The Housemaid (2025)

The Housemaid (2025) is directed by Paul Feig, best known for comedies like Bridesmaids and Freaks and Geeks, and the tonal clash is noticeable. Feig leans into slick presentation and surface-level tension, but the film never quite reconciles its thriller ambitions with its obvious messaging. As an adaptation, it feels safer and more predictable than it wants to be, especially given how clearly it telegraphs its twists.

Sydney Sweeney, known for Euphoria and Anyone But You, plays a down-on-her-luck woman recently out on parole who is desperate for work. She does what she can with the role and brings some emotional weight early on, but the writing limits her range. Her character cycles through bashful and annoyed so often that it starts to feel repetitive rather than psychologically layered.

Amanda Seyfried, recognizable from Mamma Mia! and Mean Girls, plays the wealthy woman whose life slowly unravels as the power dynamic flips. Seyfried is solid and more controlled than Sweeney, and she understands how to play restraint better than the script deserves. The reversal between the two women is clearly meant to be clever, but it never lands with the impact the film thinks it has.

The male character, played by Brandon Sklenar, at the center of the story is written as almost comically perfect, which makes the central twist painfully obvious. The film relies on a bait-and-switch structure that assumes the audience will miss glaring red flags, and that assumption ultimately undercuts any tension. By the time the reveal arrives, it feels less like a shock and more like confirmation.

Overall, the performances are competent, but the screenplay is too on-the-nose and predictable to be effective. The film moves efficiently, but efficiency is not the same as suspense, and the story never digs deep enough to justify its themes. Result: C+

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Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is directed by Jon Favreau , known for Iron Man and Chef , with much of the story influence clearly coming from Dave Filoni , known for Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Ahsoka . Unfortunately, the film falls into the same “and then” style of storytelling that hurts many modern franchise films, where scenes feel stitched together without enough meaningful progression. Entire stretches of the movie, particularly long sequences involving Grogu wandering through a forest, feel padded and lacking purpose. Instead of building momentum, the film drifts from moment to moment without ever creating a compelling central narrative. Pedro Pascal , known for The Last of Us and Narcos , once again plays the Mandalorian, though his presence feels strangely limited. It is difficult not to notice how often the character appears disconnected physically and vocally, giving the impression that Pascal himself may not have been involved in large portions of the performa...

Passenger (2026)

Passenger is directed by André Øvredal , known for The Autopsy of Jane Doe and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark , with a script by Zachary Donohue and T.W. Burgess . The film centers around a demonic presence tied closely to the title itself, and when it focuses directly on the horror elements, it works surprisingly well. Øvredal still understands how to stage tension and build effective scares, but the material between those moments struggles to stay engaging. The pacing slows considerably whenever the horror steps aside, leaving the film feeling uneven overall. Jacob Scipio , known for Bad Boys for Life and Expend4bles , takes on the boyfriend role but never fully feels like someone the audience naturally roots for. Whether intentional or not, his screen presence lacks the vulnerability or charisma needed to carry the quieter sections of the film. He handles the horror scenes competently enough, but the emotional connection never really forms. Lou Llobell , known for Foundatio...

Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026)

Lee Cronin's The Mummy is directed by surprise-surprise Lee Cronin , best known for Evil Dead Rise , and his style is immediately recognizable. The film plays less like a traditional Mummy story and more like a modern possession horror with a different skin. It often feels like a “what if Evil Dead involved a mummy,” leaning heavily into familiar genre beats rather than carving out something distinct. The tone prioritizes intensity and shock, with a focus on gore over sustained dread, which keeps it engaging in moments but limits its ability to build true horror. Jack Reynor , known for Midsommar and Sing Street , plays the father figure at the center of the chaos. His performance is solid and grounded, fitting well within the expectations of the genre. He brings a level of sincerity that helps anchor the film, even as the story follows a fairly predictable path. His arc plays out in a way that will feel familiar to anyone who has seen possession films like The Exorcist , but ...

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