Tag: 2025

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Movie Review

Bone Hill (2025) Movie Review

Bone Hill – Movie Review

First Reaction – Bone Hill is the typical late-night horror.

Director: Daniel Falicki

Writer: Wil Radcliffe (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Abby R Mooring
  • Jeremy Koch
  • James Whitecloud
  • Roger Callard
  • Penelope Alex

Plot: Set in the deep back country of Michigan, an ancient Native American curse has come to life.

Runtime: 1 Hour 25 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Bone Hill starts when local librarian Laurie (Mooring) becomes possessed by a Native American curse. Wade (Koch) gets recruited to help assess the situation in hopes of helping her uncover what is happening. However, his tragic past compels him to question what he believes.

As Laurie becomes deadly, Wade finds himself possessed too. The two must go to battle to stop the bloodshed and end the curse before it is too late.

Verdict on Bone Hill

Recap

The movie follows a local woman who becomes possessed by an ancient curse. A former doctor with a tragic past must come to treat the patient and learns of the disturbing spirit that has found itself attached to the woman. It becomes a race against time to save the young woman before it is too late.

Best Parts

The idea of diving into an ancient native curse returning to the modern world is interesting. It brings the barbaric side to the twisted ritual and how easily it can become a bloodbath. The story keeps us guessing and reveals a much bigger problem the locals are facing.

Worst Parts

The bigger picture often seems too chaotic due to the lack of response to things. It wants to balance the idea of possession versus science and never really achieves the fine line the discussion presents.

Final Thoughts –Bone Hill is late-night horror 101.

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Movie Review

Hostages (2025) Movie Review

Hostages – Movie Review

"Hostages" is a satirical comedy thriller about four strangers trapped in a terrorist situation, highlighting the dangers of social media fame.

First Reaction – Hostages spirals into the chaos and desperation of social media.

Where to Watch

Hostages is available on Digital HD 22 December. Distributed by Signature Entertainment.

Director: Jim Owen

Writer: Jim Owen (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Comedy thriller about five strangers caught in an unfolding terrorism situation.

Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Hostages starts when four strangers Charlie (Ritchie), Rochelle (Moodie), Keith (Ashbury) and Himmat (Ghatak) get caught in the middle of a hostage situation. They take shelter in a hotel room, but they discover that Charlie’s desperation for social media fame puts them in danger.

The four must decide what to do, with Charlie’s actions making them internet celebrities. However, the terrorists know they are in the building and begin trying to track them down.

Verdict on Hostages

Recap

The movie follows four strangers who believe they are in the middle of a terrorist attack. They take shelter in a hotel room and wonder what to do next. However, their differences cause bigger problems, and one strives for social media fame.

Best Parts

The movie plays into the modern world of social media news and how easily people will believe whatever they want to hear. It creates a more satirical level of comedy, which plays out throughout the story. The performances are great and carry the situation unfolding.

Worst Parts

The comedy uses a lot of deadpan and satirical comedy, which doesn’t click as well as other subjects have.

Final Thoughts –Hostages is an entertaining satirical comedy.

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Movie Review

How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps (2025) Movie Review

How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps – Movie Review

The film follows a college grad who starts a cult, exploring themes of power, belief, and moral chaos.

First Reaction – How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps has a twisted vision on the cults and how they come about.

Director: Wes Clark

Writer: Wes Clark (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Lew Temple (The Walking Dead)
  • Haulston Mann
  • Kathy A Bates
  • Vince Eisenson
  • Del Alan Murphy (The Quinceanera Killer)

Plot: A debt-ridden college grad starts his own religion after seeing a local priest’s wealthy lifestyle. His scheme for a fresh start spirals into a wild adventure of moral quandaries and unforeseen chaos.

Runtime: 1 Hour 26 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps starts when down on his luck college grad Tomas (Mann) decides to do something drastic. He wants to create his own religion and quickly gathers a few followers. Tomas learns from Uncle Ed (Temple) and they quickly begin putting them through a strict series of events.

However, the plan sees him showing a much darker side to his personality. It leaves him questioning his motivation and understanding what could get out of control when it comes to faith and cults.

Verdict on How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps

Recap

The movie follows a desperate college grad who decides to begin his own cult. It doesn’t take long before he gets followers, but it sees him spiralling out of control with power.

Best Parts

The dark comedy thrives in how Tomas creates this new cult. It highlights how easily people will follow something they believe to be the right cause and how things can get out of control. Elsewhere, the performances are great and the story highlights the need to find and make your own opportunities in life.

Worst Parts

Certain things feel more like college hazing, rather than a cult following. While the dark comedy could be used to navigate the concept, deeper down, there never seems to be a focus on a created religion to follow.

Final Thoughts –How to Start a Cult in 5-Easy Steps is a twisted, comical tale.

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Movie Review

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025) Movie Review

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 – Movie Review

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 offers a scarier experience as Mike must save Abby, facing revived threats but suffers from weak dialogue and rushed pacing.

First Reaction – Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 has a bigger scary feeling to everything.

Director: Emma Tammi

Writer: Scott Cawthon (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Josh Hutcherson (The Beekeeper)
  • Elizabeth Lail (You)
  • Piper Rubio
  • Matthew Lillard (Scream)
  • Freddy Carter (Wonder Woman)

Plot: Anyone can survive five nights. This time, there will be no second chances.

Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 starts when Mike (Hutcherson), Abby (Rubio) and Vanessa (Lail) continue to try to move on with their life. However, another figure from Vanessa’s past has been released and has targeted Abby.

Mike must figure out how to save his sister from the grasp of the revived creatures. However, it means he has to ask people he wouldn’t imagine asking for help.

Verdict on Five Nights at Freddy’s 2

Recap

The movie follows Mike, Abby and Vanessa living in the aftermath of the first movie. However, a new figure has emerged to cause them even bigger problems.

Best Parts

The movie has a lot scarier interactions with the famous figures. It focuses a lot more on the horror elements and steps out from being just robotic like movements with the newest addition. The best part of the movie comes from the animatronics, which look flawless, scary and the sound effects for the stomps are haunting.

Worst Parts

The dialogue is not the strongest and often feels more out of place or overly simple at times. Elsewhere, it feels more rushed in the final act, after holding a bit more back from the bigger battles.

Final Thoughts –Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 feels bigger, scarier and more lifelike.

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Movie Review

Troll 2 (2025) Movie Review

Troll 2 – Movie Review

Troll 2 explores folklore and creatures, but less action and focus on characters diminishes the original's epic feel.

First Reaction – Troll 2 creates a big story, but steps back on the bigger action moments.

Director: Roar Uthaug

Writer: Espen Aukan, Roar Uthaug (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Ine Marie Wilmann (ZombieLars)
  • Kim Falck
  • Mads Sjogard Pettersen (Eddie the Eagle)
  • Sara Khorami
  • Ágota Dunai (Fight of Flight)

Plot: Nora, Andreas and Captain Kris leap back into action when a dangerous new troll awakes – and this time they’ll need more help to take it down.

Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Troll 2 starts in the aftermath of the first movie, Nora (Wilmann) is recruited to help the government understand the creature. However, their studies spiral out of control, and the monstrous troll is released from captivity again.

Nora must work with Kristoffer (Pettersen) and Andreas (Falck) to stop the new outbreak of trolls. However, this time it is a much deadlier creature that is taking more lives of everyone around them. It becomes a race to stop the creatures before they cause too much destruction, using their knowledge of the folklores to defeat them.

Verdict on Troll 2

Recap

The movie continues the battle between understanding the trolls and exploiting them for one’s own demands. It picks up with the same group trying to defend the country, and a new deadly troll appears to destroy the local area.

Best Parts

The movie delves further into the folklore of trolls and humans in Norway. This is interesting to follow, as it creates a story about history between two different kinds of people in one world. Elsewhere, the special effects are brilliant, bringing the creatures to life.

Worst Parts

There are a lot fewer big trolls involved, and we spiral into focusing on the people around the towns. It seems to step more into the conversation about dealing with them, rather than the action to stop them.

Final Thoughts – Troll 2 doesn’t live up to the expectation after the original epic feeling movie.

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Movie Review

Primitive War (2025) Movie Review

Primitive War – Movie Review

Primitive War is an engaging dinosaur film set in 1968, where a recon unit must survive in a jungle filled with dinosaurs.

First Reaction – Primitive War is one of the best dinosaur movies in years.

Where to Watch

Primitive War only in UK and Irish cinemas from 28 November. Distributed by Signature Entertainment.

Director: Luke Sparke

Writer: Luke Sparke (Screenplay)

Writer: Ethan Pettus (Book)

Cast

Plot: Vietnam. 1968. A recon unit known as Vulture Squad is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone.

Runtime: 2 Hours 13 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Primitive War starts when a recon unit, including Baker (Kwanten), Eli (Wechsler) and Keyes (Ingruber) get sent to investigate a missing Green Beret platoon. They head deep into a jungle valley and make a shocking discovery.

However, once they reach the location, they discover the valley filled with dinosaurs. The surviving members of the unit must work with a Russian scientist, Sofia (Helfer), to escape the valley before they become dinosaur dinner.

Verdict on Primitive War

Recap

The movie follows a recon unit searching for a missing Green Beret platoon. However, they enter a jungle filled with dinosaurs and must try and figure out how to escape.

Best Parts

The idea that a secret jungle of dinosaurs fighting the Vietnam military works for a conflict story. It brings the sides together for the bigger motivation to survive. Elsewhere, the dinosaurs feel more like a threat, and unlike Jurassic World, we focus more on the bigger threat traditional dinosaurs pose.

Worst Parts

The movie is longer than it needs to be even the biggest Jurassic Park or World movies have shorter runtimes. Elsewhere, the battles show the military looking to overpowered.

Final Thoughts –Primitive War is an entertaining, wild ride against dinosaurs.

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Movie Review

Wicked For Good (2025) Movie Review

Wicked For Good – Movie Review

"Wicked For Good" concludes Elphaba's journey, showcasing strong performances and visuals, despite some uneven supporting roles and less engaging songs.

First Reaction – Wicked For Good is a well-made conclusion to the story.

Director: Jon M Chu

Writer: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox (Screenplay)

Writer: Gregory Maguire (Novel)

Cast

Plot: Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The second of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical

Runtime: 2 Hours 18 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Wicked For Good starts when Oz has turned on Elphaba (Erivo). She continues to fight for the voiceless in hopes of exposing the Wizard (Goldblum). However, Madame Morrible (Yeoh) moves on with her plans to make Glinda (Grande) the new face of Oz.

Elphaba searches for more solutions and now she is left to make a difficult decision. However, her kinder nature is tested as Morrible searches for ways to bring her down.

Verdict on Wicked For Good

Recap

The movie follows the end of Elphaba’s journey to bring down the Wizard of Oz. However, he attempts to lead her down a dangerous path, where she must learn who to trust. Meanwhile, Glinda must understand the motivation for everyone involved.

Best Parts

A lot like the first movie, the set design, costumes and everything visually is beautiful. Elsewhere, the performances are fantastic from the lead two. It does feel like one people who enjoy the musical would love.

Worst Parts

Some of the supporting performances struggle with the singing side of the story. Elsewhere, some aspects of the story are not as engaging as they could be. Finally, the songs don’t feel as catchy as the original Wizard of Oz.

Final Thoughts –Wicked For Good is a solid conclusion to the saga.

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Movie Review

Train Dreams (2025) Movie Review

Train Dreams – Movie Review

Train Dreams explores the poignant journey of Robert Grainier, illustrating his struggles and fleeting hopes in early 20th-century America.

First Reaction – Train Dreams is a moving journey through the changes in life.

Director: Clint Bentley

Writer: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar (Screenplay)

Writer: Denis Johnson (Novella)

Cast

Plot: Train Dreams is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly-changing America of the early 20th Century.

Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Train Dreams starts as Robert Grainier (Edgerton) tries to make a life in the open American land. He works as a logger and railroad worker. Elsewhere, he marries Gladys (Jones) to begin a family.

Robert wants to find work closer to home and believes his next job could give his family a chance at that life. However, tragedy strikes and Robert is left alone in the world waiting to learn what might have happened to the life he dreamed of.

Verdict on Train Dreams

Recap

The movie follows a logger and railroad worker trying to have a life in a growing America. However, his life takes an unexpected turn and he spends his time wandering around waiting to find answers.

Best Parts

The movie uses the American dream to highlight the struggles people went through to create the America we know today. It has an emotional core as one man is left questioning everything he worked for. The performances are wonderful and carry the story forward, despite its bleak nature. If we find the biggest highlight, it comes from showing a life which changed so quickly and society was difficult to keep up with.

Worst Parts

Sadly, at the end of the day, it is just another story of the American Dream and doesn’t do anything we haven’t seen before.

Final Thoughts –Train Dreams is a moving, emotional journey.

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Movie Review

The Carman Family Deaths (2025) Movie Review

The Carman Family Deaths – Movie Review

The Carman Family Deaths is an unusual mystery with plenty of secrets.

First Reaction – The Carman Family Deaths is an unusual mystery with plenty of secrets.

Director: Yon Motskin

Plot: A fishing trip ends in tragedy when Linda Carman vanishes at sea leaving her son Nathan adrift for days. His rescue stirs up questions about his grandfather’s murder and ignites a battle over inheritance that leads to shocking revelations.

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on The Carman Family Deaths

Recap

The documentary follows the investigation into the death of Linda Carman. Her adult son Nathan was discovered adrift at sea, but the bigger investigation discovers the disturbing murder of her father. We follow the investigation into the bigger series of events.

Best Parts

The movie delves into the greater mystery behind the family and what happened in their lives. There is a bigger discussion about how to handle autistic family members and how generations will be different reactions to it. Elsewhere, it portrays a family with secrets and a distinct way of life. Part of the film spends more time trying to make more of the incident, rather than ever getting an answer.

Worst Parts

Part of the film spends more time trying to make more of the incident, rather than ever getting an answer. Elsewhere, it doesn’t give us enough of a true answer to what truly happened.

Final Thoughts –The Carman Family Deaths has an interesting mystery, but fails to give us an answer.