Jawbreaker

In the film Jawbreaker a kidnaping goes horribly wrong, and a group of awful high school students scramble to cover up their dastardly deeds. A dark comedy I'm glad I rented this film.

Breaking News in Yuba County

 Breaking News in Yuba County is a dark comedy with a wild premise. A wild ride well worth taking. Great cast.

Spontaneous

The crazy events in Spontaneous seem to be a metaphor for what is going on inside the teen mind during pandemic. Ideas of uncertainty and death can weigh heavy on the mind. This is an unusual story with a lot of drama to struggle for survival and a little humor. Interesting film. 

Extra Ordinary

Extra Ordinary is a paranormal adventure with a sweet center. The humor is dark, but it suits the story. Well written and performed, this one is clever and funny. Good rental.

Oh God!

 A good man brings God's word to the modern world in the movie Oh God! This is an interesting, sweet and sometimes funny look at faith, decency and communication. "You talk, I'll listen." A lovely film. Love that Pacer.

Heathers

Almost every talk around high school movies references Heathers. The story of clicks and bullying is not new, but where they take it is rather shocking. The dark tone is an interesting take, and I can see why this film is held in such high regard. As disturbing as the story is, the writing and performances make this more watchable than I would expect. What a rental.

Drop Dead Gorgeous (2010)

I was a bit taken aback by the premise of Drop Dead Gorgeous. This mockumentary within the world of high fashion takes a very dark turn early on and I'll say that I found it more disturbing than funny.This film was recommended to me because I like mockumentaries, but this was not for me.

Black Christmas (2019)

When Black Christmas came out in theaters I did not have time to get to the theater. Sadly it didn't play long enough for me to catch it on a big screen. The benefit here, is that by renting, I could watch the film a few times...and I did. This stalker / slasher horror story is well told. The intricacies of the story were all made clear. I liked the performances and the way it was shot. Lindsey as a snow angel a pretty cool visual. This was a good rental for me.

Very Bad Things

In the course of a bachelor party weekend Very Bad Things tells the story of  one awful event after another. The trail of terrible events leads right up to the wedding. Though this could be viewed as a comedy, the events are so horrible, after a while you don't feel like laughing. This is an outrageous story. A decent rental.

Sorry to Bother You

Ambition and survival are themes in the creative film Sorry to Bother You. A young man works at a call center selling encyclopedias over the phone. He strives to be successful within the company, but what he finds in that success is not what he expected. The less you know going into this film, the better. There are some very clever staging devices and the acting is great. There is one place the film goes that I did not totally buy, but still very creative. Good film.

Suburbicon

A nasty man does nasty things and pays the price in the movie Suburbicon. The fantasy of ideal suburbia is satirized in the misdeeds and misfortunes of this man. This is a very dark story that left me feeling unsettled. An OK rental.

The Death of Stalin

I'm glad I brushed up on the historical details before seeing The Death of Stalin. Another film where I wouldn't believe elements of the story if they weren't true. The satire is hilarious, though the circumstances are dire. Great cast. Good black comedy.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Themes of grief, guilt and anger ring true in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. The actions and reactions to blatant racism and domestic abuse are severe. The acting is excellent, but it is an often uncomfortable story with an ambiguous ending.

Ingrid Goes West

I love Aubrey Plaza's style so Ingrid Goes West was an easy choice for me. She plays a deranged woman who is obsessed with Instagram and pushes her way into the life of an Instagram star. The acting is outstanding, but the story becomes very sad. This is a strong black comedy I liked.

Bad Santa 2

I remember thinking Bad Santa was funny. Bad Santa 2...not so much. This is a poorly written, raunchy, vulgar and pointless heist film that was not funny and had no redeeming qualities at all. A talented cast was wasted on this awful film. Such a disappointment.

Wilson

In the film Wilson a man is desperately looking for human connection. He's rough around the edges, impulsive, foul-mouthed and lovable. When he tracks down his ex-wife, she reveals a life event he did not know about and the adventure commences. Woody Harrelson plays Wilson in a performance I found very engaging. I'm glad that I saw this in the theater, but this would be a strong rental.

I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore

With the awkward title of I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore I was treated to a cool revenge thriller fresh out of Sundance Film Festival. When a woman's house is broken into she gets little help from the police, so she takes matters into her own hands. Her investigation goes off the rails and the ride is a crazy one. Melanie Lynskey and Elija Wood are very good in this. The R rating is earned with language and violence. I was happy to see this on Netflix Instant. Quite a film.

The Dressmaker

In The Dressmaker wardrobe is a tool of revenge. When a young woman returns to her small home town as a successful designer, the truth behind a nagging event is revealed and avenged. Dark, funny, poignant. I really liked how events unfold in this quirky drama. Good rental.

Mr. Right

What happens when you fall for a man who is a hired killer? Mr. Right is so charming, yet so dangerous. The fact that the main characters are played by Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell elevates the charm of their characters. A very dark comedy with a dash of crime and a sprinkle of romance. I liked this one.

American Ultra

I'll admit that Jessie Eisenberg's performances fascinate me, so American Ultra was high on my summer must-see list. The story did not disappoint, though it was a little complex. There was violence, humor, violence, wit, violence, romance...and did I mention violence? Quite a ride!