PENNY LANE IS DEAD (2026)

 

Written & Directed By: Mia Kate Russell

Cinematography: Liam Gilmour

Editor: Dan Lee 

Cast: Tahlee Fereday, Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn, Alexandra Jensen, Bailey Spalding, Fletcher Humphreys, Steve Le Marquand, Ben O’Toole, Matthew O’Sullivan 

A quiet Australian beach house celebration turns into a nightmare when an uninvited cousin and three violent intruders take over the secluded property.

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This is definitely a disturbing film. That’s not gonna be for everybody think of this more as a kind of 1970s grindhouse type of film only set more in the 1980s. It has a punk rock energy and highly spirited. Though is a horror to sit through. 

which makes someone wonder if so, many films are set in time periods before cell phones are more for plot narratives that might ask why didn’t they just use some kind of modern technology and the filmmaker is not wanting to cop out and say no signal then necessarily an aesthetic story choice or wanting to be nostalgic

As you sit through the foul and have to watch the innocence get taken advantage of by this gang of villains. It’s like watching someone picking off kittens. Strangely enough, the most evil is the title character’s cousin played by Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn, who initiates all of this and still feels like she is vindicated throughout.

As she sees herself only as a victim in that everything that is happening to everyone else they deserve it. As she is delusional, sociopathic, and a psychopath and the booze and drugs certainly don’t help. She comes across even worse than the male villains that she encourages, and who mostly do all of the dirty work.

The film feels like torture porn to a certain extent as we know where it is going and gets Satur as it goes along so that when finally someone is successful in fighting back, those are the glimmers of hope but and fighting back they have to release just as much merciless violence

The film is entertaining, but one can’t exactly support it subject matter thoroughly. It’s a small story that you feel trapped in.

it’s understandable how this film might be in bad taste for certain audience members. It will certainly be problematic to some. 

though strangely, the film is violent though luckily never shows the violence against the females physically or in too much graphically. Except when fighting one another. Though we do see the aftermath and can still hear the assault, which makes it a bit worse but accelerates our heat of the villains.

This is a film. You know what you were getting into pretty much after the first 20 minutes so if you like gritty revenge films, this is for you.

As it whips, you went into a frenzy, but little by little gives you what you want until you are practically blood thirsty. 

The film does offer some nice little tweaks, including the ending, which is questionable but works. It doesn’t feel exactly deserved, but it’s the closest this film gets to being positive. 

Grade: B+

FIND YOUR FRIENDS (2025)

 

Written & Directed By: Izabel Pakzad

Cinematography: Tim Curtin 

Editor: Maxine Pozzi-Garcia 

Cast: Helena Howard, Zion Moreno, Bella Throne, Sophia Ali, Chloe Cherry, Chris Bauer, Jake Manley, Israel Broussard, Blaine Kern III

Amber and her friends visit Joshua Tree for a fun girls’ trip but face hostility from locals. As tensions escalate and Amber’s dark past surfaces, their rebellion ignites – turning their desert getaway into a jaw-dropping game of revenge.

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I will admit the only reason I watch this film was for the female cast many of whom I remember from seeing other movies or TV shows and remember them being quite striking. 

The first 20 minutes of this film seems to be girls being as sloppy and reprehensible as frat brother movies with dialogue that seems like it was for GIRLS TRIP or EUPHORIA. 

This being a young female version, only then the film turns slightly to a sexual assault and trauma afterwards kind of drama. after seeming to Wade into the uncertainty of a music video-level boat party.

And just from the beginning alone, it seems to run a record for numbers of uses before the F word. 

The film does offer plenty of eye candy and titillation that is not to be approved, but it seems at first no one has a non-revealing outfit. Then the film seeming to settle into the message that all men are evil. 

One understands the message the film is trying to convey and what it’s trying to say, but it still leads to a film that feels very uncomfortable and after a while, get tired of what it is saying on it soap box as it gets to be the overwriting message that feels a bit much after a while, not unwelcome, not trying to discredit it, but maybe should’ve been a little more subtle.

Throughout the film, there is loads of exposition once they reach their destination. As then, that seems to be the only time they have any other opportunity to do it as the film tries to let the audience get to know the characters, even though essentially we only really get to know the lead.

It seems aimless than towards the third act. It finally seems to be trying to make a point of its own, even though it seems vague to match the mindset and mood confusing at first, as we aren’t sure if this is just all paranoia and all in the main characters head.

Lunar turned into a female, friendly revenge tale that while little obvious and over the top as well as extreme makes sense, even as the film leaves many loose ends

No one can see why it has an female audience  thoughseeks to want to attract more of a male audience by Trojan horse, with skin in display and more a party hearty attitude,leaving you to think one waiting reveals what it believes and not to subtle away

Grade: C- 

BUZZKILL (2026)

 

Directed By: Jem Garrard

Written By: Suzanne Kelly 

Editor: David Trevail

Cast: Siena Agudong, Brec Bassinger, Kealaboga Masango, Aliyahs Interlude, Angela Daytona Wu, Frances Sholto-Douglas, Aleesa Maria-Dione, Dean Goldblum.

Follows a group of sorority sisters who end up trapped with a murderer. Nora’s tipsy memories hold the clues to figuring out who is killing their friends, but she can only remember them when she’s drunk.

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This film is more of a comedy with horror elements. Kind of what some critics and audiences are accusing the latest RESIDENT EVIL movie of being I have a differing opinion. I feel like that’s more of a horror film with comedic elements.

As this film has more sense of humor about itself, it realizes that so it can play up more of the clichés well-being, just as guilty with them. Especially as a slasher film.

This is a to be original movie and one of the better ones as it is directed by one of their veterans Jem Garrard whose previous film TAKE OUT I enjoyed even though that phone was more of a thriller. This is a very glossy audience, pleasing film. As usual, this film was made in South Africa Africa look to make like any random American city or town

Mostly in one location, the film is fun though what really makes the film shine is a lead performance by actress Siena Agudong, who truly makes you feel for her dilemma is hilarious in the right spot and even as a screwup makes you really care about her character and believe in her through it all

The only truly gruesome parts of the film are the kill/death, which are pretty brutal and while they go along with the movie are a little bit quite shocking considering how light the film usually is up to that point.

The film has tried to put twist on the stereotypical nature of the characters while preserving them in that mode so while you feel sorry for some characters death, you don’t really feel too much out of just not wanting to see another human being die because we are never left to really get to know the characters that much. 

This is a film that is obviously made more for fun and enjoyment rather than having too much depth so this is definitely a film where you have to take it as it is

Now, if you’re looking for a cute little mysterious no-brainer movie that stays entertaining throughout, I would say this is the Film for you

Grade: C+

BLOODY TENNIS (2026)

 

Written & Directed By: Nikiais Chryssos 

Cinematography: Constantine Campean 

Editor: Anselm Koneffke

Cast: Sandra Goldberg Kempp, Elina Lowensohn, Tracy Gotoas, Lily Taieb, Juliana Vieira Guerra, Helena Zengel, Zlatko Buric, Lucie Zhang 

Follows Sophie, who is admitted to an elite tennis academy hidden in the South of Europe, where she must contend with fierce competition and the school’s increasingly sinister undercurrents.

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Think of this as SUSPIRIA with a bit of CHALLENGERS. Only without either’s memorable score. A quarter of those film’s budgets and not the same quality 

The inspirations might be due to popularity. Houston’s its own odd mess. Because in the middle of all this mystery an aggressive love story does rear its head. 

The film is quite stylistic at times. Then unpredictably crazy at other times. That seems like it seeks it out also. Definitely In a more European style. As Is most of the cast. An International mix. 

Which also marks the film’s mood as cruel but Intriguing. Half of the violence is the emotional one that they put upon one another

The film is quite gruesome in its violence and what it portrays onscreen which makes it memorable. 

Grade: C

AMERICAN CARNAGE (2022)

 

Directed By: Diego Hallivis

Written By: Diego Hallivis And Julio Hallivis 

Cinematography: Unax Mendia 

Editor: Alex Marquez 

Cast:  Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Jenna Ortega, Allen Moldonado, Eric Dane, Brett Cullen, Yumarie Morales, Jorge Diaz, Bella Ortiz, Catherine McCafferty 

After a governor issues an executive order to arrest the children of undocumented immigrants, the newly detained youth are offered an opportunity to have their charges dropped by volunteering to provide care to the elderly. Once inside the eldercare facility, the volunteers discover the governor and the facility’s supervisor have cooked up a horrifyingly depraved conspiracy that endangers the young and the old in this twisted thriller-comedy.

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Well this film certainly is never truly surprising as it seems to play by all the cliché rules that one is used to. 

There are a few qualities that I can give the film. The young cast is likable particularly the three leads played by Jenna Ortega (One wishes she had more to do with her role) Jorge Lendeborg Jr (who is always cast in these kinds of lower budget straight to streaming kind of films of this type but never quite gets the starring roles he deserves in bigger projects)  and Allen Moldonado here as the wise guybcomedic reoiefnthst he has been playing on so many television shows, So far it is his expertise. 

Also, the film at least is trying to say something being subversive with its political message and allegory that fits into not only the politics of the time, but unfortunately even current politics. Just putting it under a teen horror window.

The film is entertaining enough as you watch it, but it’s instantly unforgettable after you watch it. It’s a popcorn movie with a message even as it tries to be something bigger and better.

It’s a film that just constantly feels like it falls too short in many categories in violence, Exploitation characters,  scares.

It seems better suited for an introduction into horror movie with a bit of satire as it seems to play more for a teen audience, but it’s rating and some material might keep it out of their grasp. Even as it seems perfectly to fit with that audience.

It’s not terrible. It’s just basic that could be a lot tighter and faster but at least it seems to try.

As the film plays like a Hispanic exploitation film. Where all the bad guys are caucasian. I have no problem personally with that as would like to see more films like this. Though one wonders why thebdsrkest skinned character. Who is black and Spanish mixed is the only one of the heroes to murder someone on screen. Even though heroically. 

Most likely the audience will come here for Jenna Ortega even as she plays one of the smaller leading roles there’s nothing here that might indicate her future superstar status, but she does. What is required of the role perfect as a follow-up to her Disney show STUCK IN THE MIDDLE and the film THE BABYSITTER 2: KILLER QUEEN 

Put out by Blumhouse Productions. This might have worked better as an episode of their horror anthology series INTO THE DARK. In which episodes goniver 60 minutes into feature film length. 

Grade: C