“Lion Fist” Review: A Throwback Martial Arts Tale With Plenty of Fight Left
Among the most enduring staples of eighties action cinema were the underdog story and the martial arts movie. Following the success of films such as 1984’s “The Karate Kid,” filmmakers found countless ways to combine the two: introduce a hero with something to prove, give him a mentor, put an obstacle in his way, and let the fights do the rest.
“The Weight” Review: Ethan Hawke Carries a Familiar Story With Quiet Strength
Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke and Oscar winner Russell Crowe bring their talents to “The Weight,” the latest film from Vertical. Directed by Padraic McKinley, the film features a screenplay by Shelby Gaines, Matthew Chapman, and Matthew Booi, based on an original story by Booi and Leo Scherman.
“The Fix” Review: Good Men, Bad Choices and an Action Thriller in Need of Repair
Outspoken actor Zachary Levi takes on an action role in “The Fix,” produced by Inaugural Entertainment. Guy Moshe directs the film and co-writes the screenplay with Mark Bacci and Ron Hutchinson.
“Colony” Review: Yeon Sang-ho Finds Fresh Blood in Familiar Zombie Territory
Horror director Yeon Sang-ho returns to the world of Korean zombies with his latest film, “Colony”, released by Well Go USA. Co-writing the screenplay with Choi Gyu-seok, Yeon explores familiar genre territory while avoiding the typical outbreak formula. Instead, “Colony” introduces an intriguing twist to the infected mythology and delivers the intense, blood-soaked spectacle audiences expect from the filmmaker.
“Coyote vs. Acme” Review: Wile E. Coyote Finally Justice
Director Dave Green continues to carve out a comfortable niche for himself in family-friendly entertainment with his third feature, “Coyote vs. Acme”, from Ketchup Entertainment. Samy Burch pens the screenplay from a story she crafted alongside James Gunn and Jeremy Slater.
“Feed” Movie Review: Irish Vampire Folklore Can’t Fully Sink Its Teeth In
Saban Films “Feed “has the makings of a horror film that could leave a mark, but it too often rushes past the very ideas that make it interesting. Writer-director Marco Van Belle combines grief with Irish vampire folklore, creating a monster whose most frightening weapon is not simply bloodlust but the possibility of giving a grieving woman exactly what she wants. That is a terrific foundation. The film just does not dig deeply enough into it.
“The Snare” Review: A Familiar Thriller Setup With Real Emotional Bite
Director Merlin Camozzi’s “The Snare” from Obscured Pictures works because it recognizes that one bad break can feel like a life sentence when you’re already struggling.
Pure Scum Review: Privilege Runs Wild Through the Streets of Melbourne
Since the release of “A Clockwork Orange,” directors have attempted to capture the essence of reckless youth and toxic masculinity without making the characters engaging or appealing. Writer-director Gideon Aroni takes on this challenge in “Pure Scum,” a gritty Australian psychological thriller that follows two privileged young men through an increasingly disastrous night in Melbourne.
“Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma Review: Sex, Slashers, and the Search for Intimacy
After making a splash with “I Saw the TV Glow”, writer-director Jane Schoenbrun continues to carve out a distinctive path with MUBI’s “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma”. Once again, Schoenbrun takes familiar genre material and uses it to explore more personal themes. However, this time, the results didn’t always resonate with me.
The Rivals of Amziah King Review: Matthew McConaughey Finds Gold in an Unlikely Honey Business Drama
Oscar-winning Matthew McConaughey continues to embrace the mature phase of his career with “The Rivals of Amziah King,” a unique and soulful rural drama directed and co-written by Andrew Patterson.
**Cookie Queens” Review: A Captivating Look at the Girl Scout Hustle**
One of the great joys of covering the Sundance Film Festival is discovering a movie you missed has found a distributor. This is the case with Roadside Attractions’ *Cookie Queens*, directed by Alyssa Nahmias and executive produced by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
‘Motor City’ Review: Alan Ritchson Powers a Brutal, Nearly Dialogue-Free Revenge Thriller
Director Potsy Ponciroli shifts gears for his third feature in “Motor City,” produced by IFC Films. Chad St. John penned the film’s screenplay, which was actually on the 2009 Black List and spent several years in development hell before finally getting underway.