“Werewolves” (2024) starring Frank Grillo / Z-View

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Werewolves (2024)

Director:  Steven C. Miller

Screenplay: Matthew Kennedy

Stars: Frank Grillo, Katrina Law, Ilfenesh Hadera, Sam Daly, Ian Whyte, Dane DiLiegro and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A year ago, during a supermoon, anyone exposed to moonlight changed into a werewolf.  Millions were killed.  Now, as another supermoon approaches, people are preparing for the worst.

Wes Marshall, ex-military, fortified his sister-in-law Lucy’s house. Lucy lives there with her young daughter Emma.  Wes then heads across town to join a team of scientists who have prepared an antidote they call Moonscreen.  If it works, it will stop the werewolf supermoon transformation.

When the experiment goes sideways, Wes will be forced to fight his way back across town to save Lucy and Emma.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I knew going in this would be a shlocky drive-in movie.  Still, I expected it to be better.

Werewolves (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Task” Season One (2025) starring Mark Ruffalo / Z-View

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“Task: Season 1” (2017)

Created by: Brad Ingelsby

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1-3; 7) Brad Ingelsby
  • (ep. 4-6) Brad Ingelsby; story by  Brad Ingelsby & Dave Obzud

Directed by:

  • Jeremiah Zagar (eps. 1-2; 5; 7)
  • Salli Richardson Whitfield (eps. 3-4; 6)

Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Emilia Jones, Fabien Frankel, Thuso Mbedu, Silvia Dionicio, Ben Lewis Doherty, Tom Pelphrey, Alison Oliver, Sam Keeley, Martha Plimpton, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Raúl Castillo and Jamie McShane.

Tagline: Every force has its equal.

The Plot…

Tom Brandis hasn’t fully recovered from his wife’s murder at the hands of their adopted son. When a series of violent drug house robberies continue, Tom is called back to duty. Tom will lead a cross-agency task force made up of county Detective Anthony Grasso, State Trooper Lizzie Stover and city detective Aleah Clinton.  What Brandis doesn’t know is there is a traitor among them.

The drug houses taken down are run by the Dark Hearts biker gang.  The Dark Hearts are notorious for their brutality. Perry Dorazo, the Dark Hearts Chapter President is getting heat because of the robberies.  Dorazo wants the thieves caught so he can make an example of them.

Unknown to either Brandis’ task force or the Dark Hearts, the robberies are the work of Robbie Prendergrast and his friend Cliff Broward. Robbie’s wife left him a year ago. Before he started the robberies.  Robbie needs the cash to support his two young children as well as his dead brother’s daughter. Robbie and Cliff aren’t criminal masterminds.  They’ve been lucky with inside information.

Then their luck runs out.

During a drug house robbery, an unexpected biker shows up.  A gunfight ensues.  Robbie and Cliff survive.  A friend they brought along to assist is killed.  So are three Dark Hearts.  Robbie and Cliff are about to leave with the cash when the young son of one of the murdered bikers walks in.  Refusing to kill a child, they take the kid, the drugs and the cash.

The murders and kidnapping are all over the news.  The heat is on Brandis’ task force to resolve the case.  The Dark Hearts have made finding Robbie and Cliff top priority.  Robbie and Cliff know their time is running out.  They need to fence the drugs.  They’ll then use the cash to get far away with the kids.

It’s now a race.  Will Robbie and Cliff escape?  If they Dark Hearts get to them first, they will suffer a slow tortuous death.  If the task force captures them, it’ll be prison and the Dark Hearts will still get to them.

The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Task is well done.  It’s got interesting subplots and twists that will keep the viewer on edge.

Mark Ruffalo has never been better.  Jamie McShane is always excellent.

I look forward to season 2.

“Task: Season 1” (2025) earns 4 of 5 stars.

Sly Stallone as Freddy Hefflin from “Cop Land” by Rich Hennemann!

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Rich Hennemann is an amazing freelance artist. A few years ago I picked up his sketchbook and a sketch and I was hooked. Since then I’ve gotten several sketches from Rich.

Heading in to October each year, Rich takes sketch suggestions.  He then picks one a day to draw.  The person who suggested the piece has first dibs. I sugested Sly Stallone from Cop Land and it was picked for the 20th.  Of course I purchased the piece. I couldn’t be more pleased.  There will be more art from Rich in my future.  If you’re a sketch collector, you owe it to yourself to get a piece as well.

“The Killing” Alt Poster by Rich Davies!

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When folks talk about the great films of Stanley Kubrick, one that doesn’t get mentioned enough is The Killing.  It’s not only one of my favorite Kubrick movies, it’s one of my all-time favorites.

The Killing is also a favorite of Rich Davies.   Davies created the very cool alt poster above.  It also comes in a color variant, but I prefer the mono one myself.  You can check out more of Davies’ art here.

“Loudermilk: Season 1” (2017) directed by Peter Farrelly; starring Ron Livingston / Z-View

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“Loudermilk: Season 1” (2017)

Created by: Peter Farrelly & Bobby Mort

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1-2; 7; 10) Bobby Mort & Peter Farrelly
  • (ep. 3) Danny Smith
  • (ep. 4) Dave Connaughton & John Trozak
  • (eps. 5-6) Dave Connaughton, John Trozak & Peter Farrelly
  • (ep. 8) Shira Hoffman & Peter Farrelly
  • (ep. 9) Ricky Blitt

Directed by:

  • Peter Farrelly (eps. 1-10)

Stars: Ron Livingston, Will Sasso, Anja Savcic, Brian Regan, Jackie Flynn, Timothy Webber,
Ricky Blitt, Tyler Layton-Olson, Viv Leacock, Sam Bob, Laura Mennell, Eric Keenleyside and Danny Wattley.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Sam Loudermilk was once a popular music critic.  Now Sam is a recovering alcoholic and substance-abuse group leader.  Sam has a good heart, but an acid tongue.  He doesn’t hesitate to give his opinions on the absurd things/people he comes in contact with.  Sam’s best friends are his roomate, Ben (also a recovering alcoholic) and the regulars that attend his group sessions.

In season one Sam deals with…

  • the possibility that he’ll lose his group meeting space
  • dealing with a young substance abuser with a rich mother
  • an unexpected roommate
  • a hot neighbor
  • a group member’s attempts to connect with his kids
  • a group member’s chance to cash in on his band’s past popularity, but it means “selling out”
  • a new group member there under false pretenses
  • the return of Loudermilk’s own father who loves the ladies (and even more the women who aren’t)
  • the discovery of his roomate’s two darkest secret
  • his ex-wife getting married to someone else despite Sam’s feelings for her

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I just discovered Loudermilk this year.  I don’t know how it flew under the radar.  The series is funny and has heart.  The supporting cast is a hoot.  If you enjoy a fun 30 minute sitcom, give Loudermilk a shot.

“Loudermilk: Season 1” (2017) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Despair” by Yvan Quinet!

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In First Blood, Sylvester Stallone did something you seldom see action stars do.  He showed that John Rambo wasn’t just a strong, fearless fighting machine.  Sly gave Rambo heart.  Feelings.  And provided audiences with an emotional scene many stars wouldn’t want to do.  It was a showcase for Stallone’s bravery and acting range.

Yvan Quinet has beautifully captured the moment in a piece he calls “Despair”.  It is available as a limited edition fine art Giclee print in two sizes.

You can see more of Yvan Quinet’s art at his website and/or his Instagram page.

“Play Dirty” written/directed by Shane Black; starring Mark Wahlberg and Lakeith Standfield / Z-View

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Play Dirty (2025)

Director:  Shane Black

Screenplay: Shane Black, Charles Mondry, Anthony Bagarozzi; based on the PARKER novels by Richard Stark

Stars: Mark Wahlberg, LaKeith Stanfield, Rosa Salazar, Keegan-Michael Key, Chukwudi Iwuji, Gretchen Mol, Tony Shalhoub, Hemky Madera, Alejandro Edda, Claire Lovering and Thomas Jane.

Tagline: Even robbers get robbed.

The Plot…

Parker is a professional thief.  He was part of a crew that robbed a horse track count room.  The heist went sideways, but they got away with the cash.  At the hideout as Parker and the team are getting ready to divide the loot, Zen, the getaway driver betrays them.  She shoots them all and makes off with the dough.

Parker, left for dead, survives.  Once he recovers he makes it his mission in life to track down Zen, get the money back and take her life.  It won’t be easy.  Especially when Parker decides to also rob a crime syndicate known as the Outfit.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The film was originally supposed to reteam Robert Downey, Jr. and writer/director Shane Black.  They had worked together before on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.  When Downey dropped out, Mark Wahlberg was chosen to replace him.

Play Dirty is the fifth movie adaptation of Richard Stark’s Parker character.  The other films are: Point Blank (1967) starring Lee Marvin; The Outfit (1973) starring Robert Duvall; Payback (1999) starring Mel Gibson; Parker (2013) starring Jason Statham and now Play Dirty starring Mark Wahlberg.

Play Dirty is okay, but your time would be better served watching one of the other Parker adaptations.

Play Dirty (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Angel Heart” (1987) written & directed by Alan Parker; starring Mickey Rourke, Robert DeNiro & Lisa Bonet / Z-View

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Angel Heart (1987)

Director:  Alan Parker

Screenplay: Alan Parker; based on FALLING ANGEL by William Hjortsberg

Stars: Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet, Charlotte Rampling, Dann Florek, Kathleen Wilhoite and Pruitt Taylor Vince.

Tagline: Harry Angel has been hired to search for the truth… Pray he doesn’t find it.

The Plot…

1955.  Louis Cypher wants money owed to him.  Before the War, Cypher entered into a contract with a singer who went by the stage name Johnny Favorite.  Favorite became a very popular crooner… then World War II hit and Favorite’s star waned.  But for a time, Johnny Favorite was the flavor of the day.  Favorite never paid Cypher his due.  And you don’t run out on Louis Cypher.

So Cypher hires New York Private Eye Harry Angel.  He’s to track down Johnny Favorite and report back to Cypher.  What sounds like an easy assignment becomes anything but.  Angel will find the trail leads to New Orleans and black magic, voodoo and more than one murder.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Unless you were around at the time of the film’s release it’s hard to imagine the controversy the casting of Lisa Bonet caused.  At that time she was one of the stars of The Cosby Show.  The show was a network juggernaut.  Bill Cosby (despite what came out about him later) always promoted comedy for the entire family. Bonet’s role in Angel Heart, was very sexual with a prolonged nude sex scene. Plus it was her first feature film role.  She more than held her own.

Angel Heart is an under-rated horror film.

Angel Heart (1987) rates 4 of 5 stars.

LAST HUNT: BOOK THREE IN THE HUNTER TRILOGY by James Byron Huggins!

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HUNTER by James Byron Huggins is one of my all-time favorite novels.  The sequel, HUNTER’S MOON was just as great.  Now the third tale in the trilogy is about to be released.  It’s titled LAST HUNT.  Here’s the lowdown…

International bestselling author James Byron Huggins delivers LAST HUNT, the third and final book in the Hunter Saga.

Nathaniel Hunter has faced nightmares most men can’t imagine. In Alaska’s frozen wilderness he confronted a primordial killer. On England’s haunted moors he fought a beast born of legend. Each time he walked away scarred but unbroken. Now the battle comes to his own doorstep.

Scipio Dante, the brilliant, ruthless mind behind the experiments that created those monsters, has perfected a serum that transforms men into savage, unstoppable predators. Backed by limitless wealth and a private army, he will stop at nothing to rid the world of its greatest threat: the hunter who has foiled him twice before.

From his remote mountain cabin, Hunter must prepare for the ultimate confrontation. The wilderness he calls home bristles with danger; the predators he respects may soon turn against him. To survive, he’ll need every weapon at his disposal, every ally he can trust, and every ounce of his primal fury.

The world’s last true hunter is about to face his final, most terrifying prey.

LAST HUNT drops November 3rd.  Get your order in now.  I did.

LAST HUNT Paperback

LAST HUNT Hardback

LAST HUNT Kindle

“The Elixir” (2025) / Z-View

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The Elixir (2025)

Director:  Kimo Stamboel

Screenplay: Kimo Stamboel, Agasyah Karim, Khalid Kashogi

Stars: Mikha Tambayong, Eva Celia, Donny Damara, Marthino Lio

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

An extended family has come together to join others in a remote Indonesian village.  The family has come to take part in a celebration.  Prior to the party, family arguments ensue.  The patriarch and head of the family business has had company scientists working on an anti-aging potion.  He hopes that this new serum will save his company.  Perhaps if the business thrives again, the family will get along better.

When he takes the potion, it turns him into a zombie.

Let the madness begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The movie begins with a bang.  Then it quickly backs up five hours to show us what caused the excitement.  Instead of an action-packed zombie flick that takes off, we get a family drama.  I had zero interest in any of the characters.  So when the zombie action starts up again after 30 minutes or so, I didn’t care who lived or died.

At 42 minutes I tapped out.  Your mileage, as always, may vary.

The Elixir (2025) rates 1 of 5 stars.