Kindred

Watching the kidnap thriller Kindred, I realize that the hallucinations are not as mysterious as they appear. This film has an unfortunate ending.

A Quiet Place Part II

After 2 tries (I walked out of a crowded theater yesterday) I have finally returned to the movies. Know your comfort level. I started where I left off. The last film I saw before lockdown was Portrait of a Lady on Fire at Mystic Luxury Theater. Today, 15 months later, I saw A Quiet Place Part II at Mystic Luxury Theater. There were a handful of people spread out around the theater, the film was great and I enjoyed a beverage and popcorn to make the experience complete. The staff seemed so happy to see people (tip your servers) and it just felt good. The film? A solid scary story. The less you know going in, the better. I got my share of jump-scares, monsters and rescues. It was a cool movie afternoon.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956)

In Godzilla:King of the Monsters Godzilla wreaks havoc. This early monster movie has impressive effects for 1956. Raymond Burr's character is intense, as reporter Steve Martin. I liked this film a lot.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

In Something Wicked This Way Comes there's a lot to unpack. Family, age, regret, desire, good vs evil, power. Impressive special effects. Well done and very dramatic, but a bit intense for a PG rating. Good rental

Promising Young Woman

The film A Promising Young Woman portrays reactions to misogyny, sexual assault and injustice. The way we turn our heads on hurtful behavior is put under a magnifying glass, as it should. This is a heartbreaking story very well told.

Cold Comes the Night

Unusual circumstances of a kidnaping and robbery set the stage for tension in Cold Comes the Night. Desperation and money drive the plot of this gritty drama. Alice Eve's character and performance are that glue that holds this crime thriller together. Cranston is understated and menacing. Good film.

The Little Things

The Little Things is an unconventional crime thriller that takes an unexpected turn. Looking for evidence in a serial killer case is more than they bargained for. Good film.

I Care a Lot

Awful people doing awful things to awful people. I Care A Lot is a thriller that takes many typical crime tropes and turns them on their head. What a watch. ~"If we make each other rich, the trust will follow. "

Let Him Go

The drama Let Him Go quickly becomes a thriller. When grandparents find out that their grandson is in peril, they act. They are no-nonsense and do what they need to do. This film is darker than I expected, which worked for the story. Well done.

Dead Again

A mysterious story of past lives in the present is the premise of Dead Again. Working out the mysteries of a disturbing dream, we go back and forth in time to reveal the truth. It's a wild ride. Great performances. I always enjoy Robin Williams in a dramatic role. Thompson and Branagh shine.

Relic

Generations are haunted in the film Relic. Is it a specter? Is it the house? Is it reality? Getting to the bottom of strange goings on is a good horror ride. Sometimes reality is more frightening than the supernatural.

Unhinged

In Unhinged overblown road rage goes down a violent road. With little motivation, a man wreaks bloody havoc. Anxiety plus. This was a very disturbing rental

Let's Scare Jessica to Death

A creepy thriller with a 70s vibe, Let's Scare Jessica to Death keeps you guessing what's real, what's not? The production design is cool. For some reason I was obsessed with the glass doorknobs. Good rental.

The Spiral Staircase (1946)

Halloween season is the perfect time to watch The Spiral Staircase. Trapped in a house with a serial killer, a young woman is in peril. This is a perfectly crafted thriller. Great rental for this scary season.

Bug

The wild thriller Bug is a crazy ride through delusion, paranoia and conspiracy. Agnes: "I am the super Mother bug!" Cool film.

Charade

You need to pay attention to follow the aliases in Charade, a classic thriller. This is a murder mystery that twists and turns. The theme is iconic, the romance is relentless.

Dial M for Murder

In Dial M for Murder a man decides that the revenge for his wife's indiscretion is murder. This film is highly stylized and well written. The intrigue makes this a satisfying mystery. I especially loved the costumes. This is one of Hitchcock's best thrillers.

To Die For

The film To Die For takes the viewer on a wild, wicked ride that is fueled by passion and ambition. The whole thing is a bit twisted. The ending is stunning, I really enjoyed this film.

Strangers on the Train

Two Strangers on the Train meet and a thriller quickly develops.The two men share relationship details and one takes things a bit too far. Bourbon fuels his actions, I have never heard the euphemism, "boiled" for inebriation. Hitchcock guides the twists and turns in this excellent thriller. Glad that I finally saw this classic.

The Night of the Hunter

Beautifully shot, The Night of the Hunter is a solid thriller. Set in the depression, an evil preacher chases two children for money their Daddy stole and hid, swearing them to secrecy. The preacher is vile, the children are clever, and the cinematography is stunning. The writing has it's own lilt, and words are used in a poetic fashion. Children singing "Hing, Hang, Hung" is a bit jarring, but the pronouncement that "children are man at their strongest. They abide and they endure" is powerful. I really enjoyed this film, it was a solid rental and I'll bet it would be impressive on the big screen.