accomplished that, and then some. This world felt full of life and more importantly, it never felt too far from reality, even with all of the wild tricks Wonka had up his sleeve. The original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, is a wacky film, and honestly a bit creepy at times, so I was curious as to how they would incorporate the “magic” of Willy Wonka without going too far. Wonka still manages to be plenty wacky, but I felt like it managed to have a great buffer between Willy Wonka’s limitless imagination and the real-world element the film was attempting to convey. Bottom line, as a prequel to a film that is an absolute classic, I’m not sure they could have done a better job.

THE BAD

I didn’t have many issues with Wonka, to be honest. It was an enjoyable film from start to finish, and considering I’m not a big fan of musicals it easily could have rubbed me the wrong way. But as far as musicals go I will say that I didn’t find the soundtrack to be as catchy as I thought it would be. I figured I would be hearing the original songs in my head for the next few days at least, and that wasn’t the case. When I saw The Greatest Showman or Dear Evan Hansen, I played the soundtracks at home several times after seeing the movies. Maybe part of the reason was the fact that Wonka balanced the musical element with that of a great coming-of-age story, never relying too much on the music. As I made pretty clear in my review I found this to be a positive, but fans of musicals may expect a bit more so I figured it was worth pointing out.

THE VERDICT

Delightfully comforting as it offers a decadent and satisfying balance of feel-good comedy and the upbeat feel of a classic musical, Wonka is genuinely a pleasure to experience and further reinforces star Timothée Chalamet as one of the best young actors working today. Director Paul King deserves a ton of credit for bringing together the perfect team of people to bring this unique chapter of the Willy Wonka story to the big screen. For me this film just provided one of those special cinematic experiences that offers up an escape to another world, and in this day and age what more can you ask for?

Wonka will surely provide smiles and laughter for longtime fans and newcomers getting their first taste of the famed chocolatier. Plus, a miniature orange Hugh Grant with green hair may be worth the price of admission alone. Interest in continuing to build on the franchise has been expressed but nothing is set in stone yet as far as a follow-up to Wonka, but I will surely keep my fingers crossed.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.2/10

Wonka is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Silent Night

Silent Night is a 2023 action thriller film directed by John Woo, from a screenplay by Robert Archer Lynn. The concept of the film is unique as it includes no dialogue whatsoever with the story being driven solely by sight and sound. Principal photography began in April 2022 in Mexico City but was delayed due to an on-set injury involving a crew member. The film is Woo's first American feature film since Paycheck (2003).

A gritty revenge tale of a tormented father who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire on Christmas Eve. While recovering from a wound that costs him his voice, he makes vengeance his life’s mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen to avenge his son’s death.

The cast includes Joel Kinnaman, Scott Mescudi, Harold Torres, and Catalina Sandino Moreno.

Silent Night made its debut in theaters on December 1st, courtesy of Lionsgate. 

THE GOOD

I love me a good revenge thriller, which has been proven time and time again by my obsession with the John Wick franchise, as well as my willingness to go down the rabbit hole of watching some of my favorites over and over again. Now I have gone as far as to dabble in the I Spit on Your Grave franchise, but those are a VERY tough watch and not movies I would recommend watching more than once. But when we are talking about the Gerard Butler film Law Abiding Citizen or the Jodie Foster film The Brave One, I am more than happy to watch those whenever I am in the mood. I think it is natural to enjoy seeing bad people get what they deserve, and the only way to avoid the bureaucracy of it all is good old-fashioned vigilante justice. Am I wrong?!

But a common theme of these films is some dark and downright depressing subject matter, like Gerard Butler’s character watching his wife and child murdered in front of him as he lay there helpless, or Jodie Foster and her fiancé falling victim to a random attack that costs him his life. For a revenge tale to get viewers invested, the reason for seeking revenge needs to be good and that is what all of these films have in common. Now I know that Silent Night has the backstory a great revenge flick needs, but is the unique element of no dialogue a bit too much? Keep reading to find out!

Silent Night is a unique film, and boy is it dark and pretty damn depressing for the most part, but all things considered I enjoyed it. From the opening sequence it felt like a John Woo film, and that alone is something to get excited about. The film opens in the midst of the action and starts to backtrack a bit after this with flashbacks, a storytelling technique that I have a bit of a love and hate relationship with mainly because it can be a bit of a distraction when it comes to viewers getting invested in the story, but I will talk more about that later. In the end the approach worked for this film, and that is all that matters.

For the most part I thought Woo stuck with his style and it paid off in the end, as he refuses to skimp on the action and provides some badass action sequences and fight scenes. Silent Night is a stylish action thriller that in many ways feels like a blend of John Wick and the Max Payne videogame franchise. And yes I am referring to the same franchise that churned out the 2008 Mark Wahlberg movie, which was enjoyable but a letdown in terms of the subject matter.

Silent Night is the ultimate story of revenge by any means necessary, and it also delves into a real problem plaguing many big cities, which is gang violence. The heart of the story is this seemingly normal suburban family that encounters unimaginable tragedy as their little boy is struck and killed by a stray bullet from a gunfight between rival gangs while riding his bike in his front yard. Just brutal. I saw the trailer before seeing the movie of course so I knew what to expect in terms of what brought on this revenge mission, but I liked how they pieced together the sequence of events bit by bit before giving viewers the full picture. At the beginning of the film the main character is in an operating room with blood just gushing from his throat as “Silent Night” plays in the background, and let me just say that is a pretty good indication of what to expect going forward. I was invested in the characters and I felt the pain they were feeling. It was clear from the start that healing was not an option for this family who lost their son, and although revenge on those wouldn’t bring him back, it was the only option. I will say that as dark as the story was, I was genuinely impressed by the fact that it still found a way to tug at the heartstrings during the film’s final act.

As far as the cast is concerned, it is hard to dig too deep for a film without any dialogue, but I was honestly blown away by the performance from Joel Kinnaman. To say this was a difficult role to take on would be an understatement, and I thought he crushed it. His character had no dialogue whatsoever during the entire film, meaning that he had to make his mark with raw emotion and body language and boy did he ever. I was first exposed to Kinnaman when he did the crime drama series The Killing, and in my opinion, he has more than proven the fact that he has a ton to offer as an actor. Silent Night is quite the notch in his belt, and I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see him working with John Woo again in the near future. I thought Catalina Sandino Moreno was great as Kinnaman’s wife, and I barely recognized Kid Cudi in his supporting role as a detective more or less along for the ride during this inevitable mission for revenge. The supporting cast in general was fantastic, but again this was the Joel Kinnaman show, and a show it was.

From a technical perspective, Silent Night was fantastic, which should come as no surprise considering John Woo’s involvement. One thing about Woo is his films tend to hit harder than other films, and the action scenes primarily the fight sequences were next-level good. Similar to the John Wick films, Silent Night is more interested in showing viewers that although this man on a revenge mission is mortal and can be hurt, nothing aside from death will slow him down. I know people tend to get annoyed by these revenge thrillers that take this nerd office worker who has a 5-minute training montage and all of a sudden he is a straight badass, but that is not the case here. Kinnaman’s character nearly dies, and while recovering physically he also deals with the emotional pain of losing his son.

The pain he experiences is so severe that he makes his mind up pretty quickly, and he will either get revenge on the people who took his son from him or die trying. Nothing more, and nothing less. I thought they did a fantastic job of making his transition to badass as realistic as possible, to the point that he was bleeding the entire movie. The fight scenes were crazy intense, and I liked the focus on hand-to-hand combat. Now his character does get familiar with firearms including some great work with a shotgun, but he doesn’t’ just magically become legendary hitman John Wick overnight which helped to reinforce the believability of the story. So kudos to the stunt team for kicking ass and taking names, and also shoutout to composer Marco Beltrami for a great score, cinematographer Sharone Meir for creating this authentic feeling of criminal underworld, and Zach Staenberg for doing his thing in the editing room.

THE BAD

The bottom line, this movie is not for everyone. As I talked about during my review not only is the lack of dialogue something certain viewers will have a problem with, but the subject matter is difficult, to say the least. Now not only does this father and mother tragically lose their son, but the father is so brutally tormented by the loss that he can focus on nothing more than revenge with little concern for his well-being or his marriage.

Also, this movie is dark and depressing from the start and that never really changes. Now getting back to the lack of dialogue, the fact that viewers are essentially forced to marinate in the pain of the main character just adds another level to what is already a difficult watch. Now make no mistake I am of course referring to your average moviegoer, and not the hardcore genre fans like myself who will happily relish in the pain knowing that sweet revenge is right around the corner. I will say though as a father the movie does hit hard, which again speaks to how effective the story was. I will also point out that Silent Night does feel a bit slow at times so you will need to be a bit patient to enjoy the inevitable payoff.

THE VERDICT

An intensely dark revenge thriller featuring a gut-wrenching performance from Joel Kinnaman, Silent Night is a pleasant surprise for genre fans and serves as a return to form for director John Woo. This movie will hit you like a freight train, and if you aren’t prepared it could be a little much as far as the subject matter as I touched on during the review. The lack of dialogue takes a bit to get used to as well, but in my opinion, the story is so powerful and Kinnaman just embodies the main character in such a way that I was still bought in pretty quickly.

Instead of trying to appeal to a broader audience Silent Night goes all in on the genre, and for that I am thankful. Also by the end of the movie, I felt satisfied with how everything came together in terms of the story, and for me, that says a lot especially considering the unique approach Woo took with this film. Give it a chance and go in knowing what to expect and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.1/10

Silent Night is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a 2023 horror slasher film directed by Eli Roth (Hostel, Death Wish) and produced by Roger Birnbaum, from a screenplay written by Roth and Jeff Rendell (Cabin Fever). It is based on Roth's mock trailer of the same name from his film Grindhouse (2007), for which Rendell was also a co-writer.

A mysterious serial killer, known only as "John Carver", comes to a small town in Massachusetts intending to create a Thanksgiving carving board out of the town's inhabitants.

The film stars Addison Rae, Patrick Dempsey, Milo Manheim, Gina Gershon, and Rick Hoffman.

Thanksgiving made its debut in theaters on November 17th, courtesy of TriStar Pictures.

THE GOOD

As a longtime and devoted fan of the Friday the 13th franchise, slasher films are like comfort food to me so needless to say I was pumped for Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving (pun intended, of course). When it comes to a good slasher I want all the fixings, and I have seen enough from Roth to know that he is more than capable of delivering the goods. Once the first trailer dropped I was honestly next-level excited, this just looked really good from top to bottom in terms of what you want to see from this genre. So as the holiday known as Turkey Day neared, I couldn’t wait to plant my ass in a comfy movie theater seat. So, was the latest film from Eli Roth moist and tasty, or was it more like just holding your breath until the relatives you can’t stand finally leave? Keep reading to find out!

Thanksgiving is everything I want in the aforementioned holiday, a filling and very tasty meal topped off with decadent desserts followed by a nap on the couch with a big smile on my face. I really liked the story for the film which was simple but extremely effective, giving audiences plenty to keep them engaged as well as a great twist that I did not see coming. I thought the characters were great as well, and even though they were formulaic as far as slasher films go, they were properly utilized, and each added value. A big-time shining star for the film was the technical elements, bringing to the table a ton of creativity and lots to be excited about. I also thought the tone was absolutely perfect, balancing comedy and brutality with ease in typical Eli Roth fashion. Plus as a native of the “go fuck yourself” state of Massachusetts, Roth does a hilarious job paying homage to the “Massholes”. Bottom line, Thanksgiving is a horror slasher that delivers the goods.

Filmmaking is meant to be an escape for viewers, and when a film is able to provide a certain level of immersion it is already ahead of the game. Thanksgiving has a very clear identity from the start, and after the 17th “go fuck yourself” I felt like I was spending the weekend in the Commonwealth. Seriously, stand outside of Fenway before a Sox game for two minutes and you’ll likely be told to fuck off at least six times. This state was the perfect setting for a Black Friday sale that quickly went from bad to worse, and although much of the film is very over-the-top it still somehow feels grounded in this troubling but still hilarious reality. The stage was set perfectly giving this mysterious killer the perfect reason to create his guest list of deserving victims, and I loved how they made sure to include the social media element as well. No matter how depraved, if someone posts a video online people will watch it because people are messed up, simple as that. The mystery surrounding the killer felt reminiscent of the Scream films which is a positive. I enjoyed the story from start to finish and felt like the pacing really couldn’t have been better.

Now I won’t sugarcoat it, Thanksgiving is brutally violent and several scenes are difficult to stomach, but that is part of the allure. I mean, let’s be honest, would it even be an Eli Roth film without some reference to cannibalism? The guy clearly has some demons and a few therapists on call, but his talent as a filmmaker is undeniable. I laughed out loud a ton and made the “oh shit” face quite a few times, and I am a sick individual when it comes to my tolerance who also happens to need therapy. From a technical standpoint as far as slashers go this is crazy good as it includes some really creative and brutal kills. At times the film gave me a Final Destination vibe just in terms of how a few of the victims met their end. I also thought the way the killer moved and went about his business was pretty much flawless.

The cast was as good as you can hope for when it comes to a horror slasher film. The headliner for Thanksgiving is Maine native Patrick Dempsey, who plays the well-intentioned Sheriff Eric Newlon. Dempsey’s character finds himself at the heart of the incident that leads to the killings and is also tasked with leading the investigation into who is responsible before more victims meet their demise. Like most people, I love me some Patrick Dempsey, and I thought he was fantastic in Thanksgiving and was easily my favorite character.

My second favorite is one of the film’s primary antagonists, White Collar star Rick Hoffman. If you haven’t seen the show you are missing out for sure, but if you have you are familiar with Hoffman’s ability as an actor to be very easy to dislike. Hoffman plays Thomas Wright, the greedy owner of the retail store where the Black Friday tragedy took place. I just thought his character was fantastic and added a lot of value to the story. Honestly, I enjoyed the cast from top to bottom and thought everyone came together to create a top-notch theater experience. Well-deserved shout-outs to Gina Gershon who I will always remember from Showgirls, Addison Rae, Tomaso Sanelli, Gabriel Davenport, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Amanda Barker, Tomaso Sanelli, Jenna Warren, and Tim Dillon.

THE BAD

I honestly have very few issues with this film, I mean it is easily one of the better entries in the slasher genre in recent memory. Plus it’s a holiday-themed film which is just a bonus, in my opinion. But as an Eli Roth film, it goes without saying it may not be for everyone. If you are a fan of the slasher genre in general odds are you have seen it all, but Roth is known for pushing the envelope in terms of the gore factor and he certainly does that here. So if you consider yourself to be a bit squeamish this may be a tough watch. Also, some of the Mass accents were a bit much at times, but this just added to the comedic element in my opinion so I wouldn’t necessarily consider it to be a flaw.

Also, and this is not really a gripe about the film, but what was up with the football jersey numbers?! Around the third act, we see a few of the characters in uniform as they prepare to play a game but for some reason, the jersey numbers are super small, like what you would usually see on a child-size jersey. I just found it strange and would love to know the reasoning behind it.

THE VERDICT

A crafty horror slasher that often feels inspired by a mix of the Scream and Final Destination franchises, Thanksgiving will have you laughing and cringing simultaneously which is a testament to the vision of the talented Eli Roth. By the end of this movie, you will be stuffed with sheer enjoyment and as the tagline says, there will be no leftovers. But lucky for us this film will likely get even better with each viewing and is sure to become a classic for the genre as Roth himself already confirmed that a sequel is in the works aiming for a theatrical release in 2025. Do yourself a favor and see Thanksgiving in theaters sooner than later.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.5/10

Thanksgiving is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.