Film Review: The Conjuring: Last Rites (Warner Bros. Pictures)

By: Jesse Striewski

The fourth (and tentatively final) chapter of The Conjuring series (not including spin-offs taking place within the same universe) finds Loraine and Ed Warren (once again played by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) assisting a Pennsylvanian family named the Smurls battle the unwanted demons invading their home circa 1986.

Turns out this specific demon came from the very same mirror The Warrens had also dealt with right around the time their now-adult daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson) was born roughly two decades prior, and so the whole family (including Judy’s new fiance Tony, played by Ben Hardy) packs up their gear to go help out the Smurls.

I haven’t gone to see any of the films in this series since the original came out back in 2013, and the most of the aforementioned spin-offs have all been pretty hit or miss since then, though the two prior direct sequels that followed the first film were fairly solid, and this one is no exception. Far from perfect, but entertaining enough if you allow it to be.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Film Review: Final Destination Bloodlines (Warner Bros. Pictures)

By: Jesse Striewski

For a quarter of a century now the Final Destination franchise has given modern horror films the same type of mindless (yet often clever), gory fun that fans have come to expect from the likes of Freddy or Jason, but without an actual face to go along with it like the aforementioned other hard-hitters (the film does give off some major Halloween 2018 vibes at the onset though).

This latest installment (first since 2011 and sixth overall) sticks close to the usual formula, but adds a slight twist to the proceedings. This time around, college student Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) feels the need to get in touch with her estranged grandmother (Gabrielle Rose) after experiencing a recurring nightmare involving her at a younger age (played by Brec Bassinger).

Come to find out, Granny actually saved a lot of lives back in the day, but it came with a hefty price. Death not only come back to claim all of those who did not perish that night so long ago in the ’60s, but their entire lineage as well.

One by one, Stefani’s family get claimed by the Grim Reaper as they scramble to avoid their respective gruesome fates. Most of the deaths are over the top in their own cartoon-y ways, actually making it somewhat more tolerable than more realistic horror films these days (which I’ve admittedly lost much interest in).

But despite all of its chaos, there is a bittersweet side to it here, now being the final film role/appearance of the late Tony Todd (the film is dedicated to his memory at the end credits).

It’s not a perfect movie by any means, but if you’re looking for escapist entertainment without having to put much thought into the plot, this will do.

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

Film Review: A Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)

By: Jesse Striewski

Here’s about as much that I honestly knew about Minecraft (the game) prior to entering the theater for A Minecraft Movie this past weekend; it was some sort of building block game that also included zombies and various other animals and weird creatures in it that my kid just ate up (and seemingly had to have anything Minecraft related) around six or seven years old at the time.

And here’s what I know about it now after watching the film on the big screen – still not much! That does not mean I didn’t find the new film starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black to be a fun ride of sheer video game escapism entertainment, similar to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie (which coincidentally also featured Black in a voice role).

The simplest breakdown of the film’s events involves nerdy outcast Henry (Sebastian Hansen), his newly acquired friend and washed-up video game Champion Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (played brilliantly by Momoa), his older sister Natalie (Emma Myers), and their realtor Dawn (Danielle Brooks) all getting zapped through a portal into another world (or “Overworld”) after Garrison locates a magic orb and crystal that previously belonged to Steve (Black) in this very magical land (are you following me yet?).

Meanwhile good guy Steve, who’s been imprisoned by the evil piglin ruler of the Nether Malgosha (voiced by Rachel House) believes he needs to get these items back in order to rescue his wolf and faithful companion, Dennis, back from Malgosha. There’s plenty of fish-out-of-water jokes and running and screaming as events rapidly unfold along the way, but surprisingly it never loses its viewers’ attention.

Many critics have so far described the film as “mindless” or even a “cash grab” (what movie isn’t though?), but at the end of the day, it still maintains its heart. I may not have been much of a Minecraft connoisseur prior to going into the film per se, and I may have found some of the crowd interaction more distracting over anything else, but after catching it this past weekend, I can definitely say I’m willing to give it a try now more than I’ve ever been.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars