Movies I've Seen From 2023
A list of movies released in 2023/still in their initial run during 2023 that I have seen.
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- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJason SchwartzmanScarlett JohanssonTom HanksFollowing a writer on his world famous fictional play about a grieving father who travels with his tech-obsessed family to small rural Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing event, only to have his world view disrupted forever.10/10: The writing is fantastic, the style and atheistic are engaging, and the acting is superb. The personality of the town and the characters are all strong, and it takes an interesting look at a number of themes.
- DirectorTakashi YamazakiStarsMinami HamabeRyunosuke KamikiSakura AndôPost war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.9/10: It's a nearly perfect movie with some egregiously noticeable nitpicks and an ending that harms the overall films. On a whole, the acting is fantastic, the story and themes are stellar, and the effects are wonderful.
- DirectorSofia CoppolaStarsCailee SpaenyJacob ElordiAri CohenWhen teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend.9/10: The film feels very real. It's about obsessiveness and objectification, and it handles those themes with understanding and care. It's a very slice of life movie, showing how things happened and allowing the audience to react without telling them how they should. The tone is perfect, showcasing Priscilla's involvement as somewhat of a love story (with the music cues, ect.) and the real harsh reality of the relationship. All of the performances are stellar, with the exception of Jacob Elordi who's still great but hard to understand at times.
- DirectorAlexander PayneStarsPaul GiamattiDa'Vine Joy RandolphDominic SessaA cranky history teacher at a prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a grieving cook and a troubled student who has no place to go.9/10: It's a well written slice-of-life story with compelling characters. The acting is superb and the tone is near perfect. The film does dwell into schmaltzy "It's Christmas" territory on several occasions, but it's otherwise grounded.
- DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseHayley AtwellVing RhamesEthan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.8/10: The premise and action set-pieces are a lot of fun, and the directing and cinematography adds to that and the tension. The characters, both new and old, are engaging and add to the action sequences and plot. The most egregious complaint is that some scenes feel very much repetitive.
- DirectorGareth EdwardsStarsJohn David WashingtonMadeleine Yuna VoylesGemma ChanAgainst the backdrop of a war between humans and robots with artificial intelligence, a former soldier finds the secret weapon, a robot in the form of a young child.8/10: While the character aspect is underdeveloped, it balances fun and dry sci-fi excellently, providing tension and intrigue. The acting is strong, the ideas are interesting, and the filmmaking is impeccable. There's great world building and attention to detail as well.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsMichael FassbenderTilda SwintonCharles ParnellAfter a fateful near-miss, an assassin battles his employers and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn't personal.8/10: It's ultimately an emotionless movie, which seems to be what it wants, but it doesn't necessarily work. Michael Fassbender is great, tension reigns galore, and the set pieces are all well-executed. The biggest complement for the movie is that what should be the "boring," wait for something to happen" scenes are the most engaging because of Fassbender's inner monologue.
- DirectorMatt Bettinelli-OlpinTyler GillettStarsCourteney CoxMelissa BarreraJenna OrtegaIn the next installment, the survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.8/10: It's easily the best of the franchise since the original 2 movies. It has some good ideas with the characters and strong themes to string everything together. The slasher elements are fun, and the meta stuff fits well with what "Scream" is supposed to be. It does feel a little safe at points when it comes to the characters, which does detract from the horror elements.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsCillian MurphyEmily BluntMatt DamonThe story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.7/10: It's a three hour biopic that, thanks to its technical aspects and the acting, never feels its length. All of the actors are fantastic, especially Murphy and RDJ, the way the story is told is engaging, the writing is superb, and there are some really powerful scenes. The biggest issue is the sound and editing. The sound can be overbearing to the point where dialogue can't be heard, and the editing is so quick paced that scenes rarely have time to breath.
- DirectorGreta GerwigStarsMargot RobbieRyan GoslingIssa RaeBarbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.7/10: Despite some blatantness with the writing, the movie is very solid. The acting is fantastic, the aesthetics are wonderful, the humor is enjoyable, and the premise is engaging.
- DirectorCory FinleyStarsAsante BlackkTiffany HaddishKylie RogersWhen an occupying alien species' bureaucratic rule and advanced technology leaves most of Earth impoverished and unemployed, two teenagers hatch a risky plan to ensure their families' futures.7/10: Despite some weak dialogue and blatant messages, it's held up by its strong performances and characters, interesting premise, score, and handling of themes.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioRobert De NiroLily GladstoneWhen oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.7/10: For 3.5 hours, it doesn't feel its length. The movie is engaging, well edited, well directed, and mostly well acted. DiCaprio is here or there depending on the scene, but the remainder of the cast, especially Lily Gldstone, is fantastic. It can be hard to understand the dialogue and time-frame of things at time.
- DirectorTim StoryStarsGrace ByersJermaine FowlerMelvin GreggSeven friends go away for the weekend and end up trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. Will their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies help them stay alive? Probably not.7/20: It's held up by its strong performances and dialogue, and it can be pretty funny at points, but it does get weighed down by some lackluster character elements, predictability, and how it fizzles into a standard horror slasher instead of the satire it's trying to be.
- DirectorRob SavageStarsSophie ThatcherChris MessinaVivien Lyra BlairStill reeling from the tragic death of their mother, a teenage girl and her younger sister find themselves plagued by a sadistic presence in their house and struggle to get their grieving father to pay attention before it's too late.7/10: It's a fairly generic horror movie that's elevated by its themes, style, and characters. A few moments of these miss the mark (especially the main character's friend), but it's strong overall.
- DirectorEli RothStarsPatrick DempseyTy OlssonGina GershonAfter a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts - the birthplace of the infamous holiday.7/10: It has great style and effects, and the directing and editing is superb. Story and character-wise, it doesn't rise above a generic slasher film, and some of the kills don't feel earned, deserved, or sensical, in the long run. The movie is also over-stuffed wiht characters who are either bland leads, borderline nonexistent red-herrings, or the worst and most annoying people imaginable.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattChukwudi IwujiBradley CooperStill reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.6/10: It provides a nice wrap-up to the characters and story that's existed over the past three films, and it has an interesting sci-fi concept to keep things moving along. Some of the character stuff is feels forced or is very predictable, the use of music isn't as strong as the first two movies, there are character actions that feel contradictory at times, and certain comedic or emotional beats--while they work in that tone--sometimes underplay the bigger issues at stake.
- DirectorAndré ØvredalStarsCorey HawkinsAisling FranciosiLiam CunninghamA crew sailing from Varna (Bulgaria) by the Black Sea to England find that they are carrying very dangerous cargo.6/20: The technical aspects are wonderful (sound, cinematography, set design, etc.), but it suffers from weak characters and writing. The acting from Corey Hawkins and Liam Cunningham are fantastic, but there's nothing else to elevate the cast or characters beyond being cannon-fodder for the vampire to pick off.
- DirectorNeil BurgerStarsDaisy RidleyBen MendelsohnBrooklynn PrinceA woman seeks revenge against the man who kidnapped her mother.6/10: It's a tightly written film with strong acting and engaging cinematography. The characters are fairly one-note, with the husband character in particular being confusing (it's seemingly implied in the beginning that he's abusive towards Ridley's character, but that aspect never comes up again).
- DirectorLee CroninStarsMirabai PeaseRichard CrouchleyAnna-Maree ThomasA twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.6/10: The story works well on a thematic level, and the characters are well written, but the movie does start to drag in the third act, and while set-up-and-pay-off is important to a story, this movie goes above and beyond with it to a ridiculous extent.
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghMichelle YeohJamie DornanIn post-World War II Venice, Poirot, now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a seance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer.6/10: It's very inconsistent on a technical level, ranging from good to bad on editing, cinematography, writing, etc. I's decently acted and the mystery and story is intriguing.
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsRachel ZeglerTom BlythViola DavisCoriolanus Snow mentors and develops feelings for the female District 12 tribute during the 10th Hunger Games.6/10: It's a very well-made but underdeveloped movie: Snow's arc feels rushed at points, elements of the Hunger Games are just reusing things from the original movies, and it can be needlessly referential at points. The strong acting and ideas in the first two-thirds of the movie are what keep it together. While the third act raps everything up nicely, it's easily the weakest point in the movie.
- DirectorGédéon NaudetJules NaudetStarsLiz CheneyNancy PelosiSteven SundFollows the events of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th of 2021, told by those who witnessed the chaos firsthand.6/10: It's 2.5 hours of everything we already knew, but with new interviewees, including high-ranking officials like Schumer, Pelosi, and Cheney.
- DirectorVictoria DuleyStarsThomas Wilson PaceErik ThompsonAnna LazzaroTo the world, Joseph DeAngelo was a devoted friend, family man, and police officer. But in secret, he assaulted and murdered innocent victims across California for four6/10: It does a good job of putting the events into a chronological order, and it contains some interesting information, but so much of the documentary feels repetitive.
- DirectorElizabeth BanksStarsKeri RussellAlden EhrenreichO'Shea Jackson Jr.An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converge on a Georgia forest where a huge black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.5/10: Despite its weakness with the pacing and characters, it's a well-made, directed, and acted film which delivers exactly what one would expect and hope for with a movie like this.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsHarrison FordPhoebe Waller-BridgeAntonio BanderasArchaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.5/10: It's a competently made movie with a good and satisfying adventure for Indiana Jones to go on, but it's over-long, stuffed with needless stuff that could be cut to make the movie flow better, and what it wants to be (a more heartfelt and character-driven narrative) isn't done in a manner that really feels like an Indiana Jones film (Last Crusade managed to do that with the father-son dynamic). A stand-out is the acting, especially Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who is easily the best part of the movie and one of the best sidekicks in the franchise.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsJoaquin PhoenixVanessa KirbyTahar RahimAn epic that details the chequered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.5/10: It's a skillfully and well-made movie with outstanding set design, aesthetics, and acting, but it never transcends above being a vignette of scenes with no real connecting through-line that is engaging or meaningful. Napoleon as a character, while well defined, is not that interesting, and the relationship between him and Josephine is underdeveloped and jumps between too long of time frames to ever feel believable.
- DirectorPierre MorelStarsJohn CenaAlison BrieJuan Pablo RabaAn ex-special forces operative takes a job to provide security for a journalist as she interviews a dictator, but when a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, they are forced to escape into the jungle.5/10: It's a fairly generic action movie that has a number of potentially interesting character dynamics and arcs, but they're rushed through or underdeveloped. John Cena, Allison Brie, and Juan Pablo Raba are all good, but there's no chemistry between Cena and Brie.
- DirectorBrandon CronenbergStarsAlexander SkarsgårdMia GothCleopatra ColemanJames and Em Foster are enjoying an all-inclusive beach vacation in the fictional island of La Tolqa, when a fatal accident exposes the resort's perverse subculture of hedonistic tourism, reckless violence and surreal horrors.5/10: It has an interesting premise and great acting, but that's all it really has going for it.
- DirectorBradley CooperStarsCarey MulliganBradley CooperMatt BomerThis love story chronicles the lifelong relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein.5/10: The acting and makeup are stellar, but everything else falls into the field of uninteresting.
- DirectorMatt RuskinStarsKeira KnightleyCarrie CoonChris CooperLoretta McLaughlin was the reporter who first connected the murders and broke the story of the Boston Strangler. She and Jean Cole challenged the sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city's most notorious serial killer.5/10: It's competently made on all levels, but it never rises above that. It feels like it wants to be "Zodiac," but doesn't have the understanding of the characters or story, or an interesting style of directing or story telling, to do that.
- DirectorScott BeckBryan WoodsStarsAdam DriverAriana GreenblattChloe ColemanAn astronaut crash lands on a mysterious planet only to discover he's not alone.5/10: It's an incredibly generic movie that never does anything to even mildly stray away from the formula. One of the most "in the middle of the road" movies I've ever seen.
- StarsClint EastwoodChristina RicciStephen KingFrom condemned prisons to abandoned insane asylums and every terror-inducing haunted house in between, SCARIEST PLACES IN AMERICA explores the 13 most terrifying real-life locations across the country. Tune in - if you dare.5/10
- DirectorAaron HorvathMichael JelenicPierre LeducStarsChris PrattAnya Taylor-JoyCharlie DayA plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother Luigi, trying to save a captured princess.5/10: It's a very cliched animated film with no surprises to be had story or character-wise. The animation is nice, but the character designs for the non-Nintendo characters is uninteresting and lackluster. It's essentially a passable animated film that's chalked full of Nintendo references.
- DirectorColette CamdenStarsKai LawrenceJessob ReisbeckTerry WoodsThis shocking documentary chronicles a happy-go-lucky nomad's ascent to viral stardom and the steep downward spiral that resulted in his imprisonment.5/10: It's a pretty typical documentary for its subject matter, though the focus isn't on a very interesting individual.
- DirectorChris McKayStarsNicholas HoultNicolas CageAwkwafinaRenfield, Dracula's tortured henchman, is forced to capture prey for his master and do his every bidding. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there is a life outside his boss's shadow.5/10: It's a creative premise that utilizes all of its idiosyncrasies in the advertisements. It's ultimately a fun but lackluster idea with Hoult and Cage giving really good performances and having fun with source material while the lackluster story takes place.
- DirectorPatrick WilsonStarsTy SimpkinsPatrick WilsonRose ByrneThe Lamberts must go deeper into The Further than ever before to put their demons to rest once and for all.4/10: It's a pretty generic horror movie with lame jump scares, no sense of terror or tension, and weak structure. What stands out is the character element between Patrick Wilson and Ty Simpkins' father and son relationship.
- DirectorJulius AveryStarsRussell CroweDaniel ZovattoAlexandra EssoeFollow Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican's leading exorcist, as he investigates the possession of a child and uncovers a conspiracy the Vatican has tried to keep secret.4/10: It has some strong acting and cinematography, and the first scene is excellent in every regard, but the writing and dialogue is lackluster, the characters are not well developed or interesting, and the ending is a bit overdone.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsSoma SantokiMasaki SudaKô ShibasakiIn the wake of his mother's death and his father's remarriage, a headstrong boy named Mahito ventures into a dreamlike world shared by both the living and the dead.4/10: It's beautifully drawn and animated, but that's about all there is to it. The characters aren't interesting, nor is the poorly paced and structured story.
- DirectorEmma TammiStarsJosh HutchersonPiper RubioElizabeth LailA troubled security guard begins working at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. During his first night on the job, he realizes that the night shift won't be so easy to get through. Pretty soon he will unveil what actually happened at Freddy's.4/10: It's a fairly generic movie with a decent set-up that is brought down by a needlessly complicated through-line that's overstuffed with pointless characters in an attempt to create a human core to the film.
- DirectorNimród AntalStarsLiam NeesonNoma DumezweniLilly AspellA bank executive receives a bomb threat while driving his children to school that his car will explode if they stop and get out.4/10: It's an incredibly generic premise with a lame script and action set-pieces that lack tension. Liam Neeson does a decent job.
- DirectorJoaquim Dos SantosKemp PowersJustin K. ThompsonStarsShameik MooreHailee SteinfeldBrian Tyree HenryMiles Morales catapults across the multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.4/10: It's essentially 2.5 hours of set up. It feels like the true movie doesn't start until an hour in, and then everything that happens feels like set-up for the next movie/part of the earlier act of a bigger story without standing on its own.
- DirectorDanny PhilippouMichael PhilippouStarsAri McCarthyHamish PhillipsKit Erhart-BruceWhen a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.4/10: Boring and unlikable characters with the weakest of dynamics spout really bad dialogue for 90 minutes in between horror scenes with no tension, atmosphere, or buildup.
- DirectorDavid F. SandbergStarsZachary LeviAsher AngelJack Dylan GrazerThe film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!", is transformed into his adult superhero alter ego, Shazam.4/10: Any of the charm or fun of the first movie is absent. The comedy is try-hard and irritating, a bunch of character issues feel tacked on or are underdeveloped, the villains aren't interesting, and there are multiple movie tropes/scenes that just don't feel like they were done right.
- DirectorJean-François RichetStarsGerard ButlerMike ColterTony GoldwynA pilot finds himself caught in a war zone after he's forced to land his commercial aircraft during a terrible storm.4/10: The action is refreshing as it's not over-the-top and actually feels real, but there are no characters or interesting story elements to make said action sequences hold much weight.
- DirectorGuy RitchieStarsJake GyllenhaalDar SalimSean SagarDuring the war in Afghanistan, a local interpreter risks his own life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of grueling terrain.4/10: It's an anti-war film that over-explains it message without ever actually delving into it to any meaningful degree. The performances from Gyllenhaal and Salim are strong, but they aren't enough to help the weak script or characters.
- DirectorSteven Caple Jr.StarsAnthony RamosDominique FishbackLuna Lauren VelezDuring the '90s, a new faction of Transformers - the Maximals - join the Autobots as allies in the battle for Earth.4/10: It's a fairly boring movie with generic, one-dimensional characters, an uninteresting story, bland action, and poor writing.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddEvangeline LillyMichael DouglasScott Lang and Hope Van Dyne are dragged into the Quantum Realm, along with Hope's parents and Scott's daughter Cassie. Together they must find a way to escape, but what secrets is Hope's mother hiding? And who is the mysterious Kang?3/10: It's a poorly paced and boring movie that has almost its entire cast not doing anything for most of the runtime. Ot suffers from all of the issues that Marvel films endure, with some pretty bad performances, incredibly lousy writing, and forced character stuff.
- DirectorRob MarshallStarsHalle BaileyJonah Hauer-KingMelissa McCarthyA young mermaid makes a deal with a sea witch to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress a prince.3/10: It's a 2 hour movie of an already good 90 minute movie. It does nothing to improve upon the original, nor does it do anything better. The characters and acting are weaker, the new music is awful and the redone music is performed worse with none of the flair that came with the animated version.
- DirectorAngel Manuel SotoStarsXolo MaridueñaBruna MarquezineBecky GAn alien scarab chooses Jaime Reyes to be its symbiotic host, bestowing the recent college graduate with a suit of armor that's capable of extraordinary powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero known as Blue Beetle.3/10: It's a compilation of things we'e already seen from superhero movies with nothing to add. The characters are either one dimensional and boring or annoying comic-relief. Most egregiously, the human elements don't work: the dramatic moments are always undercut in some way, and the comedic moments are non-sensical.
- DirectorPeter SohnStarsLeah LewisMamoudou AthieRonnie Del CarmenFollows Ember and Wade, in a city where fire-, water-, earth- and air-residents live together.4/10: It's the standard Pixar these days, which is essentially what a lame ripoff of what an early-days Pixar movie would be. The story is poorly designed in order to inflict maximum emotional manipulation. The laws of the world are nonexistent, the characters and script are generic, the character design is poor, and the conflicts of the movie feel so tacked on like there wasn't enough from the premise to achieve the needed runtime.
- DirectorGabe PolskyStarsNicolas CageFred HechingerJeremy BobbAn Ivy League drop-out travels to the Colorado wilderness, where he joins a team of buffalo hunters on a journey that puts his life and sanity at risk. Based on the highly acclaimed novel by John Williams.3/10: It's a very bland movie with one-dimensional characters and a main character who is an absolute bore with no arc. The dialogue is uninteresting and does nothing to propel the scenes, characters, or story forward; it's just there because movies need dialogue. The cinematography ranges from okay to try-hard to just incredibly awful. Nicholas Cage's performance carries the movie.
- DirectorGerard JohnstoneStarsAllison WilliamsViolet McGrawRonny ChiengA robotics engineer at a toy company builds a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own.3/10: It's a boring and un-scary horror movie with idiotic and inconsistent characters, poorly written dialogue, and lame and predictable kills.
- DirectorBen WheatleyStarsJason StathamJing WuShuya Sophia CaiA research team encounters multiple threats while exploring the depths of the ocean, including a malevolent mining operation.2/10: A boring and tensionless action film with poor dialogue, badly written characters, and a terrible story.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsSofia BoutellaDjimon HounsouEd SkreinWhen a peaceful settlement on the edge of a distant moon finds itself threatened by a tyrannical ruling force, a stranger living among its villagers becomes their best hope for survival.2/10: It has interesting call-backs to and wonderful flavoring for its sci-fi world, but the characters are flat, the writing is poor, the editing (which harms the action sequences considerably) and directing are terrible, the cinematography is blurry, and the whole thing feels unfinished/unsatisfied.
- DirectorChristopher LandonStarsJahi Di'Allo WinstonDavid HarbourAnthony MackieFinding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin's family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest's past, they become a target of the CIA.2/10: It starts out fairly promising: a good opening that understands the tone it wants and showcases a fairly generic family that has potential for some decent character building. It then engages in two hours of unfunny bits, forced character moments, ridiculous building blocks for the story, and starts becoming more and more illogical and poorly conceived as the film progresses beyond the punchline of, "This family has a ghost in their house and they use it to make money.:
- DirectorJeremy GarelickStarsAdam SandlerJennifer AnistonMark StrongFull-time detectives Nick and Audrey are struggling to get their private eye agency off the ground. They find themselves at the center of international abduction when their friend Maharaja is kidnapped at his own lavish wedding.2/10: It's more enjoyable than the first movie thanks to its action set pieces, but it's essentially just any other Sandler comedy: same writing, same character, same jokes, etc. and they're all done in a lazy manner.
- DirectorJustin SimienStarsLaKeith StanfieldRosario DawsonOwen WilsonA single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought mansion after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts.2/10: It's an incredibly boring movie with no sense of identity. It wants to be dramatic, but it isn't, and it attempts to be funny and scary, but it isn't. While the actors are all good, the characters are all incredibly bland, uninteresting, and unamusing. DeVito and Wilson are the only two whose characters feel like they fit in what the movie's tone should be, but they just feel oddly placed with how everything is handled.
- DirectorMichael ChavesStarsTaissa FarmigaJonas BloquetStorm Reid1956 - France. A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading. The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun.2/10: With lackluster scares and no atmosphere, there's very little horror to keep it engaging. Along with that, instead of a main character to be a through-line, there are multiple secondary characters without interesting dynamics, personalities, backstories, etc. The movie could have worked with the location had the focus of the story been more concrete and certain storylines been cut, but that isn't what happened.
- StarsAaron BellAdam DaviesBryce JohnsonIn the winter of 1959, the mutilated bodies of nine hikers were found in the Ural Mountains of Russia. Were they slaughtered in cold blood by a yeti? If so, what drove this legendary beast to kill?2/10: On a technical level it's competent and engaging. The subject matter, however, is repetitive, one-sided, and contradictory.
- DirectorSamuel BodinStarsLizzy CaplanAntony StarrCleopatra ColemanAn eight-year-old boy tries to investigate the mysterious knocking sounds that are coming from inside the walls of his house, unveiling a dark secret that his sinister parents have kept hidden from him.2/10: It's an un-scary horror film with try-hard intentions, badly written characters and dynamics, and a poorly written story with nonexistent pacing.
- DirectorGary ShoreStarsWesley AlfvinElena AngelovaTiffany AshtonThe mysterious and violent events surrounding one family's voyage on Halloween night in 1938, and their interwoven destiny with another family onboard the infamous ocean liner present day.2/10: A bland and generic horror movie with bad acting, a useless cutting between past and present that does nothing to elevate the story, and frolicking with stupidity both character and plot-wise.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsDave BautistaJonathan GroffBen AldridgeWhile vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse.1/10: It has no first act and a tedious, repetitive script that ends up explaining everything for the audience. The actors all do a fantastic job, but the characters they're given are fairly boring and flat. The cinematography ranges from try-hard and not fitting with the rest of the movie, or flat, boring, and misused.
- DirectorDavid Gordon GreenStarsLafortune JosephLeslie Odom Jr.Gastner LegermeWhen two girls disappear into the woods and return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, the father of one girl seeks out Chris MacNeil, who's been forever altered by what happened to her daughter fifty years ago.1/10: It has the mentality of a really weak action sequel: "If one of X is good, then more of X will be great." Two possessions, multiple religious figures partaking in the exorcism, a needless action set piece right at the beginning that doesn't fit with the rest of the movie's tone. The characters are all one-dimensional and lack any arc. Anything worthwhile that the film sets up idea-wise is never delved into and just gets passed over. Chris MacNeil returns for no reason at all, as one of multiple pointless characters. The climax doesn't even feel like it's a real exorcism: just the demon going, "Okay, I'll go if you do something for me."
- DirectorAndy MuschiettiStarsEzra MillerMichael KeatonSasha CalleBarry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without super heroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.1/10: With bad writing and a clunky execution of story and characters, it has nothing going for it. The effects are atrocious, the acting is mostly bad, it's boring and there's nothing to latch onto sotry-wise, anything remotely interesting has been taken from other material, and the best part of the film (Michael Keaton) is reduced down to memes and nostalgia.
- DirectorMark PoloniaStarsJada SanchezTim HatchJamie MorganA reporter, cameraman, and some petty thieves are stranded in a boat out on the ocean. The only thing that stands between them and their lives is a 50-foot prehistoric megalodon shark. They must all pull together to survive.0/10