Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Evil Dead Rise is a fresh take on the Evil Dead formula. Ditching the cabin in the woods setting for a floor on a California apartment that is inescapable.

Written and directed by Lee Cronin, the film lacks building interesting characters. The children, for the most part, are just cookie-cutter stereotypes. This allows the actors to bring what they can to the roles since they can't rely on the writing. In terms of direction, the film isn't scary. It's tense sure, but that isn't why horror fans go to see these films. Studios shouldn't give new franchises to directors who put forth mediocre work like Ghost Train.

Alyssa Sutherland does the best in terms of acting. She totally loses herself in the role. Being able to be maliciously nurturing one second and totally off the wall horrific the next. The makeup department does a great job on her face too, allowing her to still be very expressive but also know that something is wrong with Mommy. Her acting makes me want to go watch, the tv show, Vikings.

The most expressive child I've seen in a while was the youngest daughter played by Nell Fisher. She hasn't really done too much in the past but I'll keep a look out for what she does as she grows up in Hollywood. Let's hope it doesn't eat her alive like other child actors.

Result: it passed the time and wasn't boring, C+. It's okay.

Comments

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...

Movies, Film, and Chili

Search This Blog