FRIDAY FAMILY FILM NIGHT

In which the Mister and Uncle Leo join me in reviewing NIGHTBITCH (2024), from a novel by Rachel Yoder, the film is written and directed by Marielle Heller.  A former artist turned stay-at-home mom (Amy Adams) begins to believe she's transforming into a dog.  Blurring the line between reality and fantasy, the film explores motherhood, identity, and the struggle between personal dreams and fami...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing BLINK TWICE (2024), from writers Zoe Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum and directed by Zoe Kravitz.  After a waitress sneaks into a glamorous gala, Frida (Naomi Ackie) and her friend are invited by a tech billionaire, Slater King (Channing Tatum) to his private island. As the festivities unfold, she begins to notice unsettling events that make her qu...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing THE LAST SHOWGIRL (2024), from writer Kate Gersten and director Gia Coppola.  An aging Vegas showgirl, Shelly (Pamela Anderson) finds out the show she has dedicated the last 30 years of her life to is going to close for good. As she faces an uncertain future, she must confront the sacrifices she made for a spotlight that is now fading away.  The film clock...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing THE SUBSTANCE (2024), from writer/director Coralie Fargeat.  A once-famous Hollywood actress, Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) faces the harsh reality that the entertainment industry no longer values her due to her age. Desperate to revive her career, she turns to a mysterious drug that promises to make her a better version of herself.  The film...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing PETITE MAMAN (2021), from writer/director Céline Sciamma.  After the death of her beloved grandmother, young Nelly (Joséphine Sanz) is taken by her parents to clear out her grandmother's home. While exploring the nearby woods, she meets and befriends a young girl named Marion (Gabrielle Sanz).  What follows is a lovely tale that explains through myster...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing OUT OF MY MIND (2024), from a screenplay by Daniel Stiepleman, from Sharon M. Draper's novel, the film is directed by Amber Sealey.  The coming of age story of a teenage girl, Melody (Phoebe-Rae Taylor), with non-verbal cerebral palsy who gains an opportunity to attend high school outside of her usual special education classroom and how she...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing LOVE LIES BLEEDING (2024), from a script by Rose Glass and Weronika Tofilska, the film is directed by Rose Glass.  In a small desert town, Lou (Kristen Stewart) and Jackie (Katy O'Brian) fall in love but complications from Lou's criminal family, particularly her dad, Lou Sr. (Ed Harris) threaten to derail any hopes of happiness together.  The film...

In which the Mister and Kid 1 join me in reviewing TWILIGHT (2008), from a screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, from Stephanie Meyer's YA series the film is directed by Catherine Hardwicke.  The concept of a May-December romance is pushed far beyond the breaking point as young Bella (Kristen Stewart) is inexplicably drawn to Edward (Robert Pattinson), a brooding vampire 200 years her senior in thi...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing NOSFERATU (2024), based off Bram Stoker's novel and inspired by Henrik's Galeen's screenplay for 1922's Nosferatu, the film is updated from writer/director Robert Eggers.  In an effort to elevate his status for both himself and his new wife, a young man, Thomas (Nicholas Hoult)  journeys to secure a deal with a mysterious nobleman named Cou...

NOTE: This review was recorded prior to the official Oscar nomination announcement In which the Mister and our buddy, Miss Angie, join me in reviewing MARIA (2024), from a screenplay by Steven Knight, the film is directed by Pablo Larraín.  Recounting the final days of famed opera singer Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie) as she reminisces on her past and faces the crushing realization that she can nev...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing FLOW (2024), from writers Gints Zilbalodis, Matiss Kaza and Ron Dyens, the film is directed by Gints Zilbalodis.  When a flood consumes virtually all the land, a cat must cooperate with a motley crew of other animals in order to survive.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 25 m, is rated PG and is currently streaming on Max and to buy/rent on Prime Video. The f...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing THE WILD ROBOT (2024), from the book by Peter Brown, the film has screenplay and directing credits to Chris Sanders. After a cargo shipment of robots crashes onto an island, the lone surviving robot, Roz (Lupita Nyong'o) finds purpose in raising an orphaned bird, Brightbill (Kit Connor), with the help of a wily fox, Fink (Pedro Pascal). The fil...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing CASABLANCA (1942), from writers Julius J Epstein and Howard Koch from the play by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison, the film is directed by Michael Curtiz.  During WWII, in the Moroccan city of Casablanca, nightclub owner Rick Blaine's (Humphrey Bogart) entire world is shaken when the woman (Ingrid Bergman) who broke his heart years ago walks into his cl...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing THE MUMMY (1999), from writers Stephen Sommers, Lloyd Fonvielle and Kevin Jarre; the film is directed by Stephen Sommers. After finding a map to the lost city of Hamunaptra, a group of treasure hunters and historians unwittingly release the 3000 year old mummy of high priest Imhotep who will destroy the world on his quest to resurrect his lost...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing THE BLACKENING (2022), from writers Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins, the film is directed by Tim Story.  In this horror-comedy, a group of old college friends reunite after 10 years to celebrate Juneteenth at a remote cabin in the woods. But their celebration is short lived as an unknown killer has set up a deadly game that will test their horror movie kn...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing MISS JUNETEENTH (2020), from writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples. After her youthful ambitions are sidelined by life, Turquoise (Nicole Beharie), a hardworking single mom pushes her daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), to compete in the same beauty pageant she herself won as a teen in the hopes that her daughter fulfills her dreams via opportu...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing HERETIC (2024), from writers/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.  A pair of young women on a recruitment mission for the Mormon church are lured into a deadly debate that will leave them and the audience questioning everything.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 38 m, is rated R and is currently to buy/rent on Prime Video.  Please note there are SPOILERS in...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing NOTTING HILL (1996), from writer Richard Curtis, the film is directed by Roger Michell.  A mild mannered bookstore owner unexpectedly finds himself in a romantic relationship with the most famous actress in the world.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 59 m, is rated PG-13 and is currently streaming on Netflix and to buy/rent on Prime Video.  Pleas...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing THE BLACK HOLE (1979), from writers Jeb Rosebrook, Bob Barbash and Richard H. Landau and directed by Gary Nelson.  A group of space explorers boards a long lost ship hovering at the edge of a gigantic black hole where it appears the crew has been replaced by robots and the captain has quite possibly gone insane.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 38 m, is rate...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing ALIEN: ROMULUS (2024), from writers Fede Álvarez and Rodo Sayagues from characters created by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett.  The film is directed by Fede Álvarez.  Desperate to leave a mining colony, a group of young workers decide to salvage an abandoned space station unaware of the horror that lurks within.  The film clocks in at 1 h a...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing LONGLEGS (2024), from writer/director Osgood Perkins.  Agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) is an investigator selected because of her peculiar talents, to help track down a mysterious figure who has orchestrated a series of murders of local families over several decades.  The cast includes Blair Underwood as Agent Carter, Alicia Witt as Ruth (Lee's mother), Mi...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing STING (2024), from writer/director Kiah Roache-Turner.  A creative young girl's decision to make a pet of the strange little spider that she finds in her grandmother's apartment proves to be a deadly mistake.  The film stars Alyla Browne as Charlotte, Ryan Corr as Ethan, Penelope Mitchell as Heather, Jermaine Fowler as Frank, Noni Hazle...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing RETURN TO OZ (1985), from script writers Walter Murch and Gill Dennis, based on characters from the novels of L. Frank Baum, the film is directed by Walter Murch.  In this poorly conceived sequel to the 1939 classic, young Dorothy Gale (Fairuza Balk) must return to Oz to help rescue her friends and save Emerald City from the evil Nome King.  This film cloc...

In which the Monsters join me in reviewing WICKED (2024), from director Jon M. Chu with screenplay credits to Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox from the novel by Gregory Maguire.  In this film adaptation of the award winning Broadway musical based off characters from L. Frank Baum's novel, two young women named Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda (Ariana Grande), with nothing in common, become frien...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (2024), from scriptwriters Kin-Yee Au, Tai-Lee Chan, Li Jun and Kwan-Sin Shum, from a comic book by Yi Yu, the film is directed by Soi Cheang.  Gangs collide in this martial arts extravaganza. Broken and alone, a young man finds a sense of purpose and community in Kowloon Walled City. But unbeknownst to him he is the tar...