If you are up for some middling low budget, independent horror with an authentic Maine setting and local flavor, Island Zero might be just the ticket. The film is written by Tess Gerritsen, the bestselling author of medical and crime thrillers, including twelve novels featuring Detective Jane Rizzoli and Medical Examiner Maura Isles on which […]
Theatrical Reviews
[Review] Downsizing (2017): The Diminishing Returns of One Size Fits All – by Doc Rotten
Downsizing (2017) from writer/director Alexander Payne has everything going for it. It has a unique and intriguing premise: to save the planet from man, overpopulation, global warming (you name it), shrink man down to one-tenth their original size. It has a great lead cast featuring Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Kristen Wiig, Udo Kier, and – standout […]
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[Review] Justice League (2017): Charismatic Leads Defeat Another Dull Villain – by Doc Rotten
Vanessa invites Doc Rotten to reveal his thoughts on the latest film in the DC cinematic universe, Justice League (2017). The film is directed by Zack Snyder (with some reshoot help from Joss Whedon) with a script by Chris Terrio and Whedon. The story has Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) forming a […]
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[Review] Thor: Ragnarok (2017) – by Doc Rotten
Marvel returns to Asgard with Thor: Ragnarok (2017), the third in the Thor series of films. However, this addition to the franchise brings far more spirit, color, life, and humor to the sometimes stiff characters. Director Taika Waititi along with writers Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle, and Christopher Yost may have created the most accessible and […]
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[Review] Jigsaw (2017) – by Rafe Telsch
John Kramer returns – as does the Saw series – with Jigsaw (2017) from the Spierig Brothers (Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig), the directors behind Undead, Daybreakers, Predestination, and the upcoming Winchester: The House That Ghosts Builts. Tobin Bell returns in the title role while his costars Matt Passmore, Callum Keith Rennie, Hannah Emily Anderson, […]
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[Review] The Snowman (2017) – by Doc Rotten
The Snowman (2017) has all the right ingredients to make a riveting, mind-blowing thriller. It has a solid director with Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) and a popular source material from author Jo Nesbo. The film, produced by none other than Martin Scorsese, features a stellar cast including Michael Fassbender, Rebeccas Furguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, […]
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[Review] Leatherface (2017) – by Doc Rotten
The directors of Inside, Alexandra Bustillo and Julien Maury, take a stab at putting their footprints on the history of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre with the prequel, Leatherface (2017). The film follows a group of young patients escaping from a mental hospital and on the run. One of the madmen is a young Leatherface – […]
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[Review] Happy Death Day (2017) – by Doc Rotten
Blumhouse returns with another horror film for the 2017 haunt season with Happy Death Day (2017). As the trailers promise, the film from director Christopher (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse) Landon channels a strong Groundhog Day vibe with a comedic horror spin to the rinse-and-repeat reliving of this horrific […]
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[Review] Blade Runner 2049 (2017) – by Thomas Mariani
Thanks to the aggressive marketing from Warner Brothers, it is no secret that Harrison Ford returns as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner 2049 (2017) from director Denis Velleneuve (Arrival). In the sequel three decades in the making, Ryan Gosling stars as K, the next generation of Blade Runner. Thomas Mariani steps in to review the latest […]
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[Review] Mother! (2017) – by Rafe Telsch
The Grue-Crew welcomes Rafe Telsch to the fold to review Darren Aronofsky’s latest cinematic wonder Mother! (2017). The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, and Michelle Pfieffer. Rafe confirms that if you are an Aronofsky fan, you will want to see Mother!; however, he warns the film goes a bit insane for its […]
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[Review] Annabelle: Creation (2017) – by Doc Rotten
Doc Rotten joins Dave Dreher to review Annabelle: Creation (2017) the fourth in a series of films establishing The Conjuring Universe. The film is directed by David F. Sandberg and features Stephanie Sigman, Miranda Otto, Anthony LaPaglia, Lulu Wilson, Talitha Bateman, Kerry O’Malley, Philippa Coulthard, Grace Fulton, and Samara Lee. Much like Ouija: Origin of […]
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“Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” (2017): Too Much Style Over Too Little Substance
Without a doubt, Luc Besson knows how to make a lavish, astonishing, cinematic big screen event films but continues to struggle to connect with the characters and hitting key emotional beats within the story being told. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets excels at being visually striking and exciting, rousing eye candy full […]
“War For the Planet of the Apes” (2017): Damn Dirty Great From Chimpan-A to Chimpan-Z
Apes. Continue. Strong. Nearly 50 years after Charlton Heston cursed humanity on a beach, the Planet of the Apes franchise is still going strong. Those original five films managed to combine a maddening sci-fi twist with biting social commentary. They covered everything from race to religious idolatry to celebrity culture. Then after that Tim Burton trainwreck, Rise of […]
“Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017): Spectacular, Succeeds Where Recent Efforts Have Stumbled
Success! This is it, the film Spider-Man has always needed. Spider-Man: Homecoming fully realizes the full potential of the character steeped in Marvel mythology, quirky, and innocent. Marvel and Sony have joined forces to firmly establish Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is the Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man of the Spider-Man movies where […]
“Alien Covenant” (2017): Closer Yet No Cigar
After returning to the Alien franchise with 2012’s Prometheus, director Ridley Scott has even more baggage. Not only the weight of his successful start & James Cameron’s initial sequel, but the massive disappointment of the entries that followed and divisive reception of his own return. With Alien Covenant, the question on everyone’s mind is would he progress the larger thematics of religion […]