Category: Horror

Weapons

Weapons

This is a special edition of Thursday Night at the Movies with The Movie Warrior!!

It’s been 8 or 9 years since I have gone to the movies on a Thursday night.

“Weapons” was not on my original “Watch List”, but when a couple of co-workers mentioned it and asked why I had not reviewed it, I had to look it up and then once I saw a trailer, I decided I would give it a look. I don’t generally do Horror Movies anymore because I just don’t have the stomach for them.

“Weapons” is not your ordinary Horror Flick… 

Strange thing… When all but one child from the same class mysteriously disappears on the same night, it causes all kinds of chaos, finger pointing, accusations and questions as to who or what is behind this disappearance. A Community is torn. The story unfolds from there…

The story is executed brilliantly! I was shocked! Yes, it’s a Horror movie, a bit scary and bloody at times, but not your garden variety type of Horror. There were tons of edge of your seat suspense and intrigue right up to the end. There were a lot of big elements in the movie. It gives new meaning to the Horror Genre. “Weapons” is definitely worth seeing.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Alien: Romulus in AMC Dolby

Alien: Romulus in AMC Dolby

When I learned in April 2024 that there was another Alien installment coming from that Franchise, I balked. The last Real Alien installment was in 1997. From 1979 to 1997 the Alien Franchise ruled supreme as it was awesome with star actress Sigourney Weaver at the helm. This latest installment does not include Sigourney Weaver so I had not planned to see it. My theory for this installment was maybe an egg got away back when Sigourney Weaver’s character and her team destroyed what they believed was the nest. At a later date an egg hatched and the Alien waited all these years to avenge the death of it’s Mama.


On August 14th I read a few columns and learned that “Alien: Romulus” is a MUST SEE because it is new and fresh. So off I went to see it on Aug 18th. 

This new installment starts off in a far distant planet from Earth where people are working in a Colony. A crew of young space workers from the Colony noticed on one of their monitors what appears to be an abandoned Space Station/Craft floating along in space, so they decide to go check it out.

While scavenging the deep ends of the abandoned space station, the group of young space colonizers locate wreckage and body parts, soon they come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. The story unfolds from there…

Yes, I would agree that “Alien: Romulus” is new and somewhat fresh. There are a few surprises, some I hope that do not breed a new franchise.

The movie is extremely suspenseful, intriguing and entertaining. It is executed very well. The AMC Dolby aspects are very good. You will feel like you are riding on the various space crafts.

As a foot note: This is a Ridley Scott Production. Ridley Scott movies are generally pretty awesome. 

If you are a fan of the Alien Franchise “Alien: Romulus” is a must see!

If you are looking for a Space Adventure with a little Horror, check out “Alien: Romulus”.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

IT: Chapter Two in AMC Dolby

It’s 27 years later and the gang is all grown up and all have left Derry except one. There is a carnival in Derry and folks are out and about. At the carnival two gentlemen are beaten and become part of a hate crime. Soon after, one of the gentlemen is taken by Pennywise the sadistic clown.

When the local Police and investigator come to the scene the lone member of the gang shows up and is doing his own sniffing. He sees some signs that Pennywise has been on the scene, so he spends the night phoning all of the other living members of the gang insisting that they must return to Derry so that Pennywise can be stopped for good. The story unfolds from there…

“IT: Chapter Two” is crazy scary and extremely graphic!! The movie at times is very bloody. Personally I can’t handle another installment. I spent a lot of time squirming in my seat… The movie does its job by making you feel scared and terrified. There are many twists and turns. You can cut the suspense with a knife.
One negative is that the movie is all over the place. They do a good job on the continuation from the first installment, but this installment shows you elements that probably should have been in the first installment so that the stage would be set properly.

If you are a Stephen King fan and you enjoy his books that become movies. You should definitely see “IT: Chapter Two”.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

MA

As you have known, I do not normally review Horror Movies, but I am married to a man who loves them, so it’s Friday Night “Date Night” and away we go to the movies!!

“Ma” is subtle in its approach. The movie starts out on the normal calm side, but once things get going the Horror is “In Your Face” creepy.

Oscar winning actress Octavia Spencer is Sue Ann, a veterinarian assistant in a quiet Ohio town. Things start to heat up when a new teenage girl in town asks Sue Ann to purchase liquor from the local Liquor store for her and her new friends from school. Sue Ann does this and befriends the teens. Soon Sue Ann’s home is the place where all the teenagers go to party. Sue Ann has an ulterior motive though.
What starts out as friendly and fun soon becomes an obsession. The parents of these teens went to school with Sue Ann and Sue Ann has an ax to grind pertaining to some unfinished business from her High School days. The story unfolds from there…

“Ma” is a combination of “Creepy”, “Suspenseful” and “Interesting”. What really makes the movie watchable is Octavia Spencer. She really shows her acting chops. She definitely has range. You definitely get the opportunity to see Octavia Spencer in a new light.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Halloween (2018)

Finally!! I am back on the Movie Review Train. I do not usually see/review horror movies, but my husband is a HUGH Michael Myers fan, so I treated him to the latest installment in the franchise.

It’s been 40 years since Michael Myers first killing spree. Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode who narrowly escaped being killed by Michael Myers in the first installment back in 1978. Laurie has had time to prepare. She has expected Michael to one day return and pick up where he left off.
During a transport Michael Myers and a number of his Institution mates escape. The story unfolds from there…

This is hands down the best installment since the franchise started. There are a lot of characters, the back story is well laid out and Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her role as Laurie Strode 40 years later is genius. You get a chance to see how badly Michael Myers affected Laurie and what she did to cope with the situation all these years.
It’s edge of your seat suspenseful during the last 35 minutes.

If you saw the 1978 installment of Halloween, then you should definitely see the 2018 installment.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

A Quiet Place

The only reason you are receiving a review of “A Quiet Place” is because my husband went with me to see the movie. My husband loves horror movies. I no longer have a tolerance for them.

A family must navigate their daily lives around a mass of seemingly ghastly creatures that have taken over. As long as the creatures can’t or don’t hear you, you are safe, but make a loud sound or noise and they will come for you. The family’s survival depends on their silence. The story unfolds from there…

“A Quiet Place” is definitely fresh!! I personally have not seen anything like this before. The suspense and intrigue are heavy. The cinematography and camera angles are fantastic. The movie is not gory like some horror movies.

If you have even a mild likeness for mystery/horror/suspense, you should see “A Quiet Place”.

This is a 4 ½ Star Movie!

Jigsaw

I had never planned to see Jigsaw, but an opportunity presented it’s self today so I went with a friend.

I have never personally been a fan of the Saw or Jigsaw movies. They are just plan gory, but this installment actually had some legs…

The movie starts off with several people in jeopardy. Each person has committed an awful crime that they have each gotten away with, but Jigsaw knows the details of each person’s sin and plans to make them pay individually. The story unfolds from there…

“Bloody”, “Gory”, “Painful”, “Revenge” and “Just Plain Sick” is how I would describe the events that take place in “Jigsaw”. There are some appealing twists and turns and that’s what makes the movie interesting. But alas it was just too “Gory” and “Bloody” for me.

If you like Horror and Gore, by all means see “Jigsaw”.

This is a 2 Star Movie!

IT

Normally I do not see/review Horror Movies, but “IT” is not just any “Horror Movie” it’s a Stephen King Horror Movie! During High School, College and the early part of my Technology career I was a Stephen King fan! I have read over 20 of his books all in Hard Back. I still have a few including “IT”.

In the little town called Derry, Maine there is a 7:00pm curfew for all children. It seems that the town of Derry is cursed and over 91 children have gone missing. No one seems to know how or why this happens. The local law enforcement doesn’t have a clue.

There are a bunch of young kids who are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. As they sift through information and hunt for clues, the kids ultimately figure out that they will have to face-off with the sadistic, evil clown known as Pennywise. Myth or legend Pennywise has been associated with murders that date back centuries. The kids figure out that they are better off together as opposed to being separate because Pennywise prefers one on one. The story unfolds from there…

This installment of “IT” is definitely better than the 1990 installment. The movie is terrifying, nerve-wracking and intensely suspenseful. This installment is closely in line with Stephen King’s novel showcasing anxiety and fears that young children often face. The best part of the movie is the group of young kids. They are the heroes, but they also stay true to themselves as young innocent children.

If you can stand to be terrified, “IT” is a must see, but this movie is not for Children.

This is a 4 ½ Star Movie!

The Dark Tower

“The Dark Tower” is one of Stephen King’s best-selling novels about the last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) who continues to battle the “Man in Black” (Matthew McConaughey) to prevent him from destroying the Dark Tower, which holds the Universe together.

A young boy, Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) has continued nightmares, visions and dreams about a “Dark Tower”, a “Gunslinger” and a “Man in Black”. He draws what he dreams. Jake’s dreams, visions and nightmares lead his parents to thinking that he needs to be placed in an institution. When the representatives from the institution arrive at Jake’s home, he recognizes them from one of his nightmares. Jake finds a way to escape his home and is able to evade them.

Jake on the run makes his way to an abandoned mansion he saw in one of his visions not realizing that inside this mansion is the gateway to where the “Gunslinger” and the “Man in Black” are located. Jake enters the gateway. The “Man in Black” realizes that Jake is the boy who holds the powers that he needs to use to topple “The Dark Tower”. The story unfolds from there…

Unfortunately the movie does not do the book justice. Although watching Idris Elba as a “Gunslinger” is a wonderful thing… He and his five o’clock shadow look good doing just about anything and Idris Elba is the bright spot in the movie.

“The Dark Tower” spends too much time at the beginning not giving you what you need to put everything in perspective. There is plenty of action and special effects. The movie spends most of its time being dark and mysterious.

I grew up a Stephen King fan and read almost all of his books. I did read “The Dark Tower” and I am disappointed that the movie does not represent the book better.

If you are a Stephen King fan, you may find “The Dark Tower” worth your time, but I suggest waiting for it to come out on DVD, Blu-Ray or Cable.

This is a 2 Star Movie!

The Mummy – The 3D IMAX Experience

“The Mummy” is an utter waste of time…

Oh my gosh…What was I thinking…”The Mummy” is one of those movies where you are asking yourself, “Is it over yet I’m ready to leave”.

An Ancient Egyptian Princess, Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her long ago and was believed to be buried deep enough in the unforgiving desert awakens after her tomb has been removed from underground. In order to revive herself Ahmanet needs to feed on humans mainly men. She uses her evil powers to control unsuspecting men by getting inside their heads and getting them to do her bidding.
Ahmanet believes that the man, Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) who freed her is destined to be with her forever. Ahmanet won’t rest until she is able to control Nick and get him to be her “forever prince”. The story unfolds from there…

The remake of a remake, “The Mummy” is boring…There was nothing exciting about it. It’s spends a lot of time appearing dark and dank. The bright spot is the cinematography. This is the start of a new franchise that Universal is calling “The Dark Universe”. This is definitely not one of Tom Cruise’s better movies. It’s not his fault. He tries to make something happen, but it never really materializes.

The remake of the remake of “The Mummy” is best viewed on cable.

This is a 2 Star Movie!