RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER

I wish I could say that the franchise ended with the best entry since the first but if I'm being honest, it didn't. It's still enjoyable but more on par with the other sequels just a little more amped up action wise. Jovovich returns for the final time as Alice and this time she's racing against time to try and release the antidote to the T Virus to save the last remaining pockets of human resistance. To do this she must travel back to where it all started in the Umbrella facility. Along the way she picks up a new bunch of victims and faces a whole bunch of new and old horrors. The movie is super action packed, it's a bit too much at times. The twists are intriguing and if the film had ended with the first epic finale it would have been a great send off for the series. That being said it's big, dumb fun and is a satisfying if somewhat expected send off to my beloved franchise.

Budget: $40m
Domestic Box Office: $27m
Worldwide Box Office: $312m

3.5/5

BLOOD NIGHT: LEGEND OF MARY HATCHET

This fun little slasher stars genre faves Bill Moseley (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) and Danielle Harris ( Halloween 4). It never got any buzz but if your into retro flicks it's definitely a good little gem. It centers around a young girl who kills her parents and than is committed to an institution. She is than raped by a guard and gives birth to a supposedly dead baby. In retaliation she goes on a brutal murder spree and is gunned down by police. Years later a group of teens have turned that day into a sort of dark holiday and end up resurrecting her. What follows is pretty by the numbers but it's also gory and s bunch of silly fun.

3.25/5

47 METERS DOWN: UNCAGED

I enjoyed this while in theaters but I found it a touch lackluster compared to the criminally underrated original. Upon watching it again I have to say I enjoyed it much more. Whereas the original film was a clever slow burn with a twist ending , this one is a full fledged roller coaster ride. It's all about the jumps and screams and stylish atmosphere. And the film is really fun and entertaining. The film centers on a group of girls who decide to explore an underwater city. While there, they become entrapped and are attacked by blind sharks. They quickly have to try and race to the surface before their air runs out. It's a silly movie but like I said it's very entertaining and delivers on the things that people want to see in a movie like this. Pure carnage.

Budget: $12m
Domestic Box Office: $22m
Worldwide Box Office: $47m

3.5/5

THE EXPELLED (AKA F)

Also known in the US as 'Expelled'. I've become a fan of Johannes Roberts over the last few years with his 47 meters films, other side of the door and the super underrated Strangers Prey at Night. So I've began searching out his earlier work. On Amazon Prime I found this flick and immediately bought it. Plot wise it seemt right up my alley as a group of teachers and a few students are attacked by some psychos in hooded sweaters. The movie is really suspenseful and edge of your seat and the atmosphere is thick with dread. Although it's limited by budgetary constraints and leads up to a realistic but lackluster finale. The movie leading up to it shows the promise of a successful career that he's fulfilled.

3.5/5

THE HUNT (2020)

So initially I forgot to review this when originally seeing it. Sadly it was the last thing I got to see it due to our current situation. That being said I've seen it twice so far and still pretty much feel the same that I did the first go around except enjoying it just a touch more. So the setup is simple, a few privileged, hypocritical liberals design a human hunt in which they target pigheaded Republicans supposedly. The movie wants to be a smarmy, clever satire but it never really commits to anything so the audience is left wavering. Performance wise Hilary Swank shines as always but the gold definitely goes to Betty Gilpin (Glow) who rules the movie. The movie is flooded with talk of somewhat exaggerated politics and leads to a questionable but I guess somewhat satisfying finale. Not for plot or rationales sake but for sheer entertainment value. Having the two women beat the crap out of eachother while spouting clever snippets makes the whole thing almost worthwhile. Well almost but it's still a bit of dark fun.

3.25/5

Budget: $18.2m
Domestic Box Office: $6m
Worldwide Box Office: $7m

KING COBRA (1999)

It's Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita of the Karate Kid) vs. A giant snake. I wish it was as awesome as it sounds. Instead it's a run of the mill killer snake flick with clumpy but appreciated practical effects and a whole bunch of nothing. Most of the deaths happen off screen and the action is kept to a minimum. I wish I could say there was even one thing engaging about this mess but sadly it's just a bore.

1/5

UNCAGED (PROOI 2016)

I've been waiting for this one to come to the States for a while. Originally released in 2016 and originally entitled ProoI a.k.a Prey. This Dutch creature feature has finally hit us and has been retitled Uncaged. It's a fairly generic title but its promise of satisfactory killer cat thrills is quite successful. The setup is simple as a killer lion attacks Amsterdam with a cast of quirky characters to try and help. The film is fun and gory but not overdone in any way. It's best watched with subtitles because the dubbing is a bit wonky. Although it never strives to be more than what it is, its definitely fun.

3.75/5