REVIEW: See For Me (2022) Stars Skyler Davenport and Jessica Parker Kennedy

Review by Jon Donnis

See For Me is a great new film that looks at how a blind person could deal with a home invasion.

Sophie (played by Skyler Davenport, who is most famous for video game voice work) is a blind former skier, who lives with her mother. For work Sophie house sits, (cat sits) luxury houses in New York.

Early on, the film gives the Sophie character extra layers, outside the obvious layer of not being able to see. (Actress Skyler Davenport is partially blind in real life), by showing that Sophie is not your innocent young girl, when you see her stealing some expensive wine with the help of a friend who guides her.

Sophies mother encourages her to download an app called "See For Me", which connects you to someone who will help you if you are in trouble as a blind person.

After arriving at a house to house sit, Sophie accidentally locks herself out, she decides to use the app for help. Sophie ends up being connected to Kelly (Jessica Parker Kennedy who you might recognise from The Flash). Kelly is a former servicewoman, so gives straightforward easy to understand instructions to help Sophie get back in the house.

With the main characters introduced, as well as an understanding of the limitations, this is where the home invasion angle starts.

Three people break in, they are after a large amount of money that is in a safe. They thought the house would be empty, so upon finding Sophie, their plans get more complicated.

What follows is a tense thriller, with Sophie getting help from Kelly, to try to get help, and then take on the burglars, with Kelly being her eyes and directing her.

There are a few semi twists pushed, will Sophie do the right thing, as well as a few things that make you think, but I won't spoil anything.

I expected a clichéd home invasion film, but was pleasantly surprised. Yes, there were a few clichéd moments, but in general the film felt original and fresh.

Any time you use a disability as the main focus of a film, you risk talking down to people with that disability, but I felt like everything was treated with respect, and Sophie was given enough layers that the being blind, wasn't what defined her character.

The Good

Well-acted, well filmed, with a simple but nicely directed story.

The Bad

The final scene of the film is very dark, while I understand that you need to even things up between characters, as a viewer some things are lost, but then I suppose that is the whole point. I think more dialog in the darker scenes would have been better.

Overall

A really good thriller. I score See For Me a solid 8/10

Review by Jon Donnis

Out Now on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3IMGosW

COMPETITION: WIN CATWOMAN: HUNTED ON BLU-RAY™

CATWOMAN: HUNTED IS AVAILABLE ON DVD, BLU-RAY & BLU-RAY STEELBOOK 

FROM 7th FEBRUARY, AND ON DIGITAL FROM 8th FEBRUARY 

To celebrate its release, we're giving one lucky winner a copy of the latest DC Animated Movie, Catwoman: Hunted on Blu-Ray™!

In the all-new original Catwoman: Hunted, Catwoman’s attempt to steal a priceless jewel puts her squarely in the crosshairs of both a powerful consortium of villains and the ever-resourceful Interpol, not to mention Batwoman. It might just be enough to contain her. Or not.

Elizabeth Gillies (Dynasty, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Vacation) and Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, In The Heights) lead the cast of Catwoman: Hunted as the voices of Catwoman and Batwoman, respectively. Catwoman: Hunted is directed by Shinsuke Terasawa (Gintama, Yo-kai Watch) from a script penned by Greg Weisman (Young Justice, Gargoyles). Producer is Ethan Spaulding (Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms) and Executive Producer is Sam Register.

Catwoman: Hunted is set for release on Blu-ray™, DVD and Blu-ray™ Steelbook on 7th February 2022 and on Digital Download on the 8th February 2022.

For your chance to win a copy of Catwoman: Hunted on Blu-ray™, simply answer the following question:

COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 14-02-22
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win Shadow in the Cloud on DVD

Shadow in the Cloud - Released from 7th February

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis: 

Outmanned, outgunned and on a mission to deliver top secret documents that could turn the tide of World War II. A young female officer (Chloë Grace Moretz - Kick-Ass) must convince a rag-tag regiment to stand by her side and get her to her final destination. With nowhere to run, time slipping away and a sinister stowaway on board, the mission looks all but lost as the cruelty of war becomes reality. Survive at any cost. Also starring Nick Robinson (Jurassic World) and Beulah Koale (Hawaii Five-0), Shadow in the Cloud was written and directed by Roseanne Liang, with additional writing from Max Landis (Chronicle).

Signature Entertainment presents Shadow in the Cloud on Digital Platforms 31st January and DVD 7th February

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/32NC0uw

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 14-02-22
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

REVIEW: The Amityville Uprising (2022)

Review By Jon Donnis
I seem to be reviewing a lot of B movies recently, the latest one to come across my desk is The Amityville Uprising, released by Lionsgate. Not sure why Lionsgate are making and releasing B movies, they clearly don't need the small change that this film would make.

The film starts off with some terrible CGI showing a chemical blast at a military base. The general idea of the story is that this strange blast, creates a cloud of toxic acid rain. Most of the story takes place at a police station.

Now as I have mentioned before, there are Good Terrible movies and Bad Terrible movies. So where does this one fit in. Well its tough to say. The film is roughly 80 minutes long, HOWEVER, here is an awesome life hack I am going to give you right now. You can watch the entire film in 40 minutes! All you need to do is fast forward the first 40 minutes, and then start to watch from there.

I say this because the first 40 minutes is literally just people talking to each other about not very interesting things. Don't get me wrong, there is some funny one liners in there, but action wise, nothing really happens.

But the second 40 minutes of the film, it all picks up. The toxic acid rain will kill you, if it touches your skin, it will also then raise you up as a Zombie. The film is all about a few people trying to stay alive and kill zombies. Pretty standard stuff, but there are some funny one liners in there. I rarely laugh at such films, but the makers of this film realised that they had a very low budget and a crap storyline, so actually made the effort to have some funny lines, which I quite enjoyed. Throw in the fact you can see the whole film in 40 minutes, and it crosses that line into "Good Terrible".

There is also some really dumb clips from fake news broadcasts, which made me laugh, as well as a bizaree video game like feature, where upon the first time you are introduced to a character, you get a screen like below.

 

It makes no sense, but I just kinda liked it.

I also want to applaud the film makers for the ending, FINALLY we get an ending in a Zombie film that makes sense.

The Good
I enjoyed the sillyness and one liners.

The Bad
The first 40 minutes are a waste of time.

Overall
The film is stupid, but I still kinda liked it. I thought the ending was good, and the one liners made me laugh.

I score The Amityville Uprising (for a B movie), a solid 7/10

Out Now at https://amzn.to/3rdQXza

REVIEW: War of the Worlds Annihilation

Review by Jon Donnis

Streaming on Tubi TV, this is a disaster movie from the Kings of the B Movie, The Asylum.

All Asylum films are terrible, we know this, however there is good terrible, and bad terrible.

Good terrible films by The Asylum include the Sharknado franchise and The Megashark Franchise.
Bad terrible films, are pretty much everything else. Sadly, War of the Worlds Annihilation falls into the bad terrible list of films.

With that said, the film does star the one good Baldwin, in William Baldwin who plays General Skuller. 

Do I really need to even tell you what the story is? Alien invasion, robot machines, lots of dodgy dialog, terrible CGI, ridiculous gun fights, and a disappointing twist.

The Good

Some young actors, and new actors got a pay check. Good for them.

The Bad

I don't really blame the actors; they do their best with what is given to them. The story is just poor, the budget is tiny, and usually when you have these two problems, you make up for it with light hearted moments or a bit of comedy, this film has neither. 

Overall

Do not watch this rubbish. That is all

REVIEW: In the Strange Pursuit of Laura Durand (Η Αναζήτηση της Λώρα Ντουράντ)

Pre-order from Apple TV now at https://apple.co/35r8GuN

Review by Jon Donnis

In the Strange Pursuit of Laura Durand is a Greek buddy road trip film that has finally made its way to the UK, and gets a Digital Download release from 31st January'

Antonis Titsanis (played by Makis Papadimitriou) and Christos Fertakis (played by Michalis Sarantis) are two young men, down on their luck, loser type characters, no jobs, poor living conditions and really just letting life pass them by, surviving on Christos' unemployment benefits.

But from within this sad existence, they do have a common love interest. The beautiful Laura Durand, (Anna Kalaitzidou) a 1990s porn star who mysterious disappeared, one day after watching an old VHS tape and reminiscing about her career, they decide that they should solve the mystery of her disappearance and go on a mission to track her down, after they have a vision of her almost summoning them to save her.

What follows is their journey, a very weird at times journey, that mixes comedy, with drama, with full on mystery, without ever really settling on one genre.

The film even at one point goes to black and white to match the mood of the scene in a creepy old mansion, the characters heads even become enlarged and then there is a musical interlude/dance. All very weird.

At times it feels like the characters are either high on drugs, mentally ill, or part of some weird fantasy, the film cleverly never really tells you which reality is true within the confines of the film, which includes dream sequences, ghostly apparitions, and downright weird scenes. There is an element of a treasure hunt to the film, with maps and messages in a bottle, but these are never the main focus of the film, they are more like strange side effects of their journey.

The film is separated into chapters, which have various titles, a couple that come to mind are "Never Trust A Hippy" and "Memories Are Calling You To Come Back".

Do they ever find Laura Durand? Is she just a figment of their imagination? Well, I won't spoil it for you. But as with most road trip films; the journey is what is important, the detours etc, and not the destination as such.

A special shout out must be made for the soundtrack which is excellent, and at just over 90 minutes the film never really feels like it is dragging, or that a scene has been thrown in to fill time. Although this film is definitely one for the film festivals, as opposed to the mainstream, I can see it gaining cult status.

Buy the soundtrack now at https://amzn.to/33LnnIk

The Good

High quality filming and direction, the acting is believable, and although we have seen a million buddy road trip films, this one is different, which is an almost impossible achievement.

The Bad

Some of the translation from Greek to the English subtitles isn't brilliant, and I think that some of the humour in the film does not translate in general to an English audience, the nuance of the Greek language, might get lost in translation.

Overall

I benefited from speaking Greek, but I needed the subtitles too as mainland Greeks speak so fast! That said I enjoyed this film; it really is something different. 

Strong characters, a decent story, and fantastic soundtrack. 

I score In the Strange Pursuit of Laura Durand a strong 8/10

Review by Jon Donnis

In the Strange Pursuit of Laura Durand will be available on Digital Download from 31st January

Pre-order from Apple TV now at https://apple.co/35r8GuN

REVIEW: Gold (2022) - Starring Zac Efron and Anthony Hayes

Gold is an "Australian Survival" film, directing by Anthony Hayes, who also stars alongside Zac Efron.

Zac Efron in what I can only assume is an attempt to be taken seriously as an actor, is all dirty in this film, dirty as in covered in dirt, dishevelled, grubby, however you want to describe it, it does seem that when an actor wants to move to that next level, if they are a woman, they "ugly themselves up" and if they are a man, they grubby themselves down.

Set in the Australian outback, Efron plays... erm.... "Man One", yes that is how he is billed, who is getting a lift from Hayes, (Man Two). The first 20 minutes is some of the dullest on-screen film I have ever seen.

Luckily after 20 minutes, Man one and two find some gold in the middle of the outback. And by some, I mean possible the largest chunk of gold ever found, the problem is how on earth will they extract it, after trying and failing to pull it out with a rope attached to Man two's truck, they decide that one person needs to stay with the gold, while the other goes to fetch equipment they can use to extract it.

Efron decides to stay with the gold, despite being inexperienced in the ways of survival. And Hayes goes off to get equipment.

What follows, is about an hour of Efron going a bit mad, hallucinating, struggling to survive in the heat, avoiding scorpions and trying to keep the wild dogs away.

The film is deliberately empty, the colours used in filming, to the surrounding, to the dialog. This is a visual film, which at times drags, which is a shame.

There is a twist at the end, because why not, but even with that, you are left with questions, sadly not the good kind of questions.

I won't spoil the ending, but I do feel that this film would have worked better if it was say, 50 minutes in length instead of 90, and was an episode of the Twilight Zone, or some other anthology type TV series.

As a film, it will only really appeal to the festival type crowd.

The Good

Very nicely shot, and Efron is really good in his minimalist part.

The Bad

Parts of the film are quite dull.

Overall

This is a good episode of an anthology type TV show, the problem is it is a film.

I score Gold a generous 6/10

Gold will screen in select cinemas from 13 January and premieres on 26 January on VOD

COMPETITION: Win Censor Limited Edition Blu-ray

Censor Limited Edition - Released from 31st January

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and a copy on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis: 

Prano Bailey-Bond’s acclaimed ‘thrilling, dizzying debut’ Censor stars the incredible Niamh Algar in a mesmerising performance as a dedicated and intense film censor during Britain’s infamous ‘video nasty’ era, whose work slowly becomes intwined with her past. Now this brilliantly dark and disturbing British horror is set for the highly anticipated Limited Edition Blu-ray treatment from Second Sight Films on 31 January 2022.

‘This thrilling, dizzying debut… is a nostalgic treat for anyone old enough to remember the infamous "video nasties" scare of the early 80s’

Mark Kermode

‘Ambiguous, introspective, thoughtful. As weirdly uncomfortable as horror should be, and rarely is… Niamh Algar is terrific, and deeply empathetic’

Flick Philosopher

‘Bailey-Bond displays a tricky skill: moving from realism to nightmarish oddness while taking viewers along with you’

Sunday Times

‘Feels lovingly worked-at, slathered in period detail and aesthetic beauty’

Independent

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3nOYPW4

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 07-02-22
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win Last Night In Soho on Blu-ray

Last Night In Soho - Released from 31st January

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and a copy on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis: 

From the acclaimed director of fan-favourites such as Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End comes the “Captivating” (Daily Mail) tribute to 1960s London, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, available to own for the first time on Digital January 17, 2022 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-rayTM and DVD January 31, 2022 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. With “A fresh and unpredictable thrill ride” (NME Online), LAST NIGHT IN SOHO is filled to the brim with thrills, suspense and a love of classic film and music in every frame. Own the cinematic masterpiece for the first time, alongside exclusive bonus content, including never-before-seen deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes content and feature commentaries exploring the intoxicating nostalgia, flair and suspense.  

In Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie, Jojo Rabbit, Old), an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma, “The Queen’s Gambit”). But the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.  

The “Deliciously Twisted” (Observer) masterpiece is directed by Edgar Wright, and stars Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith(The Crown, Doctor Who) and Michael Ajao (Attack the Block, Silent Witness). The film is co-written by Edgar Wright and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917).  

 

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3ItZbt1

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 07-02-22
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

REVIEW: Shattered (2022) - Starring Cameron Monaghan & Lilly Krug

Review by Jon Donnis

Chris (Cameron Monaghan) is a retired tech millionaire, he wrote an app, sold it to google, and now he lives in a beautiful house with futuristic technology throughout. His wife (Sasha Luss) is divorcing him.

One late night he decides to go shopping, and meets a gorgeous blonde woman, Sky (Lilly Krug), she asks for his help in choosing some wine, her Uber cancels on her, and he ends up taking her back to his. This happens to me all the time! Really! Ok, apart from the hot blonde and I don't have a futuristic house, but the rest is spot on.

Chris and Sky start seeing each other, then one night when coming back to his car, someone is trying to break in, a scuffle ensues, and the criminal attacks Chris with a crowbar. Sky then steps in as a nurse for Chris to help him in his recovery.

From director Luis Prieto and writer David Loughery, Shattered is supposed to be your classic psychological thriller, with sex and violence thrown in. So, when Chris gets injured, and Sky starts looking after him, that is when the film starts to get going, step in John Malkovich as Ronald, who runs the residential motel that Sky lives in. A death of a roommate. Lots of twists and the film has all the ingredients to be a great psychological thriller. 

The problem is the film is quite dull to start off with, and although the film tries to be a throwback to the days of films like Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction, the first hour just isn't very good, and by the time the film does kick into gear, it is nearly over, as it has a relatively short run time of about 90 minutes.

The acting is good, but the writing is poor, which leaves very talented actors, with a script that does not reach their level of ability.

The Good

Shattered looks great, it is filmed well, it looks professional, and the last 30 minutes are actually quite good.

The Bad

In the world of "On Demand", if you don't grab the attention of the viewer early on, you risk losing them, and they will just turn off, I fear that is what will happen with this film.

Overall

The film is ok, Sky (Lilly Krug) is great, and without spoiling anything, plays her part convincingly. I just feel like the actors deserved a better script.

I score Shattered a generous 5/10

COMPETITION: Win Killing Field on DVD - Starring Bruce Willis and Chad Michael

Killing Field - Released from 24th January

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis: 

Drugs. Money. Greed. Death. When a drug bust goes horribly wrong, David (Bruce Willis - Die Hard) , a decorated cop, finds himself at the mercy of a drug cartel. As the violent gang seeks refuge on farmland they soon discover one man (Chad Michael Murray - Riverdale) with a deadly aim who stands between them and freedom. Welcome to the KILLING FIELD. Written by Ross Peacock and directed by James Cullen Bressack.

Signature Entertainment presents Killing Field on Digital Platforms 17th January and DVD 24th January

 

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3FDxDzq

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

Who Directs Killing Field?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 31-01-22
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win The Nest on Blu-ray

The Nest - Released from 24th January

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis: 

Starring Jude Law and Carrie Coon, THE NEST is the critically acclaimed new film from Sean Durkin, the acclaimed director of Martha Marcy May Marlene. Following its successful UK theatrical release earlier this year, this gripping BIFA nominated film features captivating central performances from Law and Coon who play a couple whose seemingly perfect marriage is pushed to breaking point in their search for a happier new life. THE NEST will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital on Monday 24th January courtesy of Picturehouse Entertainment.

Rory (Jude Law - The Talented Mr Ripley, The Grand Budapest Hotel) an ambitious entrepreneur, persuades his wife (Carrie Coon – Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Gone Girl), and their children to leave America and return to his native England during the 1980s. Sensing opportunity, Rory rejoins his former firm and leases a centuries-old country manor. However, all is not as it seems and soon the promise of a lucrative new beginning starts to unravel and the couple have to face the secrets and unwelcome truths that lie beneath the surface of their marriage.

With an outstanding cast that also includes Adeel Akhtar (Four Lions, Everybody's Talking About Jamie) and Anne Reid (Last Tango in Halifax, Sanditon) THE NEST is an outstanding new film not to be missed.

 

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3Keqp8N

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 31-01-22
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

REVIEW: The King's Daughter (2022) - Starring Pierce Brosnan and Kaya Scodelario

Review By Jon Donnis

The King's Daughter based on the book The Moon and the Sun, written by Vonda N. McIntyre, is one of those films that has seemingly been in the making forever. 

You can actually go back to 1999 when talk first started.

Fast forward to 2022 and The King's Daughter is due to be released on January 21, 2022, by Gravitas Ventures.

Since the film is not yet released, I will keep spoilers to an absolute minimum.

In somewhat of a revitalisation of his career, Pierce Brosnan stars as King Louis XIV, who after being shot, is convinced by his daughter, that for the betterment of France, he needs to become immortal, so the King sends his men off to find a mermaid, since mermaids are magical, if you sacrifice the mermaid during a solar eclipse, its life force can be transferred to the King, therefore making him immortal.

They manage to track down and capture the Mermaid pretty quickly, but then have to wait until the eclipse, so for most of the film the mermaid is kept in an underground pond of sorts.

Kaya Scodelario plays Marie-Josèphe, the Kings illegitimate daughter, who finds out about the mermaid and when she sees it, she realises they have a connection, and she befriends her.

Throw in a forced marriage to help save the Kingdom, a true love story, and a semi-CGI mermaid played by Bingbing Fan, and you have a rather impressive family fantasy film. At just under 90 minutes, it is the perfect length to hold your attention.

This is a proper old-fashioned tale, credible acting, a decent budget, a little bit of magic, likeable characters, this really does hit all the right marks for a good film.

The special effects of the mermaid are great, it pretty much stays under water for the whole film, and doesn't speak human language, seemingly communicating telepathically. I was glad they didn't go down all of the classic clichéd routes that mermaid films tend to go, and by not going down that route, it really kept the mystery and magic of the whole mermaid mythology strong.

The Good

Great acting, lovely story, perfect for the whole family.

The Bad

Nothing really, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Perhaps the lack of publicity in the US and the UK will hurt sales, I imagine if a big studio like Disney were behind this, it would be on every billboard in town.

Overall

Hard to dislike this, perfect for the whole family, I highly recommend The King's Daughter.

I score The King's Daughter a very strong 9/10

REVIEW: The Matrix Resurrections

 

I was promised a terrible woke sequel, but the bad guys are still the Communists (machines) and taking the red pill still wakes you up.

The story is cringe at times, but it's still a somewhat enjoyable action film. 

Set sixty years after the events of The Matrix Revolutions, the film follows our hero Neo, who is now living a somewhat normal life as Thomas Anderson in San Francisco as a Game Developer, and creator of The Matrix video games, (insert major cringe at this point with terrible 4th wall breaking dialog). Anderson is seeing a therapist and describes a psychosis of him believing The Matrix is real, after a while a new version of Morpheus offers him the red pill and reopens his mind to the world of the Matrix.

Neo joins a group of rebels and we have pretty much the same old story being told again.

Not only is there a new Morpheus, there is also a new Agent Smith, the problem here is that they have just recast old characters, and the original actors were so iconic in their roles, that this instantly seems alike a huge let down.

The Good

It is still the tale of good vs evil, the common man versus the elite, the special effects are incredible as you would expect.

The Bad

The film is not great, it is also not terrible

Overall

The promises of "reclaiming the red pill" narrative doesn't really materialise, the film is not overly woke, the problem is the film is just not that good. But that is because of the very high standard of the original.

I score the film a super generous 7/10 mainly as I am a huge Matrix fan. Could've and should've been better. We are literally living in a world right now that the original film fantasized about, but the film makers were too cowardly to take head on.

Review by Jon Donnis

REVIEW: Fortress - Starring Jesse Metcalfe and Bruce Willis,

Review By Jon Donnis

Fortress is the latest film to star Bruce Willis in what I can only imagine was a few days of filming. It seems that a lot of his films these days he signs on for, knowing he will complete filming of his parts in less than a week.

Apparently, Fortress is the first of a trilogy of films, with the first two films, filmed back-to-back, and the third already completed. With a relatively small budget, this does seem smart.

Fortress is directed by James Cullen Bressack and written by Alan Horsnail, and based on a story by Emile Hirsch and Randall Emmett.

Bruce Willis stars as Robert Michaels, a retired CIA agent who lives in a secret retirement village in the middle of the woods. His estranged son Paul, played by Jesse Metcalfe decides to come to the village to visit his father, straight away Paul realises things are a bit strange as the retirement village is surrounded by high security, fences and guards. Once inside he tries to convince his father to invest in his business.

Paul however has been followed by his father's old nemesis Frederick Balzary played by Chad Michael Murray, Balzary and his team of highly skilled killers launch an all-out attack on the village with the purpose of capturing Robert. But since this is a secret, high tech retirement village, there is a 70-year-old high tech bunker which everyone escapes to. The rest of the film is a battle between the good guys and the bad guys. 

A nice addition to the cast is 90210 legend Shannen Doherty who plays Gen. Barbara Dobbs.

The Good

This is more of a Jesse Metcalfe film, than it is a Bruce Willis film, and despite the low budget, a lot of the acting is of a decent quality, the action scenes are good, and the story if a bit cliche at times, is passable.

The Bad

Some of the scenes with Bruce Willis you can tell were filmed separately to the rest of the cast and then spliced in. There are also a few moments where it seems that entire scenes may have been cut, and characters move from one location to another with no real explanation.

Overall

The film is a low budget, action film, with a few decent big-name actors in it. It is never gonna set the world on fire, however it is still a decent film, with some good action scenes and even a few light hearted comedic moments.

I score Fortress a fair 7/10. I enjoyed it.

Out now in select theaters and on video on demand, released by Lionsgate Films.

REVIEW: Eternals - Starring Richard Madden, Salma Hayek & Angelina Jolie

Review By Jon Donnis

I wanted to watch Eternals when it first came out, but the bad reviews kind of put me off, so I thought I would wait until it was released for home viewing, so that I could watch it in peace.

I wish I hadn't bothered.

The film is terrible, the worst Marvel film ever released. Seriously, it is just as bad as everyone told me it would be.

The main thrust of the film is that we have a new team of Super Heroes, but we have never heard of them before, because they are supposed to just let things happen on earth and not get involved, for example when Thanos wiped out half the population in The Blip / The Snap, they just stood by and watched. Already I hate them. The film goes back and forth in the history of the characters, and in doing so shows them directly interfering with humanity making the whole point of them not interfering, which we are told early in the film, completely pointless.

Anyway, after getting rid of "The Deviants", weird alien creatures, they decide to live as humans for a few thousand years, and when The Deviants re-emerge, then The Eternals meet back up to take care of them. You see the Eternals are old, very old, God like figures, but they are not really Gods, they were created by alien, God like creatures, so really, they are synthetic life forms. The Deviants were created first by the God like aliens, as a way to destroy life on the planet, so that more intelligent life could evolve in its place. The Deviants then evolve themselves, and start killing intelligent life, so The Eternals are created to take care of The Deviants. 

The story is so convoluted and ridiculous, and full of holes, and because anyone who is not a comic book nerd, will have no idea who any of the multitude of characters are, they have to tell these deep stories about each of them.

Unlike previous Marvel films that would take one character at a time, before throwing them all into a film together, this film does the opposite and it suffers for it.

And then there are the characters themselves. This is a 100% woke tick box effort. Think of a minority, and it will be represented badly here. Never has a film shoved down your throat so many woke cliches in one go.

With all that said, Richard Madden as Ikaris is a decent character, he should have been allowed his own film, instead of just being thrown into this. Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak is likeable, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena is also interesting. But these three are interesting in part because they are recognisable actors, so carry that gravitas with them. The rest of the characters are instantly forgettable and rather unlikeable. And in many ways The Deviants were actually helping stop the destruction of the planet, by eating people and keeping the population down!

Ever notice how the bad guys in Marvel films are always the ones saving the planet through depopulation? They are the Bill Gates of the Marvel Universe!

The Good

This is a tough one. Angelina Jolie's suit is nice.

The Bad

EVERYTHING. The fact this film has made a profit is purely down to it being a Marvel film and that having some good will with fans, but a lot of that will be lost after this film. Poor direction, uninspiring dialog, shoehorned in woke scenes, nonsensical plot points.

Overall

2 and a half hours I will never get back. The worst Marvel film ever made. Simple as that.

I score Eternals 3/10. A point for Richard Madden, Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie, of whom I am fans of all three. But to be honest I would rather see them in Bruce Willis' next B movie than this rubbish.

COMPETITION: Win 13 Minutes on DVD

13 Minutes - Released from 17th January

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis: 

13 Minutes is an edge-of-your-seat disaster thriller featuring an incredible cast - including Amy Smart (The Butterfly Effect), Thora Birch (American Beauty), Peter Facinelli (Twilight franchise) and Anne Heche (Volcano) – and boasting jaw-dropping visual effects from the team behind Everest and Deepwater Horizon. The largest tornado on record threatens to ravage a small town, leaving residents with only 13 minutes to find shelter, search for loved ones and fight for their lives. In the wake of total devastation, four families must overcome their differences and find strength in themselves and each other in order to survive.

 

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3fdDe4E

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COMPETITION CLOSED

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4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win Séance on DVD

Séance - Released from 17th January

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis: 

From the creators of You’re Next and Orphan comes Séance, a twisted tale of dark and dangerous dabbling with the dead, from director Simon Barrett (co-writer of You’re Next and The Guest) in his feature film debut. Chilling audiences on its Shudder Exclusive premiere, this hair-raising horror arrives on UK Blu-ray, DVD and digital on 17 January 2022 courtesy of Acorn Media International.

Suki Waterhouse (Assassination Nation, Insurgent) plays Camille Meadows, the new girl at the prestigious Edelvine Academy for Girls. Desperate to fit in and make new friends, when a group of girls  invite her to join them in a late-night ritual, she feels obliged to join in.

They set up a séance to try and summon the spirit of a dead former student who is said to haunt the school halls, but little do they know the devastation they’re about to unleash.  Before dawn, one of the girls is dead, and the rest of them are left others wondering what they have awakened.

Also starring Madisen Beaty, Ella-Rae Smith, Inanna Sarkis and Seamus Patterson.

 

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COMPETITION CLOSED

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5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win Jakob's Wife on DVD

Jakob's Wife  - Released from 10th January

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis: 

Legendary Horror star Barbara Crampton takes the lead in Travis Stevens’ (Girl on the Third Floor) bloody brilliant vampire feature Jakob’s Wife a Shudder Exclusive that’s set for its UK Blu-ray debut from Acorn Media International on 10 January 2022. It will also be available on DVD and digital.

Anne (Crampton – Re-Animator, From Beyond) lives in a small town and is married to minister Jakob (Larry Fessenden The House of the Devil) but, after 30 years, life is rather dull and she yearns for something more.

Following a chance encounter with ‘The Master’ she discovers bite marks on her neck and suddenly an overwhelming sense of power and an appetite to live bigger and bolder than before consume her.  But Anne soon discovers these changes come with a heavy burden… An ever-increasing body count and a serious toll on her marriage.

For a vampire feature with real bite take a pew and view Jakob’s Wife, a marriage made in hell.

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COMPETITION CLOSED

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4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win Herself on Blu-ray

Herself  - Released from 17th January

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis: 

From lauded director Phyllida Lloyd  (The Iron Lady, Mamma Mia!) and co-written by and starring Clare Dunne (Spider-Man: Far from Home, Kin), in a powerful lead performance. The cast also includes Harriet Walter (The Last Duel) and Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones).

Sandra (Clare Dunne) is a young Mum struggling to provide her two young daughters with a warm, safe, happy home to grow up in. However, when it becomes clear that the local council won’t provide that home, she decides to build it herself from scratch. But with very little income and no savings, Sandra must use all her ingenuity to make her ambitious dream a reality whilst at the same time escaping the grip of her possessive ex-husband. The lionhearted Sandra draws together a community of friends to support her and it is the kindness and generosity of these people alongside the love of her young daughters that helps build her strength and sense of self.

HERSELF is released on DVD, Blu-ray & Digital on 17th January

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COMPETITION CLOSED

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3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

REVIEW: Last Looks - Starring Mel Gibson and Charlie Hunnam

Review by Jon Donnis

Charlie Hunnam stars as disgraced former LAPD detective Charlie Waldo, Waldo starts the film living the life of a minimalist tree hugger in the woods but his quiet life comes to a sudden halt when he is convinced to work as a private eye to investigate the murder of an eccentric British TV star's wife. Mel Gibson plays said eccentric British TV star Alastair Pinch. And yes, Gibson puts on a terrible English accent throughout the film. I honestly thought that he would give up the accent and admit it was part of his TV persona, but no, he really keeps it the entire film.

The film itself is a bit of a whodunnit, the problem is the film is nearly two hours, and by the end of hour one, realising that there is still another hour to go, you might start wishing you were the one killed.

The whole film feels quite disjointed, many scenes seem to be either thrown in for the sake of it, or drag on way too long, at most this film should have been 80 minutes.

With that said, I am a fan of Mel Gibson, and him playing a snobbish, English TV star was funny, in part because of how ridiculous it was. Charlie Hunnam plays his part ok, but a bit too seriously, I think if they would have gone for a full-on comedy, this film could have worked much better.

Morena Baccarin is in the film, but nowhere near enough, how can you have Morena Baccarin in a film, then almost forget that you cast her! She is a star, and should have been front and centre in almost every scene.

Gibson has not quite entered the Bruce Willis level of low budget, different film every week, but he might end there, with that said Last Looks does have a decent cast, just not used at all right.

The film as a whole is not great, a decent story, mired by poor directing.

If you are a fan of Mel Gibson, then give this a watch, if you are a fan of Morena Baccarin, go watch the V remake.

I score Last Looks a poor 6 out of 10. Should have been much better.