It felt like it wanted to do a lot of things but without much planning. This left a lot of beats feeling shoehorned in purely “because.” The few things it does well are fun to watch but its a movie where the cast largely drag it to its better moments. If Jason Isaacs, January Jones, and Ed Harris weren’t here, I think it would be immediately forgettable.
Categories: Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller
Don’t Breathe 2 (2021) 2/5
This sequel does not play as well as its predecessor. Characters act against their own interests and common sense too often and a lot of suspense is missing that was there first the first film.
Nothing is mysterious anymore and the delivered twists are not delivered in any way that sticks the landing. If anything it is all a bit too mustache twirly — not a good counter to the Blind Man who’s crimes we know and feel much more grounded.
Now I am going to turn heel a little here and disagree with people saying the whole idea of having the Blind Man be a sorta-protagonistish-person is a bad one. I just think making the audience root for a bad guy is hard, and the film did not really try to do that. Sitting with the bad a little more, less attempts at action and twists, less environments to move the movie through, and some self awareness. Probably with a different lead character and having Lang still as this ominous figure, but instead stepping between a situation and getting involved. A lot less screen time would have kept some of the mystery and probably bothered less people.
No Country for Old Men (2007) 5/5
Categories 5/5, Crime, Drama, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller 
A movie you peel back again and again.
Atlas (2024) 1.5/5
There are a lot of neat parts here but it just doesn’t come together well, and I think that falls very heavily on the direction and the script.
Everything else ranges from serviceable to good. I am not a big JLo listener/watcher but I think I could see people wrongly putting it on her shoulders because her face is all over it. None of the actors felt like they were slacking off and the fx house did some neat work.
Boy Kills World (2023) 2.5/5
Categories 2.5/5, Action, Crime, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller 
Some thrills are along the way to the inevitable arrival at exactly where you expect to arrive. The first half had some better carry than the closeout.
There is a post-credits scene but if you missed it, you didn’t miss anything.
End of Watch (2012) 3.5/5
End of Watch dances all over the line of over-the-top and plausible reality. Its characters are immensely watchable, even down to the supporting cast like Frank Grillo and David Harbour.
The character-perspective camera work captures the chaos in a unique way and furthers character development. However, it is also a distraction as the film explains in unbelievable ways why various characters are recording things. Ultimately though it feels unnecessary as the film mixes this documentary style with regular camera work.
Some of the script is really good, genuinely eliciting laughs, and some feels written with a hammer. The hammer can be said for a lot of things though, even outside of dialogue, with a movie that starts off with its lead cops immediately breaking their cover to walk up in a shoot out for the cool guys factor.
A really rough spot is the curbside gangsters, a constant villainous element throughout. These characters were comically mustache twirly. That could have worked fine, but they got too much screen time and it only greatly detracted.
It would be hard to have a bad time with End of Watch, just be ready to suspend some disbelief.
You Can’t Run Forever (2024) 0/5
Categories 0/5, Drama, Horror, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller 
Like an edgy Lifetime movie, except less cohesive.
Mothers’ Instinct (2024) 2.5/5
Categories 2.5/5, Drama, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller 
I am fine mixing camp with serious, but it just felt a little directionless here. It also meanders a bit and there is not enough interesting dialogue or events to make it feel good to be a part of. They definitely set up for moments like that, especially in the later half, but nothing really stood out. No scene is going to stick with me.
I was really on board for the first half, it just doesn’t do well with its questions and suspense.