1st Reviews

Stephen King adaptations can be hit or miss, and The Monkey lands somewhere in the middle. Based on his short story of the same name, the film takes a simple yet eerie premise—a cursed toy monkey that brings death whenever its key is turned—and spins it into a blend of horror, absurd comedy, and over-the-top gore. While it doesn’t fully commit to being scary or outright hilarious, it delivers just enough blood-soaked mayhem to entertain fans of bizarre horror comedies. The film follows twin brothers from childhood to adulthood and their relationship with this cursed toy. Theo James plays the twin brothers who had a falling out, but whose lives intersect again because of mysterious deaths in their hometown. As adults, they are both played by Theo James, who have two very different futures planned with the toy monkey, and their feud fuels the majority of the movie, with a number of innocent people meeting their gruesome end in between. The deaths are brutal, often creative, and reminisce...

I wouldn’t consider myself a big fan of the Bridget Jones films. I enjoyed the first one, disliked the second and was lukewarm on the third. Naturally, my expectations were muted for what felt like an unnecessary addition to a franchise that probably shouldn’t have become one. To my pleasant surprise, Mad About the Boy is a poignant and hilarious final chapter in Bridget Jones’ diary. this film recaptures the spirit of the original with a newfound sense of maturity, making for a series best instalment.  As a standalone romantic comedy, this movie doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor does it offer any big surprises in its plot structure. The characters fans came to know and love 24 years ago are back. The sense of humour has been preserved and updated impressively for modern audiences. This entry plays like a love letter to long time fans, but doesn’t bank solely on nostalgia. I was shocked that this didn’t feel like a tacked on cash grab, but instead like the natural next chapter of Bri...

  What at first feels like a CGI gimmick allows Better Man to climb and swing it’s way beyond standard biopic conventions. This larger than life musical is worth a watch even if, like me, you needed to ask “Who the hell is Robbie Williams?”.  A pop icon in the UK who didn’t quite make a household name for himself in North America, Robbie Williams bares his life (the good the bad and the drug fueled ugly) in this dazzling account of his rise to fame. Musician biopics often focus too heavily on the creation of the artist’s work, and not enough on the actual artist. Better Man gives audiences a sobering portrait of the man behind the monkey, with his songs placed in pivotal life and career moments to move the narrative forward. This works especially well if you aren’t entirely familiar with Williams’ work, because you won’t find yourself waiting to hear specific needle drops. Instead they flow organically into the story, with gorgeously choreographed musical numbers.  And bo...

  Ever find yourself endlessly scrolling through your streaming platforms, unsure of what genre you’re in the mood for? Well, AppleTV+ has you covered, because The Gorge is several of them. Action, sci-fi, horror and romance - this is the cinematic equivalent of a sampler platter.  Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy play elite snipers tasked with keeping an eye on a mysterious gorge, stationed at watchtowers on opposite sides. They must not communicate with each other, but with a little inspiration from the cue card scene in Love Actually, they form a budding romance without speaking a word. Surprisingly, this unlikely relationship is one of the strongest elements, giving the movie a bit of personality and uniqueness. It feels out of place against the actual plot, but it’s cute, and both actors share solid chemistry. However, once we learn more about the Gorge’s mysteries and why they’ve been sent there, the movie devolves into generic nonsense, losing its charm in the process....

  The Marvel Cinematic Universe spent a decade building an incredible saga because of how they structured each phase. There was a plan with these characters, and each new release connected to the other. Sure, there were standalones in their respective character trilogy, but it still felt connected to something larger. Over the past five years, with the addition of Marvel Television, they are wearing themselves thin in the quality of their productions.   When  The Falcon and the Winter Soldier  was released on Disney Plus, it was already a misunderstood series. Few people enjoyed it and didn’t buy into Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) picking up the shield. However, he was always the perfect fit because he is incredibly similar to Steve Rogers.  He fights a different struggle as a Black man in America, which was explored at the surface in the television series. Even in the series, they didn’t know what to do with Sam Wilson or where to place him as Captain America. Un...

  Wolf Man is a solidly constructed werewolf movie that’s dragged down by its inability to bring a single new idea to the genre. Good performances and a gnarly transformation are just enough to save this bland creature feature from needing to be put down. Leigh Whannell’s previous monster movie, The Invisible Man felt creatively inspired, swerving around easy genre trappings to provide a fresh take on a familiar story. Wolf Man feels like a regression, playing it totally safe with a lot of “been there, done that” story beats. It’s decently directed, and not without some tense moments, but it rarely if ever surprises the audience with anything unexpected. That lack of innovation in turn takes a lot of the tension out of the horror, because you can easily guess what’s coming next.  The filmmaking on display is commendable, with some impressive practical effects. With much of the film set at night, everything is well lit, but the use of darkness is also quite effective. The visua...

  Kinda Pregnant is kinda funny about 30% of the time. The other 70% of the movie is unfortunately comprised of painfully unfunny, cringe inducing “comedy”, and a borderline hate-able lead character. The latest effort from Happy Madison Productions is a cut above their bottom tier projects, but that’s a pretty low bar to clear. I’ll admit, this movie has some genuine laugh out loud moments that caught me by surprise. Yes, some of the jokes are somewhat juvenile, but they’re funny nevertheless. However, for every one of those funny moments, There are half a dozen jokes that miss the mark by a mile. It’s honestly alarming how big the gap in quality is between what works and what doesn’t. Sadly it’s a lot more of the latter.  Amy Schumer is…ummm… well, let’s just say she’s an acquired taste. She’s a performer who can work as long as the material is strong, which hasn’t been the case with most of her endeavours. Anyone hoping this movie would be the next Trainwreck, don’t hold you...

  In Bring Them Down, director David Keating puts a unique spin on a traditional crime drama. Instead of two factions feuding over guns, drugs or turf, it’s two families fighting over livestock. It’s an unusual premise, but one that’s used to craft a tense, morally complex narrative where the stakes might seem low at first, but ultimately feel deeply personal. The film is carried by two standout performances from Barry Keoghan and Christopher Abbott. Keoghan, who is no stranger to playing characters with simmering intensity, brings a raw, unsettling energy to his role. Abbott is equally compelling, playing off Keoghan’s volatility with a quieter, more calculated intensity. Both characters carry past traumas in a way that brings their disdain for each other to the forefront, and the tremendous acting is what seals the deal.  The film’s dual perspective structure is used effectively in showing us both sides of this conflict. By allowing Abbott’s side of the story to play out in ...

  Whether you’re flying solo this Valentine’s Day or you’re celebrating with a special someone, nothing could make for a more perfect night out than going to see the horror-comedy “Heart Eyes.” Written by Christopher Landon, the man behind “Happy Death Day 2U” and “Freaky,” this is a romantic horror-comedy that slays in every sense of the term. The movie is overflowing with exceptionally creative and gory kills, laugh-out-loud hilarious scene-stealing characters, and a genuine romantic chemistry between leads Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding that is impossible not to root for. Like any good romantic-comedy “Heart Eyes” is a movie that lives and dies on the chemistry between its main couple. As Ally and Jay, Holt and Gooding are perfect scene partners. They give themselves completely to each other as well as the overall ridiculousness of the world established in “Heart Eyes.” The pair more than hold their own among comedy and horror heavyweights like Michaela Watkins and Devon Sawa, pr...

  January and February have gained a reputation over the years as a movie dumping grounds - a two month window where studios release films theatrically that they have little confidence in, often for good reason. Now, there have been exceptions with movies being better than expected, but it’s a total rarity for something truly great being released during this time. Enter Companion - 2025’s first great movie, and we’re only a month in.  Now, for me to go into even minor plot details would be spoiling a lot of the fun, so I’ll keep this review as spoiler free as possible. Companion is a movie best experienced knowing as little as possible, because it’s chock full of surprises and twists that keep the plot moving in unpredictable directions. Even if you guess some of the major reveals, the movie is constantly throwing curveballs that keep the premise from growing stale. Above all else, it delivers a fun, clever and thrilling experience from beginning to end.  The cast is kept...

  Companion  might fall apart if you think too much about plausibility, but that’s not the whole point. It starts out as a “getaway” thriller like any other, but soon things go, well, incredibly south. There isn’t much I can say beyond that because the story and its unfolding take so many unexpected directions that elevate the enjoyment of watching the film. Not to mention, it’s incredibly funny. Sophie Thatcher continues breaking into the thriller genre amazingly, giving her all to what the character needs. Jack Quaid is also fittingly cast as a seemingly “nice guy” with more insecurity under the surface. Rounding out the great supporting cast are Harvey Guillen and Lukas Cage, who nail the comedic timing and pitiful complexities of their characters. The editing, comedic timing, music choices, and thrills elevate  Companion  above a few minor writing missteps towards the end. It’s entertaining while smart, with some outrageous dialogue and very well-filmed sequences...