The End of Oak Street Film Review

 2026

 Directed by David Robert Michell

by robotGEEK

After seeing this film yesterday in the theater, I felt it was important enough for me to come back here and take the time to tell you how I felt because I'm worried people won't give this a chance because of it's wild premise, but I'm here to tell you, it's so good and a pretty great theater experience. 

The End of Oak Street is a genre-bending (but mostly horror), yet legitimately frightening tale about a very Spielberg-like idyllic early 80's suburban life that is thrown into chaos when their neighborhood is suddenly terrorized by dinosaurs. As they fight to survive and try to make sense of what's happening, they also realize that their neighborhood is entirely cut off from the rest of the world, and they are stuck, unable to leave.

What I love most about this is how we are along for the ride and trying to understand what's happening right along with this family amidst the chaos. No information is given to us. While this film navigates several different genre's, I would definitely say that it's a good 90% horror and had me on the edge of my seat. It's much darker than you expect, contains some genuinely frightening jump-scares, and carries plenty of dramatic weight to keep you invested. 

Everything is top-notch here. The tone, as wild and crazy as it sounds, works. The production and costume design is impeccable, the performances are strong, and the direction is clearly inspired by early 80's Amblin Entertainment. If I were to try and summarize the tone, I would say it feels like Stranger Things mixed with a very twisted episode of The Twilight Zone. I loved it, but I know it won't be everyones cup of tea. From the writer/director of It Follows (2014).

At the end of the day, seeing this at home will not be the same experience. It's a true theatrical experience, so I hope I've convinced you to give it a chance before it suddenly disappears, like so many other new films that don't seem to take off after their first week of release. 

~ robotGEEK

Film Review: Reunion (2026)

by robotGEEK

Filmed in and taking place in Los Angeles, Reunion is a dramedy from filmmaker John W. Kim about mistaken identity that leads to hijinks, confusion and feeling of belonging and purpose. When Guy (Jake Choi), a lonely mortician who's struggling to keep his family business afloat, decides to attend his 20 year high school reunion, he thinks it will be an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new ones and maybe even be a new path to positive things. When his car breaks down on the way to the reunion, he accepts a ride and is taken to the wrong reunion and almost immediately mistaken for the reclusive and mysterious billionaire whom everyone was hoping to meet for selfish reasons.

The thing you'll notice right off the bat is that Reunion wears it's heart on it's sleeve. It's a well-balanced mixture of comedy and drama with, dare I say, even a tinge of whimsy. When Guy is mistaken for the mysterious tech billionaire Ellison who funded the reunion as well as a promised appearance, Guy suddenly feels special and seen. Despite his repeated efforts to tell the truth, he ultimately goes along with the ruse because it's the kind of attention he's been craving for so long. When former classmates of the reclusive billionaire mistake Guy for Ellison, it's all for selfish reasons and financial gain. As complicated past relationships and feelings between the ensemble cast begins to emerge, their true motivations for attending the reunion come to light, revealing painful emotional scars and decades-long grudges.

Jake Choi, the clear standout, does a fine job in the lead as Guy, a man with a heart of gold desperate to make a change in his life. He pulls off the vulnerability very well while also coming across as completely relatable. You'll also see a few familiar faces for sure. The supporting cast is a mixed bag of quality with some being quite natural and others looking like they're acting in a play. The score by Andrew Yarovenko adds a strong dynamic to the film, giving it that whimsical feeling when needed, and the tone effectively lighthearted. I think my only criticism would be that even at a just 88 minutes long, it still feels a tad too long. At the end of the day though, you can feel the love that went into this. It may come across as an episode of a tv show at times, but it's made with passion from everyone involved both in front of and behind the camera, and that's not something a lot of people pull off very often. 

Reunion has it's Los Angels Premiere at The Beverly Hills Film Festival on April 16th at 8:50 pm at the world famous TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. You can purchase tickets at https://beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com/film/reunion/ 

Film Review: Forgotten Fortune

 

by robotGEEK

When a retired mailman in a retirement community who is suffering from early onset dementia witnesses a murder, he tries to convince his friends, family and the local police of what he's just witnessed to no avail. As is the case with dementia patients, it's hard to know what's real and what they're just imagining or misremembering. But when his close friend is also murdered, he will stop at nothing to track those responsible down and bring them to justice. 

While Forgotten Fortune doesn't break any new ground, it definitely wears it's heart on it's sleeve (a good thing) and there is a strong message to be found. What I admired about the script was that it revolves around something we all will have to deal with at some point, or something that's already very real in our lives, and that is aging, assisted living, our twilight years, and noticing the signs of dementia and Alzheimer's. I found it rather charming wrapping this very real world thing around a story that is party comedy, part drama, part mystery and all charm. It's the kind of film you should watch with your aging parents or family members because I do feel the message it brings forth is so important. 

The supporting cast of amateurs is led by none other than Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk), Jimmie J.J. Walker (Good Times) and Brian Shoop (Tulsa King) who all do a fine job. Although this little indie film can come across as something you'd see on the Hallmark channel, I think it succeeds as a film about the challenges of caring for the elderly with a lot of charm and spirit. Again, I do believe it's a good film for them to watch - it's simple, charming, keeps you invested and has a nice message at the end of the day. I will admit though, I did not see that wild twist at the end coming at all. That was definitely a pleasant surprise. I should mention that the title refers to a subplot, but I don't want to give too much away. It's a very safe film, meaning it's a film you can throw on literally anywhere, like at home or even a business waiting lobby and there's nothing inappropriate. 

Follow Me On Instagram

 

by robotGEEK

If you've been following me for a while, you may have noticed I'm barely active on here anymore these days. As is usually the case, life circumstances have changed my schedule and I've just found it quicker and easier to do small mini reviews on social media, more specifically my Instagram account. And as is the case with social media, because of how the algorithm keeps shifting, we've slowly become content creators whether we wanted to or not. But because I have such a large following on that specific platform, I just focus my time and energy on there more than anywhere else when it comes to talking about movies, trivia, pop culture and anything related to my obsession with cult-related stuff. 

I think moving forward this site will strictly be where I post reviews for films I am hired to review and I'll continue to stick to posting my thoughts and reviews about the content I personally enjoy watching on my Instagram. And if you'll notice, I am quite active on there, typically making around 6 posts a day. So I encourage you to give me a follow over there if you can at the link HERE.

robotGEEK

Short Film Review: Stay in the Car

by robotGEEK

 Based on real events, Stay In The Car tells the story of a young woman named Salem who is "along for the ride" while her mother and her accomplice are making a run for something throughout the city in their El Camino. As the night progresses, Salem begins to sense an uneasiness and soon starts to realize she may be in danger and must figure a way out.

First of all, this is a very well made little thriller. For a film that takes place entirely inside a vehicle, I was mightily impressed. Director Calvin Ghaznavi and Director of Photography Conrad Holzman found a surprisingly clever way to shoot an entire short film within the confines of a 2 seater vehicle and it works wonderfully. There's almost a claustrophobia that adds to the constant tension because of this. What I loved most about this is that other than the constant "stay in the car" warning from her mother every time she made a stop, there is virtually little to no dialogue. Everything that needs to be said is said through the razor-sharp tension and Salem's (Lara Hunter) face, and most importantly, her eyes. Her eyes tell the entire story of what's happening and it is very impressive. Ashley Alva (Bird Box) as Salem's mother and Timothy V. Murphy (Law & Order: Organized Crime) as her accomplice round out the cast nicely and deliver the goods. 

The tension is palpable right from the beginning and it never lets up. The direction and cinematography are very well-done, Amanda Ross's script (based on her personal experience) is emotionally charged and the performances shine. Stay In The Car is one helluva thrill-ride. 

Stay In The Car will be screening at the upcoming Credo 23 Film Festival on March 28th at 12 noon. The Credo 23 Film Festival will be from March 27th-29th at the iconic American Legion Hall, Post 43, on Highland Avenue in Los Angeles, CA. 

Fore more info, including tickets, visit the official website at StayInTheCar.com. 

If you would like me to review your film, you can reach me at my official robotGEEK Instagram page at HERE

I Marathoned the Transformers Movies and Here Are My Thoughts

Michael Bay's Big, Loud and Exhausting Franchise is Fueled by Heavy Metal Chaos and Pure Adrenaline

by robotGEEK

It's surprising to admit, but I've never seen any of Michael Bay's Transformers films until now, except for the first one. Admittedly, Michael Bay is a polarizing director because just even the mention of his name emits a strong reaction from literally everyone. And I'll admit, while I really loved his early stuff like The Rock, Bad Boys, and hell, even Armageddon, I've not been the biggest fan of his since. I don't really care for how he shoots films these days - the nonstop zany camerawork, quick edits and handheld style is hard for me to get into, and it's these very reasons that I tend to not really like a lot of current directors either because they all pretty much follow this trend. Just look at the guys who took over the Bad Boys franchise who somehow make Bay look tame compared to how they chaotically shoot. But I digress. 

Over the holidays I threw on the first film just to have something big and loud to watch having just seen the hella fun Battleship (2012), which reminded me a lot of a Transformers film. So I thought, since it's the holidays, why not just power through the entire franchise because finding a franchise I hadn't seen before is something I enjoy doing from time to time. I think we all know going into these that we're not going to get great art or anything, or even anything with a deep message or meaning. I think most of us go into these simply because we can shut out brains off and just watch something that's big, loud and impressively made, and that's exactly what I was looking for and honestly, these films delivered.

I should mention that one of the reasons I held off on watching these was because I just do not like the new Transformers designs. Having grown up on the cartoon, toys and magnificent feature length animated film, I had no desire to watch something that took such a wild detour from the traditional style we grew up loving. But yea, one day I saw the first film was on Netflix and thought, "what the hell, it's been nearly 20 years, lets give it a go". And I'm happy to say that for the most part, I'm glad I did. Like any long-running franchise, it's a mixed bag of quality from film to film for sure, but even in the bad ones, there are certainly things to admire, even if the film as a whole just wasn't very good. Let's begin. 

Transformers (2007)

I think the first thing that caught me off guard was Shia LeBeouf. I had forgotten he was in some of these when he was younger, and most importantly, I had forgotten how funny and charming he could be because um, we all know what he's like these days. His physical comedy in these films was a pleasant surprise and it was a pleasant reminder of the kind of actor he used to be. The film in general was good and enjoyable. I wouldn't say it's one of the best ones, but I liked what Bay was doing and how he shot it. This was at the point in his career where he began experimenting with his particular style, but still keeping the chaos at bay so to speak. That would come later. I guess restrained would be a better word, and it worked well. At the end of the day, it was enjoyable, but didn't knock my socks off, and I still didn't like their designs. 

Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen (2009)

This might be one of the weakest and roughest to sit through in the series. Everyone returns, but the energy is really off and I couldn't figure out why. It felt like one of those situations where they have all this money (the budget certainly looks bigger) and talent but it all feels like it's just going through the motions and there's just no love or heart in it. I was surprised, because I tend to love the sequels more than the first films. Ultimately it lays down some groundwork for things to come, but that's pretty much it. It felt tedious and rushed. One things for sure though, I was constantly surprised at all the familiar faces that pop up in all of these films. There are actors you would never expect to see in a Transformers film, but I think that adds to the fun.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

Loved this one. For me personally, this is where the franchise comes alive and the action is just insane. Chaotic doesn't even begin to describe it, and even within the chaos, there is some mightily impressive set pieces in here. I found myself thinking, "there is so much beauty in this chaos", because the action, with it's mix of very impressive CGI, practical effects, insane stunts and a plethora of pyrotechnics done in a way I'd never seen before, it was all just so impressive. Whether you liked the story or not, I think we can at least all admit it's visually and technically impressive. This would also be the last one with Shia. I'm not sure if he was under contract to do a trilogy or whatever, but he did the first 3 and this was the last time we see him. Contract obligation or not, I'm sure he was ready to move on since these films look incredibly grueling to make. For me though, this one felt epic in a way I wasn't expecting and I loved that about it. In fact, I might just say that this was my favorite one. 

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

I quite enjoyed this entry as well. Mark Wahlberg replaces Shia LeBeouf in the lead and you know, he's actually pretty good. Mark might not be the strongest actor, and to be honest, sometimes he looks like he's just going through the motions in some films (I don't blame him though, the dudes a workhorse and makes a ton of films), but I really felt he was putting in the work here. I felt it was a solid follow-up to the events of the previous entry, Dark of the Moon, and pretty much kept kept everything in check regarding the tone, action, plot, effects and general vibe. Kelsey Grammar shows up in villain mode and does a fantastic job. There was a moment where he was coldly threatening Wahlberg at some point and I swear he could easily have voiced any of the robots because he sounded an awful lot like Peter Cullen for a minute. But that voice. It's so impressive. Because Michael Bay was using IMAX cameras for some of this one, he had to restrain the frenetic camerawork he typically uses since these cameras were so damn big and heavy back then, and the visual language was so much easier to take in and appreciate. The guy can deliver some stunning images sometimes, and he delivered that here as well as the previous entry. Sadly, this would the last Transformer film I enjoyed as the franchise begins to lose its legs with the next one.

Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)

With Ehren Kruger (Top Gun: Maverick, F1) exiting as screenwriter, the film suffers. After 4 pretty solid entries, this 5th one feels tired. The cracks are starting to show in the foundation and it was a bit too ridiculous (it's a Transformers movie, I know) for my taste. I can't even say that I was impressed by anything here really. I'm sure there were some impressive action, but I can't recall anything specific that stuck out. Mark Wahlberg returns, Anthony Hopkins joins the cast and it was just all too silly for me.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

Much like with The Last Knight, this one feels tired and the franchise has definitely overstayed it's welcome by this point. Introducing The Maximals (robot/animal hybrids) doesn't do the film any favors, although switching Michael Bay for Steven Caple, Jr., gives the film a completely different feel and vibe. And on the plus side, you can actually see whats happening in the action because Caple, Jr. doesn't throw the camera around the way Bay does. But that's about all the praise I have left for this one because it definitely feels like it's time to say goodbye at this point. To be honest, I didn't even finish it. 

Final Thoughts:

I'm glad these films exist because we need mindless epic entertainment sometimes. These are great films to watch with your kids or younger siblings, and despite the varying quaity from film to film, there is a lot to love about them, even the bad ones. Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction (Parts 3 & 4) were my favorites, Revenge of the Fallen is the weakest, and the last 2 have worn out their welcome by this point. These films are not easy to make, and the amount of technical wizardry needed to pull them off is so impressive. Not many directors can handle that amount of chaos happening in a single frame all at once. At their core, these films are heavy metal chaos charged with pure adrenaline and carnage, and there's something to admire about that. It's funny, there are plenty of moments where I just could not tell who was fighting who or what was going on because of the way Michael Bay shoots and how they designed the robots, but I didn't necessarily care either. 

You may have noticed I left out Bumblebee (2018), but that's on purpose since it's a solo film and I think it works best on it's own. Funnily enough, it's one of the better Transformer films too. I've read that Michael Bay wants to do one more, as he sees this franchise as his baby and would like to return for another outing, but at this point he's been making these for nearly as long as James Cameron has been working on the Avatar films, and sometimes it's best to just move on. 

Review: Tapawingo (2024)

 

2024

Directed by:  Dylan K. Narang

By robotGEEK

Nate Skoog (Jon Heder) is a young adult living in small town America where he and his best friend Will aimlessly live their lives trying to figure out what to do for a living. When Nate becomes obsessed with the idea of becoming a mercenary-for-hire in his town, he takes a job protecting a high school kid from bullies. When a fight between a couple of town bullies goes too far, Billy Zane shows up and turns up the heat, resulting in a showdown to test his worth.

I have to admit, I quite enjoyed this charming and quirky little comedy. On one hand it feels and looks like a cousin to Napoleon Dynamite and feels like it exists in that very same universe, but on the other it works entirely on it's own merit. It's adorable and earnest with a stacked cast of fun character actors that include Gina Gershon, Billy Zane, John Ratzenberger, Amanda Bearse and more.

Tapawingo is filled top to bottom with some very inventive and zany camerawork, a surprisingly great soundtrack full of classic hits, a fun poppy score by Jacob Yoffee, and a very lighthearted silly tone that is honestly a bit refreshing these days. You could even say it functions in the same genre as Nacho Libre. That's the tone we have here and again, it's refreshing because we rarely get these types of comedies anymore. Most filmmakers these days just don't care about the visual language of a film, instead choosing to shoot loose, fast and freestyle, whereas here director Dylan K. Narang does a fabulous job with the framing and compositions of each and every single shot. It's all thought out methodically in a way you rarely ever see anymore, and it's impressive.

Zane shows up and barely utters a single word, but brings with him an intense aura of cool. Gershon was fantastic as a lovestruck coworker who still lives in the world of 80's heavy metal bands, while Skoogs best friend and partner Will (Jay Pichardo) in his mercenary-for-hire gig balances out the ensemble.

This film exists in a wonderfully constructed world where you can't gauge what decade you're in, which I really love and admire. From the costume design, production design, color palette and score, to the quirky performances and impressive soundtrack full of classic staples, Tapawingo is a breath of fresh air. If I had any issues, it would just be that it feels like it runs a tad too long, maybe by about 15-20 minutes. But be that as it may, I know I will find myself revisiting this little gem quite often. 

Check out the official trailer below:

https://youtu.be/dOsmAExV1KQ?si=f4SJhpoD0XibEOE_ 

Review: I Saw The TV Glow

2024

by robotGEEK

For some reason people aren't talking about this gem and that's a true crime. Admittedly, this just seemed to pop up out of nowhere for me and I haven't seen anything about it online, nor have I randomly come across a trailer. I also didn't know it was an A24 production, which honestly should tell you all you need to know about whether to jump into this one or not. 

Set sometime in the 80's, 2 painfully awkward teens bond over their love for a TV show, which may or may not be altering their realities. 

That's really all I can tell you without ruining anything for you, but rest assured it's damn good. On one hand, its a coming of age story, and on the other, it's a mindfuck of an experience that fans of Stranger Things will appreciate. The first half is pretty straightforward as we are introduced to these 2 teens and I will say, I was a bit surprised and somewhat confused. I half expected this to be somehow related to horror, so when it was playing out like a nostalgic trip down memory lane, I didn't mind because it was very well done, creative, edgy and engaging. But let me tell you, hold onto your hats because things get wild in the second half and you're not prepared for it. 

One of the things I loved about this was that I never knew what was going to happen from one moment to the next. That's really impressive. And I also enjoyed how they really captured that incredibly awkward age of high school so well, when we are weird and still trying to understand ourselves. Writer/director Jane Shoenbrun (We're All Going to the Worlds Fair) does one helluva job infusing the film with raw tension, striking visuals and an originality that reminds me once again that A24 is top tier. 

This was as surprise at nearly every turn in nearly every department that's rounded out by a killer soundtrack and easily one of the best films I've seen this year. Streaming on Amazon Prime

I know I keep saying this, but I'm definitely going to try and keep up with this website moving forward. Sorry for the absence. My life fell apart and it took a long time to pick up the pieces. 

Documentary Spotlight: The Unbinding (2023)

by robotGEEK

The team behind the excellent docu-series Hellier (2019), Greg and Dana Newkirk, return with this documentary about a mysterious haunted object that was found in the woods that wrecks havoc on anyone who possesses it, and their attempt to return it back to it's original resting place. 

Occult experts Greg and Dana Newkirk, along with their eager friend Tyler, upon discovering the mysterious artifact, do a helluva job uncovering its secrets, history, origin and ultimately it's purpose. Then they need to figure out a way to return this artifact back to where it belongs, which is not as easy as you would think. 

Reteaming with their friend Kark Pfeiffer, who also directed Hellier for them, this documentary is a nice companion piece to their previous and effectively creepy series, especially if you're in the mood for something witchy. Greg is such a likable and personable guy while his wife Dana comes off pretty intense. It's a good balance really, while their young friend Tyler gets so excited about anything related to the paranormal, he adds that little bit of charming naiveté to the mix, like a little kid excited for his birthday.  

Available to rent on Amazon Prime

The Cult Corner: Altered States (1980)

by robotGEEK

"The most terrifying experiment in the history of science is out of control...and the subject is himself"

I forget what the reason was or how it was brought up, but recently Altered States was mentioned on my Instagram (@robotgeek) and it got me thinking that I hadn't seen it in ages. I grabbed my old snapcase DVD and threw it on that night and was completely floored by this experience for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I was floored by how good this was. Secondly, that I hadn't remembered a thing about it, and third, that nobody ever talks about it, which is kind of shocking to me.

This is one of those film experiences that I simply adore. The kind that sort of shocks you in a good way and reminds you why you love movies so much. Altered States, if I had to compare, reminded me a lot of David Cronenberg's The Fly (1986), a bit of The Exorcist and also Brainstorm (1983); a sort of hybrid of body horror and science fiction, even though this came out many years before The Fly. Everything about this production is top-notch. William Hurt was good and hungry (you can tell), Bob Balaban is always a treat to watch when he pops up in films from this period (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 2010), but the real scene-stealer was Blair Brown who absolutely delivers a knockout performance as the long-suffering wife. 

I think that one thing that dramatically elevates this film to a much higher level overall is the absolutely stunning cinematography by the legendary Jordan Cronenweth (Blade Runner). It's an absolute stunner to look at with every shot a breathtaking work of art. Coupled with director Ken Russell's direction, it's a masterclass in visual storytelling. It's so surprising to me that it didn't leave a stronger impression on me when I originally watched it the first time around years ago. It's now a personal favorite. I actually immediately got online to upgrade to blu ray but decided that I'm perfectly happy with the grainy look of the DVD. I feel it adds to the aesthetic. While I have seen a few of Russell's films such as Lair of the White Worm, Gothic, Crimes of Passion and The Devils, none of them really stood out to me in any fundamental way other than thinking they were strange films. I guess it's time to revisit them and see how I feel about them today. 

Wonderfully trippy, gorgeously executed with some stellar performances, stunning visuals and a riveting subject matter, Altered States is an overlooked gem that begs to be discovered. 

90's Action Attack!: Digital Man (1995)

 

by robotGEEK

80's & 90's low-budget sci-fi/action should be a genre all on it's own, because some real gems came out of that period, and I'm still discovering some of them even to this day, like this one. Funnily enough, I've had this VHS for so many years I can't remember, but I never got around to watching it for some reason. Recently when I decided to sell of the majority of my collection, I decided to finally give it a watch and well, I fucking loved it. I had no clue what to expect, only knowing that it has a kickass title and stars Mathius Hues (Dark Angel) as the titular Digital Man.

First off, it's awesome. What I took away from this was that it looked and felt like Captain Power (are you old enough to remember that?), only 100 times better. I guess with a title like Digital Man, I was expecting a lot of really bad CGI, thinking a good chunk was going to take place in a virtual reality world like a bunch of others that came out around this time, but I was wrong...thankfully. This film takes place primarily in a desert town filled with a surprising amount of notable character actors you'll surely recognize. And because it takes place in said environment, they can go crazy with the pyrotechnics, and boy do they ever. This this is filled to the brim with nonstop action and an insane amount of explosions. It's never boring, and overall looks surprisingly good. Hues barely utters a word, but is intimidating with his size and giant hand cannon. 

Being as it's never been officially released on any other format other than VHS here in the states (maybe Laserdisc?), I think I'm going to hang on to this tape and keep it with my collection of films that have never made the leap to digital yet. 

You can score the VHS for generally cheap, but I know there's an upload of it on YouTube somewhere. Other than that, I don't know of it streaming anywhere. 

New Film Review: Spaceman (2024)

by robotGEEK

I caught this today and I absolutely loved it. Slow sci-fi is my jam, but slow surreal sci-fi drama? Even better. Adam Sandler plays a cosmonaut named Jakub who is on a year-long solo mission to Jupiter to collect samples from a mysterious pink cloud that has been coloring the skies of the planet earth for 4 years. Jakub and his wife Lenka (Carry Mulligan) also happen to be in relationship turmoil as she’s about to give birth to their child on earth while Jakob is away, coincidentally dealing with his inner demons, when an alien visitor suddenly appears on Jakubs ship. This alien (voiced by the tremendously soothing voice of Paul Dano) is fascinated by this human cosmonaut, and even more so by the emotional and psychological toll this trip has taken on him. Is Jakub hallucinating? Is the alien real?

I can already tell this is going to be a hot one they will divide people. I thought it was fantastic. Bleak drama-driven sci-fi is a genre I adore and Sandler gives a haunting performance as a man who’s tired, lonely, stubborn, and oblivious to the fact that he has personal demons he’s never addressed. Mulligan (who was just nominated for an Oscar) plays his long-suffering wife and does a great job. I loved the tone, the effects, the surreal aspect of not knowing of what is happening is really happening or not, the beautiful haunting score and the retro aesthetics. Ultimately it’s a film about love, a connection, our self-sabotaging tendencies and what matters the most. I can’t recommend this one enough. What a pleasant surprise.

Streaming on Netflix

New Film Review: Poor Things

by robotGEEK

Generally I tend to focus my reviews and posts on older films, anywhere from the 70's on through the early 2000's, which is wild to think that the aughts era is already sort of retro. Time flies! But I just saw this film last night and I thought it was incredible and I haven't stopped thinking of it since. 

I knew nothing going into this. I hadn't seen the trailer (not sure why), and to be honest I've never seen a film from director Yorgos Lanthimos. It looked fantastical and I found it an unusual film to get so many Oscar nominations, but since it did, I figured it would be worth checking out, and boy was it. 

Bella (Emma Stone), a recently deceased woman, is brought back to life (re-animated is a more appropriate term) by an eccentric doctor, brilliantly played by Willem Dafoe. As Bella begins to experience life with a new brain, she becomes deeply aware of both the pleasures and cruelty's of the world. We follow her life and these experiences through her naive eyes as her adventures take her all over the world, culminating in her discovery of her former self before she died. 

Poor Things is one of the best film experiences I've had in years. Think something along the lines like as if Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton and Jean-Pierre Jeunet had gotten together and made a film when they were in their prime. It's a strikingly beautiful, fascinating and unusual film, yet a very special experience. Wildly eccentric, whimsical, bizarre and unconventional in the most unexpected way. It was also shockingly erotic, which was a surprise. I mean, there is a lot of sex in this film. Hugely fantastical with a bit of steampunk and a lot of imagination, I can wholeheartedly say that Poor Things is unlike anything I've ever seen. 

As I mentioned earlier, I was surprised to hear of all the nominations for a film of this genre, but after having finally seen it, I get it. It absolutely deserves all of those nominations, even if it doesn't win any of the major ones. The recognition is completely deserved, not the least for Emma Stone's thunderous and brave performance, Yorgos' incredible and unconventional direction, the jaw-dropping set, art, costume and makeup design, and a haunting score by Jerskin Fendrix. If you're a fan of visual arts, this is a must-see experience. 

Streaming on Hulu Plus

I'm Baaaaaaack.....

Hello everyone, and if you're one of my regular followers, thank you for having stuck around during my very long absence. I had a very difficult 2 years. The worst 2 years of my life if I'm being honest, and needed to step away and focus on my life, which had completely fallen apart in December of 2021. It's taken me this long to pull myself together and while I can't say I'm back to my old self 100%, I do feel a lot better than I have since 2021. 

Despite my life being in turmoil, I still managed to watch an insane amount of films and shows during this hiatus, and pretty much kept my focus on my Instagram page, which is where I have my biggest audience. I do love it on there though because it allows me to interact in real time with my followers through commenting and private messages. So if you're on Instagram, please give me a follow at @robotgeek. I'd appreciate it! 

So just wanted to say that I'll try really hard to get back to posting regularly, along with some paid review gigs here and there. 

Thanks for sticking around. 

~robotGEEK 

Lost Cos: The Genre-Bending Feature Debut From Robin de Levita Hits Theaters December 8th

 

Directed by: Robin de Levita

Lost Cos, the directorial debut of renowned theatre producer Robin de Levita, who's producing credits on the stage include Chicago, Titanic, 42nd Street, Into the Woods, Contact, West Side Story, The Who's Tommy and a host of other projects, makes his feature film debut blending a slew of genre's that is a little hard to categorize, but also the reason that makes it quite unique, something most films are scared to do. That in itself makes it stand out from the crowd. 

Eni (Evgeniya Radilova) is a dental assistant by day, who finds solace and comfort in the underground world of cosplay and burlesque at a club called Lost Cos. At Lost Cos, she feels at home and considers her fellow performers family. Scarred by a traumatic childhood and still reeling from the loss of her true love in a brutal manner, she is sucked into a mystery when a fellow performer and cosplayer known as Merman is found dead on the beach. As the investigation into this mysterious death unfolds, she begins to receive mysterious messages from a stalker, her trauma comes flooding back and Eni is forced to deal with her past head-on. Will it be the final tipping point and break Eni? Or will it force her to confront the danger and past trauma head on? You will have to watch it to find out. 

Blending the cosplay, comic book and burlesque community into a story wrapped around a detective mystery, with some slight comedy, is a bold choice, but I feel those in the cosplay community in particular will enjoy this one. Let's face it, what other film can you name off the top of your head that includes that community in a film that's so integral to the story? Think about it. I'll wait. You can tell de Levita is passionate about that and seeing everyone with their invented characters and especially with their stage performances in the club is truly inspiring. There is a deep passion there, and a LOT of this film is centered around that. So cosplayers, there is a film out there for you, and it's called Lost Cos, made and performed by those with a real love for that art. 

With multiple storylines going on, I will admit it's a bit all over the place, but also a bit refreshing. It's different, and I always welcome different. The acting is surprisingly good all across the board, and the music soundtrack will definitely have some people on their feet. Not surprisingly, considering de Levita's background, the stage and production of the burlesque shows are very impressive and take center stage for large chunks of the film. It's also nice to see those communities having a spotlight for a change, and done in a very real-world way. 

It's an artistic film experience all around, which also dives deep into comic book lore, which I also found refreshing. There are even a couple of animated sequences that were impressively done. I enjoyed these segments so much that I kind of wish there was more. They were really fun. All in all it's clearly a passion project done by someone who's love of comic books, art, animation, stage design, cosplay and burlesque shines through and elevates the film. And that surprise ending really caught me off guard. 

Lost Cos hits theaters December 8th

-robotGEEK

The Cult Corner: Barb Wire (1996)

by robotGEEK

Recently, I dove hard into the Hulu original series Pam & Tommy, which chronicled the tumultuous relationship between Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee, and their infamous sex tape. If you haven't seen it (the show I mean), I highly recommend it. It's an absolute gem of a show. Trashy, riveting and a ton of fun from start to finish, full of shocking moments and really great performances. I just loved the tone of it and it's such a wonderful look back into the 90's. But with that series, I was reminded of Anderson's attempt at breaking into big budget mainstream Hollywood with her depiction of the Dark Horse comic book character. Sadly, the film didn't ignite her film career the way they had hoped, and ultimately it ended up a flop. What makes matters worse is that the release of the film coincided with the unauthorized release of her sex tape and while some will say that the sex tape derailed her film career, the reality is that Barb Wire just isn't a very good movie. 

I was honestly hoping for a good bad movie, or an entertaining one at least. I mean, I know it didn't do well, but I know that Pamela had a lot riding on it, despite the bad timing. I knew it was directed by famed music video director David Hogan (Most Wanted), marking his feature film debut, and I was honestly surprised at how badass the supporting cast was. But more than anything, I was curious to see why nobody ever talks about it. Surely there's "something" to like here. Was it literally just bad timing tied to her sex tape? On the surface, it has all the right ingredients and it should have been a blast, even if it was unintentionally bad. So I intended to find out. 

While there is some good stuff going on in here, I think the biggest issue this film has is that it's so dull. It spends way too much time focused on the "politics" of this apocalyptic world and not nearly enough time on the action. Other than the final 20 minutes, I only counted one other action sequence in the entire film, and that's honestly a huge travesty because I'm sure like most people, I thought I was going into an action film, but there was very little action to keep things going. Instead, it's a lot of talk, and when the majority of the film takes place inside a bar, well you have to keep things interesting. But they don't. It was shockingly dull, and a lot of that could have been fixed by simply throwing in either large amounts of unnecessary nudity (which it surprisingly doesn't have), or lots of action. Instead we get lots of talking. 

On the plus side, Pamela is actually really great in it. She was made for the role and genuinely gives it her all. David Hogan's direction is mostly solid. I was actually a bit surprised in this area. Typically music video or commercial directors go all out their first time out making a feature film, throwing out every trick they know to impress the hell out of us, the way Michael Bay and David Fincher did when they first burst onto the scene, but Hogan's direction was surprisingly restrained here, even a bit amateurish at times, which was a shame. 

Like I mentioned earlier, it has all the right ingredients. It should have been fun. I wasn't expecting it to be great, but I was expecting to be entertained. I was expecting action, unnecessary nudity, and even some camp. Instead, I was incredibly bored. Such a pity. I think what most people will find shocking is that it's co-written by Chuck Pfarrer, who wrote classics such as Hard Target and Darkman. I just don't know what happened here though. I mean, the guy even wrote Virus, which was an absurdly hot mess, but oh so entertaining. I think that's what I was hoping for here. We just didn't get it. 

Documentary Spotlight: Life After The Navigator (2020)

 

by robotGEEK

Hello, and welcome back. I know it's been a long while since my last post, but I'm still around. My personal life took a serious detour into shit. But I'm still around. I just haven't had the drive or motivation to really do anything that I enjoy. But I'm slowly trying to get back into it and put my life back together after the hellish 4 months I've experienced. But...moving on. 

While diving back hard into films, I've recently found myself really getting into documentaries all of a sudden. But that shouldn't be too much of a surprise as documentaries have gotten really, really good lately. So expect a few more documentary recommendations in the next coming weeks. First up, the excellent Life After The Navigator, which chronicles the sad troubled life of Flight of The Navigator lead actor Joey Cramer before, during and after his experience making the cult classic Disney film. We all know the general story of how he ultimately became a drug addict after the film, which would eventually lead to his now infamous arrest after robbing a bank. But there is so much more to the story and so much more to his life story that I just didn't know and it's truly quite fascinating. 

This also acts as a great "Making Of" documentary that dives deep into the making of this cult classic. While there has been some great new stuff regarding Flight of The Navigator to come out lately, especially with the release of the Limited Edition Blu Ray from Second Sight in 2019, which included brand new interviews with most of the cast and filmmakers, there's still so much to discover regarding the making of this film, and this excellent and touching documentary delivers so much more new information and behind the scenes goodies that haven't yet been revealed or touched on. 

Life After The Navigator is touching, sad, poignant, gripping, entertaining and an immersive experience into the sad life of a gifted young actor who battled demons his entire life, working hard to overcome them and re-emerge triumphant on the other side. 

I'm not aware of it being available to purchase on physical media in the U.S., other than the Out Of Print VHS release via Lunchmeat VHS release, but it's currently streaming FREE on TubiTV and The Roku Channel. 

80's Thriller Throwback: The Dead Pool (1988)

Not Quite The Banger To End The Series, But A Solid Entry Nonetheless

by robotGEEK

I've never been the biggest Dirty Harry fan. In fact, I think I've only ever seen the first one once in its entirety. While I do own the collection, I really really love Sudden Impact, and that's the one I tend to revisit the most. I think Eastwood, as director in his only directing gig in the franchise, just knocked it out of the park with that one. While Sudden Impact mostly tends to play out as a revenge-thriller rather than the type of film we had grown accustomed to with the first 3 entries, that doesn't negate any of the enjoyment factor, because it's such a cool flick all around. 

Of all the Dirty Harry flicks, The Dead Pool was the least enjoyable for me, and much like the first one, I think I've only ever seen it once. I just couldn't connect with it. There was a lot I didn't like about it, and most of my gripes have to do with stunt coordinator Buddy Van Horn (Pink Cadillac) as director. It's just kind of lifeless and stale. There's no style, no sizzle, no cool retro factor, unlike Sudden Impact, which is shocking considering it's a late 80's detective thriller. It's all very plain and dry, never once giving off any kind of aesthetics so to speak. Van Horn chooses to direct rather simply, with lots of handheld cameras, and it's worse during the action sequences. I don't know about you, but how a film is directed plays a big part in my enjoyment of it; the visuals, editing, camerawork. And I've always considered this one the least visually pleasing entry in the series. But, my Instagram buddy The Movie Cave encouraged me to give it another try, and I have to admit, I'm glad that he did. 

I don't know if it was just because I was in the mood for this kind of film, but I really enjoyed it more this time around. All the little things that annoyed me before, like the lackluster direction, didn't bother me so much. I mean, they're still there and I still noticed them, but they weren't as big an issue as before. And I have to admit, I never really noticed the horror angle before, yet fully appreciated it this time around. I loved that so much of the story was centered around the production of a low-budget horror film called Hotel Satan, directed by the gloriously arrogant Liam Neeson of all people. It definitely added a lot of flavor to the film overall, and seeing Guns N' Roses, who had just exploded into the mainstream with their album Appetite for Destruction, in a few scenes was quite the added bonus. Did I mention we're also treated to a very young Jim Carrey as a strung out drug-addicted rock star named Johnny Squares, who does a terrible lip-syncing job to Welcome to the Jungle in his first dramatic role? Yea, The Dead Pool has it all. 

In this film, Harry takes on a new partner in the form of Al Quan, played wonderfully by veteran television actor Evan C. Kim, who sadly never got the recognition he deserved, and this new dynamic (having a partner of Asian decent), really makes the film all the better. It's a shame Kim never got bigger and better roles after this. He was quite good and so damn charming. With the exception of one appearance in an episode of JAG in 2004, he hasn't acted in anything since 1992. What a shame. 

The Dead Pool, while quite ridiculous in some areas (the remote control car sequence has a lot of people divided), delivers the goods in an old fashioned way. It's a solid reminder of the kind of cop/thriller that we all love, while also giving us a solid dose of late 80's nostalgia. I still believe with all my heart that had Eastwood directed it himself, it would have been a far better film overall, but as it stands, it's enjoyable as hell. I really had a great time with it, and it just goes to show, your opinion can change, whether good or bad. It's not quite the banger we would have hoped for to end the franchise (some scenes definitely miss the mark due to Van Horns leisure approach), but it's not a bad one either. I still feel they had one more left in them, and imagining what they could have done with it in the 90's would have really been great. But oh well. We got what we got. 

The entire Dirty Harry collection is currently streaming on HBO Max. 

The Cult Corner: Dark City (1998)

by robotGEEK

A True Masterpiece of Noir Filmmaking Like No Other

Not enough people talk about Dark City, and that really blows my mind. And I'm guilty of that too. But here's the funny thing. Once you do bring it up, people go nuts over it and can't stop talking about it. It's quite the little darling in the cult film world and again, I'm shocked more people don't ever bring it up. 

I hadn't actually seen this in quite a few years. Mainly because I bought the Directors Cut Blu Ray years ago, and for some reason it wouldn't work on my Sony Blu Ray player. There was this constant cracking noise that ruined the experience, so I just put it away and forgot about it. I've since gotten a new player, an LG Region-Free player, and decided to see if it was the disc or the player, and yup, it was the player. It plays perfectly on my new LG. So I threw it on one evening and let me say, it was an experience that I live for. It blew me away all over again and reminded me just how special this noir masterpiece is. 

One of my followers on Instagram left a comment that sums it up best when saying "Alex Proyas was a kid in a candy store with this flick". And it's true. You can clearly tell this was a passion project for him. One he's played out over and over in his head for years: certain elements, certain shots, certain designs, everything. And really, there is no one who could have pulled it off quite like Proyas did, especially after having come off the gothic classic The Crow. His very specific style of aesthetics, camerawork and tone lend themselves to a truly original and timeless experience with Dark City. It's unlike anything you've ever seen, and the fact that so much of it was made practically, having been shot in the 90's, only adds to the overall unique experience. This is Alex Proyas firing on all cylinders, which is amusing since I had attempted to watch I, Robot (2004), his big budget sci-fi film starring Will Smith, and I just couldn't finish it. He's definitely lost his very specific flavor when it comes to how he shoots, and attempting I, Robot only made realize that I miss how he used to direct films. 

I think the issue that a lot of people had initially, and this is certainly the case when it was released theatrically, and even more so the case when trying to market it to the general public, is that it's really confusing and a hard film to describe. I know for a fact that they marketed it all wrong, which resulted in it being a box office dud. But watching the "Making Of" documentary located on the Special Features of the Directors Cut Blu Ray, Proyas states that this was on purpose. He wanted the audience to be as confused as the main protagonist, John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell). Finding clues throughout the film and trying to figure out just what the hell is going on. Why people can't remember past a certain date. Why it's always dark. Why things seem to change. That is a really ambitious approach, and sadly, one that didn't pay off initially. Though, as we all know now, Dark City is highly regarded in the cult film community as an absolute masterpiece of noir filmmaking. 

Though I had remembered a lot of the plot points, I actually remember far less regarding the film as a whole than I initially thought. So in this case, it was almost like watching it for the first time all over again. And I fucking loved it. A pure visual feast, full of surprisingly great effects work, both practical and CGI, incredible production and costume design and a tone that dares to be different. If it's been a while, do yourself a favor and revisit this sci-fi/noir/drama/thriller/detective masterpiece. 

90's Thriller Throwback: Cover-Up (1991)

by robotGEEK

Sometimes you go into these little films expecting a mediocre little affair to waste some time, and other times you're surprised how good the film actually is, which is pretty much what happened here. Cover-Up is a film I've been wanting to see for ages, but just never got around to it. While it has been officially released on DVD for some time, in dreaded full frame, I still never got around to it for one reason or another. I just always meant to. But! That opportunity finally presented itself when The Punisher: The Untold Story of a Cult Classic author Jeremie Damoiseau let it be known that this film was finally given the HD and widescreen treatment and was finally available to stream via Amazon Prime. Sold! Let's dig in.

I knew going in that this was not going to be an action film. Basically all I knew, other than it was the second collaboration between Lundgren and Louis Gossett Jr. after The Punisher, was that it was a thriller, and it was directed by Manny Coto (Dr. Giggles, Dexter). What I wasn't prepared for honestly, was how good this was, and most importantly, how well made it would ultimately be. And that's an aspect that I'm sure not a lot of people put much stock in, but it's a huge deal to me. I notice. And that's an area where Cover-Up really shines. Director Manny Coto gives the film and it's visuals an aura of professionalism that you rarely see in these low-budget thrillers. I have to admit, on the surface, aside from an unnecessary nude scene, this could easily have been another run-of-the-mill Made-for-TV movie, because as Espionage Thrillers go, there's nothing really all that special about it. That's why things like impressive camera setups, solid editing and a professionals touch really go a long way with these types of films. Aesthetically, Cover-Up is fantastic and definitely one of the better and more impressive looking films in Lundgren's DTV output. 

As far as stories go, it's good, unfolding as more of an Espionage Thriller rather than an Action Thriller, because as much as we had hoped, there's very little action. But the action there is, is done exceptionally well. I think what makes Cover-Up stand out from other films in Lundgren's career, especially where it sits in his filmography, sandwiched between action cult classics Dark Angel aka I Come in Peace and Showdown in Little Tokyo, Cover-Up is a stark contrast in that Dolph does no fighting, or kicking ass, or really using his brawn in general. Here he relies solely on his acting chops and he does an excellent job. If anything, I would consider this a pretty great example of his acting talents if you think all he has to offer are his muscles. 

I don't really feel the need to mention how good Louis Gossett Jr. is because the man always delivers the goods 100%, and does not let us down here. He's just effortlessly great, and no matter the size of the budget or quality of the film, he frequently reminds of that he won an Oscar for his talents. He's just amazing, plain and simple. 

I'm not saying Cover-Up will blow you away or that it's amazing, because it certainly has a few issues, like pacing and lack of thrills, but overall the film has so much else going for it that I can easily overlook those elements. It's a solid film, made exceptionally well, and if you're in the mood for a good looking 90's thriller set in the Middle East, it will certainly entertain. 

Curious little side-note. This is the only film written by William Tannen, who directed some 80's classics such as the underrated Chuck Norris thriller Hero and the Terror, and the early 80's thriller Flashpoint. 

Cover-Up is currently streaming in HD and widescreen for the first time ever on Amazon Prime.