“London Calling” (2025) directed by Allan Unger, starring Josh Duhamel, Jeremy Ray Taylor with Rick Hoffman and Aidan Gillen / Z-View

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London Calling (2025)

Director: Allan Ungar

Screenplay: Levin Menekse, Quinn Wolfe, Allan Ungar

Stars: Josh Duhamel, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Rick Hoffman, Aidan Gillen, Neil Sandilands, Brandon Auret, Milton Schorr, Dumani Siphosethu Mtya, Karl Thaning  and Arnold Vosloo.

Tagline: Answer the call

The Plot…

After Tommy Ward accidentally killed a London cartel lord’s son, Tommy escaped to the United States.  Now Tommy wants to go back to London since that is where his son lives.  Harry, Tommy’s current employer offers Tommy a deal.  If Tommy will teach Julian (Harry’s son) to become a man, Harry will get Tommy safe passage back to London.  All Tommy has to do is take Julian on a hit.

Taking Julian along is a dangerous proposition.  It becomes worse when Tommy becomes a target himself.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Josh Duhamel and Jeremy Ray Taylor had good on-screen chemistry.  There were some funny moments, but the film became to over-the-top for me.  Your mileage, as always could vary.

London Calling (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.

RIGHTEOUS TRASH by Nick Kolakowski / Z-View

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.