Him Review

 

Young college football star Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) gets the chance to train with his idol, legendary quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), for a chance to go pro… And then things get crazy, mind bending, and possibly satanic. I would describe this movie as Rosemary’s Baby, but if it aired on ESPN.

One of the big standoutsof this film right off the bat is the visuals. Very artsy, strong use of lighting and color, beautiful landscapes that feel right out of Middle-earth, and a lot of unique, and striking imagery that is edited smoothly together. I can see maybe some people being too overstimulated, if that’s an issue for them, but overall it’s very striking and creative.

Another big stand out was Marlon Waynes, who really knocked his performance out the park… or should I say throw? He is playing quarterback after all lol. But the way he flips between being a down-to-earth mentor and this emotionally unstable wildman, it can change on a dime. But even then, without spoiling anything, there's a scene where Cameron and Isaiah are chilling in a sweet room, and Wayne gives a very earnest, heartfelt, and sympathetic story that quite impressed me, definitely one of my favorite performances of the year.

Up-and-coming Tyriq Withers did a solid job. His character is going through a lot, trying to live his dream and support his family while dealing with some daddy issues; you feel for… Him lol, but he really sells the ambition and uncertainty of the character well.

Julia Fox plays Isaiah's wife, and I found her character fun in an over-the-top kind of way. She’s not in the movie a whole lot, and I wishher character could have used some more development, but I’m a fan of the actress, so me enjoying her performance isn’t that hard to accomplish.

I was surprised by Jim Jefferies, who plays Isaiah's doctor, because I usually see him in more comedic roles, and while he does get to shine with some funny lines, his character is more creepy and kind of tragic, so points to the film for so many actors playing against type.

So if you’ve seen the trailer, you know some spooky stuff is going on… And unfortunately, that’s where my criticisms start to come in. Now Him has a very standard horror movie plot: a character gets the thing they’ve always wanted, but there’s something secret and sinister happening underneath. We’ve seen it in things from The Stepford Wives to Get Out, and to be most effective, you’ve got to have good pacing. You have to feel like you, as an audience member, are in the main character’s head, and you want to know what’s going on and if the character can make it out of this craziness, and unfortunately Hom spends a lot of time on setup. Unsettling and creepy imagery, strange hallucinations, sinister music, and the filmmakers all do a great job technically, but the scenarios just start to feel a little too random after another, and you start to question why Cameron isn’t questioning things more. I will say there is an in-story reason you can sort of see why Cameron is going along with everything, but even up to a certain point you kind of want to be like, “Dude, I know you want this, but come on, you have to see all this weird stuff going on.”

I did like the duality between Cameron and Isaiah in their drive to be the best and what that can do to a mindset, sort of exploring the thin line between passion and craziness. It’s an interesting idea to explore, especially in the world of professional football, but I feel like we could’ve gone deeper into it and made it feel more unique, because as of now it felt a little too surface level for my taste.

So this movie has been getting very mixed to negative reviews, and when I first saw it, I could kind of see what some people were saying, but for the first 2/2 I was like, “You know, this isn’t like Mine Belong or anything; the story could’ve been progressing quicker, but if you’re into trippy psychedelic horror from the 1970s, this could be fun…” And then the third act happened.

Remember what I said earlier about pacing? Well, it feels like the filmmakers had all these ideas and were taking their time with it and then looked at their watch and realized… Oh, we only have 10 minutes left; we have to wrap this up, and this movie proceeds to lose its mind. First of all, the twist is something you kind of expected and could’ve been more original. Not to mention this just has all these different ideas and visuals and metaphors, and just where the filmmakers want to take the story just feels like way too much at this point in the story and honestly gets kind of silly with some of the costumes. I mean, I need some Tylenol from getting hit over the head with all those metaphors they were trying to go for.

That all being said, I don’t dislike this movie… I can’t really defend it from the criticisms, and I agree with them to a certain point, but between the performances and visuals, there are things to enjoy about this film, and I could definitely see it becoming a cult film with trippy or artsy horror people. But I would say the best place to enjoy this movie is on a lazy day on the TV, just something different to pass the time. I give it a high two stars, you know ⭐️⭐️… I would’ve given this movie higher stars if it turned out Marlon Waynes was secretly Him from The Powerpuff Girls, talk about an insane crossover.

The Long Walk Review

 

In an alternate dystopian America, a group of boys enter a contest to win millions of dollars by walking; whoever walks the longest wins, but if you’re out… You’re dead.

Right off the bat I have to say this is a very bleak movie, very dark and heavy in parts… but there’s also a lot of hope and fun between the characters, and I think that’s the strongest aspect of the film, the performances of the actors and their characters in general… I mean, when the whole movie is people walking, you would hope you like the characters, lol, but even so, I think the writing and performances in this film are very top-notch.

Cooper Hoffman played a very interesting and complex character. Given the situation he’s in, I liked how his performance was both nuanced and grounded.

Everyone is saying it, and I have to agree: David Jonsson is the heart of this film and gives a really strong performance. His and Hoffman’s characters’ dynamic is very reminiscent of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman’s characters in The Shawshank Redemption, so for all you Stephen King or Dad Film fans out there, this will definitely be up your alley.

Mark Hamill, Roman Griffith, Davis, and Judy Greer all have small runtimes in the film but leave very strong marks with their acting.

Nice to see Charlie Plummer pop up in this; I liked the twisting turns and emotional ride you went on with his character.

I have never heard of Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Ben Wang, or Jordan Gonzalez for this movie, but I was really surprised and taken in by their performances, and I hope to see them in future films because they’re really talented and deserve success.

Stephen King has said that The Long Walk is a metaphor for the Vietnam War, and you can definitely tell because the filmmakers use a lot of similar shots and needle drops to remind you of famous Vietnam films to connect the dots in your head, which was a nice touch.

There were certain shots of the road and farmers that were very reminiscent of images you’d see from the Depression in the early 30s and the Dust Bowl, and I thought those shots were really creative and well done and helped create a feel for this world.

Stunning cinematography, especially at night; those can be really hard to get, but I thought this movie had some really well-done night shots and lighting.

There were definitely some good twists in the story, and it went in some directions that were a nice surprise.

Warning though: this is a brutal flick, like Saving Private Ryan levels… You see head shots, you see broken bones, you see bloody feet—I am not joking, you literally see a man walking and shitting at the same time. Like, this is literally the “shittiest” CGI I’ve ever seen lol. I guess you can say this movie is cutting edge because I’ve never seen CGI be used for realistic shitting before… I guess we can put this up there with Toy Story, Avatar, and Michael Douglas at the beginning of Ant-Man as pioneers of movie technology lol.

They do so much walking in this movie that I was sitting on a nice leather recliner seat, had a nice sweatshirt on, was comfy… Even I was getting sore watching him walk so much lol.

So this movie kept me guessing: who’s going to die next, who you like and who you don’t, character motivation, and what kind of ending the film is going to have. I’m going through twists and turns like a go-kart track, and then we get to the very end… Now I’m not going to spoil anything, but let me just say for me personally… It was good up until that point, and then it felt like they weren’t sure how to end it and then went for a very artsy or on-guard metaphor-type ending that felt different from the rest of the film. Like, it’s not bad, but it’s like when you’re watching the gymnastics at the Olympics and they don’t quite stick the landing; it was like that.

So while I was not the biggest fan of the ending, there’s still plenty to enjoy about this film. The performances, the dialogue, the landscapes, the filmmaking—you can really tell the filmmakers were cooking with gas on this one. I give the walk four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I wonder how many people will want a foot massage after this movie lol.

Caught Stealing Review

 

A baseball player turned bartender gets pulled up into New York's underground crime ring after house-sitting for his neighbor.

The movie takes place in 1998, which is very fitting because this film feels like a 90s Tarantino inspired by the 90s crime dramas with comedic elements and very exaggerated character types.

Austin Butler is very likable and charismatic as Hank; he has his down-to-earth feel that makes it easy to root for him.

Zoe Kravitz is also solid; her character is very sassy and aloof, and she and Butler have a fun dynamic together, although I wish she had a bigger part in the movie.

Vincent D’Onofrio and Liev Schreiber definitely stood out as rabbi brothers/mob bosses; they were always enjoyable whenever they were on screen.

Regina King and Matt Smith were both terrific and really disappeared behind their characters.

The film has some interesting twists and turns, nothing you haven’t seen before, but well done and intriguing enough that you aren’t sure how Hank is going to get out of this or if he even can. There are a couple moments where suspension of disbelief was pushed to the edge, but never too egregiously.

Darren Aronofsky did a solid job directing. Caught Stealing felt different than most of his other films, more uplifting and funny. It was so nice to see him branching out and trying new styles.

There were some fun cameos throughout the film from different actors; I won’t spoil them, but some familiar faces pop up, which was nice to see.

I give the film three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️. It’s nothing I’d say to rush out and see or mind-blowing, but it is solid, and if you’re looking for a fun crime film to watch, it will get the job done.

Honey Don’t Review

 

A small-town private investigator investigates a scandal at a small-town church that could be connected to the fatal car crash of her client.

A big plus right off the bat, this movie has a great cast:

Margaret Qualley brings a lot of charisma to her role, and the character of “Honey” is interesting and likable enough that she’s a good character to ride along with through this sensational & seedy small-town scandal.

Chris Evans is good as a double-life-leading pastor; he brings a lot of humor and charm to an otherwise sleazy guy. You can tell Evans is having a ball in the part.

Aubrey Plaza is always fun, and he definitely has some enjoyable “oddball performance” moments in this, so that was fun for me. Plus, she and Margaret Qualey have really good chemistry together.

Charlie Day was probably my favorite thing about the movie; he takes what could be a very generic character and brings a lot of humor and likability to the part, plus you get some of the funniest lines in the movie.

Also, nice to see actress Kristen Connolly pop up in this. She’s been in some things I like (Cabin in the Woods & House of Cards), and she has some good scenes with Margaret Qualley.

There were also some surprising performances by what must’ve been local actors giving fun performances, so that was pretty cool.

So the movie starts out pretty well, roping you in with what looks like could be several different mysteries. How are they connected? What’s going to happen? Who’s that? There’s a bunch of stuff that gets set up throughout the movie, and unfortunately not a lot of it pays off.

It’s like the movie shows you and tells you about all these things about drugs and dead bodies and mobsters, and you’re into it and like, “OK, what’s going to happen next…” And then the movie swerves to the left with some twist that I don’t fully understand and doesn’t get fully explained, and I don’t even know if it connects to the main mystery, which I don’t even know if it got resolved???

Unfortunately, there’s just so much setupin the plot that when we get to the payoff and they happen so quick and practically off-screen, it’s hard to feel really satisfied by them.

And there is one twist that is so RIDONCULOUS; I mean, the idea itself could’ve worked, but the setupdid not expect that payoff.

Unfortunately, the movie is just kind of forgettable, more than anything else, and doesn’t utilize its full potential given the cast, creative team, and resources it has.

I give the movie a high two stars. ⭐️⭐️ It’s not really bad, but it’s more forgettable than anything.

Toxic Avenger (2025) Review

 

A dying janitor (Peter Dinklage) becomes a nuclear-powered super-creature and must battle an evil nuclear billionaire/new-age body care mogul (Kevin Bacon), a Danny DeVito’s Penguin-looking Elijah Wood, and his heavy metal band/assassin that involves a clown rapper, a giant goon in leather, and a giant chicken mask.

So when the movie starts out, it feels like a quirky family drama. This janitor, Winston, is trying to connect with his stepson after his mom died, and he’s really trying, and Peter Dinklage brings a lot of heart and sincerity to those scenes, and that is one of the strongest aspects of the film. And then he learns he’s dying, and then it kind of becomes just like dark comedy about the Medicare system, and you’re hoping everything works out for this guy… And then the villain shows up.

Kevin Bacon, like his last name, is very hammy lol. It’s a very broad performance, but Kevin Bacon brings enough charming charisma to the role that he works well as someone you want to see Peter Dingle’s Winston overcome.

I liked Elijah Wood in the movie. Despite his character’s appearance, I liked how down-to-earth and sincere Woods played the character. Now, he does have his over-the-top moments because it is Elijah Wood, and he likes “weirdness” in movies, but he does bring heart to the role that I appreciated.

Now, while I overall like this movie, I do think there’s a little too much going on in this movie, like everything I’ve explained is enough to get a full movie out of… whether there’s this other plot involving a whistleblower that’s like this mini low-budget Jason Bourne chase film, which I thought was really impressive given the budget. Taylour Paige was really good in the role as well, but that’s not all….

There’s also this famous rock band that are also assassins that work for Kevin Bacon and Elijah Wood that involves a Juggalo clown rapper, Bladedressed up like a cowboy, a dude in a straight jacket, and a dude who is in big Frankenstein boots, leather pants, an army jacket, and a giant chicken mask… like, I get it. It’s trauma; they’re gonna go crazy, and that’s part of their brand and why they’re successful and why we like them, but in contrast to the whistleblower storyline and the Winston and his stepson drama, there are, like, all these different tones and storylines and plots and characters going on that it feels like a lot. It’s like eating too much at Thanksgiving; you just feel like it’s too much, lol.

Peter Tremblay is good as the stepson. I kind of wish we had seen him and this stepfather have maybe more scenes together or more of a connection. I mean, so much of the movie is about Winston trying to do right by this kid, and they don’t spend a lot of time together, so their connection doesn’t feel as strong as it could be.

I will say I did like a lot of the homages they did to the original film and Troma in general; plus, I thought the director cameo was cute.

The second half of the film does have a pretty fun heavy metal soundtrack and some creative and fun action that I found quite enjoyable.

The climax got a little too over-the-top for my taste; like, it was fun at points, but again, from where the movie had started to where we were, I feel like we jumped tones a little too much.

But my biggest compliment to the film… it got creative. You can tell the filmmakers were having a lot of fun making this, just like they wanted to, and that kind of excitement and enthusiasm is infectious, and it made the movie quite fun. Could it be messy at times? Yes, but I appreciate and am happy to see when people get to make a movie and get to do it exactly how they want and complete their vision, so good for them.

Also, shout out to seeing the movie with my buddies; that was the best. 🤘😎

I give the movie three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️; it’s a fun, wild film that I hope leads to more Troma movies.