Category: Movie Reviews

When The Bells Toll in Resident Evil 2026, Who’s Next To Die?

The big question I have here is whether Resident Evil is still Resident Evil, or is it The Dunwich Horror in disguise?

Resident Evil 2026 PosterThe Resident Evil franchise is one of those oddities that refuses to die, no matter who is showrunning or leading the latest reboot attempt. I enjoyed the early videogames and left it at that rather than pursue every iteration. Whether they are interpreted as a comic book, novelization or film, the premise will never change: can I (as a player rather than character) figure out what is happening in the location I’m at and stop the zombie apocalypse?

As other chapters unfold introducing operatives like Leon Kennedy and a survivor of day zero, namely Jill Valentine, the fondness depends on whether the character involved is likeable or not. If I had to say which film is the better of the two “reboots,” I prefer Welcome to Raccoon City more. There’s more personalities, and plus, Neal McDonough is in it!

In the latest cinematic adaptation, Bryan (Austin Abrams) is kind of like Ferris Bueller. He gets wrapped up in the shenanigans and chaos as he wanders from one situation to another. All he wants to do is simply transport another package to the city, and go home so he and his partner can figure out what to do next in their relationship. He’s avoiding responsibility, and that plot element is what keeps this film engaging. No matter how hard he’s trying to do good, things go from bad to worse, since nobody expected a zombie pandemic to strike!

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Why Suzuki=Bakudan Delivers an Unforgettable Psychic Villain

There’s a bad moon rising in Suzuki=Bakudan, a crime thriller that’s more than a slow burn than anything else. You’re here to watch Jirō Satō’s performance’s performance more than anything else!

Suzuki=Bakudan movie posterAlthough I didn’t find the time to check out Suzuki=Bakudan (retitled Bomb for North America) during Japan Cuts, I’m glad to have caught it at Fantasia Film Festival 2026. Usually, crime thrillers aren’t my thing, but with Jirō Satō getting a lot of buzz, I had to see what the fuss was about. He plays psychic manipulator Tagosaku Suzuki, and he knows how to get under anyone’s skin.

Yes, those comparisons to the Joker from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight are justified. Though he doesn’t sport a grin, what he presents is closer to Jack Nicholson’s performance in The Shining, before madness took its toll on that poor soul’s mind. Because of the way he taunts the police, nobody’s sure if his psychic predictions are real. Unfortunately, those moments claim lives, and while the tragic scenes play out quickly enough to get the point across, the gruesome truth concerns what else he knows.

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Shiver Me Timbers! There Be A Peril At Pincer Point, or Is That a Tear On Yer Shoulder?CER POINT

As Peril at Pincer Point sails into more film festivals, this shanty is more than one part Hammer but also another part, H.P. Lovecraft? Or should we say, The Fog, if you want the scares to be real?

Peril at Pincer Point PosterWhether or not Peril at Pincer Point is based on some sea shanty, it’s a wickedly fun film that nails the hero’s journey through a semi-Lovecraftian narrative. Here, Jim Baitte (Jack Redmayne) is an underappreciated film employee who specializes in foley. But instead of making these sounds up in a room, he goes out to capture every sound possible and remix it just right so his boss, P.W. Griffin (wonderfully played by Os Leanse), can use it in the next film. When he travels to a remote village whose livelihood depends on what the sea can deliver, little does he know there’s also a town curse placed upon all residents and visitors alike!

This film marks the debut of UK-based Jake Kuhn and Noah Stratton-Twine, and their first effort looks terrifically campy. They also decided to embrace the look of the classic monochromatic film era, tinged with a sepia tone, and presented in 4:3 aspect ratio to make the story as true to the era as possible. It’s a wonderful nod to those old pulp serials, and as for the effects, shiver me timbers, I’m sure there are some sea salts who’ll approve! Even when the dialogue gets a bit atypical, it hardly distracts from the normalcy our hero tries to live in.

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Decoding Optimus Prime Awakening, A New Chapter or Closure?

Optimus Prime Awakening sends its iconic hero on a spiritual journey through alternate realities, ancient symbols and a mysterious force beyond the Primes. From the Flower of Life to Energon’s possible consciousness, this short may be quietly setting up the boldest change to the IP. Until Hasbro announces something or nothing, the setup can be just as threatening or a reinvention….

Optimus Prime Awakening posterThe big question most fans are asking after seeing Optimus Prime Awakening is what comes next for all Cybertronians. Unless viewers are deeply familiar with the franchise’s lore, my thoughts are focused on Optimus’ final spiritual journey. The questions raised align with various spiritual beliefs, which pose a related question: will we become one with God after death? In this case, “Till all are one” takes on a different meaning, raising the issue of how we can break a vicious cycle of war and conflict.

This animated short nicely addresses how every continuity, from Armada and Cyberverse to G1 and Prime, is shaped by choices and decisions. Where the logic falters is with Earthspark. Megatron already realized that continued conflict was futile and that, unless everyone worked together to save Cybertron, they were doomed. He did not necessarily join the Autobots, but he did renounce what defined a Decepticon. At least, that was my reading.

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The Mandalorian and Grogu Won’t Save Star Wars, But It’s Honestly Kind of Charming

At long last, The Mandalorian and Grogu is on home video (released August 25, 2026) and was it worth it for the bonus features?

The Mandalorian and Grogu PosterIs the Star Wars franchise dead? Considering how long it took me to finally watch The Mandalorian and Grogu, not even a cute baby Yoda is enough to get me watching new releases on a timely schedule. The IP is in a meh state, and I haven’t even watched The Ninth Jedi yet, despite its critical success and strong word of mouth. I need either originality or the return of characters I fondly adore to keep watching.

What has kept this galaxy far, far away alive for nearly fifty years is its love of pulp adventure. Those roots remain intact with this pairing, and the performances feel much more lived-in. But somehow, I didn’t feel the need to know what happened right away. All this cinematic offering does is show its version of “Lone Wolf and Cub” doing their thing, only better. The home video release reinforces that point with its standard collection of mini-docs and behind-the-scenes looks. The only aspect I cared to know more about was how Zeb, Embo and Rotta were translated from animation into live action.

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From Sunset Strip to Cthulhu’s Lair: Minions and Monsters Pulls Off a Wonderful, Essential Send-Up

With Minions and Monsters now out on home video, it’s a terrific film, but where’s the beef? The bonus features need to be buffed up to match the tribute the film makes.

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Available to purchase on Amazon USA

Minions and Monsters finally gives those little yellow, pill-shaped critters from Despicable Me a proper calling, and it is about bloody time. The home-video release looks superb on Blu-ray, although its basic selection of bonus features makes this less of a must-buy package than the film deserves. Ever since Sergio Pablos pitched the idea to Illumination, I have regarded them as natural heirs to cinema’s early comedians, like Buster Keaton. And to pay tribute to that fact, I’m glad what directors Brian Lynch and Pierre Coffin massaged into shape acknowledges all that and more!

And for those people who missed seeing this film on the big screen, the home video release gives viewers a chance to watch this film multiple times to pick out the scenes where this tribute shines the most. It is a marvellous send-up of the Silent Era and Hollywood’s Golden Age, with a specific Minion, James, taking centre stage. And I have to assume the narrative imagines how a new film industry might develop without D.W. Griffith defining its early days.

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