RichardSayre

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE delivers everything one could love about the original in the vehicle of a nostalgia hungry family adventure film. Reminiscent of The Goonies and Stand by Me, AFTERLIFE utilizes it's children actors to their fullest. Every one of them shines with McKenna Grace and Logan Kim being the obvious stand outs. The movie succeeds with both it's touching family story, whether that's the family you find or the ones you're stuck with, and it's mystifying sci-fi horror side. It's a splendid movie that was very obviously made for fans of the original, although it still doesn't quite capture all of it's appeal. Nevertheless, it's a great sequel to one of the best horror comedies of all time, and a great family movie all on it's own.

HALLOWEEN KILLS is most certainly visceral and certainly brings the kills galore, but hides away it's one shiny spot - Laurie, the true final girl. It's bounds and leaps from the almost perfect film that came before it, and without a single focus to hold on, it's 3rd act stands on wobbly legs. At times the denizens who hunt Michael Myers through the streets of Haddonfield come off as stupid instead of brave and angry, and some of the dialogue sounds hokey, almost ridiculous. It's bloody and nihilistic and tragic, and really, not much else. Regardless of all this, HALLOWEEN KILLS stands as a solid part 2 in David Gordon Green's trilogy, that maybe lacks in some places but **** brings it in others. Excited to see how it all "ends".

THERES SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE feels like a crazy concoction of a horror film: part 80s slashers, part Scream, part Breakfast Club. It captures a lot of feelings and vibes, and overall it never really misses a beat with what its going for. The killer and the masks they wear are brilliant, and the ensemble cast feels lived in and like actual people. It's a very competently made horror movie with a smart script and realistic characters, definitely a great watch for the 2021 Spooky Season.

V/H/S/94 is a mightily impressive horror anthology where each segment brings its own fresh, most times also deeply disturbing, grime-covered story. The final two tapes bring the horror and twists with fanatic glee, and the whole movie is balls-to-the-wall insane. I would almost go as far to say it's the best entry in the franchise. The entire team here is on their game and they prove their worth in droves. This film is a serious good time for horror fans, maybe not one I can recommend to everybody, but for those who love their found footage this one is not to be missed.

A classic throwback and creepy creature feature, ARACHNOPHOBIA features a stellar cast and a remarkable tactic of using real life spiders throughout. It'll have you squirming and laughing in equal doses, and will certainly have you freaked out by these spiders regardless of your own phobias. An incredible thrillomedy with amazing effects and great cast, ARACHNOPHOBIA is a can't-miss for horror fans.

A slight improvement over the first, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE is a ridiculous, funny, and dumb superhero flick that doesn't try to be anything more. Tom Hardy is a one man show here, Woody Harrelson gives it his all and certainly doesn't skimp with Cletus Kasady but at times his character is treated as the B-plot to the true story of Eddie and Venom's couples counseling. Andy Serkis is absolutely the best choice here for director, and going forward I hope Sony sticks with him as the CGI looked much more crisp this go around. Lean and mean, but also choppy and sloppy, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE is a blast that maybe tones down the carnage a tad too much.

NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE is a tight, fun, and spooky horror flick with an intriguing mystery and a great central performance from Cristina Rodlo. Featuring an irresistibly creepy prologue, the film kicks into the creep territory from the get go and never relents. The monster design is absolutely to die for and the ending alone makes the movie worth a watch. Another good addition to the 2021 Halloween season.

VENOM is finally the movie Spider-Man fans have been looking for in the crude surprise of a one-man buddy comedy. Its action-packed and full of laughs, and even throws in a dash of body horror. It takes a little for Tom Hardy to come in to contact with the symbiote, but once he does rest assured the film never let's up on the ridiculous pedal. Dont listen to the hate on this one, folks, it's a blast.

THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT is ultimately a love story between the Warrens yet at the same time feels like a grand epic told through a small lens. The acting on display here is pretty magnificent for what is essentially an exorcism movie, and the directing from Michael Chavez is nothing to complain about but still can't capture that Wan essence of the first two. A fun, scary thriller that veers into full on good-vs-evil in a wild finale.

INFINITE is an exciting distraction at best and a middling, oft-times wooden thriller at worst. Antoine Fuqua directs with a sense for 90's action flicks and while that's not necessarily a knock on the movie, its certainly a case of so-bad-it's-good. Mark Wahlberg is, like always, playing himself, and with a spattering of likeable side characters, there's definitely nothing to hate here, just nothing you haven't seen before.

LUCA is a pure shot of summer nostalgia with a dash of whimsy and a beautifully well done animated style. Luca and Alberto are two of the best Pixar characters from their modern batch of films and how they develope throughout the movie is endearing. A movie about friendship and breaking out of the mold, LUCA is one of Pixar's most heartwarming stories.

THE HITMAN'S WIFE'S BODYGUARD is a slight step down from the first but it's hard to not enjoy watching the trio of leads here shoot and cuss their way out of problems for an hour and a half. Nothing fantastic but Ryan Reynolds is a charisma machine and dominates every scene. He and Sam Jackson bounce off each other so perfectly I'd watch five more of these movies.

THE ICE ROAD never tries to be more than what it is, a by the numbers disaster/race-against-time thriller, and the flick succeeds because of this. Liam Neeson is there with his unstoppable screen power and he helps gloss over the movie's rough edges. Can never go wrong with Liam Neeson.

A deliciously freaky bout from A24 while simultaneously feeling like it's missing that A24 vibe, FALSE POSITIVE is a fun horror flick reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby. Ilana Glazer gives a solid performance here as the bewildered mother, and Pierce Brosnan is equally as fun to watch as a deviously creepy doctor. Nothing great buy a decent quasi-horror film.

A glorious, deranged anthem to the overthrow of King James and his Redcoats, AMERICA: THE MOTION PICTURE is a raucous, gory good time. I laughed almost from start to finish with this, and while it's most certainly not for everyone, it finds it's own charm with being so consistently over the top. Featuring a fantastic cast of voices and a joyfully bizarre plot, AMERICA: THE MOTION PICTURE is yet another hilarious animated film of 2021. A perfect 4th of July watch.

NO SUDDEN MOVE is a finely acted noir throwback with so many twists and turns you will eventually give up trying to figure out who's working for who. Soderbergh's directing never falters, and his talent is on full display here. With a near two hour runtime the film does have a small pacing issue in the middle but overall it's a great crime thriller.

The first Escape Room film was an out of left field surprise when I caught it in theaters, one of the better original PG-13 thriller of recent years, and, initially, it's ending teaser for a sequel bummed me out. I'm glad to report the follow up, ESCAPE ROOM: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, is a fun distraction for an afternoon that is a elevated by it's wacky escape room ideas. The acting on display is of quality performances for the B-movie that it is, and the writing isn't fantastic but nothing to complain about. All in all, I enjoyed this one about as much as the last one, and, honestly, will definitely be watching the third one, though I admit it was taxing it's milage with this second one.

THE FOREVER PURGE is as exploitative as it gets and far from subtle, yet nevetheless an entertaining, violent mess. It's a step up from The First Purge, and while that isn't saying much, the writing is sharp enough to not come across as just plain offensive. The political/race/classism themes the franchise has going are dialed up to 20 here, and while there are a few viscerally eerie scenes, they still don't hit the mark perfectly. A good, not great Purge film that ranks somewhere behind the first two.

THE TOMORROW WAR is a poor man's Independence Day -- a simplistic, overly long action movie with a so-so script, and a fine yet unremarkable acting job from Chris Pratt. It's serviceable, and the action set pieces are easily the film's most entertaining parts. J.K. Simmons has a nice cameo but is ultimately underutilized. Nothing horrendous but a fine Hollywood action flick.

FEAR STREET: 1994 is everything you want from a slasher - a killer ensemble of teenage actors, a menacing villain (or villains in this case), characters you grow to actually care for, and don't even get me started on the kills. Some reviews complain of the needle drops but they never once felt excessive, and to me only hightened the 90's mood. Absolutely amazing directing from first time director Leigh Janiak, and a plot that dishes out equal amounts of scare and lore without feeling bogged down or dragged out. Overall, an absolutely kickass entry to the trilogy, and look forward to the next two weekends! R.L. Stine is a national treasure.

Blowing up all expectations, FEAR STREET - PART II: 1978 is just as good, if not better, than 1994. While dropping the original staples that held the first film together, this second entry in the Fear Street Trilogy wholly embraces it's origins and pays bloody homage to Friday the 13th in classic, stereotypical, gory fashion. Almost the entire cast of characters are nothing more than bloody smears on cabin walls by the end, and the authentic acting on display really makes you feel something for most of them when they do inevitably perish. A great summer slasher film with an awesome set up for an insane part three.

BLACK WIDOW is one of the most explosive, action packed movies in the MCU and honestly what more can you ask for from a Marvel movie? Florence Pugh and David Harbour are the instant standouts as soon as they are on screen, and everytime they're absent, the movie leaves you longing for them. Some of the scenes do tip over into Fast & Furious levels of ridiculousness yet it only adds to the movie's scale. Taskmaster is relegated to a mute robot of a villain but still effective how they use him. A fantastic and dynamic family based action flick from Marvel. Easily in the top 10 of the MCU.

SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY definitely doesn't have that feel of the first one, either due to my nostalgia for the original or the soul-less meta story that hovers over the sequel. Nevertheless, the movie has enough charm to not be as sinister as the AI ran Warner Brothers depicted within. The countless cameos aren't as tasteless as reviews will have you think, more a treat for eagle eyed fans. The acting is almost non existent besides for the always funny Khris Davis. A slightly less funny version of the first film with a fun second half of sportsball and one thousand cameos.

Nicolas Cage gives one of the best performances of his career in PIG, an anti-revenge drama if such a thing even exists, and one of the most endearing films I've ever seen. Filled to the brim with striking cinematography and a beautiful soundtrack, PIG is eloquent while being subtlety funny at times. A romantic's John Wick, PIG is easily one of the best movies of the year, if not the best.

@ZOLA is a wild road trip to Hell, also known as Florida, full of deranged characters left and right, and a great score to go along with it. This movie drips with A24 aesthetic, and that's honestly the only way I know to describe it. Chock full of great camera work, **** Ari Wegner nails the indie vibe. This movie is so much my **** and I loved it. One of the best films of 2021.

OLD is classic M. Night - a somewhat messy, wrought thriller, with an absolute balls to the wall momentum for the first hour or so. It handles some heady themes of aging and family, but ultimately plays the visuals up for the viserally disturbing over anything else. It's a terrifying premise with some solid acting all around while not being quite as good as some of his better work. Middle tier Shyamalan is still damn good though and entertaining as hell.

SNAKE EYES: G.I. JOE ORIGINS is a middle of the road action flick with passable fight choreography and a fun martial arts story. Henry Golding is the obvious stand out here and without him the movie falls flat. The little sprinkles of G.I. Joe lore in the second half are nice treats for fans of the series and gives one hope that maybe, just maybe, this franchise can be given a movie that is actually good.

JUNGLE CRUISE is a big, loud, and wild ride of a film, a mix of Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones. Dwayne Johnson does all the heavy lifting here but the chemistry between his character and Emily Blunt's is electrifying. With Jesse Plemons and Jack Whitehall rounding out the cast, this is almost a must see. The plot is energetic with it's non stop barrage of ancient exposition and supernatural curses and German villains and boat chases. With a few actually good twists and outstanding performances from the entire cast, JUNGLE CRUISE is a fun family adventure.

First 2021 saw Zack Snyder's Justice League and now THE SUICIDE SQUAD comes along and shows what DC is truly all about. James Gunn has crafted the perfect comic book movie, equally tongue in cheek and sentimental enough to make us actually care for this wonderful cast of murderers but also laugh as their heads explode. Ratcatcher 2 and Polka Dot Man are the stand outs for me, with a powerhouse performance from Idris Elba, and the always funny John Cena utilized perfectly here. The laughs never stop throughout the two hour runtime, and it's ultraviolent tone keep the stakes high at all times. It's a thrill ride from start to finish and a superior movie in every way to the first Suicide Squad. One of the best films of 2021.

FREE GUY is Ryan Reynolds's latest rip-roaring action comedy from Disney, and it's possibly the best video game movie made. The comedy here teeters on its PG-13 rating with wild action sequences, loads of inane violence, and the plot is propulsive and wholehearted from the get go. With obvious homages to John Carpenter's They Live, FREE GUY also exists as a simultaneous love-letter and giant middle finger to the gaming community. Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, and Taika Waititi fill out the supporting cast with splendid glee and make the movie a must watch. A mix of The Lego Movie, The Truman Show, and a dash of The Matrix, FREE GUY is easily one of the best films of 2021.

THE GREEN KNIGHT is a haunting and entrancing take on the story of Sir Gawain, featuring one of the best performances of the year from Dev Patel. In a year filled with sequels and reboots, director David Lowery brings us something akin to visual poetry, a spectacle filled movie with outstanding cinematography and visuals. The tale is as old as time and this version is certainly unforgettable, easily one of the best films of the year.

Nia Dacosta's CANDYMAN is a frighteningly relevant, creepy, and damn beautiful movie to look at. Co-written by Jordan Peele, this updated look at the mythology of Candyman and what truly makes the beast is a splendid, gory good time. Featuring a powerhouse performance from Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the film does a number of things right, yet is a tad too short and leaves you wanting. The direction and cinematography is about as gorgeous as it gets with technically impressive shots of reflections and mirrors that fill you with dread. One of the best films of 2021.

DON'T BREATHE 2 is a wickedly brutal, perverse spin on the slasher flick and a decent follow up to the first. Far from the brilliantly tence original, the unnecessary sequel will undoubtedly please most horror fans. Based on the trailer, I had doubts the film could get me to root for the Blind Man, but I found myself more of less along for the ride from the get go. This and Candyman are a great way to begin the spooky season.

Just when it feels like superhero films have peaked, SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS comes along and blows that idea apart with a mash up of Chinese folklore and everything that makes the MCU so damn fun. An exhilarating kung-fu story about family and what it means to be truly powerful, the origin story features the best fight sequences and choreography to date in the MCU, a breakneck pacing, and two of the best damn performances of the year from Tony Leung and Simu Liu. With so much heart and a nice helping of laughs from everyone's favorite Awkwafina to balance out the flying fists, the film ends up being endearingly perfect while also kicking major ass. Marvel already knows how to make a staple adventure movie, but add in some wuxia and you get one of the best, if not the very best, MCU flick.

A buckets-of-blood gory horror film that is a lovely send up to the VHS era of trashy slashers. In no way good in the typical sense but the movie most certainly knows what it is - a campy, generally creepy, and downright **** hilarious slasher flick. A great villain is created out of Victor Crowley, and I'm tempted to watch the sequels.

FREAKY whoops so much ass. Plain and simple. Vince Vaughn is at his delightful best here with one of the best films directed by Christopher Landon, a horror icon in his own right at this point. The body swap is played up for ultimate laughs and one good showdown scene. Kathryn Newton shines bright in this one too, just like every role she's given so far, so par for the course. A fun, funny, and downright badass homage to slasher films, FREAKY is unmissable for horror fans.

KATE is a John Wick-lite with not a lot of meat on it's bones other than how much ass it kicks. At times the cinematography shines, at others a adrenaline fueled action set piece will drop in your lap out of nowhere, but in the end it runs maybe a tad too long. It's plot is simple but the action is great. Then last but most certainly not least, is the always amazing Mary Elizabeth Winstead. She is wicked and looked like she was having a blast. Woody Harrelson gives us the classic **** bag but, really, he is outshined but everything else going on. Outlandish but fun.

MALIGNANT feels like a classic, bloody, trippy as hell slasher ripped out of the '90s - right up until it's insane and wild third act tears the entire plot apart in the best way possible. It's a B-movie made by an A-list direct, and James Wan is a sick, evil genius for giving us this one. The acting is fine throughout, but tonally the movie flirts from genre to genre and Wan handles it with the deft hand of a master. Part mystery, part crime, part slasher, mostly style over substance, but, man, that third act just **** rocks. Definitely one of the best films of the year, it was too fun not to be. James Wan has cemented his spot in the Horror Hall of Fame.

THE GUILTY (2021) suffers from being guilty of the "remake" brand but at the same time presents a showcase for nail-biting filmmaking. One the best One-Location films since Buried and Devil, THE GUILTY was initially going to be a three and a half stars for me but Gyllenhaal's powerhouse of a performance lifted it to the four it deserves. Antoine Fuqua, after the slight misfire that was Infinite, gives us another thrill ride he is so well known for. His direction and camera work is on cruise control at this point, and the propulsive plot never leaves you wanting, always pushing further and further. This movie simmers with tension and is a fun, slight flex of muscle from Fuqua, Gyllenhaal and Co.

Nic Cage is at it again with the out of this world PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND, a movie best enjoyed when you throw questions out the window and hold on for dear life. Its **** crazy, bonkers, trippy, dream-like, and pretty action packed. A mash up of Mad Max and everything that makes Sion Sono so great, PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND definitely isn't for everyone, mainly Sono and diehard Cage fans, but its most certainly unlike anything you've seen before. It relishes in the weird and the movie is that much better for it. Easily the weirdest movie of 2021. Cage delivers another delirious performance.

The first Paranormal Activity film to leave a sour taste in my mouth when the credits smashed on screen, THE GHOST DIMENSION is interested in telling a good story but sadly loses focus in the end. There are definitely some scary set pieces but overall the writers here (4 of them, for a freaking PA movie? come on) take the mythology all over the place, losing that fun sense of dread the other five capture. Hopefully the sequel Next of Kin will make me feel better.

CHEF is a movie bursting at the seams with life. Music, food, family, comedy, a road trip, cuban cuisine, and all the best food porn you can get. Jon Favreau has seriously outdone himself here. With this perfect film he has instantly shot up to one of my favorite storytellers ever. It's as feel good as possible, one of the most wholesome movies I've ever seen. You really can't ask for a better movie than CHEF.

I'm a **** for found footage flicks and this one, while featuring a dumb as rocks story and characters, is entertaining. Most probably won't like it but found footage is the best.

THE PREDATOR is an over the top sequel full of laughs and one-liners and more than enough action. Director Shane Black was the perfect choice to continue the franchise and sets its future back on track. Keegan-Michael Key's and Thomas Jane's character definitely made the movie. Overall, a fun, bloody, and hilarious summer flick. 8.5/10. B+.

SLICE, from first time director Austin Vesely, is a hilarious and tasty slice of B-movie schlock. Zazie Beetz is of course always a delight to have on screen and the rest of the cast really shines as well. The movie seems to be trying to sell itself as a Chance The Rapper vehicle, but it's much more than that. A fun tale about ghosts, witches, a serial killer, one **** pizza place, and a pacifist, chinese-food loving werewolf.

SUMMER OF 84 is a delightfully nostalgic, incredibly tense, and in the end, honestly brutal horror film. The story brings to mind Rear Window and Fright Night, but this old fashioned spook-fest no doubt stands on it's own. Just think Stranger Things but replace supernatural with brutal true-crime and you get one of the best films of 2018.

SEARCHING, the latest film to take place entirely on computer and phone screens and live breaking-news feeds, is a frighteningly realistic thrill-fest from start to finish; the twists never stop. John Cho is an absolute stand out. Enough praise could not be sang for this film, an instant modern classic.

The fifth and latest chapter of The Conjuring universe, THE NUN is a lean, mean little horror story. While not quite living up to the Warren's and their investigations, it does still serve up a fresh dish of spooky. It may lean a little hard on the jump scares, but besides that it's an enjoyable summer flick.