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Runner is a solid genre throwback that delivers exactly what you’d expect: a good time. Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson have nice oil-and-water chemistry, the action is suitably revved up and the villains are despicable. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Like the original, Fall 2: Deadpoint is a survival thriller that seeks to trigger our fear of falling over the course of an entire movie. While this differentiates the Fall movies within the genre, it also requires the movie to go to ridiculous extremes to accomplish it. Once the characters “go up”, they spend the rest of the film trying to find a way down that doesn’t involve falling. Even though the situation the characters find themselves in is entirely of their own doing, I’m immediately sympathetic towards them because their fear is my fear. No matter how dumb they might have been, I don’t want to see them go splat.Much of the effect Deadpoint had on me was due to the film’s deft camera work and editing. Either of the Fall movies should be taught in film school, because both serve as perfect examples of how effective a movie can be when it executes the basic language of cinema to perfection. Cinematographer Andrew Strahorn constantly reinforced the precariousness of the situation with vertigo-inducing shots below the character’s feet. Editors Tommy Aagaard and Scott Gray ratchet up the tension by focusing on every loose bolt, rusty bar and shaky plank that threatens to send everyone involved down to earth. You could watch this movie without sound and it would be just as effective. (Composer Tim Despic’s emotional score also deserves credit for accentuating the action.)The downfall (sorry) of both Fall movies has been how everything else about them is weak. The subplots involving the characters are directly inspired from well-worn action movie cliches. The dialog alternates between perfunctory and corny. The characters are paper thin and the relationships between them are unconvincing. The leading actors here–Harriet Slater, Arsema Thomas and Tom Brittney–exhibit a bit of personality and sell the perilous moments with impassioned yells and shrieks, but their performances are bland because the script only gives them basic personalities to work from.Deadpoint also suffers from trying to outdo its predecessor. The radio tower setting of the first one worked so well because the camera always reminded me of where the characters were in relation to the ground. In this movie, however, everyone is up so high that the camera has a difficult time reinforcing the setting beyond it being “above the clouds”. These climbers could be 400 feet up or 4000 feet up and it wouldn’t make any difference. The white-knuckle scenes are still effective, but the constant dread that permeated the first movie is largely absent here.Fall 2: Deadpoint presents itself as a survival thriller, but it’s really an action movie (like Die Hard or Cliffhanger) without a villain. The technical skill behind the camera makes up for the lack of a compelling story or characters with tension aplenty. Not as good as the first one, but still an effective B-movie. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste

Buddy works best as a satire on Barney and other children’s shows. Its overall construction is a jumble, but when the movie hits, its black comedy gold. Cristin Milioti gifts her fans with another engaging performance in her increasingly eclectic career. Recommended. detroitcineaste

The creepy beat goes on with Insidious: Out of the Further, the latest entry in the franchise that takes things in a new, episodic direction. The movie plays the hits while tweaking them in ways that held my interest, and Amelia Eve’s performance is quite good. Recommended. detroitcineaste

The End of Oak Street is a fun and very well-made dinosaur movie that evokes similar movies from the Eighties and Nineties, before CGI took over filmmaking. There’s nothing profound in it, but it’s a satisfactory thrill ride. Recommended. detroitcineaste

As was the case with prior entries in this series, CatVideoFest 2026 offers up another thoroughly enjoyable compilation of cat videos. The movie is a celebration of all things cat, and as such is unquestionably perfect. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

Similar to Spider-Man: No Way Home, Brand New Day confidently tells a story loaded with superheroes, villains and the everyday worries of Peter Parker. For fans of Spider-Man, the movie has everything you could ask for, and then some. One of the best Spider-Man movies ever made. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

No One Will Save You is a fun riff on the flying saucer invasion movies of the Fifties. Kaitlyn Dever shows again why she’s one of the best actresses of her generation, this time with a role where she only has two lines of dialog. Her wide-eyed performance and the movie’s tense alien encounter scenes make for a diverting watch. Moderately recommended. detroitcineaste

In his telling of The Odyssey, writer-director Christopher Nolan refashions an ancient and universal story into one of the most vibrant action movies in recent memory. Despite some minor flaws, the movie is a thrilling, soul-searching adventure like no other. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

Like all biopics, Love & Mercy is on the side of its subject and victim, Brian Wilson, the founder of the Beach Boys. The story it tells of abuse, love and survival is familiar, but the movie transcends the formula through its time-weaving narrative, its craft and several career best performances among the cast. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste

Minions & Monsters is the best entry in the franchise, a love letter to old Hollywood that serves as the launchpad for the antics the Minions are known for. It’s silly stuff, but also surprisingly heartfelt. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste

As an “untold story of WWII” movie, Lucky Strike certainly has novelty on its side in showing us how important cigarettes and radio communications were in saving soldier’s lives. Regardless, it’s an effective small-scale story of survival grounded by a fine performance by Scott Eastwood. Mildly Recommended. detroitcineaste

Toy Story 5 isn’t as visually inventive or as funny as its predecessors, and often feels like a nostalgia trip. However, it has enough emotional beats that will get you misty-eyed, and its advice on parenting is thoughtful and timely. Recommended. detroitcineaste

The only disclosure worth mentioning about Disclosure Day is that Steven Spielberg has lost his magic touch with blockbusters. The movie is boring for long stretches, is filled with nonsensical action sequences and lacks tension throughout. Emily Blunt nearly rescues it, but this clunky contraption never takes flight. Not Recommended. detroitcineaste

Backrooms works best as a trippy alternative reality that reflects viewer anxieties of all kinds. The movie held me when it was weird and inscrutable, less so when it became a conventional horror movie. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste

Pressure might be the best film ever made about a weather report, which also happened to be the most crucial one in history. Andrew Scott further solidifies his case as a leading man with another intriguing performance that highlights his soft-spoken, introspective qualities. Recommended. detroitcineaste

As a campfire ghost story, Passenger is effective. While the malevolent entity at its center is nondescript, the film benefits from its charming leads, quirky details, evocative nighttime photography and scary scenes. There’s nothing new here, but it’s done well. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Getting your wish is the worst thing imaginable in Obsession, a twisted take on love and romance that horrifies before going full-on horror. I appreciated the movie’s darkly comedic take on desire and relationships more than its gruesome endgame, but it’s a wild ride either way. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Deep Water is a typical disaster movie made better as an airplane crash/shark attack movie combo. The inclusion of both genres make it slightly less predictable and more exciting than it would have been otherwise. And Renny Harlin is still a capable action movie director. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Similar to the last Bridget Jones movie, The Devil Wears Prada 2 works well as a class reunion of characters we love. It’s also a funny and touching workplace comedy led by a terrific cast. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Michael is a lively, if incredibly constricted look at Michael Jackson’s life. It offers a swiss-cheese rendering of his personal life in between electric reenactments of him recording and performing. Thankfully, the latter makes up for the former, and the movie is entertaining in a “hall of fame highlight reel” way. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste

Normal is a funny and unapologetically violent bloodbath of a movie. It’s grounded by another winning turn by newfangled action movie hero Bob Odenkirk, who adequately fills the role of the unstoppable geezer with a sense of humor. The movie is skimpy, but I enjoyed it for what it is. Recommended. detroitcineaste

The Drama is entertainment as provocation. The movie’s fun is in how it directly engages the audience with a moral question that’s impossible not to have an opinion on. It’s overwrought and implausible, but very entertaining. Featuring a career best performance from Zendaya and an unforgettable turn from Robert Pattinson. Recommended. detroitcineaste

I didn’t hate The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, because that would imply that it invoked an emotional response from me. The movie is energetic but inert, a story with no purpose besides offering up visuals. Little kids and fans of the games may enjoy it, but for me the movie was listless and uninvolving. Not recommended. detroitcineaste

While Project Hail Mary is a thoroughly enjoyable space-set adventure yarn, what makes it special is its unbridled optimism for humanity and science. This feel-good movie unironically believes that when the chips are down, we’ll rise to the occasion. I sincerely hope that’s true. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

Like its eponymous character, The Life of Chuck contains multitudes and is difficult to categorize. It's by turns apocalyptic, fantastical, nostalgic and horrific. Broadly speaking, it’s an existential treatise disguised as a heartwarming coming-of-age tale that ultimately works because its charm and amiability. Recommended. detroitcineaste

If anything, Undertone proves that using podcasting as the basis for a horror movie has minimal returns. While there are spooky moments, the film is a mishmash of ideas that never lead anywhere besides scary noises and shadows. Not recommended.

Bugonia fits squarely within the “science fiction as metaphor” tradition, where the question being asked is both philosophical and incredibly consequential. Underneath the alien paranoia and kidnapping plot lies a delightfully quirky character study reflected through a **** lens. As a fan of challenging sci-fi, I loved it. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste

Hoppers is an entertaining if thematically slight film. It bears the visual hallmark of past Pixar greats but contains only a smidgeon of philosophical insight and emotional weight of their classics. While it’s fun and its constructive messages resonate, the movie is primarily a cartoon. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Sentimental Value is a touching family drama told with an abundance of sympathy and compassion for its anguished characters. Accordingly, it’s an acting showcase for the four co-leads who keep their characters grounded and relatable. Decidedly unsentimental, the film provides unfiltered insight on why we torture ourselves with the past. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Crime 101 is a solid entry to the cops and robbers genre, featuring a terrific cast and stylish direction. I didn’t buy Chris Hemsworth in the leading role, but the movie works because it’s well-made and exciting. Recommended. detroitcineaste

“Wuthering Heights” may be the most unromantic and unerotic story about doomed lovers ever made. Its message, about how tragic it is to deny our urges, is delivered with the subtlety of cannon fire. On another level, it offers an interesting, if bombastic critique of the novel upon which it’s based. Not recommended. detroitcineaste

No Other Choice is a tale of two movies. I enjoyed the satire and slapstick-filled first half, less so its cold and didactic second half. Overall, the movie’s dizzying style and committed performances won me over. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Train Dreams tells an ambling, pensive and melancholy story through beautifully lived-in performances and stunning natural photography. The movie evokes our sympathy and compassion for everyone left puzzled by life’s inscrutability. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste

When the world is on fire, thank goodness there’s art to temporarily remind us of the beauty of life. This is the heart of The Choral, a WW1 period piece that evokes universal truths about art and the horrors of war. Ralph Fiennes delivers another memorable performance as the arrogant conductor tasked with the impossible. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Stand-up comedy is one-man’s idea of therapy in Is This Thing On?, a movie that speaks to the importance of holding onto what you love even as responsibilities mount. Will Arnett gives a career-defining performance in this funny and heartfelt movie about overwhelmed, middle-aged adults. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste

How a pet and its new owner finding each other in The Friend is very familiar ground, but it works because the story is told with empathy and sensitivity. Naomi Watts and Bill Murray are touching as a professor and her mentor, who both accept a Great Dane into their lives. A charming little drama. Recommended. detroitcineaste

As a crime thriller, Cloud has plenty of intrigue, hidden motivations and shocking violence to satisfy fans of the genre. However, writer-director Kiyoshi Kurosawa elevates the material by turning it into a puzzle that ultimately reveals a bleak message about the universal nature of criminality. A brilliant film. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

If you enjoy watching well-made movies about beautiful people doing all the wrong things, The Housemaid is for you. The trio of Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and Brandon Sklenar make this trashy psychosexual thriller a blast. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Hamnet is a poetic film, one that uses the language of cinema to speak to us about art, life and the disparate impact they have on us. It’s also a beautifully made film with memorable performances throughout, featuring Jessie Buckley at her peak. One of the best films of the year. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

Zootopia 2 has a lot going for it, including splendid animation, excellent voice acting, sight gags and witty movie references. The central mystery is more convoluted and less involving than before, but the wacky new characters make for an entertaining watch. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Cumberbatch is in peak form in The Thing With Feathers, where he brings the emotional turmoil of the widowed father to gut-wrenching life. The film’s literal depiction of grief and despair, as well as Dad's battle to overcome both, is as audacious as it is honest. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Wicked: For Good is a morose conclusion to this duology, which has been theme park filmmaking at its worst. What saves it are the heartfelt performances of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and a handful of good songs. Dorothy deserved better. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste

In Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, the myth roars back to life in this mostly successful adaptation. Jacob Elordi’s performance is a standout, while Oscar Isaac is miscast. Filled with beautiful and grotesque imagery, the film struggles for greatness and occasionally reaches it. Recommended.

Nuremberg brings a little-known WWII story to life in this crowd-pleasing genre piece. Oscar winners Rami Malek and Russell Crowe deliver big time performances that play to their strengths. Although the film is traditional in every respect, it speaks to our present with surprising resonance. Recommended. DetroitCineaste

Roofman is a heartfelt movie that entertains the old fashioned way, with interesting characters and winning performances. Channing Tatum and Kristen Dunst are engaging in the leading roles, and Tatum’s performance represents a career best. It’s movie magic rendered at human scale. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Blue Moon is an engrossing snapshot of the artist in free-fall, with a delightful performance by Ethan Hawke at its center. Its insistence on shrinky-dinking Hawke down to size is a humorous distraction, but not a fatal one. Margaret Qualley radiates glamour as his potential love interest and lifeline. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Black Phone 2 manages a difficult balancing act of continuing the story while also taking things in a new direction. As a love letter to A Nightmare on Elm Street and Eighties horror movies, it’s scary but not as tense as the original. Amidst all the blood and gore, Madeleine McGraw emerges as an actor to watch. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Like its predecessors, Tron: Ares is a visual feast for the eyes and ears. If you put your brain on hold and ignore how ludicrous it is, the movie is entertaining fluff. Greta Lee brings a welcome human touch to the techno-leaden proceedings. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste

Good Boy takes its novel premise–a horror story told from the point of view of a dog–and uses it to deliver a surprisingly compassionate ghost story. Although the movie is scary enough, its insight into the relationship between humans and dogs is haunting and memorable. Recommended. detroitcineaste