If “The Wretched” is indicative of the stylish creepy-crawling The Pierce Brothers can deliver, expect to see even bigger and bolder productions in the duo’s future.
HOLIDAY HELL (2019)
You’d better be in a merry mood if “Holiday Hell” is to have any hope of spiking your egg nog with entertainment.
RATTLESNAKE (2019)
“Rattlesnake” might be a ringer released by Netflix to illustrate exactly why we need the ability to blaze through boringness on our own terms.
KINDRED SPIRITS (2019)
Ably aided by her two co-stars, Caitlin Stasey’s highlight-packed performance tows “Kindred Spirit” through its troughs and jets it right over each peak.
GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR (2019)
Once “Girl on the Third Floor” trades its first act foundation of cinematic convention for a second act of thematic reflection, shed skin reveals bones of infinitely more intrigue.
THE GALLOWS ACT II (2019)
PORTALS (2019)
“Portals” overloads on vague themes while many minutes are spent simply watching people puzzle over black doors, and not necessarily doing much more that that.
1BR (2019)
“1BR” joins an exclusive shortlist of minimalist thrillers whose solid suspense becomes built on the backs of a low budget and unfamiliar cast, not in spite of them.
BLOOD VESSEL (2019)
“Blood Vessel” demonstrates the difference passionate effort makes to elevate a midrange horror movie from standard Syfy fare to a terrific thriller with streamlined style.
TRICK (2019)
As much overtime as it works to capture the spirit of the season, “Trick” puts in even more effort to mirror “Halloween” the movie.
SWEETHEART (2019)
Picture Tom Hanks in “Cast Away” except he’s a young woman. Now instead of a volleyball, imagine Wilson is a fish monster. That’s your simplified summary of “Sweetheart.”
DEMENTER (2019)
Anyone prone to enchantment from moody microbudget thrillers should appreciate the splash of arthouse flavor in “Dementer’s” psychological suspense.
MARY (2019)
“Mary” is lucky to have Oldman and Mortimer, which means the audience reaps their benefits too. Together they keep this voyage from being a bland bust.
RABID (2019)
“Rabid” puts an entertainingly wicked bite into body horror using gobs of gruesomeness and a little bit of cheeky glee.
SHE NEVER DIED (2019)
“He Never Died” tried something similar, but “She” more successfully slathers wry comedy in grey gloom to keep its quirk subtle, yet strong.
DOOM: ANNIHILATION (2019)
Would it aid your expectations any to know it was filmed on the cheap, shot in Bulgaria, and doesn’t star a single person you’ve heard of?
PREY (2019)
Movies structured this predictably are commonly called “paint-by-numbers,” except “Prey” has only dull shades of grey on its palette.
BLISS (2019)
If you want to watch drugged-up twentysomethings unironically complain about how hard they have it while colored lights strobe and metal music blares, “Bliss” may be a movie for you.
MEMORY: THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN (2019)
“Memory” decides that the most critical context should come from perspectives that assumed ownership of “Alien” after it passed from its founders to its audience.
THE FANATIC (2019)
The movie’s misguided moral implies if you just take two seconds for an autograph, you might not have to deal with a potentially dangerous signature seeker in the first place.
“M3GAN 2.0” should be much more fun than it is. On paper, the details powering its premise probably sounded like a real riot.