Thanksgiving (2023)

Thanksgiving is a horror movie set around the titular North American holiday set in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Written and directed by Eli Roth, the film is very much influenced by Halloween, Scream, and I Know What You Did Last Summer. This isn't Roth's first horror movie either as you probably know him from Hostel or perhaps the under-rated Cabin Fever. I enjoyed the writing very much as there were so many tropes and hints that horror fans would love.

The main character and expected "final girl" is Nell Verlaque. This is her first major film as almost no one has even heard of the movie The Marijuana Conspiracy that was buried back in 2020. She's pretty, the best actress of the bunch, and rather tall which makes the love interest Bobby, played by the 5-inches shorter Jalen Thomas Brooks. Their on-screen chemistry wasn't very good.

Disney's Zombies, Milo Manheim, plays another love interest and the last part of the love triangle. He does a better job playing the character, there was a major red herring in the film revolving around him but I won't spoil what happens with his character although I enjoyed how Roth wrote his partial arc. He certainly shows he has the most acting experience next to the Police Sherrif played by Grey's Anatomy's Patrick Dempsey.

After leaving I was very happy with the story and future of the film as a franchise. As I reflected more on the ride home the rating lowered as I thought more about the "teenager's" acting. This film fails to cast a good main character as Scream, Halloween, and I Know What You Did Last Summer did. Nell Verlaque while beautiful needs more acting lessons. The film is still good. Result: B

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Exit 8 (2026)

Exit 8 is directed by Genki Kawamura , who is best known as the producer of Your Name. , though his work as a director may be less familiar. The film leans into a minimalist premise, building tension through repetition and unease rather than large set pieces. It succeeds in creating an atmosphere that keeps you alert, with a structure that slowly reveals its rules and stakes. While the story ultimately comes together in a satisfying way, the journey there can feel a bit too restrained to stay consistently engaging. Kazunari Ninomiya , known for Gantz and Letters from Iwo Jima , carries much of the film on his own. His performance fits the tone well, grounded and reactive in a way that matches the film’s quiet tension. He does a solid job making small moments feel important, though the script doesn’t always give him enough variety to fully showcase his range. Still, he keeps the film watchable even when the pacing slows. Overall, Exit 8 is a well-constructed film that nails its ten...

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)

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Saltburn (2023)

Saltburn is about an Oxford student who is thrown into the world of his aristocratic classmate when he goes to his family's estate for the summer. Director Emerald Fennell lets you know this film is about homosexuals with the opening line. I really enjoyed Promising Young Woman , and so my hopes were high. It is set in 2006 which I adamantly remember since that was my graduating year. Perhaps people in England dressed that way but here in the States, we dressed very differently. Berry Keoghan plays the socially awkward main character who seemingly gets taken into this world of luxury and friendship that causes him to do some extreme things. He's not your traditionally handsome man and for some reason keeps getting roles. I mean he was good in The Banshees of Inisherin but no one remembers him in Dunkirk. Even in Banshees, he was just a weird and annoying character though. Jacob Elordi plays the love interest who has the charm to get any girl he wants. You...

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