Rotten Bananas

“Midsommar” is a spiritual successor to Ari Aster’s last film, “Hereditary” in almost every way: it’s weird, it’s not scary, and it doesn’t pull punches with graphic content.  The film, directed by Ari Aster, is a psychological thriller/horror film set primarily in a small Swedish commune. It stars Florence Pugh as Dani …

“Ma” is much like a car accident: grotesquely horrible but for some reason, you are absolutely unable to look away.  The film, directed by Tate Taylor and produced by Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions, features Octavia Spencer in the titular role of Sue Ann Ellington, soon known to the town’s teenagers as Ma. The …

With “Avengers: Endgame,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is coming to a momentous stopping point. It’s time to ask, “What has it amounted to?”, “What will come next?”, and “Why should anyone care about these movies?”  The MCU had simple beginnings but not exactly smooth ones. For those that remember, …

“Pet Sematary” is a shocking remake of the Stephen King classic, and it will send a shiver down the spine of any unsuspecting viewer.  The film, directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer, follows Louis Creed, played by Jason Clarke, and his family after they move to rural Ludlow, Maine from the busier Boston. Creed …

“Shazam!” is a stark turnaround from most DC movies released to date: and news flash, that’s incredible.  The film, directed by David F. Sandberg, follows Billy Batson, played by Asher Angel, a 15-year old foster kid who discovers a magical power that turns him into a superhero. Batson, after multiple …

“Love, Death + Robots” tells each and every story one could ever want with both a horror and a science fiction twist.  The Netflix series, created by Tim Miller, is an anthology series, meaning each episode is a self-contained story. As one might imagine, the stories usually have something to …

“Us” is an allegorical tale that interweaves horror and thriller elements into a package that most everyone can enjoy (read: not for young kids).  The film, directed by Jordan Peele, is the filmmaker and comedian’s second film after the wildly successful and award-winning “Get Out” of 2017. It stars Lupita …

“Captain Marvel” is the next step in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and it truly shatters all expectations for a female lead movie.  The film, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, stars Brie Lawson as Carol Danvers, A.K.A. Captain Marvel. Danvers is a military agent for an alien civilization …

“Greta” makes no effort to hide what it is: another standard centerpiece of the movie season, this one plucked from the horror bin.  The film, directed by Neil Jordan, stars Chloe Grace Moretz as Frances McCullen, a sheepish waitress living in New York making the most of her overtly boring days. McCullen, …

“The West Wing” is an oldie but goodie in simple terms but is far more complex than this adage attributes.  The series, created and produced by Aaron Sorkin, was created in the late years of the 90s as a look into the day-to-day activities of the personal staff of a fictional …