EvilPhoEniX

A wacky comedy about a crazy woman who has trouble making any kind of decision is a great premise, but they could have done better with it. Average for France, but I was still entertained, I laughed a few times, Sabrina Ouazani is truly loveable and the two leading men that the main character has to decide between are both likeable.

Joko Anwar, the acclaimed Indonesian director of films such as The Forbidden Door and the atmospheric Ritual, delivers one of the most frightening horror films of the year according to critics, and a foreign rating of 78% from 2500 people is truly admirable. The story revolves around a poor family where the mother has been suffering from a strange illness for three years and can't get out of bed let alone speak (the scenes with the sick mother in particular are among the very disturbing ones), and when she suddenly dies, she returns as a ghost for her children. I'm not exactly blown away by the film, since me and ghost stories are not really friends, but I definitely have to admit that a few scenes were decently chilling, the scares are not spared, the atmosphere is dense, visually it's not bad (although there are a few flaws, but still hats off by Indonesian standards), and the finale is solid. Fans of ghost stories will probably change their underwear here, others will acknowledge the solid craftsmanship and move on. The bell is an effective haunting method though! 70%

The legend is back! The anticipated horror movie with Big Foot is finally out and for me, I am completely satisfied and got maybe even more than I expected. A young couple have a car accident and get lost in the woods where they encounter a group of poachers. Together they will face the harsh outdoors where the uncompromising Big Foot (known among Native Americans as Oh-Mah) is on the rampage. I was completely transported back to 2007-10 where these woodland gnarly slayers were made, Timber Falls was the one I remembered the most. There aren't too many horror films like that being made today, so Primal Rage is a nice refresher for me. The first half is slightly slower, but once Oh-Mah goes on a rampage, it's uncompromising carnage. He's doesn’t fool around, ripping jaws, stomping heads, arrows in throats, decapitated heads!! A total fan's delight. The gore is of course top-notch, the make-up effects are amazing, Big Foot is awe-inspiring, and there's even a nice mystical ritual. The ending opens the door for a sequel and a very pleasant surprise. A raucous ride in the woods that I enjoyed and will definitely be mentioning it in top list this year. The best horror movie with Big Foot! 80%

After the brilliant Train to Busan, Yeon Sang-Ho has chosen another interesting subject, but it's a pity that the film is more comedic, I could imagine it in a horror version. The protagonist gets the super power of telekinesis after drinking water from a spring, he can use it to defend himself against a construction company that sends workers to threaten local businesses. Visually, the film is cool and the telekinesis games look good, the humour also works occasionally, but otherwise the film didn't offer me anything to be happy about. Fine stuff, but next time please do something horror again. 60%

A detective thriller from Italy that follows in the footsteps of the Spanish production and is definitely worth a look. Detective Vogel is sent to an isolated town to investigate the case of a 16 year old missing girl and things are more tangled than they first appear. The director has opted for a slower paced narrative and though he avoids violence and murder, it's interesting and engaging enough. From the second half, or the first twist, the film drew me into the plot and didn't let me breathe until the end, where I was disarmed by the twist within a twist, where my jaw dropped at the thoughtfulness of the filmmaker. Jean Reno also appears in a minor role and the lead detective is close to Sherlock, so those who like films like this should definitely take heed. I liked it. Decent work for a debut and kudos for the music. 75%

I'm glad I didn't go to the cinema for this film. I liked the first one five years ago, but I suffered quite a bit with the sequel and wasn't interested in it at all. An hour and a half of conversational tedium to wait for 20 minutes of action at the end was so tiring I don't know which of the two parts I liked better. The acting is average, the visual effects are okay, but nothing that made me sit on my ass. The bad guy is a dork, and the movie lacks humor, so I don't really know what to jump for joy about. Apparently, I've grown out of this bullshit. A hair better than the last Transformers though. 45%.

Another decent piece from France. Unknown actors and it seemed to me that the film is more second-rate, but still good fun, it made me laugh. Drug smuggling in Amsterdam with two nerds and a gorgeous dealer is a fine subject for a comedy and it's given a more action-packed insert in places. I was expecting a bit more of an attack on the diaphragm, but a solid three stars is a given. 70%

Dwayne Johnson has a weaker moment this time. Financially the film is a success, but I didn't take away a great audience experience. I haven't played the old Rampage video game, so I can't compare, but it certainly would have been more interesting if it had enlarged the animals more at once and could have made for much more intense destruction. The finale is admittedly intense and the giant crocodile can command respect, but it left me pretty cold. There could have been more humour, and the only action scene worth mentioning is the finale and the wolf attack in the forest. It's watchable and doesn't look bad on screen, but I feel like I've grown out of it slightly. The final shot that made the whole cinema laugh was good though. 65%

A very pleasant family fairy tale about the struggle between nature and man. You can say that it is an animal variation of Home Alone. The very detailed and great CGI of all the animals involved stands out, and the humour and surprisingly intelligent dialogues are a delight. It's very nice to watch, it's modern, it has a swing and the film will please both children and adults, that's how it should be. The badger killed it! 75%

It's got an original premise, with two ladies visiting a bar at night and killing men in their old mansion. Things get complicated when they stumble upon a pair of 30 year old virgin terrified of women and his best friend who is exactly his opposite. The big plus is the dry black British humour which works perfectly here, and as a comedy the film is very funny. Horror-wise it's really only the finale that impresses, culminating in a big crazy fight that definitely surprises and amuses. I had fun with a nice surprise. 70%.