A place of conniving witches

Bambi is a heartbroken mutant deer who kills people. That alone is the point of this movie. Sure, you watch these kinds of horror movies, but they're always just as bad.

Where the dead men go

Through his actions, the commander of Oscarsborg Fortress, Birger Kristian Eriksen, saved enough time for the Oslo royal family and government to escape the Nazi German invasion in World War II. He made the bold decision to fire on the approaching ship without knowing its purpose. For the ship floating in the fog was at first a mystery to everyone. It eventually turned out to be the German warship Blücher, which could have caused massive destruction if it had been launched off the coast of Oslo! The Battle of Oslo, by Daniel Fahre, is a good war movie, but an even better history lesson.

It's just meat

Complete horror. Definitely one of the most memorable and nightmarish films in a few years! Two teenage siblings are orphaned and a very strange woman is chosen to be their guardian. Bring Her Back is a painfully gripping film with a constant atmosphere of discomfort. Sickening and unsettling but such a great movie. Directed by Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou.

Because people let it happen

Someone wrote exceptionally well that Rami Malek doesn't always match his words to his face. There's too much exaggeration in his acting. As if he's trying too hard. For no reason at all. At best, it's brilliant, but perhaps the weakest link in this particular film. Thankfully Russell Crowe is on fire! Richard Grant and Michael Shannon make good appearances in supporting roles. The Nuremberg Trials are the world's most famous international military trial. Presumably, it is told in this film in a concise manner. The narrative is extremely well paced.

Sempiternal angels

Somehow it feels like this could be - right down to the actors - a completely artificially generated entertainment. Everything seems so damn unnatural and absurd. Focusing on the crappy story is a whole other issue.

Everything in red means trouble

Oh hell, the train is on the run and it's full of toxic chemicals! There are dozens of small towns along the track and one of them could be decimated if this steel giant derails! Or it could crash into another train! This matter needs to be taken seriously and the solution may only be found by hardened railway professionals. Tony Scott conjured up an incredibly spine-chilling thriller on this subject too.

Somewhere out there

A couple's son dies in a car accident and the grief-stricken parents deal with this horrific event very differently. Strong performances from Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, but unfortunately otherwise a rather disposable drama.

Cloaked in pus

Louis Theroux follows and interviews ultra-masculine social media influencers. The scariest thing about it is their influence on young people. Because their world is distorted and wrong in every way. It's sickening to watch.

White Lotus, Yam-yam and Shanghai Sally

The 9th and final season of Seinfeld. Once again, thank you and goodbye. We'll see you soon. 

Stars exploding

One of the finest Stephen King adaptations. A very strong and emotional story without being overly colored with supernatural elements. The life of one man, Chuck, and at the same time all of humanity, told in three episodes. All good, but especially the first part, in its beauty of hopelessness, is cinema magic at its best. Actually, the film gives viewers very simple and heartwarming life advice, but a lot to think about.

The arrow of cosmic seeds

At least when it comes to the characters, it's a bit like a madhouse. Although the film has macabre humor and Nordic irony, it has a rather serious and dark undertone. Here, we simultaneously laugh at life, celebrate it, and explore the impact of tragedy on the human psyche. Anders Thomas Jensen (Riders of Justice, Adam's Apples) is the next figure in the line of notable Danish filmmakers.

Two shades of mythical coldness

I read David Howarth's book Die Alone (1955) and noticed that it has been made into two films. Arne Skouen's Nine Lives (1957) and this Harald Zwart's The 12th Man (2017). An incredibly amazing survival story about a Norwegian soldier who, instead of carrying out a planned sabotage mission, flees the Nazis in perhaps the most barren and unforgiving terrain in the world. It also tells of people's selfless desire to help, even at the risk of the helpers risking their own lives and the lives of their families. The film is also excellent.

Born in a balloon

While vacationing in England, a Canadian man is suddenly embroiled in international espionage and is suspected of murdering a young woman! And the whole of Britain is after him. The trip to London has suddenly become a nightmare! 9 Steps, from 1935, is a wonderfully crafted suspense film by Alfred Hitchcock.

A headache to eternity

Although it took several years before the notorious terrorist leader Osama bin Laden was captured, this documentary is a great testament to the intense intelligence work that went into finding and killing him. Slow but very determined research work by CIA analysts. And finally, a precision-executed operation by special forces.

Going to buried in the frozen ground

Such a wicked fun to watch. A very genre-conscious and action-packed war film. While the previous movie Sisu (2022) focused on killing Nazis, now the fucking Russians get their share in Sisu: Road to Revenge. A lonely and very quiet, but honest and stubborn Finnish warrior, he cares little about the superior enemy and simply crushes them one by one to get his way. Nothing more than straightforward action, but works amazingly well.

Unfinished bloodshed

This isn't the first Korean film to combine naive humor with a serious suspense story. And let's be honest, it hasn't worked before. The film is about chasing a serial killer and the story is also dulled by overly long fight scenes. A well-made thriller otherwise.

Cursed with wickedness

Frankly, it's pretty shitty. A fantasy adventure film about the coexistence of humans and troll-like creatures on a remote island. There is hardly any background to the story or characters, and therefore the film does not engage the viewer at any point.

Throw caution to the thoughtless wind

Danish Christian's son has joined ISIS in Syria and to get her back he is pretending to be a heretic. Even participating in their atrocities. But how do you wean a boy from fundamentalist brainwashing in a violent kingdom of infidels? This is a pretty good attempt to portray an exceptionally cruel group and ideology, but overall it falls a bit flat, and it's not particularly thrilling. 

Life is filled with its little miseries

Withstood the test of time exceptionally well. Although they have had their share of hits with Airplane, The Naked Gun and Police Squad!, Top Secret (1984) is one of Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker and David Zucker's most enjoyable films. An American rock and roll icon travels to perform behind the Iron Curtain and suddenly finds himself part of a counter-revolution. The ageless and utterly hilarious jokes and Val Kilmer's brilliant performance make this a cult classic.

It's hell to pay when the fiddler stops

Movies are too long these days, you could skip half an hour of each without anyone noticing and then you get this short 18-minute short film that you could easily watch for two hours! The Singers is an incredibly captivating and beautiful story about a group of men in a suburban bar wondering who sings the best. The men's interaction brings sunlight and magic to the dark drinking den.

Shit always hits you

Tony Scott's directing style was something else. A real tour de force. Electric and punchy. With his trademark quick cuts, he never lost his rhythm. Magical energy and uniquely recognizable work. It's a shame that he left us prematurely. Fortunately, he bequeathed to us, among other things, True Romance (1993), Top Gun (1986), Enemy of the State (1998) and Man on Fire (2004). The Taking of Pelam 123 (2009) is a streamlined action film that is like taming chaos from start to finish. It hardly stops to breathe. And this, like his other films, is funny, not comedic, but ingeniously inventive with a nice witty undertone.

Two candles in the dark

The ocean floor is as unforgiving, desolate, lifeless and unexplored as space. And in good stories, extraterrestrial boogeymen can also venture there. One can only hope that these superior beings are kind. The Abyss is a 1989 science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron. It is starred by Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester, Todd Graff, Kimberly Scott and John Bedford Lloyd. It's one of the best claustrophobic survival movies of all time. At times, it's breathtakingly beautiful to watch.

Sit by the king or perish

There are pros and cons when an actor makes a film that polishes the public image of the country's president and covers up the stains from his past. In a way, he sells his soul and all his artistic integrity. At the same time, he surrounds himself with people he hates. His private life also suffers. But on the other hand, being in the dictator's favor, he gets certain concessions from the state leadership's office, for example, friends are released from prison and removed from their blacklist. Being in the inner circle of power can be fun for a while, but it can also lead to death. Eagles of the Republic is the final film of Tarik Saleh's Cairo trilogy (following The Nile Hilton Incident and Boy from Heaven). 

The epidemic of laziness

I don't think a movie plot can get any simpler than this: Walk or get shot. But in its simplicity, how deliciously enjoyable. Stephen King's book was already shocking, and now this Francis Lawrence film is unforgivably brutal and definitely not for the faint of heart. It's great that things like this are still being done.

Just saw the arms apart

A couple moves to the peace of the countryside, but they encounter nightmarish unnatural forces. Makes a pretty fun and creepy body horror movie. This isn't about reinventing the genre, but Michael Shanks' Together is sufficiently grotesque, scary, and disturbing. 

Ruining the good memories

A great-looking thing. Almost like watching an Edward Hopper painting transformed into a film. This first English-language movie by Pedro Almodóvar is absolutely fantastic eye candy. There's nothing wrong with the story itself, somehow some kind of twist was expected, but apparently, on purpose, no greater tragic turmoil has been sought here.

In the harsh face of stardom

This was tamer and kinder than I remembered. The rock escapism of this fictional band called Stillwater is delightfully smoothed over what contemporaries were certainly doing at the time. In the film, the band and its groupies are almost completely alienated from drugs and booze. But it's a nice snapshot of a rock band and a trusted journalist's journey across America. The purpose of the film is perhaps not to indulge in sensationalism but rather the joy of storytelling.

Ashes in the shadows of the alleys

Sir Alfred Hitchcocks's first (1927) true suspense film and his first commercial hit. A mysterious killer called the Avenger is terrorizing the streets of London. As the search for him continues, all eyes turn to the mysterious stranger who has taken up residence in the inn. Makes an atmospheric silent film thriller.

Some people are blurred

Based on a Stephen King book and at least loosely based on the active years of serial killer BTK, aka Dennis Rader. Quite good otherwise but unbelievable especially when the wife finds out her husband's secrets and instead of running to the police, she keeps quiet if the man promises not to continue killing. The film stars Joan Allen, Anthony Lapaglia and Stephen Lang.

A bottomless pit of need

Comedy is a difficult genre. When it doesn't succeed, it's annoying to watch. They try to be funny here too, the writers must have laughed with what they thought were genius antics, but unfortunately the fun doesn't transfer to the other side of the screen. You can hardly blame the two brilliant actors (Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch), although they didn't play to their strengths here either. And their chemistry didn't work. A relationship drama was built in between the comedy, but that too remained very lukewarm and distant because the characters were so uncomfortable and repulsive in their narcissism.

The latest version of the truth

A good action movie suffocates itself in its own impossibility. 20 million in drug cartel money has blinded officials from various units. Smoking dirty cops requires multi-layered twists and turns. The Rip, by Joe Carnahan, is a once-watchable macho film bathed in testosterone and gunpowder smoke, where the men are muscular, bulletproof killing machines.

Peace is preserved by hiding the truth

A forbidden friendship between four South and North Korean border guards. A completely absurd risk of getting caught. If it were to be revealed, the impact could be world-changing. Eliminating them would probably be the simplest option to keep their mouths shut for good. But first they have to be exposed. Joint Security Area (2000) is a little confusing at first because the story unfolds mostly through flashbacks, and very slowly, but fortunately it's rewarding in the end.

The nights were deathly cold

Wow, painfully bad movies are still being made. The rights to Walt Disney's Winnie the Pooh characters were transferred to the public domain in January 2022, and of course someone had the idea to rape it for use in horror films. The movie is apparently made without any thought. But there's a sequel coming, so maybe it'll be improved. In the end, though, this is just a teenage slasher horror story. A bad one. A meaningless, blood-soaked mess. 

A semen demon

Undoubtedly one of the most significant and best films of recent times. One could speak of a complete cinematic experience. It is chaotic, just the right amount of raunchy and opinionated, and above all, exciting and gripping. The technical execution is absolutely top-notch, such as the captivating cinematography, soundtrack and acting. You can't help but enjoy it to the fullest.

Rotting nuclear waste blues

Not everyone will like this kind of campy humor and gore. That's why these films retain their value and the fan base is loyal. The 2023 Toxic Avenger remake, directed by Macon Blair, is admirably faithful to the original film's insanity. And that's a good thing. It's a bad superhero movie, but a thousand times funnier than all the other modern superhero movies that have to follow a certain code of conduct. So much gore and blood that the target audience is thankfully completely different.

Choose to be content

David and Sarah, who have only recently met, go where their car's GPS tells them to go. They drive to different places in the past and get to know each other in the process. The film is pretty typical stuff for this period. The kind of clever, weird humor that tries to cover up the more serious and intelligent and - this time also - romantic arc of the story. Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie give good acting, which is always rewarding, but as a film A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (by Kogonada) is annoyingly self-sufficient.

A hundred die so that a thousand may live

A sadly forgotten gem of '90s noir. A number of renowned actors (Nick Nolte, Michael Madsen, John Malkovich, Melanie Griffith, Chazz Palminteri, Jennifer Connelly, Chris Penn, Treat Williams) and a visually appealing depiction of 1950s Los Angeles, where the laws are a bit hazy and almost scripted to be broken. The film's atmosphere is very close to Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidental (1997) and Roman Polanski's Chinatown (1974), so comparing it to these two masterpieces is already a huge compliment. Mulholland Falls (1996) is directed by Lee Tamahori.  

A jockey without a horse

For Tommy Seebach, Eurovision Song Contest was an obsession. He participated in it many times and even won three times. Even getting older didn't stop him. But people's interest in him was fading. He wasn't the youthful disco charmer he used to be. Tommy found this as a reason to drink alcohol. He drank so much that his family had enough. Alcohol then became his destiny. A sad story about a musician pursuing his dreams and the end result when not all dreams always come true. A fairly ordinary, yet impressive and touching film based on true events and people.

Room for chance

It seems like the story of the old grumpy man has been told to the end. His sons are about to throw their father into a nursing home, but the man finds new energy in the company of a female artist. And together they turn everyday life into a celebration. The best thing about this Mika Kaurismäki film is its unhurried portrayal of the timeless Finnish countryside.

Song for a silver eye

It's kind of baffling that there are still filmmakers who underestimate the intelligence of their viewers. There's hardly any other reason for this kind of outright garbage to be released. Guns Up is unspeakably bad. There's absolutely nothing exciting, fun or interesting about this action piece of shit. But at least, you don't have to think about what the shittiest movie of the year is anymore.

It's awfully easy to lie

A brilliantly contradictory, suggestive, yet still quite gentle film. A simple love story but seasoned with all the elements of humanity. Interpreted as almost a thriller without the malevolent criminals. Brief Encounter is a 1945 British romantic tragedy film directed by David Lean. 

That's the second bullet

A narcotics officer on his honeymoon in a small town on the US-Mexico border witnesses a suspicious explosion and, upon investigating the case further, realizes that the biggest problem in solving the case is the prejudiced local police. Orson Welles' Touch of Evil (1958) is dark film noir at its best, dealing with racism and corruption in a jarringly direct style.

Bad luck is just an invention of losers and poors

A charming and pedantic courier for Cosa Nostra lives in the same hotel year after year, waiting for assignments. It's a bit boring sometimes, which is probably why he suffers from insomnia, but luckily he has heroin and people to watch. Falling in love with people can be a problem. The Consqeuences of Love, by Paolo Sorrentino, is an Italian thriller with a slightly erratic plot, but comes with a nicely tuned atmosphere.

Used to be a helluva town

It is not certain, but it seems ominously that a catastrophic earthquake will hit Los Angeles. And the city is threatened with chaos if the residents are told about it. Scientists, politicians, engineers and authorities must find the right solution to save human lives. They can't afford to waste any time or even more terrible things will happen. Earthquake is a pretty sympathetic disaster film, they probably did the best they could with the resources of the time (1974), but it still falls a bit flat. Directed by Mark Robson, starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Geneviève Bujold and Walter Matthau.