Hollow Road - 2025 - UK

Hollow Road - 2025 - 6/10

 
2:00 AM.  College girl Alice phones her parents.
She is in trouble – again.
She has made a huge mistake – again.
She maybe ran a pedestrian down with her car.
The injured is maybe dead.  But it’s not her fault!  It’s the victim’s.
So, the parent hurry toward the site, tell her what to do, bail her out – again.
Cautionary thriller of terrible parenting, never allowing children to fail, to learn.
Permanent three-year-olds.

War Machine - 2026 - UK

War Machine - 2026 - 5/10

 
Following Afghan deployment, he applies to Ranger camp.
Endures intense boot training, makes it to final “Death March” round.
Unaware that an alien craft has landed in the zone and will start  eliminating all candidates.
High voltage actioner of combat squad is predictable but watchable.
Sequences cribbed from 80’s and 90’s SciFi powerhouses P-A-ST.
(“If it bleeds, we can kill it.” - “Game over, man” - “Everyone fights, no one quits.”)
No kids in this, but an injured guy who has the same role.
Not original, yet exciting if you are in the mood.

Love-Zero=Infinity - 1994 - Japan

Love-Zero=Infinity - 1994 - 6/10
AKA - Iyarashii Hitozuma: Nureru // いやらしい人妻　濡れる

 
Ex-schoolteacher Takeshi follows random people.
UFO’s or Unidentified Followed Objects.
A medical doctor asks him to follow a woman, who may - or may not - be a vampire.
Meanwhile, the doctor pays a young couple to observe Takeshi.
There are blood stakes, tainted, contaminated, motivating activities.
AIDS as cause and effect.
For a Satô film, the plot is cohesive, sex scenes limited.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3369081

The Retreat - 2021 - USA

The Retreat - 2021 - 4/10

 
As in, a writers retreat in a vintage Cape Cod cabin.
Six of them, typing away on laptops, although Sasha gabs endlessly on her vlog.
Tired of them already?
Wait, they find a journal in the attic, with all sorts of sigils and runes drawn in it.
There are bad dreams, the dogs are on alert, hey, was there someone outside the window?
Have they never viewed a Horror flick?  Handheld docu-ish, like Blair Witch?
Oops, did I give the influence away?
Writers in danger, such a lame trope.

Creature - 2023 - Turkey

Creature - 2023 - 6/10
AKA - Yaratilan

Young medical student Ziya, cocksure and full of himself, crashes into the real world of Istanbul.
Until he meets and ingratiates himself with outcast Professor Ihsan.
Both men have delved into a forbidden book on resurrection.
Reviving the dead.

 
Imaginative take on Shelley’s “Frankenstein”, while not as faithful as the 1973 series, is certainly closer than the Universal films.
First half of this series focuses on the annoying Ziya, foolish, boastful, proud.
Second half darkens considerably and follows Ihsan through picturesque adventures.

 
Good sets, costumes, feel for the period.  Aside from Ziya (Ölmez is limited to bug-eyed reactions), acting is fine, especially Ihsan (Köstendil) who is memorable and carries the entire second half.
While not Mary Shelley, this retains the ethos of the consequences of tampering.

Shaft - 1971 / 2019 - USA

Shaft - 2019 - 6/10

 
Private eye John Shaft survived a hit from drug lord Gordito decades earlier.
He hasn’t forgotten.
His son, JJ, an FBI agent, is now on the trail of something illicit.
Will Dad be there?
Action formula is slick, professional, well-delivered.
Samuel Jackson fits the role.  Acceptable reboot, just lacks a little spark.

Shaft - 1971 - 6/10

 
Harlem gang boss hires Shaft to find and rescue his daughter, kidnapped by the Mafia.
Shaft relies on informants, a militant, street talk, as well as police.
Of the latter, he is wary.  Some inside the department are reliable, others two-faced.
Roundtree’s Shaft is a classic loner, close-mouthed, calculating.
Film mixes detective work with street vibe, and features a classic Isaac Hayes score.
Influential film kicked Blaxploitation into overdrive.  Followed by good sequels and a poor TV run.

Lady Snowblood: Love Song Of Vengeance - 1974 - Japan

Lady Snowblood: Love Song Of Vengeance - 1974 - 6/10
AKA - Shurayuki-hime; Urami Renka // 修羅雪姫 怨み恋歌

 
Continuation to Lady Snowblood (1973).
Yuki, arrested, sentenced to death, is approached by the Secret Police.
The offer: Infiltrate a subversive group, report, and receive amnesty.
Set later than the first installment, Japan is heading into militarism.
Right-wrong, heroes-villains, are murkier this outing.
Politics distract from the narrative, and this feels unfinished, as if there should have been a part three.

The Town That Dreaded Sundown - 1973 - USA

The Town That Dreaded Sundown - 1973 - 5/10

 
Odd mix of docu-drama and slasher.
The initial attack, victims were bludgeoned, yet survived.
Next, both were killed.  Law enforcement took note, and Texas Rangers send a specialist.
So what?  Two more.  The serial killer was now dubbed The Phantom.
Based on a true – unsolved – spree in Texarkana in 1946.
Tension lowered by narration, and the comic relief is witless.
Lot of good here, if one can overlook the shortcomings.

The Hungry Grass - 1981 - Ireland

The Hungry Grass - 1981 - 6/10  

 
The overgrown churchyard was the last remaining evidence of the village.
Decimated during the great famine.
The American descendant, visiting, sees his name of a tombstone.
He lingers too long, and the land begins to reclaim.
Irish legend or lore.  Explore the Wild Wood safely, friends.

Troll - 1986 - USA

 Troll - 1986 - 5/10

 
The Harry Potter family (no, not that one) move into a San Francisco apartment.
One gathers rents were more reasonable in ‘86.
Young Wendy is soon possessed by a troll, who sets about converting building and denizens into magic land.
I was sorta OK with that, except there comes a “friendly witch”, potty mouthed June Lockhart.
Not to be confused with the second film, which is atrocious, this is decent family fare save for June Lockhart.
The sound mix was one of the first that jumped out at me in the era of HiFi VHS.
Quite funny, actually, if one is not predisposed to hate it.

No Return - 2022 - Canada

No Return - 2022 - 6/10
AKA - Aller Simple

 
Who could refuse?  Invite to a billionaire’s private retreat for a weekend?
There are six of them, plus one guest and the helicopter pilot.
Everyone survives a forced landing, then find a lavish, well-stocked compound.
Wait, then there are only five invitees … then four!
No credit given to Christie, yet clearly patterned after And Then There Were None.