Movies, Film, and Chili

Colony is written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho , the director behind the cult classic Train to Busan . While Train to Busan has become the more celebrated film, Colony shows how much Yeon has improved as both a writer and a director. The story is stronger, the filmmaking feels more confident, and the way he builds the world gives the movie more substance than I expected going in. Jun Ji-hyun is the clear standout of the cast. She does a fantastic job conveying emotion through subtle movements and expressions rather than relying on exaggerated acting. That is not surprising considering she is one of South Korea's best actresses, but she still manages to make the character feel grounded and believable. She carries much of the emotional weight of the film. I did not recognize many of the other actors, and unfortunately, none of them really stood out enough to make much of an impression. That is not necessarily a knock against the cast as much as it is a testament to how much Jun ...

The Dog Stars is directed by Ridley Scott , which certainly gives the post-apocalyptic film some serious filmmaking pedigree. Unfortunately, the movie starts off very, very slow, taking its time before it really gives the audience much to latch onto. Once it gets going, though, the performances help carry it, particularly the natural charm of its lead. Jacob Elordi brings a lot of charm to the film, which is especially important considering how slow the story develops. His presence gives the movie some much needed vibe and makes it easier to stay invested in the character even when the pacing is dragging. He's continuing to improve his performances even after Frankenstein. Josh Brolin continues to prove that he can make a strong impression in supporting roles. Much like his work in Weapons , he brings a level of confidence and presence that helps elevate the scenes he is in. He may not be the main focus of the movie, but he is one of those actors who can make a supporting role f...

Cold Storage (2026) is a sci fi horror thriller that surprised me in a good way. The writing is solid enough that it actually calmed some of my worries about Disclosure Day coming later this year since the same writer is involved. The story holds together and stays engaging, even when the visuals do not. The CG is laughably bad at times, but the acting/chemistry keeps the movie watchable. Jonny Campbell directs, with the screenplay by David Koepp , known for Jurassic Park and Spider-Man . His writing here is tighter than expected, which is why it gives me more confidence about Disclosure Day. The direction is straightforward and lets the script do most of the work, even if the effects budget clearly limits what can be shown on screen. He needs a redemption after  Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Joe Keery , known for Stranger Things and Free Guy , is the main reason I showed up. He proves he can handle a leading role after Stranger Things and carries the film with a relax...

We Bury The Dead (2026) is a slow burn post apocalypse film centered on grief more than horror. Directed by Zak Hilditch , best known for smaller projects like 1922 and Rattlesnake , this is his first step into a larger American production. You can feel the restraint in the direction, sometimes to the film’s benefit and sometimes to its detriment. The pacing is deliberate, almost stubbornly so, and while the mood is consistent, it rarely escalates into anything memorable. Daisy Ridley , best known for Star Wars: The Force Awakens , carries the film as a woman searching for her missing husband who may or may not have turned into a zombie. Ridley is solid and emotionally grounded, doing the best she can with minimal dialogue and long stretches of quiet reflection. Her performance is never the problem. If anything, she is the primary reason the movie remains watchable. The supporting cast is where the film struggles. Nearly every side character is written as painfully one note, existi...

Mom and Dad  is about two teenagers who try to survive a zombie-like apocalypse that causes mothers and fathers to attempt to murder their children in whatever "happening" manner. Mom and Dad is written and directed by Brian Taylor . Taylor is best known for the Crank movies and Gamer. Those were high action, adrenaline filled thrill rides and Mom and Dad is no exception. The pacing of the film is intentionally fast and once you think you're done with one scene it melds into another heart-racing scene. Selma Blair plays the bigger part in the film as the Mom of two. She has a complicated relationship with her daughter and with her husband. There are little interactions with her son as that is saved for Cage's character. She's better than I expected, especially since I haven't seen her act since Hellboy II. Nicolas Cage is a hit or miss actor and this movie has Cage dialed to eleven. His quirks and ticks are back as well as the extreme back and forth em...

Death Race 2050 is about a government-sanctioned race to help with population control. Competitors race and score points for murdering people with their car. Death Race 2050 is written and directed by G. J. Echternkamp. There are many directorial flaws that people learn in film school. The writing is laughably bad. Here's a quote from one of the more idiotic characters Jed Perfectus "Why can't they see me as I see myself? A kind gentle soul imprisoned by abs of steel." Echternkamp has directed other films, but after watching this I doubt I'll look forward to them. Manu Bennett  plays Frankenstein in this film. He's not really recognizable for the regular movie going audience but I remember him from Arrow (Deathstroke) and The Hobbit trilogy where he played Azog. He's the better actor in a film with a bunch of nobodies. The only exception to those nobodies is Malcolm McDowell who probably got the highest paycheck for this film. He's kind of kno...

Released January 5th, 2018, Day of the Dead: Bloodline is about the zombie apocalypse and the lengths a woman will go to help her friends. This was the director, Hector Hernandez Vicens', first real attempt at a feature film, if that's what you'd call this. He also did a movie called The Corpse of Anna Fritz which I had never even heard of. Stick to writing Vicens, you've already proven yourself there. He wrote a movie called Phoenix 11-23. Zoe Parker, played by Sophie Skelton , is a medical student who's stuck having to draw the blood of someone she has already reported to have been creeped out by. The choices bosses make in movies are odd, but then again this is a B-zombie-movie. On a side note, she's pretty. On an even sider note, if that's even a phrase, look at the name of the actress and the character. Sophie Skelton looks like the made-up name while Zoe Parker seems the more normal. Get it together UK. When watching the beginning I was thril...