Destined to Doom Movies of 2020, which were Surprisingly Great or Decent or Just About Average
Every year we predict certain films as turkeys because they simply stink in all departments right from the day they were conceived on the drawing board. But, there's no more an exhilarating felling than when these type of films shockingly end up being really good. While some just about make the cut, few others, and very few others, might ultimately achieve cult-classic status, too.
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- DirectorLee ThongkhamStarsSavika ChaiyadejPloy SornarinTheerapat SajakulA teenager Joy, work as a domestic maid and being haunted by the previous maid spirit, to discover the secret behind her death.Netflix 's recent Thai horror movie The Maid is the first of its kind, merging paranormal horror into slasher territory with both the strokes of an artist's paintbrush and brutality of a blacksmith's anvil. It has jump-scares galore, but doesn't rely on them alone, keeping the story fresh and bubbling with mayhem and vitality with an intriguing mystery, bursting at the seams, only to pull the rug from beneath your feet once it finally bursts out (reminding me of a other brilliant Thai horror I had watched some years ago called Shutter), begging the question: What's more frightening — a ghost or a psychopath? It's hitherto certainly the best horror film of 2020, topped by an Oscar-worthy performance from lead actress Ploy Sornarin.
4.5/5 stars - DirectorKirill SokolovStarsAleksandr KuznetsovVitaliy KhaevEvgeniya KregzhdeAndrei, a detective and the world's most horrible father, brings together a terrible group of people in his apartment: his resentful actress daughter, an angry thug, and a cheated cop. Each one of them has a reason to want revenge..Russian movie Why Don't You Just Die is an ingenious little firecracker of a gory black comedy, filled with broad and obvious homages to Quentin Tarantino albeit the kind which would do the master proud and leave all his fans delighted. It's brimming with unpredictability, quirks, dark humor, unrestrained mayhem, indelible characters brought to life by delectable performances, and Kirill Sokolov's watertight screenplay, setting almost everything under one roof, backed by his direction, which, at just above 90 minutes, straps you in for a bloody joyride that never let's up for a moment. Not for the faint of heart, but a certain blast for everyone else.
4.5/5 stars - DirectorChung-Hyun LeeStarsPark Shin-hyeJeon Jong-seoKim Sung-ryungTwo people live in different times. Seo-Yeon lives in the present and Young-Sook lives in the past. One phone call connects the two, and their lives are changed irrevocably.Filmmaking at its most genius — Netflix's latest Korean horror film, The Call, owes its genesis to the 2011 British film, The Caller, though this is a much superior product, where writer-Director Lee Chung-hyun wholly comprehends that the most important bridge to cross between great concepts and great movies is the execution, and he executes the heck out of this one, building things to a powder-keg scenario, keeping you on tenterhooks throughout, leaving you gobsmacked with unbelievable twists and turns in the latter half, and finally, pulling the rug from beneath your feet in the finale, which sets things up for a much-needed sequel that you'd wish was already ready to savour like a sinfully smooth gourmet meal. Brilliantly acted, terrifically scripted (barring a threadbare plothole or two), superbly shot, smartly edited, and most of all, superlatively directed — miss this one at your own cost.
4.5/5 stars - DirectorMariam SadatKanishk VarmaStarsBhupesh BandekarGulshan DevaiahSagarika GhatgeThe plot is set in Mumbai, a city of dream and land of opportunities. The psychological crime thriller showcases an intriguing chase between a serial killer with a distinctive fetish and CBI officer named Gulshan. In the serial killer's point of view, the film explores the fugitive's darkest desire for momentary pleasure.Footfairy is an extremely well-researched movie about both serial killers and police procedures, boasting a watertight script and taut direction by Kanishk Verma, embellished by pinpoint performances from Gulshan, Sagarika Ghatge, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Ashish Pathode and the rest of the cast, even those essaying bit parts. The script, narration and performances draw you in, drop clues, demand attention, keep you guessing and leave you hunched over your seat till the very last frame, when the big revelation appears. The references to the likes of David Fincher as also certain elements of the best Korean thrillers are done with an aim to homage rather than imitate, and the fact that Kanishk leaves his own mark while making a film that's supremely engaging for even the most hardcore of Indian viewers proves how well he understands the pulse of his product and that of his audience. Other highlights include Jeet Gannguli's unsettling background score, Sumit Purohit's tight editing and Pratik Deora's seedy camerawork. The movie may take 15-20 mins to properly get into its groove and the final twist, as earth-shattering as it is, does create a minor plot-hole, but these minor higgles and haggles notwithstanding, you'll enjoy Footfairy to the hilt if you're not the nitpicking kind. To put it simply, this is Bollywood's best serial-killer thriller till date.
4.5/5 stars - DirectorEmerald FennellStarsCarey MulliganBo BurnhamAlison BrieNothing in Cassie's life is what it appears to be - she's wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she's living a secret double life. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs from the past.Promising Young Woman is easily the best of the movies I've watched that's making noise this awards season — that it's directed by a debutante (Emerald Fennell), all of just 35, is telling how young minds can add a fresh spin on old wine. Though essentially a revenge cum feminist tale at its core, some smart direction and writing plus Carey Mulligan's best performance to date makes this so much more, leaving us with an intricately woven, meticulously laid out, wholly unpredictable narrative that leaves you awed and amazed at several key junctures. And as for the climax and its subsequent denouement...it's a 1-2 knockout punch that needs to be experienced to be believed. Easily one of 2020's best thrillers — minor lags and lapses in the direction and script can be excused for a maiden effort — entirely deserving of its multiple Golden Globe and probable Oscar nominations.
4.35/5 stars - DirectorEgor AbramenkoStarsOksana AkinshinaFedor BondarchukPyotr FyodorovThe lone survivor of an enigmatic spaceship incident hasn't returned home alone - hiding inside his body is a dangerous creature.Though it owes much of its genesis to classics like Alien, Predator, and The Thing, Russian sci-fi/horror hybrid Sputnik stands out with its own atmospheric world-building, impending sense of doom, a well-constructed plot, strong characters, and its own scary extra-terrestrial monster, brilliantly conceptualized and chillingly depicted. Yes, there's some good monster mayhem, but it comes after a tense buildup (aided by some fantastic camerawork and lighting), demanding your patience that's duly rewarded, and then some thereafter. Slightly derivative, but an eerie creature horror movie nevertheless, especially when you consider that it's the debut feature from Egor Abramenko. No wonder it's one of Russia's biggest box-office smashes ever and among the best reviewed horror films of 2020.
4.25/5 stars - DirectorRajat KapoorAlmudena LongaresStarsRanvir ShoreyMansi MultaniPalomi GhoshSunil is home alone when the doorbell rings. The stranger at the door is the husband of Chhaya, a woman that Sunil is having an affair with. The man asks many uncomfortable questions about their affair, becoming more and more intrusive.Kadakh is a brilliant, morally ambiguous dark comedy that delves deep into the capricious and selfish human psyche all while being frequently hilarious and smartly subtle. The rib-tickling humor derived from fickle people changing in seconds to serve their interests is nothing short of a triumph of Rakat Kapoor's writing and direction, coupled with the brilliant performances by him, Ranvir Shorey, Mansi Multani, Shruti Seth, Cyrus Sahukar, Tara Sharma, and Sagar Deshpande. Be sure to catch this movie when it's available.
4.25/5 stars - DirectorEugene KotlyarenkoStarsJoe KeeryDavid ArquetteJoshua OvalleThirsty for a following, Kurt Kunkle is a rideshare driver who has figured out a deadly plan to go viral.Spree should go down as not only one of 2020's, but also among the most shocking, topical, and imperative horror movies of all time, stripping the obsessive horrors of social media down to its visceral bones, exposing the traumatic effects the diabolical game of likes and views can have on impressionable minds, and laying bare the vapidity of human emotions that social media has degraded society to. What's more, it achieves all this pertinent social commentary while being a uniquely entertaining film, with an absorbingly star turnover by Stranger Things' Joe Keery, which makes you ignore some of the more convenient plot contrivances. And that climatic showdown and final gob-smacking twist, my...oh...my! Right up there among 2020's best horror films.
4.25/5 stars - DirectorAbner PastollStarsSarah BolgerEdward HoggAndrew SimpsonA recently widowed young mother will go to any lengths to protect her children as she seeks the truth behind her husband's murder.British film A Good Woman is Hard to Find is a very, very good revenge thriller that's so, so easy to love (think Khoon Bhari Maang with an indie touch), buoyed by a captivating performance from its lead protagonist, Sarah Bolger, who displays a range that encapsulates her character's emotions, vulnerability, and strength. It may not have the most innovative premise and one plot-controivance is apparent, but what it lacks in idea, it makes up a thousand times over in execution, replete with some stunning twists and a climax for the ages. Watch this little-known indie gem the first opportunity you get, and thank me later.
4/5 stars - DirectorMohit SuriStarsAditya Roy KapoorAnil KapoorDisha PataniAdvait visits Goa where he meets Sara, a free-spirited girl who lives life unshackled. Opposites attract and all goes well until life turns upside down. Years later, Advait is on a killing spree with cops Aghase and Michael in his way.On the back of a kick-ass script, full of wonderful layers, twisted characters, absorbing back stories, and wicked twists and turns, Mohit Suri surgically directs Malang, toying with both key plot elements and our minds to take us on a wild ride. Disha Patani and Aditya Roy Kapur seduce their way on screen while Anil Kapoor and Kunal Kemmu act their socks off in this dark, edgy thriller that owes as much to Bollywood's rich and proud tradition of revenge-themed tales as it does to Korean-styled splatter fests. The music could've matched the killer background score better and the first half could've been a bit more engaging, but I'm willing to ignore a few of the film's flaws purely because of how bloody entertaining it is.
4/5 stars - DirectorRob SavageStarsHaley BishopJemma MooreEmma Louise WebbSix friends hire a medium to hold a seance via Zoom during lockdown, but they get far more than they bargained for as things quickly go wrong.Host (2020) is a very smart and snappy horror film, shot entirely during lockdown, and using the quarantine milieu and dread of the coronavirus pandemic to great effect with the help of a mix of long shots, zoom shots, closeups, fast cuts and creative lighting. It's also the best I've seen a movie apply the steadily growing desktop/mobile format, (yes, even better than 2018's Searching and 2014's Unfriended, through Searching is overall the best movie of the lot), exploiting the Zoom-video call backdrop with chilling results, hardly ever showing the demonic entities, but making you shudder and occasionally jump out of your seat (at least, it did for me, after eons) by merely sensing their presence. The best part of this horror movie through has to be how it all but makes you a part of the video call, especially at just 56 minutes in length, so much so, that the next time you log in for a Zoom meeting, you may just look behind your back. Minor complaints aside, Rob Savage's debut feature is one of the best ghost movies in recent times.
4/5 stars - DirectorSohn Won-PyungStarsSo Hee-jungLee Je-YeonSong Ji-hyoSeo-Jin is a popular architect. He suffers from a trauma when his younger sister Yoo-Jin went missing. 25 years after her disappearance, Yoo-Jin comes back to her family. Seo-Jin feels something is not right with Yoo-Jin.Though clearly influenced from Parasite, this is a much darker, more brutal take, with its own merits and shocking twists. And what it lacks in the Oscar winner's dramatic heft, it more than makes up for in nerve-wracking suspense.
4/5 stars - DirectorJae-gon SonStarsAhn Jae-hongKang So-raPark Yeong-gyuA lawyer is suckered into running a zoo that has sold most of its animals.One of the most heartwarming, pleasant, uplifting, and funny comedies from last year, with a beautiful albeit non-preachy message from the perspective of our 4-legged friends.
4/5 stars - DirectorChandu MudduStarsBrahmajiSanjay RraoNitya ShettyTwo men fall deeply in love with the same woman but when she suddenly gets kidnapped they get involved in the case to rescue her.Telugu film O Pitta Katha is like a grounded, rural version of legendary Bollywood filmmaking-duo Abbas Mustan's Race (the first part), and just like that film, if you strap in and willingly go along for the ride, the insane twists and turns, most of which you'll never see coming — but all of which you'll keep guessing — will leave you hooked, booked, and delighted. What appears to begin as a regular tale of obsessive love, suddenly takes a sharp detour out of nowhere, and though the guessing game involves a lot of red herrings and a few moments do get a tad far-fetched, this is the kind of movie where if you play along and suspend your imagination, the pay-off is huge. A worthy candidate for the dark-horse thriller of the year.
4/5 stars - DirectorShaka KingStarsLaKeith StanfieldDaniel KaluuyaJesse PlemonsOffered a plea deal by the FBI, William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton.Powerful, provocative, pulsating, profound — Judas and the Black Messiah is an impactful and invigorating biopic about an imperative chapter of America's racial history and socio-political fabric that's as relevant as ever, maybe more so today. Elevated by an absorbingly lofty performance from Daniel Kaluuya, this has been nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Supporting Actor (2), and Original Screenplay, and is again a leagues better option for the Academy Awards than the trite favorite Nomadland. My only issues are with the length, which could've been easily snipped by 15-20 mins, and with a few scenes coming across as a tad disjointed. Nevertheless, a might fine film.
4/5 stars - DirectorRic Roman WaughStarsGerard ButlerMorena BaccarinRoger Dale FloydA family struggles for survival in the face of a cataclysmic natural disaster.Adrenaline-pumping, nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat stuff, and shot on an EPIC, EPIC, EPIC scale, which more than makes up for a slightly rinse-and-repeat plot — Greenland (2020) is quite simply one helluva disaster movie, anchored by a top-notch, leading-man act from Gerard Butler, and buoyed by some excellent camerawork, crisp editing, and impressive VFX given the budget. Most of all though, its Ric Roman Waugh's razor-sharp, rata-a-tat-tat, busy direction that propels this among the most BRILLIANT action and disaster movies of all time. Pity this has been forced to release during the COVID-19 pandemic as it has BLOCKBUSTER written all over it. But, I've no doubt that it'll go down as a cult classic.
4/5 stars - DirectorVenkatesh MahaStarsSatyadev KancharanaV.K. NareshSuhasAfter getting beaten up and insulted by the town bully, a softhearted simpleton Mahesh vows to be barefoot until he gets his revenge.Netflix's new Telugu village yarn (the kind Bollywood doesn't do anymore, God alone knows why — the likes of Article 15 and Gangs of Wasseypur may be based in villages, but aren't rural tales per se) is unequivocally brimming with simplistic charm on the back of everything from romance to suspense to twists to marital arts fights (yes, you read that right), and a brilliantly understated performance from Satyadev. Having not seen the Malayalam original, I perhaps took a greater shine to Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya than those who have, but from what I'm hearing, this is a damn fine remake. Anyway, speaking strictly from what I've seen, UMUR gets full marks for the intricately woven screenplay, bustling just beneath its simple surface, and the first-rate direction, which astutely switches pace from laidback to frantic as the narrative demands, and manages to connect multiple subplots all to our lead hero (a herculean task effortlesslyi pulled off). The only thing that the film lags from is a bit of uneven editing; the mid-portion of the second half could've been tighter, with the romantic trick curtailed a bit. Nevertheless, a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable watch.
4/5 stars - DirectorSebastián SchindelStarsCecilia RothMiguel Ángel SoláBenjamín AmadeoDesperate and confused, Alicia will do the impossible to keep her son from prison after he's convicted of trying to murder his ex-wife.The Crimes that Bind (2020) is a little gem of an Argentinian import from Netflix, which merges two intriguing court cases in a duplicitous mystery. Keeping in mind that this has to be as spoiler-free as possible, I'll simply begin by saying that director Sebastian Schindel and his co-writer, Pablo Del Teso, walk the tightrope in linking two court cases that keep you guessing about their connection till 1-thirds of the way, balancing a poignant story with suspense on a knife's edge and making you organically feel for the characters and their decisions, effortlessly pulling it all off till the very end. That it's all based on true events, makes the sensitivity of their dramatisation and overall balancing act all the more praiseworthy. Revealing anything else at this point would be doing this great film a huge disservice.
If the film somewhat underscores then it's in the beginning, taking about 15-20 minutes to really find its footing, demanding your patience. It's no looking back though from thereon. Also, the oscillation between timelines could get a tad confounding, particularly to the untrained eye, and this remains a nagging issue, however little, till almost the very end. All said and done, you are served a savoury 2-course meal of human emotions and palpable tension, making you want to devour both with equal voracity while ignoring the slightly burnt edges around these delectable dishes.
4/5 stars - DirectorPushkar MahabalStarsKashmira IraniSwarda ThigaleShashi BhushanA census report leads two female government teachers to an isolated house, in which resides a family with twisted secrets they never imagined to recover.While the influences of the likes of slasher/house-of-crazies classics like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, and Wolf Creek are evident, it's telling how, when for the first time we get such a different kind of horror movie in Hindi cinema (Tamil cinema has already done it with the likes of Psycho and Penguin), Sony Liv's Welcome Home hits the ball out of the park, homaging the aforementioned English classics rather than replicating or, worse still, messing them up. The tension can be cut with a knife at certain points, the backstory of the psychopaths is truly disturbing, the kills are visceral, the background score amplifies the suspense and dread manifold, the societal themes are shrewdly interwoven, and everything is held together by a handful of terrific performances. Some questionable narrative choices aside, this is one heck of a horror film.
4/5 stars - DirectorMuhammed MusthafaStarsAnna BenSreenath BhasiRoshan MathewSet in the village areas of Wayanad, Malappuram and Kannur, Kappela revolves around an ordinary, innocent girl who comes to Kozhikode city from a high range area called Poovarmala.A sweet, simple romantic tale, that pulls the rug from beneath your feet in the last twenty minutes, suddenly taking a detour into mystery avenue, culminating in an action-packed climax — Malayalam film Kappela is the epitome of what movie-buffs refer to sticking to the end to get blown away. It makes bearing the few bumps in the love story over the first hour or so well worth it in the end. Crisply directed, well acted, and most of all, very well written, this one is a must watch despite some pacing issues.
4/5 stars - DirectorEthan SpauldingStarsJennifer CarpenterJoel McHaleIke AmadiHanzo Hasashi loses his family during an attack by a rival clan the Lin Kuei. He is given the chance to compete in an inter-dimensional tournament to save his loved ones while other fighters try to save the Earth realm from annihilation.Besides being a treat for fans like me of the original video games (back in gaming parlors), the animated Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge is as good a place as any for non-fans to get into the franchise, particularly if you're a hardcore action or martial-arts lover, and by far the best screen adaptation of the classic video game (far better than both live-action feature films). It also pays rich dividends that the makers comprehend the mythology and ethos of Mortal Kombat, appearing to have also kept the original game developers in loop, while bringing a lovely Enter the Dragon undercurrent to the proceedings to appease neutral viewers. A slightly underwhelming climax notwithstanding, this one is a gory, visceral, raw, brutal, adrenaline-pumping, and supremely entertaining treat for action lovers of all kinds. Narrating the story from Scorpion's perspective also proves to be a welcome change for long-term fans.
4/5 stars - DirectorJohn PogueStarsTania RaymondeNathaniel BuzolicEmerson BrooksStudying the effects of climate change off the coast of Mozambique, a marine biologist and her team confront three genetically enhanced bull sharks. Now, a new bloodbath is waiting to happen in the name of science. Will humans never learn?Edge-of-the-seat, adrenaline-pumping, and sufficiently gory — Deep Blue Sea 3 won't get any points for innovation or conceptualization, but what it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for (and them some) in several tense moments, a watertight script (pun intended), decent acting, gruesome shark attacks, and a climax that's so “bitingly” good and “chompingly” nerve-wracking that it effortlessly alleviates whatever few plot-holes or logical loopholes that preceded it. The Samuel L. Jackson nod to the first Deep Blue Sea (1999) will also please fans no end, plus, though it may not be in the same league as that movie, it's a humongous improvement from the crappy second part. Along with The Shallows and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, this is easily the best shark movie in the past five years and, possibly, the best animal horror movie of 2020.
3.85/5 stars - DirectorMike AhernEnda LoughmanStarsMaeve HigginsBarry WardWill ForteRose, a mostly sweet and lonely Irish driving instructor, must use her supernatural talents to save the daughter of Martin (also mostly sweet and lonely) from a washed-up rock star who is using her in a Satanic pact to reignite his fame.Irish film Extra Ordinary provides bountiful of laughs, especially if you dig dark comedies, to go with some shockingly (shocking because it comes out of the blue) gory violence, making it a perfect recipe for a horror-comedy. Moreover, it's backed by strong performances, particularly from Will Forte, Barry Ward, and Maeve Higgins (in that order), and a unique plot that deals with witches and satanic rituals rather than the tried-and-tested formulae of ghosts and zombies. If you're looking for some campy-paranormal fun married with large doses of humour, but don't mind somewhat low production values, this should be right up your alley.
3.85/5 stars - DirectorJoe BegosStarsStephen LangWilliam SadlerFred WilliamsonA group of old war veterans put their lives on the line to defend a young woman taking shelter in their local VFW post, who's running from a deranged drug dealer and his relentless army of drug-addled punks.VFW takes a simple, straightforward premise and milks it to visceral heaven with one tension-fueling, blood-curdling, bone-crunching, adrenaline-pumping, gore-intensifying scene after another, backed by an atmospheric, almost grungy camerawork and color papalette; snappy editing; a bunch of winsome performances from both the veterans (let by Stephen Lang, William Sadler, Martin Kove, and Fred Williamson) and younger crop (led by Sierra McCormick, Dora Madison, and Travis Hammer); and, most of all, Joe Begos' crisp, confident direction (it's the first time I've liked his work, perhaps because he didn't pen the screenplay for this one). This is grindhouse horror (it may carry the verner of action, but make no mistake, it's an out-an-out horror movie underneath) cooked to perfection, with all the grotesque glory, minus the cheesy guilt. Not to everyone's taste, but fans of splatter-ridden horror movies will orgasm over this. An A-grade quintessential B-movie after eons.
3.75/5 stars - DirectorDave FrancoStarsDan StevensAlison BrieSheila VandTwo couples rent a vacation home for what should be a celebratory weekend get-away.The Rental is a welcome addition to the slasher sub-genre after ages and a proper slow-burn horror that suddenly jets off in its final act, like any good slow-burner should. Sure, there's a sense of deja vu in some scenes, but actor Dave Franco, making his directorial debut, smartly swaps the usual teenybopper victims for adult characters, falling prey to adult actions, while also keeping certain slasher tropes like 'the masked killer' and 'the final girl' (maybe) intact. To top it all, the performances from Dan Stevens and the rest of the cast are pitch-perfect & the MO of the killer, revealed at the end, adds a unique dimension, leaving things open for a potentially better sequel. Entertaining enough for horror fans in general, but pure gold for slasher buffs like me.
3.75/5 stars - DirectorEmmanuel Osei-KuffourStarsMamoudou AthiePhylicia RashadAmanda ChristineAfter losing his wife and his memory in a car accident, a single father undergoes an agonizing experimental treatment that causes him to question who he really is.Though not a horror movie as it's been touted to be, Amazon Prime's, Black Box, from Blumhouse's new spate of OTT Halloween specials, is a high-concept sci-fi thriller, that's made all the more disconcerting by how real its premise could be in the near future. You're forced to focus and exercise patience with the complex narrative and languid pace, but the pay off is more than worth it for those willing to wait it out. A few chinks in the armor notwithstanding, the halfway twist and climax are alone worth the investment. Wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but tailormade for those looking to challenge their intellect.
3.75/5 stars - DirectorAdil El ArbiBilall FallahStarsWill SmithMartin LawrenceVanessa HudgensMiami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett must face off against a mother-and-son pair of drug lords who wreak vengeful havoc on their city.The action in Bad Boys for Life, sans being over-the-top top or nonstop, gets you in the groove and keeps you on the edge of your seat whenever it occurs. The bike-chase sequence in Overtown, immediately followed by a helicopter stunt and finally, the climax are together worth the price of admission even if you ignore all the other positives. It also helps, that Director duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who take over from Michael Bay, get the buddy-cop act spot on, frequently interspersing dollops of humor and one-liners (plenty of which are rib-tickling) throughout the narrative. Some minor hiccups aside, Bad Boys for Life is a good ol' fashioned, fun action movie that's high on entertainment, thrill and humor, and thankfully, not bereft of logic. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence serve up an irresistible concoction of action, comedy and brotherhood, making this a cracking ride at the theatre.
3.75/5 stars - DirectorBartosz M. KowalskiStarsJulia Wieniawa-NarkiewiczMichal LupaWiktoria GasiewskaA group of technology-dependent teenagers goes to offline camp and faces a deadly danger lurking in the woods.Following all the slasher tropes to the T, Netflix's Polish import, Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight, is a neat homage to the rarely visited horror sub-genre these days, while also displaying the smarts to deviate the genre into hitherto uncharted territory. Think The Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets Hatchet meets Scream meets Venom (yes, the superhero film), and you've got yourself a pretty entertaining horror movie which, despite its inability to fully tap into its genre-bending potential, more than makes up for it with sheer brutal, visceral thrills and tension. Great fun for slasher fans, engrossing enough for neutral horror-film aficionados, but not for the faint of heart unaccustomed to surplus gore.
3.75/5 stars - DirectorThomas BezuchaStarsDiane LaneKevin CostnerKayli CarterA retired sheriff and his wife, grieving over the death of their son, set out to find their only grandson.Thespians Kevin Costner and Diane Lane prove why old is truly gold in Let Him Go, a rare western to come along these days, and rarer still for it to be this good. Agreed, the plot isn't something we haven't seen before a number of times, but it's always the execution that matters, and that's where writer-Director Thomas Bezucha build a captivating narrative at just the right pace, where the buildup and backstory is somberly (with only a couple of instances where it gets too somber) and languidly laid out with soul in the vein of the movie's ageing leads, only for things to explode (literally and metaphorically) in the climax, which could also be seen as a symbolic way of the two veteran stars as also the characters they essay telling us that there's still a lot of grit and tenacity left in them. In fact, Diane is so good that she's a ripe contender for several nominations come awards season and the film itself is meritorious enough to squeeze in with a few nominations, too.
3.75/5 stars - DirectorDavid MarmorStarsNicole Brydon BloomGiles MattheyTaylor NicholsSarah tries to start anew in LA, but her neighbours are not what they seem.1BR is a clever little take on home-invasion thrillers, smartly blending the sub-genre with cultist horror, making for a gripping watch on the back of an ensemble cast in good form, especially Nicole Brydon and Taylor Nichols. And that finale...it's as nail-biting as it's shocking. If only this didn't take so long to get going and a few plot-holes weren't so prominent, it'd have been a great thriller instead of a very good one. Nevertheless, with the way it ends, I seriously hope there's a sequel.
3.5/5 stars - DirectorJeff FowlerStarsBen SchwartzJames MarsdenJim CarreyAfter discovering a small, blue, fast hedgehog, a small-town police officer must help him defeat an evil genius who wants to do experiments on him.I don't recall playing much of the Sonic the Hedgehog games if any when I was younger, but as a movie, it's a complete family entertainer, full of adventure, laughter, adorable moments, all backed up by a decent script and serviceable direction from Jeff Fowler. That being said, and as cute and as much fun as Sonic is, it's that legendary icon, Jim Carrey, who steals the show, proving that regardless how long he's away from the big screen, he was, is, and always will be box-office dynamite. Just don't go looking for something deep or amazing in this, and you'll be guaranteed a good fun ride.
3.5/5 stars - DirectorSailesh KolanuStarsVishwak SenRuhani SharmaMurli SharmaAn officer of the 'Homicide Intervention Team' who frequently suffers from having his panic attacks does everything in his power to rescue a woman who went missing.Telugu film Hit that released earlier this year is a proper, no-frills police procedural that demands patience and focus from its viewers, ergo, though it's not for everyone, those who invest in it are duly rewarded with a tightly wound investigative thriller. That being said, the climax comes across as slightly contrived and the big reveal at the end is a tad disappointing, which just about obstructs it from being a great film. Nevertheless, Hit: The First Case is a solid murder mystery and the denouement sets things up well for a possibly better sequel.
3.5/5 stars - DirectorFaruk KabirStarsVidyut JammwalShivaleeka OberoiAnnu KapoorA newly married couple's life falls in jeopardy when the wife goes missing under mysterious circumstances.Khuda Haafiz works like a desi version of Liam Neeson's Taken, with Vidyut Jammwal doing extremely well to forgo his lethal chops and flying kicks to play an everyday man who'll go to any lengths for the love of his life. It's a blueprint in how stunts can be achieved, chase scenes can be staged, and fights be given a raw yet real touch sans the need of bulging biceps or heavy artillery (not that I don't appreciate them, it's just that an alternative offers more variety to the action genre) — perhaps the best aspect of the film is its ability to stick to its guns, yet pack enough of a punch to keep action lovers thrilled to the bone while serving a tight, pacy, no-nonsense story for other viewers to be equally hooked. Yes, one dream sequence is totally unnecessary and yes, it's highly derivative, but if you are ready to dispense with your preconceived notions of how an action film shold be, just like how Vidyut goes frm martial-arts icon to desperate common man, shedding his image to the bare bone, or, if like me, you've been exposed to action of all & sundry varieties in Western & Asian cinema, then this is sure to entertain you no end with its raw, real, gritty punch, minus all frills and frolic.
3.5/5 stars - DirectorALi Khan AKSharan SharmaStarsJanhvi KapoorPankaj TripathiAngad BediInspired by the life of a fearless young officer who made history by becoming the first Indian female Air Force officer to fly in a combat zone during the 1999 Kargil WarGunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is a stinging middle finger against patriarchy as also a mighty fine biopic, thankfully bereft of wartime jingoism. From Gunjan Saxena being constantly denied flying hours and her male compatriots being dumbfoundedly insensitive to her feminine needs to being humiliated in an adverse display of arm-wrestling and her own brother perpetually concerned about the world's thoughts rather than supporting his sister — the Netflix movie poignantly weaves its narrative around these points, yet, to its credit, never goes overboard in painting the men in her life as fiends, signing them off as a product of their times, willing to change in the end; that it also shows enough care for the men in her life who can sympathise and/or empathise with her like her father and base commander, speaks volumes of how the film is dedicated to not drive home an agenda that overshadows an inspiring tale.
Where it takes a major misstep is in the casting of Janhvi Kapoor , who is too raw and just not skilled enough (at least for now) for such a nuanced role and though she isn't outright poor in it, she does stick out like a sore thumb amidst her seasoned co-actors. Some flaws notwithstanding, this pays deserving tribute to a real-life hero and demands to be watched as a worthy piece of cinema, keeping all prejudice against its lead star and producer aside — two of the scapegoats in the unfounded nepotism debate, following SSR's tragic demise.
3.5/5 stars - DirectorRichard StanleyStarsNicolas CageJoely RichardsonMadeleine ArthurA secluded farm is struck by a strange meteorite which has apocalyptic consequences for the family living there and possibly the world.Shouldered by another gallantly gonzo act from the veteran Nicolas Cage (one of my favourite movie stars); Color Out of Space is a batshit crazy sci-fi movie that pays rich tribute H.P Lovecraft's (one of the genre's legends) short story and his idiosyncratic themes. The narrative may get a tad uneven at times and the weird tone may get a bit too much for some viewers, but those who relish Lovecraftian tropes or enjoy deviant, subversive, genre-bending fare, are sure to dig this bizarre indie sci-fi ride.
3.5/5 stars - DirectorRuchi NarainStarsKiara AdvaniTaher ShabbirAkansha Ranjan KapoorWhen a college heartthrob is accused of rape by a less popular student, his girlfriend navigates various versions of the story in search of the truth.In the zeal to make some very valid points about victim-shaming and feminism, Guilty may shroud its actual core story at times, leading to a few amateurish plot elements and others that result in loopholes in the narration, but keeping these grievances aside, it's also a hard look at how our society still sees accusers, especially when the accused are privileged, while also presenting a welcome balanced approach toward the biases on both sides of the #MeToo movement. The icing on the cake though is Kiara Advani's career-best performance to date, filled with wonderful layers, profound meaning, and a world of promise of greater acts in future. Watch this web film for what it represents by glossing ovr some of the paths it takes to get there, and you'll come away better for the experience. No Kiara fan nor anyone with lingering questions about 'Me Too', should miss this Karan Johar production for Netflix.
3.5/5 stars - DirectorHong Eui-jeongStarsYoo Ah-inYoo Jae-myungMoon Seung-ahTwo men work for a criminal organization to clean up the aftermath messes. One day, they receive an unexpected order.A heartfelt kidnapping tale, with pretty interesting characters, that gets a tad tarnished by the lackluster finale.
3.5/5 stars - DirectorRemi WeekesStarsSope DirisuWunmi MosakuMalaika Wakoli-AbigabaA refugee couple makes a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, but then they struggle to adjust to their new life in an English town that has an evil lurking beneath the surface.Though the climax screamed for a better and definitely, more well structured treatment, with a couple of major plot points needing a more refined realization, it doesn't take much away from how chilling effective Netflix's British horror movie, His House, is. Replete with an eerie atmosphere, efficacious background score, and some genuine jump scares, it proves that there's still a lot to milk from haunted-house tropes, provided you think hard enough for fresh concepts and have the vision to pull them off.
3.5/5 stars - DirectorMichael MatthewsStarsDylan O'BrienJessica HenwickMichael RookerSeven years after he survived the monster apocalypse, lovably hapless Joel leaves his cozy underground bunker behind on a quest to reunite with his high school sweetheart.Though nothing novel, Love and Monsters is still fun enough for a post-apocalyptic YA setting, with likeable characters, exciting scenes, and some seriously good CGI-created monsters with an arresting world that they inhabit. Pity this one was severely delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently suffered the fate of an extremely limited theatrical release because it had everything going for it to take a crack at the box-office. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable joyride to be had from the confines of your home — certain plot contrivances notwithstanding — and it helps to have one of the most adorable canines ever depicted on screen.
3.35/5 stars - DirectorRachel TalalayStarsTamara SmartOona LaurenceTom FeltonA babysitter embarks on a mission to save a child who's been abducted by monsters.Netflix's new Halloween movie, A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting, takes us back to the good ol' days of family horror movies, a la Gremlins, Witches, or any Scooby-Doo fare. And while it may not be in the league of the aforementioned titles, what it does do is channelize that family spirt on Halloween, where creepy is neither too scary for younger viewers nor too juvenile for adults. I have not read any of the books this is adapted from, but going by the film alone, I found the monsters to be fun, the plot to be engrossing, the performances to be appealing, especially that of Tom Felton (Harry Potter's Draco Malfoy) as the lead villain, and the finale also sets things up well for a sequel. All in all, good, spooky Halloween entertainment for the entire family.
3.25/5 stars - DirectorSteven BrillStarsAdam SandlerKevin JamesJulie BowenDespite his devotion to his hometown of Salem (and its Halloween celebration), Hubie Dubois is a figure of mockery for kids and adults alike. But this year, something is going bump in the night, and it's up to Hubie to save Halloween.Netflix's Hubie Halloween isn't the best horror-comedy you'll see, but it's silly fun, and sometimes, that's all you need to relax. Adam Sandler, in a throwback to his Waterboy mode (my fav Sandler movie), carries the entertainment on his experienced shoulders, terrifically supported by Kevin James, Ray Liotta, June Squibb, Maya Rudolph, and Shaquille O'Neal and Steve Buscemi in game cameos. The jokes land well, there's a good twist during the climax, and if you don't overthink it, this is as effective a way to pass the time as any and forget about it.
3/5 stars - DirectorMatthew John LawrenceStarsMike LawrenceDavid LittletonChet SiegelWhen a punk band scores their first tour, life on the road proves tough when they are joined by a man-eating demon as a roadie.Uncle Peckerhead is a very different kind of zombie horror-comedy and that's precisely why it comes a breath of fresh air. That being said, the treatment will seem anything but fresh for those who don't have the stomach for an unimaginable amount of gore, guts, and even some scatological humor to boot. For those who do though, there's a lot of fun to be had with this typical B-movie that wins you over with its interesting ideas and game performances. Won't make any all-time horror lists, but entertaining enough while it lasts. Added incentive if you love punk rock bands like Green Day, like I do.
3/5 stars - DirectorTrivikram SrinivasStarsAllu ArjunPooja HegdeTabuAfter growing up enduring criticism from his father, a young man finds his world shaken upon learning he was switched at birth with a millionaire's son.Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo is the personification of a pure timepass movie despite myriad logical loopholes, plot discrepancies, and narrative inconsistencies, all of which it manages to tide ovrr courtesy several superbly entertaining mass elements, some peppy songs, and the infectious charm and rambunctious energy of its leading man. Stylish Star Allu Arjun has a blast in this one, and guarantees that you'll join him, too. His boardroom scene alone is worth ignoring the film's errors and just going with the flow.
3/5 stars - DirectorNitin KakkarStarsSaif Ali KhanAlaya FTabuA 40 year-old playboy's life turns upside down when he comes to know that he has a 20 something year-old daughter.The first half of Jawaani Jaaneman is drab, with almost none of the attempted funny moments or jokes hitting the mark, nor the intended emotional bonding between father and daughter working. Thankfully, a cracking second half completely saves the film, which simply meanders till the interval point. Not only does the script become tighter, dialogues, tighter, and editing crisper, but Saif Ali Khan and debutante Alaya F also seem to breathe new life into their performances while Director Nitin Kakkar more than gets his act together as the captain of the ship, resulting in funnier moments and a more emotional upswing for the film. That the upward graph of the film in the latter half coincides with the entry of Tabu only reaffirms how an ace artiste can singlehandedly be responsible for turning a film's fortunes around even when present in just a handful of scenes. In a nutshell, the second half,
does just about enough for you to walk away feeling good about the film.
3/5 stars - DirectorOliver KienleStarsLivia RennerLisa VicariChristina HeckeTo realize their culinary and boxing dreams, the daughter of a billionaire forms a mutually beneficial alliance with the son of a struggling single mom.The new German Netflix film, Isi & Ossi, is neither one of the most lovable romcoms out there nor does it break any new ground in the genre. However, what it doesn't offer in terms of freshness or charm, it more than makes up for with heart, simple laughs, and two likable young leads in Lisa Vicari and Dennis Mojen. The film has a conviction that opposites do attract and that true love can triumph against all odds and sometimes, that's all that it takes to make both a movie & life work.
3/5 stars - DirectorJaime Eliezer KarasStarsSeth CarrTichina ArnoldAdam PallyAfter discovering a magical mask, an 11-year-old aspiring wrestler enters a competition to become the next WWE superstar.WWE's offerings outside the wrestling arena haven't been great of late. So, it goes without saying that even something as formulaic and somewhat far-fetched as the new Netflix film, The Main Event, comes as a breath of fresh air for neutral viewers simply because of how much humour and heart it packs in for the entire family. For WWE fans though, this is nothing short of a pack of gold-standard trump cards, with the movie tapping into that fundamental desire of all WWE aficionados out there to once shine in the ring, secure a 3-count pinfall, and have thousands in the arena chant your name. It also pays rich dividends to have popular contemporary wrestlers like The Miz, Kofi Kingston, Sheamus, Keith Lee, Mia Yim, and Otis play cameos. A few cameos by legendary names, too, wouldn't have hurt. This is unmissable viewing for anyone who has ever been a WWE fan, but will also provide a simplistic diversion for families looking for a mildly amusing watch.
3/5 stars - DirectorSeema PahwaStarsSupriya PathakKonkona Sen SharmaParambrata ChattopadhyayBauji's entire family comes under one roof for 13 days after he passes away. We get a glimpse of their dynamics, politics and insecurities as each one of them is on their journey to discover their own selves and truth.Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi is a warm, touching, wholesome, sweet, and simple rural-family drama, the likes of which you seldom get to savor in Bollywood these days. And as is needed for these movies to succeed, the acting is absolutely top notch, with Manoj Pahwa, Supriya Pathak, Vinay Pathak, Ninad Kamat, and Deepika Amin being the standouts. The minimalistic approach, restrained camerawork, and frugal production design also work wonders to set the tone. That being said, the stroy and characters could've been better fleshed out to evoke the family dynamics and subplots the film was getting at. It falls a bit short of its true potential, especially the way things were set up till the third act, but is, nevertheless, a good dramedy and beginning for Seema Pahwa as a Director, not to mention a welcome detour for Bollywood on the big screen.
3/5 stars - DirectorJustin G. DyckStarsSheila McCarthyJulian RichingsKonstantina MantelosA bereaved Satanist couple kidnap a pregnant woman so they can use an ancient spellbook to put their dead grandson's spirit into her unborn child but end up summoning more than they bargained for.Anything for Jackson is spooky, solidly acted, evokes a chilling atmosphere, and packs in some good scares while also staying away from a superficial, routine path by making you question how far you're willing to go for those you've loved and lost (or in this case, wish to resurrect) and when is it too far? That being said, it'd have been an even better horror movie if Vicent Whiteman had effectively used scissors to negate the portions in the middle that lag quite a bit and exerted better efforts in defining the flashbacks.
3/5 stars - DirectorWon-sub ChoiStarsKwon Ban-sukLee Ji-WonLee Ji-wonWhile heavily drunk, an unsuccessful comic book writer draws a comic about his life as a former NIS hitman, and runs into trouble when it gets posted online.The comic-book spin on a tried-and-tested action formula, makes this a fun watch that you can kick back, relax, and enjoy at least once, even if you'll forget it soon after.
3/5 stars - DirectorMukesh ChhabraStarsSushant Singh RajputSanjana SanghiSahil VaidThe emotional journey of two hopelessly-in-love youngsters; a young girl, Kizie, who is suffering from cancer; and Manny, a boy Kizie meets at a support group.Dil Bechara makes for a pretty good watch for those who haven't seen The Fault in Our Stars or read the book, but the ones who have will find it strictly decent, and in the few scenes where you are left choked or teary-eyed, it's because of watching Sushant Singh Rajput for the last time rather than the emotional graph of his character, Manny. It's certainly a decent watch, but forget the Hollywood original, even Bollywood has had far better tearjerkers like Kal Ho Naa Ho, Aashiqui 2, Taare Zameen Par, Anand, Masoom to jst name a few. SSR laughs, cries, smiles, dances, and cheers his way into our hearts and Sanjana Sanghi is a good foil, but it's important to not get carried away in sentiment and asses the film purely on its merits — that's the bst way to honour the memory of its lead star whom we all so dearly miss, and having known him, I can safely say that he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
3/5 stars - DirectorPeter SullivanStarsNia LongOmar EppsStephen BishopEllie tries to mend her marriage with her husband Marcus after a brief encounter with an old friend, David, only to find that David is more dangerous and unstable than she'd realized.Netflix 's new thriller, Fatal Affair, benefits greatly from Nia Long & Omar Epps' performances as the main leads, and in no small measure to some crafty direction and writing, forcing you to focus on a bunch of thrilling and suspenseful sequences despite a nagging been-there-done-that feeling. Though derivative and cliched, this old wine boasts enough sparkle to keep u hooked.
3/5 stars - DirectorJeff BarnabyStarsMichael GreyeyesElle-Máijá TailfeathersForrest GoodluckThe dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi'kmaq reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indigenous inhabitants who are strangely immune to the zombie plague.Though the pace is too slow at times and the cinematography is so shitty that it never makes us forget this is a low-budget indie, Canadian film Blood Quantum still does enough to stand out in the overcrowded zombie sub-genre of horror, owing to a unique plot element, seeped in socio-political subtexts, and some genuinely thrilling sequences. Also, the environmental, zonal, and immunity plot points hit a tad close to home givn the current scenario. Nothing great, but still a welcome diversion for those looking for a decent zombie horror movie, filled with copious gore.
2.75/5 stars - DirectorJon StevensonStarsBrian Landis FolkinsWil WheatonKathleen Brady1990: David, 40, looks after his dementia mom. He uses a video dating service to no avail. He buys a "Rent-A-Pal" video tape and things change.Rent-A-Pal benefits from an innovative concept, thoughtful themes, and a quartet of standout performances by Brian Landis Folkins, Wil Wheaton, Amy Rutledge, and Kathleen Brady in that order. But debutant writer-Director Jon Stevenson relies on these aspects far too much, thus failing to cohesively back them by a tight script and strong narration. And being a horror movie, it further suffers from a surprisingly lack of horror or thrill barring a few moments. Good attempt, but could've been executed a whole lot better.
2.5/5 stars - DirectorElan DassaniRajeev DassaniStarsSarita ChoudhurySunita ManiBernard WhiteA superstitious mother is convinced that her daughter's new boyfriend is the reincarnation of a man who tried to kill her 30 years ago.Cheesy, cliched, and borderline cringe — despite all these factors in abundance, there's something about Amazon Prime's recent thriller (don't know why it's being peddled as horror), Evil Eye, from Blumhouse's new spate of OTT Halloween specials, that keeps you fleetingly entertained, or probably amused, to stick it out to the end despite knowing the outcome more or less long before. Nevertheless, it begs the question why Priyanka Chopra would back something so regressive, with such a toxic mother figure, given her strong feminist ideals. Just about all right to pass the time if you're not too demanding and willing to overlook everything that's wrong with Indian parenting being normalized.
2/5 stars - DirectorMatthew PopeStarsBethany Anne LindWill PattonElisabeth RöhmA woman's panicked decision to cover up an accidental killing spins out of control when her conscience demands she return the dead man's body to his family.Indie flick Blood on Her Name begins as an engrossing, slow-burner film noir, then, about one-thirds of its way, it takes a sharp detour into introspective territory, ending up neither as a thoughtful human drama nor as a suspenseful mystery. The ingredients were there, the performances are there, especially from Bethany Anne Lind and Will Patton, but somehow, it never manages to come together as the sum of its parts, primarily because of writer-Director Matthew Pope and cowriter Don M. Thompson's stubbornness to indulge themselves rather than the audience.
2/5 stars