Review – The Wave

Story-wise, this is a fairly standard disaster movie. But I admit I’ve never seen this particular set up before. A geological event dumps a huge amount of water into a Norwegian fjord, bringing destruction to everything in the wave’s path. Sadly, that includes the resort town where the protagonist’s family lives and works. As usual with movies like this, a series of cliff-hanging improbabilities ensues. Mildly amusing

Review – Nightworld

At least this one’s actually set in Eastern Europe rather than merely being shot there. That said, this could be set anyplace where there might conceivably be an old apartment building with a gate to hell concealed in its basement. Robert Englund supplies a familiar face for the mysterious expert summoned by the newly-hired security guard when strange things start happening. The premise isn’t terrible, but the actual story is a slow-moving, muddled mess. See if desperate

Review – The Emoji Movie

I have no explanation for why I watched this. Wish I’d skipped it

Review – Ghost House

Thailand bears the burden of scapegoat in this typical cautionary tale for American tourists who dare to stray into the woods. Triteness and racism aside, I’ve seen worse spins on the general plot. See if desperate

Review – The Ritual

Here’s proof that a horror movie can actually have too much atmosphere. This is a pretty movie to look at. Some of the visual eeriness works well, at least until the end when we finally get a good long look at the somewhat ridiculous monster. Sadly, the production falls victim to the same shortcoming that seems to bedevil a lot of similar genre pieces of late: I don’t give a rat’s ass about any of the characters. Even worse, at least two of the guys we’re evidently supposed to care about (including the lead) are so awful that I found myself hoping they’d die. Maybe someday the cinematographer will get the chance to work on a better picture. See if desperate