Monstrous (2022)

Released May 13th in the US.

Filmed entirely in California.

The story: Laura is the mother of young Cody.

She has recently taken her son from the only home he has ever know to start a new life away from her abusive husband.

Laura is hopeful that this new start will be a good one for the two of them.

Things go well at first, even though Cody is not happy, and is constantly asking to go home.

Laura carries on, doing the best she can to make their new situation a normal one for them.

But after a while, instead of Cody blossoming in his new home, he isolates himself more and more.

Then he begins talking of a woman who lives in the lake next to their house, who he believes is the only one who understands him...

Stars Christina Ricci, Santino Barnard, Don Baldaramos , Colleen Camp, Lew Temple, Carol Anne Watts, Jennifer Novak Chun, Peter Hodge, Nick Vallelonga, Sally Elbert, Lola Grace, Rachael Edlow, Darin Cooper, Aimey Beer, Neraida Bega, Philip V Bruenn, (voice) Matt Lovell, (voice) Nancy OFallon

Directed by Chris Sivertson

Rated PG13

MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR 

Lila and Eve (2015)

Released July 17th in the US.

Filmed in Georgia.

The story: Lila is a single mother of two boys, 18-year-old Stephon and younger Justin.

When Stephon is shot and killed just walking down the street one night, Lila has a really hard time dealing.

She decides to go to a support group and there, is advised to try bonding with another attendee.

Lila starts up a conversation with Eve, a mother who lost her young daughter to gun violence.

Eve believes no one cares about their loss and it's really up to them to figure things out.

Lila is still a believer that the police will get to the bottom of her son's murder.

But while Lila waits for answers and none come, she decides to take Eve's advice and bring down the killer (s) on her own terms.

Stars Aml Ameen, Viola Davis, Ron Caldwell, Yolonda Ross, Michole Briana White, Whitney Goin, Jennifer Lopez, Elisa Perry, Shea Whigham, Andre Royo, Germaine Brooks, Julius Tennon, Quinton Garvin, Teddy Williams, Will Brittian, Merry Jo Cortada, Gino Vento 

Directed by Charles Stone III

Rated R
DRAMA/THRILLER

Blink Twice (2024)

Released August 23rd in the US.

Filmed entirely in Mexico.

The story: A year ago, Slater King, a self-made millionaire and party boy, made a public apology for his "bad behavior", stating he would be taking a leave from his tech company while seeking therapeutic help. 

During a more recent interview, Slater tells all about what he has been up to during his time off, looking all the part of a new man.

Frida, a cocktail waitress working for a catering company sees Slater's interview and has great admiration for him.

Later that evening Frida and her roommate/best friend Jess are waitressing at a fundraiser/cocktail party Slater is giving.

Frida is in awe of Slater, spending every slow moment trying to get a glimpse of him.

When their work shift ends, Frida and Jess dress up and head out into the party.

When Frida falls, injuring herself in front of everyone at the party, Slater comes to her rescue.

The two become completely enamored with each other immediately, spending the whole night together until Slater is summonsed to go.

He, along with many friends will be taking a weeklong vacation on his private island.

Slater doesn't want to leave Frida's side, so he ends up coming back to invite Frida and Jess along.

They accept...and at first, everything is amazingly wonderful.

But as the days go by, and strange things begin to happen that no one seems to be able to remember, Frida gets worried that the vacation she's on isn't exactly a dream.

Stars Naomi Ackie , Channing Tatum, Tiffany Persons, Alia Shawkat, Aaron Himelstein, Saul Williams Kyle MacLachlan, Geena Davis, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Liz Caribel , Trew Mullen, Levon Hawke, Cris Costa, Maria Elena Olivares 

Directed by (& story partly written) Zoe Kravitz 

Rated R
THRILLER/MYSTERY

Martha (2024)

Released  October 30th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story : Martha Stewart is an extraordinary woman.

Here she tells us all about herself ,  giving us a great deal of information that not many people would have ever known before.

From her upbring , her early modeling , her short lived stockmarket career ,  marriage , and how rebuilding her and her husband's dream home while tackling gardening and raising a daughter created the woman she became.

While rebuilding their home, Martha began catering the most elaborate parties.

She was sought after for her amazing skills.

After going into business for herself , things in her professional life only got better.

Unfortuantely , her personal life took a turn for the worst.

But Martha persevered.

She went on and on, reigning over everything she put her hands on and becoming a complete success.

Martha's flight didnt quite come to an end until she went to prison.

But her story isnt over and she has become an even better person from all of those bad experiences.

Stars Martha Stewart 

Directed by RJ Cutler

Rated R
HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY/DOCUMENTARY

"I think imperfection is something we can deal with."

Speak No Evil (2024)

Released September 13th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Croatia.

The story: While on a family vacation, American Ben, Louise, and Agnes meet British family Paddy, Ciara, and Ant.

The two families begin bonding when Paddy finds Agnes' misplaced, beloved stuffed rabbit.

Paddy and Ciara invite Ben, Louise, and Agnes to their large, quiet countryside home for a relaxing weekend.

But things get strange quickly.

It doesn't help that Ant is the strangest of all, unable to speak but trying like hell to tell Ben, Louise, and Agnes something.

It isn't until Ant shows Agnes what is really going on at his home that Ben and Louise begin to worry that they are staying with and have befriended the wrong family.

Stars Scoot McNairy , Mackenzie Davis , Alix West Lefler , James McAvoy , Aisling Franciosi , Dan Hough , Kris Hitchen , Motaz Malhees , Jacob Hojlev Jorgensen 

Directed by (& story partly written) James Watkins

Rated R
REMAKE/MYSTERY/THRILLER

Curtains (1982)

 

Released March 4, 1983 in the US.

Filmed in Canada.

The story: Jonathan Striker is a very famous movie director.

Samantha Sherwood is an even more famous actress.

The two have worked together on all Striker's directorial efforts and his latest is said to be no different.

Samantha has decided that to study for her latest role as Audra in the upcoming Striker film, she needs to be admitted into a mental institution.

She does this with the help of Striker.

But while there, Samantha learns that Striker has just about forgotten about her.

He has invited six extremely eager to get the part-actresses to his home to audition for the part of Audra, which Samantha believes belongs to her.

When Samantha gets out of the institution with no help from Striker and arrives at his place as another one of his actress guests, people begin being killed off.

But no one knows that there is a killer to be aware of.

Stars Samantha Eggar , John Vernon , Kate Lynch , Joann McIntyre , Calvin Butler , Lynne Griffin , Lesleh Donaldson , Linda Thorson , Anne Ditchburn , Sandee Currie , Deborah Burgess , Booth Savage , Maury Chaykin Matthew Wincott , Diane Godwin , James Kidnie , Janelle Hutchinson

Directed by Richard Ciupka

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR

The Watchers (2024)

Released June 7th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Ireland.

The story: Mina is a troubled young woman who is going through the motions of daily life.

After hearing from her sister and not being able to get past their mother's tragic death 15 years ago, Mina has decided to skip town and try to find herself.

Along with her, Mina takes a special bird a co-worker gave her to watch while he is away.

She has no real connection to the bird, but if anything, it gives her someone to talk to.

Mina travels through a great forest. Once she gets into the heart of it, her radio shuts down, and her car stops running.

She sets out on foot into the forest with the bird in tow, looking for a nearby home to get help.

She finds nothing.

When she decides to go back to the car , she cannot find it.

Mina sits in the forest, contemplating dying there until she decides to try to find her car again.

Instead, she sees a woman who guides her into a shelter.

But that shelter comes with a price. A very steep, age-old price.

Stars Alistair Brammer, Dakota Fanning, Shane O Regan, Anthony Morris , Olwen Fouere , Georgina Campbell , Oliver Finnegan , Siobhan Hewlett , Hannah Dargan , Emily Dargan , John Lynch , Christian Bailey Rocks , Jim Tighe , Eabha Connolly, Zarmina McDermott , Thabile Michelle Hlongwane

Directed by (& story partly written) Ishana Shyamalan

Rated PG13

HORROR/MYSTERY/THRILLER/FANTASY