Smile (2022)

After witnessing a traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences she can’t explain. Rose must confront her troubling past to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.

My thoughts: Its scary premise offers the potential for another Ringu, but it just ends up devolving into another predictable trope-fest. It’s one of those: “if anything can be real, then nothing can be real” situations – and this pretty much robs the movie of any real stakes. Shame.  Docked a half point for going the cliche dead pet route.

3/5

Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game turns deadly in this fresh and funny look at backstabbing, fake friends, and one party gone very, very wrong.

My thoughts: Enjoyable up until the end when the “big twist” begs a couple of questions that remained unanswered.

3.5/5

The Black Phone (2022)

After being abducted by a child killer and locked in a soundproof basement, a 13-year-old boy starts receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the killer’s previous victims.

My thoughts: A slow burn ode to 70’s horror that walks the line between psychological terror and the esoteric supernatural.

3.5/5

Piggy (2022)

An overweight teen is bullied by a clique of cool girls poolside while holidaying in her village. The long walk home will change the rest of her life.

My thoughts: A stellar performance by Laura Galán, but the movie’s messaging is too one note, its execution at times clunky. Pretty much goes exactly as you suspect it would.

3/5

Soft & Quiet (2022)

Playing out in real time, an elementary school teacher organizes a mixer of like-minded women, when she encounters a woman from her past, leading to a volatile chain of events.

My thoughts: The characters are one-note, the dialogue painfully cliche. The threadbare plot is contrived. Another insubstantial message movie.  Abysmal.

1/5

Today’s Yes/No…

Butter Caramel Mille-feuille Frappuccino? Yes/No
Starbucks Japan releases its second festive Frappuccino for 2022, but is it as good as the first? https://t.co/9RHZAKFrea via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi 🏴‍☠️ (@BaronDestructo) December 1, 2022