Tag: Thriller

Categories
Movie Review

The Cellar (2024) Movie Review

The Cellar – Movie Review

The Cellar features Abigail's suspenseful journey of survival and discovery as she escapes from captivity while confronting her inner demons.

First Reaction – The Cellar is a compelling mystery with twists around every corner.

Director: Jamie Langlands

Writer: Jamie Langlands (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A young girl wakes up imprisoned underground, with amnesia. She must escape, unravel the mystery behind her captivity, and confront her personal struggles. A suspenseful tale of survival, truth, and inner turmoil unfolds.

Runtime: 1 Hour 25 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Cellar starts when Abigail (Adara) wakes up locked in an underground cell. She uses her resources to escape and explore the underground tunnels. However, her journey takes her down a path where she battles her demons.

As Abigail continues her journey, she learns more about the support group and becomes caught in a mystery she can’t explain. She must continue to explore if she is going to escape, but each corner seems to open a new mystery.

Verdict on The Cellar

Recap

The movie follows a woman who wakes up locked in a room. She must navigate a labyrinth of underground tunnels in search of answers. However, the deeper she gets, the more questions she faces.

Best Parts

The mystery of why Abigail is trapped drives the story forward well. Meghan Adara is great in the leading role, keeping us on our toes, wanting to know more about the journey. There is a deeper message behind everything, which comes through strongly too, which helps make each door have a bigger piece to the puzzle.

Worst Parts

There are a couple of moments where the journey through the underground goes on longer than it needs to. This includes a lot of scanning around, rather than moving forward.

Final Thoughts –The Cellar creates a compelling mystery that keeps you guessing.

Categories
Movie Review

Monsters of California (2025) Movie Review

Monsters of California – Movie Review

Monsters of California explores teenagers investigating paranormal events, revealing deeper conspiracies, but struggles with character development and credible storytelling.

First Reaction – Monsters of California has an interesting idea but struggles to develop the characters.

Where to Watch

Monsters of California is released on UK digital platforms 12 May 2025

Director: Tom DeLonge

Writer: Tom DeLonge, Ian Miller, Ian Thomas Miller (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Jack Samson (Zodiac)
  • Jack Lancaster
  • Jared Scott
  • Gabrielle Haugh (Jeepers Creepers 3)
  • Arianne Zucker (Days of Our Lives)

Plot: Teenager Dallas Edwards, and his derelict friends on a quest for the meaning behind a series of mysterious, paranormal events in Southern California.

Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Monsters of California starts when Dallas (Samson) and his friends Toe (Lancaster) and Riley (Scott), investigate the paranormal. Dallas has been searching for answers about his father’s death while his mother Leah (Zucker) begins her new life.

When Dallas discovers something, he unwittingly releases a bigger conspiracy. Along with his friends, he investigates his father’s research and makes a disturbing discovery.

Verdict on Monsters of California

Recap

The movie follows a group of teenagers in search of one of their father’s research. It takes them down a path with supernatural paranormal behaviour. However, what they discover is far more disturbing than anything they could have imagined.

Best Parts

Whenever we delve into government secrets and potential alien life forms, we uncover a fascinating story concept. It adds the lost parental figure whose son wants more answers about. These two moments work well for the story.

Worst Parts

Where this movie can lose some direction is by having the stoner teenagers investigating the paranormal. It takes away any ability to believe what they are witnessing because they even admit the drugs give them visions.

Final Thoughts –Monsters of California is a stoner paranormal hunt.

Categories
Movie Review

An Ordinary Case (2024) Movie Review

An Ordinary Case – Movie Review

An Ordinary Case is available on Digital Platforms 7 July. Distributed by Signature Entertainment.

First Reaction – An Ordinary Case is a tense thriller which keeps you on edge.

Where to Watch

An Ordinary Case is available on Digital Platforms 7 July. Distributed by Signature Entertainment.

Director: Daniel Auteuil

Writer: Steven Mitz, Daniel Auteuil (Screenplay)

Writer: Jean-Yves Moyart(Book)

Cast

Plot: A man is accused of murdering his wife. His lawyer must defend him against all odds, and especially against himself.

Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: An Ordinary Case starts when Nicolas Milik (Gadebois) is arrested under the suspicion of murdering his wife. Maître Jean Monier (Auteuil) begins his defence case, taking the case to trial. The evidence seems to point all the clues toward Nicolas, but Jean believes his story of innocence.

The trial uncovers secrets about the couple’s marriage leading to the difficulties with understanding the events of that night. Nicolas doesn’t make it easy for himself, as his belief in his innocence only makes him seem more guilty.

Verdict on An Ordinary Case

Recap

The movie follows a defence lawyer trying to defend a murder suspect. He is accused of murdering his wife and the evidence points in his direction. However, he maintains his innocence but makes things difficult in the trial.

Best Parts

This creates a tense court case which keeps us on edge waiting for the truth. It keeps us in a position where one minute he seems completely innocent, the next, he looks guilty. This keeps us wanting to know more and on edge throughout keeping us completely engaged with the case. The performances are also fantastic, keeping us wanting to know more behind every action.

Final Thoughts – An Ordinary Case is an engaging, tense court room drama.

Categories
Movie Review

Deadly Escape (2025) Movie Review

Deadly Escape – Movie Review

Deadly Escape - Woman escapes prison, kidnaps a man with hidden secrets. As roles reverse, a struggle for survival ensues

First Reaction – Deadly Escape is a tense thriller which keeps us guessing.

Director: Lakisha R Lemons

Writer: Lakisha R Lemons (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Larissa Dali (Becky)
  • Dee Hill
  • Donna Stewart
  • Dakarai Akil
  • Isaiah Allen Vaughn (Kasi)

Plot: Woman escapes prison, kidnaps a man with hidden secrets. As roles reverse, a struggle for survival ensues, exploring predator-prey dynamics and chilling consequences of hidden truths.

Runtime: 1 Hour 31 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Deadly Escape starts when Free (Hill) escapes prison and takes medical student Drew (Vaughn) hostage. She holds him in his home where he cares for his mother. However, things take a dramatic turn when Free learns the truth about Drew.

Elsewhere, Detective Marc James (Akil) must locate Free but investigating her case, he learns not everything was as it seems. It becomes a race against time to learn who is in control and who is the biggest threat.

Verdict on Deadly Escape

Recap

The movie follows an escaped convict taking a medical student hostage. However, it doesn’t take long before the tables are turned and the truth comes to light. It becomes a race against time to survive and uncover the motivation behind everything.

Best Parts

The movie uses the idea of an escape convict taking a hostage to plan their escape. However, spinning it into something far more original and suspenseful. The performances are great and keep us on edge to see what will happen next.

Worst Parts

The one place that could leave a few more question marks, was putting the question around Free being more innocent than lets on. It works two ways, as it makes us support her, but takes away the suspense about who is the worse person.

Final Thoughts – Deadly Escape is a suspenseful thriller with a fresh approach.

Categories
Movie Review

Watch the Skies (2022) Movie Review

Watch the Skies – Movie Review

"Watch the Skies" follows a teenager seeking answers about her father's disappearance, joining a UFO club amidst a government cover-up.

First Reaction – Watch the Skies creates a great mystery about the unknown connections in the world.

Where to Watch

Watch The Skies will be available exclusively at Showcase Cinemas from 11th July.

Director: Victor Danell

Writer: Victor Danell, Jimmy Nivren Olsson (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A rebellious teenager who believes her missing father was abducted by aliens joins forces with a quirky UFO club of endearing misfits. They embark on a high-stakes adventure that defies the law and challenges the very fabric of reality.

Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Watch the Skies starts when rebellious teenager Denise (Torhaug) searches for answers about her father’s death. She believes there is something more unexplainable and turns to Lennart (Barkselius) for more support. While he doesn’t believe in everything Denise is putting together, he is willing to listen.

However, their investigation discovers Kicki (Melander) running a secret facility deep in the forest. They make a shocking discovery which would prove Denise’s father’s work as credible and set out to prove it once and for all.

Verdict on Watch the Skies

Recap

The movie follows a determined teenager who wants answers about her father’s death. She joins forces with a UFO research team that could provide connections to what happened. However, the government are looking to keep things quiet and will do anything to make sure it happens.

Best Parts

The movie does a great job of showing the divide between people who know the truth and want to keep secrets and people stuck living with the unknown. However, deep down, it is more about discovering what could be out there and what could be visiting. It is interesting seeing the earlier, calmer study into the unexplainable events.

Worst Parts

Some of the side characters are questionable and don’t fit the positions they are in. They don’t believe their causes, making them dangerous for no reason to everyone else around them.

Final Thoughts –Watch the Skies is a great dive into the possibilities.

Categories
Movie Review

Armor (2024) Movie Review

Armor – Movie Review

Armor is a typical action thriller about a father-son security duo defending an armored truck from robbers, exploring their strained relationship.

First Reaction – Armor is a by-the-books action thriller.

Watch Armor on Prime Video.

Director: Justin Routt

Writer: Cory Todd Hughes, Adrian Speckert (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A father and son working as security guards for an armored truck company encounter a team of would-be robbers while on a bridge. They become trapped and must come up with a plan to escape and ensure their survival.

Runtime: 1 Hour 35 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Armor starts when father (James) son Casey (Wiggins) security guards find their truck under attack. Rook (Stallone) leads a team to steal the contents. However, he isn’t prepared for James fighting back, forcing his team to find a way into the armoured truck.

James and Casey explore their strained relationship as they hold up in their vehicle. Meanwhile, Rook tries to solve the problem from the outside and keep things calm.

Verdict on Armor

Recap

The movie follows a group of criminals trying to hijack an armoured truck. However, the truck’s guards refuse to step out without a fight. This leads to a standoff on a bridge, as the criminals try to get in and the guards hope for rescue.

Best Parts

The idea is interesting, as it creates a standoff. There is a small sub-story between the father and son trying to rebuild their relationship. This is the best part of the story, even if it doesn’t go as deep.

Worst Parts

The movie is trying to do as much as possible to create connections, twists and turns. However, none of them feel like they click, and we end up going nowhere fast. The performances are not the strongest and despite having Stallone, we seem to lack the action we would attach to his name.

Final Thoughts –Armor is a by-the-book thriller without the intensity of the standoff.

Categories
Movie Review

The Path (2024) Movie Review

The Path – Movie Review

The Path explores sisters uncovering dark family secrets after their parents' mysterious death, but lacks impactful shock value and character chemistry.

First Reaction – The Path has odd moments but not enough shock value.

Watch The Path on Tubi.

Director: Tom Archdeacon

Writer: Tom Archdeacon (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A young woman returns to her childhood home to discover strange circumstances surrounding her parents death and the town that she grew up in.

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Path starts when Caitlin (Colwell) learns her big sister Abigail (Hanna) wants to sell their childhood home. They recently lost their parents under strange circumstances and Caitlin decides to investigate more.

When she begins her investigation, she begins seeing strange things around the home. However, the truth behind what is wanted is far more disturbing and Caitlin learns what her family was involved in.

Verdict on The Path

Recap

The movie follows sisters who must make a difficult decision about their future. Their parents have died under strange circumstances and money is running low. However, their desire to learn the truth leads them down a dangerous path.

Best Parts

The movie creates an interesting mystery surrounding what happened to the sisters parents. It also highlights how easily stranger events can be happening in the background of small towns and the basement scene is excellent.

Worst Parts

The movie tends to go too heavy on silly characters. With the biggest confusing and strange moment coming from the opening sequence. Elsewhere, the sisters lack any real chemistry and it was hard to understand where they are in life, despite a tragic event happening to them.

Final Thoughts – The Path has strange moments, but never reaches the terror presented.

Categories
Movie Review

Arctic Void (2022) Movie Review

Arctic Void – Movie Review

Arctic Void features a slow-unfolding mystery as three friends confront isolation and dark truths after vanishing from a tourist ship.

First Reaction – Arctic Void has an interesting mystery but takes too long to unfold the truth.

Director: Darren Mann

Writer: Darren Mann, Jay Kirk, William Paul Jones, Michael Weaver (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: When the power mysteriously fails and almost everyone disappears from a tourist ship in the Arctic, fear becomes the master for the three who remain. Forced ashore, the men deteriorate in body and mind until a dark truth emerges.

Runtime: 1 Hour 26 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Arctic Void starts when a filmmaking friends group, Ray (Weave), Alan (Griffin) and Sean (Huen) take a trip to a Norwegian town. However, on the tourist ship they are on, everyone suddenly vanishes.

The friends find a small town where they look for help. However, they only find it empty and they must uncover what has happened. It leads them down a dangerous path with unknown threats putting them lives at risk as they learn more about themselves.

Verdict on Arctic Void

Recap

The movie follows three filmmaking friends whose trip to the Arctic Circle takes an unexpected twist. The boat they travel on suddenly becomes abandoned, and they seem to be the only humans around. They search for answers from both inside themselves and outside the place they have become stranded in.

Best Parts

The mystery created is fascinating to see unfold. It creates an amazing sense if isolation and uncertainty around the location they are trapped in. There is also a play into how friends can get caught up in not knowing everything about each other too.

Worst Parts

It does hold too much back too early and when we get a shock moment, we focus more on the reaction of the character than seeing what happened. It is a big moment, but doesn’t do enough to make things feel important to the bigger picture.

Final Thoughts –Arctic Void has an interesting mystery to unpack.

Categories
Movie Review

The Fostered (2025) Movie Review

The Fostered – Movie Review

The Fostered explores the complexities of the foster system through the struggles of adopted twin sisters and their parents.

First Reaction – The Fostered delivers an interesting discussion about the foster system and the damage done to children who are victims of horrific crimes.

Where to Watch

THE FOSTERED IS ON DIGITAL AND ON DEMAND JUNE 24

Director: Gunnar Garrett, Ritchie Greer

Writer: Gunnar Garrett (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Serena Perey
  • Savina Perey
  • Robert Palmer Watkins (Uglies)
  • Brittany Underwood (One Life to Live)
  • Robert Adamason

Plot: Thirteen-year-old twin girls are fostered into a home with a dysfunctional couple and find people are not always who they seem.

Runtime: 1 Hour 15 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Fostered starts when twin sisters Madison and Morgan witness a horrific action. They get adopted by Amy (Underwood) and Kevin (Watkins), who hope to have a family. However, the twins are acting differently toward their foster parents.

The parents begin to wonder if they are able to handle the twins. Meanwhile, the twins question whether they have been placed in the same situation that ruined their first family. With the two sides questioning their future, nobody knows who to trust and it becomes deadly.

Verdict on The Fostered

Recap

The movie follows orphaned twins who are adopted by a farmer who has been struggling to have their own children. However, the twins see the problems with the parents’ relationship, and the parents are struggling to adapt to the changes.

Best Parts

There is an interesting situation watching the two sides. The twins are adapting to a new life after the tragic events in their past. It highlights how unsure they are about having this new family. Meanwhile, the family dynamic between foster parents who can’t have children. These two stories make things compelling to see how things will unfold.

Worst Parts

The movie struggles with the biggest factor it wants to portray. It has a good idea, which is easy to see happening early on. However, it goes against that early, and when you watch through, the big reveal doesn’t make sense.

Final Thoughts –The Fostered brings an interesting social discussion to the table.