Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
I love the creativity of this Civil War tribute poster by Nuno Sarnadas. Sardanas is a professional artist and movie lover based in Switzerland.
Nuno Sarnadas has more art on display at his webpage.
“Okay. What kind of American are you?” – Unnamed Soldier
RIGHTEOUS TRASH by Nick Kolakowski
First sentence…
It was midnight but I was still wide awake in bed when the security lights in the back yard blazed to life.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Jake Halligan needs a break. He’s not making much as a bounty hunter. If his finanaces don’t improve, he could lose everything. His land. His wife. His daughter.
When Jake’s crazy sister, Frankie unexpectedly returns from Mexico, Jake doesn’t know what to expect. Frankie has come back to restart her illegal arms business. Jake wants no part of it.
Frankie is the best shot Jake (or nearly anyone) has ever seen. Frankie plans to enter and win Crazy Bill’s world famous shooting contest. Frankie knows the grand prize money will give her the startup cash she needs. There’s just one problem. She has to win.
Jake has faith in Frankie. Although the contest draws crack shots from around the country, Frankie is the best. Even on a bad day, Frankie would be tough to beat. Jake decides to take a leap of faith. He goes to a loan shark and borrows $100,000.00. He’s going to bet it all on Frankie winning. If she does Jake can pay off the loan plus interest and be flush again. But if Frankie doesn’t win, Jake will lose everything including his life. The loan shark told him as much.
Soon Jake and Frankie are the targets of rival gangs, corrupt politicians, and Federal Agents. Oh, and let’s not forget the loan shark who wants his money… or Jake dead.
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RIGHTEOUS TRASH is the third outing for Jake and Frankie. If you’re a fan of crime stories featuring non-stop action with a nice mix of humor, then this one is for you!
Rating:
Hold the Dark (2018)
Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Screenplay: Macon Blair, based on HOLD THE DARK byWilliam Giraldi
Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Skarsgård, James Badge Dale, Riley Keough, Julian Black Antelope, Eric Keenleyside and Tantoo Cardinal.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Russell Core arrives at the small, remote village of Keelut, Alaska. Core came at the request of Medora Slone. Three children from the village (including Medora’s young son) are missing. A wolf pack is blamed. Although there is no hope the children are alive, Medora wants Core to track and kill the pack.
Core agrees. What he and others will soon learn, something much more sinister than a wolf pack is responsible.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
My main interest in this film was actor Jeffrey Wright (who is always excellent) and director Jeremy Saulnier (I loved his work on Rebel Ridge).
Hold the Dark (2018) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Emperor of the North is so underrated. Great performances and one of the most brutal movie fights ever. It stars Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine and Keith Carradine.
Tony Stella’s painting is worthy of Emperor.
“Stay off the tracks. Forget it. It’s a bum’s world for a bum. You’ll never be Emperor of the North Pole, kid”. – A No. 1
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have a Marv by Denis Tandirovic.
Cold Meat (2024)
Director: Sébastien Drouin
Screenplay: Sébastien Drouin, James Kermack, Andrew Desmond
Stars: Allen Leech, Nina Bergman, Yan Tual.
Tagline: Outside is dangerous. Inside is deadly.
The Plot…
David Peterson is driving through a blinding snowstorm when he stops at a diner as it is closing. With most places closed because of the storm, David is glad to get a hot coffee and a piece of pie. As he begins to eat, an angry man enters.
He’s the waitress’ ex. When the man starts to get rough, David speaks up. He cautions the man about his behavior. The man warns David, who calmly replies that if the police are called, it will be the waitress’ and his word about what went down. The ex angrily leaves.
David finishes his meal and gasses up before heading back into the blinding snowstorm. As he’s driving on a remote road, he sees the waitress’ ex in a huge truck bearing down on him. David is nearly forced off the road. He speeds up and is able to beat the truck around a corner. David drives off-road and turns off his lights. The truck passes by. David waits until he is sure it is safe to leave.
Only to find his car stuck in the quickly fallen snow. Unable to get his car free, David realizes he may freeze to death before the snowstorm passes.
The blizzard is going to be the least of David’s worries.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I like the set-up of the story. There’s a nice twist early on. The tension increases throughout the film, but the ending is a bit of a let-down.
Cold Meat (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Diggin’ this Batman art by Leonardo Romero.
Nightmare (1964)
Director: Freddie Francis
Screenplay: Jimmy Sangster
Stars: David Knight, Moira Redmond, Brenda Bruce, Jennie Linden.
Tagline: THREE SHOCKING MURDERS…did she DREAM them? …or DO them?
The Plot…
Six years ago Janet Freeman saw her mother stabbed to death. Janet was eleven. Nightmares have haunted her since. Now seventeen, the night terrors have become so bad that Janet has been sent home from boarding school to recover.
At home, the nightmares become worse and even more realistic. Is Janet dreaming of murders or commiting them?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
There are worse ways to spend 82 minutes…
Nightmare (1964) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Daylight is a movie that doesn’t get enough love. So I was glad to see this alt nice poster created by Pete Lloyd.
Hold Your Breath
Dobermann (1997)
Director: Jan Kounen
Screenplay: Joël Houssin
Stars: Vincent Cassel, Tchéky Karyo, Monica Bellucci.
Tagline: Are you ready for a Good Time?
The Plot…
Dobermann, a daring and charismatic criminal and his gang of outlandish misfits are hunted by a sadistic cop and his team off oddballs.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Dobermann is styish and over-the-top. Too much so for me. I tapped out after 33 minutes. Your mileage, as always, may vary.
Dobermann (1997) rates 1 of 5 stars.
Double Indemnity is one of my all-time favorite movies. Angora has come up with an alt poster that I hope brings more eyes to the film.
A Working Man (2025)
Director: David Ayer
Screenplay: Sylvester Stallone, David Ayer based on LEVON’S TRADE by Chuck Dixon
Stars: Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, Maximilian Osinski, Cokey Falkow, Michael Peña, Noemi Gonzalez, Emmett J. Scanlan, Emmett J. Scanlan and David Harbour.
Tagline: Human traffickers beware.
The Plot…
Levon Cade is a former Royal Marine Commando now working as a construction foreman. When his boss’ daughter is kidnapped, Levon uses his skills to find her and do what he does best.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
A Working Man is the second film written by Sly Stallone that stars Jason Statham. Homefront (2013) was the first.
A Working Man (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.
This Godfather Part II art was created by Mark Levy for The Godfather trilogy custom box set.
“I don’t want anything to happen to him while my mother’s alive.”
Year 10 (2024)
Director: Ben Goodger
Screenplay: Ben Goodger
Stars: Alexander Anderson, Emma Cole, Joseph Coleman and Luke Massy.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Ten years into an apocalyptic future, civilization has collapsed. People survive in the wilderness avoiding wild dogs and cannibals.
When a roving tribe of cannibals kills his father, and steals their provisions, a young man must get back the medicine the man-eaters stole. Medicine needed to keep his girlfriend alive.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
There is not a single line of dialogue in the entire film. This makes little sense. Did everyone forget how to speak?
Year 10 has an interesting concept, but there are too many coincidences for my taste.
Year 10 (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.
BLOOD AND MAGICK by James R. Tuck
First sentences…
I should have known.
There were signs. I’m supposed to be the damn expert. I should have caught the warnings.
I should have.
But I was completely clueless until the minute the restaurant exploded in a wave of eldritch flame and burning glass.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Deacon Chalk knows the truth about things that go bump in the night. Chalk looks like a stereotypical biker. Bald head. Tats. Tall, broad-shouldered and muscular. But Chalk is anything but stereotypical. Several years ago, he almost died along with his family. Vampires took them out. But Chalk was saved by an angelic blood transfusion. Yeah, angel’s blood.
Now Chalk and the small circle of friends that surround him are monster hunters.
But not tonight.
Chalk, his girlfriend Tiff, and their friends are having a quiet dinner. Then all hell explodes. Literally. Members of a coven known as the Wrath of Baphomet attack. They’re after the “Blood of the Trinity”.
Chalk and his team are no longer the monster hunters… tonight the monsters hunt them.
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BLOOD AND MAGICK is the third book in James R. Tuck’s Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter series. I’ve read and enjoyed all three.
I love crime, noir and detective/anti-hero stories. Add the right mix of humor and violence and I’m on board. The tales don’t normally feature werewolves, vampires, witches or demons. But Tuck’s Deacon Chalk yarns do, and they work.
Chalk is the type of anti-hero I like. Smart (but not brainy), tough and with enough attitude to get him in tight jams as he tries to (mostly) do the right thing. While I’m not ready for a constant diet of this genre, when I do want another taste, I know James R. Tuck is open for business with other tales.
Rating:
