Strong performances can’t save Empire of Light
Oscar-winning actress Olivia Coleman teams with Academy Award-winning director Sam Mendes for his latest awards bait performance in Searchlight Pictures Empire of Light from Searchlight Pictures. As with his last film, the phenomenal 1917, Mendes also pens the script for Empire of Light.
Violent Nights earns a spot on the nice list
Tommy Wirkola delivers a new fun film for our annual holiday viewing in Universal Pictures Violent Night. It’s another Christmas, and the Lightstone family is getting together. The family includes prodigal son Jason (Alex Hassell), his wife Linda (Alexis Lighter), and their daughter Trudy (Leah Brady).
Devotion glides to victory as crowd-pleasing entertainment
For his third film as director, J.D. Dillard adapts the 2017 biography Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice by author Adam Makos. The film shortens the title to Devotion and introduces audiences to the comradeship between naval officers Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors) and Tom Hudner (Glen Powell) during the Korean War.
Standard plot twits fill The Minute You Wake Up Dead
Director Michael Maler follows up last year’s inspirational sports drama Heart of Champions with the mystery The Minute You Wake Up Dead from Lionsgate. Russ Porter (Cole Hauser) is a shady small-town stockbroker who just lost some of the townies a considerable amount of money. He begins dating a shy waitress named Delane (Jamie Alexander) to take away some of the stress in his life.
Hang up on Mel Gibson in On The Line
French director Romuald Boulanger collaborates with Mel Gibson for his second feature Saban Films’ thriller On The Line. Elvis Cooney (Mel Gibson) is a Los Angeles-based, provocative, and edgy overnight radio host who must play a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a mysterious caller while live on the air. Initially, Elvis thinks the whole thing is a joke until the caller, who calls himself Gary, kidnaps his family and threatens to kill them.
Terrifier 2 is bloody fun
Art The Clown, returns to cinemas to wreak havoc in Terrifier 2 from Cinedigm. The creative force from the first film Damien Leone steps back into the directors and writers for its sequel.
Black Adam is mindless fun
Dwayne Johnson reunites with his Jungle Cruise director Jaume Cillect-Serra to bring a DC Comic anti-hero to the big screen in Warner Bros. Pictures, Black Adam. Handling the script duties, we have Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani.
Emotionally exhausting, Till is a must-see for Danielle Deadwyler’s Oscar Worthy performance
Following her impressive 2019 sophomore film, Clemency director Chinonye Chukwu brings one of the great American tragedies to the big screen in Till from United Artists.
Summit Fever is lost in altitude
Director Julian Gibery makes a return to the world of mountain climbing in Saban Films Summit Fever. Michael (Freddie Thrope) is a young English mountaineer lured to the Alps by his friend JP (Michel Biel) to help him conquer the `Big Three,’ the Matterhorn, the Eiger, and Mont Blanc, over one summer.
The Loneliest Boy in the World is a harmless zombie yuk fest
Martin Owen dips into the book of Tim Burton for his latest film, The Loneliest Boy in the World, from Well Go Entertainment. After his mother’s sudden death and due to his father walking out on him, Oliver (Max Harwood) lives alone.
The Inhabitant swings and misses as horror flick
Director Jerren Lauder follows up his 2020 debut Stay Out of the Attic with another film in Lionsgate’s The Inhabitant. Scriptwriter Kevin Bachar wrote the script for the film, which uses the backstory of Lizzie Borden to weave a plot into the story of the film.
No chills or thrills in the mundane Devil’s Workshop
Director Chris von Hoffman delves into the horror genre for his sophomore feature, Devil’s Workshop from Lionsgate. Struggling actor Clayton (Timothy Granaderos) is desperate for a role as a demonologist.