rpaleschi Reviews

Nefarious (2023)

An Amazing Script, Brilliantly Acted

[10/10 · 23 September 2023]

This is one of those movies that I looked at with a short of meh attitude but I was completely wrong. The script is brilliant and Sean Patrick Flannery is absolutely fantastic.

There are no special effects, creatures or wild action scenes, which on the surface wasn't for me but I was so engaged that it didn't matter and I was hooked throughout.

I have a short attention span and often reach for my phone during movies but this held my complete attention from beginning to end.

My review is finished but for some inexplicable reason imbd demands a huge character count so this bit is regrettably fillet... sorry!

It's a great movie though and I'd definitely recommend it.

No One Will Save You (2023)

An Unexpected Gem

[10/10 · 22 September 2023]

I went into this movie with no real expectations but was hugely impressed. There is very little dialogue but you don't miss it due to clever film making, great action scenes and storyline.

My main plus point for this movie is that I didn't know how it was going to end even with only 5 minutes to go and it's not a run of the mill narrative. I don't like spoilers so won't give anything away but the end was fantastic and i wouldn't have predicted it.

I'm really into creature features and this could've featured a single alien type, which would have been ok, but the decision to vary them was awesome and pandered to my juvenile tastes.

Definitely worth a go and recommend if you want some Sci-Fi that's a bit different.

Run Sweetheart Run (2020)

Made on the cheap

[2/10 · 26 July 2023]

My main issue with this movie is that anything exciting is done with sound effects only and left to the viewers imagination. Shoot outs and monster transformations aren't shown but rather the main character's reaction is all you see. Bad special effects are better than none at all.

Another fail is that you never see the monster, although it's implied that the villian is one.

The acting was actually pretty good and I did watch until the end but was left feeling pretty short-changed.

Oh, this is the last thing I'm going to moan about but it was really weird; why did she turn into a karate black belt? Did I miss something?

They saved money by having no special effects but it really hurt the script.

Dual (2022)

Interesting Concept Executed Terribly

[2/10 · 2 November 2022]

I took a chance on this movie because I really liked the premise but what a let down!

The acting was atrocious and really staged. I know it was meant to be that way but it was robotic, completely took me out of the story and was painful to get through.

There was a lot of build up for what was essentially a sudden end with no resolution to the plot, which I personally find frustrating and a quite lazy. I'm the first to admit that I'm not one for subtext or nuanced filmmaking and perhaps this went over my head, but I found it boring with no point.

Never got going and not something I'd recommend. Such a waste.

Ash and Bone (2022)

Generic and Nothing New

[3/10 · 31 October 2022]

I got reeled in by the good reviews but suspect most of them aren't impartial. This movie is slow paced and there's nothing that you haven't seen a hundred times before. It's not bad enough to turn off but not good enough to enjoy, which is a particular type of torment.

I've no issue with indie horror and have some in my top 10 but unfortunately this isn't one of them, or indeed in the top 100.

There's a lack of action, gore and even the storyline doesn't provide anything worthwhile. If there was a generic horror storyline app then this is what it would produce. Best avoided and not with the time.

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

A Multi Million Dollar Cringe-fest

[1/10 · 8 September 2022]

Successful Marvel movies have a fantastic blend of action, humour and effects. Unfortunately this goes so far overboard on the humour that it feels forced and is a complete parody.

It verges on ridiculous and has virtually ended the Thor franchise. It has a campy pantomime feel, which is fine if that's what you're in to but I find it really irritating.

I have to agree with the other reviews and this movie was a huge miss.

The writing and directing is abysmal and this is best avoided.

My review is finished but IMDB needs 600 characters so here is something cool; dinosaurs ruled the earth for 165 million years, whereas humans have only been here for 6 million. The apocalypse happened with their extinction and we're merely the mutants that followed.

Nope (2022)

Dull, Dull, Dull

[1/10 · 27 August 2022]

Peele is fast becoming the worst writer/director in Hollywood. This is utter garbage and I just kept waiting for something to happen. It's not as bad as his Candyman failure but still barely watchable.

On paper this had the potential to be a great movie and perhaps with someone else at the helm it might have been. The 2 hours 10 minutes dragged and it could've easily be 1 ½ hours long without pointless filler.

The female lead character is so annoying and I'm still unsure whether this was intentional. This movie has been severely over hyped and to be honest I wouldn't trust Jordan Peele to make a good pile ointment commercial let alone another movie.

Candyman (2021)

Fans the Flames of Division

[1/10 · 27 August 2022]

This movie has an agenda from the very beginning and continuously sows racial division with tired political stereotypes.

White police officers are demonized and shown as nothing more than violent racists desperate to beat black people.

It painfully panders to the woke market and if that's not bad enough it's really really boring and not a patch on the original.

The original is fantastic and you're way better to rewatch it than entertain this garbage.

My review is finished but has to be 600 characters so here is a fun fact. A tiger's tongue has small hooks on it capable of licking the skin of a person's arm. They use it in the wild to remove fur or feathers from their prey. You're welcome.

The Batman (2022)

OK but not Amazing

[7/10 · 12 April 2022]

In my opinion the Dark Knight is pretty much the benchmark for Batman movies and this didn't come close.

Robert Patterson is a great actor and did a good job in the role, which seemed to be a bit controversial for some people.

The worst thing was the villains seemed a bit tepid and there was a definite lack of menace. It was written with a certain realism, which I understand but in superhero movies I prefer more super villain types.

The storyline is well written and kept my interest but there was just something missing and to be honest I still can't quite put my finger on what that was.

This isn't a bad movie by any means but not one of rush to tell people's about.

Titane (2021)

Twisted and Brilliant

[10/10 · 11 April 2022]

This was honestly one of the best movies I've ever seen.

For most people it will be a love or hate experience but I thought it was fantastic and there were probably 10 times when I actually shouted 'oh my God!' The reason I say this is that I've become so used to the same Hollywood set ups and story lines (not that there's anything wrong with that) but this movie was so far different from anything I've ever seen that it really stood out. I had no idea how it was going to end and would highly recommend it.

The Seed (II) (2021)

Watchable but Nothing Special

[5/10 · 11 March 2022]

I looked at the 5 star reviews on shudder and thought this might be worth a watch. It was ok at best and nothing to get excited by.

For a low budget movie it's ambitious but ultimately a bit slow paced.

I really wanted to like it and maybe went in with unrealistic expectations because of the stellar reviews.

Not so bad you'd turn it off but not good enough to be remembered.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

Better Than the Reviews Suggest

[7/10 · 25 February 2022]

I admit that I went into this with low expectations because of a few bad online reviews but it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd heard and I actually quite enjoyed it.

I'm not one to focus on plot holes, as if you watch a movie where someone wears other people's faces to butcher everyone then it's not going to be completely true to life. That said, there were a couple of moment where even I shouted 'oh come on...'

An easy watch with some good death scenes and a couple of satisfying swipes at cancel culture.

A solid 7 out of 10.

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016)

I Actually Quite Liked It

[8/10 · 9 January 2022]

This was always meant as a tongue in cheek remake of the original. There are plenty of laughs and it's an easy watch.

Definitely better than Ghostbusters Afterlife.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Had Potential but Painfully Dull

[2/10 · 9 January 2022]

I was so excited for this movie but it really let me down. There was nothing new and it was just tedious.

A joyless cash grab using the Ghostbusters brand. Dull, dull and thrice dull!

Copshop (2021)

A Great Movie but Ruined by a Clichéd End

[7/10 · 14 October 2021]

No spoilers.

I liked this movie but the last 15 minutes really let it down and was full of slow motion clichés.

Such a shame as the acting, story and action was great but it left me feeling a bit flat.

That said, it's really worth a watch as the rest of the movie is solid.

The Amityville Moon (2021)

Terrible, Just Terrible.

[2/10 · 6 October 2021]

I'm a huge fan of werewolf movies and if they have a low budget then I honestly don't mind how bad the effects are. The werewolf in this was actually ok but the film was so dark that you could barely see anything.

The story really let this down and it dragged until I couldn't care less what happened to any of the characters.

Not one to recommend I'm afraid and best avoided.

If you haven't seen it then Late Phases is a way better werewolf movies.

The Dark and the Wicked (2020)

Really Enjoyed It

[9/10 · 5 October 2021]

I was almost put of watching this because of all the 'slow burn' comments but am really glad I gave it a go.

The other reviewers are right that it is a slow pace but at no stage does it feel boring and the atmosphere gradually becomes creepier.

I'm a horror fan and have seen so many run of the mill movies lately that this was a pleasant surprise.

Werewolves Within (2021)

Disappointing and a Lack of Werewolves

[3/10 · 4 July 2021]

This movie had the opportunity to be great but really missed the mark and there is a definite lack of werewolf action.

I really wanted it to work as the set up was promising but it faded massively and turned into a complete borefest.

If you make a werewolf move... Have a werewolf in it for more than 2 minutes. It could've perhaps redeemed a few points if the special effects were good but just like the rest of this film, they were rather average.

I looked forward to this but am hugely disappointed.

The Greasy Strangler (2016)

Pure Greasy Awesomeness

[10/10 · 23 May 2021]

This is one of my favourite movies and is just so bizarre that it brings something completely unique.

I never stopped laughing and it's an instant cult classic.

This is definitely not for the faint hearted but if thoroughly recommend it.

Army of the Dead (2021)

Action, Violence & Gore... Loved It!

[10/10 · 22 May 2021]

I'm not sure why there are so many bad reviews for this as it delivers everything you'd want from a zombie movie.

I think as soon as Zack Snyder is mentioned people come out of the woodwork to critique.

The action scenes are great so are the effects. Some good one liners that keep it from being too heavy and it really plays on the Vegas vibe with a dead Elvis and zombie tiger.

If you want a movie that is easy to watch with loads of action then this is a good choice.

Bloodthirsty (2020)

A Slow Pace With Not Much Payoff

[3/10 · 30 April 2021]

I really tried to like this movie but the story took so long to get going that I soon became bored. The constant singing in the recording studio could've been cut in half and there was no real body count or excitement I speak of.

I stayed with it in the hope of some werewolf action but the monsters were the actors with longer teeth and wigs. Pretty lame effects and not nearly enough action.

This couldn't be described as a horror and is more of a thriller.

I watched until the end but this was instantly forgettable. Very poor!

The Swordsman (2020)

A Great Movie

[10/10 · 24 April 2021]

I loved this film, which has loads of action and a storyline that kept me interested throughout.

I sometimes find Korean movies a bit hit and miss but this was definitely one of the hits.

Well worth a watch.

Nobody (I) (2021)

Loved It!

[10/10 · 23 April 2021]

This is a violent action packed movie, which kind of reminded me of a suburban John Wick.

The fight scenes are great and the story, though done before, kept me interested.

If recommend this and it's definitely worth a watch.

Mortal Kombat (2021)

Started Well but Really Tailed Off

[5/10 · 23 April 2021]

I had such high hopes for this movie but was a bit disappointed by the cliched plot and we'll trodden storyline.

It started great with the Scorpion storyline but this isn't followed up very well. The fatalities and finishing moves were cool and I liked the few gory fatalities.

The worst part about this was a new central character who means nothing to Mortal Kombat fans and dominates the story. It got progressively cheesier to almost rival the terrible 90's attempts.

I know you can't please everyone when doing a movie based on something as iconic as MK but unfortunately this was just OK. Quite disappointed and expected better.

...watchable but not great.

Der Samurai (2014)

An Unusual but Pleasant Surprise

[7/10 · 7 April 2021]

I had no preconceived ideas going into this movie but was pleasantly surprised by the plot, which was unique and kept me interested until the end.

It's well made with a low budget and despite not really being a horror, it was a strange (in a good way) dark fantasy.

Well worth a watch.