Starring: Chloe Levine, Will Peltz and Peter Vack
Directed by: Rachael Cain
Rated: NR
Running Time: 92 minutes
Yellow Veil Pictures

Our Score: 3 out of 5 Stars

Humans spend a lot of time trying to decode our dreams. We may hesitate to admit why something as surreal as an ex’s head on a goat’s body matters, but we still wonder why our brains conjured it up. That’s why when we meet Gemma (Chloe Levine), we’re immediately drawn in. She’s a small-town girl who’s come to LA to become a star. Until that happens, she’s pulling graveyard shifts at a sleep clinic called Somnium, where her job is to monitor and record the dreams of strangers.

But Gemma starts seeing something in those dreams. At first it’s just a shadow. Then it appears more frequently. Sometimes it creeps from one patient’s nightmare to another, until it begins to seep into her waking life. Or maybe she’s still dreaming. Imagine if Adult Swim’s Dream Corp LLC turned into an evolving psychological horror and you’ve got “Somnium.”

The film would work better with fewer characters outside of Gemma. Many side characters feel introduced without clear purpose or payoff. An aging actor offers her a shortcut into the industry—whether sincerely or as part of some mass dream manipulation is never made clear. Noah (Will Peltz), Somnium’s leader, is treated like a pivotal figure, but we never get close enough to him to understand who he is or what he wants. The film keeps pulling us back to Gemma’s perspective, which is a smart anchor, but giving these supporting characters more shape might’ve enriched her internal conflict without needing so much exposition.

That’s the film’s biggest flaw and unfortunately it’s not a minor one. “Somnium” sometimes feels unsure of its own narrative focus. These detours dilute the tension and stretch a lean story longer than it needs to feel. Still, Cain delivers a solid, at times chilling thriller. Levine carries the film with quiet intensity, which feels fitting for a character unsure of her own abilities. And Cain, in her directorial debut, crafts genuine unease from familiar genre elements. The shadowy antagonist may not be wholly original, but the way it’s framed and escalated within dreams gives it a fresh edge.

“Somnium” ends on a note that’s mildly satisfying, though still loaded with unanswered questions. Whether that’s intentional ambiguity or not, it leaves the story feeling just short of fully realized. But as a debut feature, Cain’s control over tone and visuals suggests a promising future, but with a more focused script next time, something great might follow.

• JAWS
• Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss
• Directed by:  Steven Spielberg
• Rated:  PG
• Running time  2 hrs 4 mins
• Universal  

Simply stated,  let’s just say it’s the greatest movie ever made!

• CAUGHT STEALING
• Starring:  Austin Butler, Regina King and Zoe Kravitz
• Directed by:  Darren Aronofsky
• Rated:  R
• Running time:  1 hr 47 mins
• SONY/Columbia Pictures

 Our Score:  3 out of 5

The following is from my review of Darren Aronofsky’s last film, “The Whale” –

“As a filmmaker, director Darren Aronofsky can be very hit or miss.  On one side of the spectrum, he created a masterpiece with “Requiem for a Dream.”  On the other hand, I give you “The Fountain.”  “The Whale” is another fine achievement and one that should be seen and appreciated.” 

The above line holds true still with the director’s latest film, “Caught Stealing.”

Hank Thompson (Butler) is a one time baseball phenom whose bad decision making has led him to his present stage of life – working as a bartender.  When he comes home one night he is met by his friend Russ (Matt Smith) who tells him he must leave town to take care of his ill father and asks Hank to care for his pet cat.  When Hank comes home the next night to find a couple of tough guys looking for Russ – and giving Hank a terrible beating – Hank begins to realize there is more to the story then Russ is letting on.

Mr. Aronofsky directed Brendan Fraser to an Academy Award winning performance in “The Whale.”  The star of “Caught Stealing” was Mr. Fraser’s biggest competition for the award, Austin Butler, whose portrayal of Elvis Presley is one of the best biographical performances ever put on film.  Mr. Butler is well cast here, playing Hank as an easygoing person whose past continues to haunt him while he now deals with both the police and the criminals who are convinced Russ gave him something besides a cat.

The story is one of deceit and double cross and you’re not really sure who is who as the film progresses.  Peppered throughout the film are references to Hank’s baseball glory days, though except for giving the film a clever title, they really offer nothing to the story.  Hank could have been an up and coming scientist and found himself in the same situation due to his bad decisions.

The cast is strong, with Butler and Ms. King giving storng performances.  Special mention to Mr. Smith, whose mohawk adorned Russ gives the film a kick in the pants every time he is on screen.

The story is a little formulaic but the biggest problem I had with it was Hank’s almost superhero like ability to run, dive and hang off buildings despite recently having a kidney removed is pretty, well, you know what I’m saying.

On a scale of zero to five, I give “Caught Stealing” ★★★   

• NOBODY 2
• Starring:  Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen and Christopher Lloyd
• Directed by:  Timo Tjahjanto
• Rated:  R
• Running time:  1 hr 29 mins
• Universal

Our score:  3 out of 5 

Bob Odenkirk…action star?  That’s the first thing I thought when I saw 2021’s film, “Nobody.”  Could Saul Goodman actually kick some ass?  Yes he could, and he was very good at it.  Four years later he’s still good at it, but looking for a break.  He takes his family on vacation to his favorite childhood water park, where no one will bother him.  Right?

Action packed, “Nobody 2” follows Hutch (Odenkirk) and his family, including his bad ass father David (Lloyd) enjoying the sites and sounds of small town America when Hutch’s son gets into a scrap with the son of the town sheriff.  Hutch is given a dressing down and thinks the situation is over, but some people just never learn.  The more involved Hutch gets the more he discovers that his childhood memories may not have been all good.

The action here is well staged and Odenkirk does indeed prove to be a fine action star.  However, unlike Arnold or Sly, Odenkirk plays Hutch as a real man, one who isn’t bullet proof and gets winded easily.  A fine presentation.  It’s always great to see Christopher Lloyd on screen and he has more to do here then he did in the first film.  The big surprise here is Sharon Stone, who plays the criminal mastermind of the town with a coolness she hasn’t shown since “Casino.”

The film is quite short, but it doesn’t feel rushed.  Some times less is more.  That certainly applies here.

On a scale of zero to five, I give “Nobody 2” ★★★   

• THE NAKED GUN (2025)
• Starring:  Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson and Danny Huston
• Directed by:  Akiva Schaffer
• Rated:  PG 13
• Running time:  1 hr 25 mins
• Paramount

Our score:  3.5 out of 5 

I think I’m one of the very few people that watched the original “Police Squad” television show.  Created by the comedy genius’ behind the film “Airplane” the short lived series starred Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebbin, a bumbling cop who still managed to get the job done.  Like “Airplane,” and their next film, “Top Secret,” the team of Brothers David and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, immortalized as ZAZ, the show kept bombarding the audience with jokes.  Some stuck, some didn’t, but the results were always funny.  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention writer Pat Proft, who also contributed to the humor.

“Police Squad” spawned three feature films, beginning with “The Naked Gun.”  Following the same formula as their previous projects, ZAZ (and Proft) gave audiences comedy gold.  Can Frank Drebbin, Jr. follow in his father’s hilarious footsteps?

The story line, as it were, finds Frank Drebbin, Jr. (a hilariously deadpan Neeson) foiling a bank robbery thanks to the power of disguise.  The opening moments set the tone for the rest of the film.  Yes, this is your father’s “Naked Gun.”  Frank’s partner, Ed Hocken, Jr (Paul Walter Hauser), like Frank, is the son of a former Police Squad detective, played in the original films by George Kennedy.  A great scene show the sons paying tribute to their fathers while the son of former officer Nordberg just dismisses his pop.  If you know, you know.

Neeson, who has shown his comedic chops in films like “Ted 2” and “A Million Ways to Die in the West” (both done my Seth McFarlane, who also produced this film) is perfect here.  His rugged face, and action film cred, make his character especially likeable.  Kudos also to Danny Huston, who is making an excellent living out of playing bad guys.  In a role where she is almost unrecognizable, Ms. Anderson proves herself to be a fine film comedienne.

If I have one issue, it’s that the film is quite short.  The 85-minute running time noted above includes the end credits. Hopefully the next one (fingers crossed) will be longer.

On a scale of zero to five, I give “The Naked Gun” ★★★1/2   

• SUPERMAN
• Starring:  David Cornsweat, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult
• Directed by:  James Gunn
• Rated:  PG 13
• Running time:  2 hrs 9 mins
• Warner Bros

 Our Score: 3.5 out of 5

47-years ago, several of my high school friends and I gathered at the Hillsboro Theatre in Tampa to catch the first show of “Superman: The Movie.”  We loved it.  As fate would have it, not only are we all still great friends, but I was back home in Tampa when the latest adventures of the Man of Steel hit the big screen.  We went.  We liked it.

As told by director/co-writer James Gunn, some things are different in the DC comic universe that I grew up reading about and watching.  We now find Clark Kent (Cornsweat) and Lois Lane (Brosnahan) in a committed relationship.  Of course, this means Lois knows his secret identity, which was always a bad thing in the past.  However, the chemistry between the two is such as you don’t mind that this fact is one of the many that are now apparently cannon for the character.  We are introduced to Krypto, the Superdog.  And a pretty amazing Fortress of Solitude.  Everything for comic book lovers to fawn over and discuss.  One blink and you’ll miss it line, which I won’t divulge, took me by surprise though I was assured after the movie by two of my true comic books reading chums that the fact in question was pointed out in a late 1970s edition of the comic.  OK, back to the film.

As usual, Superman is put upon by the evil machinations of one Lex Luthor (Hoult), who is quite good here.  For some reason, from Gene Hackman to Jesse Eisenberg, Lex Luthor has been played to laughs with his schemes.  In my opinion, only Kevin Spacey in “Superman Returns” really nailed the Lex Luthor I remembered from my youth.  Hoult is right up there with Spacey, giving Luthor the menace he truly exudes.

The rest of the main cast is strong.  Cornsweat has big boots to fill.  To me, the late Christopher Reeve will always be Superman, but I’ve had no issue with how the character was portrayed in later films by Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill.  Cornsweat is very reminiscent of the character the way he was portrayed in film serials by Kirk Allyn.  If I have one issue with the casting it’s that apparently James Gunn has never been to Kansas.  In the past, Superman’s adoptive father, Jonathan, has been a strong, simple man who offered advice when needed, be he played by Glenn Ford or Kevin Costner.  Here, as portrayed by Pruitt Taylor Vince, Pa Kent is a yokel in coveralls.

Still, the special effects are outstanding and there are enough Easter eggs – one character is named Otis Berg – to make longtime fans happy.

On a scale of zero to five, I give “Superman” ★★★1/2   

Starring: Austin Butler, Regina King and Zoe Kravitz
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Rated: R
Running Time: 107 minutes
Sony Pictures

Our Score: 4 out of 5 Stars

It’s always hard to know what you’re going to get from Darren Aronofsky. Three years ago, he gave us a rough, intimate drama that won Brendan Fraser an Oscar in “The Whale.” Eight years ago, he gave us one of Jennifer Lawrence’s lowest career points in “mother!” 11 years ago, he managed to get Fox News riled up over “Noah.” So, what should audiences expect from his latest film, “Caught Stealing?” It’s a violent, offbeat misadventure through 1990s New York City; a genre mashup of crime, thriller, comedy, and an oddly specific love for the San Francisco Giants.

Hank (Austin Butler) tends bar at a grimy, hole-in-the-wall dive. He drinks with customers, stumbles home to his dingy apartment, keeps drinking, and sleeps with Yvonne (Zoe Kravitz), who genuinely loves him despite his downward spiral. Once, Hank was a rising baseball star with legitimate MLB dreams, but alcohol wrecked those plans, quite literally. His dear friend booze continues to derail his life, pulling him deeper into trouble when he crosses paths with both the Russian and Jewish mob.

Everything kicks off when Hank agrees to watch his neighbor Russ’ (Matt Smith) cat while Russ heads back to England to care for his ailing father. Unfortunately, Russ leaves behind dangerous unfinished business, and a string of furious mobsters want something badly enough to beat Hank within an inch of his life and start killing anyone around him. What exactly they want becomes Hank’s mystery to solve, and Aronofsky uses that hook to drive a steadily escalating spiral of violence, paranoia, and absurdity.

Most of “Caught Stealing” thrives on tension and intrigue: what’s hidden in Hank’s past, what’s driving the chaos, and how far he’ll go to survive. Aronofsky stages the violence with care by grounding the stakes when it matters but leaning into absurdity when the tone allows it. The film moves between gritty realism and pitch-black comedy, creating a sense of unpredictability even when the plot itself edges toward the familiar.

The ensemble helps hold it all together. Character actors like Vincent D’Onofrio, Carol Kane, and even Bad Bunny bring bursts of personality to every chaotic encounter. Butler’s brooding performance anchors the chaos, though the tonal mismatch between his straight-edged intensity and the stranger supporting turns occasionally clashes. Still, the off-balance approach mostly works, creating a sense of danger that feels earned rather than manufactured.

Ultimately, “Caught Stealing” is a pleasant surprise because it’s part “North by Northwest” paranoia and part “Big Lebowski” absurdism. It doesn’t quite reach the brilliance of either, but it refuses to play by genre rules, and there’s an admirability in that. It’s bloody, darkly funny, and weirdly endearing. Considering Aronofsky adapted this from a series of books, Sony might greenlit a sequel or two if the box office dictates it. If they do, I’m in for more breezy, violent fun.

• HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2025)
• Starring:  Mason Thames, Nico Parker and Gerard Butler
• Directed by:  Dean DeBlois
• Rated:  PG
• Running time:  2 hrs 5 mins
• Universal

Our score:  4 out of 5

In case you haven’t noticed, there has been, for the past few years, a trend in Hollywood.  Take a beloved animated film and do a live action remake.  It makes sense.  The studios already own the property so need to pay the screenwriter any more money.  And, if the animated film was a success, you already have a built-in audience.  When they work, like Disney’s latest “Lion King” films, they work beautifully.  When the don’t, well they don’t (and I’m looking at you “Snow White.”  I hope you’ve blinked since I last saw you.)  Another risk is that they spoil the affection fans of the original have.  I’m happy to say that that affection still runs deep in me after seeing “How to Train Your Dragon.”

Like the 2010 animated feature, the film tells the story of young Hiccup (Thames), a well-meaning lad who tries his best to impress his father, the head of the Viking village he lives in.  However, no matter what he tries, and how well intentioned his plans are, disaster usually follows.  Then one day he meets a very special dragon.  And his adventures begin.

Beautifully shot, with amazing visual effects, the film manages to capture the feel of its predecessor thanks to a strong cast.  As Hiccup, Thames is just quiet enough to hide his new-found skills and Ms. Parker is a strong asset to the group of youngsters hoping to become first-rate dragonslayers.  Butler, who also voiced tribe leader Stoick in the original animated film, is his usually blustery best.  Whether he’s fighting dragons or haunting Paris opera houses, Butler has never met a role he couldn’t yell through!

The visual effects are top notch though I will warn that some of the more intense scenes scared several of the little ones that attending the screening I was in.  However, children over the age of eight should enjoy the action.

On a scale of zero to five I give the live action version of ‘How to Train Your Dragon” ★★★★

• JURASSIC WORLD:  REBIRTH
• Starring:  Scarlett Johannson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey
• Directed by:  Gareth Edwards
• Rated:  PG 13
• Running time:  2 hrs 13 mins
• Universal

Our score:  3 out of 5

I love dinosaurs.  My favorite is the triceratops, a love I developed as a child from reading the book “The Enormous Egg.”  Apparently, a lot of people love dinosaurs as the EIGTH film in the Jurassic Park series comes to theatres.

Set five years after 2022’s Jurassic World: Dominion, the film tells the tale of a group of people, led by Zora (Johansson) and Duncan (Ali) to escort a scientist (Bailey) back to Isla Nublar, the island that contained the original Jurassic Park on a mission to retrieve DNA from three very large, and very nasty, species of dinosaurs who were left behind on the island because they were too terrifying.  Apparently the nicer members of the species are now free to wander the world aimlessly, including the brontosaurus who blocks traffic in Brooklyn!  I can hear those car horns now.

While entertaining, the film lacks what made 1993’s original “Jurassic Park” such a great film.  Emotion.  Not just yelling and screaming, but a true emotional connection with the characters.  The most recent films in the series have pretty much just thrown characters you’re not emotionally invested in amongst a series of bigger and more terrifying monsters.  Like a great roller coaster ride you’re caught up in the excitement of the moment but on the ride home from the amusement park you’re talking more about the giant corn dog you ate instead of the ride.  That being said, the monsters are scary and you do get those brief moments of excitement.  You just may not remember them on the ride home.

On a scale of zero to five I give “Jurassic World: Rebirth” ★★★

• BALLERINA
• Starring:  Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves and Ian McShane
• Directed by:  Len Wiseman
• Rated:  R
• Running time:  2 hrs 4 mins
• Lionsgate

Our score:  3 out of 5

When I interviewed ballerina Moira Shearer who starred in “The Red Shoes,” she happily informed me, “Dancers and boxers lace their boots the same way.”

As the analogy indicates, deadly force can come in seemingly dainty packages.

That may explain why “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” usually works. Ana de Armas proved she had what it took to be an action hero in “No Time to Die.” In her brief turn, her awkward demeanor belied formidable speed and agility. Her precision dagger was a nice complement of James Bond’s blunt instrumentation.

This time around she plays Eve, a young woman struggling to deal with being orphaned after trained killers murdered her dad. Winston (Ian McShane), who acts like a referee in the universe that Eve and John Wick (Keanu Reeves) inhabit, puts her in the care of the Director (Anjelica Huston).

Eve now has a unique regimen. Most of us don’t have to train for the rigors of both ballet, which can decimate a dancer’s feet, and for martial arts and target practice. Because she’s as sturdy as she is agile, it’s no surprise she spends less time on stage than she does guarding clients or selectively ending lives.

After a few successful missions, she discovers that the people who killed her father are still around. The Director has had a long truce with the rival troupe of killers and their leader The Chancellor (an appropriately chilly Gabriel Byrne).

Eve couldn’t care less about those arrangements. She wants revenge and is willing to charge into a village populated entirely with seasoned assassins.

If anyone could survive such a seeming act of folly, she would be the one. Her bravado is accompanied by the sort of creativity that comes from an education in the arts. This enables her to neutralize larger, stronger opponents.

Watching de Armas leap, kick and shoot is expectedly exhilarating. Screenwriter Shay Hatten, who wrote the last two John Wick films, comes up with a delightfully goofy solutions when Eve runs out of ammo.

Director Len Wiseman (“Underworld”) stages the mayhem with appropriate finesse, but he deviates little from the template that Chad Stahelsski established in the first two movies. “Ballerina” might have been more fun if it gave Eve a stamp of her own. The pneumatic tubes that send death warrants across the oceans in seconds are here, but it the idea of blending classical dance and combat is only partially realized.

Reeves, who produced, returns as Wick. He seems committed, but the script incorporates Wick as an afterthought. Reeves and de Armas share little screen time and don’t get a chance to play off each other much. It would have been more fun if their contrasting styles could have been clearly delineated.

De Armas at least shows that her lean shoulders can carry a shoot-em-up with confidence. Here’s hoping her next turn behind a gun is as nimble as she is.

On a scale of zero to five, “Ballerina” receives ★★★

Starring: Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams and Carson MacCormac
Directed by: Eli Craig
Rated: R
Running Time: 96 minutes
Shudder

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

“Clown in a Cornfield” finds itself in a peculiar spot. It stands in the long shadow of director Eli Craig’s debut, “Tucker and Dale vs. Evil,” even though that film came out 15 years ago. Expectations are immediately high for subversive laughs, heartfelt slaughter, and buckets of gore. While it doesn’t fully step out from behind that legacy, Craig channels the energy of his title character, Frendo, slicing through a brisk 96-minute runtime to deliver a clear message: Boomers would rather kill us than admit they’re wrong.

Quinn (Katie Douglas) is pulled from her East Coast life to the rural town of Kettle Springs, Missouri, a place that romanticizes the past with its annual Founders Day Festival. Locals still pine for the glory days of Baypen Corn Syrup, which once provided the town with jobs, prosperity, and purpose. For Midwesterners like me, the imagery is all too familiar. The background and town are littered with empty factory remnants, a dying downtown square, judgmental stares, and teens getting drunk in cornfields. It’s not long before Quinn learns about Frendo the Clown, Baypen’s old mascot. And soon after, meets him face to face.

Based on the 2020 young adult novel, the film embraces its source material’s corny tone. It never takes itself too seriously, never fully leans into scares, and doesn’t do much to subvert the slasher genre. In many ways, “Clown in a Cornfield” functions as a slasher intro course for younger or less horror-inclined audiences, while still offering enough blood and bite to entertain veterans like me who’ve seen one too many murderous clowns, horny teens, and small-town massacres.

The teen cast doesn’t get much depth to work with. Their scenes often serve the plot more than character development, especially compared to the more grounded and textured adult roles. Performances from Kevin Durand (as the town’s mayor), Will Sasso (the sheriff), and Aaron Abrams (Quinn’s dad) bring a lived-in feel that the younger cast can’t quite match. Still, Katie Douglas injects enough heart and grit into Quinn to make her easy to root for.

Because the film feels like it’s aimed at a younger or more casual horror audience, I found myself wishing it pushed harder in terms of kills and commentary. Frendo doesn’t have the screen presence of Pennywise, Art the Clown, or even the gonzo weirdness of “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.” But that’s not really the point. “Clown in a Cornfield” isn’t trying to redefine horror, it’s trying to say something about how clinging to the past can curdle into something violent and unrecognizable. And on that front, it mostly succeeds.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson and Danny Huston
Directed by: Akiva Schaffer
Running Time: 85 minutes
Rated: PG-13
Paramount Pictures

Our Score: 4 out of 5 Stars

The “Naked Gun” is back as a legacy sequel, reboot, and remake rolled into one. And it has some absurdly big clown shoes to fill. The original 1988 film helped define an entire era of spoof comedies, arguably doing more for the genre than even “Airplane!” It remains a cult favorite, beloved for its relentless gags, offbeat charm, and layers of absurdity that reward every rewatch. While the original’s director has publicly said he won’t see this new version, he probably should because it’s a worthy and laugh-filled new chapter in the police squad files.

Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., son of the iconic original character, now leading a modern-day police squad. When a dead man turns up in a submerged vehicle and a high-tech gadget with world-ending potential is uncovered, Drebin springs into action. But let’s be honest: the plot is barely the point. Supporting him is Paul Walter Hauser as his loyal partner, and Danny Huston delivers a hilariously unflinching performance as the villain. The real surprise, though, is Pamela Anderson. As the film’s love interest, she plays her role completely straight despite the absurdity of the role.

What makes this revival shine is its commitment to the classic Naked Gun formula: Deadpan delivery, slapstick chaos, sight gags, layered wordplay, and absurd satire. It’s all here, and it all lands. The cast handles the material with just the right mix of sincerity and silliness. But the credit doesn’t stop there. Writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, alongside director Akiva Schaffer, deserve major praise for crafting a comedy that not only honors the ZAZ legacy but also stands tall on its own. This is their second winning collaboration following 2022’s unexpectedly delightful “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.”

Their script is razor-sharp, balancing clever and juvenile humor with an ease rarely seen in modern comedies. “The Naked Gun” isn’t just funny, it’s consistently funny, and possibly the most laugh-out-loud movie of the year. With gags layered in nearly every frame, it demands a second viewing just like the originals.

Our score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

In the past few years whenever I see a collaboration from Jagged Edge Productions and ITN Studios I am immediately all in. From the makers of Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 1 & 2, comes their latest film in the Twisted Childhood Universe aka “Poohiverse”, Bambi: The Reckoning. Directed by Dan Allen and written by Rhys Warrington, this film is quite possibly the best of the bunch! Having seen all the films in the proposed universe, I was blown away by this films gore and fantastic use of digital effects.

The official synopsis reads: After a mother and son get in a car wreck, they soon become hunted by Bambi, a mutated grief-stricken deer on a deadly rampage seeking revenge for the death of his mother. Bambi: The Reckoning features Roxanne McKee (TV’s “Game of Thrones”), Nicola Wright (Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2), Russell Geoffrey Banks (Who’s Watching Oliver), Tom Mulheron (TV’s “Slow Horses”), and Samira Mighty (TV’s “Love Island”).

If you hare a fan of Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 1 & 2, you can tell that this company is getting better and better with each new film. For a low budget film, Bambi: The Reckoning has some solid CGI created our title character. If I am not mistaken, I noticed a bit of practical effects as well. This film stfarted out like the previous films with a simple yet effective animated sequence giving us some story background and then its all balls to the wall terror. I found myself cheering at the screen each time Bambi got his revenge on the baddies.

Next up in the Twisted Childhood Universe, we have “Pinocchio: Unstrung” later this year and then next year is the massive culmination feature that brings everything together “Poohiverse: Monsters Assemble”, which pokes fun ala The Avengers of this horror franchise. I can’t say that I am excited about these two films, I am rather ecstatic. I saw bring it on, I can’t get enough.

Starring: Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders and Jennifer Love Hewitt
Directed by: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Rated: R
Running Time: 111 minutes
Sony Pictures

Our Score: 3 out of 5 Stars

There’s not a deep well of nostalgia for “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” even though I fall squarely in its target demographic. While the 1997 film probably played at countless slumber parties, I was more interested in ‘80s slashers like “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.” That’s not to say I skipped the original and its 1998 sequel. I just never went deeper with the 2006 direct-to-video sequel or the short-lived Amazon series. That said, nostalgia is a powerful thing, and I may have enjoyed this 2025 reboot/sequel more than it probably deserves.

The formula remains unchanged: a group of teens does something terrible and tries to cover it up, only to be stalked by a killer in a fisherman’s raincoat. This time, the inciting incident involves a group of five young adults causing a car to veer off a cliff and into the ocean, thanks to one of them goofing around in the street while high. It’s a shaky start, not just because the setup feels contrived, but because it raises questions about whether they’d even be charged with murder under existing law. It might’ve been cleaner, and way more relevant, to have them hit someone while distracted by TikTok or shopping on Etsy.

The first 30 minutes are a slog, nearly nap-worthy, but things pick up once the hook-wielding fisherman shows up and makes a mess with a harpoon. From there, the film taps into its nostalgia engine. Freddie Prinze Jr. returns with a seaman’s beard, weathered charm, and the same heartthrob energy that made him famous. Jennifer Love Hewitt, now playing a psychology professor, also makes a welcomed return. With a dead serious face, she gives the teens predictably awful advice that works perfectly in this kind of film. At this point, I was fully on board this sinking ship, content to go down with it. Because while this isn’t a good movie, it is pretty damn fun.

That fun comes in spite of a script littered with pointless side characters, wandering subplots, and character decisions so illogical they’d make a puzzle book combust. The tone swings wildly from serious to silly, and the attempts at humor mostly fall flat. Even the film’s biggest “wink” moment lands with the laughter and joy of a tax audit. A tighter runtime might’ve helped, but instead the film drags longer than necessary, testing your patience between the kills.

Like the 1997 original, this 2025 edition still lives in the shadow of “Scream,” chasing that meta-slasher magic nearly 30 years later. And while it never matches “Scream’s” cleverness, there is a sense of fun that seeps through, especially during the kill sequences. The deaths are satisfyingly brutal, and the film actually does a better job crafting a believable killer than the original.

It’s not a genre-defining entry like “In a Violent Nature,” nor is it as viciously funny as “The Monkey,” but it comfortably lands in the middle of the 2025 horror pack. There are better horror films out this year, but there are far worse, too.

• JAWS@50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY
• Documentary
• Featuring:  Steven Spielberg, Cameron Crowe and Jordan Peele
• Directed by:  Laurent Bouzereau
• Not Rated
• Running time:  1 hr 28 mins
• National Geographic

Our score:  5 out of 5

I bought my first laser disc in 1995.  It was a special edition collection to celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of the greatest film ever made, Jaws.  I bought it for one reason.  The amazing documentary put together by filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau.  I should note here that at the time I did not own a laser disc player.

As someone that prides himself on his knowledge of the film Jaws (my most recent book, “FINATICS: 50 Years of Jaws” was just released) I usually the various documentaries on the film with a grain of salt because I usually don’t learn anything new.  That being said, I knew when I watched Jaws@50 that that would not be the case.  And I was not disappointed!

A skilled documentarian, Mr. Bouzereau has also done outstanding “making of” films about such classic movies as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. and Jurassic Park, as well as last year’s amazing Music by John Williams.  He has a style that allows him to share the story of a familiar film in a way you never expected, making the familiar seem new.  And Jaws@50 is no exception.

Through an amazing treasure trove of archival footage, and current interviews with Steven Spielberg, as well as conversations with some of the greatest filmmakers working today, the film manages to weave a tale I’ve never known.  Each film clip, or comment by Mr. Spielberg, opens  new windows into the film and the behind-the-scenes troubles that nearly kept it from being made.  To someone that has seen the film literally hundreds of times, Jaws@50 made it seem like I was watching Jaws for the first time, learning more and more about something I have loved for five decades.

The film premiers on the National Geographic channel next Thursday, July 10^th, and can also be found on the new 50^th Anniversary 4K Steelbook.  Even if you don’t own  4k player, buy it.  I don’t and I did!

On a scale of zero to five I give Jaws@50:  The Definitive Inside Story ★★★★★