Heel (2025)

AKA: Good Boy

A family takes in a wayward youth and attempts to subjugate and reform him against his will, keeping him chained up in their cellar to break him of his rude habits. What's fun is how casually the concept is introduced and how quickly they all become acclimated to their situation. It's one of those films where you think you know what you're going to get, but it still manages to surprise you.

3 chloroforms out of 5

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS [2016]

If one had to come with one word to describe Tom Ford's noir-ish psychological thriller Nocturnal Animals it'd be 'devastating'.
It tells a story within a story, firstly being that of a wealthy but disheartened women receives a copy of a novel from her ex-husband, whom she hadn't talked to in nearly 20 years, which he wrote and dedicated to her.  The other half of the film tells the story within the novel, about a husband who is the only surviving member of his family after a violent attack.
With strong performances all around, particularly Michael Shannon & Aaron-Taylor Johnson, stunningly beautiful Herrmann-esque music from Abel Korzeniowski and gorgeous intoxicating photography it's hard not to become entranced with this cold-hearted, cunningly crafted tale of broken souls, revenge and violent desperation.

4 shocking pieces of art out of 5

HIDDEN [2015]

Writer/directors The Duffer Brothers make their debut with the uniquely slow-burning epidemic thriller, Hidden.
A family of three have taken cover in a bomb shelter from deadly virus that's wiped out humanity and turned the rest of the survivors into killers known only as "Breathers".
What's unique about this little film, is 3/4 of it takes places in the bomb shelter and depends on captivating the audience with everything that could go wrong within the confines of the fallout shelter.  The so-called "Breathers" aren't seen or heard of until the final moments of the film, so "zombie" fans need to go elsewhere if they're seeking out a fast-paced gore-fest.  The lead performances help elevate the film into believability and raise the tension, which could have been a real bore had it not been executed with more care.   It's by no means a perfect film but does a fantastic job at holding one's attention with very little to work with.

3 dirty dollies out of 5

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) [2014]

Since it was first announced two years ago, people have been looking at me funny when I expressed my excitement for director Alejandro González Iñárritu's twisted dark showbiz satire, Birdman.

I'm happy to say my excitement wasn't for nothing and this is easily one of the best films of the 2014 and quite possibly the best film of the year.

Michael Keaton, in what should become a defining moment in his career, portrays a has-been actor who can't shake off the comic book character he played in a popular late '80's franchise, while trying to make a comeback as a serious performer. With a cast that doesn't a weak link within it, the unusually long but effective tracking shots and a dizzying drums only score by Antonio Sanchez, this daringly ambitious film could have been a disaster if everything wasn't in the right place, which it is all thankfully fitted to careful perfection.    

5 weird moments for a boner out of 5

DISCONNECT [2013]

Director Henry Alex Rubin's Disconnect is a riveting drama that does a fantastic job at intertwining several seemingly unrelated stories into a intense tale about the horrors of modern day technological communication.
At times it gets a bit too "preachy" and occasionally a bit heavy on the drama but it's perfect pacing and ensemble cast keep it from never getting boring.
It's infuriating, heartbreaking, morally confusing and when it all comes down to it asks the viewer to compassionately look at humanity from all different angles whether you want to or not.  
Definitely a film that wholeheartedly deserves more attention than it's woefully received.

4 anagrams out of 5

OBLIVION [2013]

Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski continues his love for kitschy 70's sci-fi films with the Tom Cruise driven post-apocalyptic Oblivion.
I loved the whole look of the film and it's atmosphere but it fell short with any sort of an engaging story however it thankfully picks up after 45 minutes of yawning.  It does nothing original to add to the genre and teeters between watered down rip-off and a genuine love letter to the films it's inspired by.  When all is said and done, it's simply just "okay".

2½ Kong plushies out of 5