THE LIFE OF CHUCK
2025 | Dir. Mike Flanagan | 110 Minutes
4 out of 5
Deeply earnest and affecting, Mike Flanagan adapts Stephen King at perhaps his most wistful into a thoughtful and engaging but somewhat meandering film meditating on mortality and the simple joys of human existence, however long it may last for each one of us. The ensemble cast featuring numerous Mike Flanagan regulars is a real pleasure to watch. Also, King's third-person omniscient narration sounds straight-up awesome when performed by Nick Offerman, that's just fact.
BALLERINA
2025 | Dir. Len Wiseman | 125 Minutes
4 out of 5
Not sure who really wants more world-building and lore for the murderous world of John Wick, but there's a sizeable portion of that before this spin-off gets to the good stuff, -- but wow, there's a whole lot of bloody, explosive, brutal good stuff here, too. Worn-out revenge plot steeped in esoteric rules of conduct aside, the thrilling stunts and fun set pieces are most certainly worth the price of admission, making this a natural and very welcome addition to the absurd and absurdly entertaining assassin franchise. In the lead role, Ana de Armas once again proves to be an unassuming but highly capable action star.
KARATE KID: LEGENDS
2025 | Dir. Jonathan Entwistle | 93 Minutes
3 out of 5
Weaving two disparate underdeveloped plots together (not the two plots diehard Karate Kid fans likely expect), and recklessly speed-running through both of them, it's a frustratingly uneven legacy sequel consisting of exciting martial arts action and missed opportunities. The picture presents kung fu and karate in exciting ways, featuring the best fight scenes of the entire franchise, but the script could have used more work and the edit could have used more breathing room. Ben Wang proves to be a charismatic and capable lead, Jackie Chan is somewhat underutilized, Ralph Macchio doubly so, and Joshua Jackson plays the most unconventional role in picture by far. Here's hoping this set of charming characters get another more satisfying shot down the line to live up to their full Miyagi-verse potential.
BRING HER BACK
2025 | Dir. Danny and Michael Philippou | 99 Minutes
5 out of 5
Anxiety-inducing horror running on unprocessed grief and extreme child endangerment, as frightening as it is heartbreaking. The escalating tension demands attention as it outpaces plot revelations in this fascinatingly fresh take on the spiritual possession subgenre. Sally Hawkins is simply fantastic, showcasing a full range of complex emotions in the role of a deeply disturbed woman with a terrifying agenda.
TORNADO
2025 | Dir. John Maclean | 100 Minutes
4 out of 5
A straight-forward tale of greed and vengeance with a rather novel protagonist considering the film's specific period setting. Beautifully shot and well-acted with just a few short bursts of thrilling action during its third act, it's first and foremost a meditative slow boil focusing on fathers and the folly of their defiant children. Kōki delivers a captivating performance as the titular Tornado, convincing as a destructive force to be reckoned with by the time the credits roll.
