MOVIE REVIEW: ISLEEN PINES

 

A group of friends get together for the annual Halloween party, but are interrupted by mysterious visitors.

Director: Matthew Festle, Alexys Paonessa

Cast: Naiia Lajoie, Jackson Turner, Darren Deng, Glenn Plummer, Jeremiah Benjamin, Alan Maxson, Matthew Festle

Release Date: May 31, 2024

Genre: Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi

Unrated 

Runtime: 1h 24m

Review:

Writers/Directors Matthew Festle and Alexys Paonessa, low budget indie horror comedy Isleen Pines has a fun, over the top energy that echoes Peter Jackson's debut film Bad Taste even if it doesn't reach those heights.  Festle and Paonessa show noticeable talent and confidence behind the camera delivering some fun, colorful shots throughout that works well for the film's tone.  Some well placed songs peppered throughout keep the film moving at a decent pace even during some of the story's weaker portions.  The trilateral story structure is a solid idea, however there's a noticeable drop off when the film moves to the Halloween party.  We are introduced to a series of characters there but don't spend enough time with any of them to make a tangible connection to them which makes it feel more superfluous than the other two segments.  The story is at its best when it focuses on the central trio played by Naiia Lajoie, Jackson Turner and Darren Deng with Lajoie and Turner sharing some solid comedic chemistry together.  The story has Glenn Plummer mostly performing on his own and he delivers a fun performance that has him reacting to the increasingly crazy situation his character finds himself in.  All of this would have been more effective if there'd been a better expansion of the town's mythology which would have helped flesh out the general weirdness at play that would attract something like the alien monster.  As is, there's an uneven flow to Isleen Pines that keeps it from truly hitting its stride and taking full advantage of its gonzo spirit.  

C-

MOVIE REVIEW: BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE

 

When their late police captain gets linked to drug cartels, wisecracking Miami cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett embark on a dangerous mission to clear his name.

Director: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah

Cast:  Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Jacob Scipio, Eric Dane, Joe Pantoliano,

Release Date: June 5, 2024

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Thriller

Rated R for strong violence, language throughout and some sexual references

Runtime: 1h 55m

Review:

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence fourth go around in the Bad Boys franchise brings all the buddy cop banter and kinetic action sequences you've come to expect albeit with a noticeable sense of diminishing returns.  Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah return after reviving the franchise with 2020's Bad Boys For Life with them continuing to do their best Michael Bay impressions throughout the film.  The film's action sequences are hyperkinetically edited which manages to make for some strong moments highlighted by a helicopter crash and the finale set in an abandoned alligator theme park. The film hits its energetic peaks during these moments even as those sequences play loose with logic and physics that'll require some disengagement from common sense.  The action is fun on its own, but the main draw of this series has always been Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's chemistry together that has carried the previous films even during some of the weaker points.  They still work off each fairly well, but the script doesn't give them enough solid material to work with leaving most of it feel a bit forced until they find their stride in the final act.  There's more natural comedic energy in that final act which is sorely missing from the earlier acts.  At the very least there's a tangible effort to give these two characters an arch by giving Lawrence's Marcus Burnett a near death revelation and Smith's Mike Lowrey a battle with panic attacks.  Lawrence's Burnett is written and played much more cartoonish this go around, almost to a distracting level, leaving Smith to try and balance it all out as the straight man.  The supporting cast is made up of familiar faces from the franchise and new comers with nobody asked to do much more than look cool, confused, menacingly or nefarious.  Rhea Seehorn and Eric Dane in particular are given thankless one note roles as a Tommy Lee John's light US Marshall and villainous mastermind.  Jacob Scipio fares slightly better due to his natural on screen charisma as Lowrey's son from the previous film even though the accidental reconciliation angle is hardly original.  It’s one of the many aspects of the film that would have worked better if a bit more care had been given to the script, as is Bad Boys: Ride or Die is an enjoyable but easily forgettable entry in the franchise.  

 

C

MOVIE REVIEW: IN A VIOLENT NATURE

 

When a group of teens takes a locket from a collapsed fire tower in the woods, they unwittingly resurrect the rotting corpse of Johnny, a vengeful spirit spurred on by a horrific 60-year old crime. The undead killer soon embarks on a bloody rampage to retrieve the stolen locket, methodically slaughtering anyone who gets in his way.

Director: Chris Nash

Cast: Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Reece Presley, Liam Leone, Charlotte Creaghan, Lea Rose Sebastianis 

Release Date: May 31, 2024

Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller

Unrated

Runtime: 1h 34m

Review:

In a Violent Nature is a fascinating experiment in the slasher genre which flips the script by focusing on the killer's point of view which methodically delivers gory kills but little substance.  Chris Nash's film doesn't break any new ground as much as it gives us another perspective of a well worn genre with this film borrowing heavily from the Friday the 13th series with a small smattering of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  His film makes great use of the Canadian wilderness as we follow the killer's steady stroll from location to location in long extended shots.  Those short on patience are likely to be frustrated as the film features a bevy of these sequences with little dialogue and no music with some inventive kills interspersed in between.  A handful of those kills are fairly creative and they are sure to make gore hounds happy especially since they're laced with hints of dark humor throughout.  It helps that the collection of young adults that serve as meat for the grinder are written as stereotypically as possible with each going out in a predictable manner.  The steady pace has a headstrong precision that mimics the killer's single mindedness but those expecting any sort of exploration of the genre or central killer will be left wanting as the entire thing is fairly thin outside of its novel approach. In a Violent Nature seems more than content to deliver its simplistic thrills and impressive visuals as a treat to the long time fans of the subgenre.  

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: I SAW THE TV GLOW

 

A classmate introduces teenage Owen to a mysterious late-night TV show -- a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen's view of reality begins to crack.

Director: Jane Schoenbrun

Cast: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Fred Durst, Danielle Deadwyler

Release Date: May 24, 2024

Genre: Drama, Horror

Rated PG-13 for violent content, some sexual material, thematic elements and teen smoking.

Runtime: 1h 40m

Review:

Jane Schoenbrun's latest feature, I Saw the TV Glow, is another challenging arthouse piece that’s sure to earn as many fans as it frustrates with its methodical approach.  Those familiar with Schoenbrun’s style will find this film slightly more accessible than their previous films, especially with its recreation of 90s young adult TV shows.  This story within the story is one of the more intriguing approaches Schoenbrun uses in service of the larger story at play which doesn’t come into full focus until the final act.  There are plenty of allusions and clues that Schoenbrun drops along the way about the message of the film, but it works on a more universal level as well.  It’s a challenging film that will test the patience of more than a few people who will disengage from the film well before the finale.   The visuals, fourth wall breaking and multi layered, time jump approach won’t be for everyone especially as it meanders in the third act making the whole thing far longer than its run time.  Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine serve as the center of the story with each working well off each other even with the hushed, monotone exchanges employed for most of the film.  Smith’s understated, almost anesthetized delivery fits perfectly for the character while Lundy-Paine is given more range to play with as a counterpoint.  They are fascinating performances in film that’s almost overly constructed to the point of exhaustion but I Saw the TV Glow is sure to leave a wide variety of impressions from confusion, annoyance or self-reflection.  

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA

 

Snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers, young Furiosa falls into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel, presided over by the Immortan Joe. As the two tyrants fight for dominance, Furiosa soon finds herself in a nonstop battle to make her way home.

Director: George Miller

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, Lachy Hulme, Nathan Jones

Release Date: May 24, 2024

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated R for sequences of strong violence, and grisly images.

Runtime: 2h 28m

Review:

George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga doesn't bring the same level of action overload that Fury Road brought but it does deliver a level of visual storytelling rarely seen in summer blockbusters.  Miller brings a mythic approach to the central character's story which permeates every frame of this film as we traverse the apocalyptic wasteland.  It’s a more methodical approach overall as Miller splashes a succession of striking visuals with a handful resembling a series of crazed renaissance paintings.  There's still plenty of teeth rattling action although much more contained to three large set pieces replete with an insanely large amount of stunt performers flying around on a variety of vehicles.  It’s hard not to marvel at the logistical choreography on display during these extended action scenes which beg to be seen on the big screen although those expecting a full two and half hours of these breakneck sequences will be slightly disappointed.  While Furiosa's overall backstory is fairly simple and straight forward it’s clear that Miller has a deep affection for the character as he takes his time with her journey with Anya Taylor-Joy not showing up until the one hour mark.  Alyla Browne carries that first hour doing solid work showing the fledgling ferocity that blossoms in the film's second half.  Once Anya Taylor-Joy does take over she proves to be more than capable of embodying the character with impressive intensity, nearly matching Charlize Theron's singular turn in Fury Road.  She makes wonderful use of her large expressive eyes, readily suited to reflect the character's dogged determination and steely gaze for the role which is fairly light on dialogue.  Chris Hemsworth gets much more dialogue to work with and he's clearly enjoying himself playing the film's villain.  He steals every scene he's in and the film sorely misses his energy when he's offscreen.  His bombastic turn is over the top and twisted but there's still a sliver of humanity that comes through exemplified in a late stage sequence between him and Taylor-Joy.  The rest of the supporting cast kind of pale in comparison to the central pair with Tom Burke, who get a decent amount of screen time, failing to leave a real mark as Furiosa's mentor/love interest.   Minor issues like that keep this film from reaching the heights that Fury Road achieved but that doesn't keep it from working perfectly as an excellent companion piece to that film.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: THE STRANGERS CHAPTER 1

 

After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple is forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.

Director: Renny Harlin

Cast: Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Richard Brake, Ema Horvath

Release Date: May 17, 2024

Genre: Horror

Rated R for horror violence, language and brief drug use

Runtime: 1h 31m

Review:

The Strangers Chapter 1 is a tired retread of the original film which offers little intrigue for the already completed next two Chapters which leaves you wondering why a prequel exists or even necessary.  Renny Harlin is a capable director, but this film is terribly bland from start to finish, leaving it a lifeless experience.  It doesn't help that the film never delivers any sort of tangible tension or scares.  It’s all entirely predictable with the victim doing some truly stupid things throughout which might have more than a few people rooting for the killers.  Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez do the best they can with the material they've given as the couple being terrorized.  They have decent chemistry together, but their characters are so terribly stereotypically written that there's very little to the character that makes them interesting or engaging.  Once the main action gets going, Petsch does show some strong potential as a scream queen with a believable sense of playing terrorized paired with an impressive scream.  It’s a shame its wasted on this uninspired opening entry in the coming trilogy which might make more sense once everything has been released.  As a standalone film, The Strangers Chapter 1 doesn't offer anything new to the franchise which gives the "Why are you doing this to us?  Because you were *here*" exchange near the end of the film a weird sort of meta context that could be applied to the audience.

D-