Movies, Film, and Chili

Hell House LLC is written and directed by Stephen Cognetti , and it has just about everything you would expect from a found footage horror movie. It takes far too long to get to the horror. There are long, drawn out scenes dedicated to character building, but the cast is so large that it becomes difficult to tell most of the characters apart. It also feels strange that nearly thirty minutes pass before another female character gets much attention, leaving the cast feeling unbalanced. The dialogue often comes across as improvised, as if  Cognetti simply told the actors to hang out and banter until something scary happened. The biggest problem with the first half is how little actually happens. The characters spend so much time talking that the movie starts to feel like a home video of friends preparing for a haunted house attraction rather than a horror film. Some of the dialogue is downright cringe worthy, especially when one of the guys repeatedly asks a female character to go t...

Whalefall is a suspense drama written and directed by Brian Duffield , known for directing Spontaneous and No One Will Save You . The film brings Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin together again after Weapons , this time in a story that combines a strained father-son relationship with a claustrophobic survival thriller. The movie does a good job balancing flashbacks with the increasingly terrifying situation in the present. There are some genuinely tense moments that make you feel trapped alongside the main character, and the flashbacks give the story some much-needed breathing room. Austin Abrams , who has had a great run with Weapons last year and Resident Evil this year, is quickly becoming one of Hollywood's go to leading men. He does a great job carrying the film, balancing the physical demands of the survival story with the emotional baggage his character brings into it. He has a natural screen presence that makes him easy to root for, and this is another strong performance...

The Lazarus Effect is a film I never got around to watching when it was released in 2015 so seeing it eleven years later certainly makes for an interesting experience. Directed by David Gelb , best known for the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi , the film tries to blend scientific experimentation with supernatural horror. Unfortunately, it spends far too much time explaining the science behind its premise and not nearly enough time making any of it frightening. There is an interesting concept buried underneath all the exposition, but the movie seems more concerned with explaining how everything works than actually scaring its audience. Olivia Wilde , known for Tron: Legacy and House , is probably the film's biggest asset, though not necessarily because of her acting. She has a screen presence that keeps the movie interesting whenever she is around, and the direction wisely seems to understand that she is more effective on screen than some of her costars. Unfortunately, the film d...

You Can See Everything is a documentary about Elizabeth Holmes and the thirty four days leading up to her imprisonment. Directed by Nathan Fielder , best known for Nathan for You , the film brings his trademark dry delivery and sense of humor to a story that is already absurd enough to be a comedy. There are plenty of comedic moments, but most of them come from watching Holmes and the people around her behave in ways that are difficult to believe. Her husband, Billy Evans , is just as fascinating to watch, and not necessarily for the right reasons. The dynamic between Elizabeth Holmes and Billy Evans is one of the most interesting aspects of the documentary. Both come across as strange characters, and the film constantly makes you question whether they are genuinely insane together or simply master manipulators. The documentary provides enough evidence to support either interpretation, but never quite gives you a definitive answer. That ambiguity is part of what makes the relation...

Street Fighter pays plenty of homage to the games and even the 1994 movie of the same name. Written by Dalan Musson , the screenwriter behind Captain America: Brave New World , and directed by Kitao Sakurai , who previously directed Eric Andre in Bad Trip , the movie clearly understands that Street Fighter is supposed to be ridiculous. Eric Andre brings his usual childish humor to a movie that often feels like it was made for teenage boys rather than the people who actually grew up playing these games. The choreography is great, but the direction is all over the place. I am part of the target demographic for a Street Fighter movie, but I am clearly not the demographic this film was trying to reach. I know it's easy to say you're a fan, so here's my achievement tracker for Street Fighter IV. Noah Centineo is a great Ken Masters . He has the charisma and personality needed to play the character, and he does a good job capturing the cocky attitude that makes Ken entertai...

R.L. Stine's Pumpkinhead 2 is directed by Jem Garrard , who once again shows that she is a solid director. With a decent script this time around, the sequel makes for a genuinely enjoyable kids' horror movie. Usually, the second film in a series struggles to live up to the original, but Garrard has improved considerably as both a filmmaker and storyteller. Her ability to pace scenes and frame shots makes this a noticeable step up from the first movie, and I am starting to think she is a director worth keeping an eye on. Bean Reid has improved considerably since the original, giving the lead character a more confident and believable performance. The same goes for Adeline Lo , who plays the tomboy Becka . Their chemistry and performances make the characters easier to invest in, which is important for a horror movie aimed at younger audiences. Both actors feel more comfortable in their roles, and that improvement helps the sequel feel more polished. Matty Finochio is another h...