HollywoodCiak

Film 2509 - Reading Lolita in Tehran

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:41:47 +0000

Intro: Years ago, I started reading the book this movie is adapted from because "Lolita" is my favourite novel of all time. I'll be honest, I couldn't finish it -- my English wasn't as good as it is now, and I was struggling big time to follow it -- so when I learned about the movie adaptation, I immediately gave it a go.

Film 2509: "Reading Lolita in Tehran" (2026), directed by Eran Riklis
Watched: From the computer
Language: Italian
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I tried to watch this film in its original language, but I found the English subtitles too distracting. So I decided to go with the Italian-dubbed version, as it was much easier to follow. I don't regret this decision, although I would usually prefer to watch a movie in its original language.
I have to admit I didn't remember much about the story, so watching "Reading Lolita in Tehran" felt like discovering it for the first time. To be honest, "Lolita" isn't at the centre of the story, as it's just one of the many banned books that this group of women read. It's interesting to see how something I found so accessible when I first decided to read "Lolita" has a completely different meaning and set of implications here: reading this book is dangerous, and these women know it all too well, as the regime has forbidden them, along with the rest of Iran's population, from reading it or even talking about it. Instead, I read "Lolita" while on holiday in Greece.
I enjoyed "Reading Lolita in Tehran". It explores the history and culture of a country I know very little about, and it felt refreshing to consume content that wasn't produced or conceived for a Western audience (or specifically an American one).
It's a very quiet movie in the sense that, although deeply unsettling things happen, tragedy isn't sensationalised. I'd say this is mainly thanks to Golshifteh Farahani's portrayal of the protagonist, Azar Nafisi, the author of the book the film is based on. She's assertive but never loud, and practises a form of quiet, almost understated rebellion, with real-life consequences: she refuses to wear the veil, creates a book club for her students, and discusses forbidden Western literature with them.
Her marriage dynamic also feels quite modern, especially considering this story is set in the 70s: she's on equal footing with her husband, has her own job and career, and fights for what she believes in, risking everything in the process. Compared to the other women's romantic relationships, the contrast couldn't be greater. All in all, "Reading Lolita in Tehran" succeeds in showcasing the struggle, uncertainty, and fear that define this period in Iran's history. I'm no expert on the subject, so I'm judging it solely on what I saw in the film. I wish the story had focused more on the actual discussions of the books the women read. I think the film would have benefited from including more of those conversations, but I understand that, with so many characters, historical events to portray, and the challenge of doing the novel justice, there was a lot to cover. All these elements inevitably compete for screen time. I wouldn't say the movie completely succeeds in delivering a balanced story, but its achievements outweigh its limitations.
Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Mina Kavani, Bahar Beihaghi, Isabella Nefar, Raha Rahbari, Lara Wolf, Arash Marandi, Catayoune Ahmadi, Reza Diako, Shahbaz Noshir.
Box Office: $1,580,815
Worth a watch?: It's not a loud film, and its subject matter might limit its appeal to a wider audience. Still, I'd recommend it. It's well made and focuses on topics we rarely get to see in modern mainstream cinema.
Awards: At the 2024 Rome Film Fest the film was nominated for Best Film in the Progressive Cinema section.
Key word: Iranian Revolution.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2508 - Evil Dead Burn

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 19:43:47 +0000

Intro: The days of the couch are over and I'm back to the movies.
I really wanted to catch this one before it left cinemas, so I finally went back to Cineworld on the last day it was showing.

Film 2508: "Evil Dead Burn" (2026), directed by Sébastien Vaniček
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: Can a movie do too much? It definitely felt that way while I was watching this one.
I can't say I'm a huge fan of the "Evil Dead" saga, but I remember enjoying the previous movie, so I was quite excited about this one, especially considering how much "Evil Dead Rise" had scared me.
This sequel is scary too, but in a way I don't particularly appreciate. There's a lot of gore and splatter -- very graphic stuff -- and I have to admit I was a bit fed up with all the dismemberment and bloodshed, especially in the mid-section of the story as there's literally no time to catch a break. To me, it felt like the story took a back seat to the horror scenes and spectacle, so I guess you could say the violence started to feel a bit gratuitous after a while.
One element of the story I found interesting was the starting point for our protagonist: she's a widow who's just lost her husband, yet there's something off about her from the get-go. Without giving too much away, I appreciated how the screenplay starts with something that feels extremely real and grounded, only to then go balls to the walls and venture into the supernatural. I mean, it definitely wasn't subtle, but the parallel between the horror Alice (Souheila Yacoub) experiences in the movie and the abuse she suffers in her marriage was an interesting way to anchor the story -- and I liked that more than all the crazy, bloody scenes.
All in all, although it definitely delivers on the horror front, "Evil Dead Burn" wasn't for me.
Cast: Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand, Maude Davey, Alyssa Sutherland.
Box Office: $72.4 million
Worth a watch?: I'm sure hardcore horror fans can handle this without a problem, but I was actually quite surprised by the amount of graphic, explicit violence on display here. To each their own, but don't say I didn't warn you: "Evil Dead Burn" is not for the faint of heart.
Awards: /
Key word: Dagger.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2507 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:33:27 +0000

Intro: I'm not on the couch anymore, but it's still Summer and I keep feeling my movie fantasy.

Film 2507: "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003), directed by Gore Verbinski
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I always liked the first one, but I've never been a massive fan of this franchise, to be honest. Let's say I like it enough.
I still think this one is the best of them all, and what Johnny Depp does with the Jack Sparrow character is, I think, amazing. He literally created one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in modern cinema, and he did it... for a movie inspired by a theme park ride! I'll never get over this.
Anyway, Depp aside, "The Curse of the Black Pearl" is entertaining and a good ride -- wink wink -- but I have to admit I forgot how long this film is and, to be honest, 143 minutes was a bit too much for me. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it, but I think knowing more or less all the bits of the story made me anxious to get to the good parts and/or the end. I really enjoy the beginning of the film, but I couldn't stand the sword fight between Sparrow and Will (Orlando Bloom)... too choreographed, and the scene overstays its welcome. Same with the curse: it's amazing when you see the pirates go from normal human beings to just skeletons under the full moon for the first time, but the quest to get the last coin and the (double) voyage(s) to the island broke my spirit.
Again, I think this has more to do with me and possibly the fact that I decided to rewatch this movie but only remembered the parts that I liked. "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" is extremely entertaining and good fun. Keira Knightley is perfect for these types of period movies, Klaus Badelt's soundtrack is iconic, and overall, this film still holds up more than 20 years after it came out in cinemas.
Film 240 - La maledizione della prima luna
Film 1560 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Film 2507 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Film 1570 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Film 1579 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Film 1242 - Pirati dei Caraibi - Oltre i confini del mare
Film 1415 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Cast: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport, Kevin R. McNally, Zoe Saldaña, Mackenzie Crook.
Box Office: $654.3 million
Worth a watch?: In general, this saga is good fun, especially the first three films. My favourite is still this one, and every now and again I like to rewatch it. But beware of the running time, because it goes over the two-hour mark. Other than that, go ahead and have fun.
Awards: Nominated for 5 Oscars: Best Actor (Johnny Depp), Best Makeup, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects. 1 win at the BAFTAs for Best Makeup and Hair over 5 nominations (Best Actor in a Leading Role for Depp, Best Special Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, Best Sound. 1 Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Depp) and 1 win at the MTV Movie Awards for Best Male Performance (Depp) over 6 nominations for Best Movie, Best Comedic Performance (Depp), Best On-Screen Duo (Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom), Best Villain (Geoffrey Rush), Best Breakthrough Performance (Keira Knightley).
Key word: Curse.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2506 - Sherlock Holmes

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:43:59 +0000

Intro: I wanted to rewatch this movie for a while and never got the right chance. So, thanks to my Summer couch session, I finally got down to it.

Film 2506: "Sherlock Holmes" (2009), directed by Guy Ritchie
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I'm a big fan of this franchise and have always loved this first one. I think it's great fun, and Guy Ritchie's take on the character of Sherlock Holmes is so dynamic and entertaining that it's still so refreshing to watch today. Also, I love how Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law play off each other. There's obvious chemistry between them, which makes this film stand out even more.
So, quickly, what I love about "Sherlock Holmes": the slow-mo montages, the humour, Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, the magic/occult vibe of the story and, above all, Hans Zimmer's soundtrack. It's a classic, go listen to it!
Film 47 - Sherlock Holmes
Film 115 - Sherlock Holmes
Film 311 - Sherlock Holmes
Film 615 - Sherlock Holmes
Film 2506 - Sherlock Holmes
Film 367 - Sherlock Holmes - Gioco di ombre
Film 769 - Sherlock Holmes - Gioco di ombre
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan, Kelly Reilly, Hans Matheson, Geraldine James.
Box Office: $524 million
Worth a watch?: If you're looking for a fun ride, a good adventure and a visually interesting take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's characters, this film is perfect for you. It's entertaining, funny, the action sequences are extremely well crafted, and the story (aka the mystery) is a good one. And this version of Holmes was made for Downey Jr. to play.
Awards: 2 Oscar nominations for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score and Best Achievement in Art Direction. 1 Golden Globe win for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical (Robert Downey Jr.). 1 Grammy nomination for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. Nominated for 1 MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Strong).
Key word: Magic.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2505 - Jumanji: The Next Level

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 17:03:37 +0000

Intro: Another Summer evening, another movie on the couch.

Film 2505: "Jumanji: The Next Level" (2019), directed by Jake Kasdan
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I watched this movie back when I was living in Ushuaia, Argentina, but I never got around to reviewing it because... Well, I was so far behind with the list of movies I had to write about on the blog that I skipped some of them to jump ahead in the queue and review newer entries. Then I never got back to the older ones. I'm talking about a backlog of possibly more than 50 movies -- including this one -- and I'm not sure I'll ever go back and finish what I left behind.
So, in a way, watching "Jumanji: The Next Level" for the second time a) helped me remember what actually happens in the story and b) finally allowed me to review it. Here we go.
Did I watch "The Next Level" a second time to actually realise it's a bad movie? Yes, because it felt like I was watching it for the first time, if I'm being honest. And... it'st nothat good.
Firstly, there are way too many characters. The story is complex enough with the human characters and their respective avatars; I really didn't need to add the grandpa and his frenemy to the mix, especially when they also get transported into the game and one of them gets transformed into a horse... Like, on paper it sounds fun, but the reality is that the joke gets old quite quickly.
Additionally, I didn't like the character swaps. I understand why it was necessary to switch things up compared to "Welcome to the Jungle", and I believe some degree of change actually benefited the story here. What didn't work for me, though, is how the avatar swap becomes some sort of character study for Dwayne Johnson and co. It's funny and entertaining at first -- I mean, Johnson playing Danny DeVito and Hart playing Danny Glover is unexpectedly funny -- but after a while of old-man jokes and complaints about back pain, it all becomes stale and quite uninspired.
On top of all of this, I don't think this adventure is as fun as the previous one. Again, too many characters to follow, too many story arcs to complete, and it all becomes messy and convoluted for no reason. I believe if DeVito's and Glover's characters were cut out, the whole story would have benefited from it.
So yeah, I was disappointed by "The Next Level" because, to be honest, there's nothing really next level about it.
Film 784 - Jumanji
Film 1472 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 1785 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 2504 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 2505 - Jumanji: The Next Level
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito, Rhys Darby, Colin Hanks, Bebe Neuwirth.
Box Office: $801 million
Worth a watch?: If you liked the first one, you may give this one a go. I think it's the weakest one of the whole franchise (yes, I'm including "Zathura: A Space Adventure"), so I would personally advise you to skip it. But considering the third one is coming out in December, you decide if you want to go through with "The Next Level". I mean, it's not the worst thing I've ever seen, but I was quite disappointed.
Awards: /
Key word: Dr. Bravestone.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2504 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:20:33 +0000

Intro: A few weeks ago, during the Summer heatwave, I started watching older movies on the projector by myself in the living room. What a treat!

Film 2504: "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" (2017), directed by Jake Kasdan
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I always loved the original "Jumanji" movie and I've seen it so many times. For a second there I was tempted to watch it again, but seeing as the new "Jumanji: Open World" is coming out on Christmas Day this year, I decided to revisit the two newer movies, especially because I couldn't name one thing that happened in the second one.
I have to admit I quite enjoy "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle". I think it's a smart reboot of this franchise, in a way that pays homage to the original film while including brand new elements that launch the saga in a whole new direction. In this sense, I think moving the game setting to a video game was the correct idea.
Additionally, I like the four main characters. They're easily identifiable as they come with specific, inescapable traits, which makes it easy to identify them and simultaneously sets them apart. Pair that with their human counterparts and how different they are from their game avatars and... you get the perfect mix.
I mean, don't get me wrong, it's all quite simple and on the nose, yet I think the simplicity of these opposite archetypes is key to the success of the story here: no subtlety that needs to be interpreted by the audience, no complex plot points, no overly complicated story arcs. You watch the movie and you get it straight away, and if you happen to know the original one, watching "Welcome to the Jungle" is even more rewarding.
And look, I've never been a big Dwayne Johnson fan, but here he makes fun of himself enough to be passable. Not to mention that, by making fun of his "Smoldering Intensity", the story utilises his acting shortcomings to its advantage.
So all in all, I had a good old time.
Film 784 - Jumanji
Film 1472 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 1785 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 2504 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 2505 - Jumanji: The Next Level
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Bobby Cannavale, Rhys Darby, Alex Wolff, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Morgan Turner, Colin Hanks, Marc Evan Jackson, Missi Pyle.
Box Office: $963 million
Worth a watch?: The original "Jumanji" is an undeniable cult classic that holds a special place in my heart. I was a bit scared when they announced the sequel back in the day, especially because Dwayne Johnson isn't necessarily known for being a good actor with extensive range. Here, though, I think he finds a middle ground that works for him: macho action movie star combined with some quirky, funny comedic moments that uplift his performance.
So, if you're in the mood for a little adventure and you like the OG "Jumanji", I'd say you should like this one enough. Of all the reboots and sequels we've seen recently, this is definitely one of the better ones.
Awards: /
Key word: Console.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2503 - Spider-Man: Brand New Day

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:10:14 +0000

Intro: I mean, I was quite excited about this one, although I wasn't quite sure what to expect, to be honest. The only way to find out was to go to the movies and check it out for myself.

Film 2503: "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" (2026), directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: So, I'll be honest from the get-go: I didn't love it.
Everyone seems to be pretty excited and content with this movie -- it made two billion dollars, after all -- and sure, it's not bad or anything. On the contrary, it's obviously well made, and it doesn't feel like a cash grab, which is nice especially considering how Sony has been developing its own Spider-Man-related cinematic universe. That said, I didn't love the story too much or, to be more precise, I didn't love the ending.
I think, to justify the existence of this fourth outing, the plot twist at the end is quite weak. I love that they're bringing new characters in, I love that we're finally moving towards a new X-Men era, but (**spoiler**) to introduce the Jean Grey character, the story could have come up with something a bit more meaningful than an air vent label. I was so disappointed when that whole bit was revealed that it really ruined the whole vibe of the movie for me.
I'll say it again, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is not bad or anything, it's just OK. To be fair, coming up with something as iconic as they did in the previous film would have been impossible, and I appreciate that, in a way, the stakes of this story were scaled down and re-aligned with Peter's life rather than another save-the-world adventure that involves half of the MCU. That said, bringing back the Hulk was a little pointless -- he doesn't do much here and he's soon gone -- and Punisher's character development is a bit odd. MJ's, though, is quite interesting and actually makes sense and feels very mature (she is still the same MJ, but she doesn't remember Peter, so that version of MJ is now gone and can't be brought back just because Peter told her they were in love).
So yeah, a bit of a mixed bag for me: not bad, but I wasn't blown away by this new Spidey adventure.
Film 1394 - Spider-Man: Homecoming
Film 1653 - Spider-Man: Homecoming
Film 1781 - Spider-Man: Far from Home
Film 2077 - Spider-Man: No Way Home
Film 2226 - Spider-Man: No Way Home
Film 2503 - Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Film 467 - The Amazing Spider-Man
Film 718 - The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Il potere di Electro
Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Florence Pugh, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, Marisa Tomei, Mark Ruffalo.
Box Office: $2.506 billion (to this day)
Worth a watch?: I'll be honest, this isn't my favourite of the franchise, which, I think, peaked with "No Way Home". I love Spider-Man and I appreciate Tom Holland playing the character, so if you feel the same, go for it (you probably did already, but in case you missed it at the movies, I'm pretty sure it's still in cinemas).
All of this said, I think the plot twist gets way too hyped by the story, and by the time it gets revealed, it is a little bit of a let-down. The cast is great, I think Sadie Sink is going to be an interesting Jean Grey, and the scenes that include Florence Pugh are frankly the best part of the movie, which is, quite surprisingly, very comedy-heavy.
So my suggestion would be to go ahead and check "Brand New Day" for yourself and see what all the fuss is about (in a nutshell: the highest-grossing Spider-Man film, the highest-grossing film of 2026, the highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada, and the third-highest-grossing film of all time).
Awards: /
Key word: V-Max.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2502 - Scary Movie

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:05:59 +0000

Intro: I watched it at the movies a while ago and forgot to add it to my list of movies to review. I'm not sure how or why, but the other day it came back to me that I never posted anything about this film on the blog and realised I had forgotten to do my review. So here we are.

Film 2502: "Scary Movie" (2026), directed by Michael Tiddes
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: Did we need a new "Scary Movie"? Probably not. Was I excited for the sixth installment of the franchise? Absolutely! Was it as good as I hoped? Not really...
Reality is, "Scary Movie" (or "Scary Movie 6") is a middle-of-the-road sequel that is a welcome departure from the fifth horrendous outing of the franchise, but it also doesn't fully deliver. There is some good in there, yet I'm not sure it was enough. If a seventh film were to come out, tho, I'd say this is the right direction for the franchise to go in.
As usual, the plot is just an excuse to make fun of other movies. Sometimes the comedy works, sometimes it doesn't. I particularly enjoyed the references to "The Substance", "Weapons", "Sinners", "M3GAN" and "White Chicks" -- with honourable mentions to the dildo fight à la "John Wick" and the cartoon "dream" sequence inspired by "KPop Demon Hunters" -- whereas I found the constant references to "Scream" and especially its recent sequels to be a bit tiring after a while. I do understand what the plot was trying to do, in a sort of meta-commentary on the meta-commentary that the "Scream" saga tends to position itself as, but here it only works to a certain point. After that, it's almost a copy-and-paste situation that doesn't add much to the end result.
To be fair, I was unsure of what to expect with this new chapter of this parody horror saga. On one hand, I was happy to see the original team return: the Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall. On the other hand, the "Scary Movie" franchise has been very inconsistent in terms of quality. Here there's some sort of balance between these two elements: the return of the original cast brings back a certain freshness that was missing for a while, while the movie isn't as hilarious as one would have hoped.
So, all in all, I enjoyed "Scary Movie" enough to be happy this franchise is back, but the end result didn't match my favourites "Scary Movie 3", "Scary Movie" (the OG from 2000) and "Scary Movie 4".
Film 1038 - Scary Movie
Film 383 - Scary Movie 3
Film 1449 - Scary Movie 3
Film 2041 - Scary Movie 3
Film 2396 - Scary Movie 3
Film 1603 - Scary Movie 4
Film 550 - Scary Movie V
Film 2502 - Scary Movie
Cast: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kenan Thompson, Dave Sheridan, Lochlyn Munro, Kim Wayans, Cheri Oteri, Chris Elliott, Damon Wayans Jr., Joe Jackson, Carmen Electra, Teyana Taylor, Anthony Anderson, Shaquille O'Neal, Anna Faris, Regina Hall.
Box Office: $278 million
Worth a watch?: If you're like me and you've watched all the previous movies, then it only makes sense to give this one a go. If you've never watched the other five films or you've never been fond of this kind of comedy, then I'd skip this one and check out something else. Like the original "Scream", for example.
Awards: /
Key word: Rebootquel.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2501 - Exit 8

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:05:21 +0000

Intro: The horror saga continues, and Niamh and I watched a second movie on the couch after "Leviticus" didn't leave us fully satisfied.

Film 2501: "Exit 8" (2025), directed by Genki Kawamura
Watched: From the projector
Language: Japanese
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: If I hadn't read the synopsis on Wikipedia, I'm not sure how much of this movie I'd have remembered. This isn't to say that I didn't enjoy "Exit 8", but its repetitive nature and lack of major plot points until the end of the story kind of erased the plot bits that aren't repeated over and over.
That said, I think "Exit 8" is a perfectly fine film, visually interesting and simple enough to follow, although personally I wouldn't call this a horror movie, but rather a psychological mystery film with some thriller elements and a scare or two along the way.
I didn't know anything about the game this is based on -- "The Exit 8", a 2023 indie adventure game developed and published by Kotake Create -- and I went in without knowing what to expect. The only reference I had that I could compare this movie to was "Iron Lung", as these two films share a similar starting point: they're based on video games I've never heard of, they're not major studio productions, they have confined settings and claustrophobic elements, and there's a repetitiveness to the plot.
Based on what I saw and my experience of both films, I have to admit "Exit 8" is more my vibe. I'm not saying it's a movie I would watch again, but at least it feels like a fully fleshed-out and realised film, competently made and with an obviously higher budget (I couldn't find a source for how much this film cost to produce, tho). And I know the comparison isn't necessarily fair, but my brain inevitably went there.
All in all, "Exit 8" was an interesting watch: I liked the visuals, the segment that focused solely on the kid was my favourite -- the child actor is really good -- and the idea behind the story is fascinating enough to carry the whole movie through. But after the first few times you witness the same elements happening, you start to lose focus a bit and, especially towards the middle section of the story, the lack of progression makes the story feel heavier and slower. When it eventually catches up, things get interesting again.
So, yeah, I don't regret watching it, but considering I was looking forward to watching a horror movie, this was definitely not it.
Cast: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, Nana Komatsu.
Box Office: $44 million
Worth a watch?: I remember watching the trailer for the first time and being quite intrigued. The story of a man who is caught in a looping subway corridor definitely tickles my curiosity + the reviews were really good.
Now, I'm not saying "Exit 8" is bad, but it's definitely not a mind-blowing experience as they try to sell it to you. It's a perfectly fine psychological film with mystery and horror elements that also happens to be based on a popular video game. I never played the game, so I'm of no use there, but as a movie watcher, I can say I enjoyed this film enough, but I wouldn't say it's a must-watch.
Awards: It won Best Poster Design at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Key word: Anomaly.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2500 - Leviticus

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 17:28:59 +0000

Intro: May the horror fest continues!

Film 2500: "Leviticus" (2026), directed by Adrian Chiarella
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I think this movie is enjoyable, but not as life-changing as the reviews would like you to think. I still had a good enough time, but yeah, I was expecting something a bit different.
Specifically, "Leviticus" reminded me of other films, particularly "It Follows", but also other recent Australian movies like "Talk to Me" (the young protagonists of both movies) and "Bring Her Back" (the ritual part of both stories). With the latter two, it's more a similarity in tone and general vibe, whereas I think there's a genuine likeness to "It Follows"'s story, as literally the monster/creature follows the protagonists to attack them in both movies. Don't get me wrong, I'm not pointing it out to say it's a bad thing, but simply that this came to mind when I was watching this film.
Other than this, I do believe that the best way to describe "Leviticus" is through the words of a review I read online, which went roughly like this: homophobia is the real monster in this story. And I think it's so true.
I mean, there is an actual monster: an entity that impersonates the person you desire the most to then attack you: in this case, as the two protagonists are gay and in love, they basically get attacked by each other, but the "monster" version of themselves. And because this entity gets summoned through some sort of supernatural conversion therapy ritual, it is indeed a case of homophobia at its core. And when you think that the protagonist's mom is also involved in the ritual... it makes it even more upsetting.
Because of these unusual elements, I enjoyed the movie's take on this issue combined with an unexpected horror setting, which is quite refreshing. Additionally, the actors playing the two teenagers in love (Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen) are quite good, and their performances really carry the film, considering they have to portray both the normal and monstrous versions of their characters. On top of that, I didn't expect to see Mia Wasikowska in a movie again (here also producing), as I thought she had retired from acting -- which she clearly didn't, although she stepped away from the Hollywood spotlight.
All in all, I think "Leviticus" presents an interesting take on queer youth -- in Australia, specifically -- and is able to demonize homophobia in such a tangible way that is rare to see on the big screen, especially in the horror genre. That said, I wouldn't say I was blown away.
Cast: Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie, Davida McKenzie, Mia Wasikowska.
Box Office: $8.6 million
Worth a watch?: It's an interesting combination of queer cinema and horror, a genre that rarely engages so openly and honestly with teenage gay characters. If you're looking for a story that is gay and scary at the same time, go for it. Especially because, for once, i'ts not a product from the US or the UK. This film has an interesting point of view and occasionally delivers on the horror as well. If you're looking for a more traditional scary movie, then look elsewhere.
Awards: /
Key word: Desire.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2499 - The Odyssey

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:06:51 +0000

Intro: Back in July I was supposed to go and watch this movie at the Irish Film Institute -- my first time there. I booked my ticket for the 70mm IMAX show (because that's how the director intended the audience to watch the movie) but karma had a different plan in mind.
A few days before the show, my sight went double and I got hospitalized for a while to run some tests. I got discharged on the day I was supposed to go and see this movie and, obviously, I couldn't make it. It took another week before my sight went back to normal and only at that stage did I decide to give this movie another try. No more IMAX experience tho, just the regular one.

Film 2499: "The Odyssey" (2026), directed by Christopher Nolan
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I think it was important to explain what happened to me before I went to see this movie because the issue with my eyes had an impact on my perception of this film.
I'll start with the positives: I think "The Odyssey" is masterfully crafted and shot and, overall, it is indeed a cinematic experience. Possibly the true definition of a movie event -- more so than the new Spider-man, which is part of a massive franchise and extremely recognizable IP -- Nolan's new epic adventure dominated the mainstream conversation for weeks (ahead of and after its release) and took the box office by storm. In this regard, this is truly an amazing feat, considering how hard it is to bring people to the theaters nowadays, even more so if it's a film not attached to any previous franchise or saga and, like in this case, it's taken from an epic poem based on ancient Greek literature.
In this scenario, I think Nolan would play the intellectual property: he's one of the most recognizable and successful directors of our time and all his movies have seen an insane amount of success (box office and award-wise). So it comes as no surprise that people would be immediately interested in seeing his new movie, not to mention the follow-up to "Oppenheimer", the film that won Nolan the Academy Award for Best Director. Add in the insane amount of Hollywood A-listers that are playing big and small roles here and... I think it comes as no surprise that people were quite interested in checking "The Odyssey" out. Me included.
All of this taken into account and digested... it's time for me to admit that I didn't particularly like this film. For a variety of reasons. Maybe a list would make it easier, so here we go:

1. The reviews. As we know, good reviews create expectations. This film got crazy good ones, so I was expecting to be blown away, almost like my life was meant to be changed by this masterpiece. Needless to say, this had an impact on me.
2. I struggled to follow. I didn't know the story well enough from the get-go: I knew bits and pieces, but not the whole thing, and I have to admit I struggled to follow the story quite a lot, especially at the beginning. It's like I couldn't get into the story's rhythm. The many characters, the amount of dialogue, the time jumps, the unfamiliarity with the source material... So much to take in so quickly, and I felt like I had no time to process what was shown to me, nor was I given enough tools to follow along. As a non-English native speaker, I am aware that this isn't necessarily the movie's fault but, still, I think the story is a bit confusing. And this gets me to the next point.
3. The time jumps. I have no issues with a story jumping back and forth in time, but I believe it should be signaled somehow. I feel like here it's very much left to the viewer to realise where exactly in the story we are. There's no added text on the screen to signal location or time and -- what I found to be the most shocking part -- there's no real progression (or regression) of time visually. Or at least that was my perception. Anne Hathaway looks always the same throughout the whole 10 years this story covers, Tom Holland never loses his baby face and if it wasn't for Matt Damon's beard, I don't think I would have gotten any indication that some time had passed between the scenes. So confusing.
4. The characters. There are way too many. I realize that the source material has even more, but even as a movie adaptation that runs for 173 minutes there's way too much going on that cannot be addressed properly and in full.
5. The dialogue. This is what bothers me the most about "The Odyssey", especially because it's such a long movie: the dialogue is constantly rushed. Two things in particular stood out to me: a) there's never time to sit with what the characters have just said and b) the back and forth between characters is so fast that sometimes their answers feel unnatural because of how quickly they banter with each other. If something is said to a person that has an impact on them, you would expect them to take a moment to process that information and then react accordingly. Here there's none of that: the first line is said, then immediately we get a reply, then the subsequent reply and so on. And once the conversation is over, off we go to the next scene with no time to process what we just heard and watched.
6. The pace (aka editing). This doesn't refer to the whole movie, but sometimes the film jumps from one scene to the next in such a rush that -- yep, you guessed it -- there's no time to take in what was just shown.
7. Sound and visual effects. This could be just me because of my personal issue, but I thought everything was amped up to the maximum: the volume is crazy loud and some scenes show intense lights or flashing that I found so overwhelming I had to close my eyes and disengage for a moment. The sound especially I thought was too loud and overpowering.

So, because of these reasons, I really struggled with "The Odyssey". Technically, it is quite impressive and I love how much of the marketing campaign revolved around the behind-the-scenes and the technical skills that went into creating this film. I think it's so refreshing to put the artistry that made it all possible front and center, use it to draw people in and make them curious to catch this film at the cinema. That said, I won't lie: I miss sci-fi Nolan. I miss intricate plots and plot twists, I miss space and dream sequences, magicians and superheroes. I loved "Dunkirk" but wasn't super fond of "Oppenheimer" and I feel like this new entry follows a very similar path to these two previous movies, but in a way that has further taken away the fun and excitement that used to come with a new Christopher Nolan film. I mean, don't get me wrong, people are still extremely excited every time this director adds a new creation to his filmography -- me included -- and I'm still gonna go and see whatever he comes out with next, but I am a bit nostalgic for that era when a new Christopher Nolan movie meant new world building, the creation of the impossible and an original story that would take you on a journey.
Ps. It's pretty early to say, but I think it's safe to say that this movie will do great at next year's Oscars. Maybe it won't win it all, but definitely the technical categories are locked, possibly even Best Director for Nolan.
Cast: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Samantha Morton, John Leguizamo, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, Bill Irwin, Elliot Page, Benny Safdie, Corey Hawkins, Mia Goth, James Remar, Travis Scott, Zendaya, Charlize Theron.
Box Office: $1.721 billion (as of today)
Worth a watch?: Definitely not my favourite Nolan movie, it doesn't even make the top 10 to be honest. It's long, loud, overly stuffed and a bit overwhelming at times, but just because it didn't work for me, it doesn't mean it's a bad movie or you shouldn't give it a go (if you didn't already). And especially because this film was so successful and drove much of this Summer's movie conversation, I'd suggest you make your own idea about it.
Awards: /
Key word: Zeus's law.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2498 - Iron Lung

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 18:14:43 +0000

Intro: My long, hot horror Summer continues!

Film 2498: "Iron Lung" (2026), directed by Mark Fischbach
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I knew nothing about this film before hearing about it on TikTok. Someone was talking about this renaissance moment for the horror genre, and "Iron Lung" was quoted as one of the entries that contributed to this revival. So, obviously, I was extremely curious.
And look, I didn't hate the movie, but it definitely wasn't made for me. I appreciate the effort that went into creating a product like this on a small budget ($3 million), and all the hard work that went into bringing it to life, considering Mark Fischbach (Markiplier on YouTube) wrote it, directed it, edited it and, yeah, you guessed it, starred in it. So it's clearly a project he really believed in and put a lot of effort into creating. I respect that.
That said, I think the issue of setting your whole story in one confined space becomes more and more evident as the story progresses. Don't get me wrong, it's not that the story gets boring because we're stuck in one place. That's not it. But when a movie with a limited budget is also shot in a tiny submarine where all the props look a bit on the cheaper side... You start to notice. The command control has like 10 buttons overall. The whole room where the main character spends all his time is empty. There's literally so much space you could fit eight other people. And the images that come from the scanner... I understand they're supposed to mimic the original material this film is based on -- the submarine simulation horror game "Iron Lung" created by David Szymanski -- but damn, you really don't understand what you're looking at. Yeah, every now and again the shape of a monster would be easier to spot, but for the rest I was like... What's going on?
Additionally, I found the plot quite confusing. I do believe it was partially my fault because I didn't have subtitles and I would occasionally miss a line or two, but I still thought things could have been explained a bit more clearly. At least this is the point of view of a person who never played the game this is taken from, nor has ever heard about it before watching this movie. I had to go on Wikipedia to read the plot to be able to piece some things together... And that's never a good thing.
Again, I don't necessarily blame the movie. I think after a while I got a bit bored and my brain zoned off and wandered a bit too much. I read that fans of the video game actually appreciated "Iron Lung", so... good for them!
Cast: Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach, Caroline Kaplan, Troy Baker, Elsie Lovelock, Elle LaMont, Mick Lauer, Seán McLoughlin, Isaac McKee.
Box Office: $51.2 million
Worth a watch?: Not for me. I wouldn't even consider this a horror movie, to be honest. If you like the game or know about it and you're curious, I'd say go for it. Otherwise, I'd recommend watching something else. Especially if you're claustrophobic.
Awards: /
Key word: Sample.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2497 - They Will Kill You

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 19:08:40 +0000

Intro: I was really curious to see this one, but when it came out in theaters, I didn't make it in time to go and watch it. Being 2026, the year of the horror renaissance, I couldn't possibly leave this one behind. So, a few weeks ago, I decided to give it a go.

Film 2497: "They Will Kill You" (2026), directed by Kirill Sokolov
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I think this movie is full of ideas, and some of them are really good, but towards the end, the story takes such a turn that it ruins the ending a bit for me.
I'll be honest, overall I enjoyed "They Will Kill You": it's bold and very creative, and it has the guts to tell a completely new story in such a unique way, combining elements from horror and thriller, sci-fi and comedy for an overall result that is a crazy ride. And if you like it, what an actual ride it is! It's not perfect, though. I think there is a tonal shift towards the second half of the movie that messes up the vibe a bit, but I appreciate the effort in delivering something new, especially in such a stacked year for horror films.
That said, the ending is where "They Will Kill You" lost me. The cult plot twist is fine -- I mean, not groundbreaking, but it's fun -- and when you mix this element with the fact that its members are immortal and keep on resurrecting... it's actually fun to watch.
My issue is the (real) villain of the story and the fight between him and our main protagonist: it's such a weird scene to watch and, without giving too much away, I think the visual effects are not up to par and, in general, this bit of the story is so over the top that it actually took me out of it. It looks so obviously computer-generated, and what's at stake is so out of the ordinary that I disengaged a bit. Not to mention that the skin part confused me a bit.
All in all, though, this movie surprised me. I went into it without knowing anything about it, with no expectations whatsoever and, yeah, I had fun. It's a combination of so many other movies blended together that it comes out the other side like something new.
Cast: Zazie Beetz, Myha'la, Paterson Joseph, James Remar, Angus Sampson, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, Patricia Arquette.
Box Office: $19.4 million
Worth a watch?: Definitely not a film for everyone, it's extremely violent and filled with dark humor. But if you enjoy films like "Kill Bill", "Ready or Not" and its sequel, or even "Rosemary's Baby", this one could actually work for you. Visually, it's very interesting, Zazie Beetz and Patricia Arquette banter off each other perfectly and, overall, the movie is such a crazy ride that, if you're into it, you end up having fun. For what it is, I enjoyed it.
Awards: /
Key word: Sister.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2496 - The 'Burbs

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:46:10 +0000

Intro: I started watching the TV show that is based on this movie a while ago and got curious. So, once I finished the show, I decided to give the OG film a go.

Film 2496: "The 'Burbs" (1989), directed by Joe Dante
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I'll be honest, I had never heard of this film before, which is a bit strange considering Tom Hanks is in it. In Italian, the movie is called "L'erba del vicino" and even that didn't ring a bell, so I went in completely unaware of what to expect. I mean, to a certain extent, considering "The 'Burbs" TV series is based on it, but we all know remakes tend to differ quite a bit from the original material, so I was definitely expecting differences and changes to the plot, the first one being that the main character here is a man, whereas in the series it's a woman (Keke Palmer).
Differences from the original material aside -- there are, but not to the point that the main idea is different: the shady neighbors remain, the mystery behind everyone's door and how everyone keeps a secret is still there -- I have to admit I enjoyed the TV series more. Obviously, this movie is from the late 80s, so it's more rooted in the culture of the time. So is the humor and the execution of the mystery, which to me felt like the weakest point of the whole "The 'Burbs" experience. I know this isn't a horror movie, so it's OK that there aren't scary moments, but considering how the sketchy neighbors plotline is portrayed, I was expecting a little bit of... fright?
Instead, after spending so much time dissecting the mystery, the whole thing resolves in such a hurry that, as a viewer, I wasn't sure the story was actually done. Which felt quite strange, to be honest.
In this sense, I think this movie is a product of its time: it utilises a different visual language that I'm not sure fully works nowadays. The resolution of the story is explained rather than shown, and you get to know what the whole mystery was mostly through dialogue and what is said afterwards, rather than seeing it on the screen.
Aside from this, though, I can't say I didn't enjoy this trip to "The 'Burbs". It's a fun enough ride, and I can understand why it is now considered a cult classic: the characters are all over the top, the shady neighborhood is a fascinating idea, and Tom Hanks gives a quirky performance that is quite unusual for him. On top of that, Carrie Fisher -- the icon that she is -- plays his wife, and the movie was shot on the same set that would later be used to create Wisteria Lane from the (iconic) show "Desperate Housewives", so I totally see the appeal.
So, all in all, I think the TV series spoke to me more, but I still enjoyed Joe Dante's crazy ride to the suburbs.
Cast: Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Rick Ducommun, Corey Feldman, Wendy Schaal.
Box Office: $49.1 million
Worth a watch?: If you watched the recent TV series, I'd say go ahead and watch this film to fully commit. The same applies to the opposite scenario: if you loved this movie in the past, I think Peacock's series is worth the watch, even just to compare the two products and see how they apply to the time period they were released in.
Awards: /
Key word: Furnace.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2495 - The Invite

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 17:31:51 +0000

Intro: There was good buzz around this film and I was really curious to see for myself if it was worth the watch.

Film 2495: "The Invite" (2025), directed by Olivia Wilde
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: "The Invite" is a very interesting film, especially in the current cinematic landscape. And it's even more interesting that it managed to become so successful, considering I would consider this quite the niche film rather than a mainstream one. Instead, it managed to do well at the box office (on a $15 million production budget) and gather Oscar buzz this early in the year.
What caught my attention the most is how intimate this movie feels, to the point that I thought its story was taken from a play. There are only four characters, basically just one location we never get to escape, a dialogue-heavy script, and themes that are mainly ordinary and close to what would be any adult's life nowadays. Instead, this is actually the English-language remake of the 2020 Spanish film "Sentimental" by Cesc Gay.
Because of its theatrical vibe and remake essence, this film inherently reminds me of these other two: "Carnage" -- based on the play "Le Dieu du carnage" by Yasmina Reza -- and "Perfetti sconosciuti" -- in 2024 recognised as the most remade film by Guinness World Records, with productions in 24 different languages.
All three of these movies share similar qualities and themes: the confined space, limited characters and a story that revolves around couples, their relationships, struggles and secrets. Additionally, they all share a very specific tone: the story starts slowly in what would be an everyday life situation and gradually (and brutally) escalates, eventually peaking in some sort of explosive truth that shakes the couples to their core.
In this specific instance, "The Invite" leans more towards comedy than drama, which I appreciated. I especially enjoyed this because I don't think many would have expected Olivia Wilde and Penélope Cruz to be such a perfect fit for a story like this. To me, they are the true stars -- I can't call them revelations, as we all know how amazing and talented these ladies are -- of this film. It's true I'm drawn to strong female characters, but here I think they really outshine their male counterparts. Don't get me wrong, both Seth Rogen and Edward Norton do a great job, but I think the ladies really ate their parts. The sexual tension Cruz is able to bring to life between her and literally any other character is insane, and I never would have expected to see her in such a sexually charged role. On the other hand, Wilde portrays her character with such tension. There's a nervousness about her, an uneasiness that makes you feel the same way while you watch the story unfold. It's nerve-wracking, but it serves the character so well, especially opposite Cruz.
On top of a great performance, Wilde also directed the movie. This is not her first endeavour, but possibly her best one so far. I always find it commendable when a director succeeds in finding a way to tell a story that is spatially limited to a sole location. It would be so easy for the story to fail and for it to be visually presented in such a boring way that it would turn the audience away. Instead, Wilde's vision is extremely aware of the spaces and camera angles and never shies away from the actors' faces, keeping you constantly (and emotionally) engaged.
Overall, I really enjoyed "The Invite". I think it's a refreshing example of how smaller movies can feel big and engaging and entertain the hell out of you.
Cast: Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton.
Box Office: $55.6 million
Worth a watch?: I really liked it. The actors are perfectly cast, the story is interesting and has enough crazy twists to keep you entertained and engaged. It's the perfect movie for a movie night that doesn't require bombastic entertainment, but rather something more adult-themed (there's a lot of sex talk indeed). If you liked "Carnage" or "Perfetti sconosciuti" (here's my personal deep dive on this unexpected Italian sensation), you can't miss this film.
Awards: /
Key word: Sex party.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2494 - Predator: Badlands

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 17:43:50 +0000

Intro: I didn't get the chance to see this film when it came out later last year and, to be honest, I kinda forgot about it. Then, a couple of months ago, somehow I remembered its existence and decided to give it a go.

Film 2494: "Predator: Badlands" (2025), directed by Dan Trachtenberg
Watched: On the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I've never been a massive "Predator" fan, but I've watched enough entries in the franchise to be able to say that I really like the new direction they're going for. And it's mainly thanks to Dan Trachtenberg, who directed both this film and "Prey", the previous one from 2022.
What I enjoy the most about these movies is that the character of Predator is the main focus of the story in a way that's unconventional for the genre. Other franchises like "Alien", "Halloween" or "A Nightmare on Elm Street" have the bad guy - or alien, in this case - simply being the main antagonist. There's not much character development, and they are usually not what the story focuses on, but rather a mechanism that serves the plot and scares the viewer. But not here.
"Prey" before and "Predator: Badlands" now put the title character at the center of their plot. Here especially, we get to spend time with what traditionally would have been the villain of the story: Predator has to prove to its dad that he can hunt the apex predator and, to do that, it travels to a different planet and sets the story into motion. It's such a refreshing perspective!
Not only this, but the movie is actually good. Considering how few characters the story puts together and the limitations of having your lead not speak any human language, it's quite impressive how the screenplay is able to smoothly move things forward in an engaging and cinematic way. I especially like how many visual cues are used to progress the plot - the spit thing above anything else for me - and how much world-building has gone into creating this film. And it all plays out well in the end, because the film is engaging, visually interesting and never boring. For a standalone product like this, the world and character creation is quite impressive.
If I had to find something negative to say, Elle Fanning's character could be the weak link for me. Not because she's not good in the film, but mainly because her character does most of the talking - sometimes it could be a bit much - and because Fanning plays two roles here and, although it's understandable why, it would have been nice to have seen another human face.
All in all, I really enjoyed "Predator: Badlands" and, together with its predecessor, I think it's an impressive entry in the world of this franchise.
Film 2134 - Prey
Film 2494 - Predator: Badlands
Film 1707 - The Predator
Cast: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Reuben de Jong, Mike Homik, Alison Wright.
Box Office: $184.6 million
Worth a watch?: If you liked "Prey", you'll definitely like this one! It's unfortunate this film didn't make enough of a splash at the box office to spawn more movies -- although the animated anthology film "Predator: Killer of Killers" was released on Hulu/Disney+ in June last year, just before "Badlands" hit theaters in November.
It's a good sci-fi film that takes the franchise in a new direction that is both refreshing and entertaining. Watch it and you'll see.
Awards: /
Key word: Spit.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2493 - Fear Street: Prom Queen

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:34:13 +0000

Intro: I was looking to extend the horror movie streak a bit longer, but had no idea what to watch. So I turned to Netflix, hoping its catalogue would save me. And, for the purpose of what I was looking for, it did.

Film 2493: "Fear Street: Prom Queen" (2025), directed by Matt Palmer
Watched: On the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: When I was a kid, I was a huge fan of R. L. Stine's "Goosebumps". I had most of the books, I read them constantly - even re-read one or two a bunch of times - and it was such a beloved franchise to me. So when I was scanning through Netflix's catalogue looking for something horror-related to spook up my evening, finding out that "Fear Street: Prom Queen" was based on the work of the same author was 100% the decisive factor. And sure, it wasn't mind-blowing, but I had enough of a decent time.
I'll be completely honest: this is not a good movie, but there's a certain vibe to it that I resonated with: the nostalgia. I love the 80s and I love horror movies, so the two elements combined definitely worked for me. But - and it's a big but - the acting isn't great, the plot twist at the end is a weak payoff for all the mystery set up throughout the plot, and overall "Fear Street: Prom Queen" feels more like - you guessed it - a Netflix production than an actual movie that would hit theaters and justify its existence by having something to say rather than simply filling out the catalogue.
I was happy to see Katherine Waterston again, though, and Lili Taylor is always guaranteed to deliver in the horror genre.
Cast: India Fowler, Suzanna Son, Fina Strazza, Chris Klein, David Iacono, Ella Rubin, Ariana Greenblatt, Lili Taylor, Katherine Waterston.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but if you're looking for something silly and easy to watch that falls under the horror umbrella, then go for it and see if it sticks. I think the original "Fear Street" is so much better, but the 80s prom night vibe could be a turn-on for some(one like me).
Awards: /
Key word: Winning.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2492 - Meg 2: The Trench

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:12:41 +0000

Intro: Once I heard it was bad, I never convinced myself to go and see it at the movies. Then, a few weeks ago, I saw it listed on Netflix and I said to myself: "Why not?"

Film 2492: "Meg 2: The Trench" (2023), directed by Ben Wheatley
Watched: On the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I mean, if you've seen the previous one, you know exactly what to expect from this sequel. And look, I'm not saying it's good by any means, but if you enjoyed "The Meg", you should have a good time this time around as well. And I did.
I think they tried to go even bigger with this one, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the story ends up having way too many plots and subplots, and way too many main and side characters for the audience to be fully invested. To be fair, if you're watching "Meg 2: The Trench", you're doing it for the spectacle it provides and definitely not for the plot, but still, it's worth mentioning the overstuffed script.
And, as is to be expected, Jason Statham goes above and beyond to prove how badass he can be.
Not much else to say, really; either you have a good time or you think this is the stupidest movie in the world.
Film 1700 - The Meg
Film 2492 - Meg 2: The Trench
Cast: Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels, Cliff Curtis.
Box Office: $398.5 million
Worth a watch?: "A research team's journey into the depths of the ocean turns into chaos when a mining operation forces them into a battle for survival, facing off against Megalodons and relentless environmental marauders." (from IMDb). If this sounds like your jam, damn, you're gonna have a good time. Otherwise, venture elsewhere.
Awards: 3 nominations at the Razzie Awards for Worst Picture, Worst Director and Worst Actor (Jason Statham).
Key word: Rare-earth minerals.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2491 - Fall

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 19:42:37 +0000

Intro: I was aware of this movie, but it never crossed my mind to watch it. Then recently I came across this film again and said to myself, why did I never watch it? It had all the elements that I would enjoy, so one evening I decided to give it a go.

Film 2491: "Fall" (2022), Scott Mann
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I'll admit I was expecting a bit more, but overall I enjoyed "Fall".
A few elements stood out to me:

- Conceiving an engaging story that is set in one tiny, confined location for 2/3 of its runtime is quite impressive.
- The 610-meter-high television broadcasting tower shown here - which I thought was ridiculously tall to actually be real - is based on the real 625-meter-high KXTV/KOVR tower in Walnut Grove, California, United States. Once I realized a similar structure actually exists, my perception of this movie and its believability radically shifted.
- The height element is the real driving force of this story. Whether you're afraid of heights or not, it's undeniable that this movie is able to capitalize on this visual element to produce a continuous adrenaline boost that runs throughout the story. Without it, "Fall" wouldn't be as effective or have much else that would make it stand out. Remove the broadcasting tower and this is just another survival story, as we've seen many times before portrayed on the big screen.

All of this said, the downside is that the big plot twist at the end isn't as creative as the rest of the story. I mean, I didn't necessarily see it coming, yet it felt like a cheap twist timed to give the main character one last challenge to face.
And speaking of challenges - although I understand that the particular setting of the story made it, in a way, necessary - I thought the script gave its main protagonists way too many obstacles to overcome. The constant twists and turns the story pulls out get more and more frustrating as time goes by. I often found myself wondering: "And now what?" Obviously, it shouldn't be too easy to get rescued from the tower or there would be no story to tell, but the way the story persists in presenting new life-threatening or emotionally stressful plot points (the shoe, the drone, the flare gun, the injuries, the vulture, the cheating) compromised the overall enjoyment of this film for me. Not totally, as I still had a good time overall, but I wish there were fewer twists so that the story would feel less packed and flow slightly better.
Ps. A sequel, "Fall 2: Deadpoint", is coming out this September.
Cast: Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner, Mason Gooding, Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Box Office: $21.8 million
Worth a watch?: If you're scared of heights, this is either the film that will get you over it or send you over the edge. I could barely handle it, to be honest, but I enjoyed how much "Fall" had me on the edge of my seat. Up to you to decide if you're up to the task.
Awards: /
Key word: 1-4-3.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2490 - Ghost Ship

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:59:45 +0000

Intro: Over at Simon's we were looking for a movie to watch after (my first) taco dinner. Somehow, I remembered this movie existed and we just went for it.

Film 2490: "Ghost Ship" (2002), Steve Beck
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: Simon
Thoughts: I mean, certainly not a masterpiece, but "Ghost Ship" is fun enough to be entertaining for what it is.
The horror elements of the story aren't new and you can see them coming a mile away, but this movie has more of a vibe that stays with you rather than a compelling story no one has ever told before.
Specifically, I feel the set pieces are quite good considering the $20 million budget and the fact that this film was never meant to become a box office juggernaut. So the fact that so much thought and care was put into crafting visually interesting sets and visuals - including some camera angles and shots - really surprised me. I mean, I'd seen this movie before ages ago and certainly didn't remember this aspect of it.
The one thing I remembered, though, is the fact that Francesca Rettondini is in it. I'm sure she acted in other Italian projects before and after this, but to me she's always been the partner of Alberto Castagna, a very famous Italian TV presenter who was big in the 90s. The fact that Rettondini somehow landed this (mute) role is so fascinating and legit the one memory of "Ghost Ship" that stayed with me over the years.

And there is another element here that is connected to Italy: the disappeared ocean liner at the center of the story is, in fact, Italian. Therefore, a lot of design elements (signs) and even a song are technically in my native language. Why the 'technically'? Because they're either spelled wrong or pronounced incorrectly which, to me, added a fun element to the whole experience.
Like, for example, in the picture here, you can read 'Cabina di capitano', which should be 'Cabina del capitano' instead. It's just... funny.
All in all, "Ghost Ship" is fine enough to be enjoyable. The premise of the disappeared ship that might contain a golden treasure is intriguing, the cast is quite packed with extremely familiar faces, the scary bits are predictable but work, and the bloody opening sequence is actually quite impressive and a good way to start the story with terror and disgust.
So yeah, I had a good time rewatching this.
Cast: Julianna Margulies, Ron Eldard, Desmond Harrington, Isaiah Washington, Karl Urban, Emily Browning, Francesca Rettondini, Gabriel Byrne.
Box Office: $68.3 million
Worth a watch?: It's not a must-watch, but it has its moments, especially the opening sequence. I'd say, if you're curious, go for it.
Awards: /
Key word: Gold.
Trailer
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Film 2489 - Tre uomini e una gamba

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:42:49 +0000

Intro: I don't know why or what caused it, really, but all of a sudden I felt like I really wanted to rewatch this Italian movie. When it came out, I was 10 and I think I remember going to the movies to watch it with my parents. So it's possibly a combination of nostalgia for this movie, missing my parents and/or Italy. I guess...

Film 2489: "Tre uomini e una gamba" (1997), Aldo, Giovanni & Giacomo, Massimo Venier
Watched: From the computer
Language: Italian
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: Man, I really didn't remember much about this film. Like, it was almost like watching it for the first time all over again. And honestly, I had a blast.
It's hard to explain to non-Italian speakers the appeal of Aldo, Giovanni & Giacomo. They're super funny here, but it doesn't look like they're doing much, really. It's a mix of physical comedy, the juxtaposition of Northern and Southern habits and ways of life and, in this specific movie, the sketches. The latter, especially, are an interesting choice: they don't progress the story - if anything, they pause it - and yet they're possibly the funniest comedy bits here. Obviously, this was a clever way to include and acknowledge the trio's background in improv and theater, and these short stories within the actual main story are when the three comedians really shine the most. I didn't realize this until I rewatched "Tre uomini e una gamba", but most of the bits I remembered from the movie actually come from the sketches: Dracula, the 'cadrega', and Ajeje Brazorf are all small pieces of Italian pop culture from that time that I carry with me to this day, and I was so surprised to realize that I had completely forgotten they belonged to this film.
Needless to say, I quite enjoyed this watch. It's reminiscent of a specific time and place that reminds me of my childhood and offers a fast track to nostalgia, in a way that's hard to describe. I look at this movie in a way that isn't just from the perspective of the story it tells, but also (mainly?) what it reminds me of and what it means to me.
I really do find "Tre uomini e una gamba" to be extremely funny and probably Aldo, Giovanni & Giacomo's best movie to date. It's naive and simple, yet effective because of how straightforward the story is: the trio embarks on a journey to the South of Italy to get to Gallipoli in time for Aldo's wedding. On the road, adventures and misadventures happen and, of course, someone falls in love unexpectedly. It's just that, yet it's effective and heartwarming in a way that (Italian) comedy isn't capable of being anymore.
Cast: Aldo Baglio, Giovanni Storti, Giacomo Poretti, Marina Massironi, Carlo Croccolo, Luciana Littizzetto, Maria Pia Casilio, Augusto Zucchi, Mohamed El Sayed.
Box Office: €33.6 million
Worth a watch?: "Tre uomini e una gamba" is basically a time machine: if you're curious to see how we used to be and live in Italy back in the day, this is definitely one of the comedies I would recommend. And, if you end up enjoying it, other similar films to consider could be (from the same trio) "Così è la vita" and "Chiedimi se sono felice", Leonardo Pieraccioni's "Il ciclone", or Carlo Verdone's "Viaggi di nozze".
Awards: Nominated for Best New Director (Migliore Regista Esordiente) at the David di Donatello 1998.
Key word: Garpez.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2488 - Masters of the Universe

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:40:17 +0000

Intro: I wasn't planning to watch this one, to be fair, but the reviews were better than I expected, and I got intrigued...

Film 2488: "Masters of the Universe" (2026), Travis Knight
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I didn't know much about He-Man. I can vaguely recall watching the cartoon as a child, but if this movie hadn't come out, I probably wouldn't even have remembered the character. Which, in theory, could be a good thing, as "Masters of the Universe" could be the perfect re-introduction to this world. But I'm not 100% sure this film taught me much.
It's been a month since I saw it in theaters, and I have to admit I don't remember much about the story or the characters. It all blended into a mixture of vague memories from this film and possibly other similar ones. I'm thinking of pretty much any superhero origin story from the last decade or so. What I do remember, though, is thinking while watching it that, yeah, "Masters of the Universe" isn't bad, but it also isn't that great either. It's a fun ride for what it is, but compared to other movies that suffered a similar fate*, such as "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves", this one doesn't really have anything that sets it apart. Or maybe it's just me? I'm not sure. I haven't watched many superhero films lately, as I'm currently a bit done with the genre, so it's entirely possible that I checked out a bit while watching.
Other things I remember thinking at the movies:

I'm not sure Nicholas Galitzine works in this role for me. I only know him from "Bottoms", "Red, White & Royal Blue", and "The Sheep Detectives", and he's clearly talented. Yet I couldn't stop thinking that he's the gay guy from the Amazon Prime gay movie. That's all I could think about.
Camila Mendes' makeup department choices were... questionable. The colored contact lenses look fake, and her hair color is clearly not her real one. I'm not sure if that was a wig, but it definitely took me out of the movie every time she was on screen.
The villain. I know that Hollywood keeps thinking that Jared Leto** is this gifted actor who's able to bring in crowds of fans, but a) that was never really the case (go watch "House of Gucci" if you think otherwise), and b) I really don't see the point of casting him here, considering his character, Skeletor, is fully CGI and even the voice is modified. It literally could have been anybody else playing Skeletor, and you wouldn't be able to tell.
I do believe "Masters of the Universe" came out at the wrong time and is too similar to previous Marvel movies, especially the later "Thor" films. They share a similar Viking-from-another-world vibe, as well as the same tone and humor, which people have been complaining about for a while now.
Lastly, I don't think the marketing pushed this IP enough or made it interesting enough for people to care. I don't even remember seeing the trailer before going to see the actual movie.

I want to reiterate that "Masters of the Universe" is not a bad movie at all. I was hoping for something a bit more original in terms of tone and vibe, yes, but overall the film is enjoyable. I just didn't connect with it all that much.

* Actually good movies that didn't perform well at the box office, or at least not well enough to justify a sequel or a further expansion of the franchise.

**Jared Leto is currently in deep shit after being accused of sexual misconduct and criminal sexual conduct by four different women. This is the last time I'm acknowledging him on this blog, as from now on I'm only going to list him in the cast section of any film I'm reviewing (that is, if I'm going to see a movie with him in it anymore).

Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Kristen Wiig, Jared Leto, Idris Elba.
Box Office: $114 million
Worth a watch?: A catastrophic flop at the box office - it cost $170 million just to produce - "Masters of the Universe" is good enough for an evening in front of the TV, when your only desire is to turn your brain off and possibly indulge in a little bit of nostalgia.
Awards: /
Key word: "I have the power!".
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2487 - Neighbors

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:32:01 +0000

Intro: Second evening in Dingle, second movie from the couch. After a night out in town, of course.

Film 2487: "Neighbors" (2014), Nicholas Stoller
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Debbi, Niamh, Eimear
Thoughts: I've watched this movie a bunch of times already and always find it funny. It's not a masterpiece or anything, but it's almost like a comfort watch that, at the right time, delivers exactly what I need. Similar to other films like "21 Jump Street", "22 Jump Street" or "We're the Millers".
So I guess the vibe was once again right for me, as I really enjoyed rewatching this first "Neighbors" - the sequel isn't that good - after so many years since I last saw it.
I think Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne have great chemistry together, and watching the two of them go up against the other screen duo, Zac Efron and Dave Franco, is a pleasure. My personal highlights: the airbag and milking scenes. Hilarious.
All in all, a solid comedy that still works more than 10 years later. And these days, that's quite the feat.
Film 773 - Cattivi vicini
Film 1060 - Cattivi vicini
Film 2487 - Neighbors
Film 1192 - Cattivi vicini 2
Cast: Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Dave Franco, Ike Barinholtz, Carla Gallo, Lisa Kudrow.
Box Office: $270.7 million
Worth a watch?: It's the type of comedy that isn't for everybody, I understand that, but if you enjoy a less refined humor that goes all in on the politically incorrect, this is the movie for you. This one. Again, not the second one.
Awards: 3 wins at the MTV Movie + TV Awards Best Shirtless Performance (Zac Efron), Best Duo (Zac Efron, Dave Franco), and Best WTF Moment (Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne) over 7 nominations (Best Comedic Performance for Rose Byrne, Best Musical Moment, Best Kiss, Best Fight).
Key word: Police.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2486 - Office Romance

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:17:49 +0000

Intro: Back in June, we spent a weekend in Dingle, Co. Kerry, to celebrate Niamh's birthday and, while there, we watched a couple of movies. This is the first one.

Film 2486: "Office Romance" (2026), Ol Parker
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Debbi, Niamh, Eimear
Thoughts: I quite like romcoms, so this should be right up my alley, but I wasn't really sure I wanted to watch this one. Mainly for a couple of reasons: both Jennifer Lopez's and Netflix's movies aren't usually that good. So, combine the two elements together and you get why I wasn't feeling too excited about "Office Romance". The saving grace of the project is Brett Goldstein - who also wrote the script - one of my favourite actors from the "Ted Lasso" family. Because of him playing the lead, I was kinda intrigued.
I'll be honest, "Office Romance" is quite the odd movie. Lopez and Goldstein have nice chemistry and the romance is believable enough, I'll give them that. Overall, I guess the story is fine, but it definitely takes some strange turns: the birth scene is unnecessarily graphic, the British kink room is weirder than romantic, and the sister (Jodie Whittaker) plot twist is surprisingly serious for a movie like this. This last element especially felt the oddest to me because it doesn't really fit the vibe, even more so when the story tries to make the situation somehow funny by making her some sort of comic relief. It's not; she's in prison - if I recall correctly, she murdered someone? - and if you choose to include this dark element in your romcom, you should treat it in a more appropriate way. Or at least that's how I felt while watching the movie.
Overall, I appreciate the effort to deliver a film that is less your usual romantic comedy and a bit more of an oddball that catches you by surprise at times, but I'm not sure it's done in a completely successful way here. Also, in the more demanding emotional scenes - like the last one at the press conference - JLo still cannot deliver.
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Brett Goldstein, Betty Gilpin, Amy Sedaris, Tony Hale, Bradley Whitford, Edward James Olmos, Jodie Whittaker.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: Of all the romcoms you can watch, I wouldn't have this one at the top of my list. It's fine, the production value is obvious, and Brett Goldstein surprisingly works for a project like this, but overall the story is emotionally inconsistent and feels stranger than it should at times.
Awards: /
Key word: Lawsuit.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2485 - Disclosure Day

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:28:06 +0000

Intro: Not that I was dying to see this film... but when Steven Spielberg has a new one out, you can't really miss it, or what kind of cinema fanatic are you really?!

Film 2485: "Disclosure Day" (2026), Steven Spielberg
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: Oh boy.
I wasn't expecting this movie to be groundbreaking or a masterpiece, but I certainly didn't anticipate just how bored I'd be while watching it. I went by myself, so I was very much focused and present, and I definitely struggled to stay awake during some scenes. Especially at the beginning, when no one really knows what's going on, the story takes so long to actually get going that you begin to wonder what the point of it all really is. And, to be fair, that question still stands.
What I mean is that "Disclosure Day" doesn't seem to know what kind of movie it'd like to be, as it combines so many different elements from different genres: thriller, alien invasion, mystery, action, espionage, sci-fi, and... religious?! The mix is at times so random that it's really hard to take the story seriously. I appreciate the effort to go for something different and not just the seen-it-before alien invasion bit, but I'm not sure venturing into religious territory was the right choice (I'm referring to the moment where Emily Blunt's character reads one person's mind and says something along the lines of, "I don't want to be your religion." I legitimately laughed at that scene).
It's not just this, though. The alien aspect was quite disappointing in the end. Especially the big reveal where Blunt and the alien talk... I don't know, it really ruined the ending for me. I thought there was no need to show the alien, story-wise, and the visual effects really don't deliver. The end result just looks cheap and unconvincing. Speaking of visual effects, I also don't think they were very good throughout the whole film. For a movie that cost $115 million to make—and God knows how much to promote—the end result isn't up to par. The animals, especially, don't look believable and, look, nobody went to the cinema expecting this one to deliver a realistic take on possible human-alien contact, but the overall lack of believability takes you out of the story at times.
Last but not least, I think the story is way too overcrowded. Not just with different narrative elements or plot points, but with characters as well. Too many story arcs to complete, too many side stories we don't really care about. Rarely have I seen a character so obviously utilized as a plot tool as the boyfriend, played by Wyatt Russell: remove him from the story and literally nothing changes.
Anyway, I don't want to only shit on this movie, so here's a short list of the elements I appreciated:

Emily Blunt as a leading lady. I love her. She's clearly talented and can carry a movie on her shoulders with no problem. Her face does look strange, though.
Steven Spielberg is still a great director. The car chase scene was really good.
I'm glad to see Josh O'Connor making a splash in Hollywood. He's handsome and so talented, and hopefully he'll stop queerbaiting us in allegedly gay movie romances and either go all in or stop edging us.
The newsroom setting was interesting, although underdeveloped. I wish they'd explored that a bit more rather than all the government nonsense and the boyfriend crap.

All in all, "Disclosure Day" was unfortunately worse than I expected. Maybe a shorter, less crowded edit of this story would have worked better. And there was no need to show us the aliens: once you materialize on screen the one element your story has asked the audience to imagine, the fantasy is ruined.
Cast: Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Wyatt Russell, Elizabeth Marvel, Colman Domingo.
Box Office: $239.8 million
Worth a watch?: For Spielberg fans. It's not awful, but it is a confused story filled with too many elements that weaken the overall message. One of the biggest disappointments of 2026 for me.
Awards: /
Key word: Cardinal.
Trailer
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