A conspiracist discovers the moon is on a collision course with Earth. Cheerfully shambolic SF disaster flick, cribbing from across the genre from Contact to The Core as well as from the director’s back catalogue. A sturdy cast of B-listers helps, with John Bradley being especially good value.
Here’s the trailer.
1981: the Warrens investigate a killer who may be the victim of a curse. After a fun exorcism opening, the movie settles into something more procedural than previous episodes of the now-convoluted horror-lite franchise. Fans will know what to expect: Wilson and Farmiga anchor matters with their usual class.
Here’s the trailer.
Six months after the Pearl Harbour attack, the Japanese and US navies battle in the Pacific. Clunkily-scripted military action-drama that doesn’t have quite the effects budget needed to pull off its ambitious visual ideas. Poor lighting of greenscreen work doesn’t help. A decent cast of hunks and character actors do what they can.
Babysitters working for The Warrens meddle with cursed artefacts, summoning a range of demonic entities. Okay series entry/sequel working to tie together the convoluted Conjuring franchise; slight on story, but some effective jumps, neat period details, and an appealing cast.
A pregnant woman and her brother are lured into a field of tall grass. This expansion of the Stephen King/Joe Hill novella begins well, but unravels when fresh material is introduced. Intriguing hints in the original are under-explored, and what’s new confuses rather than deepens. A disappointment, not least from this talented writer/director.
A just-sacked salesman is coerced into finding a witness on his train home. Contrived but fun single-location thriller from Neeson/Collet-Serra (their 4th collaboration). Well-stocked with sneaky character actors, and there’s a third-act moment of wonder. Enjoyable tosh.
Another perspective required? Here’s Lemonsquirtle’s POV.
A husband and wife team of exorcists battle a witch terrorising a family. Superior 70s-set jumpscare haunted house picture. Does nothing original, but delivers its shocks in style. A sequel soon followed.
An Arizona sheriff finds his old hometown involved in a conspiracy to smuggle arms to Mexico. Straightforward borderlands thriller with a couple of good performances and aspirations to be No Country For Old Men, which is no bad thing.
The Lambert family aren’t free from their demons. Direct continuation from the first movie, deftly interweaving the events of that with this. Jumpscares galore in this efficient carnival sideshow flick, which delights in well-crafted boo! moments.
A boy caught in a coma-like trance is channelling lost souls. Straightforward jumpscare machine, played effectively and with all the major tropes (unexplained stuff, tech investigation, kooky paranormalists) covered, Lots of spill-your-popcorn moments.
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