Jerry and Marge Go Large (2022)

Made for Paramount +, streaming June 17th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Georgia.

Based on truths.

The story: Jerry Selbee is a married man with grown children, that has been working at the Kellogg factory all his adult life.

He and his wife Marge are happy with their lives and do not want for anything.

One day, when Jerry arrives at work, he is advised that the company is retiring him.

This is a surprise and not a welcomed one because Jerry really has no idea what he will do with himself now.

After some time with family and trying to think about his future, Jerry gets an idea.

He has begun thinking about the local lottery and how it works.

Jerry, being a great math guy, believes he has found an error in a particular lottery.

He believes if he is correct with his calculations, that if he plays the numbers correctly, he will win a grand payout.

Jerry withdraws cash from his retirement fund,  plays his hand at the game, and ends up winning big.

Unsure of himself, he hides his winnings from his wife until he tries again and wins once more.

After finally explaining to his wife what he has been doing, Jerry learns that she thinks his idea is a brilliant, surefire way to make money and have a lot of fun while doing it.

When they get to the store, they learn that the game Jerry was playing is no longer available to play.

It is now based in Massachusetts.

After talking to their accountant/travel agent and everything seems workable, Jerry and Marge decide to travel to Massachusetts to try their luck at the winning game.

Stars Bryan Cranston, Annette Bening, Subhash Mandal, Larry Wilmore, Michael McKean, Ann Harada, Jake McDorman, Anna Camp, Devyn McDowell, Anna Cruz Kayne, Colton Whitfield, Jackson Whitfield, Lindsay Rootare, Raiin Wilson, Uly Schlesinger, Cheech Manohar, Tracie Thoms

Directed by David Frankel

Rated PG13

BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY/DRAMA/COMEDY

"It's only about a 10-hour drive if our truck doesn't break down."

"If it does, we'll get a ride!"

"Yeah..."

"From who!?"

"Truckers!"

"Yeah, they're always looking for company..."

"To murder..."

Jules (2023)

Released August 11th in the US.

Filmed in New Jersey.

The story: Milton is an older gentleman who lives alone.

He goes to the town meetings, bringing up topics that he is concerned about.

There are two older women Milton is acquainted with, Sandy and Joyce who also attend the meetings.

Milton enjoys his quiet life. He has a daughter who lives close by and a son he rarely speaks to.

One evening around midnight, Milton is awakened by a commotion in his backyard.

He rises to find a flying saucer has crashed into his azaleas and broken his birdbath...

Without any idea what to do, Milton calls 911. But he is told to go back to sleep.

Later in the day, Milton still finds the flying saucer is still in his garden.

At yet another town meeting, Milton brings up that there is a flying saucer in his backyard, but everyone just blows that off.

But Sandy and Joyce were listening.

Soon though, the little spaceman who was traveling in the flying saucer made his way out into the yard.

Milton brings him a blanket and a glass of water and leaves him be.

Another day passes and Milton finds the little space man closer to the house, so he invites him inside.

Milton gives him a tour of the house and prepares him a few different things to eat.

Sandy decides to give Milton a call in hopes of using his printer and when she arrives at his place, she is shocked to see the spaceman sitting in Milton's living room on the couch.

She is scared and shocked but is assured he seems harmless, so she stays and learns more about him.

When she leaves, she makes Milton agree that they will tell no one about the spaceman for his own good.

But soon, Joyce shows up and wants to know whats going on as well.

The three decide to befriend the spaceman and try to help him the best they know how.

Stars Ben Kingsley, Harriet Sansom Harris, Jane Curtin, Zoe Winters, Jade Quon, Teddy Canez, Narea Kang, Edward  James Hyland, Blair Baker, Christopher Kelly, John Skelley, Aubie Merrylees, Andy Daly, Anna George, Cody Kostro, Marina Shay

Directed by Marc Turtletaub

Rated PG13

DRAMA/SCIFI/COMEDY/MYSTERY

The Gingerdead Man (2005)

Released November 8th in the US.

Filmed entirely in California.

The story: Sarah, her father, and her brother are patrons in a diner when a killer named Millard Findelmeyer begins taking people out.

Sarah gets a talking to by the Findelmeyer. She ends up being the only one whose life he spares. 

Shortly thereafter, Findelmeyer is arrested, convicted, and sentenced to death by the electric chair.

Sarah and her mother Betty are now left to run Betty's Bakery without their father, son, and brother.

Betty is beginning to lose it as there is a big-money competitor bakery across the street, while Sarah tries her best to keep things running smoothly.

They do have a couple friends that help around the bakery.

A package arrives at the bakerys' backdoor marked "Grandmas Gingerbread Cookie seasoning."

Sarah decides to use it.

Then, she finds out that Findelmeyer was fried in the electric chair and his remains were sent to his mother...

Soon, that gingerbread man that she innocently put in the oven ends up reining his torture on Sarah and all those around her.

Stars Gary Busey,  Newell Alexander, Robin Snyder, Margaret Blye, Larry Cedar, Alexia Aleman, Jonathan Chase,  Ryan Locke, Harland Band, Zalman Band, Jacquelyn Band, Diane Collins

Directed by Charles Band

Not Rated

HORROR/SCIFI/COMEDY

Air : A Story of Greatness (2023)

Released April 5th in the US.

Filmed in California.

Based on truths.

The story: 1984. 

Sonny Vaccaro is a basketball talent scout for Nike.

Competing with Adidas and Converse, Nike isn't doing so well sales-wise.

Sonny is given the task of recruiting a new spokesperson to get the company's sales back up.

When he believes that the only person is up-and-coming teenage basketball great Michael Jordan for the position, many odds are against him.

Both the company's Marketing VP and the CEO do not think Sonny can pull it off, mainly due to money restraints and the fact that Michael is much more interested in Adidas and Converse.

But Sonny talks them into giving it a go.

Working with Nike shoe designer and Marketing VP, Sonny helps create a shoe made just for Jordan.

Stars Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Asante Deshon, Jay Mohr, Gustaf Skarsgard, Barbara Sukowa, Joel Gretsch, Michael ONeill, Julius Tennon, Viola Davis, Damian Delano Young, Billy Smith, Al Madrigal 

Directed by Ben Affleck

Rated R
HISTORY/DRAMA

The Black Demon (2023)

Released April 28th in the US.

Filmed entirely in the Dominican Republic.

The story: Paul Sturges works for an oil company.

He has recently brought his wife, daughter, and son to Mexico for a small vacation while Paul inspects an oil rig owned by his company.

Paul hasn't been to the area since the oil rig was built but things have changed a lot.

He has to take a boat out to the rig and finds that not everyone is friendly and wants to go out to the rig.

But he gets out there, leaving his family at a restaurant to wait for his expected couple-hour return.

When he arrives, he finds two men, who have been stuck on the rig for some time.

His wife and children run into some unwanted trouble in town and end up on the rig as well.

Unfortunately, there is no way off the rig, due to the curse of a megalodon, who is now keeping them all hostage.

Stars Josh Lucas , Fernanda Urrejola , Venus Ariel , Carlos Solorzano , Omar Chaparro , Raul Mendez , Bolivar Sanchez , Arturo Duverge , Omar Patin , Luis del Valle , Hector Jimenez , Edgar Flores

Directed by Adrian Grunberg

Rated R
SCIFI/THRILLER/MYSTERY/HORROR

 "For hundreds of years, fishermen have shared tales of a mythical shark off the Baja Coast. One of Godlike proportions, driving men to the brink of insanity with visions of death. To my people, it is known by the name "El Demonio Negro". Legend says, it only comes when summoned."

Pet Sematary : Bloodlines (2023)

Made for Paramount +, streaming October 6th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Canada.

The story: Ludlow, Maine. 1969.

Jud Crandall has seen many young men before him be drafted. They always seem to skip right over him.

He and his girlfriend Norma have decided to go to Michigan and join the Peace Corps as a way to help their country.

Jud will be the first Crandall to ever leave Ludlow and that's big news for his father.

On their way out of town, the windshield of Jud's car is smashed by a bird.

While stopped, they notice Bill Baterman's dog in the road in front of them, and he isn't looking great.

Jud had just seen Baterman at the store and they talked about his son Timmy, someone Jud was once good friends with.

Timmy just got home, with an honorable discharge, from the service.

Seeing how they are just down the street from the Baterman home, they decide to walk the dog there.

They are greeted unwelcomely by Timmy, and while there, Norma is attacked by the dog.

Now this sets their plans back a few days.

Unfortunately, what they don't know yet is Norma being bit by the dog was not the worst that could happen.

Stars Jackson White, Henry Thomas, Samantha Mathis, Natalie Alyn Lind, David Duchovny, Jack Mulhern,  Forrest Goodluck, Isabella LaBlanc, Pam Grier, Christian Jadah, Steve Love, Glen Gould, Vincent Leclerc, Karl Graboshas, Matt Holland, Ted Whittall, John Boylan, Noah Labranche

Directed by (& story partly written) Lindsey Anderson Beer

Rated R
PREQUEL/HORROR/SCIFI

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Released April 21st in the US.

Filmed in New Zealand.

The story: Guitar tech Beth goes to visit her sister Ellie and Ellie's family after finding out she is with  child.

Shortly after arriving, Beth finds out that her brother-in-law has moved out.

Ellie sends Danny, Bridget, and Cassie to pick up pizza so she and Beth can talk.

When the kids arrive back, they experience an earthquake.

While still in the parking garage, Danny finds there is a sinkhole in the floor.

Looking in there and knowing the building was once a bank vault, he decides to go inside and check it out.

Bridget tells him it's a bad idea but Danny gets out with a set of three vinyl records and a Necronomicon...

Of course, Danny has no idea what the book is, so he decides to open it while listening to the first two of the three records.

He awakens something truly evil which attempts to take down his whole family.

Stars Mirabai Pease, Richard Crouchley, Anna Maree Thomas , Lily Sullivan, Noah Paul, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies , Gabrielle Echols , Nell Fisher, Billy Reynolds McCarthy, Tai Wano, Jayden Daniels, Mark Mitchinson, Melissa Xiao, (voice) Bruce Campbell

Directed by (& story written) Lee Cronin

Rated R
HORROR

Nope ; Jordan Peele's (2022)

Released July 22nd in the US.

Filmed entirely in California.

The story: OJ Hayward is a horse wrangler/trainer along with his father Otis.

They live on their ranch out in the wide open of Agua Dulce, California.

When Otis dies in an unexplained occurrence, OJ is left to work the ranch on his own.

His sister Emerald shows up at one of OJ's horse jobs to help and ends up staying at the ranch.

Emerald learns that as a means of getting by, OJ has been selling horses to park owner/ex-child star Ricky Park , whose park is next door to the ranch.

After some time, OJ and Emerald begin to realize that something isn't right in the sky over the ranch.

Emerald contacts a famous filmmaker to come out and try to get some footage of the strange phenomena that is going on, but he declines.

When Ricky sets up a show starring the latest horse he bought from OJ, and Ricky - along with a crowd of guests get snatched up by what appears to be a flying saucer, the missing people becomes news.

OJ and Emerald team up with the filmmaker and a camera tech to get footage of the UFO while making an effort to stop it.

Stars Terry Notary , Keith David , Daniel Kaluuya , Donna Mills , Keke Palmer , Michael Wincott  , Brandon Perea , Steven Yeun , Wrenn Schmidt , Devon Graye , Barbie Ferreira , Jacob Kim , Jennifer Lafleur , Andrew Patrick Ralston , Sophia Coto , Eddie Jemison , Lincoln Lambert , Pierce Kang , Roman Gross , Alex Hyde White , Hetty Chang , Liza Treyger , Ryan W Garcia , Courtney Elizabeth

Directed by (& story written) Jordan Peele

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER/SCIFI

Nothing Compares (2022)

Released September 30th in the US.

The story: Music has always been therapy for Sinead O'Connor and she believes that everyone in music has a story.

Raised in Dublin by Irish Catholic parents, who, along with her brother, influenced her interest in music.

Her parents separated when she was young and she was left with her mother, who was raised as a product of the church as generations before her.

But the Catholic scriptures taught oppression and her mother was abusive in many ways.

Sinead was very religious and believed in it but by 14, her father brought her to a Catholic girls' home to live, not knowing that the reason she was troubled was her home life.

Her father was convinced by the nuns that they would help his daughter, but they did not and she was terrified living there.

When a new guitar teacher arrived at the school, Sinead was asked to sing.

She blew everyone away and was very much encouraged to continue her talent.

Her singing was emotional and touched everyone around her.

Sinead went on to sing and write songs for one band, and after putting an ad in the newspaper, another.

Shortly afterward, in 1985, her mother passed away. That's when she was asked to go to London and make some demos.

Sinead agreed and began performing as the frontwoman for another band.

Next, she had a manager. Then a boyfriend. Then a music contract. Then she found out she was pregnant.

She stood her ground when the music company wanted her to terminate her pregnancy. 

She went on to make the album and have her baby without any issues.

Sinead refused to conform or be labeled.

She sold millions of albums, won Grammys and music awards, got married, and starred in a movie whose subject matter was important to her.

She rose to the top. Her popularity grew and she admired many as well.

The world saw her in one way but she could not completely relate. 

Many just did not believe her thought process and beliefs.

But Sinead was proud of following her heart.

Over and over, she continuously stood her ground on issues that she believed in.

And even though, Sinead was fighting the power, controversy began and continued to threaten her for many years to come.

Stars (voices by) Sinead O'Connor, Brian DArcy, Jeannette Bryne, Paul Bryne, Clodagh Latimer, 

Mike Clowes, John Reyolds, Kate Garner, Peaches, John Maybury, Bill Coleman, John Grant 

Elaine Schock

Directed by (& partly written) Kathryn Ferguson

Not Rated

DOCUMENTARY/BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY/MUSIC

"There's no way I'm going to shut my mouth."

Jane (2022)

Released August 26th in the US.

Filmed entirely in New Mexico.

The story: Olivia is a high school senior who has recently lost her best friend.

This is quite a depressing time for Olivia. It isn't helping that she is stuck on getting accepted to Stanford and is being put off.

Olivia is on the debate team and feels she is at the top of her game, nothing could make her any better at it.

When a new girl arrives at school and is on Olivia's debate team, she threatens Olivia's perfect performance by being seemingly better than her and very competitive with her.

Olivia reaches out to her old best friend Izzy for some advice on the area.

The two come up with the idea to use their deceased friends' social media account to message the girl who is competing with Olivia, to teach her a lesson.

When it works to Olivia's advantage and the new girl transfers, it becomes easier and easier to use the social media account to expose people who she feels have wronged her.

But when Olivia starts not caring about hurting people to get ahead, she accomplishes the ultimate deed to get her way.

Stars Chloe Yu, Madelaine Petsch, Ian Owens, Ramona DuBarry, Jordyn Aurora Aquino, Morse Bicknell, Nina Bloogarden, Chloe Bailey, Melissa Leo, Kerri Medders, Amie MacKenzie, Calhoun Koenig, Amber Lynn Ashley, Larkin Bell, Dominique Smith, Nick Phillips, Grayson Berry, Cecile Cubilo

Directed by (& story partly written) Sabrina Jaylom 

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER

Back Roads (2018)

Released December 7th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Louisiana.

The story: Harley is a 21-year-old who has been taking care of his three younger sisters for about two years.

Their mother is in prison for shooting their father...

The situation is beginning to take a toll on Harley.

He is the only one with an income and he has no life outside of work and home.

Harley is also lonely.

When the mother of his youngest sister befriends him, they begin a secret affair, which helps keep Harley from going completely insane.

But, after listening to his sisters about various things that their parents put them through as well as opening up more and more to his psychiatrist, Harley is beginning to see the whole real picture of what really happened between his parents and why his mother is in prison and his father is deceased.

Stars Alex Altmyer, Robert Patrick, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Chiara Aurelia, Hala Finely, Juliette Lewis, Jennifer Morrison, June Carryl, Robert Longstreet, Jeff Pope, Zach Zagoria, Ella Claire Bennett

Directed by Alex Altmyer

Not Rated

DRAMA/MYSTERY/THRILLER

The Killing Secret (1997)

Made for NBC, airing January 6th in the US.

Filmed in North and South Carolina.

Based on truths.

The story: Greg Dunleavy is a high school senior with a promising future ahead of him.

He's on the football team. He comes from money and his cheerleader girlfriend Nicole adores him.

But Greg has another girlfriend named Emily.

Greg has been seeing Emily for a few months. None of his friends have ever met her. Greg has only told one friend about her but otherwise, he keeps their relationship a secret.

Emily also adores Greg and considers him the love of her life. Emily's mother knows about their relationship and how serious Emily is about Greg.

But Greg isn't as serious about Emily and when she tells him she is pregnant with his baby, he wants no part in that.

Greg continuously tries to convince Emily to get rid of the baby, but she's not having any of that.

Emily cannot understand why Greg keeps her a secret from his friends and family and now wants him to at least tell his parents about the pregnancy.

When Emily tells Greg either he will tell his parents or she will, he panics.
Stars Mark Kassen, Ari Meyers, John OHurley, Deborah Hobart, Cindy Pickett, Soleil Moon Frye, Tess Harper, Brandon Fraiser, Joanna Canton, Rasool Jahan, Erika Flores, Todd Rulapaugh, Sean Bridgers, J Michael Hunter, Robby Preddy, Ben Epps, Lorri Lindberg, Mert Hatfield 

Directed by Noel Nosseck

Rated TVPG
DRAMA/MYSTERY/HISTORY

Escape the Field (2022)

Released May 6th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Canada.

The story: Sam awakes to find herself in her work clothes, in a cornfield.

She has no recollection whatsoever of how she got there.

Beside her, she finds a gun...

After a few minutes, a man arrives. The two are surprised to see each other and after some more time, realize that they are both in the same boat.

They begin walking a bit through the field when they are approached by a group of three.

Two men and a woman.

The five of them all have the same thing in common, they have no idea how they got there.

There is one other thing they all have that is similar, they were all left with an item of some sort.

After talking a bit, the group decides that they are safest together and must carry on, trying to find their way out.

Soon the group finds yet another woman, obviously in the same situation as them.

When they are all finally together, they are approached by one more man.

But he is quickly ripped away by something to his death.

Now none of these people know each other and have no idea why they were kidnapped and left in the field to die.

The only thing that is certain is that they must work together to get the hell out of there.

Stars Jordan Claire Robbins, Theo Rossi, Shane West, Elena Juatco, Julian Feder, Tahirah Sharif, Emerson Moore, Shah Kahn, Ryan Stasyshyn, Scott Phillips, Jeff Kress, Keith Barnes

Directed by (& partly written) Emerson Moore 

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER/SCIFI/HORROR

Insidious : The Red Door (2023)

Released July 7th in the US.

Filmed in New Jersey and Georgia.

The story: It has been 9 years since Josh and his son Dalton were hypnotized to forget their astral projection voyage to "The Further"...

They currently have no recollection of it at all.

Josh's mom has recently passed away to make his "cloudiness" worse and Dalton is newly attending college.

The two of them have been experiencing a very strained relationship.

While Josh struggles to learn why he is distant from Dalton, Dalton seeks answers for his own distance from his art.

After an exercise in Dalton's college art class helps him look deeper inside himself, he begins having visions due to his past.

Only he doesn't realize the past is what he is seeing.

Soon Dalton and his father are once again having astral projections and unwillingly getting pulled deeper and deeper into The Further.

Stars Patrick Wilson, Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, Steve Coulter, Andrew Astor, Juliana Davies, Sinclair Daniel, Hiam Abbass, Justin Sturgis, Peter Dager, Stephen Grey, Leigh Whannell

Directed by Patrick Wilson

Rated PG13

SEQUEL/THRILLER/MYSTERY/SCIFI/HORROR

The Price We Pay (2022)

Released January 10, 2023 in the US.

Filmed entirely in New Mexico.

The story: Cody, along with Alex and his brother Shane have begun the process of robbing a pawn shop.

When shots are unexpectedly fired, their getaway driver splits.

Cody finds Grace hiding in the office after the owner of the shop gets killed.

He decides they should take her along with them as a hostage. It doesn't hurt that she has a car.

En route to get as far away as possible, Grace's car gives in.

In the distance, a farmhouse can be seen. So, the four make their way there.

Cody and Grace pose as a couple and approach young Danny who is working inside a barn.

They ask to stay there just for the night. 

As much as Danny does not want to let them stay, he is talked into it.

But they clearly should have never made their presence there known, because it's seriously, not safe.

Stars Gigi Zumbado , Heath Hensley , Nick Check , Stephen Dorff , Emile Hirsch , Tanner Zagarino , Jesse Kinser , Tyler Sanders , Erika Ervin , Vernon Wells , Sabina Mach , Takaaki Hirakawa

Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura

Rated R
THRILLER/MYSTERY/HORROR

ABC Afterschool Specials : Mom's On Strike (1984)

Made for ABC, airing November 14th in the US.

Season 13. Episode 4.

The story: Ellie Skinner is a very busy wife and mother of four.

She also works outside the house part-time with a 20-minute break, that is after seeing all the kids off to school and her husband off to work.

Everyone in the house depends very heavily on Ellie to do just about everything and it's clearly a bit overwhelming.

But no one in the house gets that.

Ellie does her best to keep up with everything everyone needs done but she just cannot.

When she tries talking to her family about helping around the house, no one is listening.
That same day, when Ellie's oldest daughter arrives home, she finds her mother picketing in the front yard...

Her mother is on labor strike.

Stars Yeardley Smith, Mary Kay Place, Jenny Rebecca Dweir, Jonathan Ward, Stephen Keep Mills, Timmy Geissler, Lauren Tom, George Gaines, Jean De Baer, Mercedes Ruehl, Lily Knight, Ivar Brogger, Jere Burns, Sam McMurray

Directed by Joan Darling

Not Rated 

DRAMA/FAMILY/SERIES/TV 

Unseen (2023)

Released March 7th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story: Sam is a gas station/convenience store clerk who isn't enjoying her job or life these days.

She arrives to work stressed and it doesn't help matters that her boss brings on even more stress.

After some time at work, Sam receives a random cell phone call from a woman named Emily.

Emily claims to have been kidnapped by her ex and is in great danger.

She cannot see, because she lost her glasses while trying to escape his torture.

Now she is out in the woods somewhere, looking for help of any sort.

Emily begs and pleads with Sam to make a video call with her, in an effort to help her find her way to safety.

It's not the best time for Sam and she feels completely incapable of doing what Emily asks.

But, she goes along with it, with her best intentions to help save Emily's life.

Stars Jolene Purdy, Nicholas X Parsons, Missi Pyle, Midori Francis, Michael Patrick Lane, Rajko Scarabin, Anthony Belevtsov, Brett Baker, Scott MacDonald, Ren Hanami, Rose Bianca Grue

Directed by Yoko Okumura

Not Rated

THRILLER/MYSTERY

Skipper AKA The Todd Killings (1971)

Released October 20th in the US.

Filmed in California.

Based on truths.

The story : Skipper Todd is a 23-year-old who hangs out with all the local teens.

He has a great car , apartment and no job because he lives off of a weekly allowance from his mother...

Everyone just loves him and will do just about anything he asks.

Even the older folks at the old age home that his mother runs love him.

But Skipper isnt the fantastic guy everybody thinks he is.

Skipper is bad news with even worse ideas.

When his new girlfriend that he cannot live without finds out that he is a cold blooded killer , she believes that he will not be happy until he kills her as well.

Stars Robert F Lyons , Richard Thomas , Barbara Bel Geddes , Belinda Montgomery , Sherry E DeBoer , Joyce Ames , Holly Near , James Broderick , Gloria Grahame , Fay Spain , Michael Conrad , Frank Webb , William Lucking , Sandy Brown Wyeth , Tannis G Montgomery , Meg Foster , Edward Ashner

Directed by Barry Shear

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER/DRAMA/HISTORY

A Good Person (2023)

Released March 24th in the US.

Filmed entirely in New Jersey.

The story: Allison has a great life...

She is about to be married to Nathan, the love of her life.

The day after their engagement party, Allison is en route to try on wedding dresses with soon-to-be sister-in-law Molly and her husband Jesse.

But things do not go as planned.

The next thing Allison knows is waking up in the hospital.

Then she learns the grim reality. 

Fast forward one year.

Allison is now addicted to painkillers. She sits home day and night, alone, wallowing in her pain and sorrow.

She has broken all ties with Nathan and lives a very self-destructive life.

When she has exhausted all her efforts to get that next high, she decides to go to a meeting.

There she is surprised to find Daniel, the man who would have been her father-in-law.

Feeling extremely guilty and unable to deal, Allison runs, even though Daniel tries coaxing her to stay.

After some time, she returns, only after dragging herself through the mud some more and Daniel befriends her.

Even though Daniel is also struggling with what happened, he takes into consideration that Allison needs help from supportive friends.

Stars Florence Pugh, Chinaza Uche, Nichelle Hines, Toby Onwumere, Molly Shannon, Mike Menendez, Celeste OConnor, Morgan Freeman, Ignacio Diaz Silverio, Nancy Ellen Shore, Ryann Redmond, Alex Wolff, Brian Rojas, Zoe Lister-Jones, Sydney Morton, Oli Green

Directed by (& story written) Zach Braff

Rated R
DRAMA

Keeping Company (2021)

Released February 4th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story: Sonny and Noah are life insurance adjusters.

Sonny is pushy and rude, while Noah is a pleasant guy who loves every day and everyone.

While they are out trying to sell policies door to door and not having any luck, Sonny backs his car into a car driving by.

When Sonny and Noah try to get the guys' insurance information and be on their way, they are informed that the driver has no policy.

That gives Sonny and Noah the idea of selling him one.

But the man hurries back to his house without saying a word.

Sonny and Noah chase him back to his house and Sonny makes an insurance policy offer that is hard to pass up.

Without taking no for an answer, Sonny pushes his way into the man's house.

The real problem there is, the man they just had an accident with lives with his scary, controlling grandmother, who forces him to collect the scum off the streets and lock them up in the basement for future butchering.

Stars Jacob Grodnik, Devin Das, Ahmed Bharoocha, Gillian Vigman, Andy Buckley, Medina Senghore, Rex Lee, Sharron Shayne, Chris Estrada, Bryan Safi, John Milhiser, Bernard White, Suzanne Savoy, William Russ, Lilan Bowden, Malcolm Kelner, Doua Moua

Directed by Josh Wallace

MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR

Percy vs. Goliath (2020)

Released April 30, 2021 in the US.

Filmed in Canada and India.

Based on truths.

The story: Saskatchewan, Canada, 1998.

Percy Scheimser is a third-generation canola farmer.

Humble, honest, and seventy, he fancies himself to be a "seed saver", as he has been collecting seeds from his crops for many years.

After a great harvest and an equally great payoff, Percy gets a phone call.

He is informed that he owes the big agricultural biotechnology company Monsanto money, due to his crops being found with traces of their herbicide Roundup, which brands his canola crops GMO, sure property of Monsanto.

This makes no sense to Percy, he has been collecting seeds from his crops his whole life and he has never purchased any of Monsanto's seeds.

After Monsanto is allowed to test his canola and infact it turns up GMO-modified, it becomes quite clear to Monsanto that Percy owes them money.

But Percy was unaware that any of his crops had been modified and with that, he believes he must fight Monsanto for his right to plant his seeds on his land, without any further financial hassles from the company.

Stars Christopher Walken, Adam Beach, Roberta Maxwell, Luke Kirby, Zoe Fish, Shannon Guile, Andrea del Campo, Jeff Strome, Christina Ricci, Zach Braff, Blake Taylor, Peter Stebbings, Dean Harder,  Martin Donovan, Curt Keilback, Paul Magel, Tim Nhlazane, Pathy Aiyar

Directed by Clark Johnson

Rated PG13

HISTORY/DRAMA/BIOGRAPHY

The Craft : Legacy (2020)

Released October 28th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Canada.

The story: Lily is a teen girl who has been living with her single mom.

Mom has recently found Adam, who she believes is the guy for her.

So Mom has convinced Lily to go and move in with Adam and his three sons.

Although this is a whole new scene for Lily, she is willing to give it a go for the sake of mom's happiness.

On Lily's first day at her new school, she meets and is befriended by Frankie, Tabby, and Lourdes - the outcasts at school.

Little does Lily realize, she is the fourth that her new friends need to create their full circle...

See, Frankie, Tabby, and Lourdes are all practicing witches.

But Lily has no idea yet that she is also a witch and she certainly is not practicing her craft.

With the four of them now together, their powers are unstoppable.

But when the unexpected happens, the girls start to drift apart.

That is until Lily desperately needs their help to stay alive.

Stars Cailee Spaeny, Michelle Monaghan, David Duchovny, Donald MacLean Jr, Charles Vandervaart, Julian Grey , Nicholas Galitzine, Gideon Adlon, Lovie Simone, Zoey Luna, Victor Chiu, James Madge, Kris Siddiqi, Chris Tomassetti, Devon Cecchetto, Debbie Fan, Hannah Gordon, Fairzua Balk

Directed Zoe Lister-Jones

Rated PG13

SEQUEL/MYSTERY/SCIFI

Magic (1978)

Released November 8th in the US.

Filmed in California and New York.

The story: Corky wants to be a famous magician and has been learning from a long , retired famous magician.

In two years' time, he finds himself at the top with a unique act that includes magic and ventriloquism.

Corky's manager has faith in him, even though Corky will not sign a contract.

When his manager brings in a big wig from NBC to see the show, he wants to do a TV special with him and his dummy.

There is one catch though.

Corky's manager wants him to get a medical evaluation...

Afraid of what will become apparent, Corky takes off so no one can find him.

He heads for the town he grew up in, looking for his high school crush, who he is still in love with.

Corky finds what he is looking for and unexpectedly hits it off with his old crush.

Unfortunately, she is married, although unhappily.

This all gives Corky hope but first, he must get rid of the obstacles that are in his way and he will not do it without the constant persuasion of his boisterous sidekick dummy.

Stars EJ Andre, Anthony Hopkins, Joe Lowry, Beverly Sanders, Lillian Randolph, Burgess Meredith, David Ogden Stiers, Mary Munday, Scott Garrett, Jerry Houser, Ann Margret, Ed Lauter 

Directed by Richard Attenborough

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR

"Us was you."

Creepshow : Twenty Minutes with Cassandra/Smile (2023)

Made for Shudder, airing October 13th in the US.

Season 4. Episode 1.

Story 1: Journalist Lorna Snell has just arrived home after a busy work day.

She orders a pizza, pours a glass of wine, has a seat, and tends to her phone.

Then, there is some relentless banging at the front door.

Lorna opens the door to find a frantic woman begging for Lorna to let her inside.

Lorna is hesitant but the woman makes her way inside anyway.

The woman explains that there is a monster outside and in twenty minutes, it will be inside the house and it will kill Lorna.

Of course, Lorna does not believe the woman's story one bit, that is until a delivery man is killed on her front doorstep right before her eyes.

Story 2:  Mr. James Harris is a celebrated photographer.

He has just won the Photo Journalism Association Humanitarian Award for a photo he is not exactly proud of.

After the ceremony, he is greeted by some fans. One asks to take a photo with him, but Mr. Harris will not allow it.

He and his wife proceed to a restaurant for a celebratory dinner.

There, a stranger snaps a photo of the couple without warning and hands it to them.

Mr. Harris is confused because the photo indicates that its photographer was a lot further away from them than he actually was.

Not much more thought is put into that until the couple leaves the restaurant.
They then begin finding more photos of the two of them as if someone is watching them from afar.

That is when Mr. Harris' guilt over the photo that he won the award for really begins to get the better of him.

Stars Samantha Sloyan, Ruth Codd, Frankie Francois, Carey Jones, Nick Heffelfinger, Matthew James Dowden, Lucie Guest, Max Archibald, Roberto Lanzas, Daniel Ian Joeck, Claire Friesen, Aleksandra Cross, Matteo Deuma

Directed by Greg Nicotero & John Harrison

Rated TVMA

ANIMATION/MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR/DARK COMEDY/SERIES/TV

The Exorcist : Believer (2023)

Released October 6th in the US.

Filmed in Georgia and the Dominican Republic.

The story: 13-year-old Angela lives a happy life with her widow, photographer father.

But she misses her mother, whom she never knew.

One day before school, Angela asks her dad if she can go to her friends' house after school, to do homework.

Her dad reluctantly agrees.

But when it's way past the time Angela should have been home and is not, her dad learns that Angela went with a friend he didn't know and, instead of going to that friend's home to do homework, the two took off into the woods near the school...

When Angela and the friend she went with Katherine are finally found, their families are overjoyed to have them back.

At first, things seem pretty normal but very quickly Angela and Katherine begin acting like someone none of their family knows...which turns their reality into a complete nightmare.

Stars Leslie Odom Jr, Tracey Graves, Lidya Jewett, Ann Dowd, Olivia ONeill, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, Celeste Oliva, Ben Bladon, Danny McCarthy, Raphael Sbarge, Antoni Corone, Okwui Okpokwasili, Chloe Traicos, Ellen Burstyn, Lize Johnston, Linda Blair

Directed by (& story partly written) David Gordon Green

Rated R
MYSTERY/HORROR

The Whale (2022)

Released December 21st in the US.

Filmed in New York.

The story: Charlie is an obese, homebound college writing instructor.

Basically, he is trying to eat his life away after some very heartbreaking experiences, while waiting for his bad heart to give in. 

One day, Charlie's seventeen-year-old daughter Ellie barges through his front door, without warning.

She wants his help with some school writing assignments because of her failing grades.

Charlie hasn't seen his daughter in 8 years and wants desperately to have a relationship with her.

Ellie is resistant to warm up to her father as she believes he abandoned her, which she is bitter about.

Not only does Charlie agree to help her with her schoolwork, but he offers her all of the money he has, just for her to give them a chance to get to know each other, never telling her of his limited days. 

Stars Brendan Fraser, Tye Simpkins, Hong Chau, Sadie Sink, Sathya Sridharan, Samantha Morton, Jacey Sink, Allison Altman, Wilhelm Schalaudek

Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Rated R
DRAMA

Insidious : Chapter 3 (2015)

Released June 5th in the US.

Filmed entirely in California.

The story: A year and a half ago, high school senior Quinn Brenner lost her mom.

Since then, she lives with her dad and younger brother, who her dad expects her to help him with.

Quinn misses her mom something awful so she has decided to try and "contact" her.

She goes out of her way and on a limb to visit Elise Rainier, a woman who can communicate with the dead.

Elise explains that she no longer talks to the dead but wants to help Quinn.

But while Elise tries to help, she conjures something from the dark side, that attaches itself to Quinn.

Now Quinn's life is in danger and only with Elise's help can she shake the curse.

Stars Stefanie Scott, Lin Shaye, Dermot Mulroney, Tate Berney, Michael Reid MacKay, Hayley Kiyoko, Phyllis Applegate, Jeris Poindexter, Angus Sampson, Leigh Whannell, Steve Coulter, Corbett Tuck, Ele Keats, Tom Fitzpatrick, Tom Gallop, Phil Abrams, Erin Anderson, Amaris Davidson

Directed by (& story written) Leigh Whannell

Rated PG13

PREQUEL/THRILLER/HORROR/MYSTERY

Pearl ; Ti West's (2022)

Released September 16th in the US.

Filmed entirely in New Zealand.

The story: It is 1918.

Pearl is a young woman, living on her parent's farm, with hopes and dreams of being a famous movie star...

She married Howard to help her get away from her parents, but he was enlisted.

While Pearl waits for his return, she is forced by her overbearing mother who does not believe in Pearl's dreams, to help with the farm animals and do chores her mother insists she do, which include helping care for her mute, invalid father.

Pearl is constantly daydreaming and that never ceases to get her into trouble with her mother.

One day, while in town to make money, Pearl meets and is invited by a projectionist to see a movie.

This is a big inspiration for Pearl but once more, her actions get her into trouble.

Pearl experiences let down after let down and her mother giving her hell for every little thing she does, til she finally loses grip of reality and snaps.

Stars Mia Goth, Tandi Wright, Matthew Sunderland, Emma Jenkins Purro, Amelia Reid, Gabe McDonnell, David Corenswet, Lauren Stewart, Todd Rippon, Grace Acheson

Directed by Ti West

Rated R
PREQUEL/THRILLER/MYSTERY/HORROR

You're Killing Me (2023)

Released April 7th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story: Eden is a bright, eager high school senior.

Ever since she can remember, she wanted to go to Pembroke College, along with her best friend Zara.

Although Zara has already been accepted to the school, Eden has instead gained high anticipation by being put on the waitlist.

Eden has been attending class with "Schroder" since junior high school.

He is the son of a very beloved, important, and powerful congressman.

When Eden asks Schroder if he can talk to his dad and help her, he puts her off.

But Eden has another idea.

If she goes to his weekly party and befriends him, he will surely help her out.

Although, while at the party and being way too ambitious for her and her bestie Zara's own good, Eden learns a dangerous secret that she believes is much more important and needs revealing than attending her dream school through Schroders' help.

Stars McKaley Miller, Brice Anthony Heller, Wil Deusner, Morgana Van Pebbles, Keyara Milliner, Jayson Warner Smith, Hannah Celeste, Kalli Therinae, Levi Burdick, Nicholas Ryan, Melissa Bidgoli, Jordan Blair Mangold Brown, Helene Henry, Nicholas Koenig, Dave Roberson, Gene Proctor, Dermot Mulroney, Anne Heche

Directed by Jerren Lauder & Beth Hanna

Not Rated

MYSTERY/THRILLER

The Swimmer (1968)

Released May 15th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Connecticut.

The story : Neddy has been away for most of the summer until just recently.

He shows up at a good friends swimming pool one afternoon and welcomed with open arms.

Neddy decides , after visiting for a bit and not really paying attention to much more than what goes on in his own head , that he can and should swim home...

By "swim home" , Neddy means there are pools from his friends place , straight through the county , like a river , to his own home.

On Neddys' "adventure" home, not only does he encounter many beloved friends who are happy to see him but he also runs into many that dont want to see him and never ever want to see him again.

Stars Burt Lancaster , Marge Champion , Richard McMurray , Charles Drake , Kim Hunter , Janet Landgard , Tony Bickley , Bill Fiore , Nancy Cushman , Rose Gregorio , Bernie Hamilton , House Jameson , Jimmy Joyce , Jan  Miner , Diane Muldaur , Janice Rule , Michael Kearney , Joan Rivers

Directed by Frank Perry & Sydney Pollack

Rated PG
DRAMA

"You're the captain of your soul. That's what counts."

Love & Death (2023)

Released as a 7-part mini-series on HBOMax, airing on instant streaming April 27th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Texas.

Based on truths.

The story: 1980. Wylie, Texas. 
Candy Montgomery is a wife, mother, devoted friend, and church lady.

Her life could not be any more ideal.

But Candy is bored. Namely with the lack of excitement in her marriage.

She begins taking notice of fellow church go-er/friend Allan Gore.

Husband of friend and church lady Betty.

Not only does Candy take notice, but she also starts to obsess about Allan.

That is, until one evening, she approaches him, telling him she is interested in him.

Allan is taken aback by this but not appalled.

The next thing he knows, Candy is asking him what he thinks about having an affair...

When he agrees, Candy sets in motion a whole plan of how things will go.

After some time, the scenario begins working for both Candy and Allan.

But when Betty decides to try and bring the fire back into their love life, things quickly change between Candy and Allan.

Candy and Allan begin seeing less and less of each other.

Then Candy's husband finds out about her and Allan's affair, which causes them to begin putting their love life back together.

Just when Candy starts living her life as she had been before the affair, things with her friend Betty start to go downhill pretty quickly.

Stars Elizabeth Olsen, Patrick Fugit, Lily Rabe, Jesse Plemons, Krysten Ritter, Amelie Dallimore, Liam Pileggi, Elizabeth Marvel, Olivia Grace Applegate, Sara Burke, Kira Pozehl, Keir Gilchrist, Harper Heath, Bonnie Gayle Sparks, Jennie Page, Aaron Jay Rome, Tom Pelphrey, Matthew Posey

Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter & Clark Johnson

Rated TVMA
HISTORY/DRAMA/SERIES/TV

Whitney Houston : I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)

Released December 23rd in the US.

Filmed in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida.

Based on truths.

The story: In 1983, 19-year-old Whitney Elizabeth Houston was singing in her church choir while singing background along with her brother for their mother Cissy, who sang lead, at nightclubs in New Jersey.

Whitney was ready for stardom but she didn't know it.

One evening, Cissy set it up for Arista record executive Clive Davis to hear and see her perform, knowing he would sign her.

Cissy was right.

Clive was blown away and knew he could make Whitney a star with a whole lot of money.

Whitney knew this would bring a lot of work on her part, but she had no idea of the constant heartache she would encounter.

She became famous and known worldwide almost overnight, every song she put out was a giant hit.

But that kind of instant success can take a toll on anyone, let alone someone so young.

She loved being famous but she couldn't deal with the people in her life always making choices for her, telling her what to do, or the haters that wanted to doubt her.

By the mid-90s, Whitney was worn down and out and just wanted to do what Whitney wanted to do.

Relentless hard work, constant hassle, the rocky relationship with her husband Bobby Brown, and an ongoing drug problem that she did not want to kick all assisted in her untimely passing.

Stars Naomi Ackie, Tamara Tunie, Clarke Peters, Daniel Washington, JaQuan Malik Jones, Nafessa Williams, Stanley Tucci, Dave Heard, Kris Sidberry, Coffey, Lance A Williams, Ashton Sanders, Bailee Lopes, Bria Danielle Singleton, Jeffrey L Brown, Luke Crory, Devon Coull, Andrea Eversley

Directed by Kasi Lemmons

Rated PG13

BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY/MUSIC

A Man Called Otto (2022)

Released January 13, 2023 in the US.

Filmed in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Canada.

The story: Otto is an elderly man who lost his beloved wife six months ago.

Since then, all he has thought about is joining her...

He begins trying to get his things in order and when he is ready to go, he is interrupted by a family of new neighbors.

Otto's new neighbors will not go away, no matter how onery he is towards them.

He tries and tries to get on with his goal, but something always stops him.

Eventually, after constantly reminiscing about his wife while helping others around him when they really could use the help, Otto realizes that alive is where he really needs to be for the time being.

Stars Tom Hanks, John Higgins, Lily Kozub, Cameron Britton, Mariana Trevino, Manuel Garcia Rulfo, Christiana Montoya, Alessandra Perez, Max Pavel, Juanita Jennings, Peter Lawson Jones, Mack Bayda, Rachel Keller, Truman Hanks, Emonie Ellison, Lavel Schley, Mike Birbiglia, Julian Manjerico

Directed by Marc Forster

Rated PG13

REMAKE/COMEDY/DRAMA

Halston (2021)

Released as a five-part mini-series on Netflix, airing on instant streaming May 14th in the US.

Filmed entirely in New York.

Based on truths.

The story: As a child, Roy "Halston" Frowick wanted nothing more than to bring his unhappy mother joy.

At a very young age, he brought that joy into his mothers' life by creating her brilliantly lovely hats...

As an adult, Halston continued his work by making hats that were creative and highly sought after.

But with time, things change.

Soon, Halston was creating dresses as well as meeting and befriending many famous people.

His connections, some with an endless cash flow, helped him become the empire of some very popular and unique fashions, making him and his associates millions.

Going into business with a wealthy businessman who never said no didn't hurt things either.

But after living the high life for ten years, doom was inevitable.

It wasn't until Halston let bad relationships, drug abuse, and the selling of his brand name be the end of his fashion career forever.

Stars Maxim Swinton, Ewan McGregor, David Pittu, Rebecca Dayan, Krysta Rodriguez, Sullivan Jones, Deya Danielle Drake, Bill Pullman, Gian Franco Rodriguez, Megan Danielle Gerard, Dilone, Eric T Miller, Molly Jobe, Siezka Rose, Alanna Arrington, Jenny Wong, Freja Zeuthen, Jason Kravitz

Directed by Daniel Minahan

Rated TVMA
BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY/DRAMA/TV/SERIES

Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008)

Released April 10, 2009, in the US.

Filmed in Canada, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, California, and Japan.

The story: The Super Rock Festival in Japan took place in the summer of 1984.

It featured such big names as Scorpions, Whitesnake, and Bon Jovi.

After the festival, those bands went on to sell millions of records.

Yet, Anvil, a heavy metal Canadian band since 1978, who also performed at that very same festival, did not.

Ever since that festival, Anvil has been recording and performing without ever really finding the same superstardom as those other bands they once performed alongside.

Always wanting to get their music out and perform, lead singer/guitarist Steve Kudlow, AKA "Lips" lives his life, day to day, infamously.

He is a family man who enjoys his life. Although he would much rather be living the high life of a true rock and roller.

"Lips" is constantly looking for any way to get to that higher place,  making every effort to see his dreams come true for himself and the rest of the band.

Their journey takes them on a small stage tour across Europe, a recording studio thanks to the much-appreciated help and direction from longtime friend/producer Chris "CT" Tsangarides, and a heavy metal music festival in Japan.

Stars Malcolm Dome, Lars Ulrich, Scott Ian, Lemmy, Slash, Tom Araya, Johnny Z, Rob Reiner, "Cut Loose", "Mad Dog", Gary Greenblatt, Toby Kudlow, Jane, "Droid", Tyler, Ginny, Averey, Ivan Hurd, Glenn Five, Tiziana Arrigoni, Michael Schenker, Brian Robertson AKA "Robbo", Carmine Appice, Atsushi Komoike, Masa Eto, JJ French, Tommy Aldridge, Olimp Boros , Stefan Boros, Gary Kudlow, Rhonda Gibson, Dr. Jeffrey Kudlow, Eniko Reiner, William Howell, Frasier Hill

Directed by Sacha Gervasi

Not Rated

DOCUMENTARY/BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY/MUSIC