Killer Countdown - 3 From Hell (2019)

Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video
Movie Name/Year: 3 from Hell (2019)
Genre: Action, Horror
Length: 1h 55min
Rating: R
Director: Rob Zombie
Writer: Rob Zombie
Actors: Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Richard Brake, Emilio Rivera, Dee Wallace, Clint Howard, Daniel Roebuck, Wade Williams, Sean Whalen, Danny Trejo, Barry Bostwick, Pancho Moler, Chaz Bono

IMDb Blurb: After barely surviving prison, the demented Firefly clan go on the run, unleashing a whole new wave of murder, madness and mayhem.

Cat’s Point of View:
3 From Hell is a little more “mainstream” than most of the other movies in our Killer Countdown, but it can't be denied that its writer and director Rob Zombie (Halloween II, 31, The Munsters) is known for work that is bonkers, chilling, provocative, and darkly comedic. What more could you want for the spooky season, right?

This movie is the final chapter in a trilogy that also includes House of 1000 Corpses (2003) and The Devil's Rejects (2005). Both films and their events are heavily referenced throughout 3 from Hell. If you haven't seen those other films first, I'm afraid you'll get quite a lot of spoilers as well as likely not quite get all the...dare I say, nuance, of these psychotic family members.

I will have to admit that I fall somewhat in the latter category, as I am afraid I have been procrastinating on watching The Devil's Rejects. I have seen the initial movie in this trilogy, however, so I wasn't entirely lost. I will say, however, that there's enough mocumentary-type build-up in the beginning of the film that it did generally fill in some of the blanks.

3 From Hell doesn't hit as many hardcore horror notes as House of 1000 Corpses did. It plays out more like an action thriller with horror elements of the occasional spattering of blood and gore. I wasn't necessarily disappointed with this, though it was not exactly what I was expecting. I had been hoping for something a little more chilling than this bonkers cross between trippy, gritty, and brutal dark comedy and mocumentary. I liked it all the same.

Aside from the core cast members of Zombie's wife and muse Sheri Moon Zombie (Toolbox Murders, Halloween, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto), Bill Moseley (Prisoners of the Ghostland, Hayride to Hell, Stream), Jeff Daniel Phillips (The Gifted,. The Munsters, Christmas Bloody Christmas), and the late Sid Haig (Kill Bill: Vol. 2, Halloween, Bone Tomahawk), there were quite a few that I was excited to see here.

Though, before I get into those familiar faces, I must note that I feel that this film was a little lacking for the absence of more plot involving Haig's Captain Spaulding. Unfortunately, Haig's declining health required a bit of re-tooling of the script, and I feel that even though something felt missing that they gave him a proper cinematic send-off. It was the right call, however, as he, in a sad twist of fate, passed away within a week or so of the film's release.

Zombie was able to work in Richard Brake (Game of Thrones, Bingo Hell, Barbarian) to round out the titular trio, without Spaulding available, and I think his energy was a great addition to this ensemble. Brake's most memorable roles tend to be his unhinged villains. He fit right in here with this completely unhinged family dynamic. Dee Wallace (The Lords of Salem, 9-1-1, Stream) can actually be found in quite a few of Zombie's movies – quite the juxtaposition to her earlier work in the genre and even as the wholesome mom in E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982). I was rather amused that none other than the O.G. Brad Majors, Barry Bostwick (American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules, Love by Drowning, Daruma), was offering narration. Clint Howard's (The Funhouse Massacre, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Old Way) character both made me giggle and feel the pangs of remorse for my amusement at his character's tragedy. My daughter and I both practically pointed to the screen and called out “MACHETE!” when we saw Danny Trejo (American Underdog, Big City Greens, Seven Cemeteries). Last, but certainly not least, we really enjoyed seeing Emilio Rivera (Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C., Dante's Hotel) as well.

While 3 From Hell wasn't exactly what I was expecting, it was crazy fun that especially highlighted the extreme level of batshit of Sheri Moon Zombie's character, Baby Firefly. The actual insane gleeful abandon of that character drives the plot and actually offers a few genuinely touching moments.

I can't say that 3 From Hell is a movie that I would want to return to in the future, it did make me want to go back and watch the film in the middle of the events, The Devil's Rejects. If you're a fan of Zombie's work and the other movies in this trilogy, I would definitely recommend giving this one a shot to round out your experience, if you haven't already. If you're new to Zombie's work, then maybe start at the beginning first. Either way, you're in for a wild ride.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 57%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 55%
Metascore – 50%
Metacritic User Score – 4.6/10
IMDB Score – 5.4/10

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3/5

Movie Trailer:

'Tis the Season - Violent Night (2022)

 

Movie Name/Year: Violent Night (2022)
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Length:  1h 41min
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: 87North, Universal Pictures
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Writers: Pat Casey, Josh Miller
Actors: David Harbour, Beverly D’Angelo, John Leguizamo, Leah Brady, Cam Gigandet, Edi Patterson, Brendan Fletcher, Alexis Louder, Alex Hassell, Alexander Elliot, Mike Dopud, André Eriksen, Mitra Suril, Can Aydin, Phong Giang, Finn McCager Higgins, Rawleigh Clements-Willis, Stephanie Sy
 
IMDb Blurb: When a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family, Santa Claus must step in to save the day (and Christmas).

 
Selina’s Point of View:
I was down for Violent Night from the jump.
 
Right off the bat, the stage was set for something outstanding. The first scene is so hopeless and funny that it properly sets us up for the strange and miraculous everything that would follow. There’s never a moment that feels out of place, toned down, or overly sanitized.
 
Not only do I think director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow, What Happened to Monday, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters) is to thank for that, but his editorial staff. The editing is so tight that nothing feels like ‘too much’.
 
David Harbour (Stranger Things, Black Widow, No Sudden Move) was his charismatic, bad-ass self while John Leguizamo (Encanto, The Menu, Waiting for Godot) killed it as the primary antagonist. When they finally meet in the film, it’s absolutely electric. Little Miss Leah Brady (The Umbrella Academy, Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls, Relax I’m From the Future) also held her own as the smart kid up against big-bad invaders. She took a little slice of Home Alone (1990) and made it her own. For a child’s performance to be flawless, that’s something special.

 
There is nothing I could possibly say against Violent Night. It was everything I want a holiday horror film to be. Not only did it have some of the most brutal kills from any Christmas horror flick I’ve ever seen, but it also had the same important holiday lessons without the obnoxious Hallmark tropes.
 
I would recommend this to just about anyone who’s down for something different, especially since it still has a Christmas spirit in the end.
 
I’m glad that we are leaving off this year with Violent Night. It’s the last movie before our Christmas break and there’s a lesson wrapped up in all the blood and puns. An important one.
 
For the past few years, Christmas hasn’t really felt like Christmas. It’s like the magic has gone out of December. There’s no question as to why. We’re all so beaten up by the times, it’s like none of us have the energy to care anymore.
 
We’ve gone several rounds with our very own apocalypse scenarios. It’s important to remember that after all that it’s ok to be sad, angry, and tired. It’s ok to feel lost in this absolute mess of a world we’re in. The important thing to remember is that there’s always hope – and something to believe in. Whether it’s belief in a religion, in yourself, a loved one, or the potential for something better, it is important to hold on to that.
 
Life is a cycle, and things will get better.
 
Happy Holidays.

 

Cat’s Point of View:
As time ticks down, and Christmas is imminent, things just seem to get crazier and crazier. What better reason than to get comfy and watch something highly entertaining and also steeped in the season. Violent Night captured my attention and had me chomping at the bit to watch it the moment I saw its trailer. This was the perfect selection to add some much-needed escapism and laughter to my week.
 
Let me tell you, Violent Night is all the things I hoped it would be – and then some.
 
I’ve seen Violent Night compared a lot to a blend of John Wick (2014) and Home Alone (1990). I have to admit that the mash-up isn’t that far off. If you haven’t seen any of the myriad articles or videos exploring the catastrophic damage Kevin’s traps would inflict in the real world, Violent Night gives a small, yet gruesome, taste of a few more accurate scenarios.
 
Seriously, though, I adore the concept of Santa Claus mopping up bad guys in the name of defending a little girl on his Nice List and her family – dysfunctional though they may be. David Harbour (Hellboy, Black Widow, Stranger Things) was also perfect for this role. I was absolutely giddy when I saw he was attached to this movie. He absolutely nailed the transformation from apathetic to ass-kicking that Santa experienced.
 
You really couldn’t go wrong with any of this cast, though.

 
Leah Brady (Hunting- A Documentary, The Umbrella Academy, Erin's Guide to Kissing Girls) is a fresh face in Hollywood and I’m excited to see what she does in the future. She embodied the hopeful naiveté that we all hope children hold on to as long as they can, and yet balanced with cleverness and a sense of adventure. It was also really interesting to see John Leguizamo (Critical Thinking, Encanto, The Menu) as the lead villain in Violent Night. It’s far removed from his usual roles, but he really sold it. He’s often underrated and absolutely deserves more spotlight.
 
Further, seeded within the entire production, there are nods to Christmas movies from the past – crossing several genres. One such nod had to be the casting of Beverly D’Angelo (The House Bunny, The Good House, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) as the Lightstone family matriarch. She played Ellen Griswold in nearly all of the National Lampoon movies featuring that hilarious family – of which one of my favorites is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989). It might be a stretch, but there are more concrete Easter Eggs sprinkled throughout than the 6-degrees-of-Christmas-Movies I attempted.

 
Violent Night had some really spectacular, if rather brutal, fight scenes. The action choreography here was top-notch. All of the elements of a great action movie were present and elevated by the comedic undertone. The laughter, while occasionally dark humor, took just enough of the edge off so that the situation on-screen didn’t get too intense.
 
If you love the action genre, don’t mind a little blood, and want it whipped up with the magic of the Christmas season, Violent Night is absolutely worth the price of a ticket or rental. Of course, that is if you want to see it before Christmas. I wouldn’t mind watching it afterward, either. (I’ve already watched it twice and I just rented it last night.)
 
Whether Violent Night is your cup of tea or not, we’re wishing you and yours a wonderful and safe Holiday Season. 

 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 73%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 88%
Metascore – 55%
Metacritic User Score – 6.1/10
IMDB Score – 7.0/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5
 
P.S. – There is a short additional mid-credits scene.
 
Movie Trailer:

The Northman (2022)

Streaming Service: Peacock
Movie Name/Year: The Northman (2022)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Length: 2h 17min
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: New Regency Productions, Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Perfect World Pictures, Square Peg, Focus Features, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures Argentina, Cinemundo, Tulip Entertainment, Universal Pictures International (UPI), Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Director: Robert Eggers
Writer: Robert Eggers, Sjón
Actors: Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Gustav Lindh, Elliott Rose, Willem Dafoe, Phill Martin, Eldar Skar, Olwen Fouéré, Edgar Abram, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Björk, Katie Pattinson, Ian Whyte
 
Blurb from IMDb: From visionary director Robert Eggers comes The Northman, an action-filled epic that follows a young Viking prince on his quest to avenge his father's murder.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
I remember the thrill I got watching the trailer for The Northman. The heavy Viking action, the stunning setting... I had seriously high hopes for it.
 
I love it when I movie goes even harder than I expected it to.
 
Robert Eggers (Brothers, The Witch, The Lighthouse) is a genius. He puts out nothing but amazing work. His full-length directorial credits don’t include much (yet), but there is not a dud among them. In about a decade or two, I think he might be hailed as the best director of his time… maybe all time. He is not afraid of the dark, not afraid of taking risking, and he listens to his actors, which allows them to fully become their characters. He will be a giant that inspires the next generation of filmmakers. I have no doubt in my mind.  
 

Dark fantasy is my favorite thing. I read it, I watch, I write it. The Northman hit hard for me. That said, I don’t think you need to be a fan of the genre to enjoy it. The fight choreography and the gorgeous cinematography could speak to anyone.
 
There were a few scenes that were extremely difficult to watch, though. You might not need to be a fantasy, or even an action, fan to enjoy The Northman, but you need to be able to handle dark themes.
 
The Northman is about as good as it gets. I couldn’t come up with anything I disliked about it if I tried. I even rewound to check and see if something in the beginning matched up with something said near the end – and it absolutely did.
 
The Northman is only streaming on Peacock. If you don’t have it, now is a good time to get it.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
The Northman was unequivocally a masterpiece of ancient Viking storytelling. It was gorgeous, atmospheric, visceral, and transported me back in time to the age of fair-haired marauders in long boats. There was so much to love in this imagining of Norse legend.
 
It was a brilliant call to choose the legend of Amleth for Robert Eggers’ next film. While I understand his lament over not having ultimate control over the final cut, the end product was breathtaking. This is the story that is said to have inspired Shakespeare to write Hamlet. It’s a story that easily captures an audience’s attention, and it’s full of twists and turns. I hadn’t realized this parallel was an actual connection between the two stories and remember thinking that there was an eerie resemblance as I was watching The Northman unfold.
 
It was absolutely no stroke of luck, but the hand of fate that had Alexander Skarsgård (Mute, Hold the Dark, Big Little Lies) helming the cast as the titular lead. It was his impassioned campaigning to Eggers for a Viking movie that put the wheels in motion to bring The Northman into reality. Ultimately, it’s easy to say that this was a role that Skarsgård was born to play.
 

The cast was brilliant. Nicole Kidman (Queen of the Desert, The Beguiled, Bombshell) embodied the role of a fierce Scandinavian queen. Ethan Hawke (Sinister, Tesla, The Black Phone) delivered a gritty performance as Amleth’s father. Anya Taylor-Joy (Marrowbone, The Queen's Gambit, Last Night in Soho) was an ethereal delight as the earth-witch pillaged from what is now modern-day Ukraine.
 
The Northman’s tale was brutal and unflinching. It certainly wouldn’t be for the faint of heart, considering all the bone-crunching, blood, and gut-spilling that occurred on the screen. I was fairly giddy, however, at the level of historical accuracy and attention to detail put into this production. The story was steeped in Norse mythology and Viking warfare – with a hearty dose of vengeance. Like its latter-day successor, Hamlet, the legend of Amleth is a cautionary tale about that very revenge. The saying that “an eye for an eye leaves the world blind” very much so applies.
 
The cinematography was incredible. It wasn’t just the gorgeous visuals that were captured that were impressive. There were so many long takes of single camera shots, which spoke to a great deal of stamina for both actors and crew alike. Thinking of re-shooting multiple takes of some of those action scenes with the battles just made me tired on their behalf.
 
I will say that The Northman wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea. There were a few stretches that felt a little on the slower end. I’ll counter, though, that those islands of calm were a much-needed balance of relief to the intensity of the rest of the narrative. If you’re a fan of Viking lore or even just action movies, The Northman would be right up your alley and I would give my hearty recommendation for it.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 89%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 64%
Metascore – 82%
Metacritic User Score – 7.3
IMDB Score – 7.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Copshop (2021)

 

 
Streaming Service: Peacock
Movie Name/Year: Cop Shop (2021)
Genre: Action, Thriller
Length: 108 minutes
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: Sculptor Media, Zero Gravity Management, G-BASE, WarParty Films, Raven Capital Management, Open Road Films, Briarcliff Entertainment, Elevation Pictures, Entract Films, Roadshow Films, STX International, The Searchers, BGFilm, Eagle Films, Netflix (Australia, Philippines, Singapore), Peacock, Remain In Light, Cinemundo, SF Film Finland, Odeon
Director: Joe Carnahan
Writers: Kurt McLeod, Joe Carnahan, Mark Williams
Actors: Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder, Armida Lopez, David Vaughn, J.R. Adduci, Kaiwi Lyman-Mersereau, Keith Jardine, Ryan O'Nan, Tait Fletcher, Toby Huss
 
IMDb Blurb: On the run from a lethal assassin, a wily con artist devises a scheme to hide out inside a small-town police station-but when the hitman turns up at the precinct, an unsuspecting rookie cop finds herself caught in the crosshairs.

Cat’s Point of View:
I had high hopes for Copshop when it crossed my radar prior to its release in September of 2021. I had this one pegged as my #7 on my Top 20 for that month. I expected “absolute mayhem” in the wake of watching the trailer.
 
I wasn’t wrong, and the sneak peek did not lead me astray.
 
While I’m not sure that I got more ‘flying tank’ moments like I was hoping for from Joe Carnahan’s (Stretch, A-Team, Boss Level) take on this story, I still enjoyed the crazy ride.
 
Honestly, I wasn’t disappointed with anything Copshop entailed – except, perhaps a smidge of the ending. That’s neither here nor there, however, because it really didn’t hurt the overall experience. I just found it hard after all that had transpired to suspend that little extra bit of disbelief. I digress…

 
While Gerard Butler (Den of Thieves, Hunter Killer, Greenland) and Frank Grillo (Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Ida Red, Shattered) didn’t let me down at all with their performances, the real star here was Alexis Louder (Harriet, Watchmen, The Tomorrow War). Louder kicked some serious ass and took all the names. I am already a little excited about the projects I see in her imminent future according to IMDb because she rocked this badass female cop role. Though, admittedly, there was nothing lacking from prior performances I’ve seen from her. She just really got to shine in this project.
 
Copshop had decent production value for a shoot-em-up action flick. It took good advantage of its remote shooting location and the story was generally smart. More character development and nuance worked its way in than I would have expected.

 
I was on the proverbial edge of my seat for the majority of Copshop’s runtime and there were several bloody brutal moments that had me wincing. This is definitely not for kids and far from a smooth and easy ride-along.
 
While Copshop didn’t flip the script on this sort of story or offer anything exceptionally outstanding for the Action, Crime, or Thriller genres, it was a thoroughly entertaining experience I wouldn’t have any problems recommending to fans of similar fare. 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 81%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 74%
Metascore – 61%
Metacritic User Score – 6.4/10
IMDB Score – 6.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

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Virus-32 (2022)

Streaming Service: Shudder
Movie Name/Year: Virus-32 (2022)
Genre: Horror
Length: 89 minutes
Rating: Unrated
Production/Distribution: Aeroplano Cine, Mother Superior, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Argentina
Director: Gustavo Hernández
Writer: Juma Fodde, Gustavo Hernández
Actors: Rasjid César, Sofía González, Daniel Hendler, Paula Silva
 
Blurb from IMDb: A rapid spreading virus which transforms people into intelligent, ultra-violent, extra-fast zombie hunters. After each wave of attack by the monsters, they're left incapacitated for 32 seconds while they recover their strength.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
Virus-32 is a basic zombie story. I’ve mentioned before, however, that I don’t have much of an issue with recipe films, and this is exactly the kind of flick that helps make my point.
 
There are some things that Virus-32 did so right that it elevated the recipe.
 
For one thing, the acting was well done. Paula Silva (In the Quarry, Metro de Montevideo, Feheler 78),  was exceptionally easy to relate to, and she kept me right along side her for the entire ride. She made me care. Her character also made a few extremely smart decisions, which caused me to pay even closer attention.
 
The direction was extraordinary. There are a couple of tension-building long shots that were impossible to look away from. It was such a simple addition to the movie, but it made a huge difference. Those scenes were, like the majority of Virus-32, following a recipe. Had they been shot as expected; my attention would have waned just about instantly. But because of these unbroken, constantly-moving (but not shaky cam), long shots… I was glued to the screen, and the scares hit where they otherwise wouldn’t have.
 

There was also the ending.
 
One scene leading up to the ending, I couldn’t even watch. It was terrifying, and my imagination made it even worse. I straight-up hid in my shirt. Further along, there was another scene that caused me to exclaim – out loud – “get the fuck out of here.” I don’t have many moments like that when watching horror these days.
 
I’ll admit that I can’t comment too deeply on the script, because my captions weren’t as on point as they should have been. There were words randomly missing/added. Other times it was just a bad translation. I was able to follow along well enough because of my very minor understanding of Spanish. I’m not going to hold the captions against it though, because we received an early copy. I’m guessing they’ll tighten the translation up for when it premieres on Shudder.
 
All-in-all, Virus-32 was a solid zombie flick, even though it didn’t really subvert expectations the way one would hope.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
Virus-32 was certainly interesting. It worked its way through the middle ground between a tale of a viral outbreak and zombie horror. While I haven’t generally sought out films about pathogens since the whole global pandemic thing began, these two sub-genres are right in my horror wheelhouse.
 
The fact that Virus-32 was in Spanish, as it was set in the Argentinian city of Montevideo, helped immerse me in this story further. I was having to pay closer attention because I was following the subtitles. I didn’t get caught up in the usual rabbit-hole trips my brain takes with mainstream cinema. I didn’t recognize anyone here, so I was just able to settle into the story. Well – as much as someone could settle into this particular one. There was a lot of breath-holding and edge-of-seat riding here. I think the only few moments I slipped down a slight tangent were when I recognized that what was said in Spanish didn’t get translated correctly – mostly expletives. My inner child giggled when “motherfucker” became “damn.” I couldn’t help it.
 
That was the only thing to snicker about – the rest was mercilessly brutal. There were several story choices that had me wincing – not because I’m squeamish (I’m generally not), but because what happened was just so unpleasantly hard to watch.
 

Virus-32 put a new spin on well-worn tropes and I think it worked well. I appreciated that the audience was put in the lead character’s shoes so that very little was known about whatever was afflicting the populace. I didn’t mind that the production skipped over the backstory that went with the “infection.” (Unless clues were in some of the broadcasts in the background that didn’t have a translation.)
 
If I was hard-pressed to find a negative about Virus-32 it would only be the brief segments of footage generated by a rig attached to the actor’s body. Fast movement and spinning with that point of view were disorienting for me and on par with shaky-cam. Anyone who has medical issues due to strobing lights should also be cautious here, as there’s a segment in Virus-32 that has some serious light flashing going on.
 
Virus-32 is a great addition to the Shudder lineup. Fans of the viral outbreak or zombie genres should find something enjoyable here. Just keep in mind, this one gets really dark.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None
Metascore – None
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 6.5/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
Trust-the-Dice’s Parental Advisory Rating: R
 
Movie Trailer:

Kate (2021)

 

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Kate (2021)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
Length:  106 minutes
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: 87North, Screen Arcade, Netflix
Director: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan
Writer: Umair Aleem
Actors: Amelia Crouch, Ava Caryofyllis, Elysia Rotaru, Eoin O'Brien, Jun Kunimura, Mari Yamamoto, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michiel Huisman, Miku Patricia Martineau, Miyavi, Patrick Newall, Tadanobu Asano, Ulf Pilblad, Woody Harrelson
 
Blurb from IMDb:  A female assassin has 24 hours to get vengeance on her murderer before she dies.

Cat’s Point of View:
Kate landed at my #6 pick on September’s Top 20 Movies to Look Out For list. (Selina had Kate listed as her #4.) Based on the trailer and my research for the article, I had some pretty solid expectations for this production.
 
Did Kate live up to what I built up in my mind? Absolutely. Let’s break it down into my primary realms of anticipation.

 
First, the cast looked outstanding. 

Woody Harrelson (The Glass Castle, The Highwaymen, The Freak Brothers) is generally a solid bet, whether you’re looking for a lunatic or a calculating strategist. He’s excelled at roles that cover the full spectrum. When you pair him up with Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane, Fargo, Birds of Prey), who plays the titular character in Kate, it absolutely delivers a winning dynamic.
 
Winstead has already proven to be an action badass, but the level of fight and stunt choreography that she pulled off, while making it look easy, was unreal. I bought 100% of what she was selling and then some. Her struggles with her past and the rapid downslide of her health were in every moment, even while she was kicking ass.

 
Tadanobu Asano (47 Ronin, Midway, Mortal Kombat), Jun Kunimura (Shin Godzilla, Fullmetal Alchemist, Midway), and Miyavi (Unbroken, Bleach, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) really stood out. Miyavi took part in one of the most brutal fight scenes of the movie, while Asano and Kunimura skillfully embodied their roles within the Yakuza echelon.
 
I really appreciated Miku Patricia Martineau (Carl's Car Wash, Finny the Shark) in her supporting role, as well. She embodied the heart of the story to a T and gave some much-needed comedic moments to this otherwise brutal thrill ride. Kudos to her, since this was her full-length cinematic debut.

 
The second factor I had high expectations for revolved around the production quality, itself. With Cedric Nicolas-Troyan’s (The Ring, Snow White and the Huntsman, The Huntsman: Winter's War) background in visual effects, I had no doubt that Kate was going to be gorgeous. I loved the way the city with all its neon glow and cultural nuances worked into the landscape of both the scenes and the story. I got a kick out of recognizing an anime playing on the facing of a skyscraper in the background. The car with pink neon shown in the trailer was a nice touch, too. Little things like that, added up with the larger aspects of the action and narrative and made an overall well-rounded entertainment experience.
 
Of course, I honestly shouldn’t have expected anything less from the get-go considering Kate was helmed by the 87North production company. Of course, that name might sound familiar to some, but slightly off. That’s because they were formerly called 87Eleven, which was the company behind the John Wick (2014) franchise and other kick-ass titles like Atomic Blonde (2017) and Ninja Assassin (2009).

 
Critics have been quick to bash Kate because it’s another female assassin movie following a familiar trope. There’s a new spin to it this time, and I think all of the elements that come together to create the big picture (no pun intended) elevate Kate to the top of the genre.
 
If you’re looking for an action-thriller to get your blood pumping at a breakneck pace, yet also a story of revenge and redemption, I can’t recommend Kate enough. It had all the bells and whistles and then some. 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score –40%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 55%
Metascore – 47%
Metacritic User Score – 6.3/10
IMDB Score – 6.3/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Mortal Kombat (2021)

Streaming Services: HBO Max
Movie Name/Year: Mortal Kombat (2021)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Length: 110 minutes
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: New Line Cinema, NetherRealm Studios, Atomic Monster, Broken Road Productions, Karo Premiere, Universal Pictures International, Warner Bros. Pictures Germany, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Singapore, Warner Bros., HBO Max
Director: Simon McQuoid
Writer: Greg Russo, Dave Callaham, Oren Uziel, Greg Russo, Ed Boon, John Tobias
Actors: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Joe Taslim, Mehcad Brooks, Matilda Kimber, Laura Brent, Tadanobu Asano, Hiroyuki Sanada, Chin Han, Ludi Lin, Max Huang, Sisi Stringer, Mel Jarnson, Nathan Jones, Daniel Nelson, Ian Streetz, Yukiko Shinohara, Ren Miyagawa, Mia Hall, Angus Sampson, Damon Herriman
 
Blurb from IMDb: MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth's greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.

Selina’s Point of View:
I’m so glad I didn’t see this in theaters for my first watch.
 
Don’t get me wrong, seeing it on the big screen would be a hell of an experience, but I was 100% unable to control my excitement the whole time. I was whooping, and laughing, and making all sorts of noises that would have been unacceptable at the theater.
 
I get my second vaccine in a couple of days, then I’ll be hitting my local theater for a second viewing.
 
This right here is the R-rated masterpiece that fans always deserved.
 
I’ll admit that it’s not perfect. There are a few bits that felt awkward or strangely acted. Like it tried to be campy in those parts but missed the mark. Those moments were noticeable, but not nearly enough to ruin the effect of the entire thing.
 
Cole Young, the main character of the film – portrayed by Lewis Tan (Sacrifice, Mortal Kombat X: Generations, Iron Fist), has not appeared in any games. He adds an unknown factor, and I’m glad they included him. However, it does mean there’s a bit of an ‘origin story’ feel at times.
 
Mortal Kombat, like the games, pulled no punches. It was brutal. Fatalities were included, and they were just as insane as they are in the games. There was blood, gore, and death. It was glorious.
 
The graphics were such an upgrade. Obviously, that was expected. The original film was made in the 90s. Technology has come a long way. Still, it was nice to see that the production company, and creative team, took the flick seriously enough to put together such a gorgeous film.
 

Any time there was lightning, flames, ice, or any other ability, on screen – it appeared flawlessly. Even Goro looked really realistic.
 
Most of the actors perfectly fit their characters.
 
I raved about the images of Sisi Stringer (Bloody Hell, Children of the Corn, Matt Gaffney Must Die) as Mileena before the film came out. She could have used a bit more screen time, and she was great, but she certainly wasn’t the best of them.
 
Mehcad Brooks (Supergirl, True Blood, A Fall from Grace) as Jax was absolutely perfect. In pictures, I wasn’t sure how well he translated into the character, but in motion he was Jax. There was no one else who could have been more Jax.
 
Josh Lawson (The Little Death, Long Story Short, Holly Slept Over), also, fully embodied Kano. He added a much-appreciated dose of comedy. Without that, the brutality might have been a bit much. Joe Taslim (Star Trek Beyond, The Raid: Redemption, Fast & Furious 6) did great at making Sub-Zero threatening and terrifying. He had the intimidation aspect down. Max Huang (Police Story: Lockdown, Time Raiders, Sense8) brought Kung Lao to life and humanized him. Huang made the character feel relatable, but still almost untouchable.
 
I could go on and on about the cast. I wasn’t overly in love with the way Liu Kang was portrayed, but there were no other flaws that I could see.
 
It was a good film. It honored the feel of the controversial Mortal Kombat series. It didn’t seek to remove that controversy, and it gave fans what we wanted.
 
It paid complete respect to the games while still bringing a new life to the story. This is what a video game movie should be.
 
Production companies should take note.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
I have been giddily anticipating the release of this new Mortal Kombat since I first heard about it. I have been a fan of the franchise for a long time.
 
While I was lacking gaming consoles in my youth (unless using a friend or relative’s), I did enjoy playing the original Mortal Kombat game when I found it in arcade settings. It was an iconic and controversial game that had fans clamoring for it and parents railing against the graphic violence. When the original movie released in the summer of 1995, just before my senior year of high school, it was the hot ticket in town. I still listen to some of the songs from the soundtrack today.
 
Of course, that first movie, while satisfying at the time, did have significant room for improvement. I’ve often questioned the casting choice for Lord Raiden. I love Christopher Lambert (Bel Canto, Shadow of the Wolf, The Blacklist), but really? Of course, his signature raspy voice was what likely garnered him the role. He’s still voicing the iconic character in subsequent iterations of the game – most recently Mortal Kombat 11 (2019). I was over the moon when I saw that this new production was getting a more culturally appropriate upgrade with Tadanobu Asano (Battleship, Thor: Ragnarok, Midway) in the electrifying role.
 
Honestly, hats off to the casting of this movie. They really hit it out of the park with this one. I could prattle on about them forever. I’ll spare you that, though, and hit the highlights.
 
First, the martial arts talent is off the chart. Both Ludi Lin (Power Rangers, Aquaman, The Ghost Bride) and Max Huang, playing Liu Kang and Kung Lau respectively, are both former members of Jackie Chan’s (Rush Hour, The Foreigner, Iron Mask) stunt team ‘family.’ Their training with Chan was a considerable asset to the film, especially since Huang was able to draw on that training background in order to assist in making the fight choreography better. While I wasn’t able to dig up the information on the whole cast, I can confirm that they, as well as the actors for Sub-Zero, Hanzo Hasashi, and Cole Young all have extensive martial arts backgrounds and perform their own fight scenes and stunts.
 
Cole Young is an original character introduced by this movie, but I am a huge fan of the actor that plays him already. Lewis Tan caught my attention during Into the Badlands (2015-2019) and Wu Assassins (2019-). He is well-deserving of this role here. While some of the iconic characters from the video game franchise didn’t make it into this movie, I think the reboot benefited from a little bit of ‘fresh blood’ with a new take on the story.
 

I was also doing fangirl cartwheels internally when I saw that Hiroyuki Sanada (47 Ronin, Helix, The Catcher Was a Spy) was cast here as Hanzo Hasashi. He’s one of my favorite Japanese actors and his range is phenomenal – both dramatically and in action scenes.
 
As I said, I could ramble forever. Though, I’ll try to reign myself in by switching up here. Let’s talk setting and special effects.
 
This Mortal Kombat film is said to be the biggest budgeted movie to film in South Australia, and I think they got a lot of bang out of those budget bucks because of the location. The use of the scenery to give a remote and otherworldly feel to the film was amazing. Further, the special effects weren’t too over-the-top. They enhanced the supernatural aspects of the film – such as Raiden’s lightning, Sub Zero’s ice, and Liu Kang’s fire, etc. – without making things cheesy. It’s said that the director wanted to use as little green-screen as possible.
 
Some might wonder about the well-known brutality of the fatalities involved with the fighting. Mortal Kombat pulled no punches with those. There’s a lot of blood and gore to be had with some of these fights. This film is definitely deserving of its R-rating. Keep the little kids out of the room when you watch this one.
 
I am seriously impressed that this was Simon McQuoid’s directorial debut. Of course, he did have a great team of producers to back him up – including James Wan (Insidious, Furious 7, Aquaman). I’m definitely looking forward to what he has in store for us in the future, and hope that there is a sequel in the works, at the very least.
 
For anyone that had any doubts about this new iteration of the beloved game franchise translating to the movie screen, I can assure you that this movie didn’t disappoint at all. I’m not even mad about the characters that were absent from this story – because that leaves room for more stories in the future. The ending here certainly left room for that to happen. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
 
I have a feeling that this is going to be the next movie to break pandemic box office records, considering the trailer alone has already smashed streaming records. If you have the chance to safely see it on the big screen, I encourage you to do so. Otherwise, HBO Max is an excellent alternative.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 56%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 89%
Metascore – 44/100
Metacritic User Score – 6.1/10
IMDB Score – 6.8/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5
 
Movie Trailer: