‘Stepfather II,’ also known as ‘Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy,’ is a psychological horror film directed by Jeff Burr. It was released in 1989 and was plagued by studio interference. After the incidents of the first film, Jerry Blake (Terry O’Quinn) is institutionalized, but murders his psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Danvers (Henry Brown) and takes…
Directed by Joseph Ruben and based on a screenplay by Donald E. Westlake, ‘The Stepfather’ is a psychological horror that came out in 1987. It had several writers including Westlake, Carolyn Lefcourt, Brian Garfield, and David Loughery (whose reworking of the script went uncredited.) Henry Morrison (Terry O’Quinn) casually shaves and showers while walking around…
‘American Murder: The Family Next Door‘ is a true crime documentary that tells the shocking and horrifying story of the Watts family murders. It is directed by Jenny Popplewell and was released on Netflix. Shan’ann Watts arrived at her Colorado home at 2 a.m. after a business trip to Arizona. After that, she and her…
‘Obamagate‘ is the latest movie from filmmakers Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney. It is produced by The Unreported Society and the watchdog organization Judicial Watch. Counterintelligence Division FBI Agent Peter Strzok (Dean Cain), who was married at the time, begins texting his mistress Lisa Page (Kristy Swanson), a trial attorney for Robert Mueller. Their conversations…
In his directorial debut, Scott Walker wrote and directed ‘The Frozen Ground‘ in 2013. It was made by Grindstone Entertainment and released through Lionsgate in a limited theatrical run. After a body is found in an isolated part of Alaska in 1983, retiring detective and state trooper Jack Halcombe (Nicolas Cage) is assigned the case.…
‘Class Action Park‘ is a documentary that discusses the iconic and now-defunct Action Park directed by Seth Porges and Chris Charles Scott III. It was released as an HBO Max exclusive and narrated by John Hodgman. Action Park is legendary as a water park as well as the number of lawsuits over safety violations, injuries,…
‘Love, Guaranteed‘ is a romantic comedy directed by Mark Steven Johnson. It was made by Off Camera Entertainment and Industry Entertainment with star Rachael Leigh Cook serving as co-producer. It was distributed by Netflix. Civil litigator Susan Whitaker (Rachael Leigh Cook) lives in Seattle working with accountant Roberto (Sean Amsing) and legal assistant Denise (Lisa…
‘Beckman‘ is directed by Gabriel Sabloff and released through PureFlix and Quality Flix. This action-thriller is a departure from their usual genre of faith-based films, dramas, and kids cartoons. The hitman Aaron Beckman (David A.R. White) is taken in by the dying preacher Philip (Jeff Fahey) after a hit goes wrong. Beckman, seeking solace, becomes…
‘By Night’s End‘ is a horror-thriller about a home invasion gone wrong directed by Walker Whited who co-wrote it with Sean McCane. It is one of those hidden gem indie films released in time for Halloween. Heather (Michelle Rose) and Mark (Kurt Yue) are a couple struggling financially and emotionally. She is a military veteran…
‘Vivarium‘ is a psychological thriller directed by Lorcan Finnegan. It is based on a story by Shanley and Lorcan Finnegan and made its premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, later being released in 2020 via Vertigo Releasing. After observing a cuckoo taking over the nest of a finch, teacher Gemma (Imogen Poots) and her…
‘Enola Holmes‘ is a Netflix adaption of the young adult mystery novels by Nancy Springer. None of which I have read. The film is directed by Harry Bradbeer and written by Jack Thorne. Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) lives happily with her mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter) where she learns all kinds of skills, both…
Written by Mattson Tomlin, ‘Project Power‘ is an action thriller directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. It was made by Screen Arcade and Screen Arcade, being distributed through Netflix. In New Orleans, a new drug called Powers begins to hit the streets. One hit and it gives you superpowers for five minutes or it…
Part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies, ‘Superman: Man of Tomorrow‘ is directed by Chris Palmer. It was released through Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. A young Clark Kent (Darren Criss) arrives in Metropolis to work as an intern for the Daily Planet, though his parents Jonathan (Neil Flynn) and Martha Kent (Bellamy…
‘Emma‘ is a 2020 adaption of Jane Austen’s Regency Era novel of the same name. It is the directorial feature film debut for Autumn de Wilde, a critically-acclaimed photographer and music video director. Emma Woodhouse (Anya Taylor-Joy) lives alone with her widowed father Mr. Woodhouse (Bill Nighy). She becomes friends with the shy Harriet Smith…
‘The Crimes That Bind‘ is a Spanish language film from Argentina, originally titled ‘Crímenes de familia.’ Sebastián Schindel directed it and co-wrote it with Pablo Del Teso. It was released internationally on Netflix. Alicia (Cecilia Roth) is desperate to protect her son Daniel (Benjamín Amadeo) from going to jail after he is accused of assaulting…
‘The Devil All the Time‘ is a Southern gothic psychological thriller, adapted from the fictional novel of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock, who also narrates the film. It is directed by Antonio Campos and features an ensemble cast. The plot follows several plot lines that converge at one point. Arvin Russell (Tom Holland)…
Directed by Patrick Perez Vidauri who also co-produced it with screenwriter Cristina Nava, ‘In Other Words‘ is an independent romantic comedy from LuxIII Pictures. True Andrews (Bryan McClure) has created “Compatible,” a dating app with his business partner Benny (Rishi Arya) and lawyer Kiki (Joe Nunez). Despite True’s fear of speaking to beautiful women and…
The Netflix documentary ‘The Speed Cubers‘ is directed by Sue Kim and takes on Speed Cubing, the competition for solving the Rubik’s Cube, as its subject. It specifically discusses the friendly competition between American “cuber” Max Park from California and Australian competitor Feliks Zemdegs, both world record-holders. The movie tells the story of how Zemdegs…
Released in select theaters and later to Netflix, ‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things‘ is a psychological horror film written, directed, and produced by Charlie Kaufman. It was made by Likely Story productions. Cindy (Jessie Buckley) is thinking of breaking up with her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemons), but he convinces her to visit his parents. After…
‘Capone‘ is a biopic about the famous Chicago gangster Al Capone. It is written, edited, and directed by Josh Trank and released by Redbox Entertainment and Vertical Entertainment. The once-feared gangster Al Capone (Tom Hardy) is reduced to a drooling shell of himself living in retirement in Florida. He is taken care of by his…
My fellow commentator Elisha Krauss did a breakdown of the child exploitation French film “Cuties” aka “Mignonnes.” The feature won awards at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and critical acclaim but has received universally denunciation from audiences, social media, and even from politicians. Her review is incredibly smart, thoughtful, and reveals just how abhorrent the…
‘The Lost Husband‘ is a drama film written and directed by Vicky Wight. It was produced by Six Foot Pictures and distributed by Quiver Distribution and RedBox Entertaiment. It was based on a novel of the same name by Katherine Center which I have not read. Libby Moran (Leslie Bibb) and her two kids Abby…
‘An American Pickle‘ is a comedy HBO Max exclusive directed by Brandon Trost and written by Simon Rich, who wrote the short story “Sell Out” which the movie is based on. Originally, Sony Pictures was supposed to release the film, but the rights were sold to Warner Bros. Herschel Greenbaum (Seth Rogen) moves to New…
‘Bill & Ted Face the Music‘ is directed by Dean Parisot and written by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon. It is the third film in the ‘Bill & Ted’ comedy franchise followed by ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure‘ (1989) and ‘Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey‘ (1991). Ted “Theodore” Logan (Keanu Reeves) and William S. “Bill”…
European production company Dreamin’ Dolphin Film brings us the CGI animated movie ‘Latte and the Magic Waterstone,’ directed by Mimi Maynard, Regina Welker, and Nina Wels. It made its premiere at the 2019 Schlingel International Film Festival and was released in the United States on Netflix. Latte (Ashley Bornancin) is a hedgehog who lives in…
