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

2nd Chance (2022)

Released January 22nd in the US.

Filmed in Detroit.

The story: As a young man, Richard Davis owned and operated two pizza places in Detroit, Michigan.

When he began having problems being held up at gunpoint he got an idea.

Richard decided to invent concealable bulletproof vests that he relentlessly tested on himself.

Once Richard's vests began taking flight in the armed forces world, he quickly became a hero.

His business, Second Chance, only grew and grew and became the largest body armor company in the world.

Richard saw his share of problems with the law but it wasn't until the materials that the vests were made of changed did problems really arise.

That's when things got out of hand dangerous.

Stars Richard Davis, (voice) Ramin Bahrani, Karen McCraney, Barbara Schaffer, Laura Schaffer, Pat Crawford, Matt Davis, Aaron Westrick, Angela Watson, Kathleen Davis, Kim Westrick, Tim Paczesny, David Zeman, Ed Bachner, Brenda McLees, Bruce McArthur, Jamie Zeppetella, Jakob Zeppetella, Steve Kohn, Clifford Washington 

Directed by (& story written) Ramin Bahrani

Not Rated

BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY/DOCUMENTARY

There's Something Wrong with the Children (2023)

Released January 17th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story:  Married couple Margaret and Ben have gone along with friends married couple Ellie and Thomas, and their children Lucy and Spencer to a couple secluded cottages in the woods.

On a hiking trip, they come across an ancient ruin of some sort and decide to explore it.

Inside they find many dead animals but not much else.

That is until Lucy and Spencer come across a very deep hole in the ground that they cannot take their eyes off.

When the adults finally get the children away from the hole, they go back to their camp and things resume as usual.

After longtime gal pals Margaret and Ellie get to talking, Margaret suggests that the kids stay the night with her and Ben, so Ellie and Thomas can have some alone time.

Ellie takes up the offer.

The next morning while cooking breakfast, Ellie and Ben find that the kids are not in their cottage.

In a panic, Ben starts looking for them. 

Knowing their fascination with the ruins and wanting to go back, Ben checks there.

He finds them but sees them plummet into the hole, leaving behind their lifeless bodies at the bottom.

Unable to grasp what he just witnessed, Ben makes it back to camp only to find the kids are there.

This is really confusing.

But what's even more confusing, is now the kids are playing some really scary mind games with Ben.

Things get creepier and creepier by the minute.

When Ben finally tries telling the others about what he saw and what he believes is going on, no one wants to believe him.

But things get bad for everyone, really quick.

Stars Alisha Wainwright, Zach Gilford, Amanda Crew, Carlos Santos, Briella Guiza, David Mattle, Ramona Tyler

Directed by Roxanne Benjamin

Not Rated

MYSTERY/THRILLER/SCIFI/HORROR