The written synopsis for “The Hunt” provides more information than the viewer will ever learn by watching this 89-minute-long spinning vortex. “The Hunt” is a catastrophic mashup of random, unexplained and unmotivated kills evidently “inspired” by trendy hate speak politics and anchored by quasi-snarky retorts. There is no plot. At the 3/4 mark I was shocked to assess the fact that there was nothing keeping this film together, or even moving toward, in resolution. This film is not a horror. It is not a Thriller. It is an empty, 89-minute-long, action “sequence”. “The Hunt” borrows everything it uses ineffectually. The result is an unsatisfying, unengaging and forgettable lump of celluloid. 1/5

Proof of the melo-dramatic writing, direction, and acting/delivery is uniformly self-evident when viewing this episode as a stand alone. This story is contrived and difficult to watch due to the over-the-top overall delivery. The Achilles tendon of this series will surely be its demise.

“Falling in Love” is truly a film to adore. As of today, this film is 26 years old, and it hasn’t aged a day. This is a classic tale of kismet and instant connections in a hectic and frayed world, filled to the waterline with obligations, responsibilities, and deeply hidden emotion. Pacino and Streep are at the top of their acting careers and their combined talent manifests itself in a film that is fluid and captivating. It is not a predictable Drama/Romance, but it is a slow burn. Streep is literally luminescent. Highly recommended.

The persistent, obnoxious, cacophony that attempts to pass jump scares seals the fate for this re-make of “Ju-On”. This film is an insult to horror fans everywhere. The sheer, ear drum piercing volume for the soundtrack is reminiscent of a toddler banging on a piano during a temper-tantrum. The acting relied solely on the soundtrack, so there’s is not much to say there other than it was pretty forced. This film was an absolute chore to watch. I wouldn’t even recommend it as background noise whilst doing the dishes.

The actors on this mini-series have all been of the highest, most believable caliber. The scenes are evenly weighted in every way, so that the viewer is completely drawn into the story without hesitation. The “season finale” is tragic, bone-chilling, mysterious, and sad. It balances the scales in many ways. Highly recommended viewing, time and again. 5/5 without hesitation.

I was completely drawn into this character study/horror. It’s not a paranormal, monster, or criminal horror. It’s the slow, whispering, evocative study of a pathology that controls and forces the protagonist to examine her life and the seemingly loving people she is surrounded by. I dismissed it on my first watch, realising I was not in the right mind set to watch it. Later, I watched it when I could give it my full attention. It is captivating in the most insidious sense.

I will always be grateful for what this series started… but it needs to give up the ghost. This has become a platform for social media and acceptance and not the gritty, horror and emotion driven graphic novel it was borne from. I will still watch occasionally, but it has lost it’s vital movement. The walking dead has lost its pulse for me.

Quirky, irreverent, strange and violent, heavily accented by a colourful visual display, “Guns Akimbo” with Daniel Radcliffe, shows how incredibly talented this actor is. Radcliffe has smashed his “Harry Potter” type cast to smithereens. Samara Weaving also demonstrates how the “pretty girl” type cast is rubbish to her, as she emerges bloody and cheeky on every level of this mesmerisingly in-your-face black comedy, action/thriller. Highly watchable violence and enjoyably diverse black comedy. If you’ve not seen Radcliffe’s other bids to acting excellence, check out “Horns” https://www.primewire.li/movie/737044-watch-horns, “Imperium” https://www.primewire.li/movie/1160890-watch-imperium, and “Jungle” https://www.primewire.li/movie/1142164-watch-jungle.

This is an amazing telling of the iconic gorilla researcher and friend, Dian Fossey. The actual footage and narration from Dian’s own notes (via Sigourney Weaver) is nothing short of spectacularly engaging. Although her murder was attributed to Wayne McGuire, there still remains speculation that he may not have been the one responsible for it. Although I am only on the first episode, it is peppered with interviews with her colleges and supporters as well as actual videos, photographs, journal entries and various hypothesis about the murder. I would highly recommend this series to anyone.

I am delighted to have the flamboyant and effervescent criminal lawyer Saul Goodman back in my life for another season of creative legal defense courtesy of the Breaking Bad anti-hero. These first two episodes have been nothing short of my expectations; brilliant!

I love the jaw-droppingly funny, sardonic, creative lunacy and never-ending shock-o-rama that is a living metaphor for all things broken, mended, grown-up and childish, i.e., this show. “Kidding” is diversely unique and defies any logical dissection or critical analysis. Seriously, I’m kidding. 5/5 for sure.

“Jojo Rabbit” has the ingenuity and overall total story and character immersement that other similar projects like “What We Do in the Shadows” and “Life Is Beautiful” have. I find it nearly impossible to describe the style and intention of this film with any precision because it is multi-faceted and one of a kind. All I can say is even if you are thinking of watching this film, but you’re putting it off (like I was), dive in. You will not regret it. It is a film that will leave you completely satisfied.

“Color Out of Space” is produced by Spectrevision (Elijah Wood is Creative Director), who also produced the visceral “Mandy” with Nic Cage. It is a high-end, Lovecraftian-based film which feels like a cross-between “Annihilation” and “The Thing”. It is loosely based on the short story by the same name by H.P. Lovecraft. The changes to the movie are extremely well done and fitting of a Lovecraft themed film. The cast is remarkably cohesive in their overall hysteria and strangeness which makes the acting top-notch. Cage is as weird in this one as he was in “Mandy”. It is NOT a film for those who do not like the in your face, disturbing visuals that Lovecraft is known for. Highly recommended for Lovecraft aficionados.

The episode is about the protests in China and those specifically at PolyU (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University). I found it to be an informative, riveting and emotional experience to watch. There are not adequate words to express what these brave young adults are going through. At 26 minutes and 38 seconds in length it is something everyone should watch.

I really enjoyed this episode, it is a good example of how this show has a lot of depth. It demonstrates how humane the police are in this part of the country, and it always provides bits of information on Alaska itself. For instance, in the last 10 years, 5 million acres have burned in Alaska as it is heating up twice as fast as the rest of the country. 5 million acres in larger than the state of Massachusetts. It’s mind boggling.

This tragic story of trusting the wrong person is also feature in “On the Case with Paula Zahn” Season 19, Episode 3. The episode for this show is not told identically to the other, which is nice for anyone that’s seen the Paula Zahn version. The case is not “nice”, though. It is tragic and sick and demonstrates a true sociopath that gained the trust of this young woman in order to murder her. The lying and manipulation are horrific. The sentence the killer was issued seems to pale in contrast to what happened. It is a miscarriage of justice, in my opinion.

Despite the glitzy, almost sensationalistic introduction to each episode, this series is incredibly interesting and fun to watch. If you are an adventure enthusiast or an animal lover, or both, this series is entertaining and informative. I’ve watched all of season one and am now eagerly awaiting season two. I could easily skip the episode introduction however, it can be more than a bit irritating.

Anyone who goes to any lengths to cover up child abuse and protect an abuser should hang their head in shame and be removed from society. The Jehovah’s Witnesses elders who do it on the behalf of their [cult] religion make me physically ill. Internal hush documents and hush procedures for the families of victims of abuse are absolutely disgusting and mind boggling. In my experience and knowledge of this religion it is a cult, full stop, and serves people who exploit and abuse children and women. This is a horrific case, but worth watching for the knowledge it provides. We all need to open our eyes.

Essentially, this episode is based on the FACT that many people have disappeared or been murdered and mutilated in the town(s) of Port Chatham (it’s actually two towns and includes Portlock), Alaska, since the 1930’s. Originally, this was a cannery town, like many port towns in Alaska. Many of the “disappeared” would wash up on the shore, mutilated/dismembered. In 1949 most of the inhabitants left the town, and today, the town remains a “ghost town”. The reasons that most of the people left was not only due to the disappearances/murders/mutilations, but to many unexplained sightings of humanoid-like, hair-covered, huge, aggressive bipedal creatures. This is the accepted reason for the mass exodus. The episode [weakly] attempts to construct a “team” of researchers, giving them authoritative sounding “credentials”, but ultimately failing to connect science with speculation and experience with obsession. The editing in the episode leaves a lot to be desired, as well. I would like further research into these towns and what actually happened there, but it will take more than just a cursory, fly-through and more of a committed living and studying endeavor.

This episode had me on the edge of my seat, arguing with the characters! I absolutely loved it. I am thrilled to have such a wonderful, horror/crime/mystery to watch. This series has not disappointed (so far) in being one of the best Stephen King adaptations to date. I will definitely be binging the whole thing once it is completed. Highly recommended for Stephen King fans.

These episodes are getting ever more ambiguous and meandering. Nothing is revealed on their travels, and supposed discoveries/clues are left behind. Rather than investigate (supposed) first-hand phenomena, they run away. The final assessment of the last 3 episodes on the final summation has been… nothing. Nothing is learned, nothing is exposed and nothing is what the viewer is left with. After an adequate start, this series has digressed beyond redemption.

All I can say is “WOW”. Season Two has a running start and seems to be keeping the momentum of Season One. The sardonic wit and emotional observations are incredible. I see Jason Bateman is an Executive Producer, as well. I love this show. It is original and FULL. Highly recommended!

Unfortunately the mainstream, generic approach to this series has thus far (4 episodes in) made it cliché in writing and direction. I am largely un-engaged and find each episode a chore to watch. I hope it improves, but that’s hoping for a lot to change.

The first 25 minutes of this film are spooky and mysterious. Immediately after the husband finds the door the film diverges into constant nonsense. I felt as if the intended direction of the film had been completely cut off and replaced by a gratuitous YouTube video that was meant to promote some type of alcohol. I wouldn’t even recommend this film for even a one time watch. It’s truly rubbish.

This episode is intriguing from the standpoint of the historical significance of the Galapagos. Floreana truly was (and still is) the perfect place to get away with murder. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to live in such remote and inhospitable circumstances. The phrase “survival of the fittest” wasn’t coined there for nothing.

“What has been seen cannot be unseen.” This film uses shock tactics, rather than suspense, thrills, or scares. I was not frightened, I was disgusted. The intentionally dissociative and hokey beginning worked very well, when the outrageous shock tactics began they were tolerable, by the third act, they were offensive and unnecessary. To me, this is lazy story telling. There’s no real story here for me. It stayed with me in a very negative way. If you want a shock jock film, this one is it, otherwise, it has little to offer after the 2nd act.

The novella “The Turn of the Screw” has been made into a film countless times. To be honest, this adaptation/version is the hollowest one I’ve seen to date. There was nothing engaging or even remotely sinister or frightening about it. It’s a complete failure on the suspense level. The cast looks as if they from 4 or 5 different films; they are “play” acting the entire film. Literally, I was bored after 40 minutes. There is little resemblance to the novella, especially in the conclusion. I would not recommend this film unless you are desperate and have laundry to fold or your nails to paint.

This film deserves 5 stars, without a doubt. It’s truly a masterpiece that stays with the individual long after the viewing. The film is made to appear to be a single-shot, which greatly enhances the viewers’ emotional experience and involvement. The action is nearly non-stop, and this is where the single-shot approach literally sweeps the viewer up in the current of the entire film. It does not matter if you know World War History or not, this film is truly for everyone that enjoys an exceptionally crafted film. Suspend your doubts until the end when all has been revealed. This film is not to be missed. I am grateful to have seen it.

I’m concurrently reading the namesake novel by Stephen King whilst watching this adaptation/series develop. I have to make note that this is one of the best (possibly the best, but I’m only 3 episodes in) SK adaptations to date. It is FULL in the most complimentary sense. From the musical score to the dialog and the way the camera literally follows each character, this series is being communicated in a way that is incredibly rewarding to watch. I am holding my breath though, there’s a long way to go. I would encourage any Crime/Horror fan to take a peek of what has been released so far. Here’s to hoping the excellence continues!