Movie Reviews

Buddy (2026) Like Barney and Friends, but evil. Laura’s Rating: 2/5 Stars Plot: A fluffy orange unicorn with a kids show is actually a magical being holding the cast hostage and becoming increasingly unstable. Opinion: Buddy had set design, decent acting, and terrible writing. The set up is great, with the friendly mailman and nurse, talking set pieces like the couch and train, and stereotypical catchy songs with lessons for kids. I enjoyed watching the kids becoming increas

Uncut Gems (2019) A chaotic and intense Safdie brothers production. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot: NYC jewelry store owner Howard Ratner has huge gambling debts and a broken marriage. After loaning a smuggled opal to Kevin Garnett (yes, the basketball player) and taking his championship ring as collateral, he starts gambling big — on sports and on his own safety. Opinion: This movie is frustrating and overstimulating to watch. Everyone is yelling and making horrible decision

Hokum (2026) Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars An Irish folk horror mystery. Plot: Ohm travels to a secluded hotel in Ireland to spread his parents’ ashes and hears about the haunted honeymoon suite from a worker. After the worker goes missing, Ohm sets out to discover the truth about what happened. Opinion: I thought this was a solid, creepy mystery with a few jump scares. It didn’t rely on blood and gore to create scares and instead the sense of unease, anticipation, and tension wa

The End of Oak Street (2026) A late summer blockbuster with Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor starring. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot: A family finds themselves and their neighborhood transported to another world where they must band together in order to survive. Analysis: I was definitely entertained and it was fun to see a dinosaur movie outside of the Jurassic Park universe. The acting is pretty solid and despite Anne Hathaway’s beauty, everyone was believably a suburban

Bugonia (2025) A dark comedy thriller with several Academy Award nominations. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot: Conspiracy theorist Teddy and his cousin Don kidnap a high powered CEO, convinced that she is an alien sent to bring about the destruction of planet Earth. Analysis: This movie gave me lots to think about. Is Teddy evil? A victim of circumstances? Both? Should we be sympathetic to the rich CEO? The movie challenges your ideas about the characters over and over. St

The Odyssey (2026) Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated adaptation of Homer’s epic poem. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot: After his victory at Troy, Odysseus and his men set out to return home, encountering many perils along the way. Analysis: As expected, this movie delivers an engaging story on an epic scale. The cinematography (shot on IMAX) is beautiful, the settings are grand, and the practical effects are quite impressive. Also, shout out to the storm sequence, where I

The Sheep Detectives (2026) A comedy-mystery with a heavy dose of heart. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot: A group of sheep try to solve the murder of their shepherd. Analysis: At first, I thought the movie was a little goofy. Not bad, but there’s talking sheep (voiced by a star studded cast). However, I did eventually get into it and found it charming, funny, sad, and sweet. When I say that this movie has a surprising amount of emotional depth, I mean why am I sobbing at the s

Backrooms (2026) “The more times it remembers something, the less it does.” Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot: A depressed furniture store owner stumbles into a seemingly endless hidden space located in the basement of his store. Analysis: A never ending set of rooms. Liminal spaces. Uncanny valley. Realistic copies with incorrect details. However you want to describe the backrooms, they are certainly unnerving. The movie uses many shooting techniques with a combo of found fo

Blues Brothers (1980) The first movie based on characters from Saturday Night Live. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot: Recently released from prison, Jake Blues and his brother Elwood attempt to reunite their band, hoping to raise enough money to save the Catholic orphanage they were raised in. Analysis: The Blues brothers are just scraping by and are barely a step ahead of their enemies and the authorities. Despite their serious flaws, the audience can hardly help but root for

Seven (1995) A dark and grisly thriller not for the faint of heart. Laura’s Rating: 5/5 Stars Plot: Two detectives, one on his way out and one just starting in the big city, hunt a serial killer who kills based on the seven deadly sins. Analysis: God I love (director) David Fincher. I’ve seen many scenes of this movie, but I hadn’t watched it all the way through. Even knowing some of what happens, this movie was so intense. Se7en is everything I want in a thriller. Grisly, ra

Hellraiser (1987) A gory horror flick with a disjointed plot. Laura’s Rating: 1/5 Stars Plot: A man opens a mysterious box, summoning the Cenobites. These creatures take him to a place where pain and pleasure are “indivisible”. In a state of near death, he must get someone to provide victims that help him regenerate. He looks to his brother Larry and his wife Julia. Analysis: It’s so bad. It’s kind of gross and gory. It’s not super realistic, but I still wouldn’t recommend t

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) A feature length film featuring characters from The Mandalorian series. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot: Following the fall of the Empire, the Mandalorian bounty hunter and Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) work for the New Republic to hunt down remaining Imperial warlords. Analysis: This was exactly what I expected. It felt like a couple longer episodes of the tv show strung together. If you’re looking for a more cinematic Star Wars experienc

Obsession (2026) An absolutely record shattering feat of filmmaking- grossing over $161 million so far with just a $750k budget. Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars Plot: Bear (Johnston) wants to ask out his friend and crush Nikki (Navarette) but chickens out. In frustration, he wishes that she loved him more than anyone else in the world. And now he has his wish, including consequences he could never imagine. Analysis: The premise is so incredibly simple: a wish gone wrong. Yet the

Hamnet (2025) A movie based on Maggie O'Farrell’s 2020 historical fiction book detailing Shakespeare’s inspiration to write Hamlet. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot: The movie dramatizes the meeting of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes Hathaway and their subsequent family life often filled with tragedy. Analysis: Well this was a sad movie to watch on an airplane. Everyone is talking about Jessie Buckley’s performance (which is good and Oscar winning), but give the kid t

The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) A long awaited sequel to The Devil Wears Prada (2006) based on Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot: After Andi loses her journalist job and Runway magazine faces a PR crisis, Andi finds herself back at the site of her miserable, life-changing internship. Analysis: This was actually a pretty great sequel. The story didn’t feel forced. The original cast was all back and felt natural in their roles, with appropriate caree

The Gorge (2025) Described as a “science fiction romantic action horror film” which sounds ridiculous, but is somewhat accurate. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot: Levi, a former Marine sniper, is stationed in a remote tower on one side of a mysterious gorge. On the other side, Kremlin contractor Drasa is given the same mission: guard a deep gorge with unknown threats inside. The two develop an unlikely friendship considering their strict no contact orders that apply to both t

“Wuthering Heights” (2026) A loose adaptation of Brontë’s classic novel. Laura’s Rating: 2.5/5 Stars Plot: Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff develop a close bond but are forced apart and destined for heartbreak. Analysis: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi delivered solid performances, with believable acting and emotional depth. I have no notes for either actor and they played the roles as written. The rest of the movie didn’t really hold up in my opinion. The tweaks from the o

Below (2002) A supernatural thriller set on a submarine. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : After a navy submarine rescues survivors from a U-boat attack, unexplained events start happening on board the ship. Analysis : The movie has an early aughts feel to it despite the events of the story being set in 1943. There’s several actors I recognized that went on to star in other movies and shows: Holt McCallany, Scott Foley, and even Zach Galifianakis. Admittedly, viewers must em

Project Hail Mary (2026) The film adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel . Laura’s Rating: 5/5 Stars Plot : The plot is just like the book: Middle school science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up from a coma to find himself in a spaceship with no idea how he got there. Told in the present and through flashbacks, he slowly remembers that his mission may be very important to the future of Earth and beyond. Analysis : I absolutely adored the book Project Hail Mary , so I was concern

Face/Off (1997) John Travolta and Nic Cage literally switch faces. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : FBI Agent Sean Archer goes undercover as criminal mastermind Castor Troy to foil a terrorist plot by getting a facial transplant. When Troy wakes up early and finds that Archer has literally stolen his face, he seeks revenge. Analysis : My thoughts while watching Face/Off: LOL This is the most ridiculous movie I’ve ever seen. The plot holes are beyond reason and the script is i

Inglorious Basterds (2009) A fictionalized version of events before and during WWII. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot: The film follows two (fictional) plots in France to assassinate Nazi leadership during WWII. A group of Jewish-American soldiers set out to kill and intimidate Nazis, while Shosanna, an undercover Jewish woman, seeks revenge for her family’s murder years earlier. Analysis : It’s interesting to see a universe with an alternate history that is based on such a

Together (2025) A body horror film centered around a couple. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot : Long term couple Tim and Millie move to the countryside for Millie’s new job. Feeling unmoored without the familiarity of home and friends, tensions start to rise. And something mysterious in the woods threatens to undo them completely. Analysis : Wow. This movie was legit scary and unsettling. I could feel the discomfort of the characters and the body horror was indeed horrific.

Eden Lake (2008) A gory horror set in rural England. Laura’s Rating: 1/5 Stars Plot : Jenny and Steve set out for a romantic getaway at Eden Lake, only to find that things in the woods are not as tranquil as they seem. A group of rebellious teenagers begin to terrorize the couple and things quickly get out of hand. Analysis : This movie was absolutely awful, not because of poor acting, but because the whole plot was vile and miserable to watch. Michael Fassbender and Kelly R

Marty Supreme (2025) A young man’s ruthless pursuit of his dreams. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : Marty Mauser pursues his dream of becoming a champion table-tennis player in the 1950s. Analysis : Yes, this movie is about ping-pong. But it’s about so much more than ping-pong too. It’s really a character study of Marty, who is so deeply passionate and determined that he will let nothing stand in the way of his dreams. You can feel his desperation oozing from the screen, whi

My Year in Movies 2025 I watched 46 movies this year, including 38 that I had never seen before and 11 movies that came out this year. Of the movies I had never seen before, here are the best and worst films I watched in 2025: Best Movies 2025 Ford v Ferrari (4.5/5 Stars) Sinners (4.5 Stars) Godzilla Minus One (4.5 Stars) Materialists (4.5 Stars) Gladiator II (4.5 Stars) Some great movies this year! I had exactly 5 movies at 4.5 stars and while they span genres, I’d reco

Frankenstein (2025) A new film adaptation from Mary Shelley’s famous 1818 novel of the same name. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : Scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein begins a quest to create life from death, bringing terror and tragedy to himself and those around him. Analysis : Frankenstein is an absolutely beautiful film. The visuals are stunning, with bold colors and epic landscapes. The dialogue is often poetic and the soundtrack is subtle but impactful. I enjoyed the ac

Predator Badlands (2025) The newest installment in the Predator franchise. Laura’s Rating: 2.5/5 Stars Plot : Dek is an outcast from his Yautja predator clan looking to prove himself on the death planet of Genna. He finds an unlikely ally in Thia, a woman on a mission from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Analysis : I’ve seen a few Predator movies, but I don’t follow the universe closely. You don’t need much of a familiarity to understand this movie so go ahead and watch even

Blue Velvet (1986) A surreal exploration into the seedy underbelly of an idyllic suburb. Laura’s Rating: 1.5/5 Stars Plot : Home from college, Jeffrey stumbles upon a severed ear in a field, which leads him down a path to a dark and disturbing mystery in his idyllic town. Soon, he’s torn between the peaceful life he knows and the intriguing underbelly that fascinates him. Analysis : I enjoyed David Lynch’s tv series Twin Peaks , so I thought it was time to check out one of hi

Ready or Not (2019) A gory thriller about the horrors of marrying into a family with a strange tradition. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot : Grace is getting married to the man of her dreams on his family’s luxurious estate. She expects a cool reception from her wealthy new in-laws, but instead they want to play a game on her wedding night. Only, the stakes are life and death. Analysis : The movie is pretty fast paced, not dwelling too long on unnecessary details in the setup

Godzilla Minus One (2023) The 37th film in the Godzilla franchise and the 33rd from Japanese production company Toho. Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars Plot : As Japan attempts to heal from WWII, Koichi Shikishima, a former kamikaze pilot, deals with PTSD from his time on Odo Island, where he encountered a monster called Godzilla. When it seems the monster is back and threatening Tokyo, Koichi sees a chance to make things right. Analysis : I expected an intense action film center

Weapons (2025) A mysterious thriller centered on a class of missing children. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot : Nearly every child from...

The Substance ( 2024) A body horror film focused on a starlet’s quest to become a better version of herself. Laura’s Rating: 2.5/5 Stars...

F1 (2025) A movie about the pinnacle of motorsport: Formula One Racing. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : Retired driver Sonny Hayes...

Gilda (1946) A noir film selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot: American...

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) The reboot of the classic 90s slasher almost 30 years in the making. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars...

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) A classic embodiment of a 90s teen horror film. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot : Just as their...

The Visit (2015) An unsettling story of kids trying to connect with their estranged grandparents. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot :...

The Man Who Would Be King (1975) An adventure film based on the short story by Rudyard Kipling. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : Two...

Sinners (2025) A stylish and unique horror drama from director Ryan Coogler. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : Set in 1932, troublesome...

Gladiator II (2024) A long (24 year) awaited sequel to the phenomenal Gladiator . Stylizing the title with Roman numerals instead of...

Maxxxine (2024) The third and final installment in the X trilogy from Ti West. Laura’s Rating: 2/5 Stars Plot: Mia Goth returns as...

Conclave (2024) Well there is never a more relevant time to watch Conclave , right? Following the recent death of Pope Francis, the...

The Raven (1935) An early horror movie with legendary stars Béla Lugosi and Boris Karloff Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot : Retired...

Hit Man (2023) An amusing adventure of a professor turned police mole. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot : A quiet professor helping the...

Cabaret (1972) A musical set against the rise of Nazism in 1930s Berlin. Laura’s Rating: 1.5/5 Stars Plot : Promiscuous Sandy Bowles is...

Dirty Dancing (1987) “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : Baby is spending the summer at a resort in the...

Carrie (1976) A classic adaptation of the novel by Stephen King. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : Carrie is a sheltered, shy teen who is...

Elevation (2024) A post-apocalyptic monster action film. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : A settlement of people live at the top of a...

Mother’s Instinct (2024) A suspenseful and dramatic exploration of grief. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : Alice and Celine have picture...

Ford v Ferrari (2019) The true story of Ford’s quest to beat the legendary Ferrari racing team . Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars Plot :...