Category Archives: English

Predator: Badlands

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Vampire Owl: They used to call vampires by the title predators.

Vampire Bat: Those times are over now, with a specific set of books and movies.

Vampire Owl: You should know that there is always a chance to reclaim that position.

Vampire Bat: As far as I know, predator is not really a position.

Vampire Owl: It could be the side title of a vampire.

Vampire Bat: You know that these predators are aliens, don’t you?

Vampire Owl: Dr. Frankenstein has told us that there is information which shouldn’t be revealed.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein, in the form of a fake doctor, tells nothing of relevance.

Vampire Owl: You know that he inspired a book and so many adaptations.

Vampire Bat: That was the imagination that served, not the person.

[Gets a paneer puffs and three cups of Wayanad tea].

What is the movie about? :: Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) is the smallest member of his clan on the planet Yautja Prime, and is considered too weak to be among the predators. To prove that he is better than most of his kind, Dek plans to hunt a creature known as the Kalisk, an apex predator on what is often called the death planet – the world far away known as Genna. Kwei (Mike Homik), his stronger elder brother tries to prepare him for his battles as much as he can. But their father Njohrr (Reuben de Jong) appears all of a sudden and asks Kwei to kill his brother as he is a shame to the clan of fierce warriors. But Kwei refuses only to be killed by their father, but not before he sends his brother to the death planet so that he can prove his worth by hunting and defeating the feared creature. He reaches the planet, but realizes that this is no easy task, as the planet itself has that kind of flora and fauna which makes it very difficult to survive, as danger is hidden in almost every spot around there.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: As Dek losses most of his weapons and tech while fighting the forest, he comes across Thia (Elle Fanning), an advanced, but damaged Weyland-Yutani Corporation android, whose team of synthetic soldiers was destroyed by the Kalisk while on a mission. She had lost her body from the waist downwards and with the help of Dek, manages to free herself from her predicament and supports him against the incoming trouble, and guide him. He ties her to himself as she had no legs and faces the dangers while moving forward through the treacherous terrain. Soon, while on a hunt, they are joined by a friendly creature that Thia names Bud. The creature marks Dek with her saliva and accepts him as her clan as he defeats two creatures which were on their trail. But he tells them that the one thing that matters is the trophy, and that it can only be gained by killing the creature. Despite Thia telling him that back on Earth predators like wolves have the alpha that protects the pack, he remains adamant that he would be the alpha who kills the most and not the one who protects.

And what more could follow in this world of unmatched danger? :: Thia understands that Dek only understands revenge and is looking forward to prove that he is worthy against all odds. It is then that Thia’s twin android and the expert hunter Tessa (Elle Fanning) is found and revived by Weyland-Yutani androids and is repaired at their main base. She is warned that she would be decommissioned and replaced if she fails her mission. She finds out that she is with an alien creature that would remain a threat to their mission. With a new Weyland-Yutani team, Tessa begins searching for Dek’s group, and finds his crashed ship which has the arms and ammunitions which interests her including those which belonged to his brother. Thia who reaches the area where she was ambushed, finds enough of the technology to connect herself to her body parts below the waist. But at the same time, she understands that Tessa and her group is coming, and the creature is also nearby. A big fight seems to be on the cards. Now, who will survive and will the fight be worth it?

The defence of Predator: Badlands :: The movie surely has some good action, and fighting is all around, from surviving a dangerous jungle with strange flora and fauna to fighting android robots with advanced weapons. The battle against the apex predator and the final battle requires special mention along with that fight of Thia with her body separated into two especially of the waist below has an innovative as much as funny side to it. There are also some funny lines to go with the fight, but that does not bring the quality of the battles down, as we see the big creatures being destroyed and getting attacked by nature itself in all its grandeur. The movie never ceases to be a spectacle, as the scope is a lot, with alien planets including desert lands and dense forests – the creatures are nicely created and detailed, with the possibility of danger nicely felt. It would have been a movie more for the theatre than for Jio Hotstar as we enjoy the beauty of the worlds on the screen, as we would have in computer games like Mass Effect and Unreal Tournament, or Star Trek works.

Positives and negatives :: Elle Fanning as Thia stands apart as one of the best android robotic characters of all-time, something which we see this good only in the Alien movies – Prometheus, Covenant, Romulus etc have known this Weyland Corporation more than any other, and the cross-breed of franchises has been clearly shown here with this particular presence. Her other character in the form of antagonist pales in comparison as this one keep scoring all the time. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi makes this particular Predator work well according to the situation, and the bonding works nicely. Other humanoids become rather irrelevant here. The movie also provides the message of being together and coming back strong as the underdog, but in the process, loss some of the qualities of Predator franchise, seemingly getting closer to the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thunderbolts and Suicide Squad. There seems to be the easy way taken at times, especially after that grand fight at human side in the end. The characters are still well-developed to keep us further interested.

How it finishes :: Predator: Badlands releasing on Jio Hotstar was something quick that we did not realize that the same had happened. This quick release was pretty much needed though, as we looked forward to watching another live-action movie featuring the classic alien or predator. There are those action sequences which justify its release, and despite the predator character undergoing a little too much of a transformation, works really well. The final scenes leave scope for a fine sequel, and we all hope that it will be served well. Until then, we enjoy being transported to a world of charm and danger, but certainly that of beauty in a planet far away. After all, when people were after Terminator, its sequels and others, we were the ones who stuck to Predator as the one classic science fiction thriller that we would remember. After all, we are all in a world of the hunted and the hunters. There is no escaping the same. The idea of hunters developing a conscience is never a bad idea despite changing a little too much of the core idea.

Release date: 7th November 2025
Running time: 107 minutes
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg
Starring: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Reuben de Jong, Mike Homik, Alison Wright, Cameron Brown, Rohinal Narayan

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

Silent Night

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Vampire Owl: We have always wished for silent nights in favour of vampire activity.

Vampire Bat: Vampires have always hoped for silence to keep on hunting, that too in a flash.

Vampire Owl: For vegetarian vampires, we do hunt really well.

Vampire Bat: We have hunted evil better these days.

Vampire Owl: Yet, humans consider us to be evil.

Vampire Bat: There will never be bigger evil than humans. Their evil returns every time and rises like a phoenix.

Vampire Owl: Well, we are yet to find a good human during our visits to their lands.

Vampire Bat: But serial killers are too easy to find, especially on the 11th day of terror. We are watching them at all times.

Vampire Owl: They call these people psychos, but this cruelty comes natural to them.

Vampire Bat: There are always much bigger modes of cruelty among humans. Just make a call on the vampire phone.

[Gets some tacos and three cups of taro tea].

What is the movie about? :: On a Christmas evening, a child is seen traveling by car with his parents from his grandfather’s place and their vehicle is seen as stopping on a remote road. A man dressed as Santa Claus arrives in another car and murders Billy’s parents in front of him. The killer, who is also stabbed, is revealed to be Charlie (Mark Acheson). As the child comes into physical contact with Charlie, an electrical surge appears to pass between them, and there seems to be something which has passed on from the dying killer. As the child grows up, known to the society as Billy Chapman (Rohan Campbell), he is seen as taking over the duty of committing murders while wearing the costume of Santa Claus during the Christmas season. The idea goes like this – during each Christmas, he begins hearing Charlie’s voice urging him to punish people who have been evil, and from then he would need to commit a murder for each day leading up to Christmas. There will be no failure to follow this particular procedure.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: After committing a quick murder at a motel, Billy escapes from the scene to avoid suspicion and arrives in the town of Hackett. There he becomes instantly interested in the beautiful, but angry lady of the town Pamela Sims (Ruby Modine) and her father Dean Sims (Lawrence Brown) who runs a gift shop. He gets a job in the same shop, and gets closer to Pamela, finally beginning an intimate relationship. But he never really losses his skill in murders as new victims is found and killed without remorse. A local police officer and Pamela’s abusive ex-boyfriend Max Benedict (David Tomlinson) is not happy about Billy being around her, and also develops suspicions about the new person moving into the town after which too many murders happen at the same place. But it is revealed that there is some other series of incidents happening in the same area, with little kids going missing one after another. There is a suspected abductor referred to as “the Snatcher”, but it is to be seen how the incidents go on as Christmas gets closer.

The defence of Silent Night, Deadly Night :: The slasher horror mode activated very quickly with this one, not really wasting that much time. The protagonist here is a tragic anti-hero who is forced to go through what he does, rather than the usual supernatural or psychotic villain, and that surely brings a change from the usual. There is time spent in exploring his trauma and motivations, which makes the character more relatable. To add to it the same, there is a mythology, supernatural elements and mystery involving missing children. The horror effects work well with the blood and gore, as one would expect from a slasher horror movie, and deaths become natural part of the film with ease. The killing are also justified for a change, instead of making the whole thing random or a case of revenge like some other flicks. The holiday mood can also be felt with the Christmas elements around, and the ending nicely supports a sequel which could have further variety with the kind of serial killer it develops with the finish.

The claws of flaw :: Silent Night, Deadly Night feels absurd even for a slasher horror movie with its content which does not innovate, or chooses not to bring some nice creative elements. There were many moments which it could have made more interesting, especially by adding usual elements of the genre which have been going through a classic path for a very long time. The question about what special elements this one brings or what it brings as part of the genre, would need better answers here. There is also a certain amount of extra complication that comes with some of these additions here, and the background tale with the mythology is not that much thought about. There is the slow pace and drag that comes in between, and the romance is also not going too deep, and never being emotional enough. The strange ideas are not that much explored, and we feel the need during regular intervals. Many viewers could feel that there is something missing around here, as the movie seems to just go on as it wishes to, and thinks not that much about connections.

The performers of the soul :: Rohan Campbell makes the main character memorable, and worth being the Christmas killer that we would need to follow. There is something more than a serial killer or a murderous psychopath about him, as more aspects of the character are nicely shown by him. A man with a deeply damaged childhood and never-ending emotional conflicts also with the trauma and violent impulses, remains safe in his hands while going through vulnerability and terrifying menace. Ruby Modine makes her character interesting, and there is something about the same all the time, and might have even more to contribute later in a possible sequel – there is a lot that a scream queen in a slasher can do. There are violence and darkness in her, which she manages to display with a charming ease. Her scenes bring some of the most emotionally grounded moments to the movie, and elevate the whole thing. Mark Acheson has a more unusual role, but contributes nicely to the film’s dark and supernatural elements.

How it finishes :: This serves as the second remake of the 1984 film with the same name, after the 2012 reimagining of the same. The audience who enjoys traditional slashers focused mainly on the brutal kills and other elements may find the added mythology and the strange emotional storytelling distracting, as deviation from the usual ideas is surely present here. This is not your classic old slasher of nostalgia and memories for sure. But those who are willing to accept its strange mix of genres are likely to find a surprisingly engaging work with a divergence. Despite not sticking to a classic tradition, it remains a solid Christmas horror film that will probably appeal most to a certain kind of audience. One would guess that making it interesting for all kinds of viewers was never really the idea with this one. Still, we are having the slashers in this world which is going after nonsense because it pretends to be funny, and that much is hope with feathers. Something more sinister might still be coming in a sequel.

Release date: 12th December 2025
Running time: 96 minutes
Directed by: Mike P Nelson
Starring: Rohan Campbell, Ruby Modine, David Lawrence Brown, David Tomlinson, Mark Acheson

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

The Running Man

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Vampire Owl: I have been wondering why humans keep running so much in their lives.

Vampire Bat: They search for meaning in their lives, but finds nothing in the end.

Vampire Owl: You mean to say that there is no hope for humanity.

Vampire Bat: Well, humanity never really had any hope.

Vampire Owl: I remember watching that old movie with the same name.

Vampire Bat: Well, we had also read the book with the same name.

Vampire Owl: Stephen King movies have often struggled to make an impact in the last few years.

Vampire Bat: Yet, Doctor Sleep was one of the greatest among them.

Vampire Owl: There are always It, Pet Sematary, The Monkey, Carrie, Salem’s Lot and others too.

Vampire Bat: We cannot expected all such adaptations to be classic horror stories.

[Gets one M&M McFlurry and three cups of mint tea].

What is the movie about? :: In a not that distant future United States of America, an authoritarian media network takes control of the nation while focusing on patriotism and the need to keep the country safe from its usual and common enemies, some of the inside and the others from outside. Most of the citizens of the United States live in poverty with minimal access to healthcare which leads to a high infant mortality and most children not even born among the majority who lives with minimum low wages. Most people are busy with the meaningless and unreal violent game shows and absurd reality television. The most popular programme running in the nation is The Running Man, hosted by Bobby Thompson (Colman Domingo), which has three runners selected with a big opportunity to win a billion dollars by surviving 30 days while being hunted down by five hunters selected by the media team itself. They are led by the furious Evan McCone (Lee Pace) as they are allowed to take any step to end the runners, while citizens are also provided with opportunities which would bring them rewards.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Starting with thousand dollars and a twelve-hour head start when they are not attacked by anyone, the runners are also required to video tape themselves and send to the media office or else forfeit their earnings and more viciously hunted with no rewards. The murder of the hunters would also bring rewards to the runners, raising their earning by a long way. This is where Ben Richards (Glen Powell) attempts to join, as he is not able to buy medicine for his little daughter after being blacklisted for union activism which had him standing for the other workers, leaving him jobless and not able to care for his family. He had planned to join a game with lesser risk, but was drafted into The Running Man with Jenni Laughlin (Katy O’Brian), a seemingly confident young woman in his neighborhood and Tim Jansky (Martin Herlihy), a nerdy character who seems nice to everyone. Despite trying to back down, Ben is made to agree to the offer by Dan Killian (Josh Brolin) with an amount which he had never seen in his life, despite his wife Sheila Richards (Jayme Lawson) warning him against it.

And what more can happen in this world of future chaos with no real hope for humanity? :: Despite giving a safe house to his family and also providing an advance, Ben is shown as an enemy of the state to the audience and his wife’s moral side is also questioned, much to his dismay, as he promises to be back and give them what they deserve. But he would have no time for anything, as his time started, with all three contestants keeping on running through their own paths. With the help of a disguise taken from a friend, he goes to New York City and manages to start there by staying in a hotel right in the middle of the city and blend among the crowd with his changed looks. He watches Tim wandering in the city as it is shown as part of the show in television, and as he just goes through a normal life, is shot dead by the hunters bringing excitement to the audience who call for the blood of the other two runners. Ben who gets scared about the situation, and not sure about his safety in the big city anymore, decides to escape to Boston. But would that save him from the hunt or will be able to finish the hunters instead?

The defence of The Running Man :: The dark and possible future of the world and with a feeling of Stephen King’s novel, this one makes us very much interested in the movie which also has some nice chase and fight scenes. The world has been very nicely created, and we see how will it suits the situation, and there is a certain amount of charm even to its dark side. The charisma and intense physicality of Glen Powell as the desperate hero of his family manages to keep the movie strong. He had to do something extra to match the original hero and he comes close. Josh Brolin becomes the true antagonist whom we will remember for that terrifying face within that visage. Colman Domingo’s energy makes this even more suitable for its premise and genre as that works so well. Among the ladies, it is Emilia Jones who scores the most, and she is that character whom the audience will fall in love and even brings a certain amount of humour here. They fit nicely into this dystopian society which is obsessed with the circuses of ultra-violent television while being told what to do and made to struggle by the ruling class with the help of the reality shows which reflects the world differently.

Positives and negatives :: There are some classic moments from Lee Pace, but that comes a little late for our liking. The fans of the original might not feel that this matches, due to the absence of Arnold as the man of unparalleled strength. There were still opportunities for more, as the other runners could have also had focus, especially that of the lady runner who was doing so well. The emotional side of the wife and kid works less here for some reason, and the wife role seems to be dismissed as an irrelevant one with Emilia taking over as the lady who decides to switch sides to save the hero. The 1987 version, despite its own deviations, had a more heroic version of the same, and it is only natural that people would prefer that Arnold version, as his work with the fights would also be more believable as he is provided with that kind of a past; the female lead in that movie also had that unparalleled presence in the film, but not anymore. The final battle in the flight could have also been bigger, and the lack of a huge spectacle makes sure that the movie struggles even further.

How it finishes :: Those who have watched that older version might wonder about the necessity of having this one around. There is the world that we have seen before, brought to the big screen again in a similar, but different form. There is the action and thrills in a fine world, and we are entertained enough to be interesting in the movie throughout its run. But when the familiar scenario keeps getting repeated, people will wonder if how much of the same returning to the screen and what all not being adapted from the novel would be the right thing for this kind of movies. The movie remains visually striking and adds to the Stephen King adaptations which have done a good job on the screen, but it was surprising to see it not going too good at the box-office – well, we never really go to know if the movie even released at this part of the world, and one has to guess that due to those lower quality imitations released in different languages in India, with even post-apocalyptic worlds cheaply imitated. This one is superior to those movies which ridiculously copies elements from Hollywood and other languages and presents them as their own, but does leave the audiences slightly wishing that the creative strength here had run stronger, but most of us would be happy with what is found here. Then there is the message against government control.

Release date: 14th November 2025
Running time: 133 minutes
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Starring: Glen Powell, William H Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Katy O’Brian, Sean Hayes, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Fear Below

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Vampire Owl: Things that we should fear would not come from below.

Vampire Bat: So, you are looking for the flying fears from above.

Vampire Owl: I feel that the dead below are less scary.

Vampire Bat: There can always be the shadow demons from the underworld.

Vampire Owl: The underworld does not qualify as from below.

Vampire Bat: They are surely located deep underneath us, and you can even see them as a warning.

Vampire Owl: Shadow World of underworld is technically another realm.

Vampire Bat: Well, they are here now, in a series of underworld tunnels, beyond the red door of chaos.

Vampire Owl: The tunnels only serve as portal to another world.

Vampire Bat: Well, vampires do not shadow walk, but we are able to go through their world – connects them to ours as one, doesn’t it?

[Gets a packet of pineapple cream biscuits and three cups of Peerumade tea].

What is the movie about? :: In the late 1940s Australia, a team consisting of Ernie Morgan (Arthur Angel), Clara Bennett (Hermione Corfield) and Jimmy Barriakada (Jacob Junior Nayinggul) are part of the Sea Dog Diving Company, which is going through a terrible financial crisis. They have had training in the military during the Second World War or had won medals for their diving performances, but are not able to run the business due to tough competition in the field, and with a lot of people ready to invest money, they struggle, and hope that they can buy a boat to further support their cause, while competing better. It is then that they are approached by a mafia leader named Dylan Maddock (Jake Ryan) to retrieve a sunken car from the bottom of the river which has some very valuable items which he recently lost due to some careless driving. He provides them with a deal which would involve a lot of money and gives them an advance, but warns them that this much of cash is given for no questions being asked.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: It is revealed that he cannot go to the authorities and get a crane service to lift the car due to smuggled gold biscuits being present inside – he would be just happy with the crates holding the gold biscuits being taken to the land, and nothing more. They had not reported the accident too, as any forced help from people would lead to the gold biscuits being discovered. The plan is to make the divers go in and get the crates, and after that, to just murder them. Ernie is overjoyed with the proposal of so much money without knowing the danger behind the same, and so are his crew members. They make detailed preparations for the big job which has come to them after such a long time. They reach the place, only to find Clara being attacked by a bull shark underwater, but manages to come out without that much of a problem. But now, the shark remains a major problem, and the mafia is also getting restless. Can they find a way to get out of this crisis? And who will get to keep all the gold under the river?

The defence of Fear Below :: The film nicely adds a gangster story with what seems to be a shark horror from the posters, as the attempt to recover stolen gold from a river where a bull shark is ready to attack anyone who sets foot in there. The combination would itself feel innovative enough, as the blending works well here. The 1940s feeling with post-war effect remains a fine addition to the overall movie which uses the style to the best effect. The movie never really moves out of that feeling, even when we look closer. The whole thing does have a realistic rather than exaggerated feeling, with nothing impossible being given a push. The effects also seem to have not much computer-generated imagery, which means more of a feeling close to life. The shark does not have too much extra around here, as the situation looks like a usual crisis, never going too much beyond. The urgency is never really found in the movie either, as the simple world and simpler people will also stay around.

The claws of flaw :: Even with a shorter run-time, the movie does seem to have too much of wasted time, where there is nothing much of interest. The pace of the movie is not much as we keep looking closely, and all these things could have happened within a few minutes without using one and half hours. The predictability factor is always present, pulling the whole movie downwards. The action is also low in quantity, with the shark being present only for a few minutes of time. This had felt more like a shark movie from all its posters, but we see it just for some time, and the shark attack is also not that strong enough to leave an impact. The scenes underwater seem to be more or less without clarity with the water itself being not clear – comparing this to movies like Deep Blue Sea and Underwater or even Under Paris which have clear water visibility of waterbodies will feel like a crime. The budget might have been a problem here, not just with water, but also with showing more of the shark which needed to go beyond what seemed to be a guest role of a different kind. There are some supporting characters who feel rather weak too.

The performers of the soul :: Hermione Corfield here is coming up more with the cuteness factor than anything else, and she surely nails that side, but does not get that much of an action as one would expect from the lady lead who plays an expert diver. Despite being only one of the main characters, she maintains a certain amount of charm throughout the movie, making sure that she is the one character whom we all wish to see having survived in the end, no matter what shark or even whale or dinosaur comes through for the prey. She plays a determined and confident young lady, who is also looking at an uncertain future, but never losses hope in the way. Arthur Angel adds further emotional weight as the older man who is determined to make things happen and help his younger colleagues survive too – this is also a character we love to see around. Jake Ryan plays the gangster who remains a threatening presence through the crime drama setup of the movie. The support that includes Maximillian Johnson, does just enough here.

How it finishes :: Fear Below, despite blending different sides, manages both, but is often confused in the process, as if someone who is trying to find oneself in a world which has chaos on one side and opportunities on the other. From the posters, it is a shark movie, but as one reads about it, the focus is more on a few gangsters seeking their gold – the balance is not exactly there, but both sides do the job well enough. For a low budget crime thriller having a shark around, the whole thing might feel enough, but we have seen bigger movies made out of smaller budgets in our part of the world; guess not with where the movie comes from. It would feel fine if you are not really looking for that grand shark with computer-generated imagery to support the same. Well, some of us are never really satisfied by this much, especially with Amazon Prime Video being the platform, and the other films recommended with this one are quite bigger and having a higher budget. In the end, it all depends on the viewer to go for it.

Release date: 15th May 2025
Running time: 85 minutes
Directed by: Matthew Holmes
Starring: Hermione Corfield, Jake Ryan, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Arthur Angel, Josh McConville, Clayton Watson, Maximillian Johnson, Will Fletcher, Kevin Dee

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

The Gorge

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Vampire Owl: I know such a gorge at the end of the vampire world.

Vampire Bat: It is the border of the known vampire lands.

Vampire Owl: Where do we reach if we cross that?

Vampire Bat: They call it the whisper to infinity.

Vampire Owl: There is no infinity in this world. Everyone ends.

Vampire Bat: Our immortality is subject to market risks. It is not the same for everyone.

Vampire Owl: You are talking about the vampire elders.

Vampire Bat: There could be creatures lurking under the border gorge.

Vampire Owl: Yet we leave that area unprotected.

Vampire Bat: Well, if any zombie is going to fall into it, let it better be underneath rather than at the surface. The shadow demons have already crossed over to the surface from the shadow world.

[Gets a paneer samosa and three cups of Wayanad tea].

What is the movie about? :: Levi (Miles Teller) is former United States Marine Sniper who is recruited by a mysterious woman for a special mission which requires his special skills as a record-breaking sniper on the enemy lines. He is taken on a flight to a remote location where he gets down on a parachute in the middle of nowhere. There he meets Drake (Sope Dirisu), a former British Royal Marine corporal, who was in charge of guarding a tower on the west side of a gorge. He explains that the location is kept hidden from the outside world by powerful cloaking antennas and he is not supposed to talk to the outside world about it. He adds that both the west and east towers are armed to contain some strange, monstrous creatures within the gorge, which they have nicknamed “The Hollow Men”. There is also the warning about “Straydog”, an unknown emergency protocol. He talks about the towers’ history which had that battalions of soldiers sent into the gorge in the late 1940s and none of them had ever returned. Drake who leaves the gorge is picked up by helicopter, but is not taken home as he is shot dead.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), a Lithuanian sniper who is involved in covert operations assigned by the Russian forces gets a special offer for a year. Her father Erikas (William Houston) who was once associated with KGB, is now dying due to cancer asks her to go on despite Drasa not feeling that good about so many sniping killings from a distance. The offer that she gets is the same as what Levi had received from the mysterious person whose name is revealed to be Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver). She is given charge of the eastern tower opposite Levi’s tower, fully armed and meant to stop the creatures coming out of the gorge, a position which has been held by so many people throughout the last few years. Levi who suffers from nightmares coming right out of his trauma tries to live by the rules including the ban on having any contact with the person on the other side. But Drasa contacts Levi with a writing which tells him that she does not care and that it is her birthday. With a birthday wish and following contact, they keep fighting the creatures coming up from underneath along with a lot of continuous talks getting them close to each other. But the secrets of the gorge might be the end of them, or will they survive this?

The defence of The Gorge :: The movie’s world is the first thing that catches our attention, as it is really well-created. The feeling that the two towers with horror in between keeps us excited from the beginning itself. A certain romantic side and the feeling of danger keep making an impact from two sides, while there are many heart-warming sweet moments as well as the surprising terror, making the two sides of the coin work so well in balance. The first point of contact between the two snipers is one of the most charming moments that one would ever see, and the quick twist see the danger, and then we see some more of those lovely situations which stay in our minds. The on-screen chemistry between the two is something that lasts since the first point of meeting itself, through the dangers, between all the shooting and explosions and more. As this one blend sci-fi, horror, action, thriller and romance in an unusual way, there is so much of freshness added here and we keep feeling the same throughout its run. The mysterious gorge setting, visual effects and creature and underworld designs are nothing less than classic in nature. What lies beneath gets the best of design as much as the view of the top.

Positives and negatives :: The movie could have had more moments of romance, and the cuteness factor often leaves too early. But we see that the action scenes are so engaging with romantic possibilities never leaving either. The final moments seem to get to that end too early and the climax gets a little bit predictable with a quick finish. Even though the background tale is nicely revealed and remains strong, it is not something new or that innovative – yet, they have made the whole thing look so good and made in a way in which it will remain strong and interesting. The birthday and dance moments are the cutest moments of the movie, and there is also that satisfying lovely ending which would make you hope for a sequel with these two. The battle underneath definitely makes the whole world gain in strength, and such a world could not be made with such quality and style in another movie. The setting itself is the one thing which made this happen. If these protagonists of the movie are not the most likable ones around as they set new meanings for long distance relationships, one can only wonder what else can be.

The performers of the soul :: The movie thrives on its performances as the leading cast make the whole thing so lovely and believable. We have known Miles Teller from Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant making a trilogy, and that version of Fantastic Four which is not remembered in compared to two other more famous ones. Here, he comes up with a performance to remember for very long. Meanwhile, Anya Taylor-Joy is so lovely in such a way that she stays in our minds like a beautiful memory of a lost world. She was someone who started so well with her first flicks, The Witch and Morgan, followed by being a part of Split and Glass, and she made Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga a movie known as much as for her performance as it was for the action and world building. We know that she is also part of the Dune series, and we are sure to have more of her around. She could be the perfect Resident Evil protagonist, but Umbrella Corporation’s people seem to have other ideas even with reboots. She could also be in an Underworld reboot with the action skills. These two protagonists share such an onscreen chemistry that it is the viewer who falls in love. The two are just remarkable also in the action sequences as they were with those cute moments of romance together.

How it finishes :: The Gorge is the one movie which comes out of nowhere to make a huge impact while blending its genres as it hesitates to be limited to one thing or even two. While the film’s mystery leads to some genuine suspense in the first half, the later revelations and action-filled climax keep the movie at the same level, while never losing the romantic side in the process. The blend of romance, horror, action, thrills and impressive visuals make it a worthwhile watch with some genre-bending science fiction. The combination of Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy is something that we will remember for a long time, as the movie keeps itself emotionally strong, with no dull moment at all. I would consider this movie as one of those rare flicks which appealed to us as part of all genres which it represented. The same is not an easy job, but it has been achieved with such ease, thanks to the performances. I would recommend this for fans of different genres and almost everyone, and I would have loved to watch this one on the big screen.

Release date: 14th February 2025
Running time: 127 minutes
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sigourney Weaver, Sope Dirisu, William Houston, Ruta Gedmintas

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

The Mummy

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Vampire Owl: We already know a good number of mummies.

Vampire Bat: They are not talking about Mr. Frankenstein’s friend here.

Vampire Owl: Dr. Frankenstein’s friends are legends are we have always known.

Vampire Bat: You are still calling that Frank a doctor, when he has never been one.

Vampire Owl: You are still doubting the scientist’s greatness in an inferior world.

Vampire Bat: He is the scientist who invents things which were already invented.

Vampire Owl: His variations are very significant in vampire progress.

Vampire Bat: Well, whatever he does, he would never be a vampire.

Vampire Owl: He is still a leading candidate on the list.

Vampire Bat: The best he can become is a mummy or a demon.

[Gets a uzhunna vada and three cups of Vagamon tea].

What is the movie about? :: Charlie Cannon (Jack Reynor), an investigative television reporter and his wife a pregnant nurse Larissa Cannon (Laia Costa) are living in Aswan in Egypt for about a year before planning to go back to the United States. Katie Cannon (Natalie Grace/Emily Mitchell) and Sebastián Cannon (Shylo Molina/Dean Allen Williams) are their two children with whom they make a happy family with the children all ready to go back to their grandmother settled in New Mexico Carmen Santiago (Verónica Falcón). But one day, Katie who is playing outside finds a woman (Hayat Kamille) identifying herself as the mother of the girl whom she used to meet and play with, Layla Khalil (May Elghety/Aisha Laouini). She uses candy to lure Katie away from the premises before kidnapping her. Charlie tries to chase her, but loses them in an unexpected sandstorm. He and Larissa report the kidnapping to the police, and are assigned an English-speaking junior detective, Dalia Zaki (May Calamawy). She tries to help them, but her seniors feel that it is some family matter and they are responsible for the child going missing.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: In the cellar, the woman has a black pyramid with a black basalt sarcophagus containing mummified human remains. There is no clue about these people for the police, and the couple are forced to leave for the United States and live with Carmen. Years later, they go through a peaceful time with their son and the third child Maud Cannon (Billie Roy) as well as Carmen. Back in Aswan, a cargo plane carrying the same sarcophagus crashes, and inside the police find Katie wrapped in parchment inscribed with an unknown ancient language. Katie, who is in a catatonic state and inflicts self-harms, is taken to a hospital and her parents are informed about the situation. Dalia feels that this is one of the cases related to human trafficking, as many people were taken in and out of Egypt in pyramid pieces ancient coffins due to a history which goes a long way back. But as the girl goes back home, she no longer remains anywhere close to her past or even as a child. Now, the question remains about what has happened to her and what secret she brings.

The defence of Lee Cronin’s The Mummy :: Unlike that series of movies which we have known for some time, this is a darker and more intense horror style related to a mummy, and is not your regular dead wrapped in bandages coming alive. There is no chance for a sword fight here, and the focus here as left a long way from action, focusing completely on horror, and even with another movie titled The Mummy which came separately, the same was not really achieved. But this one becomes a worthy one with that name, and it often makes us feel an Evil Dead model, but with a Sinister model ancient fear ready to be unleashed, making this journey divergent and yet in a model which one would anticipate a horror movie with evil rising out of nowhere to do well. The fans of supernatural horror will not stop appreciating the film’s frightening moments and suspenseful sequences that raise its level. Along with the horror, there are emotions, and in front of the invincible, there is helplessness, and then there is that finish which would bring the whole thing to an end, as this world of fear gets the journey with the final moments that it deserved. We are once again reminded of the evil from the children with inherent evil.

The claws of flaw :: If one would keep looking for some big-time grand action with people fighting the mummies of Egypt with the usual weapons or fists are going to be disappointed, as this one never gets to be that kind of a movie. The movie is also not that quick to get to the interesting part, and we also feel that the narrative style could have been better, and some of the characters might have been better if they were more sensible within a world of horror. The supporting characters could have managed better attention, and the darkness could have been used better in the movie. The Pyramids should have also been given more focus here. The comparisons to other movies will also be there as we keep having the feeling that we have seen some of these before. The horror also gets repetitive and predictable at times, and we keep wondering how too much focus on the past could be avoided, and how the ancient could be mixed with the world shown in the movie. More of the film should have also been set in Egypt.

The performers of the soul :: Jack Reynor comes up with a compelling lead performance as he balances fear, vulnerability and determination as a father while facing supernatural terror. He keeps searching for the secret behind the incidents which led to the crisis that threatens his family and goes to any end to save his daughter. All the feelings are very well depicted around him. Laia Costa as the mother and wife makes the personal stakes feel much more, as she handles the emotional side really well. May Calamawy as the detective provide solid performances and at the same time, adds credibility to this world which is more about horror – for her character, it is her duty and the trust of others that matters, as he goes through a supernatural case and puts her life on the line. There are lots of moments that strike with her around, and along with her, another Egyptian actress who scores the best is May Elghety who blends in with that vulnerability and seemingly some regret from the character so well. Verónica Falcón does well and could have been given a bigger role and more to do against the evil force. The kids come up with some classic performances too.

How it finishes :: It can be said that the movie successfully reinvents the iconic monster for a horror-loving new generation by choosing a darker and more horror-driven approach above the earlier action-adventure model which had very less scope for fear generation. The focus on atmosphere, suspense and psychological terror successfully brings a chilling and unsettling cinematic experience which will inspire further movies with similar ideas focusing on mummies or something similar from even pre-historic ages. Still, we do feel that the movie could have had better pacing and more character development for lesser characters, along with something that transcends through to a newer age added. A deeper exploration of the film’s mythology and a more detailed examination of the ancient curse could have further enriched the story and made this one worth so many movies in a franchise which could even have a prequel – for now, this is all we know about the movie, and we still hope for a sequel. After all, horror is not limited to The Conjuring, The Curse of La Llorna, Annabelle, The Nun and team to score, and this one also brings some nostalgia from those old movies with same title.

Release date: 17th April 2026
Running time: 133 minutes
Directed by: Lee Cronin
Starring: Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace, Verónica Falcón, May Elghety, Shylo Molina, Hayat Kamille, Billie Roy, Lily Sullivan

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

War Machine

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Vampire Owl: I am sure that they are talking about.

Vampire Bat: We are not war machines, for we are simple friendly neighbourhood vampires.

Vampire Owl: There was a war in the realm, and we fought many battles.

Vampire Bat: The magical wars do not make us war machines.

Vampire Owl: Still, you have to agree that we are not friendly at all.

Vampire Bat: Well, we have been friendly with the vampire elders.

Vampire Owl: Vampire elders are just respectable seniors who cannot be fought against.

Vampire Bat: Still, most of the new generation vampires are not friendly with them.

Vampire Owl: The new generation was never meant to respect elders.

Vampire Bat: Well, we have already witnessed the highest level of new generation disrespect. And we know that it keeps happening each and every day.

[Gets a masala bonda and three cups of Munnar tea].

What is the movie about? :: 81 (Alan Ritchson) attends RASP to earn and assignment to a battalion of the consolidated 75th Ranger Regiment, and meets others who wishes to be part of it and are assigned similar numbers. He was hoping to be part of the group with his brother, but both were attacked by insurgent groups in Afghanistan during a mission and only he had survived, despite sustaining heavy injuries. He was also awarded a medal which make him look like a war hero to other despite his guilt of surviving alone. 15 (Blake Richardson) who is an young man who does not care about anything immediately feels that 81 has the immense pride that keeps him apart, while he himself gets into trouble for unruly behaviour as the funny young man of the whole camp. 7 (Stephan James) attempts to get closer to 81 who continues to be not open to anything personal in nature and makes no conversations with others. The group that includes 60 (Keiynan Lonsdale), 57 (Daniel Webber), 44 (Alex King) and 109 (Jack Patten) gets to the final around along with 81 who almost drowns while giving up during an exercise.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: The seniors have their doubt about 81’s mental state despite him doing physically well after coming back from that life-threatening injury. They feel that he should go back and attend some long sessions of counselling, but as he refuses to do so, they make him the leader of the final group. He had opposed to that idea from the beginning, but this time, there is no choice during the final exercise known as the Death March, which serves as a simulated mission in the nearby forest to destroy a classified aircraft and bring home a pilot. It is then that the reports on television talk about a suspected asteroid flying past the planet and slowly breaking off into pieces which move away from each other. But the same is dismissed are irrelevant as the team set on their mission, only to find a strange flight-like machine on the location and sets off the explosives. But it does not harm this particular machine which rises and begins an attack, surprising them. They do not have any contact with the base and are stranded there without any strong weapon as they are running simulation. What kind of other-worldly thing has come up with this attack?

The defence of War Machine :: The fights in the movie are really impressive, with some classic shots, but never really overdoing, and staying close to a reality of make believe, keeping the willing suspension of disbelief exactly where we wish to see it. There are the believable combat scenes and large-scale explosions, giving the action a realistic feel rather than that usual overload of alien unreality. The blend of military action and science fiction never really gets out of control as both are combined really well and without any doubt seemingly arising about the progress. There are not many alien movies which have managed to be this realistic in nature. The emotional side also works surprisingly well here. The alien machine is nicely designed and we see it working in a pattern which remains as much interesting as it catches our attention. The truth that during an invasion by an advanced alien civilization, humans never really stand a chance, and that they have no real superheroes to save them is asserted well, while focus still on the possibility of a sequel which could make some fine advancements here.

The claws of flaw :: The characters do not develop that much here, and we never even have the names of the main characters, which is strange, as at least the first name could have helped us to connect with them more. Some of the characters seem to be left there to die rather than to live inside the story. The predictability is there as we feel the aliens coming to Earth earlier, and the progress seems to reveal who all are going to survive and how this cannot end here with bigger scope only coming later. There is some loss of strength in between, and it is regained only a little later in the second part. A better focus on the other members of the squad, the supporting characters, would have helped better. The beginning stages do feel like there is something missing, and the power to satisfy the genre is also not there to be taken in the early stages. The story could have also had something special to make things better during the initial stages of soldier training which never really advances as we think it would – those moments seem to be just a random addition to make things get somewhere better.

The performers of the soul :: Alan Ritchson who leads the way comes up with a commanding performance as the central character, as he adds both physical intensity and screen presence to this particular role which demanded them. His portrayal lands an anchor for the film’s action-heavy narrative and keeps the strength felt whenever he is around. The emotional side is also handled well by him showing the loss as well as the bonding related to brotherhood. The movie always has something about him, and despite having so many characters around him, keeps the focus right there. Jai Courtney has only a small presence here, and we would miss having any more of the same later. Stephan James plays the second most important character to make an impact, and we see him developing into an important character soon enough. Blake Richardson brings the humour in a movie which mostly lacks in the same. Dennis Quaid also has his moments as we see how the movie progresses.

How it finishes :: This happens to be that science fiction action thriller focusing on an alien invasion that succeeds primarily through its strong but realistic action sequences, impressive but believable visual effects and some good performances from the leading cast which serves the emotions and the need for adventure really well. Even though it has that alien invasion to focus, it never really losses itself here in the process to create something like the usual movies of the genre. It only occasionally relies on familiar genre conventions, and manages to do enough for the fans of both military action and science fiction. Despite its shortcomings in some character development and often struggling with the narrative depth, this remains a fast-paced and engaging watch that serves as an enjoyable entertainer that could be watched on a fine weekend for some nice fun. After all, we have waited so long for an alien invasion to happen, but all that we are left with in real life is humans fighting each other due to different strange reasons, and we never really reached an end to that human violence itself. At least we see aliens making an impact in movies and considering the current situation, one has to wonder on which side most humans will be when there is that invasion.

Release date: 6th March 2026 (Netflix)
Running time: 107 minutes
Directed by: Patrick Hughes
Starring: Alan Ritchson, Dennis Quaid, Stephan James, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales, Keiynan Lonsdale, Daniel Webber, Alex King, Jack Patten, Blake Richardson, Steve Nation, Robert Rabiah, Patrick Hughes

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

Primate

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Vampire Owl: A movie with another monkey at the core?

Vampire Bat: This is an ape who is not really a toy like that movie.

Vampire Owl: I feel that Vampire Monkey will not be that happy. Neither will be Uncle Dracula.

Vampire Bat: Vampire Monkey is no longer affiliated with the vampire castle.

Vampire Owl: So, he is a freelance vampire with part-time work.

Vampire Bat: We do not offer part-time work anymore, as it affects overall quality.

Vampire Owl: Well, there has been some strange things going on around here.

Vampire Bat: Still, not that strange as the human field of work.

Vampire Owl: Well, humans have never been the species to look forward to. They are the fallen ones. Ask Dr. Frakenstein for details.

Vampire Bat: Even humans after death are not the kind of people we should choose. Compared to them, witches and zombies are clean.

[Gets a savala vada and three cups of Wayanad tea].

What is the movie about? :: Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) is a young college student, who is on the way back to her home in Hawaii after spending many years far away from her family and friends. Her best friend Kate (Victoria Wyant) is also with her and meets her in the airport, but is dismayed to see that Kate has also invited an additional guest, Hannah (Jessica Alexander), without telling her earlier, and this particular acquaintance is not someone she is really fond of. While boarding the flight, the three friends also meet Drew (Charlie Mann) and Brad (Tienne Simon), two young men who are taking the same flight to have a grand vacation in the same place. In Hawaii, they meet up with Kate’s brother Nick (Benjamin Cheng) who drive them to the family home located on a cliff with all the modern facilities. They also meet Lucy’s father Adam (Troy Kotsur), who is a famous novelist, and a deaf man who mostly communicates through sign language. Then they also come across Erin (Gia Hunter), Lucy’s younger sister. Ben (Miguel Torres Umba), a chimpanzee owned by the family is also present at the house.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Ben is considered to be highly intelligent and has been taught to communicate using a software on a tablet by creating sounds by clicking on it. Ben lives in an enclosure outside the house, but comes into home when he is taken there by the family members during daytime. Later that night, Ben begins acting strangely after being bitten by a mongoose in his enclosure. He plans to take the mongoose to a lab the following morning to check for infections and asks Lambert (Rob Delaney), a veterinarian to check on Ben as he has to leave for a book signing. But as the friends enjoy the party by the outdoor infinity pool at the cliff’s edge, Lambert who enters Ben’s enclosure, is attacked and brutally killed by Ben, who is clearly infected by rabies after that bite by mongoose. Ben escapes the enclosure and moves towards the pool, towards unsuspecting youngsters, only to be noted by Kate and Lucy who found the teddy bear covered in blood. As Ben unleashes chaos, the youngsters enter the pool and hopes that the ape would leave, but is it possible?

The defence of Primate :: The movie maintains strong tension, jump scares and edge-of-the-seat situations which keeps the terrifying situation quite strong. The survival mode is activated soon enough, and after that, the movie keeps us close to the main characters, going through the journey of trouble with them. The attacks are also violent and the gore adds to the seriousness of the situation and reminds the pet owners to be careful, not just for themselves, but also for those who live around them, or with them. There has been too many cases of violent dogs affected by rabies attacking even little children and elders who cannot move away in time, and it has been more of the result of animal lovers not taking the right action and the pets being left on the road without care – replace the chimpanzee with dog and you have the exact reflection. The attack here seems to be unique and never exaggerated, making us feel close to the whole situation. The setting is too good, not just perfectly suited for the situation, but also visually stunning. The movie is of short length, and never really makes us feel bored as something seems like ready to make a difference all the time.

The claws of flaw :: The movie’s tale is just the usual repeated one with a number of youngsters hunted by a force which feels almost impossible to stop. Some of the characters are just generic, and feels even less important than other horror movies which at least brands them into a group as even more clearly said in The Cabin in the Woods. This one has the extra characters seemingly just to get killed by a chimpanzee which is too smart and is powered as much by his earned skills as by the rabies which just got into him. There are two friends of the main girl added here instead of her coming alone, but the use of the characters seems to be in the minimum. As in other horror movies, they remain not that smart, but in those movies, they were at least smarter than chimpanzees in the forest around them. There is also that chance to bring innovation being lost here, as there was such a fine setting, and so much to be done – here, they just have the swimming pool, lost phones and the cliff which are not used to the best efficiency.

The performers of the soul :: The biggest performers of the movie is indeed its main antagonist, the work with the ape has been quite remarkable. The rest of the work is led by Johnny Sequoyah, who comes the closest to what should be called the protagonist-like character, even though this one is also not written that much with never really getting enough time alone or with a past that could make the movie and performances stronger. It is more like the character is placed there and the rest, we have to create with imaginary characterizations. But she surely becomes what would be the closest to the scream queen around here, leading the way as the movie nears the end as much as the lives of the remaining characters who have somehow manages to be not ripped into pieces by the ape. Jessica Alexander just supports well and so does Victoria Wyant while Gia Hunter manages just fine. Troy Kotsur is good when he is around, while Benjamin Cheng, Charlie Mann and Tienne Simon are there mostly to serve the ape purpose.

How it finishes :: The movie’s journey is quick and strong, even though there is not that much of a focus on the story. The reminder to keep the pets checked and the fact that animals will always remain with their characteristics is reiterated here with ease – those who were chased by some dogs on the streets or those who were frightened by the neighbour’s dog will know this the best. The thrills are surely there, and the strength of a survival movie is also present along with being a horror flick with moments that will stay for the quick effects and the everlasting gore. The terror of the ape feels real and lasting. But the storyline, predictable structure and mostly shallow characters hold it back from being a memorable one which is there to stay. Yet, it you want entertainment or is with a wish to be scared, this one is definitely there for delivering the same. For the other kinds of survival movies, there is always something like The Shallows in the ocean and Gravity in space or even Bollywood’s own Trapped in an apartment, but this one is more about bringing the scares as much as providing the need to survive against all odds.

Release date: 18th September 2025
Running time: 89 minutes
Directed by: Johannes Roberts
Starring: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Troy Kotsur

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Scream 7

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Vampire Owl: So, we have one more Scream as a part of an infinity.

Vampire Bat: Well, you just cannot stop the Ghostface from keeping on coming.

Vampire Owl: The serial killers of Hollywood never stop the process.

Vampire Bat: The serial killers never really stop, do they?

Vampire Owl: I am surely not asking them to stop.

Vampire Bat: Well, serial killers should focus on killing only evil humans.

Vampire Owl: That would be a lot of such victims if you ask me.

Vampire Bat: I hope that none of the victims turn into vampires.

Vampire Owl: I see no humans worthy enough for that.

Vampire Bat: Well, they know that death is only the beginning; so they will try.

[Gets a ulli vada and three cups of Kodaikanal tea].

What is the movie about? :: Two lovers visit the original Ghostface killer’s home as a horror tour only to find themselves killed by someone wearing the same mask. The Ghostface also sets the house on fire and leaves. Meanwhile, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is married to the police chief Mark Evans (Joel McHale) and is living a happy family life in Pine Grove, Indiana. She also named their elder daughter after her old friend, and this daughter Tatum Evans (Isabel May) is trying not to have any memory of her mother’s terrifying past come to her. Everything seems to get into track with a successful café already under their ownership until Sidney gets a video call from a scarred Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) who announces that he is going after Tatum and is outside the theater where she is rehearsing for her upcoming play with her friends. Sidney informs her husband and arrives with the police but Ghostface escapes after killing Tatum’s best friend Hannah Thurman (Mckenna Grace) and another friend who has been helping with the play’s background work.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Their neighbour Lucas Bowden (Asa Germann) tries to help, but his mother Jessica Bowden (Anna Camp) is suspicious about them as she feels that trouble follows the family and her son who follows these stories of murders could also end up being a suspect for absolutely no reason. On the same night, Ghostface comes right out of Sidney’s attic and after a fight with the family, knocks Mark unconscious. Sidney takes Tatum to a safe room and uses the room’s alternate exit to go and get help. But Ghostface who finds the movement on the other side of the wall, tries to stab both of them right through, but fails in the same, only to face Mark again. As he tries to run away, is hit by the car with Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding), the three survivors of former attacks of Ghostface. After removing the mask, Sidney recognizes the killer as Karl Gibbs (Kraig Dane), a murderer who escaped from a nearby mental institution who was earlier at their café.

And what more can happen here with a serial killer on the loose? :: Sidney visits the mental health institution, where supervisor Marco Davis (Ethan Embry) recognizes Stu as a mental patient that had no memory and lived in the room next to Karl, and tells them that those two were best friends. He further adds that the man was only recently released, and Karl who was a true psychopath had left the hospital following him. Sidney does not want Tatum’s boyfriend Ben Brown (Sam Rechner) to help her, as she distrusts him due to her own personal experiences. Mindy, Chad, Ben, Asa and Tatum joins Chloe Parker (Celeste O’Connor), another friend of Tatum in a tavern to discuss possible plans to find out who the killer is. But the only thing they end up finding out is that almost everyone is a suspect. At the same time, Sidney reluctantly agrees to be interviewed by Gale on live television to make Stu interested in the situation, only to leave the interview as she is asked too many questions about her children whom she wants to protect. At the same time, Mark is brutally attacked by the Ghostface, and soon, the killer calls and reveals what he is going to do. Can any of these people stop the person in time?

The defence of Scream 7 :: The movie starts really well, and the first one itself is a fine kill with some nice scares here and there with surprises that quickly come out of nowhere. But it is only the beginning, as many murders follow, and the first one had really set the mood for this flick. Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott and Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers brings the old model slasher nostalgia back as the original characters come strong and stays right at the centre. Isabel May is the perfect addition here, and with her around, we can be sure that this scream queen legacy will live on for long – she gets in here with such an ease that we feel her to be a long-time part of the franchise. Some meta-horror humour along with smart references to horror tropes keep the movie working further. The final twist works as the suspense is not something that one would guess with ease. The Ghostface remains an antagonist that will continue to impress us with moments and this is one serial killer who needs no supernatural support with so many characters taking on that mask, and that works really well here too.

The claws of flaw :: The movie got rid of Mckenna Grace too early, and as we look at her as a future scream queen who was part of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Malignant, Annabelle Comes Home and others needed a bigger spot in this horror franchise than just get killed by the Ghostface in a minute or two. The repetition that we have been seeing in the franchise continues with this one, and so many things keep happening again and again. The motivation of the killers does seem to be rather unconvincing, weak and strange in character. Then there are those characters which are not developed, and most of the side-characters miss the strength, with too many deaths occurring too quickly rather than everything happening as part of the development of the story. The dependence on nostalgia does not let it go for something bigger or to bring too much innovation, and one can only keep wondering what more can this franchise bring in a next movie if it comes, for this is like a franchise that seems to stretch towards eternity.

How it finishes :: This movie is surely better than the predecessors except for the first few movies which set the whole thing very well. The slasher mode works well here with that nostalgia attached to it, but does not get the innovation working here due to that overdependence on a past which remains the core of the movie’s present and future. The Ghostface remains an image that we will remember for long, and even its parody would remain scary enough – the movie seems to know its advantages and focuses on the same without taking much of a risk; the world is direct here without any complications. This would be a light, nostalgic slasher experience which seems somewhat set to pass on the baton to a new generation with the introduction of the daughter character to the scene, but how it would turn out is yet to be seen. This is like that eternal slasher movie which gets new characters behind that well-known mask, and with this one, we know that there has just been enough again, and any more expectation from the fans would be a demand, but not a right. May our favourite Halloween season mask live on.

Release date: 27th February 2026
Running time: 114 minutes
Directed by: Kevin Williamson
Starring: Neve Campbell, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, David Arquette, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Mckenna Grace, Asa Germann, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Mark Consuelos, Tim Simons, Matthew Lillard, Joel McHale, Courteney Cox

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Influencers

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Vampire Owl: I still do not understand why humans call some online people influencers.

Vampire Bat: These online people have the power to affect the purchasing decisions and behaviours of others, through their presence and content on social media platforms.

Vampire Owl: But we are influenced by everyone around us.

Vampire Bat: Yes, but these people consider this as their job.

Vampire Owl: We also influence people, don’t we?

Vampire Bat: Yes, but we do not make people buy things.

Vampire Owl: That should be because we do not take cash to talk of a product.

Vampire Bat: So, technically, the influencers are those who do ads.

Vampire Owl: It feels like celebrities coming in advertisements.

Vampire Bat: True, those celebrities have always been the influencers, never really using the products, but taking cash to speak high of them.

[Gets a uzhunnu vada and three cups of Yercaud tea].

What is the movie about? :: The movie begins by showing a visibly disturbed woman cutting her own throat after looking at the mobile phone. Meanwhile, it is seen that Catherine (Cassandra Naud) had left behind her past of taking on the identities of influencers on social media after abducting or murdering them. Her last victim Madison (Emily Tennant) had remained a suspect in the murders of influencers and their friends while nobody had any proof to make her a suspect – at least a photo of her to prove her to be the mastermind behind identity theft and killings was never to be discovered anywhere. Madison’s influencer life ended as she was continuously blamed online for the murders despite the court letting her go – she no longer remains a face for the advertisers who have gone after new viral names. Meanwhile, Catherine manages to hide nicely in France, and also finding a lesbian partner in a photographer named Diane (Lisa Delamar). This relationship goes stable as it becomes more and more romantic and intimate with their first anniversary which they decide to celebrate with another trip.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: As they decide to get the best room in a hotel to share their intimacy, Catherine is frustrated to find out that the hotel had given the same room to an influencer Charlotte (Georgina Campbell), seemingly to get some promotion of their property. As Charlotte seems to message her and ask her to give her company on a journey, Catherine is further irritated. She gets out of the room early, and after finding Charlotte, tells her that she will accompany her and will take some nice photos. They go to an abandoned monument to take some special photos and she pushes Charlotte off to her death. After the act, she begins to impersonate the influencer on social media as she had done a long time ago. She even messages Diane from Charlotte’s mobile phone that she had left for Spain to make the disappearance feel natural to her. As Charlotte, like many other online influencers, did not have many friends in real life, which leads to her going missing being attributed to her usual journeys.

The defence of Influencers :: There is the strength of dark humour that this movie uses to effectiveness, as Cassandra Naud seems to make use of the same perfectly. Her negative role is something that need to become a measuring scale for similar performances of later – the close shots show the perfection in her facial expressions, and it is like the mark on her face also performs with her. The movie does make fun of the hashtag obsession, digital narcissism and unmatched addiction for social media in a way in which the movie world is in the realistic mode. In a world in which people create videos for money praising something and call themselves influencer despite not really knowing a product, the question remains if the word “influencer” can ever be used in a positive way. Well, during these days, people get viral by doing all the nonsense, and otherwise, there is the option to show partial nudity as much as it is allowed on the social media; Instagram being the most affected platform. It is always fair to satirize this kind of a situation as it influences the youth so much, and even causes suicides.

Positives and negatives :: There are moments when the movie seems to have missed chances for making it bigger, and the psychological terror could have reached bigger heights – but those are just small elements in a movie which makes uses of its minutes so well that even if it was a longer movie, we would have continued to watch it with the same interest. The visuals are so good with locations in France, Thailand and Bali. We get immersed in so many moments of the movie, as the antagonist’s manipulation is so good, as she known when to be a psychotic killer with a knife or axe, an intimate and romantic lover, a seductive beauty who sheds her clothes or a damsel in distress with tears coming out of her eyes as the situation demands. The way in which this difficult character with multiple shades has been done to perfection by Cassandra Naud is something nobody will miss around here. We would love to see her in a full horror movie with a psychotic serial killer or supernatural entity on the other side – she could be a scream queen of something like Evil Dead, Scream, Halloween or other long franchises or the next generation ones like X, I Heart Willie and others that we are to cherish for a long time. Just watch the final scene of fighting and stabbing and you will know.

The performers of the soul :: Cassandra Naud’s performance here might be the strongest element of the movie, as she elevates the whole thing at the beginning itself. It can be seen that she carries the movie with unparalleled confidence, and she does the same for a role which would have made the common actresses struggle or even overact, as we have seen in many cases. Even in those scenes which seem serene, her expressions and body language create such tension and the fear that the whole situation is going to be more twisted. The chaos in her cuteness and beauty will be something that we remember, and the way in which she manages that with grace is her class as an antagonist to remember. The chance to be a loud and exaggerated villain is avoided, and she is just too good in this manner – calm, calculated and manipulative like never before. Her friendliness and detachment and going there and back feels so good. The facial birthmark adds to the uniqueness of her character’s screen presence making the character so much visually and intellectually memorable. The others, especially Emily Tennant, Lisa Delamar and Veronica Lang shines and Jonathan Whitesell nicely adds to the same.

How it finishes :: Influencers is that movie which keeps one interested with dark humour and a possibility of infinite horror that too in a realistic way, as Cassandra Naud leads the path in a manner that not many lady antagonists have done before. She breathes life into this movie and raises the bar, keeping us wondering and surprised with different moments. Even though I have not watched the first movie, it feels that this can only be an improvement on that one unless that one had some special ingredient other than being the first of the franchise. The sharp commentary on influencer culture is the need of our world indeed. If you enjoy those modern psychological thrillers about identity, fame and online obsession, this is surely the movie for you, and Cassandra Naud’s magnetic performance attracts you more and more as your time in the movie passes, and despite her being the antagonist, you want to see her more, and keep asking for a sequel. Such a demand is just natural as she is indeed too good.

Release date: 12th December 2025
Running time: 110 minutes
Directed by: Kurtis David Harder
Starring: Cassandra Naud, Emily Tennant, Georgina Campbell, Lisa Delamar, Jonathan Whitesell, Veronica Long, Dylan Playfair

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

Popeye’s Revenge

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Vampire Owl: Isn’t this that person known as Popeye the Sailor Man?

Vampire Bat: Well, this character entered the public domain in the United States of America.

Vampire Owl: This reminds me of those other movies which dealt with similar idea.

Vampire Bat: Well, these childhood icons were truly killers, I would say.

Vampire Owl: Yes, the truth that William Golding said about children, right?

Vampire Bat: The children are all inherently evil, we know.

Vampire Owl: Even the newly reborn vampires are no different from the same.

Vampire Bat: Children in their original form are children of the night.

Vampire Owl: But we are also children of the night, aren’t we?

Vampire Bat: But we are less evil compared to humans who lack even basic goodness.

[Gets a bourbon biscuit and three cups of Ooty tea].

What is the movie about? :: Johnny (Steven Murphy) is a man with a troubled past. As child, his peculiar appearance with muscular forearms and a strange chin made him the target of continuous bullying at school, and his love for sailor outfit had not made things any better. One day, after a bully hurts a girl who tried to save him from bullying, the boy ends up killing one of his tormentors by strangulation which also leads to the boy’s eyes popping out of their sockets. To protect their son, his parents hide him in their basement, where he befriends an unseen person slipping supportive messages from under the door of another locked door there. But the townspeople who are driven by fear and anger for the unknown psychotic child tries to seek vengeance on the ugly, brutal killer and set the house on fire. He escapes while his father and mother burns in the fire, but seemingly drowns in a nearby lake which keeps the angry people of the local town relieved and satisfied about the boy’s fate.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Fifteen years later, a group of vloggers Alan (Kyle Jordan), Cherry (Eva Ray) and Mia (Danielle Scott) visit the area for their episode of Haunted Houses of Evil, a series taking the viewers inside the homes of murderers. This time, they talk about the killer boy Johny who is called Popeye for his looks, and his house is being renovated by new owners who have no idea about what to do with the house as there has been so many disappearances in the area. They try to make it feel that Popeye’s ghost in haunting the area, but Mia who sees some movement in the fog is concerned about what is happening around there. They keep moving around in the unusual fog, and Alan goes to the basement with Cherry while Mia sets up the sound for the shooting before the owners or the locals show up. In the basement, Cherry removes her clothes and seduces Alan, and while they are having sex, Popeye drops in and kills both of them. He also kills Mia who wanders further in the fog. But this disappearance goes unnoticed as nobody knew that they were there.

And what more is to happen with one of the strangest killers on the loose in the fog? :: The house gets transferred to the name of Lora (Amanda Jane York), a former teacher at the school where Popeye has studied as a kid, and she along with her husband George (Oliver Mason) have plans for the house, while their daughter Tara (Emily Mogilner) comes up with an even bigger plan, to make it a haunted house attraction which can become one of the best in the state with the kind of backstory it possessed. She had listened to the story from different people she knew, and her boyfriend Dylan (Connor Powles) agrees to the same. They are joined by their best friend Donna (Danielle Ronald), her boyfriend Nick (Bruno Cryan), his secret sex partner Sky (Atlanta Moreno), quick money seeker Kathy (Karolina Ugrenyuk) and a nerdy Max (Fyn Phoenixx) who are all looking for some extra pocket money which Tara has promised them along with a few interesting nights on a charming holiday mood in the cabin in the woods. With tension running between Donna and Sky to claim Nick as their own, the group has to deal with the killer and a seemingly insane woman named Olive (Kelly Rian Sanson), can they do it before facing death?

The defence of Popeye’s Revenge :: Here is another unstoppable force of a psycho killer, and this is someone right out of our childhood, a hero turned into pure evil. This makes the whole situation different from Halloween, Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer or any other which comes as the natural slasher antagonists of ultimate chaos. To add to it, we have a fine setting, an environment which keeps the horror going with a supernatural touch, as the villain is someone who will keep coming at you. There are some practical horror moments with a lot of interesting kill scenes, with the bath-tub murder bringing the best of it – the grasscutter and many others do follow the same as the full slasher mode is switched on; there was also a test does in the beginning when we look closer to it. This violence clashes with the nostalgia creating a new world of favourite childhood terror. The isolated house in the middle of nowhere and stalking by a resurrected monster makes the blood and gore that much more interesting in this world of childhood monsters. The fear is nicely generated in the situation which is leaves with no options to escape.

The claws of flaw :: The movie often feels particularly suited for the slasher audience, and the rest might not enter this world with that much of an ease, as a certain amount of specialization can be felt, never going out of that self-imposed restriction. If one thinks much more about, there can be a feeling of missed opportunity, and it might be due to the lack of budget that provides such a feeling. If there is a second movie with the same character, one might be able to find a better budget and bigger scenes out there. The slasher effect can be seen the best in the group of youth involved here, as they are mostly generic slasher victims whom we have talked about in The Cabin in the Woods which explored the whole genre model. We once again have the young group coming, getting hunted, some of them dying, followed by an attempt to survive, and there is some success with the antagonist killed or almost murdered and coming back. The character development was minimum even though they have managed some balance by letting the characters work on some interesting moments.

How it finishes :: Popeye the Sailor Man as the one-eyed, spinach-loving cartoon sailor known for his superhuman strength after eating spinach, and having Olive as girlfriend, has defined our childhood for quite a long time. But this time, we see the other side of him, and these twists related to our childhood characters depicting them as murderous monsters in the form of a different Steamboat Willie, Winnie-the-Pooh, Peter Pan, Bambi etc, continues to make an impact. The movie’s quality might be called into question here as we do not seem to have the budget in its favour here, but still, it shall entertain in its own way as a slasher in the usual old model. While not going on a polished horror model, this one still manages to raise its level without trying too hard and following the usual policy. After watching this version of one of the greatest cartoon characters of all-time, it is yet to be seen if we will see Popeye as the same cartoony person again, for this character is also going to stay, and the version will stay in the slasher list for some time.

Release date: 13th February 2025
Running time: 80 minutes
Directed by: William Stead
Starring: Steven Murphy, Emily Mogilner, Connor Powles, Danielle Ronald, Bruno Cryan, Atlanta Moreno, Karolina Ugrenyuk, Fyn Phoenixx, Kyle Jordan, Eva Ray, Danielle Scott, Amanda Jane York, Oliver Mason, Kathi DeCouto, Paul Frost, Kelly Rian Sanson, Clarisse Félix, Max Arlott

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

Whistle

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Vampire Owl: I have a doubt whether these people are fans of Chennai Super Kings.

Vampire Bat: I am sure that there are not talking about a normal whistle.

Vampire Owl: All whistles are normal enough for the undead.

Vampire Bat: You mean to say that even dead whistling through life is normal?

Vampire Owl: Well, if death decides to do so, who am I to complain?

Vampire Bat: You should remember that it is still not normal behaviour.

Vampire Owl: If you include Chennai Super Kings, it will stay normal.

Vampire Bat: You should understand that we Chennai fans do not blow an Aztec Death Whistle.

Vampire Owl: Let there be death whistles to all the opponent teams.

Vampire Bat: I am sure that you will be banned from all IPL stadiums soon enough.

[Gets a paneer pakoda and three cups of Wayanad tea].

What is the movie about? :: Mason Raymore (Stephen Kalyn) leads his basketball team to victory despite having visions of burning man, but after the celebrations, finds himself caught by the same man, and the teammates find him burning to death in a shower, to the surprise of everyone. A few months later, a new transfer student Chrys Willet (Dafne Keen) gets to use Mason’s old locker and finds a strange skull-shaped whistle. After a fight over the locker, Chrys is sent to detention by their teacher Mr. Craven (Nick Frost), along with her cousin Rel Taylor (Sky Yang), Mason’s old teammate Dean Jackson (Jhaleil Swaby), Dean’s girlfriend Grace Browning (Ali Skovbye) and the smart girl of the particular institution Ellie Gains (Sophie Nélisse) who also has diabetes. Mr. Craven who finds and confiscates the whistle after discovering that there is some Meso-American, probably Mayan antique value about it, just blows the whistle out of curiosity post the feeling that the writing is Mayan. Soon, as a chain smoker, he finds a strange apparition that somewhat looks like him which gets on to him and crushes his lungs.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Later, the detained students who meet at a pool also has Grace blow the whistle, whose sound causes everyone who listens to the same to be haunted by apparitions which are revealed to be themselves in a brutal, tormented form which looks very less like themselves. The next day, as they go back to the educational institution, they realize that Craven’s death is reported as extreme stage lung cancer, but they realize that there was no sign of any illness on him when they last met. Chrys and Ellie later meet Mason’s antique-collecting grandmother Ivy Raymore (Michelle Fairley) to return the whistle, but she gives it back to them while saying that it is a centuries old Aztec death whistle carved with the phrase “summon your death” instead of “summon the dead” which they had thought. She adds that anyone who hears the whistle becomes stalked by death and is soon killed by a manifestation of their own body just before dying. As they understand that Mason was to die by burning at some stage of his life and Craven by lung cancer caused by excessive smoking, Grace dies after rapidly aging into an old woman, and Dean is later killed in a manner resembling a motor accident. Now, can they stop it in time before anyone else dies?

The defence of Whistle :: When you take horror our of some Aztec whistle, there is the feeling that not much can be known about it, and therefore escape is to be near impossible. The early coming of death in the exact same way as destiny has planned is something innovative, and a twist on death coming to us in multiple brutal ways. The atmosphere created by the movie is really good, and we see some nice spooky thing coming out of nowhere every time, as being visually engaging seems to be a skill around here. The death sequences remain creative, with the addition of old-age apparition as much as the other brutal death modes. The mystery elements of the movie continue to stand strong, and we see the power of death not being a gentleman, thus not making Emily Dickinson with her poetry not that agreeable. There is no complication with the basic idea and with the characters and the quick pace, will be appealing to the new generation from the beginning itself. They mystery remains mysterious and sets tone for an even bigger sequel, if there is a chance.

The claws of flaw :: There are moments which make one feel that there are missed opportunities which could have easily been taken to elevate the movie. There was always the chance for more, with the scares as much as with the imagery. The supernatural elements taking the form of a future death could strike terror like no other. The appearance of apparitions could be scarier with some extra blood and gore, with more frequent appearance also possible. The middle part feels like a little deviating as the characters do make some strange decisions, yet it is not something we have not seen in other horror movies where the some characters die early, some others refuse to listen and often make the dumbest decisions; these have become a regular part of the genre, but this movie could have deviated from that formula as it had already taken some divergence with the premise and a myth that goes a different way. The idea also seems to move on and on, and the possible solution also seems a little too predictable.

The performers of the soul :: Dafne Keen who has been known for Logan, The New Mutants and Deadpool & Wolverine, has the lead in this particular horror flick, and we already know the kind of intensity she has displayed as a mutant and therefore would have no doubt about her possibilities in a horror movie. Her performance remains the highlight of the movie. Then there is Sophie Nélisse of 47 Meters Down: Uncaged which had its own sharks to bring the horror underwater – this time, she does an even better job. The two becomes a fine team together, and keeps on moving the story with defiance against death and its methods. Ali Skovbye is another lovely addition here, and becomes the person who set things in motion for friends, scoring more in a run against death than anyone else. Sky Yang plays another interesting character well, while Jhaleil Swaby comes next with some fine moments. Percy Hynes White plays a negative character with further shades of evil later revealed, and that surely works. Michelle Fairley nicely adds to the mystery of the movie, while one would feel that Nick Frost and Stephen Kalyn are missed too early.

How it finishes :: Bringing variety in horror has been one of the most difficult tasks of these times, and the movie has managed to do so, seemingly taking an extended inspiration out of something which is not that well-known or followed. After all, there is a lot of scope with different kinds of horror as part of separate myths and legends, like the franchise having Stree, Munjya, Thamma and others had in India, and remains relevant throughout the world, as just the vampire legends would do the job. This movie takes itself beyond the usual world of The Conjuring, Annabelle, The Nun, Sinister, Insidious, Evil Dead and similar flicks to create innovative horror from an idea from the past. The full effectiveness of the same might not be there to be taken at all times, but this one remains something to be remembered for going through that divergent route, and make the whole thing work well enough. Well, we never have enough of horror in a world of chaos which can have nothing more than hopelessness and death – if death comes in many forms beyond Final Destination, we also take them into our hearts and hope for the human suffering to end.

Release date: 13th February 2026
Running time: 100 minutes
Directed by: Corin Hardy
Starring: Dafne Keen, Sophie Nélisse, Sky Yang, Jhaleil Swaby, Ali Skovbye, Percy Hynes White, Michelle Fairley, Nick Frost, Stephen Kalyn, Conrad Coates, Mikayla Kong, Lanette Ware, Christine Sahely, Dina Pino, Izaak Smith, Vicki Kim

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

Companion

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Vampire Owl: Vampires have always looked for eternal companions for togetherness.

Vampire Bat: These people are talking about companion robots.

Vampire Owl: Haven’t we developed a vampire robot yet?

Vampire Bat: We do not need any more scientific development now.

Vampire Owl: I am sure that Dr. Frankenstein would have other ideas.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein and his ideas are surely not real science.

Vampire Owl: They are science, especially after inventing that time machine by the doctor.

Vampire Bat: He just declared that he travelled through time.

Vampire Owl: Yes, and it is truth, as he has proven with records.

Vampire Bat: He has always created all the fake records by himself.

[Gets a choco-marble cake and three cups of Chinese tea].

What is the movie about? :: Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) travels to a mansion on the edge of civilization, a huge property around a lake owned by a billionaire named Sergey (Rupert Friend), who is the boyfriend of his Josh’s best friend Kat (Megan Suri) – Kat still calls herself Sergey’s property, keep or mistress due to the nature of Sergey, yet they remain open to welcoming friends as Kat maintains that influence on the Russian billionaire. They also invite two other friends Eli (Harvey Guillen) and his partner Patrick (Lukas Gage). The group seems to spend some happy moments in the mansion at night, and everyone seems to get along with each other well. But on the very next day, Sergey attempts to sexually assault Iris at the lakeside, and Iris ends up killing him in self-defense. She returns to the house in panic, attempting to explain what happened, but Josh tells the blood-covered Iris to go to sleep, and she losses her consciousness, waking up only to find herself strongly tied up to a chair.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Josh tells her that she is a companion robot that he is renting from a robotics company known as Empathix. He adds that her emotions and intelligence are controlled by an app on his phone, and the love and sexual desire are also under his control. He adds that the memory of them meeting for the first time is a lie, coming out of a pre-loaded idea chosen from many options, and it is her programming that makes her fall in love with him, and the past has all been part of that programme. He adds that now he has to take her back to the company, and maybe dismantle her there, but she does not believe her. He makes her believe by making her speak in the language he wishes to, and also shows that there are many other customizable options. As he goes for one final talk with Kat, Iris manages to escape though, and she also takes her phone to have full control over herself, increasing her intelligence and changing other options as the friends start to look for her.

The defence of Companion :: The movie can boast of a fine cast led by Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, along with Megan Suri’s perfect contribution as she makes that one the most interesting human character around. The film nicely explores the themes of control, need for freedom and toxic relationships through an entertaining sci-fi situation which is thrilling no because of the scientific situation, but the human predicament. The surprises of the movie are good, and even without those big twists, manage to keep us interested. The multiple elements of horror, thriller dark comedy and sci-fi nicely come together effectively while also leaving a few social messages about people, relationships, rights and freedom. The one and half hour length is supportive of the movie’s cause as it goes through the whole thing perfectly during that time period, never too much or less. There is no loss of strength here as we understand that we are quickly getting to a twisted situation, and the mood would remain somewhat similar throughout its run.

The claws of flaw :: The idea of artificial intelligence with a conscience, emotions and physical relationships may feel familiar to viewers with movies like Wifelike and Ex Machina which did the same better – the exploration of the ideas were so much better with an emotional side there, and the latter was indeed that sci-fi classic which deserved all the appreciation in the world. Those two movies were rather courageous with the depictions, but the movie here seems to keep to the safe zone, and at times, even comes up with just the blame game for all characters except the robotic main character. The science fiction mode is also on a struggle at times, as there is no clear focus on the robot either, and its making and structure, as well as the parent company are restricted to a few dialogues. One cannot say that the idea is original, and there is no real further development on the same available data. Some of the character decisions would seem illogical or seem to exist only to create more situations of interest, and the final hesitation of the robotic character to shoot is just one of them. This often feels like an opportunity for glory missed out.

The performers of the soul :: Sophie Thatcher delivers a fine performance, and the way in which she makes even the usual situations remarkable needs a mention. The final moments have her making an even bigger impression. Jack Quaid can also be considered highly effective in the darker role, and sometimes raise the level so much above what we expect according to the proceedings. This is one antagonist who brings the unexpected. Then, who strikes the most playing the side characters is Megan Suri, who is fantastic as the only woman character with a villainous side – among the characters, she seems like the most determined, and someone with a clear vision, and the same is depicted perfectly by her. For a slasher horror movie with supernatural or psycho killers, she would make a perfect choice – there is something about her that suits the genre. Lukas Gage’s work also remains notable, while Harvey Guillén does fine. Rupert Friend as Sergey has his moments despite being there for only a short amount of time. Jaboukie Young-White, Matthew J McCarthy and Marc Menchaca are there in smaller, but relevant roles.

How it finishes :: Companion becomes interesting because it successfully combines different genres with social commentary without being preachy or slow, and the cast nicely supports the same by adapting to the situations. The strongest points here are the performances, dark humour and interesting surprises, while it never really gets out of the familiar themes and the predictable side that comes even in the end. This will never be one of those movies which comes up with innovation in the topic, as it chooses the safe side, but the entertaining side is safe around here. It seems to know what kind of movie it needs to be, and with this knowledge, touches the necessary elements which need to keep the world interesting. The movie is currently available in Jio Hotstar, but you should remember that this idea can be seen in a few other movies which did the same better earlier. So, choose wisely, and go through the idea. Yet, remember that this is the newest version of the same, and therefore has made some nice changes too.

Release date: 31st January 2025
Running time: 97 minutes
Directed by: Drew Hancock
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Pretty Lethal

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Vampire Owl: There is nothing more lethal than vampires, not even werewolves who crawl in.

Vampire Bat: These people are referring to ballerinas in a fight.

Vampire Owl: I have always felt that vampires need ballerinas around for positive influence.

Vampire Bat: Don’t we fight enough in other forms?

Vampire Owl: We should never be that short of options in a world of chaos.

Vampire Bat: At least this is on Amazon Prime Video for reference.

Vampire Owl: I think that I am going to learn dancing outside too.

Vampire Bat: You remember the dancing fight of Jumanji too?

Vampire Owl: Yes, that has inspired me to develop my fighting steps. I am issuing a red notice.

Vampire Bat: You do not need to learn any more fighting as there no wars or encounters in our realm right now.

[Gets a parippu vada and three cups of Munnar tea].

What is the movie about? :: An American ballet troupe is honoured to be part of a prestigious international ballet competition in Budapest. This invited team consists of their leading dancer Bones (Maddie Ziegler), a rich and selfish Princess (Lana Condor), very religious and prude Grace (Avantika Vandanapu), kind-hearted and helpful Zoe (Iris Apatow) and her dumb and mute sister Chloe (Millicent Simmonds), and their proud and highly supportive teacher, Thorna (Lydia Leonard). The group is not that fond of each other, but gets together with their dancing routine really well. A series of confusion in their travel arrangements and also at the airport ends them in a bus which also gets broken down near a small town, from where transportation seems to be difficult to get in a short notice. They move into the town, hoping for a place to stay the night until the bus is repaired or some alternate mode of transportation is arranged by the authorities. A man from the town invites them to the Teremok Inn which served as a fine hotel and restaurant.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: The place is under the control of Devora (Uma Thurman), a former ballerina who also runs a small crime family. While taking Chloe to the toilet, Thorna sees Devora brutally torturing a man in her office, and feels that the situation is not safe for the girls. She tries to call all the girls so that they can leave, but Pasha (Tamás Szabó Sipos), who is the son of another crime lord who collects money from the area, shoots her on the head as she pushes him away when he tries to make sexual advances to her. When Princess threatens to call the police, Devora takes the corpse away and has the girls locked in her basement. She also burns their passports and cellphones, as she feels that nobody knows that the girls are in the inn or even this particular town. Bones tries to run away, but is knocked out and dragged downstairs by her legs. At the same time, Chloe who was in the toilet, unaware of the situation, continues to be friendly with the people around her, and even gets the offer of a tattoo.

And what more can happen as there seems to be something more terrifying coming up? :: While Chloe becomes friends with Devora’s son Artyom (Krisztián Csákvári) over the tattoo for which she waits in the room, an unconscious Bones is tied up. Devora’s right-hand man Osip (Miklós Béres) drugs and tries to rape Grace, only to find himself killed by the girls, as Bones escapes from her bondage. Princess (Lana Condor) tries to escape all by herself, but as she finds their teacher being chopped into pieces by a man known by the name Doktor (Gábor Nagypál), returns to them, as they go searching for Chloe. As the girls find themselves surrounded by Devora’s henchmen, they come up with dance moves with razors blades stuck in their shoes and taped to their fingertips, doing well enough to mortally wound the henchmen, surprising everyone in the building. Devora asks for Pasha’s father, the dreaded crime lord Lothar (Michael Culkin) to come there by himself before any deal could be made, and reminds Doktor to be prepared to deal with corpses of ballerina girls. Can the girls do well enough to survive as further evil is unleashed on them?

The defence of Pretty Lethal :: This is one movie which quickly gets into action, and the whole 10o minutes of run-time is used well to create maximum impact. The use of dance training as a lethal weapon works really well here, and each actress is so graceful in their movements. When this dance choreography meets some violent action, we have the feeling of class all around. There is also a lot of energy and style related to the proceedings. Even though everyone has similar significance here, Maddie Ziegler as Bones remains the one who remains closes to a protagonist as a leader-kind figure, and comes up with a splendid performance with a lot of energy that seems to come from within, making her a perfect action star. Avantika Vandanapu plays the next notable role, and the Tarot-star blends in incredibly well. Millicent Simmonds of A Quiet Place fame makes this one count, while Iris Apatow and Lana Condor also join well. Uma Thurman has a strong presence as the revenge-seeking antagonist who moves on between different shades while Lydia Leonard’s character is missed too soon.

Positives and negatives :: The movie could have used better promotions, as most of us came to know about this one by accident while looking at Amazon Prime Video for new movies. There are also those usual cliches that run through the movie, even though sometimes, it just adds to the overall charm of the flick within the genre. The characters are all interesting even though there is not that much development related to it due to the focus on action – we surely would not mind the same. The movie still maintains some good humour, and that comes out of nowhere to keep us more interested in the proceedings. The viewers can think that this is too much away from being realistic, but when we think about very old superstars beating up fifty people at a time, this is not that much, and the dance steps keep us believing in the world. The choice of setting, and the one particular building and its inside makes another world working like a dream. As the progress is even, there is nothing much lost around here.

How it finishes :: Pretty Lethal is a fun ride which never really stops being entertaining throughout its run; there are no ups and downs as this feels like one complete entertainer of its genre with some fine action and beautiful visuals supported by the actors who shows their skills in this environment really well. Being an entertaining action-thriller with some inventive ballet-based combat would never be easy, but with some energetic performances, this one score very well. If you are looking for some stylish action and don’t mind the movie taking a few things for granted, there is a big entertainer with some moments to remember. After all, we are always looking for someone who thinks differently and creates a movie out of it. This is surely one of them, and it has ballerina getting the central focus, and making an impression like never before – maybe that title could have been used here in plural, but when we look closely, we have that fine weekend entertainer which can be watched with a lot of fun expectation.

Release date: 25th March 2026 (Amazon Prime Video)
Running time: 100 minutes
Directed by: Vicky Jewson
Starring: Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika Vandanapu, Maddie Ziegler, Uma Thurman

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Ballerina

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Vampire Owl: So, we are going to have a dancing assassin now?

Vampire Bat: John Wick universe surely needed an extra addition.

Vampire Owl: Even Dr. Frankenstein’s universe demands many upgrades.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein has had enough extra additions.

Vampire Owl: So, are we going to have a female John Wick here?

Vampire Bat: It would not be exactly the same, as no two assassins are the same.

Vampire Owl: Yes, I know that Hitman is surely not the same.

Vampire Bat: Different assassins will be around, even in the same universe.

Vampire Owl: At least nobody killed Ballerina’s dog, I hope.

Vampire Bat: Well, I am sure that she has lost much more than a dog.

[Gets an uzhunnu vada and three cups of Vagamon tea].

What is the movie about? :: Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) was taken away from a dangerous crime syndicate by her father, who as well as her mother were killed by the same group. Orphaned at a young age, New York Continental hotel manager Winston Scott (Ian McShane) had taken Eve to the Ruska Roma, an assassin’s society under the cover of performance dancers, where she had met their Director (Anjelica Huston) and decided to be part of the same – she had taken the new girl under her wing as she finds anger and fire in her, which could be put to the best use. She goes through a tough training as an assassin as much as in the form of a ballerina, and meets John Wick (Keanu Reeves) with whom she has a talk about escaping from the cycle and seek her revenge. Eve fights hard and completes her training by killing a former Ruska Roma member and earns the title of “Kikimora”. On her first mission, she successfully protects the girl whom she is assigned with, even after being beaten up and thrown to each corner of a pub.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: As she moves higher in the ranks, turning her weaknesses in fights to her advantage, and completing missions, she ends up killing a man who had the same mark on his hand as the killer of her father. Despite asking too many questions, she is forbidden from pursuing them due to a longstanding peace treaty which has remained in place to avoid bloodshed. But Eve is not happy at all, and disobeys the Director to visit the New York Continental to meet Winston, and she understands that this particular group she is searching is more uncivilized and kill not just for business, but for sport. Winston also adds that a man from this group Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus) is staying at the Prague branch of Continental with a huge bounty on his life. Eve travels all the way to Prague only to find out that there are too many people waiting for Daniel to come out, and there is more about what is happening with him than what meets the eye. Can Even go through all these secrets, and find a way to have her revenge in one way or the other?

The defence of Ballerina :: The movie delivers some more of stylish gun-fu, hand-to-hand combat, and inventive kills that fans have seen in this particular universe. The flamethrower sequence and the quick movements with smart kills in the snow-covered town adds on nicely in the end. All of these rests on Ana de Armas’ shoulders and she goes through the same like a dream which only she is capable of living. It was a tough job to match the Keanu Reeves’ mode, and she has managed the same in her own way. This expansion of the John Wick world was much needed, and we had felt the same after watching the last movie – the mythology itself gets extended so well. The visuals are nothing less than stunning, as we see the same never being less interesting. There is also a certain kind of style which is followed here, and we can never stop appreciating the same. The connection to the other movies of the universe is also really well managed, and even though we watch this as a stand-alone movie, those who watch this together with other movies also have the right elements to make a relation.

Positives and negatives :: One might feel that the villain could have been shown for more time on screen and that the sister bonding needed more than the very few minutes that it had managed. The movie should have also been marketed better, as the box-office could have managed more; maybe it is due to the time of release. But for now, you witness the intensity of the battles and creativity of the fights on Amazon Prime Video where it has found the OTT release. The balance of gunfights and hand-to-hand combat is also something that you will not see this well-executed anywhere else. When we look closer, this has done its duty even better than the original movies of the franchise, as the whole thing is not about the death of a dog anymore, as we get back to being human-centered and on parents being more important. I would be more interested in what Eve can achieve in this world of chaos with a bounty on her head more than John himself, and we can hope that we will know more in a sequel or a combination of sequels connecting this to the original story.

The performers of the soul :: Ana de Armas is an excellent action heroine, and it is something that she has already proven as a Bond girl. Her physical commitment, screen presence and ability to carry the film’s most brutal action sequences while staying on par with Keanu Reeves’ John Wick is worth all the applause. She nicely establishes Eve Macarro as a capable protagonist in her own special way rather than coming up with simply a female version of John Wick. Ever since her debut in Knock Knock, that too with the same actor, Ana surely has come a long way with works like Deep Water making an impact out of nowhere, as she has also been the first Cuban to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her action here is too good, from that first big action sequence in the pub while defending a target, then that rather funny fight in the kitchen, and that final battle, all getting to the best, while there is no doubt left about the fact that she is a ballerina. The emotions are also reflected really well on her, as she becomes the perfect package here. Keanu Reeves presence also adds to the over quality, while Gabriel Byrne makes a good enough antagonist.

How it finishes :: Ballerina remains a solid action movie and one of Ana de Armas’s strongest performances of any kind till date. The fight scenes with that particular visual style are excellent, and the tale nicely fits into the universe and promises to bring more, especially as the leading lady here feels like having so much to offer. If you have not seen her fighting in a pub, snow-covered buildings, hotel lobbies and more, there is much that you have missed, especially if you have loved watching a lot action on the screen in the past. The one thing I would regret more than others is not watching this one on the big screen, as I saw how good it looked on an android mobile phone with Amazon Prime Video. You might not find a better-looking action movie not on superhero mode, as this kind of mythology is set for group of assassins, and that serves really well. If you have enjoyed the John Wick universe, this one is worth watching for the action alone, and your entry to this extension will be something memorable. The movie could have had a wider release in this part of the world too, as this universe had never ceased being interesting here. For now, you go back to Amazon Prime Video and give it a try.

Release date: 6th June 2025
Running time: 125 minutes
Directed by: Len Wiseman
Starring: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.