Alien at the Movies

Butchers

It’s “Deliverance” meets “Of Mice & Men” when couples have car troubles along this backwoods country road where the Watson brothers, Owen & Oswald, set the rules & enforce them. The title should tell you what to expect in this teen slasher film. However, it doesn’t tell you how vile & evil these sadistic men are. I’m not sure which of these brothers is the creepiest & scariest. Oh, did I️ forget to mention Oxford? See who can survive this truly disturbing & horrific experience. This is not for the squeamish nor faint hearted, but if you are a true horror fan & like to be terrified, you may enjoy cringing around the chopping block & screaming your unheard advice at the screen.

Alien gives it 2½ “waste not, want not” stars out of 4.

Our Friend

When Mathew & Nicole (Casey Affleck & Dakota Johnson) learn some really bad news, their good friend Dane (Jason Segel) puts his life on hold to offer them his full support. He is a journalist & she is into theater arts. They have 2 young daughters, Molly & Evie. Dane hasn’t exactly got his life together. It’s an emotional roller coaster as they deal with life & life can be very messy. But through all of their struggles, their love for each other helps them cope with their difficult journeys. Told through several flashbacks, it’s a little confusing in the beginning to fully comprehend the complexities as the story is told out of sequence. However, this mix of the good & the bad is probably for the best as it avoids the continual downward spiral. Affleck, Johnson, & Segel are all terrific. It’s a real tearjerker that based on a true story. Look for a short summary closing out the film.

Alien gives it 3 “hospice nurse” out of 4.

Women is Losers

The women’s uphill struggle for equality is told through the experience of one promising young Catholic school girl who makes a mistake & her life’s path drastically changes. Set in San Francisco in the late 60’s to early 70’s, a Latina from an abusive environment becomes a single mom working 2 jobs as she tries to plan for a better life for herself & her son. The film highlights the perspectives of those times: attitudes toward the Viet Nam war, issues with abortion & unwed mothers, the unfairness of sexism, racism, & discrimination. The storyline may be a little too pat to be realistic but who cares in an underdog story about getting second chances. 

Alien gives it 3 “invest in dirt” stars out of 4.

Dune

The war between 2 noble houses, Atreides & Harkonnen, is being fought on the harsh desert planet of Arrakis, home to the native Fremen & some gigantic Sandworms. “Spice” is the extremely valuable commodity being harvested on Arrakis. As the complex storyline unfolds, there is a lot of characters & information to absorb & assimilate. The visuals are immense & cinematically grand. These new worlds & cultures are fascinating. I️ loved the costumes, the dragonfly transports, & seeing the energy shield battles. The outstanding cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skatsgärd, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, & Javier Bardem. Who can resist a prophecy, premonitions, supersized worms, a fight to the death, & betrayal. Director Denis Villeneuve truly takes you to another world. After being mesmerized for two and a half hours, you’ll suddenly realize that this seems to only be part one. Hopefully, the box office numbers will demand a sequel.

Alien gives it 3 “when is a gift not a gift” stars out of 4.

A Perfect Enemy

A successful architect late for his flight at the Paris airport has a chance meeting with an annoying chatty Dutch girl. His attempts to ignore her continue to fail. When she finally wears him down, she begins to recount this wild 3-part story about her past involving killing someone, obsession, guilt, & feeling unloved. What is her motive? Is she lying? Is she stalking him? She is like a train wreck, you want to look away but you can’t. In this Euro-thriller about the perfect crime, she is that scary psycho person that you can’t trust. It’s an unsettling haunting tale about perfection & narcissism that comes with a twist that you may not see coming. The film does a clever imagery tricks.

Alien gives it 3 “Texel Textor” stars out of 4.

Night Teeth

It’s Elvira meets “The Godfather” meets Crazy Rich Bitches meets “Stuber” when college student, Benny, volunteers to replace his half-brother, Jay, as chauffeur for 2 gorgeous babes out on the L.A. nightlife scene with a thirst for blood. Things get complicated when Benny Boy starts to realize who his passengers, Zoe & Blaire, really are. Benny & the seductive badass little monsters are the standouts as the bloody night rolls on & the body count climbs. Benny finds himself as the cornered rodent in a playful but deadly game of cat & mouse. For a fantasy fun time, don’t take it seriously, overlook the flaws, & enjoy the night ride. See who survives until dawn. 

Alien gives it 3 “Night Legion” stars out of 4.

 Mortal

As a suspect involving a mysterious death in Noway, American backpacker Eric is held for questioning. A young psychologist Christine is asked talk to the subject when he exhibits some extraordinary powers. Authorities want to contain this danger but Eric escapes & together with Christine search for the source of his new found powers. When the public witnesses his effects on weather & lightning, they dub him Thor. Can he control his powers? Is he a god or maybe demi-god? Will he be good or evil?It’s intense drama as Eric learns to harnessl his powerful gift.

Alien gives it 3 “glove, belt, & hammer” stars out of 4.

Deadlocked

It’s the “Phone Booth” of the zombie world when 5 strangers get trapped in an apartment building elevator during an apparent viral outbreak of the walking dead. A cop, his cuffed perp, an aspiring actor, a mechanical engineer, & a girl with asthma spend 75% of the film claustrophobically stuck in this small confined space trapped between floors. The main drawback effecting this film is that it was made with an extremely limited budget. The movie is typically what you expect from a zombie picture so there aren’t any real surprises except when do they finally get out of the darn elevator. The filmmakers do the best they can on a shoestring budget, but it’s not enough & forces certain shortcuts that may sound a little too silly or convenient. There are few interjected scenes that seem rather confusing & disconnected from the main storyline. One can hardly wait for this rag tag team to finally escape their confines in anticipation of the real zombie action. 

Alien gives it 1½ “backpack essentials” stars out of 4.

Voyagers

With humankind survival at risk, an expedition to colonize a far distanced planet is planned with genetically & educationally groomed individuals. Raised in isolation, these young men & women obediently follow the orders of the ship’s programming & their one mentor (Colin Farrell). They are scheduled for a 87-year journey with their grandchildren making the final leg. All goes well until some stop taking the special blue drink. With suspicions of an alien onboard & the discovery of secrets hidden from them, the crew faces its deadliest enemy. It’s an intense drama in deep space as emotions run wild. Will this mission reach its final destination, abort too soon, or self-destruct?

Alien gives it 3 “guinea pigs in space” stars out of 4.

There’s Someone Inside Your House

The title kind of gives it all away. It’s the cliché teen slasher movie where some masked killer is stalking Osborne High School students because of their dirty little secrets. It’s stabby-stabby slash-slash as victims are terrorized & suffer bloody deaths. There is the typical suspect misdirection & the protagonist/killer showdown at the end. Set in small town Nebraska, so it’s football jocks & corn fields. Watch the Scooby Gang try to chase down the killer & save whoever is next on the list. Not much really makes sense except for expectations for some brutal gory death scenes. If you’re are a fan of this genre, you may be entertained by the silliness of this senseless blood thirst.

Alien gives it 2 “darkest secrets” stars out of 4.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Well, he was just sixteen & he dreamt of being a drag queen…

This is a musical coming-of-age autobiography about an unashamed boy in Sheffield England who wants to wear a dress to his prom. It details the difficulties & challenges of growing up gay with a loving single mom & estranged father. If you love colorful musicals & are not a homophobe, you’ll probably enjoy this entertaining film. Max Harwood is magnificent as Jamie New. The story is based on real life Jamie Campbell. At the end, see film footage of the real life characters.

Alien gives it 3 “Loco Chanelle” stars out of 4.

Babysitter Must Die

During the Christmas season, a well-prepared group of uninvited guests enters the premises & takes hostages except they don’t account for the fly in the ointment, the monkey in the wench, the pain in the ass… sound familiar? It must be the Babysitter Must Die (Hard). Brutally savage cultists terrorize a wealthy family. Riley Scott (pigtailed for this teen role) plays the babysitter with some scouting skills. It’s a silly romp that you just can’t take seriously. Look for a mid-credit clip that indicates its hope for a part 2.

Alien gives it 2 “Mustard Seed Scout” stars out of 4.

The Guilty

A troubled police officer Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) gets temporarily reassigned to work at the 911 call center. This is pretty much a one-man show focusing Baylor’s difficult & stressful night handling calls. The film gives some insights to what these 911 operators go through. Baylor becomes obsessed with one call from a possible abductee. This is an intense crime thriller from a single perspective. Gyllenhaal gives an emotional & outstanding performance

Alien gives it 3 “saving the broken” stars it of 4.

The Manor

After suffering from a stroke, Judith (Barbara Hershey) is admitted to an historic nursing home where she starts to hear & see strange things. Is she hallucinating & suffering from dementia? She becomes more & more paranoid due to the behavior of other patients & staff. She feels trapped & must escape before she is killed by someone or something supernatural. Will poor old Judith finally break out with some help or will she be succumbed by whatever evil lurks within the Manor? Bruce Davidson is among the supporting cast. 

Alien gives it 3 “I️ don’t belong here” stars out of 4.

Madres

An pregnant Mexican American & her Mexican immigrant husband move from LA to to a migrant farm in the Golden Valley. She feels like an outsider & is called a gringa because she does not speak her native language. In typical horror genre fashion, she starts to hear & see things after moving into an old house with remnants from the previous dweller. While locals talk about a curse, she investigates another theory. Inspired by true events, is she going to be doomed by some supernatural being or is it a more human conspiracy? This one is more of a suspense thriller than the classic hard core horror show as it pushes its message.

Aliens gives it 3 “Valley Fever” stars out of 4.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things

With shades of “Groundhog Day”, “Edge of Tomorrow”, “Before I️ Fall”, & “Happy Death Day” and making references to “Time Bandits” & “Doctor Who”, we join Mark, who apparently has already experienced several time loops & playfully takes advantage of his previous experiences. Then one day his totally familiar day is rocked by a mysterious girl, Margaret, who seems to be caught in the same time loop. They start to bond sharing their repeated day, experiencing the tiny perfect things, trying analyze their situation, & looking for an escape plan. This sci-fi romantic comedy drama will have audiences rooting for this couple to solve their problems & to finally break their cycle. Can you figure out what is really happening or will you be fooled? This one is for the romantics & those who love time loop conundrums.

Alien gives it 3 “finding Chewbarka” stars out of 4. 

Birds of Paradise 

Two girls are in competition for the big prize: a contract with the Paris Opera Ballet. One appears to be the good girl from a poor family & on a scholarship at this prestigious ballet school. The other seems to be the rebellious bad girl from a wealthy snobbish family. The two get off to a bad start, end up roommates, become pals, & form a pact. Of course, there is a falling out before the big day. Is someone being devious & deceptive? If you like ballet & modern dance plus the drama of competition, you might enjoy this one. Don’t leave too soon or you may miss the moral of the story. 

Alien gives it 2½ “rise up little bird with a rebel’s heart” stars out of 4.

 Republic Z

It’s “Zombieland” in Siberia where 2 survivors scavenge for food, weapons, & supplies while seeking safe haven. Along the way they come across a well-armed young woman, an old man hold up in his fortress, & lots of the walking dead, who are drawn to any sounds. With hopes of a vaccine, the four make their way to find the cure. If you like zombie pictures, this low budget Russian horror/comedy film with English subtitles may give you some thrills.

Alien gives it 2½  “I️ love winter” stars out of 4. 

I️ Am Lisa

I️ am Lisa. Hear me roar.

A mousy girl Lisa, who runs a book store inherited from her grandmother, is bullied & tormented by the town’s mean girl/local drug pusher. This horror revenge werewolf story is heavy handed in telegraphing its moves. With the help of the sadistic sheriff/mom of the mean girl & her deputy/sheriff’s brother, Lisa is brutally assaulted by her bullies, dumped in the woods, & literally fed to the wolves. Of course, she gets rescued, develops supernatural powers, & has some uncontrollable urges. This silly fun film is quite predictable so put your brain on cruise control if you’re in the mood for a horror show.

Alien gives it 2 “by the light of the silvery moon” stars out of 4.

Parallel

Magic mirror on the stand, who’s the most successful in this land?

Four members of a software startup company under an impossible deadline, accidentally discover portal to a parallel universe & exploit it to their gain. Of course, success goes to their heads & greed clouds their judgement. Soon tragedy occurs, so they try to cover it up. Then jealousy rears its evil head & the trouble hole just gets deeper. Justice is predictably served in classical form. When all seems to be over, the writers take a cheap shot at a unexpected twist. This has good suspense with some plot holes as audiences try to sort out the parallel world conundrum. 

Alien gives it 2½ “Mandela Effect” stars out of 4.

Bingo Hell

In small town Oak Springs, a grouchy old lady & leader of her tight little community, Lupita, is upset by the gentrification of her town. Things only gets worse when her bingo hall comes under new management & offers huge payouts. Of course there are consequences as greed begins to control the town’s people. Can Lupita get her homies to rise up against the new evil in town. This movie is not scary at all. Just some slimy goo, some bloody flesh tearing & head bashing.

Alien gives it 1 “Mr Big$” star of of 4.

The Many Saints of Newark

Follow the early exploits of the Moltisantis & the Sopranos in New Jersey during the 60’s & 70’s to see how they impact the young Tony Soprano in this new prequel to the famous HBO American crime drama. First off, I️ have never seen any episodes of the original series. But I️ do know that the show revolved around crime boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) & they casted Michael Gandolfini (James’son) as the teenage Tony. Despite being unfamiliar with any of the characters or previous locales, I️ found this movie to be a marvelous Italian American mob period piece based on some fascinating characters & their lifestyle. Ray Liotta, Vera Famiga, Leslie Odom Jr, Corey Stoll, & Jon Bernthal are among the supporting cast, This presequel feels like it needs sequel to catch up to the original series (I️ suspect).

Alien gives it 3 “juvenile delinquent” stars out of 4.