Ratings Central - Movies

The prospect of Speak No Evil (2024) intrigued me from the get-go. It’s a chilling thought: meeting strangers who could turn out to be sadistic killers—an everyday occurrence with terrifying possibilities. The potential for genuine thrills was there, but unfortunately, the film didn’t deliver the suspense it promised. Image by IMDb Something’s Just... Off I can’t quite put my finger on what was "wrong" with this movie, but there’s definitely something missing. Speak No Evil takes its sweet time introducing us to the characters and setting up the plot. It’s like the film was determined to make sure we were well-acquainted with everyone before anything remotely exciting happened. It’s not inherently bad to build up your characters, but when you’re an hour into a thriller, and nothing thrilling has happened, there's a problem. Image by CBR James McAvoy: The Misfire Performance I usually consider James McAvoy a standout star, but in this film, he just didn’t land for me. In

Deadpool and Wolverine was a difficult movie to rate. On one hand, it’s a fan's dream to see all these characters from superhero movies past—some even from movies that never got made—all battling it out on the same screen. But that’s the entire movie, really. It’s almost as if the plot exists solely to justify bringing these characters together for one big farewell. Let me start with a bit of honesty: I’ve never been the biggest Deadpool fan. I don’t hate the character, but the constant 4th wall breaks get old fast. Sure, it’s funny at first—Deadpool is supposed to be irreverent and self-aware. But after a while, I found myself saying, "Okay, we get it, you can talk to the audience. Can we move on now?" There’s only so much self-referential humor I can take before it starts to feel forced. Image by IMDB Action-Packed but Hollow Deadpool and Wolverine is as wide as an ocean but as shallow as a puddle. There’s no shortage of exciting fights, hilarious one-liners, and epi

Longlegs was a difficult movie for me to review because it’s caught in a tug-of-war between two very different horror styles. On one hand, it seems to want to be a crime thriller in the vein of Silence of the Lambs , while on the other, it flirts with the supernatural horror of The Exorcist . Both of these films are iconic in their own rights, but they don’t belong together, and that’s where Longlegs falters IMO. Image by Wikipedia Artistic Vision: A Visual Standout Right away, I noticed that Longlegs is shot differently than most modern films. The artistic choices, especially the shift between the 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, gave the older footage a genuinely vintage feel. This was a clever touch that added depth and atmosphere, making the movie visually compelling in a way that’s rare today. Image curtesy of Longlegs by C2 Motion Picture Group Missed Potential: A Grounded Horror That Never Was Personally, I would have loved if the film had hinted at a supernatural presence only to

Girl in the Basement is a film that might easily be overlooked as just another made-for-TV movie, but that would be a mistake. It’s actually a surprisingly well-crafted and emotionally gripping film, especially considering its television origins. Image by Senscritique A Heartbreaking, True Story The story at the heart of Girl in the Basement is absolutely heartbreaking. We’ve all seen movies that claim to be "Based on real events," but this one is different. It doesn’t take liberties with the truth for the sake of drama. In fact, it tones down the horrific reality of the true story it’s based on, which is almost unheard of. After researching the actual events, it’s clear why the filmmakers made this choice—it would have been too much to bear otherwise.  Image by Heavy.com Genuine Suspense and Engagement It’s been a long time since a film had me so actively engaged in the moment. The suspense in Girl in the Basement is palpable. From the first moment, I found myself anxious

When a father’s pursuit of justice turns into a campaign of vengeance, it raises the question: is he the villain or a wronged man seeking the justice he was denied? Law Abiding Citizen presents a gripping, darkly captivating narrative centered around Clyde Shelton, a man who takes justice into his own hands after the legal system fails him. The film offers an intriguing exploration of justice, morality, and the human spirit's limits when pushed to its breaking point. Image by Wikipedia Refreshing Storyline: A Father's Relentless Quest for Justice At its core, Law Abiding Citizen tells a refreshing story of a father, Clyde Shelton, who will do anything to avenge his family. After witnessing the brutal murder of his wife and daughter, Clyde is devastated when the justice system fails him, and ultimately, his family. The murderer cuts a deal with the prosecutor, Nick Rice, and receives a mere five years in prison.  The film explores Clyde's transformation from a grieving fat

I went into Twisters expecting yet another cash-grab remake, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. The trailers might have suggested this film was just another addition to the franchise, but it turned out to be a lot more than that. Image by DVD Release Dates Twisters feels like a movie that could have stood on its own, independent of the franchise. However, like most movies today, it was anchored by a known brand for "visibility." I'm sure this is a marketing decision, but it highlights an industry trend where every new release is tagged as part of an existing series. The only real connections to the original Twister are the tornadoes (obviously) and the machine, Dorothy, designed to capture measurements from within the storm. Interestingly, the film could have completely ditched Dorothy, and it wouldn't have mattered. It was not a central focus of this story. Character-Driven Drama: More Than Just Storm Chasers Much like the original Twister , this film

Tommy Boy is a quintessential reminder of how hilarious slapstick comedy once was. It's a movie from an era that feels almost nostalgic now, a time when humor wasn't so closely scrutinized for political correctness. Sadly, movies like this just can't be made today without offending someone, which makes revisiting Tommy Boy all the more special. Image by Rotten Tomatoes Story of Belonging and Friendship Beneath all the slapstick stupidity that surrounds Tommy, there lies a heartfelt story of belonging, maturing, sacrifice, and friendship. The emotional core of the film is surprisingly touching and adds depth to the otherwise comedic narrative. Watching Tommy (Chris Farley) and Richard (David Spade) bond over their trip to sell brake pads is a joy. The puns and idiocy galore create a wonderful, entertaining journey. Their chemistry is undeniable and a major highlight of the film. Image by Salon Chris Farley in His Prime, and David Spade's Perfect Snark Chris Farley was