Devil’s Mouth, The - 2026 - USA

The Devil’s Mouth - 2026 - 6/10

 
“This way, through the teeth of the devil’s mouth.”
Rich turistas who bribe their way past one warning after another.
Self-centered narcissists and influencers, demanding to go the hardest way.
Into the underwater cave system.

 
Only to realize a Bull Shark is also trapped in the labyrinth with them.
Worse, it’s hungry, and has a deplorable attitude.
Good blend of shark attacks and claustrophobic cave adventures.
Similar to 2019’s 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, probably better.

Blood Thirst - 1971 - Philippines

Blood Thirst - 1971 - 5/10

 
One might think the girls would not walk home alone.
Middle of the night, deserted streets, with a serial killer stalking.
Corpses are drained of blood, arms sliced open.
Baffled Manila police chief contacts a Stateside buddy.
Who then spends most of his time inside a club, watching Serena.
Predictable Horror outing, albeit interesting for the Philippines locale.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3372135

Night Shift - 2025 - Vietnam

Night Shift - 2025 - 6/10 

 
She wants a ride to the old Saigon fish market, hires motorcycle and driver.
He accepts, yet within minutes, the setup is revealed.
Scant plot here, only an implied backstory and furious action.
Need a quick martial arts fix?  Six minutes of high voltage, back alley fighting.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3372136

Blade - 1998 - USA

Blade - 1998 - 6/10 

 
The day-walker, the vampire immune to sunlight.
His blood sought by foes, whom he dispatches in droves.
Yes, a vendetta of bad blood and power.
Terrific, modern reboot of the bloodsuckers.
Wealth, a caste structure, forbidden texts, treacherous ambition, and action.
With bloodletting, a lot of crimson, rave scene a highlight.
A role Wesley Snipes seemed born to play.

Who Killed The Electric Car? - 2006 - USA

Who Killed The Electric Car? - 2006 - 7/10 

 
Dated, and somewhat less irritating to watch now.
GM released the first EV in the mid-nineties.  For lease only.
Pressures were immediately brought to bear by the oil industry and politicians.
Multiple talking heads, as well as passionate “owners” who could only lease.
The mass recall would set the US auto industry back decades.
China would catch up and surpass.  Better and cheaper, unavailable in the US of A.

High Heels And Low Lifes - 2001 - UK

High Heels And Low Lifes - 2001 - 5/10 

 
Ray is an artiste and snooper, eavesdropping on phone calls to make audio collages.
Until girlfriend Shannon boots him from her flat for forgetting her birthday and being a dick.
On his equipment, however, she and mate Frances, hear an ongoing robbery.
Then attempt to blackmail the thieves for a percentage.
Amusing heist comedy, as shallow as a birdbath.
Has its moments, but you will have to shave your IQ to enjoy.

PTU - 2003 - Hong Kong

PTU - 2003 - 7/10 

 
It will be a long night for the Police Tactical Unit.
A triad detective has been beaten by thugs, his gun stolen.
The thug leader has been murdered, his father vows revenge.
The CID (plainclothes cops) are also active.
All are eyeing each other.

 
Cops are just as violent, as ruthless, as criminals here.
Shot entirely at night, on a tight budget.
Superb Neo-Noir from Johnnie To.

Poor Cow - 1967 - UK

Poor Cow - 1967 - 6/10 

 
Working class drama of Joy, her poor choices, and the men who drift in and out of her orbit.
Preggers and wed by 18, Joy’s husband is an abusive yob.
At least when he is sent to prison, a mate of his turns up, and he is a kinder, gentler sort.
More or less … until the Law catches up with him as well.
Dreary throughout, yet the characters are easy to relate with, especially if your life has bad decisions.
Debut film by Ken Loach lays down a career template.

Mad Max - 1979 - Australia

Mad Max - 1979 - 6/10

 
Post-apocalyptic Australia, police ranks thinning while biker gangs terrorize survivors.
Patrolmen Max and Goose, face off against one of the deadlier gangs.
Initially, they have limited success, until the narrative darkens.
Cheap Ozploitation dystopian vengeance action mayhem, call it what you will.
Crude, yet mesmerizing … and addictive.
Later films have more craftsmanship; this gnarly opener seems more authentic.

You’ve Got Mail - 1998 - USA

You’ve Got Mail - 1998 - 5/10  

 
Kathleen owns a small children’s bookshop in Manhattan (!).
Coming soon to her neighborhood, a behemoth book chain (think Borders, RIP).
No worries, she thinks.  Meantime, she carries an online romance with a username.
Straightforward encounter here, not a convict, 12-year-old, Prince Of Nigeria.
You can predict this one.  As huge scale and predatory pricing destroy competition.
A RomCom with a contrived love angle that defies logic or belief.
Hated this when it screened, still find it emotionally sleazy.

Claire’s Camera - 2017 - S Korea

Claire’s Camera - 2017 - 6/10 
AKA - La Caméra de Claire

 
The Korean film company is at Cannes, marketing releases.
Female boss Yang-hee browbeats Man-hee to quit, arguing she is untrustworthy.
French schoolteacher Claire, encounters both females separately (?), as well as a male director.
Deduction made, the male, while drunk, forced his way into Man-hee.
Jealousy prompted the dismissal.
Slice of life ought to be more interesting, but is too removed to be compelling.

Shark Girl - 2024 - USA

Shark Girl - 2024 - 3/10 

 
The nuclear power plant near Venice Beach (!?!) has a leak that goes unreported (!?!). 
A great white shark swims into the discharge and is altered.
How?  Who knows?  It bites model Heidi, altering her … mouth.
Heidi now sorts obstacles and difficulties the old-fashioned way.  Chomp-chomp-chomp.
Not scary, not funny, not campy.  Script is beneath stupid.
Aside from the two playing Ron and Gina, none of the thespians tried to act.
Appeared to be directed by an AI bot via cellphone.

Beyond: An African Surf Documentary - 2017 - Morocco

Beyond: An African Surf Documentary - 2017 - 6/10 

 
Embryonic surf scenes from Morocco, through Mauritania, into Senegal.
Not all riding the waves, either.  A philosophical bookseller, freestyle dancer, BMX cyclist, canoeists, nomads.
All breaking with social expectations, and the empty dream of becoming a millionaire.
Surf sequences are not typical surf porn (slow motion, razor focus, cerulean skies).
Africa is an exploited / struggling continent.  There may be trash, smog, soldiers, mines.
Participants are hopeful that tomorrow, perhaps, will be a better day.

Pomegranate - 2026 - USA

Pomegranate - 2026 - 6/10 

 
The old wastrel enters the cluttered laboratory.  His louche attitude reeks of affluence and boredom.
Bored with stimulants, narcotics, flesh to flesh melding.  Existence as greasy reruns.
The inventor has breathtaking virtual reality experiences, that might be deadly.
The client has done everything, however.  The sheer boredom of existence has dissipated him.
Extraordinary visuals of this AI SciFi must terrify Hollywood, unless they are already offering cheques.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3372139

Abruptio - 2023 - USA

Abruptio - 2023 - 7/10 

 
Lester is having a bad run.  Age 35 still living with parents, numbing workplace, love life in the dumpster.
Then he notices the scar in the back of everyone’s neck.  In his own neck.
Where the bomb has been implanted – if instructions are not obeyed.
What instructions?  Start murdering people.
Wildly imaginative, high concept Horror using body puppets.
Heavy on splatter, fueled with paranoia, dosed with Kafkaesque humor.
Certainly not for all tastes, yet jammed with X-Files references, as well as a Ligottian world view.

Beast From Haunted Cave - 1959 - USA

Beast From Haunted Cave - 1959 - 5/10 

 
“I’m telling you, Byron, that thing was in the mine where I placed the explosives.  It’s been following us since.”
Chicago mobsters hit a South Dakota gold vault and steal only bars of bullion they can carry on their backs.
Then, they ski cross-country in a blizzard to meet the plane … if the snow ever stops.
The beast resembles a land-crawling, groping tentacled cephalopod, amidst sticky webs.
Caper heist – winter survival – el cheapo monster – and a whole mess of yak, yak, yakking. 

Storm Warning - 2007 - Australia

Storm Warning - 2007 - 6/10 

 
Celebrating a pregnancy, husband and wife set sail for relaxation.
Too bad they forget to check the weather forecast.  Reference title.
They end up stranded on an island … where rednecks are going reefer.
Aroused males, whose mouths water at the French wife.
Rough Ozploitation survival film.  Fans of Mick Taylor will enjoy.
Mind you, Mick would have been unimpressed.

California Schemin’ - 2025 - UK

California Schemin’ - 2025 - 6/10 

 
Rap duo Silibil N’ Brains can’t catch a break in 2003.
Not because Billy and Gavin lack talent, because they are Scots.
Solution, adopt American accents and declare they are Californians.
Whereupon, kissy-kissy-kissy, welcome to the label, say disdainful Londoners.
Film flashes an edge of persona overruling true self.
Lies and self-deceit, one individual a world class dick.
Based on the real duo.  Suggest watch Kneecap first.

Red Heat - 1988 - USA

Red Heat - 1988 - 6/10 

 
Drug lord kills Russian policeman, flees to USA, where he is detained, only to escape again.
Dispatched to bring him back is Danko (AKA Gumby, AKA Schwarzenegger).
Chicago cop (Belushi) assigned to watch him – anticipate violence.
Action oriented buddy flick / fish out of water. 
Arnold a dour straight man to Belushi’s quips, yet his facial reactions are priceless.
Clash of procedures plays out, as do the bullets.
Under appreciated, needs a reappraisal.

The Lone Wolf Strikes - 1940 - USA

The Lone Wolf Strikes - 1940 - 6/10 

 
Older banker, younger female.  He loans her a prized pearl necklace.
What she returns is an excellent fake.  After he complains – and dies – Michael Lanyard steps in.
Lanyard, AKA the Lone Wolf.  Add to the confidence tricksters, a rougher gang biding its time.
Brisk B-film moves rapidly, with enough changes to offset plot holes.
William, as ever, exudes charm and grace, without his sneering, Pre-Code corruption.

Sorceress - 2026 - Poland

Sorceress - 2026 - 6/10 
AKA - Czarownica

 
Karol is antisocial, not especially interested in the tavern Gaja hauls him to. 
Until he encounters a dark-haired flirt who sweeps him away.
Karol has been glamoured.  There is a slice of the dark girl’s backstory.
Enough to know she can be dangerous.
Polish short plunges into uncertainty, then taps out.  Too bad. 

Elizabeth - 1998 - UK

Elizabeth - 1998 - 7/10 

 
After Queen Mary I dies, half sister Elizabeth is released from prison and ascends the throne.
The position is perilous, an England still beset with internal strife, foreign enemies and intrigue.
History errors aside, this is a excellent thriller, as the young queen, inexperienced, navigates foes.
Ignore the dodgy love story; enjoy the sets, costumes, machinations.
While a “historic” drama, with multiple characters, the narrative is lean and easy to follow.
This put Cate Blanchett on the map.

Fallen Angels - 2026 - USA

Fallen Angels - 2026 - 6/10 

 
Julia and Jane have comfortable marriages.
Searing passion extinguished, marriages of stale friendship.
Besides, the two ladies are pals above honor … until.
French flame Maurice, with whom both had been intimate, is coming to visit.
Pals above honor begone!  Out come the claws and rivalries.
Noël Coward domestic comedy is tart and witty in the opening and final acts,. 
Midsection is sodden drunkenness, which some find hilarious.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3371750

Last Summer - 1969 - USA

Last Summer - 1969 - 6/10 

 
Mean spirited story based on equally sour tasting book (bestseller by Evan Hunter).
Vacationing at the beach, two males and a female bond over a rescued seagull.
They mess around with alcohol, reefer, and flirt.  Sexual tension mounts.
A second girl arrives, tries to ingratiate herself with the increasingly jaded, callous trio.
Coming of age film, and rather a cruel one.
Unpleasant, yet achingly resonant.  Avoid PG cut.

Feng Shui - 2004 - Philippines

Feng Shui - 2004 - 6/10 

 
Joy finds a mirror on the bus, left behind by a passenger.
The mirror is a bagua design, meant to bring good luck to the possessor.
And indeed, Joy’s luck soars.  Job promotion, husband gets a bonus, the new house.
Alas, there is no free lunch; for each fortune, there is a death.
The bagua is a cursed thing, with a deeply ugly history.
Film mixes greed, Daoism and supernatural elements.