Ratings Central - Movies

I had no idea what I was getting into with The Monkey. I went in more or less blind, but given that it was based on a Stephen King story, I had some hope. With the success of It and even the more mediocre Pet Sematary remake, I figured this could be another solid King adaptation. Man, was I ever misguided. Image by IMDb Aesthetic Confusion: What Year Is It? Right away, something felt off. The film starts in 1999—or at least that’s what it claims—but absolutely nothing in the children’s room or the general set design reflects that era. No Blockbuster VHS tapes, no Nirvana posters, no era-appropriate TV shows, not even the right music. Instead, it all feels straight out of the 80s. Then we meet the boys’ Aunt and Uncle, and we’re suddenly in That 70’s Show . The uncle even has the classic 70’s sideburns. The entire aesthetic is a bizarre mishmash of decades, making it feel like the filmmakers didn’t actually care about immersing the audience in the supposed time period. Image by Th...

Right off the bat, I have to admit: musicals and I don’t usually get along. If I can count on one hand the musicals I genuinely enjoy, that’s being generous. So when I sat down to watch Wicked , I was already crafting my critique in my head. But somewhere along the way, something happened. The movie started to work for me—until it didn’t. Let me explain. Image via IMDb A Vibrant and Immersive Oz First off, the set and costume design are top-tier. The world of Oz has never felt more alive, immersive, or well-thought-out. I’m a fan of The Wizard of Oz and have always appreciated the intricate world-building within it. Much like The Lord of the Rings , every bizarre element of Oz feels like it has a purpose and a place. It’s whimsical yet grounded, and Wicked captures that beautifully. Image by ELLE Decor Strong Character Arcs The characters also deserve praise. Each one felt three-dimensional, and the movie took care to give even minor players their own arcs. It’s rare for a film to st...

When I sat down to watch Heretic , I thought I was in for a straightforward creepy-kidnap thriller. And yes, there’s a captivity element at its core, but the film takes a turn into something far more introspective and psychological than I expected. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does catch you off guard—it isn’t the typical cat-and-mouse horror. And that approach actually manages to bring out some deeply unsettling elements, just in a different way. Image by IMDb Words as Weapons of Fear One of Heretic 's most unique aspects is its slow, simmering creep factor that doesn’t rely on dark corners or shadowy lurking. The captor isn’t hiding or cloaked in mystery; in fact, he’s front and center. It’s his words, his unnervingly calm demeanor, that inject a skin-crawling tension. It’s refreshing—and disturbing—to see a character who doesn’t need to physically intimidate. His words do all the damage. Image by IMDb Hugh Grant's Haunting Performance The standout here, without...

I went into the first Smile  movie thinking I was in for a quick, predictable “one-and-done” horror flick in the style of Truth or Dare or It Follows . I expected slim plotlines, B-list vibes, and a forgettable experience. But Smile actually managed to deliver depth and genuine creep factor, and when I heard there’d be a Smile 2 , I immediately thought, Here we go—they’re going to milk this dry. Turns out I was wrong— Smile 2 was solid, continuing just six days after the events of the first film and taking an impressive dive into the dark, manipulative nature of the Smile demon. That level of respect for continuity and commitment to the psychological angle actually had me cautiously optimistic for Smile 2 .  Image by Rotten Tomatoes Solid Lore and a Deeper Character Dive Smile 2  builds well on the groundwork set up by the previous film, especially when it comes to understanding the Smile demon. In Smile 2 , we really get to see the mind games and subtle manipulations...

The premise of 9 Windows seemed like it might bring a fresh spin to the “stalker on the loose” genre. At first, it did. The story builds up the mystery effectively, keeping us on edge as Liza, the main character, tries to figure out who’s killing these people that are all in an online group she watches. The classic “who can you trust?” theme is strong, with Liza second-guessing everyone around her. Given her physical limitation from a recent car accident, which leaves her wheelchair-bound, it ups the stakes considerably. But as solid as this setup was, the film just didn’t deliver all the way through. Image by IMDb A Mix of Decent Performances and Muddled Execution The cast here does a good job, especially given the limitations of the script. Liza’s role, in particular, is solidly acted; she’s sympathetic yet flawed, prickly yet likable. You can feel her vulnerability and resilience, which carries much of the movie’s initial appeal. But as the story derails in the final act, her chara...

When I first saw the trailers for The Wild Robot , I expected a straightforward story about a robot learning to survive in the wild. To some extent, that’s true, but that’s far from the movie’s main focus—and honestly, that’s for the better. What I ended up with was a much more emotionally rich experience than the marketing suggested. Image by Universal Pictures Story and Animation: A Beautiful Combination Right off the bat, the story was more compelling than I initially thought. While the survival element is there, it quickly shifts into something more meaningful, as Roz, the robot, becomes the caretaker of a duckling. It’s a unique twist for an animated movie, and it doesn’t sugarcoat the harsh realities of nature. We see animals getting hunted or taken by predators, something most animated movies shy away from—certainly not the Disney-fied version of the animal kingdom. The movie wasn't afraid to take risks that feel refreshing in today’s overly safe films. And I can't talk ...

Going into The Bagman , I was fully prepared to sit through a low-budget gorefest, packed with cheap jump scares and predictable plotlines. But to my surprise, what I got was something much more refined—a slow-burn suspense thriller that outshines many bigger-budget projects. The film uses its time wisely, building tension and setting up a compelling atmosphere, while steering clear of the typical pitfalls that drag many horror flicks down. Image by IMDb Slow and Steady Wins the Race This movie doesn’t rush. It takes its time to develop the story, but does so in a way that keeps you mildly hooked. It’s one of those rare films where the slower pacing actually benefits the narrative, allowing each element to breathe and come into focus. You won’t find rapid-fire scares here, but rather a creeping sense of unease that makes you wonder what’s lurking in the shadows. The way The Bagman sets up its "rules"—through a twisted fairy tale—was pure brilliance. By tapping into something...