Instead of artfully blocking for its ‘one take’ gimmick, the camera plainly follows people around, like the operator simply pressed record and went at it without a rehearsal.
THE AMITYVILLE HARVEST (2020)
The only thing being harvested here is more DIY drivel no different from any other horrible piece of Amityville hooey.
THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW (2020)
Those who stick around for a charismatic cast working their way through everyday conflicts will be better positioned to feel the introspective bite of “The Wolf of Snow Hollow.”
NOCTURNE (2020)
If only someone had a pregnancy scare too, “Nocturne” would be a complete season of “Degrassi” squished into one feature-length Halloween special.
EVIL EYE (2020)
The characters in this film talk on their phones more frequently in 90 minutes than I’ve talked on the phone in the last 90 months.
TEN MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT (2020)
Caroline Williams absolutely brings it to “Ten Minutes to Midnight,” tapping every drop of talent in her tank to portray an emotionally interesting character who can be virulent as well as vulnerable.
BOOKS OF BLOOD (2020)
“From the nightmares of Clive Barker” comes… stories that were written by Adam Simon and Brannon Braga? Uh yeah, that’s not what I wanted out of a “Books of Blood” adaptation either.
BLACK BOX (2020)
Its no-frills approach to quiet chills anchored on family trauma make “Black Box” a compelling little ride that’s ideal for a quick hit of eerie entertainment.
TALES FROM THE HOOD 3 (2020)
The tale mostly functions as another karaoke cover of a classic from EC’s Greatest Hits album that’s momentarily pleasing without being particularly memorable.
12 HOUR SHIFT (2020)
I couldn’t concoct a clever metaphor so this clunky one will have to do. “12 Hour Shift” reminds me of a classic cocktail made by a chain restaurant’s part-time bartender.
TRAIN TO BUSAN PRESENTS: PENINSULA (2020 - Korean)
What happens when you uncouple the train from Busan? You get a derivative VFX spectacle that’s only one Leon Kennedy cameo shy of looking like a “Resident Evil” cutscene.
DEATH OF ME (2020)
The movie fracks those fears with a massive rig that puts a miles-long pipeline between ‘stranger in a strange land’ phobias and vicarious psychological uncertainty.
POSSESSOR UNCUT (2020)
An apple hasn’t fallen this close to a father’s tree since Joe Hill inherited the storytelling style and macabre matter of Stephen King.
ANTEBELLUM (2020)
Net response to the movie could best be described with onomatopoeia, specifically whatever word equals the sound made when you push your tongue between your lips and blow.
BLEED WITH ME (2020)
No matter how patiently anyone waits for the film to finally boil, the top never blows off the tame tension because barely anything simmers underneath.
SPIRAL (2019)
Trouble comes from trying to have its cake and eat it too by quizzically blending tangible thrills with hallucinatory horror.
AMITYVILLE CLOWNHOUSE (2017)
“Amityville Clownhouse” is actually “Amityville: Evil Never Dies.” Yes, with just this one release you get to dab two squares on your ‘I’m in Amityville Indie Hell’ bingo card!
NO ESCAPE (2020)
Don’t be disappointed when the package you ordered gets delivered. “No Escape” is precisely the twentysomething-targeted version of “The Game” meets “Hostel” it sounds like.
THE BABYSITTER: KILLER QUEEN (2020)
“Killer Queen’s” more critical carryover from “The Babysitter” is a charmingly chipper cast that’s game to get goofy, gory, or both.
THE DARK AND THE WICKED (2020)
While “The Dark and the Wicked” isn’t poorly produced, I simply don’t see what would inspire anyone to tell someone else, “you really ought to see this movie.”
Amid all the swordplay, tracer fire, and bloodshed, it’s easy to lose sight of how much authentic motivation drives the stakes beyond simple survival.