Plot: Three brothers return to the remote woodland where they killed their abusive father only to discover his shallow grave is now empty, forcing them to question one another’s loyalty with devastating consequences as fear and paranoia set in.
Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Kill starts when three brothers John (Vernel), Henry (Portman) and Vince (Ross) kill their abusive stepfather Don (Higgins). They make it look like a hunting accident and bury the body. However, when they return home, they discover he still has something they need.
When they return to the shallow grave, they discover the body has gone. The three question each other and paranoia begins to set in. They try to figure out what happened before their crime was exposed, but can they trust each other?
Verdict on Kill
Recap
The movie follows three brothers who have lived with the abuse of their stepfather for too long. They decide to kill him but when they return to the shallow grave the body has gone. It leaves them to search the woods, where they start to lose their minds understanding what happened.
Best Parts
The movie creates a world where three brothers have faced and dealt with abuse for too long. It shows their plan to get it sorted after it went too far and reflects what others might think about being in the same situation. The paranoia created shows the strain on the brothers as they try to understand what is happening.
Worst Parts
The movie makes some strange decisions, which can feel out of place at times. It also doesn’t hit the horror levels it wants to.
Final Thoughts –Kill is a tense thriller with a serious subject.
Plot: A travel writer stumbles upon a gruesome secret while traveling aboard a luxury cruise ship.
Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Woman in Cabin 10 starts when travel journalist Laura (Knightley) is invited to cover Richard Bullmer’s (Pearce) charity cruise. She was asked to join by Anna (Kongsli) to cover her story and ended up meeting her former flame on board.
However, the first night on board, she hears a disturbance in the room next door, only to learn it has been empty. She knows what she heard and wants answers, as nobody believes her story, and nobody is missing from the boat. Laura begins exploring the ship in search of answers and learning the secrets of the guests, as she seeks to uncover the truth.
Verdict on The Woman in Cabin 10
Recap
The movie follows a travel journalist invited to a luxury cruise charity event. However, she hears an incident and decides to dive deeper into the lives of the guests, seeking the truth.
Best Parts
The mystery about what happened is interesting and keeps us guessing. We get a great cast with wonderful performances that play into the bigger mystery involved. Elsewhere, the location helps create tension with the trapped environment behind the bigger mystery.
Worst Parts
The mystery might well be interesting; however, it gets slow-moving and relies solely on one person’s sense. It doesn’t do enough to make it feel edgy or keep the tone you are led to believe with the slow build.
Final Thoughts –The Woman in Cabin 10 is an interesting mystery, which overplays the final act.
Plot: Disturbed doctor murders patient and covers it up at state hospital. Years later, teens exploring abandoned site unleash patient’s restless spirit, exposing old murder and darker truth.
Runtime: 1 Hour 49 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Stonegate starts when a group of teenagers Nolan (Muzz), Jaxson (Weatherwax), Diego (Labrie) and Skyler (Casey) investigate an abandoned building. It has a history of disturbing behaviour and video footage suggests a doctor is up to much worse behaviour. Elsewhere, their personal footage catches unexplained figures in the shadows.
When Nolan begins acting strangely, his father, Marshall (McAvoy), must delve into his past to prevent the dangers coming for his son. However, the past holds many disturbing secrets, he doesn’t want to face again.
Verdict on Stonegate
Recap
The movie follows four teenagers who make a disturbing discovery in an abandoned hospital. They become haunted by the events as the truth becomes clear and leaving them shocked by the truth.
Best Parts
The investigation and big secret are a massive part of the movie, and fantastic to see unfold. Elsewhere, the performances are strong, with the teenagers having natural chemistry. The idea of town’s having big secrets is always great to watch, and this dives into that on an impressive level.
Worst Parts
Some of the haunting moments fall a bit short and don’t create the shock value many others have.
Final Thoughts – Stonegate is a great dive into a town’s history and disturbing past.
Plot: Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd arrives on assignment in Brokenwood, a small town where memories – and animosities – run deep.
Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes per episode
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 11
The Ghost in You
The Ghost in You begins when a popular 80s band performs in the town. However, the after show a victim has fallen from Trudy’s (Gray) bar. Mike (Rea), Kristin (Sutherland), Daniel (Rawiri) and Gina (Ionda) begin their investigation. The investigation follows the team diving into the band and their history, which is filled with plenty fo secrets.
This is a welcome return for the show, the mystery keeps us guessing and the chemistry between the team is fantastic. We are back in the town and ready to see where the mysteries will take us next. It is always nice to see a return of a series being a great episode because it pulls us in for even more adventures. (4/5)
Sudden Death Round
Sudden Death Round follows the unexpected death of popular radio host returning to host a school event. The guests become the suspects, and the team must dive into the lives of the guests. However, the bigger secrets begin taking over and memories from the school haunt the victim and the guests.
This brings high school dramas to life in the later years as the suspect has a connection to many of the suspects. We are kept guessing well and meet plenty of dramas in everyday lives. It continues to show the team working together perfectly to solve the crime and leaves us waiting for the next incident. (4/5)
All Hallows Eve
All Hallows Eve follows the locals attending local seance with outsiders. However, the session leads to a man getting fatally stabbed. The team must question everyone in the home at the time to figure out who was behind the murder. However, the medium only makes things more complicated.
This episode dives into the mystery of a murder in a locked room, with a host of suspects. It offers plenty of mystery and includes a couple of the locals. This has the guests having connection to the victim, which gives plenty of them motive too. Another great mystery in the series, which keeps us wanting to solve more crimes with the crew. (4/5)
How the Other Half Dies
How the Other Half Dies begins when a wealthy resident of the town is found dead under a chandelier. Mike and the team must investigate the case and decide if it has foul play. However, the case takes them down an unusual path as the locals begin acting strangely. Elsewhere, someone steals Mike’s beloved car, leading him to track the person down.
This episode offers a strange mystery, which is much deeper than expected. The side story of Mike searching for his car adds plenty of humour to the episode too. This is the most light hearted episode of the series, which shows a more elite side of the area. (4/5)
The End of the Line
The End of the Line follows a previous suspect being discovered dead on a zip line. Mike and the team begin their investigation into the getaway with the teachers and students. However, the familiar faces begin to fill out the suspect list.
This is an interesting episode because it brings back some of the previous suspects and returns to some of the side stories. It creates a great mystery about who was behind it all and show certain series of consequences around the previous incidents. One of the more unique episodes and great at leaving thing prepared for more. (4/5)
An Oades to Christmas
An Oades to Christmas follows the team investigating the death of a Santa. The true identity connects him to a local family the team have investigated before, with one member recently getting released from jail. While the investigation leads down a family drama, it adds earlier feelings towards criminals in the area.
The final episode takes the team down memory lane dealing with a family involved in an earlier crime. On the negative side, if you haven’t seen the earlier series, you won’t get all the connections. Elsewhere, the case has plenty of suspects and a closer to home story hits harder. (4/5)
Overall
The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 11 has been a welcome return for the detective team. We have had fresh mysteries, which have kept us guessing, a blend of humour and more series moments. Elsewhere, the cast has been great and the supporting regulars too. The show is in series 11 and it feels fresh, entertaining and keeps everything with us wanting more.
Final Thoughts – The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 11 is a delightful series of crimes, with excellent chemistry.
Plot: When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue one of their own’s daughter.
Runtime: 2 Hours 41 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: One Battle After Another starts when Bob (DiCaprio) joins a revolution group with Perfidia (Taylor). They aim to cause chaos and fall in love along the way. However, they make an enemy in Col Steven Lockjaw (Penn), who aims to bring them down.
After the group is forced to hide, Bob and his daughter Willa (Infiniti) begin a new life. 16 years later, Steven needs to tie up the loose ends and targets the family. They are forced to go on the run with others to escape him, but he will stop at nothing to keep them quiet.
Verdict on One Battle After Another
Recap
The movie follows a former revolutionary who went into hiding, needing to reconnect with others. Their former enemy is looking to track down the remaining members and will do anything to make it happen.
Best Parts
The performances are the highlight of the movie. Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro are hilarious, while Chase Infiniti is great to watch, too. In the final act, we get most of the action, and it is the best part of the movie, watching things haplessly falling into place.
Worst Parts
The story lacks motivation for the revolutionary group; they seem more like criminals causing chaos than wanting change. It makes it hard to support most of their cause, even if they have better morals than Lockjaw and everything around him. Elsewhere, DiCaprio is a very strange choice for the role, and his character is more confusing than anything else. He goes from the concentrated character to a washed-up drunk and druggie, without any reasoning. Meanwhile, the movie felt overly long at times, too, and it doesn’t help that it tries to cram so many characters in.
Final Thoughts – One Battle After Another is an overly long thriller which lacks tighter storytelling.
Plot: A group of violent and misguided young offenders are experimented on using brutal AI technology at a sinister institute.
Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Correction Unit starts when a group of violent younger offenders are pulled into a new program ran by James Lee (Abaza). It follows the offenders including Shawn (Middleton) as they learn their fates in an attempt to make them better members of society.
However, the process leans into more extreme methods, which question how far people will go for perfecting someone. It shows them needing to escape the project before it is too late.
Verdict on The Correction Unit
Recap
The movie follows a group of young offenders placed into a new experimental program to help fix their mentalities. However, the younger offenders begin to question the methods and must fight back against the problems being created.
Best Parts
This explores an alternative to deal with gang troubles within the streets in young offenders. It dives into the bigger AI threats and everything around them. The performances are good too.
Worst Parts
Where the movie can struggle is in why the offenders are locked up, they seem like minor crimes rather than series incidents. It doesn’t do enough to point out that they need complete fixing, while trying to completely fix them. Even the opening sequence, suggests something very different too.
Final Thoughts – The Correction Unit is an interesting spin on AI involvement in rehabilitation.
Plot: Two roommates, Leila and Sandy, team up to kill Leila’s sadistic boyfriend. A remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot “Les Diaboliques”.
Runtime: 1 Hour 28 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Devils in Disguise starts as we meet Leila (Mattox) who is involved in an abusive relationship with Alain (Campanacci). She has been struggling to cope, but a new roommate Sandy (Gillis) lets her learn more about herself. The two become close and make a plan to help Leila escape her world.
It leads them to make a drastic decision, which could have lasting effects for everyone involved. However, it is more about whether they can get away with what they want to do.
Verdict on Devils in Disguise
Recap
The movie follows two roommates who decide to work together to help one escape an abusive relationship. It follows their plan to get away clean, but shows the suffering she has been going through.
Best Parts
The need to speak up and tackle the problems they are facing is shown coming through. It proves people can come into your life for something good. Elsewhere, the performances are good and committed the subject matter at hand.
Worst Parts
The movie thrives on wanting to be more arthouse and struggles to establish a strong enough story. It doesn’t show us enough of how Leila ended up in the relationship in the first place. Elsewhere, it jumps in a strange series of events which don’t always add up. It isn’t as appealing as many other more styled movies telling the similar story.
Final Thoughts – Devils in Disguise struggles to give us a strong enough story.
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.
Plot: Four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.
Runtime: 1 Hour 58 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Thursday Murder Club starts when Elizabeth (Mirren) Ron (Brosnan) and Ibrahim (Kingsley) recruit a new member to their club. They investigate cold cases and new member Joyce (Imrie) offers up something new to their circle. Meanwhile, their retirement home is facing closure.
However, when the co-owner of the home is murdered, the club jump into action to solve the case. They use their connections with the local police to solve the case, while the real police take the case. However, his involvement in protecting the home puts them in a race against time.
Verdict on The Thursday Murder Club
Recap
The movie follows a group of retirees who enjoy investigating cold cases. However, they find themselves in the middle of a murder case of the co-owner of their retirement home. They band together to solve the case before they lose their homes.
Best Parts
In a world filled with amateur sleuth detective shows, and films, this one shines. We have a great mystery and a host a brilliant performance. The chemistry between the four stars is outstanding and keeps us wanting to see every scene with the cast. Even the police characters have an excellent presence in the story.
Worst Parts
While the story is a great watch, it does feel like we could have had a lot more stories in a television series. Elsewhere, it relies on the characters living in very luxury home, making it harder to connect to the four trying to make the most of the later years.
Final Thoughts – The Thursday Murder Club is a delightful case, wonderful characters, and charming style.
