Tag: Movie Review

“Clown in a Cornfield” Review: A New Horror Movie That Knows How to Subvert Expectations

May 5th, 2025

Clown in a Cornfield is a new film premiering wide this upcoming weekend that initially premiered at South by Southwest earlier this year. Based off the 2020 novel by Adam Cesare & directed by Eli Craig, the film stars Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Kevin Durand, and Will Sasso. Quinn and her father have just moved to the quiet town of Kettle Springs hoping for a fresh start. Instead, she discovers a fractured community that has fallen on hard times after the treasured Baypen Corn Syrup Factory burned down. As the locals bicker amongst themselves and tensions boil over, a sinister, grinning figure emerges from the cornfields to cleanse the town of its burdens, one bloody victim at a time.

To be fully honest, I knew nothing about this film going into it. The plot even subverted my expectations. It’s not at all what I was expecting, and that’ s a good thing. I first came across on it when exploring the coming soon section of my AMC app. Based on the title, poster, and synopsis, I was expecting something a lot more sinister in the vein of It. Given the film is from the director of cult favorite Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, I should have expected something more bananas than I could have ever imagined. Ladies & gentlemen, I think we have another cult favorite on our hands.

I am going to do my best to avoid spoilers throughout my review, because I firmly believe everyone should go in knowing as little as possible. Within the film’s opening minutes, it perfectly sets the tone for what’s to come. Set in a specific time frame, it doesn’t hold back as to what this killer is capable of. Fast forward to another time, I was truly surprised that the film chose to set the tone during one year and then skip so much time in the future. As the film goes on, you realize just how important it is to begin the film at this time.

From there, the film does have some cliche plot points and other plot points that are not fully fleshed out. The main character and her dad move to a new town to start fresh only to realize it’s worse than anyone could have ever imagined. We have seen it done quite a bit, but what sets itself apart from anything else is how it gives every single one of these characters plenty of layers anchored by truly terrific performances. There are a few recognizable actors. As for the rest, I can’t wait to see what they do next. They understand the tone of the film that Eli Craig brings through his direction, making this one of the most fun horror movies I have seen in years.

The setup is completely necessary. As we learn more about the characters, we also see Frendo the clown terrorizing the town. It’s not just a bunch of setup and then pay off. It’s setup as terror is happening at the same time. What’s brilliant about this is that you expect this to lead to something else in the second half. Instead, there is a big reveal at the halfway point that threw me off. Complete chaos ensues with funnier laughs than I could have ever imagined.

The second half of the film is wild. It’s brutal & non-stop laughs throughout. When a film can subvert your expectations and keep the fun coming, you know you have a new classic on your hands. It does lead into a third act that I often don’t agree with in film where the villain has to reveal their entire motives. It results in the film sort of stopping in the tracks to help the audience better understand the motives. Instead, I think the film could have benefitted with the motives being explained in flashbacks or through the main characters overhearing the villain’s intentions. Nonetheless, it’s still a lot of fun. I’m glad this film continued to choose fun over something sinister for a film that’s meant to be bleak.

The effects often look great and creative. There is a talented crew helping put this together. I am not one to mention how creative the kills are as much as others may, but I believe viewers will find themselves surprised by how creative the film can get. It’s certainly a film my friends and I would have loved as teenagers as we explored more horror films.

It’s been a long time since I have seen a fun horror film like this. I am not familiar with the books its based off of. I do not typically read horror books, but I’d love to learn more about this from the books. What’s great about the film is that it doesn’t try to set itself up for a sequel. I don’t personally believe it needs a sequel based on where it ends. I also believe the film has plenty of say thematically about keeping a community scared.

Overall, Clown in a Cornfield is a great time that subverted my expectations. The film has a great set-up, intriguing characters, humor, and horror. It has several cliche plot points here and there, but it doesn’t overshadow just how creative & unique the film truly is. Highly recommend checking this out in theaters to experience what will surely be a cult classic.

VERDICT: 4/5 (Great)
“Electra” Review: The New & Bold Millennial Take on “The Talented Mr. Ripley”

May 1st, 2025

Electra is a new film releasing in theaters and on digital platforms this weekend. Directed by Hala Matar & co-written by Matar & Daryl Wein, the film stars Maria Bakalova, Wein, Jack Farthing, and Abigail Cowen. A journalist and his female companion travel to interview a famous musician in Rome where a generous invite to a country estate becomes something much more than anyone expected.

Ever since the pandemic, I always look ahead at the month to come as it nears. As I started looking at the new releases for May, Electra stood out between its lead star in Maria Bakalova and its overall vision. While it is true that it stands out as a new & bold take on The Talented Mr. Ripley, the film still manages to stand out on its own due to the creative choices that will surely entertain its viewers.

The film is directed by Hala Matar in her directorial debut, making her the first Bahraini woman to make a feature film. That’s awesome! She clearly makes her vision and voice heard through a project that manages to stand on its own, even if it does wear its influences on its sleeve. There are plenty of surprises throughout where Matar requires genuine performances out of the talent. It can even get quite weird at times, but the film is all the better for it.

Viewers may recognize its leading actress Maria Bakalova from many projects before. I never thought when I first watched Borat Subsequent Moviefilm that she would shoot to stardom the way she has. Even as an award-nominated actress, it’s not only great to have her lead a film, but it’s awesome that she is still leaning into indies that gives the cast & crew the opportunity to break through in their film career.

Even though Bakalova is noted as the lead actress, I don’t believe she overshadows the rest of the cast. Everyone here has an equal amount of screentime that helps propel the story forward. Daryl Wein both stars & co-writes the film alongside Matar. He gives a convincing performance, but I can also see where his writing alongside Matar gives the film the opportunity to gage a broader audience. Without giving much away, it goes in an unpredictable direction that is both fitting & shocking.

Jack Farthing & Abigail also give incredible performances in a cast that will surely all shoot to stardom if they haven’t already. Other than Bakalova, I haven’t seen this cast in anything else. After this, I will see anything they are in. Farthing is required to give a restrained & interesting performance while Cowen manages to be a true standout that surprised me with her amounts of layers from start to finish.

As a directorial debut, the film is certainly a smaller indie, but the technical components work in the film’s favor that gives the film the opportunity to stand out. The cinematography captures the broad landscape & scenery, helping the audience clearly understand where the characters are with colors that often helps bring more energy out of the film. The production & wardrobe design also speaks volumes as to who these characters are. Even when the story can get wild, the film is still interesting to watch unfold.

The third act leans heavily into a certain editing style that I didn’t quite agree with, but I also admire the film for taking the bold swings. The choices that are made do feel dated, yet I feel like it’s been forever since I have seen something like it. Personally, I would have liked to have seen more of that specific style throughout. The choices that are made towards the end can be a bit overplayed to help enhance the story when I think it could have been even better without it. It’s definitely a choice that I think may get better the more I think about it.

Overall, Electra is a bold & visionary tale with a cast that stand out on screen and a crew who cares about the overall film. It takes interesting creative swings & it does wear its influences on its sleeve, but there is no doubt that this is one of the most creative films I have seen this year. Check this one out!

VERDICT: 3.5/5 (Pretty Good)
“The Surfer” Review: A Wild Film That Equally Matches Nicolas Cage’s Wild Energy

April 30th, 2025

The Surfer is a new film releasing in the United States this upcoming weekend after it had its world premiere about a year ago at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Written by Thomas Martin & directed by Lorcan Finnegan, the film stars Nicolas Cage, Julian McMahon, Nic Cassim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand, and Justin Rosniak. A man returns to the idyllic beach of his childhood to surf with his son. When he is humiliated by a group of locals, the man is drawn into a conflict that keeps rising and pushes him to his breaking point.

Seeing Nicolas Cage in any modern day movie almost grabs my attention. Emphasis on the almost as he still pumps out straight-to-DVD that I avoid like the plague. Cage brought his best performance in Pig, so I will try to watch whatever he does next. Seeing all the rave reviews come out of the world premiere, I also avoided anything about this film like the plague. It’s better going into a movie knowing next to nothing. Getting an early screener for the film gave me the perfect opportunity to do that and witness just how wild it got.

Starting off with vibrant colors as the cinematography captures the grand landscape of the area, the film consistently gives you something gorgeous to look at. From the fiery sun to the blue & cool waters, it feels like I was there in each scene with the characters, which helps when the film casually transitions into its acid-like dream sequences. The film may focus less on surfing than you would think for its title, but there is no denying the feel you get from watching what the surfer goes through.

As the film gets a wider release, I can only imagine this will become more mixed as time goes on due to the way the story plays out. It certainly goes in a direction I did not expect, but I think the film is all the better for it. I feel like it may even be one of those movies that you either get or you don’t. If you don’t, then it may not be for you, but that’s not to say that watching it for Cage’s performance alone is worth it. It’s not his best performance, but I have not seen a film be able to match the wild energy of Cage as much as this one has through its bizarre concept.

Thematically, I believe the film is trying to convey why you should never return back to where you came from. Cage’s character appears to be doing quite well in the beginning. His journey throughout the film proves that going back to his roots is not worth it between the town bullies and the new trauma he will bring onto his son. The path that he has to take to prove his worth to these people that didn’t care about him in the first place is not worth it. It can lead to some messy character decisions that I didn’t always agree with, yet the story still managed to have its own identity.

One aspect that immediately grabbed my attention was seeing Julian McMahon in an antagonistic role. He hasn’t done a whole lot lately, so it surprised me to see him in the role that he was in. He gave a dark & convincing performance as someone who never really grew up and managed to trick everyone around him to play by his games. There was more potential to create more friction between him and Cage. His performance still stood out that helped convey the film’s messages.

The film offers a unique score that often plays into the film’s energy. Technically speaking, the film is masterful as the creative team behind it is creating something immersive. Director Lorcan Finnegan creates something of his own through a script that he clearly understands. He finds Cage as the perfect actor to play the kind of role he wants out of the film. The film embraces its wild side and asks Cage to match it, which he does with precision.

If you are looking for a film about Cage surfing, you might want to go in with different expectations. For a film called The Surfer, we rarely see the character surf. I don’t see that as the intention of the film though. This titular character surfs and crashes his way throughout this journey, and I think that’s the film’s truest intent. Based on how wild it can get, I can’t imagine myself wanting to rewatch it. The ending can be a bit conflicting as I couldn’t quite imagine the characters acting in the way they do. The film still accomplishes what it sets itself out to do with its core thematic messages.

Overall, The Surfer is a solid watch that gives Cage the right opportunity to be his best self through what the story has to offer. The themes are clear, the direction is intentional, and the visuals are masterful, yet I still found myself wanting something more realistic that could have been offered through the core problem within the story. If you are a fan of Cage or looking for something fresh & original, this is a good one to check out.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 (Pretty Good)
“Until Dawn” Review: Stick to the Video Game

April 27th, 2025

Until Dawn is a new video game adaptation that premiered in theaters this past weekend. The film comes from the 2015 video game of the same name from PlayStation Studios, set in the same universe of the game, but feature a a new standalone storyline. The film stars Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa A’zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli, Maia Mitchell, and Peter Stormare. One year after her sister Melanie mysteriously disappeared, Clover and her friends head into the remote valley where she vanished in search of answers. Exploring an abandoned visitor center, they find themselves stalked by a masked killer and horrifically murdered one by one…only to wake up and find themselves back at the beginning of the same evening.

I once played the video game back in 2016 or so. In no way, shape or form do I hold the video game in high regard. It was great at the time, but I have never once wanted to play it again due to it being horror and I already don’t do well with horror video games. Video game adaptations are typically hit or miss, but when they are done right, it is a near-perfect replica of what it is based on such as The Last of Us. Between the trailers giving so much away and knowing this was going to be a brand new story, I had low expectations, and yet I had hope because it comes from director David F. Sandberg who I have mostly liked with his filmography. Unfortunately, I should have set my expectations even lower.

If I was much younger like in my early teens, my friends and I probably would have loved this at a sleepover or during a simple horror marathon. As I grow older, I have grown less tolerant of quality at this level. To be fair, I do believe some of the horror elements are directed well by Sandberg who has certainly made a name for himself when it comes to horror. There a few jump scares that even got to me all thanks to the effective sound design. That’s about where my positives end.

After Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Sandberg swore he would never make an IP-related film ever again due to all the hate & death threats he received from that film. That’s actually not cool. No filmmaker should ever be put in that position and that is unfortunate that’s what came from it. Apparently, when Sandberg read the script for Until Dawn, he knew he had to make it. I’m honestly puzzled by the decision as I find the script to be one of the worst that I have seen that felt replicated from the 2000’s. The only thing that I can make sense of it is that he found an opportunity to make it better. Look, I enjoy The Last of Us. At this rate, with the amazing graphics that video games have to offer today, just stick to the video game.

One of the biggest complaints about the film is that it wasn’t a direct replica. I suppose I didn’t care enough at the time. It has been almost a decade since I first played the game. Then again, that should tell you with how long it took for this to come out that it missed a good opportunity to actually come out. The film serves as a prequel to the original game as it tries to expand the mythology. Instead, it says absolutely nothing based on how lazy & incompetent the script is.

Right from the start of the film, the characters are unbearable. They each have unique characterization that is random and only serves to push the plot forward. The reasoning for why these characters go to this place has been done over and over again. There’s a couple who lowkey despise each other. There’s an ex couple that adds nothing interesting to the story. There’s the character seen below that may be the most interesting. Instead, she is able to be a fortune teller and goes through the worst out of all the characters.

The script consistently has characters talking to help the audience understand what’s going on. It makes them not feel real and it only gets worse as the film drags on. Instead of having reasonable dialogue, they always complain to each other. A girl even stabs a guy to prevent him from doing something and all is forgiven shortly after. It’s bizarre. The film cares less about making you sympathize these characters as they try to get out and cares more about making you hate them for some bizarre reason.

The film also has plenty of opportunities to be fun. There’s a montage where characters go back through phone recordings of what’s happened before, because they can’t remember what happened before. Why can’t they remember? Who knows. The film could have used the opportunity to show that in real time in a comedic & fun montage. The film actually has serious moments where it made my theater unintentionally laugh-out-loud. It’s ridiculous in the worst way. It’s nice to have a character in the film from the video game to have some sort of connection. Based on the absurd way the film concludes their story and where it tries to set up the video game, I can’t help but think the film wanted no connection whatsoever to the video game, but was forced to add more connections in the end.

Overall, I hate being this negative on film. The biggest problem with Until Dawn is that it doesn’t even try. It has so many more opportunities to have an identity and yet, it relies on earlier films to find its voice. While some of the horror elements are directed well, the rest of the film completely falls flat due to what the script offers. Please, just stick to the video game.

VERDICT: 1/5 (Horror-ible)
“The Accountant 2” Review: A Lighter Approach That Works Best with the Brotherly Dynamic

April 25th, 2025

The Accountant 2 is the sequel to the 2016 film The Accountant with returning director Gavin O’Connor & writer Bill Dubuque. The film stars Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Daniella Pineda, and J.K. Simmons. When an old acquaintance is murdered, Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax, to help. In partnership with Marybeth Medina, they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets behind.

Releasing 9 years after the original, I was hyped for this one. To be honest, I never thought we would see the light of day for a sequel. The idea for a sequel seemed like a pipe dream, even if that one did set up for more stories to tell. I loved the first one, and maybe that has to do with the mystery that was conveyed through its magnificent trailer. I tried to avoid trailers for the sequel, but I was too excited not to. I couldn’t believe how much the trailer gave away with this one. Needless to say, I was left disappointed with this one.

After initially watching it, I was ready to give this a lower score than what I am going to give it now. This does not feel like a proper continuation at all. The film picks up 8 years after the first with brothers Christian & Braxton reconnecting due to Christian needing his brothers help. You’re meaning to tell me after they reconnected at the end of the last one, that moment didn’t matter? I get it. You have to write that in due to how long it took for this one to come out. Personally, it would have been more fitting if the movie started with them working together only to be pulled apart due to something drastic. At least them coming back together would feel more fitting.

Director Gavin O’Connor has stated that the choice to make this film have a lighter tone is intentional. It’s certainly a choice that seems to be appealing to the majority of viewers. The problem is that what came before in the original did not set up the same characters portrayed here. These do not feel like the same characters at all. Affleck does a lot of wacky things that are completely out of character from conducting a study at a speed dating session to dancing at a bar. It feels like Christian is at a different point in his life and you can see him wanting to grow into being a more normal person. Instead, the film focuses on comedy to portray that I personally didn’t find all that funny.

Due to the lighthearted tone, the film can be drastically jarring throughout. There are hints of the original’s tone throughout that I found myself brought back in. I don’t think Cynthia Addai-Robinson is getting her flowers through these movies. She is great. Whenever she on screen is when the film is able to bring you back into how this all started back in 2016. Bernthal is another solid addition, and can be seen as a scene stealer. There’s an incredibly effective moment where he is begging his brother to explain why they aren’t close to which Christian responds that’s just who he is. It’s a moment I was begging for throughout. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t know what to do next and chooses comedy to close the scene out, which just felt out of place.

One of the reasons I loved the original is how the trailer doesn’t reveal much and there are still surprises throughout. I don’t think what I am going to say next is a spoiler since the trailer gave it away. It is truly beyond me why the trailer spoiled J.K. Simmons’ death. Why he even came back is beyond me. Why the film doesn’t just simply make this a revenge story is also beyond me. The way Simmons’ character goes out is abrupt. The film also chooses to make its plot more convoluted than it needs to be, stretching out the film and hurting the pace along with it.

The film has considerably less action than the previous one. Where the first had consistent & short amount of action throughout, this one is just one big set up to an action scene that I actually did find entertaining. O’Connor states the third one will be Rain Man on steroids. If the last action set piece is any indicator, I hope that is the case. This new franchise needs a third and final entry that leans more into the action, because it is directed well here and in the original.

There are ridiculous plot points and revelations that make the film more complicated than it needs to be at times. When the film focuses solely on the dynamic between Affleck & Bernthal is where the film shines best. I think that’s what we were all wanting since the first one. Bernthal can give any movie he is in so much energy. He can just get along with anyone, proving that he is one of the best working actors today. While I do like Affleck here, the amount of dialogue he has made him more comedic than interesting, which is something that worked so well in the first one.

Overall, The Accountant 2 has potential to grow on me, but I am currently mixed on it. The lighter tone wasn’t for me as it didn’t feel fitting, but the action and the dynamic between Affleck & Bernthal works. I’m glad that people are enjoying this one and going out to support it. I just hope the third one leans back into the original’s tone that made me a fan in the first place.

VERDICT: 2.5/5 (Okay)
“The Accountant” Review: A Dark & Intriguing Original Film

April 24th, 2025

The Accountant is a 2016 film from director Gavin O’Connor. The film stars Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor, and John Lithgow. As a math savant uncooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his activities and the body count start to rise.

This film means more to me than it should. While it has gained a cult following since its release, this means something deeper to me. While it is great, it’s far from perfect. It has it flaws. Where this meant so much to me is what it meant when it came out. To this day, 2016 was the most challenging year of my life, and that’s also taking 2020 in account. The trailer for this alone ignited my love for film when things weren’t always that great. I recall seeing this with my dad. Between that core memory and seeing this dark story with interesting characters unfold, it’s been a favorite ever since.

Remember when trailers could be good without spoiling anything? This felt one of the last movie trailers that could sell anyone without having to spoil a thing. What intrigued me the most was how it was going to handle mental health. The film does a great job at capturing the mentality of the main character, Christian Wolff, played by Ben Affleck. What he goes through from a young age to deal with his autism makes the film interesting from the start. I am not one for flashbacks, but the flashbacks are meaningful and help deepen who this character is.

The film also boasts an all-star cast where you are amazed by who comes on screen next. I mean, who can assemble such a phenomenal cast for an original film like this? It’s impressive. Director Gavin O’Connor does a great job at bringing the characters in at the right time to help drive purpose and mystery. Through all of the dark & gloom of these characters are, I love how Anna Kendrick shines in her role as someone who helps Wolff see a softer side of himself. It helps bring more emotion to someone who rarely presents it. Sometimes large ensembles can be tough to juggle, but I find every single one adding value to the plot.

Something I have been seeing a lot lately about the way others view the film is the lack of action. It’s certainly more of a thriller than anything else. The action never overstays its welcome and helps drive where the story is going. It’s not ever trying to force itself to have an action scene. The Indonesian martial art that is used give Affleck the opportunity to do something new. Even if and where a stunt double may be involved, it’s still impressive nonetheless.

The dark nature of this story may not be for everyone. The film has received a mixed reception that I will get into more soon. Based on what I can gather, it seems like its sequel will not be the case as it will choose to take a lighter tone. I honestly didn’t mind it here at all. It’s what makes the film compelling is how it shows how someone was manipulated from a young age and how he continues to deal with that as well as being on the spectrum.

Believe it or not, I did not know the film got criticism for its portrayal of autism. I don’t think the film intentionally tries to portray it in the wrong light. While it is a thriller, adding this component to the main character sheds more light on individuals on the spectrum. Sure, the lead actor at the forefront is, indeed, not autistic. As someone who is a big advocate for shedding more light on mental health, I appreciate how we can get that through an action thriller like this.

My biggest issue with the film, however, is with the exposition, which is the weakest part. I don’t like forced exposition. Never have, never will. The amount of times characters have to explain something to someone in an unrealistic fashion to force feed information to the audience is ridiculous. The performances make up for it though as they are able to sell it. I did like the flashbacks to Wolff’s upbringing. Everything else could have used a more straightforward narrative to help avoid all the exposition.

Overall, The Accountant is a timeless classic and will continue to be one. The way it speaks on mental health through an action thriller adds value to the characters on top of an already interesting story. We’ll see how the sequel plays out. Even though I am excited for it, I am not crazy about the trailer at all. No matter what, this film shows that we need more original stories like this going forward.

VERDICT: 4/5 (Great)
“On Swift Horses” Review: A Messy & Symbolic Slow-Burn

April 22nd, 2025

On Swift Horses is a new film premiered wide in the US this weekend, but had its world premiere on September 7, 2024. Directed by Daniel Minahan, the film stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, Diego Calva, and Sasha Calle In the 1950s, a seemingly sensible newlywed and her wayward brother-in-law undertake parallel journeys of risk, romance, and self-discovery.

I went into On Swift Horses the right way I prefer to go into any movie: Knowing nothing. All I knew was the cast and that was enough to sell me on it. You have five incredibly talented & gifted actors in one space. Any cinephile or simple fan of any of these actors is sure to get excited by this. Even though I ended up enjoying it, I don’t think the slow pacing and messy structure is going to be for everyone.

The plot is complicated, which may be fitting for who these characters represent. Daisy Edgar-Jones’ character marries Will Poulter’s character, who is also the brother of Jacob Elordi’s character. The trio share dynamic scenes in the beginning. Since I knew nothing about the film, I thought this may either be a thriller or Edgar Jones & Elordi get together in the end. Instead, what transpires for the rest of the film will reshape the way you look at these two characters and why they seem to have a connection.

When you realize where the film is actually going, it can be quite confusing trying to understand it all. The things that Edgar-Jones & Elordi also go through feel convenient. With the two sharing an attraction to the same sex, I couldn’t quite tell how well I could believe this would really happen. As the film goes on though, I appreciated it more as it challenged me into why I felt this way. While I have a hard time believing this would be happening in real time, I think the film sends a stronger message that these humans were just chasing for freedom and love during a time that wasn’t acceptable. I think they saw what they wanted in each other. Instead of attraction, it was admiration they saw in each other.

Trying to tell both stories in the film though can feel like two completely different movies. Just as you have one thing going on in one plot, it feels like you are having to play catch up with the other story. On top of that, just as an important segment of the story started to occur, it would then cut to another one. It could be quite jarring as you try to understand what exactly is going on. Then again, it speaks on how confused these characters feel.

The major plot point in the film follows Edgar-Jones as she not only has to hide her money that she has won from gambling, but also an affair with Sasha Calle’s character, which certainly did feel underwhelming by the end. I’ve always enjoyed Edgar-Jones’ work, but Sasha Calle is a real highlight in anything she is in since 2023’s The Flash. As this affair goes on, Poulter’s character presents hurt & understanding at the same time as the film goes on. It’s hard to believe he’s been in 3 different movies within the last month that all showcase something different for his talents.

When the film cuts to Elordi’s story, he has a secret relationship with Diego Calva’s story. Their chemistry is believable, but I still feel like Calva is underutilized. That’s coming from a Babylon. I just wish he was doing bigger things. This story is anchored by an incredible performance from Elordi that show that puts him in a vulnerable place. I think the conclusion of this story will challenge viewers’ expectations. As I ponder on it longer, the more I think the ending ends on a high note.

While the film is filled with thematic messages and incredible performances, the structure can be messy, leading to a slow-burn pacing. Just as I thought the film was about to end, it goes on for at least another 30 minutes as it doesn’t totally know where to end even it did end at the right time. I can see viewers growing bored by the pacing. The production design, however, feels authentic to the film’s setting that immerses you into the story.

Overall, On Swift Horses has mixed results across the board, but the ending elevated my enjoyment for it to find it good. I don’t think this is a film that people are going to want to rush out to see. If you are a fan of the talent, then I can see viewers going and enjoying the performances. It’s a film filled with interesting themes that will make you think about what you just saw when the credits hit.

VERDICT: 3/5 (Good)
“The Wedding Banquet” Review: A Genuine & Heartfelt Rom-Com

April 20th, 2025

The Wedding Banquet is a new film that released wide in theaters this weekend from director Andrew Ahn and is a remake of the 1993 film from Ang Lee. The new film stars Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-han, Joan Chen, and Youn Yuh-jung. Frustrated with his commitment-phobic boyfriend Chris and running out of time, Min makes a proposal: a green-card marriage with their friend Angela in exchange for her partner Lee’s expensive IVF. Elopement plans are upended, however, when Min’s grandmother surprises them with an extravagant Korean wedding banquet.

I knew a little bit about this beforehand. While the film has an incredibly impressive cast, it was Lily Gladstone that grabbed my attention. After her amazing performance in Killers of the Flower Moon, I knew I would watch whatever she did next. Even more, this seemed like something different than what I would her to do next. I also have liked Andrew Ahn’s previous works. It was Paul McGuire Grimes’ interviews with the cast and filmmaker, along with her review, that sealed the deal to give this a watch.

While this film may be overshadowed this weekend at the box office by Sinners, the film is never overshadowed by its cast. If you look at the top-billed, Bowen Yang is at the very top, but I also think that’s due to his prior work with Ahn. Arguably, I’d say Kelly Marie Tran is the main character as Angela, who is in a relationship with Lily Gladstone’s character, Lee. Bowen Yang plays as Chris, who is in a relationship with Han Gi-chan’s character as Min. Director Andrew Ahn understands the importance of each character in this story that allows them to properly play off each other and never outshine the other.

Joan Chen plays as May, Angela’s mother, who is now an award-winning member of the local PFLAG chapter. Her dedication to the community has left a lasting impact, except for her daughter who feels like she was missing for an important time in her life. May can be quite funny, but it can also be frustrating to see how her actions have impacted her daughter. Youn Yuh-jung plays as Min’s grandmother, Ja-Young, who is hard on Min and wants to take over the family business. While I found her character’s arc a bit predictable, she still gave a tremendous performance. She has an emotional conversation with Min at one point that even brought me almost to tears. Between May & Ja-Young, it’s part of the reason why these two couples end up finding a family with each other.

When it comes to newfound family, I can strongly identify with that as someone who gets older and is creating a family of their own. The film show how friends can even be family to which I strongly believe in. Director Andrew Ahn finds a way to make this remake standout against a highly acclaimed film. I haven’t seen the original. Based on what I know though, this one seems to be fresh and timely to today’s events.

Within the film’s opening minutes, it already had the type of humor that I enjoyed, but it can still get surprisingly dark. There’s a hilarious scene involving Kelly Marie Tran & Lily Gladstone that solidified the sense of humor they were going for, offering something original to the rom-com genre. The film can also lean heavily into the dramatics, tackling heavy themes as characters have to wrestle with their decisions. This can result in some mixed pacing; however, the film covering the mature themes is all the better for it.

The only thing that sticks out the most that I heavily believe could have been improved is with some of the plot points that are never fully fleshed out. Chris’ character has a cousin in the film that looks up to him as a father. There’s a brief moment where she talks about issues with her apartment that’s never explored more. I also didn’t understand why Chris didn’t want to commit when he’s been in a relationship for five years. That’s never fully explored. There’s a character that leaves their house, but I feel like that would have been the other way around. I get it though. Whatever it takes to get the plot moving. I also think the film could have explored who Chris’ parents were & what happened to Lee & Min’s family. For a film that leans heavily into culture, I wanted more background on where these characters come from.

There is a specific plot point that occurs halfway through that I won’t spoil here. Unfortunately, when I saw it happened, I knew what was coming next. There is a nice little twist that does challenge these characters, but the end result was all the same for me, resulting in rushed character arcs that needed more time to breath.

Overall, The Wedding Banquet was a great time that offers a lot of value through its performances and themes. Director Andrew Ahn creates something new & original that feels timely. The cast is delightful across the board that will make its audience easily connect with them. I highly recommend seeking this one out when you can.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 (Pretty Good)
“Sneaks” Review: A Clunky New Film That Means Well

April 17th, 2025

Sneaks is a film releasing wide this weekend from directors Rob Edwards & Chris Jenkins in Edwards’ feature directorial debut. The film boasts a large ensemble for its voice cast including Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Swae Lee, Chloe Bailey, Mustard, Quavo, Keith David, Chris Paul, and Laurence Fishburne. Ty, a misguided designer sneaker, ventures into New York City to find and rescue his sister who has been stolen by a shady collector. During his adventure, he meets a rag-tag group of footwear friends from all walks of life who help him on his quest to find his sister and to find his “sole-mate.”

Look, I’m not going to lie, I was one of the many that thought this was insanely weird when we first got the trailer. We’ve had similar concepts like Toy Story for the kids while we had Sausage Party for the adults. The problem is that the idea of sneakers coming to life is rather strange, yet I was optimistic as I do love shoes myself. I was even a shoe salesman in a prior life. I also understand the culture significance behind shoes. While the film certainly means well in its messaging, it ultimately fails in its execution.

I hate to be mean towards any film. Making movies is hard. I can only imagine an animated movie is even harder as I have no real experience with making an animated film. The film’s biggest problem is that it has way too many things working against it that it’s trying to lean more into its cast and themes. With Sinners coming out this weekend, a much better movie mind you, I’m afraid this movie won’t be seen by many, but I also don’t think that’s a bad thing. This movie could have been a lot better. We could have had Sinks as a double feature.

For 2025, it’s truly amazing how poor the animation is here. The first Toy Story looks more realistic than this. I don’t know much when it comes to animation, but this one needed a lot more time before making it available to the public. The rendering looks like it’s been barely done. From the character to the shoe design, I am surprised by just how bad it got.

At about 90 minutes long, the film drags and feels longer than what it really is. While I noticed early on how bad this was, I couldn’t help but feel like the filmmakers really tried to paint the importance of sneakers for others. Shoes can become one’s identity and I do believe it does that well. Unfortunately, the film tries to tackle way too many ideas and characters that loses focus of its messages by the end.

While I really like the cast attached to this, the voice performances are so shoe-horned in. The way every character is jarring and trying way too hard. I don’t know what’s going on with Anthony Mackie as of lately, but the guy desperately needs a better agent. I am sure with a big name like Laurence Fishburne attached as a producer that it attracted a lot of big names. Fishburne, along with Martin Lawrence feel like they are trying to overdo their performances to match the zany quality this film has. Instead, it consistently made me question what was going on and why was I watching it.

I can only imagine the idea came from people’s connection with shoes. In today’s day and age, this doesn’t feel like it’s as popular as it used to be. It’s incredibly niche. Again, it has a lot of great ideas that I don’t think will resonate with a larger crowd. On top of that, the negative reviews that are pouring in are not going to help the film in any capacity. I understand I am probably a part of that problem. I am just here to talk about where the film went wrong and what could have made it better.

I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if this film was working with a small budget. My theory was that the film was already not doing well and Fishburne came in and recruited a solid cast to help improve the film. For one, the film desperately needed better animation. The film also needed more of a reason to care about shoes when it may not be for everyone. I also think the film gearing the story from the kid’s perspective and have him be the main character would have improved the film’s quality. You could even have him imagining the shoes as real to help drive the importance of why these shoes are coming to life in the first place. Something about it desperately needed to be grounded. It could just get away with “Oh, shoes can just come to life in this world.”

Overall, Sneaks has all of the ingredients to make a film, but something goes messed up along the way and it snowballed into the final product that it is. It has themes that I think will resonate with some and the voices will certainly make viewers snap at the camera like Leonardo DiCaprio snapping at the TV in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. Unfortunately, the film’s lesser qualities will stand out more to viewers. I can’t blame them.

VERDICT: 2/5 (Bad)
“The Shrouds” Review: A Meaningful Film That Loses Sight by the End

April 13th, 2025

The Shrouds is a new film from David Cronenberg. The film stars Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger, Guy Pearce, and Sandrine Holt. Inconsolable since the death of his wife, Karsh, a prominent businessman, invents a revolutionary and controversial technology that enables the living to monitor their dear departed in the shrouds. One night, multiple graves, including that of Karsh’s wife, are desecrated, and he sets out to track down the perpetrators.

I can’t really say what I expect out of David Cronenberg’s films as of lately. He has his fan base, and I’ve certainly admired his work in the past. His new film has a lot of grand ideas and themes that should provoke conversation. I was on board for most of the film even with its flaws. By the third act, I realized what this really was: pretentious.

Before anyone gets the pitch forks ready, I’m always open to people enjoying whatever they want. I think there will be enough that fans will enjoy it. By the time this gets a larger release, I guarantee you this will be one of his most divided works. There are reviews who hate it more than I do, and I strongly believe they have valid reasons.

I’ll start off with the good that I did enjoy. What I like most about the filmmaker’s works in his stylistic tone. The idea of embracing the dead in this story is interesting, weird, and offers something to think about. Casting Vincent Cassel in the lead role feels like the right move for what Cronenberg wanted from the lead role.

I felt like I often thought I knew what was going on even when it got weird. In hindsight, it was simply too weird. The main character is truly a terrible person. He doesn’t recognize anything about the people around him. He just tends to sexualize his deceased spouse. Instead of giving him a challenging arc that allows him to see himself for his flaws, the film makes it seem normal, which just feels gross.

The supporting cast is great in their own right, but they offer nothing of substance. Diane Kruger is a tremendous actress and deserves to have more enriching characters to present. As for Guy Pearce, I think he needs to go back on what he said about his performance in Memento. It’s not his worst, but this is certainly far worse than Memento. The story involving character by the end makes it feel like we’ve wasted an hour when it was necessary to begin with.

On a cinematic level, this is questionably bad. The CGI felt like I was being transported back to the early 2000’s. It could have been good. It could have been great even! The camera work is also incredibly odd. We get the oddest shots of a hand holding a phone on FaceTime that is completely still. There’s no way anyone would just hold their hand like that. It feels intentional to help the camera get the shot.

At nearly 2 hours, the film feels much longer than what it is. The pacing is dreadfully slow. As mentioned, there’s a side plot with Guy Pearce that goes nowhere. By the end, it serves no purpose and proves that Cassel’s character is truly awful. For a film that feels so long, it ends on the most dire and weirdest note possible.

Overall, The Shrouds is a disappointment. It’s there thematically and I found the world unique, but the characters were off-putting, side stories go nowhere, and it’s insanely slow. I’d rather stick with Brandon Cronenberg’s work from here.

VERDICT: 2/5 (Bad)