Film Haven Reviews

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our "Middle Aged Godzilla" theme with the fan favorite classic Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) As much as I wanted to adore this film as much as the community does, I couldn't help but find it slightly underwhelming when compared to last week's episode. I gave this film a 7/10 because the action and practical effec...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a brand new theme of "Middle Aged Godzilla" where we cover Godzilla films from the 80s and early 90s, starting with The Return of Godzilla (1981)! This film was a "return" to form for Godzilla films after the silly direction the franchise went during the 60s and 70s. Despite some predictibly bad human stories, this...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are finishing up our "Deep South Horror" theme with the disappointing but gory Lucio Fulci film, The Beyond (1981). I wanted to like this film alot more, but the story was simply too nonsensicle. I gave this film a 6/10 for some great practical effects and a really intersting premise, but for simply not delivering any kind of coherent pl...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our "Deep South Horror" theme with the Kate Hudson vehicle, The Skeleton Key (2005) This movie may have lack scares and Hudson's character may have been way too pushy (almost unrealistically so) but I gave this film a 6.5/10 for providing some amazing Deep South vibes, and having a great hoodoo ghost mystery concept....

This month for the Movie News Podcast I'm running solo but Matt should be back with us next month! Lots to cover this month from Predator: Badlands to a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Sequel so listen to the episode to find out all the details!  

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a new theme of "Deep South Horror" starting with the very topical vampire film Sinners (2025) As it turns out, Sinners is every bit as good as everyone is saying! I gave this film a 9/10 for blending craft, histroy, and good storytelling so well that this film has earned itself the "instant classic" description. I...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are sadly finishing up our "Aspad Spookers" theme with the Sam Raimi ghost mystery The Gift (2000)!  This movie did a great job of giving the small town, deep south aesthetic and there were plenty of good supernatural spooks to boot! I gave this film a 7/10 for being a fun mystery with lots of good characters and an A class cast list! I...

Welcome back to Flim Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our Aspad Spookers theme with the unfairly maligned Gothika (2003)!  Despite having a terrible score from both critics and users on IMDb, this film pleasently provided me with all the "gothic" atmosphere I could have ever wanted, and a fun spooky murder mystery to boot! I gave this film a 7/10 for its good performances and...

Welcome back to Flim Haven Reveiws!!! This week we are starting a new speical theme of "Aspad Spookers", named after my lovely fiance, with the 1999 Kevin Bacon ghost/mystery Stir of Echoes.  This movie hit all the main points that a good ghost story should with some fun unique aspects like being set in Chicago and Kevin Bacon's great performance. I gave this film a 7/10 for everyth...

Welcome back to our Monthly Crossover Sideshow between Film Haven and The Movie Podium!!! This month we are talking about all the March News so come listen to the episode to stay informed on what's going on!!  Check out all my content on spotify and wherever else you get your podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/54gPjYtsInndRymEGCBoHK?si=140747fc7f36413e And of course you can find The Movi...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are finishing up our "70's Neo-Noir" theme with the Robert Mitchum vehicle, Farwell, My Lovely (1975) I rather enjoyed this mostly by the books noir tale. It paid homage to many of the classics of the 40's while also providing enough quality on its own to make it worth your time! I gave this film an 8/10 for its great direction...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are celebrating two years of the podcast as well as the life of legendary actor Gene Hackman by reviewing his Neo-Noir film Night Moves (1975)! I was both impressed and underwhelmed by this film. It was competentantly made and expressed all of the great hallmarks of an anti-detective film, but its story was also dry and compared to last week'...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a new 70's Neo-Noir theme with one of the most famous Neo-Noir film's of all time Chinatown (1974).  As it turns out, there is a reason this film is so highly regarded...its amazing! I gave this film a 9/10 for its perfect blend of craft, storytelling, and on-screen performances. Jack Nicholson is amazing, the camerawork and...

Welcome back to our second episode of the Movie News sideshow podcast! Co-hosted by Sawyer from Film Haven Reviews and Matt from The Movie Podium Podcast, this month we are breaking down the Oscars winners and also covering some of the big horror movies that debuted in Feburary 2025!  If you enjoyed this episode and want to see more from either of us, go check out our youtube pages and our podcast...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are finishing up our "Bloody Western" theme with the action packed If You Meet Sartana...Pray for Your Death (1968).  This film was more professionally made then last week's Massacre Time (1966) but somehow that made it even more boring, since it was missing lots of the fun quirks that Fulci's film had. However, the action was...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are continuing our Bloody Western theme with the famous Spaghetti Western film Massacre Time (1966).  This movie was certainly a step down from The Wild Bunch in terms of blood effects and general quality but there were still things to enjoy, even if it was for the humor of its ridiculousness. I gave this film a 6/10 for being entertainingly bad wi...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews for the 100th Episode!!!! Thank you to all of you who have stuck with the show this entire time and welcome all who are just now tuning in!  This week we are starting a new Bloody Western Theme with one of the most famous and violent westerns of all time, The Wild Bunch (1969) This film was all about the peaks and valleys: moments of tremendous actions followed b...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reivews!!! This week we are closing out the "Night of the..." theme with an all time classic! Night of the Living Dead (1968) Other than some narrative pacing issues and some annoying characters, this film holds up surprisingly well, still providing some creepiness and tons of spooky atomsphere. I gave this an 8/10 for being the first zombie movie and still be...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are continuing our "Night of the..." theme with the cult comedy classic Night of the Creeps (1986) I was pleasantly surprised by this hilarous teen horror parody as it went beyond silly humor and actually made for a decent film as well. I gave this movie an 8/10 for being subtely self-aware but also exceeding in all of the aspects of the...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we will be starting a new "Night of the..." theme while also branching into a whole new era for Film Havens with our first (sort of) video episode! This week we are starting off the theme with Night of the Comet (1984).  This movie was frankly a disappointment. What was supposed to be a fun and punchy satire, ended up being a sometimes clev...

Welcome to the crossover show between The Movie Podium and Film Haven Reviews were Matt and I break down each month's movie news and dredge up the top stories so you don't have to!  This week we are lightly covering the top stories and breaking down some of the horror realeases for Janurary, but our main goal is to go through the Oscars Nominations and give our opinions on which movie mi...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are finishing up our "Anime Bucket List" theme with the wacky and reality warping Paprika (2006). This was a visually stunning and impressively displayed film and its premise was hard to follow but in a way that made the journey fun and not tiresome like it could have. I gave this film a 7.5/10 for providing a unique experience while may...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our "Anime Bucketlist" theme with the legendary sci-fi masterpeice Akira (1988) This movie, like the last review, deserves all the credit it is given for it is not only groundbreaking in terms of craft and animating skill, but also in story and substance. I gave this movie an 8.5/10 for being beautiful, intriguing, and cin...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are starting a new "Anime Bucketlist" theme where I watch some of the most well regarded animated films of all time. This week we are diving into the extremely sad Grave of the Fireflies (1988). Equal parts beautiful and crushing, this movie was an experience I will never forget, even if right after watching it, I wanted to. I gave this f...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reivews!!! This week we are finishing up our Walter Hill: Origins theme with possibly his most famous film, The Warriors (1979). This movie is an icon and now after watching it, I can see why. There is tons of memorable imagery, with the various different gangs being displayed and the grimey but intriguing setting of 1970s NYC, and there's also a great plot structur...