Category: Z-View

RIGHTEOUS TRASH by Nick Kolakowski / Z-View

Posted on by

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.

+++

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) directed by Jeremy Saulnier, starring Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Skarsgård and Riley Keough / Z-View

Posted on by

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.

“Cold Meat” (2024) / Z-View

Posted on by

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) / Z-View

Posted on by

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.

“Dobermann” (1997) / Z-View

Posted on by

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.

“A Working Man” (2025) starring Jason Statham / Z-View

Posted on by

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.

“Year 10” (2024) / Z-View

Posted on by

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 / Z-View

Posted on by

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.

+++

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:

“Unit 234” (2024) starring Don Johnson, Isabelle Furhman and Jack Huston / Z-View

Posted on by

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.

“Mayor of Kingstown”: Season 4 (2025) starring Jeremy Renner and Edie Falco / Z-View

Posted on by

Mayor of Kingstown: Season 4 (2025)

Created by: Taylor Sheridan, Hugh Dillon

Directors:

  • Christoph Schrewe (Eps. 1-2; 5-6; 9-10)
  • Leslie Hope (Eps. 3-4)
  • Guy Ferland (Eps. 7-8)

Teleplay:

  • Dave Erickson (Eps. 1; 10)
  • Aalia Brown (Ep. 2)
  • Christian Donovan (Ep. 3)
  • James Arcega Tinsley (Ep. 4)
  • Wendy Riss (Eps. 5; 8)
  • Molly Forman (Ep. 6)
  • Christian Donovan & Jeremiah Wessling (Ep. 7)
  • Hugh Dillon (Ep. 9)

Stars: Jeremy Renner, Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa, Taylor Handley, Derek Webster, Hamish Allan-Headley, Nishi Munshi, Necar Zadegan, Nichole Galicia, Michael Beach, Lane Garrison, Richard Brake, D Smoke,Phil Rice, Denny Love, Laura Benanti, Lennie James and Edie Falco.

Tagline: You can’t bury the past.

The Plot…

After the events last season Kyle is headed for prison.  Mike is working every angle to get Kyle released. Evelyn is willing to cut Kyle a deal if he gives up Ian.  This puts Ian on edge and eager to do whatever it takes to get clear… including murder.

Mike meets with the new warden, Nina Hobbs.  She’s a hardcase and won’t give Mike (or Kyle) any consideration.  But she’s got secrets that could be exploited.

Meanwhile Bunny is offered a chance to work with a Detroit gangster named Frank Moses.  Moses is a legend. Bunny’s looking for a partner.  Moses is looking to expand his empire.

With Kyle in prison, Merle Callahan, the leader of the Arian Nation has a new way to get to Mike.  By hurting Kyle.

The tension mounts as the season progresses.  Every encounter is dangerous.  Several won’t survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mayor of Kingstown continues to be one of the best (if not the best) written, directed, an acted television series.  It has production values that rival those of feature films.

Jeremy Renner is perfect as the no-nonsense and fearless Mike McClusky.  Other standouts in the supporting cast include Edie Falco, Lennie James, Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa and Hamish Allan-Headley.  Actually, I should probably list every supporting actor/actress because they are all perfectly cast.

The surprises, twists and ever building tension make each episode must-see tv.

Mayor of Kingstown has been renewed for a shortened (8 episode) final season.  I cannot wait.

Mayor of Kingstown: Season 4 (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Good Time” (2017) directed by Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, starring Robert Pattison, Benny Safdie and Jennifer Jason Leigh / Z-View

Posted on by

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.

“Wake Up Dead Man”: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) written & directed by Rian Johnson, starring Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis and Jeremy Renner / Z- View

Posted on by

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.

“One Battle After Another” (2025) written & directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti / Z-View

Posted on by

One Battle After Another (2025)

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson; based on VINELAND by Thomas Pynchon

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, Wood Harris, Starletta DuPois and Kevin Tighe.

Tagline: Some search for battle, others are born into it…

The Plot…

Bob and his sixteen year old daughter, Willa live off the grid in California.  Bob’s a stoner and over-protective of Willa.

But for good reason.

Seventeen years ago, Bob’s real name was Pat.  Pat was a member of a revolutionary group that robbed banks, broke immigrants out of detention centers and bombed military instilations.  Willa’s mother was also a member of the militant group.  She abandoned Pat and Willa when she fled to Mexico to avoid prison.

Bob and Willa’s peaceful existence is about to be shattered.  Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, for secret personal reasons, wants Willa dead.

Lockjaw has the might of the US military at his disposal… and he’s closing in.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

One Battle After Another made more critics’ annual “best of” lists in 2025 than any other film, including the most 1st-place votes.

One Battle After Another features Chase Infiniti’s film debut.  She is excellent.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio Del Toro and Teyana Taylor are perfectly cast.  Sean Penn, who is always excellent, deserves an Academy Award for his performance as Col. Lockjaw.

One Battle After Another is an excellent film.  It features over-the-top characters and outlandish situations.  It’s full of action with the right amount of humor.  I wouldn’t argue with anyone calling it their #1 film of the year (although I’d go with Sinners).  The acting, directing and writing is excellent.  However, I don’t feel that One Battle After Another is a film I’ll often revisit.  Your mileage as always may vary.

One Battle After Another (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

THE BURGLAR IN THE RYE: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery by Lawrence Block

Posted on by

THE BURGLAR IN THE RYE: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery by Lawrence Block

First sentences…

The lobby was a bit worse for the wear.  The large oriental carpet had seen better days, lots of them.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Bernie Rhodenbarr is a witty, mild-mannered book lover.  Bernie can usually be found running his used bookstore.  Where Bernie is never sledom found is at his second profession.  Bernie’s a thief.

Alice Cottrell, the former teenage lover of the world-famous, reclusive author Gulliver “Gully” Fairborn visits Bernie in his bookstore.  Gully is the author of NOBODY’S BABY, the novel that influenced a generation.  Even Bernie felt the book had a positive impact on his life, changing the way he looked at the world.  Instead of a sequel or following up NOBODY’S BABY, Gully became a traveling recluse.  He wanted no publicity and his life kept private.

Anthea Landau. Gully’s former agent, kept years of Gully’s private letters.  She plans to auction them off in a few days keeping the money for herself.  Gully wants the letters destroyed.  Anthea wants to pay Bernie to steal them before the auction.

Bernie decides t0 take possession of the letters.  Landau lives at The Padington, a once famous, but no rundown hotel.  Bernie takes a room.  Getting into Landau’s apartment late at night is a breeze.  Bernie quietly enters her bedroom and after a brief search finds the letters.  As he’s exciting, Bernie sees a huge knife sticking out of Landau’s chest.

She wasn’t sleeping.  She was dead. Recently murdered.

And now the cops are about to enter the room.

If Bernie can’t find a way out, and discover who killed Landau, he’ll  take the fall.

+++

THE BURGLAR IN THE RYE is the ninth Bernie Rhodenbarr novel.  Each story features a murder mystery full of witty dialogue, a healthy does of humor, interesting characters, multiple suspects and a conclusion where Bernie brings everyone together to explain the intricacies of the tale and expose the murderer.

Bernie Rhodenbarr tales are always fun.

Rating:

“The Great Flood” (2025) / Z-View

Posted on by

The Great Flood (2025)

Director: Kim Byung-woo

Screenplay: Kim Byung-woo, Han Ji-su

Stars: Kim Da-mi, Park Hae-soo

Tagline: The Last Day on Earth, The One Choice for Survival.

The Plot…

An-na wakes up to find her apartment is flooding.  But… it is not just her apartment.  Water is everywhere.

And rising.

An-na gets her six year old son and heads to higher floors.  The water rises almost as fast as the people seeking higher ground.

As she struggles against the crowd to move up with her son, An-na recieves a call.  An asteroid made impact at the South Pole which triggered a world-wide flood.  Hee-jo, a government agent is in route to rescue An-na and her son.  Because An-na is a leading expert in AI, she (and her son) are going to be saved.

The government has known for months about the impending doomsday event.  Preparations have been made to save people essential for the survival of humanity.  An-na and her son will be saved… if they can just last until help arrives.

The water is rising…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I liked the initial idea of a mother and her young son trying to stay alive during a unprecedented flood.  But as the movie went on it morphed from a disaster film into a sci-fi movie.  Unfortunately, the more it ventured into scifi/AI, the less interesting it became.  As always, your mileage may vary.

The Great Flood (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.