"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of streaming films and entertainment news.
Streaming Service: Peacock Movie Name/Year: Attack of the Killer Donuts
(2016) Genre: Action, Comedy, Horror Length: 1h 25min Rating: Unrated Production/Distribution: Restless Nomad Films, Rogue
State, Level 33 Entertainment, Showtime Entertainment Director: Scott Wheeler Writer: Nathan Dalton, Chris De Christopher, Rafael Diaz-Wagner Actors: Justin Ray, Kassandra Voyagis, Michael Swan, Kayla Compton,
Lauren Compton, Chris De Christopher, Fredrick Burns, C. Thomas Howell
Blurb from IMDb: A chemical accident turns
ordinary donuts into bloodthirsty killers.
Selina’s Point of View: Before I write
anything about Attack of the Killer Donuts, I feel it necessary to remind
people that it’s important to judge a film based on the way it compares to flicks
that are similar. I wouldn’t compare something like Rubber (2010) to Carrie
(1976), after all. They might both include telekinesis, but they’re still very
different projects.
That’s important
to remember because I enjoyed Attack of the Killer Donuts. It was a good
movie for what it was: a corny, parody-esk, B-creature feature. I feel like I
would have enjoyed it more if I had something mind altering, but it was still
decent. This is exactly the kind of thing I would want to sit down and watch
with some friends, and drinks, during a night in.
Attack
of the Killer Donuts
never tries to be anything it’s not. It tried to be as silly and dumb as
humanly possible. It wanted to get a laugh however it could, and it was
successful. It always went just far enough to hit that ‘so bad, it’s good’
balance that is so difficult to obtain.
I have to note
that there’s this one character, played by Fredrick Burns (Punching Henry, Cleaver
Family Reunion, Litorra), that approaches every scene he’s in as if it were
a hardcore action flick put out by the makers of Die Hard (1988). Every
time he’s on screen, hitting his part as straight as possible, it amused me to
no end. Especially since he does it alongside C. Thomas Howell (SEAL Team,
The Wrong Path, Beast Mode). The last time I saw Howell he was playing George
Foyet, one of the most terrifying serial killers in Criminal Minds
(2009-).
Seeing Howell act
like a dumb ass hit extra hard for me.
I thought Attack
of the Killer Donuts would be among the strangest films I’ve seen, but it’s
not. It’s very much in the vein of Attack of the Killer Tomatos (1978).
It’s just sillier and updated, with better video quality.
Do not let Peacock
fool you with the thumbnail, the video quality is actually very good.
You know what? I’d
watch Attack of the Killer Donuts again. I would definitely have a drink
in hand, though.
20 – Disquiet
(2/10) Production/Distribution:
SP Media Group, Government Island, Paramount Global Director: Michael
Winnick Writer: Michael
Winnick Actors: Jonathan
Rhys Meyers, Rachelle Goulding, Elyse Levesque, Lochlyn Munro, Trezzo Mahoro,
Garry Chalk, Anita Brown Genre: Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 25 IMDb Blurb: After a near-fatal car accident, Sam (Meyers) wakes
to discover he is trapped in an abandoned hospital by mysterious and sinister
forces that have no intention of letting him leave. My initial thought while watching the trailer for Disquiet
is that the character played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers (American Night, The Good
Neighbor, Hide and Seek) is in some kind of coma-related purgatory. I don’t
hate the idea. I love the psychological aspect that forces us to ask if
what the character is going through is real or not. I’ll admit that I find it
most fulfilling when it does turn out to be real, but I’ve seen it done
successfully both ways. There are some very creepy scenes highlighted throughout the
trailer. The part with the two mummy-wrapped women reminds me of the nurses in Silent
Hill (2006). It’s looking like reviews are negative for Disquiet so
far, but I’m looking forward to seeing for myself. 19 – Mummies
(2/24) Production/Distribution:
Warner Bros. Entertainment España, 4 Cats Pictures, Anangu Grup, Moomios Movie
AIE, Atresmedia Cine, Movistar+, With Televisió de Catalunya (TV3), Warner
Bros. Director: Juan
Jesús García Galocha Writer: Jordi
Gasull, Javier López Barreira Actors: Sean
Bean, Joe Thomas, Eleanor Tomlinson, Santiago Winder, Hugh Bonneville, Celia
Imrie, Dan Starkey, Shakka Genre: Animation,
Comedy, Family Rated: PG Length: 1h 28min IMDb Blurb: It follows three mummies as they end up in
present-day London and embark on a journey in search of an old ring belonging
to the Royal Family, stolen by the ambitious archaeologist Lord Carnaby. Mummies looks like a simple, funny, kids’ movie that
might not completely bore the adults they’re with at the theaters. It’s not
going to reinvent any wheels, it’s probably not going to be all that deep, but
it should be a cute introduction to Egyptian mythos for children. 18 – Huesera: The
Bone Woman (2/10) Production/Distribution:
Disruptiva Films, Machete Producciones, Maligno Gorehouse, Terminal, XYZ Films Director: Michelle
Garza Cervera Writer: Michelle
Garza Cervera, Abia Castillo, Patricio Saiz Actors: Alfonso
Dosal, Mayra Batalla, Natalia Solián, Sonia Couoh, Samantha Castillo, Mercedes
Hernández, Aida López, Enoc Leaño, Martha Claudia Moreno Genre: Drama,
Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 33min IMDb Blurb: Valeria has long dreamed about becoming a mother.
After learning that she's pregnant, she expects to feel happy, yet something's
off. The fear of birth and motherhood is more common than people
think. I, personally, had a miserable pregnancy/birth experience. I had bad
doctors, health issues, and significant mood alterations – most of which I was
required to hide while people told me how happy I SHOULD be. The only way to
keep from getting into constant fights with these people was to pretend I was. I don’t regret getting pregnant, my daughter is my world,
but you would not believe the amount of people who believe that had the right to
tell me how to feel at the time and who still try to guilt trip me into
remembering it positively. Even more that still try to pressure me into doing
it again. Movies like Huesera: The Bone Woman really amp up the
anxiety and horror of that bad birth experience. I find them somewhat
cathartic. I imagine I’m not the only one. Huesera: The Bone Woman has some psychological
aspects – or supernatural, depending on the way they opt to go – that really
seems to elevate the horror of it all. 17 – The Amazing
Maurice (2/3) Production/Distribution:
Studio Rakete, Red Star 3D, Cantilever Group, Moonshot Films, Narrativia, Sky,
Squeeze Studio Animation, Ulysses Filmproduktion, Viva Pictures, Viva Kids Director: Toby Genkel,
Florian Westermann Writer: Terry Rossio,
Terry Pratchett, Robert Chandler, Toby Genkel Actors: Hugh
Laurie, Emilia Clarke, David Thewlis, Himesh Patel, Gemma Arterton, Rob Brydon,
Hugh Bonneville, David Tennant, Peter Serafinowicz Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG Length: 1h 33min IMDb Blurb: This story follows Maurice, a goofy streetwise cat,
who has the perfect money-making scam. He finds a dumb-looking kid who plays a
pipe and has his very own horde of rats, who are strangely literate. How cute does The Amazing Maurice look? This hilarious tale about a fat streetwise cat is based on a
novel by Terry Pratchett (Good Omens, Hogfather, Welcome to the Discworld).
That alone makes it a must see, but then the jokes shown in the trailer are
also pretty funny. I’m particularly amused by the part about the dead rats.
That hits me right in my funny bone. Also, David Tennant (Doctor Who, Fright Night, Good Omens)
is voicing a character named Dangerous Beans and I just can’t get past that. 16 – Swallowed
(2/14) Production/Distribution:
All the Dead Boys, Leroi, Witchcraft Motion Picture Company, Momentum Pictures Director: Carter
Smith Writer: Carter
Smith Actors: Jena
Malone, Cooper Koch, Mark Patton, Jose Colon, Roe Pacheco, Michael Shawn Curtis Genre: Horror, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 32min IMDb Blurb: Follows two best friends on their final night
together, with a nightmare of drugs, bugs, and horrific intimacy. On first look I thought Swallowed was going to be a
super basic crime film about smuggling drugs. I was so bored by the idea that
my eyes started to glaze over. Then the big twist came, and I found myself needing
to watch the trailer a second time. I’m not sure what kind of bug, alien, or supernatural
creature the characters in Swallowed are forced to smuggle, but I’m
dying to find out. The trailer gives just enough information to let me know this
isn’t your basic gritty crime thriller, then leaves me hanging on the answers –
which is a great way to approach the coming attractions for this kind of plot. I know only enough to know I want to know more. 15 – Who Are You
People (2/17) Production/Distribution:
Paperclip Limited, Gravitas Ventures Director: Ben
Epstein Writer: Ben
Epstein Actors: Alyssa
Milano, Devon Sawa, Ema Horvath, Yeardley Smith, John Ales, Reid Miller, Peter
Parros, Siddharth Dhananjay Genre: Drama Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown
Length IMDb Blurb: After a botched attempt to seduce her English
teacher, 16-year-old Alex runs away from boarding school to seek out the
biological father her mother always kept hidden and learn the dark secret of
her roots. The cast for Who Are You People was the first thing
that caught my eye. Devon Sawa (Final Destination, Chucky, SLC Punk!) is criminally
underrated. Even when he was younger, he was a lot more versatile than he was
given credit for. Now he’s got that grizzled action look to him, and he’s got
even more options. Going from something like Hunter Hunter (2020), which
was memorably suspenseful and terrifying, to something like this that’s much
more heartfelt and down-to-Earth, proves that. I’ve opted not to hold Brazen (2022) against Alyssa
Milano (You Are My Home, Insatiable, Little Italy). She’s still a draw,
as far as I’m concerned. Then there’s Ema Horvath (Don’t Look Deeper, What Lies Below,
Like.Share.Follow.). She’s newer on the scene, but I remember her from The
Mortuary Collection (2019). She was impressive there. I haven’t seen her in
much else yet, but I have some high hopes just based on that one film. The trailer shows a relatable story to anyone who’s ever
felt out of place with their family. I have a feeling Who Are You People
is going to require a box of tissues close by. 14 – Cocaine Bear
(2/24) Production/Distribution:
Universal Pictures, Brownstone Productions (II), Lord Miller Director: Elizabeth
Banks Writer: Jimmy
Warden Actors: Ray
Liotta, Margo Martindale, Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, Matthew Rhys,
Kristofer Hivju, Isiah Whitlock Jr., O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jesse Tyler Ferguson,
Brooklynn Prince, Christian Convery Genre: Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 35min IMDb Blurb: An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and
teens converge in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound black bear goes on a
murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine. I did a double take when I first saw this film on our list.
I figured it was some kind of SYFY creature feature made by The Asylum. When I
saw an actual cast list, with a big-name production company involved, it was a
little hard to digest. I had no idea what to expect. The trailer for Cocaine Bear was absolutely wild. It
was bloody and hilarious, with some awful CGI. Now, the awful CGI isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With a plot
based around a bear that’s gotten high off some lost drugs (loosely inspired by
a true story) the ridiculousness of some janky CGI might just heighten the
humor aspect. You still get the blood and gore of the story, but it becomes
easier to swallow when you can’t take the bear design seriously. It’s one of the things I find amusing about movies that are
so bad they’re good. I don’t think Cocaine Bear will be a masterpiece, but
I do think it’ll be amusing and fun to watch with some drunk friends. 13 – Somebody I
Used to Know (2/10) Production/Distribution:
Amazon Studios, Black Bear Pictures, Temple Hill Entertainment, Amazon Prime
Video Director: Dave
Franco Writer: Dave
Franco, Alison Brie Actors: Alison
Brie, Jay Ellis, Kiersey Clemons, Danny Pudi, Olga Merediz, Haley Joel Osment,
Julie Hagerty, Ayden Mayeri, Fabi Reyna, Marian Li, Ted Rooney Genre: Comedy,
Romance Rated: R Length: 1h 46min IMDb Blurb: On a trip to her hometown, workaholic Ally
reminisces with her ex Sean and starts to question everything about the person
she's become. Things only get more confusing when she meets Cassidy, who
reminds her of the person she used to be. I’ll admit that the story in Somebody I Used to Know reminds
me – just a bit – of My Best Friend’s Wedding. The prelude is different,
but the basic feel is pretty much the same. There are two differences that made
me want to see this one. I am a big fan of Dave Franco (Day Shift, The Disaster Artist,
Nerve). He’s not acting in Somebody I Used to Know, but he is
directing. He also wrote the script alongside his significant other. I’m really
interested in seeing what he’s got. I haven’t seen The Rental (2020)
yet, which was his debut as writer/director, but I’ve heard good things. This
film would be a big difference, though, since The Rental was a horror. The second thing that really intrigued me about the trailer
for Somebody I Used to Know is that it hints at a unique and somewhat
daring ending. If Franco and his co-writer Alison Brie (Spine Me Round, Happiest
Season, Promising Young Woman) took the road less traveled, Somebody I
Used to Know could very well end in a multi-partner relationship. I find
that very interesting. It’s not something I’ve ever seen in a mainstream
romance. Now, the chances of it are very low, but there are enough
clues in the trailer that lead me to believe it’s a possibility that I’m really
interested in seeing how it plays out. 12 – Sharper (2/10) Production/Distribution:
A24, Apple TV+, Picturestart Director: Benjamin
Caron Writer: Brian
Gatewood, Alessandro Tanaka Actors: Justice
Smith, Briana Middleton, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Moore, John Lithgow, Hannah
Dunne, Giullian Yao Gioiello, Phillip Johnson Richardson Genre: Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 56min IMDb Blurb: A con artist takes on Manhattan's billionaires. Sharper is labeled as a single-genre drama, which is
not my go-to kind of movie at all, but there’s clearly more to it. There’s intrigue involved. Suspense. Even if the film doesn’t
delve as deep as it could into those themes, it’s still there. Enough-so that
it doesn’t feel like a single-genre at all. Not only that, but the cast is more than decent. I’m becoming a big fan of Justice Smith (Pokémon:
Detective Pikachu, Jurassic World: Dominion, Ron’s Gone Wrong). Even in movies
I don’t enjoy, he still stands out to me as a great addition. Then there’s
Sebastian Stan (Fresh, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Devil All the
Time), Julianne Moore (Dear Evan Hansen, When You Finish Saving the
World, Kingsman: The Golden Circle), and John Lithgow (Bombshell,
Interstellar, This is 40) – all who speak for themselves. There’s a lot to look forward to with Sharper. 11 – Knock at the
Cabin (2/3) Production/Distribution:
Universal Pictures, Blinding Edge Pictures, FilmNation Entertainment, Perfect
World Pictures, Wishmore Director: M.
Night Shyamalan Writer: M. Night
Shyamalan, Steve Desmond, Michael Sherman, Paul Tremblay Actors: Dave
Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rupert Grint, Abby
Quinn, Kristen Cui Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 40min IMDb Blurb: While vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken
hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert
the apocalypse. The trailer for Knock at the Cabin shows just enough
for me to feel a desperate need to know more. Is the apocalypse really coming,
or are the four antagonists not playing with a full deck? What choice does this
family need to make? The general feel of the movie is shown well in the coming
attractions. It explains the premise and leaves everything else to my incredibly
dark imagination. It’s exactly what a trailer should be. Especially for a
horror/mystery. There is no part of me that thinks anything it showed will be a
spoiler. That said, it is written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan
(Old, The Visit, Split). I love a good twist in a story, so I’m inclined to give him
the benefit of the doubt, but Shyamalan’s proved that he would include a twist
even at the cost of the overall quality of the story. I’m a little nervous
about where he’ll go with this. In my mind, the biggest twist of all would be if
the apocalypse really occurred, but I highly doubt that’s the direction he’d
go. I’m going to remain cautiously optimistic.
10 – Marlowe
(2/15) Production/Distribution:
Parallel Film Productions, Hills Productions AIE, Davis-Films, H2L Media Group,
Nickel City Pictures, Storyboard, Aperture Media Partners, Elipsis Capital,
Jeff Rice Films, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, Briarcliffe Entertainment Director: Neil
Jordan Writer: William
Monahan, John Banville, Raymond Chandler Actors: Liam
Neeson, Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Colm Meaney,
Daniela Melchior, Alan Cumming, Danny Huston, Seána Kerslake, François Arnaud,
Ian Hart Genre: Crime,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 50min IMDb Blurb: In late 1930's Bay City, a brooding, down on his
luck detective is hired to find the ex-lover of a glamorous heiress. Film noir is a hard genre to beat. When done right, it’s
full of so much intrigue that even the slow moments feel tense. Marlowe seems
like a fully updated form. I’m not saying it’s modern in setting, but in feel. The
story telling is from our century, while the subject is the past. I love that
kind of thing. Viewing the past through updated views and ideals sheds a new
light on stories like these. It’s interesting. There are absolute legends in the cast, and the trailer
looks exciting. I want to see what they do with this one. 9 – Magic Mike’s
Last Dance (2/10) Production/Distribution:
Warner Bros., HBO Max Director: Steven
Soderbergh Writer: Reid
Carolin Actors: Salma
Hayek, Channing Tatum, Caitlin Gerard, Nancy Carroll, Gavin Spokes, Christopher
Bencomo, Juliette Motamed, Ayub Khan-Din Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 52min IMDb Blurb: Mike takes to the stage again, following a business
deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida.
Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite who lures him with an offer he
can't refuse. There’s a part of me wondering if Channing Tatum (Dog,
Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Logan Lucky) is pulling from real life
experiences for his performance in Magic Mike’s Last Dance. Going from
stripping to mainstream entertainment is how he started after all. If he is, then we could be looking at one of his best
performances. He won’t have to wonder what anything feels like, he knows. That
means that he can portray specifics that other actors might not have thought of
in the same part. There’s bound to be some amazing dance numbers shuffled into
everything. Tatum never disappoints in that area. It does seem a bit different than the first two. I don’t
think a love for the franchise will be necessary to enjoy this one, however. We’ll
see. 8 – True Spirit
(2/3) Production/Distribution:
Resonate Entertainment, Martin Chase Productions, Sunstar Entertainment, The
Rebel Fleet, Netflix Director: Sarah
Spillane Writer: Rebecca
Banner, Cathy Randall, Sarah Spillane Actors: Anna
Paquin, Cliff Curtis, Teagan Croft, Josh Lawson, Todd Lasance, Alyla Browne,
Alice Tate Genre: Adventure,
Biography, Drama Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 49min IMDb Blurb: The story of Australian teenager, Jessica Watson,
the youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world. For years the world has been spiraling in a way that has made
a lot of people give up. I don’t have statistics for the whole world, but I
know that my own life has seen a lot of it. I cringe now when the phone rings. You never know what’s going to help someone. Maybe it’s a
simple adventure film that tells someone it’s ok to be struggling right now. It’s
ok to not be ok. There’s a way through it. When we first watched the trailer for True Spirit
that’s what stuck out in my head most. There’s an uplifting quality to it that really
speaks to me right now. A message that says you can do absolutely anything you
put your mind to, even if the world tells you otherwise. The fact that it’s based
on a true story makes the message even more compelling. I’m looking forward to seeing True Spirit. We’ll be
scheduling it for review next month. 7 – We Have a
Ghost (2/24) Production/Distribution:
Legendary Entertainment, Temple Hill Entertainment, Netflix Director: Christopher
Landon Writer: Christopher
Landon, Geoff Manaugh Actors: Anthony
Mackie, Erica Ash, Jennifer Coolidge, David Harbour, Tig Notaro, Steve Coulter,
Tom Bower, Niles Fitch Genre: Adventure,
Comedy, Family Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 6min IMDb Blurb: Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new
home turns Kevin's family into overnight social media sensations. But when
Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest's past, they become a target
of the CIA. I absolutely adore the premise to We Have a Ghost. Instead of going full horror, like Paranormal Activity
(2007), or full comedy, like Casper (1995), We Have a Ghost takes
the haunting tale to a mixed genre that looks awesome. There are tons of
hilarious moments in the trailer, but with scenes like the face melting one,
you can’t ignore the potential for horror. Even if it’s mostly geared toward teens. With a cast involving Anthony Mackie (The Falcon and the
Winter Soldier, Outside the Wire, The Banker) and David Harbour (Stranger
Things, Violent Night, Black Widow) among the main protagonists, backed up
by people like Tig Notaro (Army of the Dead, Together Together, Lucy in the
Sky), Jennifer Coolidge (Shotgun Wedding, The Watcher, 2 Broke Girls)
and Steve Coulter (Shotgun Wedding, A Little Prayer, She-Hulk: Attorney at
Law), we’re guaranteed a good time. 6 – Winnie the Pooh:
Blood And Honey (2/15) Production/Distribution:
ITN Studios, Jagged Edge Productions, ITN Distribution, Fathom Events Director: Rhys
Frake-Waterfield Writer: Rhys
Frake-Waterfield, A.A. Milne Actors: Gillian
Broderick, Paula Coiz, Chris Cordell, Frederick Dallaway, Amber Doig-Thorne,
Craig David Dowsett, Simon Ellis, Mark Haldor, May Kelly, Nikolai Leon Genre: Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 24min IMDb Blurb: It follows Pooh and Piglet as they go on a rampage
after Christopher Robin abandons them for college. I’ve been hearing about this movie for a while, but I thought
it was a joke. Or, at the most, a fan flick that was going to come out straight
to DVD. There are a lot of those based around horror cults – such as Voorhees
(2020), Never Hike Alone (2017), Krueger: Tales from Elm Street
(2017), or Scream: Obsession (2020). To name only a few. What I didn’t realize was that on January 1, 2022 Winnie-the-Pooh
characters from the original story (made in 1926) became part of the public
domain. It is now perfectly legal to take the characters and do whatever you
want with them – commercially. Naturally the first thing people decided to throw the beloved
children’s characters in was a horror flick. As antagonists. And it’s coming out in theaters. Sure, it’s a limited release, but it’s still going to be
hitting big screens. My inner child is way too curious for me to miss it. I don’t
hear great things, but I’m still excited. I have to know how they execute this one. No pun intended. 5 – Attachment
(2/9) Production/Distribution:
Nordisk Film Productions, Shudder Director: Gabriel
Bier Gislason Writer: Gabriel
Bier Gislason Actors: David
Dencik, Ellie Kendrick, Sofie Gråbøl, Josephine Park, Elinor Znaider, Filippa
Marcella Olesen Olsson Genre: Comedy,
Horror, Romance Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 45min IMDb Blurb: Maja, a Danish has-been actress, falls in love with
Leah, a Jewish academic from London. Leah suffers a mysterious seizure, and
Maja returns with her to London. There, she meets Leah's mother, Chana, a woman
who could hold dark secrets. You don’t really see a lot of Jewish horror films. Yes, you
see dybbuks used a bit, but those stories barely scratch the surface of the
mythology behind it. In the case of Attachment, the plot goes much
further into Jewish culture and folklore. I’m really interested in seeing how they opt to portray the
bits and pieces of mythos that Attachment is delving into. Even without appealing to me on a cultural level, the
trailer looks sufficiently creepy. It’s coming out on Shudder and I’m psyched. 4 – Shehzada (2/17) Production/Distribution:
Allu Entertainment, Allu Mantena Media Ventures, Brat Films, FAVS Global,
Haarika & Hassine Creations, T-Series Films, PVR Pictures, Yash Raj Films, Netflix Director: Rohit
Dhawan Writer: Hussain
Dalal, Rohit Dhawan, Trivikram Srinivas Actors: Kartik
Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Ronit Roy, Sachin Khedekar,
Rajpal Naurang Yadav, Ankur Rathee, Sunny Hinduja Genre: Action,
Comedy, Drama Rated: Unrated Length: 2h 33min IMDb Blurb: Bantu is hated by his father Valmiki since he was a
toddler. Samara, his boss show him affection and love until he discovers that
the Jindals are his parents. Bantu decides to seek Jindals love and protect
them from threats they facing. The trailer for Shehzada is a trip. On first
watch-through, it’s almost confusing. It’s as if two movies are smushed
together for the coming attraction. The first half of the trailer makes it seem like a light-hearted
comedy flick. Not unlike some of the Hallmark stuff you see during December,
but with brighter colors and exceptional song/dance breaks. Then you get to about
the 2-minute mark and some dude gets stabbed with an umbrella. The vibe totally
changes. It goes from delightful musical to bad-ass action flick. And
some of the action scenes that are highlighted are really unique. After the success of RRR (2022), we’re bound to see
more and more Indian films drawing attention in US cinemas. Shehzada has
all the ingredients of the kind of film that can do just that. I want to see
more of this. 3 – Murder,
Anyone? (2/7) Production/Distribution:
Red Phoenix Productions, Sandaled Kid Productions, Uncork’d Entertainment Director: James
Cullen Bressack Writer: Gordon
Bressack Actors: Kristos
Andrews, Galadriel Stineman, Maurice LaMarche, Charles M. Howell IV, Carla
Collins, Spencer Breslin Genre: Comedy Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown
Length IMDb Blurb: Two playwrights, George and Charlie, are tasked
with the challenge of creating the next "avant-garde, surrealistic,
mind-bending neo-noire thriller". As they write, the story comes to life
in real time. However, their own emotions and arguments also begin to manifest
on film, creating sharp twists and turns that affect the entire movie. Filled
with hilarity and chaos, Murder, Anyone? is a comedic
play-within-a-play-within-a-movie that contemplates the complexities of
language, art, theater, film and more. Murder, Anyone? has a genius concept. Low budget films get a bad rap. People picture low video
quality, bad acting, and a corny script when you mention that a film is low
budget. With Murder, Anyone? the writer and director take those expectations
and use them in favor of the film. Because most of the story occurs in the mind of the two
writers, there’s a ton of leeway with everything else. If it’s done correctly,
I can see it being on the same lines as The Gamers: Dorkness Rising
(2008). Most of the story in that took place in the minds of the role-players. The
over-the-top acting made everything fit better than it would have if it’d been
made with the best of the best. The low budget MADE that film as fun as was. I think Murder, Anyone? has the same potential. I
cannot wait to see it. 2 – Unlocked
(2/17) Production/Distribution:
Studio N, Netflix Director:
Tae-joon Kim Writer: Akira
Shiga Actors: Si-wan
Yim, Woo-hee Chun, Kim Hee-won, Park Ho-San, Jeon Jin-oh, Kim Ye-Won Genre: Crime,
Drama, Mystery Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 57min IMDb Blurb: "Stolen Identity" is a realistic thriller
that tracks the incidents that occur when an ordinary company employee begins
to get her entire life threatened after she loses her smartphone containing all
her personal information. I’ve been known to complain about the way horror films do
their best to ignore modern technology. Way too many new horror movies attempt to live in the 80s
and 90s. Instead of using cell phones to add a new layer of fear to a slasher
flick, they do whatever necessary to take it out of consideration. There’s no
service. The character lost it. Someone stepped on it. It’s always the same
nonsense, time and time again. That’s probably why I immediately gravitate toward movies
like Unlocked when I see them. It feels current… modern. We have a ton of technology at our fingertips every day, and
a lot of it is naturally dangerous. You wouldn’t have to modify much to make it
terrifying. Even just a cautionary tale could be made into a horror story –
easily. That’s what Unlocked seems to do. A stalker with access to a lost phone and social media pages
makes him near invincible. Not to mention that laws haven’t fully caught up to
technology and stalking doesn’t carry much, if any, punishment. That makes the
trailer terrifying. When the antagonist in the Unlocked trailer admits to
doing it because he found her phone, it sends shivers up my spine and makes me
think of every time I’ve accidentally left my phone behind or found it fallen
out of my pocket. It’s an aspect of everyday life that the horror genre could
be doing a hell of a lot more with. I’m also a huge fan of Korean cinema – especially horrors. 1 – Ant-Man and
the Wasp: Quantumania (2/17) Production/Distribution:
Marvel Studios, Truenorth Productions, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures Director: Peyton
Reed Writer: Jack
Kirby, Jeff Loveness Actors: Paul
Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, William Jackson
Harper, Katy M. O’Brian, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Bill Murray,
Randall Park Genre: Action,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 5min IMDb Blurb: Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne, along with Hank Pym
and Janet Van Dyne, explore the Quantum Realm, where they interact with strange
creatures and embark on an adventure that goes beyond the limits of what they
thought was possible. As a Marvel fangirl, was there any doubt that this would be
my number 1? Kevin Feige (Loki, I Am Groot, Moon Knight) has said
that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is going to be “a direct line”
into Phase 5. It’s going to forever alter the MCU. How could I possibly hear
something like that and not be more excited than I have been in a while. Of course, I was excited for Black Panther: Wakanda
Forever, but I was also nervous. The whole thing was a bit more bittersweet
because of Chadwick Boseman’s (Marshall, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Da 5
Bloods) passing. I couldn’t even see that one in theaters. I had to watch
it at home where I could ugly cry without judgment. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has the benefit of
being the movie we move forward with. There’s less sadness woven into it, and
it gives us something big to look forward to.
Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Movie Name/Year: Shotgun Wedding (2023) Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance Length: 1h 40min Rating: R Production/Distribution: Mandeville Films, Maximum Effort, Nuyorican
Productions, Lionsgate, Amazon Prime Video Director: Jason Moore Writers: Mark Hammer Actors: Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel,
Lenny Kravitz, Cheech Marin, Jennifer Coolidge, Alex Mallari Jr., Callie
Hernandez, D'Arcy Carden, Desmin Borges, Héctor Aníbal, Melissa Hunter, Sônia
Braga, Steve Coulter IMDb Blurb: A couple's
extravagant destination wedding is hijacked by criminals. In the process of
saving their families, they rediscover why they fell in love in the first
place.
Cat’s Point of View: Was Shotgun Wedding
the best movie I’ve seen this month? No, not by a long shot. That being said,
however, it wasn’t the worst, either. Don’t get me wrong – I had a great time
watching Shotgun Wedding. It was a
bit of a mixed bag, though. Of course, that warrants a bit of explanation. I was pretty excited at the prospect of Shotgun Wedding. The trailer had me in stitches, and the
combination of Josh Duhamel (Night of the
Animated Dead, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Bandit) and Jennifer Lopez (Shades of Blue, Second Act, Hustlers) -
not to mention the rest of the well-known supporting cast – felt like a real
winning combination. I even listed this movie as my #4 on January 2023’s Top 20 list.
Action and comedy are a winning pairing and Shotgun Wedding promised both and
pirates! With Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect,
Sisters, Tales of the City) at the helm, it felt like at the very least the
comedy and dramatic elements were in good hands. It was the action that I was a
little concerned about. All told, those parts weren’t too shabby. Were there some really hokey bits here and there? Yes,
absolutely – and it was clear that it was done that way on purpose. Everything
felt a bit more light-hearted… even when super serious events were taking
place.
I don’t really understand the hate the critics have been
lobbing at Shotgun Wedding. It was
fun and actually had a few elements in it that I hadn’t seen done 1000 times
before. For a rom-com, that’s saying something. Though, I get it to some
extent. It just wasn’t Marry Me
(2022). That was the point, though, right? It wasn’t meant to have the same
vibe as the film J-Lo had done before. Anyone who finds themselves poking through Prime Video and
is in the mood for a laugh wouldn’t go wrong by selecting Shotgun Wedding. I wouldn’t even mind watching it again, myself.
