Tag: 2024

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Movie Review

Christmas Cards (2024) Movie Review

Christmas Cards – Movie Review

Christmas Cards is a typical Christmas romance film about a single mom's dilemma between love and leaving her hometown.

First Reaction – Christmas Cards fits everything the fans of Christmas romance movies will love.

Director: Elgin Cahill

Writer: Elgin Cahill (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Single mom Kate is contemplating leaving the floundering small-town family business behind for the big-city life when she finds romance in an unlikely source in her hometown.

Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Christmas Cards starts as single mum Kate (Cruz) questioning her future in her small town with her struggling business. She has tried to hold her life together for her daughter Emma, but dreams of the big city after her husband’s passing.

However, a chance meeting with Jack (Argiro) changes her perspective of life, leading her down a path to a bigger decision. Will she chase love and the big city, or continue holding herself back?

Verdict on Christmas Cards

Recap

The movie follows a single mother struggling to raise her teenage daughter. She dreams of the big city, and when she meets a handsome stranger, she is left wondering what will happen next. However, her stubborn behaviour holds her back from taking a bigger chance.

Best Parts

This brings the typical Christmas spirit to the story, as a single parent struggles to take the next step in their life. It shows the decisions she questions and the love she lost, and not want to leave that part of her life behind. Everything on this side of the story is what you would expect from a Christmas romance movie. If you are a fan of these movies, you are going to love this one.

Worst Parts

Outside of the familiarity behind the typical story, it won’t do much to make you think it is one to go out of your way to watch. Nothing stands out from the many others out there; it is harmless, enjoyable and plays to the fans only.

Final Thoughts – Christmas Cards is the typical Christmas movie 101.

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Movie Review

Delivery Run (2024) Movie Review

Delivery Run – Movie Review

Delivery Run is an action thriller about a delivery driver pursuing quick cash, who faces a relentless snowplough driver and unexpected challenges.

First Reaction – Delivery Run is a fun little action thriller.

Where to Watch

On UK digital platforms 6 October 2025.

Director: Joey Palmroos

Writer: Joey Palmroos, Anders Holmes (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Alexander Arnold (The Last Breath)
  • Jussi Lampi
  • Liam James Collins
  • Arthur Sylense (Kingsman: The Golden Circle)
  • Nadine Higgin (Doctor Who)

Plot: A food delivery driver gets caught in a deadly chase in the icy Minnesota wilderness, pursued by a crazed snowplough driver for unknown reasons, facing life-threatening situations and forced to outsmart his relentless pursuer alone.

Runtime: 1 Hour 24 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Delivery Run starts when delivery Lee (Arnold) finds himself in a financial mess. He owes Rebecca (Higgin) massive amounts of money and needs a quick fix. Lee sets out to complete as many possible delivery jobs, but finds the work drying up.

However, his day turns into a nightmare when he clashes with a crazed snowplough driver. The driver targets him, and he must outwit the driver before becoming the latest victim.

Verdict on Delivery Run

Recap

The movie follows a desperate delivery driver who must make money quickly. However, the latest attempts see him clashing with a crazed snowplough driver. He must outsmart the psycho before it is too late.

Best Parts

This is Dual in the snow, which adds another level of peril to the cat ‘n’ mouse chase idea. There are intense moments, which keep us wanting to know what will happen next in the battle for control. The lead performance is fun and keeps us wanting to see the hapless figure escape.

Worst Parts

Where the lead character is more bumbling, it does hold things back from being as serious as you would expect. Elsewhere, things with the side story of owing money don’t give the movie enough tension with the basic, more entertaining story.

Final Thoughts – Delivery Run has a great idea, but it is not as intense as it could be.

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Movie Review

Please Don’t Feed the Children (2024) Movie Review

Please Don’t Feed the Children – Movie Review

"Please Don’t Feed the Children depicts orphans seeking safety in a post-apocalyptic world, confronting a psychotic woman with dangerous intentions."

First Reaction – Please Don’t Feed the Children creates a chilling story in a disturbing future.

Director: Destry Allyn Spielberg

Writer: Paul Bertino (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A gang of orphans travels to the south in quest of a new life after a viral outbreak decimates the adult population of the nation, only to find themselves at the mercy of a psychotic woman who is hiding a perilous secret.

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Please Don’t Feed the Children starts when the world has turned into chaos after a viral outbreak. Only the children remained unaffected and turned on by the adults. Mary (Colletti) meets another group of orphans and claims to have a route to safety.

After their safehouse is discovered, they have no choice but to join Mary. However, they encounter problems on the route and take shelter in an estranged woman, Clara’s (Dockery) home. To the surprise of the orphans, Clara has other plans for them and puts them through a psychotic series of tasks.

Verdict on Please Don’t Feed the Children

Recap

The movie follows a viral outbreak where adults have mostly been wiped out. However, the children remained immune and exiled by the adults. One small group of orphans try to escape their world, but gets captured by a psychotic woman.

Best Parts

The idea that the world has ended and the children are the only ones who are immune is an interesting take. It brings a fear of not being able to help the children and them needing to know which adults to trust. We get surprises along the way, as it becomes more of a battle to survive the attacks. The performances a chilling with Michelle Dockery carrying the disturbing role.

Worst Parts

The downside comes from seeing the world end, but we could have had the same story with any runaway. It doesn’t seem to gain any peril from the viral outbreak idea.

Final Thoughts – Please Don’t Feed the Children has a chilling story.

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Movie Review

Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 (2024) Movie Review

Horizon An American Saga Part One – Movie Review

Horizon An American Saga Part One explores pre-and post-Civil War expansion, showcasing various characters' struggles, but feels better suited for television.

First Reaction – Horizon An American Saga Part One would be a lot more interesting as a television series.

Watch Horizon An American Saga Part One here.

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JustWatch

Director: Kevin Costner

Writer: Jon Baird, Kevin Costner (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west.

Runtime: 3 Hours 1 Minute 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Horizon An American Saga Part One starts by showing the tensions between the expanding Civil War victors and the Native people. It follows a series of different people going through their journey in the American West.

The stories range from soldiers finding a place for their own, a lone gunslinger doing the right thing and survivors of a brutal attack.

Verdict on Horizon An American Saga Part One

Recap

The movie follows a series of people trying to live in the American West. We jump between the stories to learn the troubles they face to survive. It highlights the ups and downs of trying to begin a new life and the battle with the natives whose land they want to take.

Best Parts

The movie looks beautiful, and the cast gives great performances. It is an ambitious project which is open to creating even more.

Worst Parts

While the ambition is wonderful, it does feel like it could have been a more interesting television show. It has a lot of characters, and it is only the beginning of their many different stories.

Final Thoughts –Horizon An American Saga Part One is too long, with too much going on.

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Movie Review

A Stranger in the Woods (2024) Movie Review

A Stranger in the Woods – Movie Review

A Stranger in the Woods is a found footage film about a student's unsettling documentary project with a reclusive man revealing hidden dangers.

First Reaction – A Stranger in the Woods is a creepy found footage movie.

Director: József Gallai

Writer: Beáta Boldog (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A young film student is about to make a documentary about an elderly man who has been hiding from the world for many years. But as secrets from his past come to light, their strange relationship takes a fateful turn.

Runtime: 1 Hour 23 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: A Stranger in the Woods starts when film student Edith (Wilson) takes an unusual assignment to research an elderly man Victor (Oberst JR) living in the woods. He has been isolated from the world for decades and she wants to learn what motivates him.

Edith discovers Victor has become paranoid about being watched and begins investigating this paranoia. However, things spiral out of control, and she finds herself dealing with a bigger threat than she imagined.

Verdict on A Stranger in the Woods

Recap

The movie follows a film student looking to interview an isolated man living in the woods. He has a reputation, and the tow begin understanding what they want from the interaction. However, there is a much darker reason for him to be waiting in the woods.

Best Parts

The idea of something unusual happening in the woods is a tried and tested formula. You mix in the idea of someone trying to interview a notoriously strange person, leaves us in a direction for an interesting found footage movie. It keeps us guessing to what Victor’s bigger secret might be, or why he needs to be there. The leading performances are good too, as they continue to bring the story to life.

Worst Parts

This can fall into some of the same traps many found footage movies do too. It keeps things slow early on, which might turn a few people off. However, it doesn’t fall into the boring slow, which is a positive thing.

Final Thoughts – A Stranger in the Woods is an interesting found footage with a good mystery.

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Movie Review

Little Jaffna (2024) Movie Review

Little Jaffna – Movie Review

Little Jaffna portrays a man's struggle in the Parisian Tamil community amidst crime, highlighting complex choices and cultural identity.

First Reaction – Little Jaffna takes us into a world unlikely any before for a criminal world.

Where to Watch

Little Jaffna is on UK and Ireland digital platforms 15 September 2025.

Director: Lawrence Valin

Writer: Lawrence Valin, Arthur Beaupere, Vacine Badday (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Lawrence Valin
  • Puviraj Raveendran
  • Vela Ramamoorthy
  • Radhika Sarathkumar
  • Marilou Assulloux

Plot: Set in the streets and neighborhoods at the heart of the Parisian Tamil community.

Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Little Jaffna starts on the chaotic streets of Parisian Tamil. Michael (Valin) works in the local restaurant, but he clashes with the local mobsters. He is drawn into the world where he must learn what they are fighting for.

Once he gets involved, he finds a new lease of life, new friends and people who accept him from his background. The deeper he gets into the world, the bigger the problems he faces, but can he escape the new life he has never experienced.

Verdict on Little Jaffna

Recap

The movie follows a young man who finds himself dragged into a life of crime with a criminal gang in the local streets. He is welcomed in with arms wide open and must decide what he wants from a future in this group and return to his normal life.

Best Parts

This does a great job of reflecting the world the Michael is from and could end up in. It shows the daily struggle and the better and worst moments. The performances are great, and the environment feels like a character all by itself.

Worst Parts

The movie puts too much of a spotlight on the life of crime being good, despite the cultural reflection of the world. It also highlights the dangers of being part of it, but makes it feel like a good experience.

Final Thoughts – Little Jaffna is a good reflection of a life of crime in a different world.

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Movie Review

Cuckoo (2024) Movie Review

Cuckoo – Movie Review

Cuckoo is a disturbing film about a teenage girl uncovering unsettling truths after moving to a strange resort with her father.

First Reaction – Cuckoo

Director: Tilman Singer

Writer: Tilman Singer (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A 17-year-old is forced to move with her family to a resort where things are not what they seem.

Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Cuckoo starts when Gretchen (Schafer) is forced to move in with her estranged father, Luis (Csokas) and his new family. They live under Herr Konig (Stevens) in a resort complex. However, Gretchen begins to see things start around the complex.

Gretchen must navigate the world to understand what Herr is planning. However, the truth is far more disturbing than anything she imagined.

Verdict on Cuckoo

Recap

The movie follows a teenage girl who is forced to move in with her estranged father. However, he lives in a strange resort where the owner conducts unusual ideas. She must uncover the truth before it is too late.

Best Parts

There are creepy moments as Gretchen adapts to the area. The performances add to this, leaving us to wonder what is happening in the world. There is a complex bigger story unfolding, which is disturbing and holds us back from the truth for a long time.

Worst Parts

The uncomfortable moments can be a bit too jarring in how they are shot. It does feel like things we have seen before, only not on the same levels.

Final Thoughts –Cuckoo is an uncomfortable journey but nothing overly new.

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Movie Review

Anora (2024) Movie Review

Anora – Movie Review

Anora features a stripper marrying a gangster's son but faces annulment threats, leading to chaos. The film fails to engage meaningfully.

First Reaction – Anora left me wondering how it won Best Picture.

Director: Sean Baker

Writer: Sean Baker (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Mikey Madison (Scream)
  • Paul Weissman (Cryptid)
  • Yura Borisov
  • Lindsey Normington
  • Emily Weider

Plot: A young stripper from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.

Runtime: 2 Hours 19 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Anora starts when Brooklyn stripper Ani (Madison) meets a new client, Russian Ivan (Eydelshteyn). He is the son of a Russian gangster and gets and does whatever he wants. The two begin spending time together as Ani enjoys the life of luxury, leading to them getting married in Vegas.

After they get married, Ani leaves the dancing world, and the young lovers plan their life together. However, Ivan’s family aren’t happy with the marriage and wants it annulled.

Verdict on Anora

Recap

The movie follows a stripper who marries a Russian gangster’s son. However, his family want the marriage annulled, causing chaos between everyone involved.

Best Parts

The gangster complains about how dangerous Ani is when they try to contain her. It is pretty much the only funny part of the movie.

Worst Parts

This movie won Best Picture, I have no idea why. It is a lot of screaming, shouting, and nothing happening. The romance felt boring and like a fling of dumb young people. There was nothing about this movie that is remotely interesting. It is also too long for the basic story it is trying to tell.

Final Thoughts –Anora is a lot a screaming, shouting and not much happening.

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Movie Review

All the Lost Ones (2024) Movie Review

All the Lost Ones – Movie Review

All the Lost Ones is an easy to watch late-night thriller.

First Reaction – All the Lost Ones is an easy to watch late-night thriller.

Where to Watch

On digital 1 September from Reel2Reel Films.

Director: Mackenzie Donaldson

Writer: Anthony Grant, Cheryl Meyer (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: In a dystopian and climate-ravaged future America torn apart by civil war, a group hiding in a remote cabin become the target of a ruthless rebel militia leader and his platoon, viciously hunted in a fight for survival.

Runtime: 1 Hour 46 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: All the Lost Ones starts in a dystopian world where Nia (Mathews) and Penny (Antoine) live in a small community avoiding civil war. However, their safe haven discovers a dead body, and they begin questioning their safety.

When the group clash with a rebel militia, they must fight to survive. They must overcome the odds and prove they want to continue surviving in a brutal world against a ruthless leader.

Verdict on All the Lost Ones

Recap

The movie follows a group of survivors trying to make it through a dystopian world after a civil war. They have a remote cabin and stay out of everybody’s way. However, they clash with a rebel militia and their ruthless leader who doesn’t want to take prisoners.

Best Parts

The world environment is the highlight of the movie, showing how people have been so divided over resources. It shows the horrors people can cause and the harmony for people holding things together. We get solid performances and a story that is easy to follow.

Worst Parts

While it is an interesting story, it doesn’t bring anything new to the table and gets more caught up in the younger couple finding a way to survive. We have many more intense story, with the similar story, which pull you in much more.

Final Thoughts – All the Lost Ones is a good late night thriller.