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
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
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.
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
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.
Unit 234 (2024)
Director: Andy Tennant
Screenplay: Derek Steiner
Stars: Don Johnson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jack Huston, James DuMont, Manny Galan, Jason Altman, Lia Lando and Christopher James Baker.
Tagline: Some doors should never be opened.
The Plot…
Laurie Saltair is working the overnight shift at her remote storage facility. A man named Jules comes in wanting to get into Unit 234. But it’s not the man who rents the unit. After a tense exchange of words, the man leaves. Laurie decides to check to see what’s in container 234.
She’s shocked to discover a man on a gurney. The man has sutures from a recent surgery. He says his name is Clayton and he’s been kidnapped. They have already taken one of his kidneys and plan to steal more of his organs!
Suddenly the electricity and phone lines to the facility are cut. Laurie frees Clayton from the gurney. As they look for refuge, Jules and two thugs head for Unit 234.
It’s going to be a long night.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Unit 234 is a low-budget thriller that is better than expected. Don Johnson and Isabelle Fuhrman’s acting raises the bar as does the twist ending that you won’t see coming.
Unit 234 (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Good Time (2017)
Director: Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie
Screenplay: Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
Stars: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Barkhad Abdi and Laurence Blum.
Tagline: Are you ready for a Good Time?
The Plot…
Connie is a small time criminal who takes care of Nick, his mentally impaired and often violent younger brother. Tired of struggling, Connie and Nick rob a bank. During the getaway, a dye pack explodes ruining the cash and causing them to wreck the getaway car. Now on foot, they are chased by the police. Connie escapes. Nick is caught.
Knowing that Nick won’t survive the night in lockup, Connie moves through New York City’s underworld, in an effort to raise enough cash to bail Nick out before his temper gets him killed.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Much of the movie was improvised. Only Robert Pattinson and Benny Safdie were given scripts. They other actors were given background and information about their characters. The scenes were then improvised. The mall chase scene was done during regular hours. The background characters were not actors and their reactions were real.
Benny Safdie is perfect as Nick. He steals every scene.
Robert Pattison’s performance in Good Time is what brought him to Matt Reeves attention and made Reeves want him for The Batman.
Eric Roberts originally played the bail bondsman. The scene was shot in Eric Paykert’s office. Paykert is an actual bail bondsman. The Safdies decided to reshoot the scene using Paykert as the bondsman. Paykert’s real wife played his on-screen wife as well.
Josh Safdie said about the feel of the film: “We wanted to make a piece of entertainment that has a pulpy feel to it. The movie takes place in only one night. It’s a film like a dream, like a nightmare.” Mission accomplished.
Good Time (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space is so bad it’s good to watch for unintentional laughs. I’ll bet Ed Wood would have loved to have had a poster as nice as this one by Sara Deck!
The poster and teaser trailer for Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is here!
Deal me in.
Some things are meant to stay buried.
#LeeCroninsTheMummy only in theaters April 17, 2026.
Hot off the record-setting resurrection of EVIL DEAD RISE, writer/director Lee Cronin turns to one of the most iconic horror stories of all time with an audacious and twisted retelling: LEE CRONIN’S THE MUMMY.
The young daughter of a journalist disappears into the desert without a trace — eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare.
The film stars Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace, with Veronica Falcón. The film is written and directed by Cronin, and produced by James Wan, Jason Blum and John Keville. The executive producers are Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Macdara Kelleher and Lee Cronin.
Cronin is supported behind the camera by a team of sterling film artisans, including director of photography Dave Garbett, production designer Nick Bassett, editor Bryan Shaw, costume designer Joanna Eatwell, music by Stephen McKeon and casting by Terri Taylor and Sarah Domeier Lindo.
New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster and Blumhouse Present, A Wicked/Good Production, A Lee Cronin Film: LEE CRONIN’S THE MUMMY. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, only in theaters and IMAX in North America on April 17, 2026, and internationally beginning 15 April 2026.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
Director: Rian Johnson
Screenplay: Rian Johnson
Stars: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church, James Faulkner, Noah Segan, Kit Burden and Jeffrey Wright.
Tagline: He works in mysterious ways.
The Plot…
Benoit Blanc is asked to help solve a murder that occurred at Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, a rural parish in upstate New York. Jefferson Wicks, the controversial and charismatic Monsigner was stabbed in the back with a devil’s head knife. Wicks was murdered in the middle of his sermon. He briefly stepped into a closet where he was killed. Wicks had been in full view of the assembly. No one else was in the closet and there were no other entrances or secret passageways.
Jud Duplenticy, the new assistant Priest, is the main suspect. Jud claims his innocence and reluctantly works with Benoit to figure out who pulled off an impossible murder.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Benoit Blanc is this generation’s Columbo. And that’s a wonderful thing.
Wake Up Dead Man is my favorite of the three Knives Out Mysteries.
Josh Brolin and Glenn Close shine.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.
