The Strangers: Chapter 2 (2025)

The Strangers: Chapter 2 (2025) is directed by Renny Harlin, who also helmed The Strangers: Chapter 1 earlier in the year. Much like its predecessor, this sequel leans into style and shock value, but Harlin does a slightly better job balancing tension with atmosphere. Filmed back-to-back-to-back with the rest of the trilogy over 52 days in Slovakia, the production feels rushed but not without improvement.

Madelaine Petsch, known for Riverdale and Sightless, returns as the lead and noticeably carries the film. Her performance is sharper this time, showing more range and conviction despite the quick filming turnaround. She brings much-needed emotional weight that the script itself often lacks.

Ema Horvath, who appeared in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and What Lies Below, gets more focus here. While her character is central to the story, the writing doesn’t give her much depth beyond moving the plot along. Still, she holds her own against the chaos.

Richard Brake, and don't get him confused for Jackie Earle Haley, recognizable from Mandy and Game of Thrones, makes another appearance and feels like he may be set up as a red herring leading into Chapter 3. His presence adds menace, but his role is left deliberately vague.

Everyone else in the film is either a disposable suspect or killed off in mere seconds, highlighting the franchise’s slasher-style efficiency but also its lack of character investment. Overall, the film is an improvement over Chapter 1, though the bar was low to begin with. It provides a stronger sense of tension but still feels like a stepping stone to the finale. Result: C+

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Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie (2026)

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie is another cookie-cutter entry in the Paw Patrol franchise, so there isn't much to say about the story itself. This time, the focus is on Marshall, the team's resident firefighter, or perhaps "firedog" in this case. The movie is wholesome and delivers exactly what you'd expect from a Paw Patrol film, even if it doesn't do much to distinguish itself from the previous entries. Mckenna Grace voices Skye, although you would never know it from the performance. Her voice is so normal for the character that Grace's usual presence is virtually unrecognizable. Terry Crews , on the other hand, voices Alistair Stonewall, and you can definitely tell it's him. His recognizable voice and personality come through clearly and make the character more memorable. Snoop Dogg also makes a fun cameo as Dave, the owner of a yacht who enjoys fishing. It's a small role, but his recognizable voice and personality make it a welcome surprise. T...

The End of Oak Street (2026)

The End of Oak Street starts with Anne Hathaway immediately establishing herself as the film's strongest performer, especially when compared to the wooden performance from Ewan McGregor . The premise of a writer struggling with an unsupportive spouse hits close to home for me. The split-focus direction from David Robert Mitchell isn't particularly new or uniquely executed. Instead, it often feels disorienting without accomplishing what I assume was the intention. Mitchell also struggles with the screenplay, as the dialogue can be atrocious at times and boring the rest of the time. This isn't his first failed attempt at writing interesting characters, which makes it understandable why he hasn't written or directed anything in eight years. Anne Hathaway is easily the best part of the film. She brings enough personality and emotional weight to keep the movie watchable despite the material surrounding her. Unfortunately, even Hathaway can't carry the entire film. Ew...

Sleepwalker (2026)

Sleepwalker is a horror thriller written and directed by Brandon Auman , who quickly reminds us why his career has primarily been in television rather than feature films. Writing for children's television can sometimes get away with simplistic dialogue and storytelling, but those weaknesses become glaring when stretched into a feature-length horror movie. The screenplay is filled with clunky dialogue and predictable horror beats, while the jump scares rarely land. Instead of creating tension, the film repeatedly left me sighing in boredom. Hayden Panettiere delivers a strong performance despite the material she's been given. It's clear that many of her lines weren't written with much care, but she does what she can to make the character feel believable. Knowing this is her final film makes the performance bittersweet, especially because she deserved a much better script to go out on. Fortunately, her performance here doesn't diminish the work she's done in bet...

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