Erik M.

The Little Things is a crime drama about an older cop with PTSD and a younger one who team up in 1990 to catch a creepy serial killer who preys on strippers/prostitutes but seems to be one step ahead of them. Sound familiar? Riddled with cliches, this one stars Denzel Washington, Jared Leto and Rami Malek. Book 'em.

Erik M.

Green Lantern is a Sci-fi action adventure about how a human gains the ring of Will and fights baddies using his imagination! Ryan Reynolds can create "anything" provided he has such focus and drive as to make it exist. An evil being means to devour the ring and its wearer and then consume the universe. What's a guy to do?! Ryan tries his best, and there's some potential as well, but CGI costumes, creatures and various effects can only take this movie so far. It was passable...watch the cartoons instead.

Erik M.

The Lincoln Lawyer is about the rape of a prostitute and the murder of others and a lawyer who normally gets his clients off very lightly. This time, though, a rich and entitled person goes too far, and Matthew McConaughey is the one who'll bring the perpetrators to justice before it gets worse in this 2011 crime drama. Part police procedural, part slick and savvy talk, and a light whodunit with a likable cast.

Erik M.

They destroyed his home and tricked him into coming back, and now John Wick is shooting up NYC, Italy, etc. in this fast-paced revenge slaughter! His dog survives this time, but not much else. Another kill-fest in that slick, no-nonsense style that made Keanu Reeves slay them at the box office. 'Nuf said.

Erik M.

They killed his puppy and stole his car...an incredibly wrong idea, when the subject is John Wick AKA The Baba Yaga or title character. Keanu Reeves plays the hard-hitting hit-man who retired only to be pulled back in this revenge tale. Guns aplenty, martial arts and tough-as-nails gritty action as only Wick can deliver it.

Erik M.

This is the story of two life-long friends and the sudden breaking of that friendship over boredom, sameness and melancholy over the years. With the Irish Civil War as a backdrop, and one man cutting off his fiddler's fingers over another man's plain life, the movie keeps on going steadily towards a morose conclusion. There's some absurdist humor in it, but there's also the dreamless and odd familiarity of dullness that engulfs the entire lonely little island and its inhabitants. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson star.

Erik M.

The Mist is a Sci-fi horror thriller about a small town-and a large general store-that's taken over by a malignant and vaporous substance that brings about various horrible and bloodthirsty creatures! An artist tries to fight it and escape, only to see that many of the frightened townsfolk have turned against him. Like a Lovecraft-inspired story, the horror keeps ramping up as pessimism grows. "Bleak" is one of the word that best describes this.

Erik M.

The murderous and flesh-wearing Leatherface and his crooked kook father, Vietnam crazy brother and aged Grandpa gather for a feast and only Dennis Hopper and a female disc Jockey can stop the carnage in this twisted sequel. Lots of screams, weirdness and goofy gore fill in the runtime as Leatherface shimmies and swings his arms around.

Erik M.

Missing Link is a fun fantasy-adventure about a lovable and tame Bigfoot who wants to find his people and all the globe-trotting misadventures he has with Sir Lionel Frost and Adelina Fortnight. Silly yet thoughtful, it stars Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana and Zach Galifianakis! Watch and enjoy.

Erik M.

Jennifer 8 is a crime drama about a serial killer that preys upon blind women. Andy Garcia stars as a cop who is obsessed with bringing the unknown man down, while Uma Thurman is the latest blind woman the criminal is stalking. Mostly a by-the-numbers police procedural who-done-it, with some decent support by Lance Henriksen and John Malkovich.

Erik M.

The intrepid pair face off against a Satanist in the spooky series finale-already, dark spirits have possessed a child, a man and hope to obtain one more victim in this paranormal thriller that relies on darkness, scrunchy contortions, jump scares and eerie dialog told by various "authorities." Based on a true story.

Erik M.

Before the series, there was Buffy starring Kristy Swanson as the titular Valley Girl who fights vampires between cheer-leading and visits to the mall. Directed by Joss Whedon, it already has some of the action and comic beats that made the show enjoyable. It doesn't have the polish, the fiery finish of the undead or some of the beloved heroic characters or influence by Ash and the Evil Dead franchise, but it is an interesting beginning. Bring the garlic and the stakes.

Erik M.

Freedomland is a crime drama about a drug-abusing Caucasian mother who allegedly loses her young son during a carjacking while in a predominantly African-American neighborhood. She connects with an African-American cop and others...only to admit her culpability to the crime along with her boyfriend. It's a heavy-handed portrayal of race-relations in the early 2000s, drugs and various cop TV tropes. Next.

Erik M.

House of Wax is a strange horror movie about a group of friends who land up stranded at a bizarre town where everyone appears to have been killed and replaced by clever and enduring wax figures! Various gory cliches and a metal soundtrack try their best to save this twisted conjoined twin tale, but soon it melts into yet another slasher genre flick.

Erik M.

Regression is a so-so film about the Satanic cult hysteria that had gripped the USA around the 1990s. A girl alleges rape, Black Masses and worse and gets an officer trapped in her twisted story. While some parts are unnerving, the majority is exploitative schlock and hokum. Prepared by the Weinsteins...'nuff said.

Erik M.

Black Adam is a huge, action-packed superhero drama about a big, mean Shazam-type entity who comes back to save his home of Kahndaq from demonic and global forces led by Intergang and the evil Sabbac. Dr. Fate, Hawkman, Cyclone and Atom-Smasher come to fight the bad guys and wreck half of the city, but can barely contain Black Adam. Violence and mayhem follow, mostly in CGI form. If you enjoyed Brightburn and like anti-heroes, brawn and explosions, give BA a shot-it's got some fun, but don't expect an Oscar or much else, really.

Erik M.

The Addams are at it again, though between Pubert stealing scenes as the baby and Raul Julia's sudden demise, this sequel didn't last despite a few funny gags. Still, it is worth a look.

Erik M.

Star Trek: First Contact is about the Next Generation crew facing off against the Borg as they attempt to thwart the first warp drive space flight and their subsequent visit by aliens. During the battle, the Borg Queen is revealed and Data is tempted by becoming somewhat more human. A must-see among the few films that have the Next Generation logo.

Erik M.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is both a murder/mystery and a political drama, both with a science fiction twist. Due to a catastrophe, the Klingon home-world is dying, and the Chancellor wants peace. Captain Kirk and his crew are then set up for an assassination of the Chancellor and starting the resulting war. Can the Enterprise solve the diplomatic dilemma and find peace? Along with The Wrath of Khan, this Trek is among its best.

Erik M.

Shutter is about a couple who move to Japan and encounter an angry ghost, spiritual photography and some awful people. Megumi will haunt you and there's more to this "East meets West" Poltergeist mash-up as there's a legitimate reason why Megumi wants revenge. A mildly spooky romp.

Erik M.