‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Keeps Alien Story Humming with Unnerving Prequel

‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Keeps Alien Story Humming with Unnerving Prequel

By Lynn Venhaus Still terrifying and unnerving, the third chapter of this durable horror science fiction franchise presents a smart origin story, “A Quiet Place:... Details
Haunting ‘Fancy Dance’ Offers Natural Portrait of Reservation Life

Haunting ‘Fancy Dance’ Offers Natural Portrait of Reservation Life

By Lynn VenhausA raw and real portrait of Native American life on an Oklahoma reservation, “Fancy Dance” is a haunting, heartbreaking missing-person drama from an... Details
Excellent Performances Buoy Predictable Nostalgic Ride Through Past in ‘The Bikeriders”

Excellent Performances Buoy Predictable Nostalgic Ride Through Past in ‘The Bikeriders”

By Alex McPherson Richly atmospheric and suspenseful, yet frustratingly conventional, director Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders” can’t quite connect its engaging performances and visceral thrills with... Details
‘Treasure’ Never Connects In The Way It Sets Out to Achieve

‘Treasure’ Never Connects In The Way It Sets Out to Achieve

By Lynn VenhausAlternating light humor with traumatic memories, “Treasure” never really comes together as an effective homeland revisit by a Holocaust survivor and his well-meaning... Details
While Not As Innovative as Original, ‘Inside Out 2’ Is A Clever Revisit

While Not As Innovative as Original, ‘Inside Out 2’ Is A Clever Revisit

By Lynn VenhausNearly 10 years after Pixar Animation Studios raised the bar again with a mind-bending and rib-tickling “Inside Out,” which became an instant classic,... Details
Sparks Fly Between Two Great Actors, But ‘The Judge’ Is Over-Stuffed

Sparks Fly Between Two Great Actors, But ‘The Judge’ Is Over-Stuffed

Editor's note: This review originally appeared in the Belleville News-Democrat on Oct. 10, 2010. We are running this review because of its resurgence streaming on... Details
Stunts Dazzle, Story Fizzles In Grisly ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ Prequel

Stunts Dazzle, Story Fizzles In Grisly ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ Prequel

By Lynn Venhaus Another thunderous full-throttle fever dream from visionary filmmaker George Miller, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” repetitively smashes and crashes a megaton of... Details
‘I Saw the TV Glow’ Is a Singular, Hypnotically Engaging Look at Identity and Loneliness

‘I Saw the TV Glow’ Is a Singular, Hypnotically Engaging Look at Identity and Loneliness

By Alex McPherson Director Jane Schoenbrun’s “I Saw the TV Glow” is a dreamlike, thought-provoking, and emotionally gutting experience that’s at once personal and universal... Details
Imaginative ‘IF’ Misses Mark to Spark Magic Because of Darker Themes

Imaginative ‘IF’ Misses Mark to Spark Magic Because of Darker Themes

By Lynn VenhausOn the surface, “IF” looks warm and fuzzy, a relatable story about the power of imagination and how it affects our childhoods. And... Details
Marisa Abela Can’t Save Upsetting ‘Back to Black’ Biopic

Marisa Abela Can’t Save Upsetting ‘Back to Black’ Biopic

By Alex McPherson Featuring excellent performances from Marisa Abela and Jack O’Connell, but otherwise coming across as a surface-level retelling of singer Amy Winehouse’s tumultuous... Details