The Tender Bar Review: Ben Affleck Shines In A Heartfelt Coming of Age Story

Release Date: December 22, 2021
Running Time: 106 Minutes
Directed By: George Clooney
Written By: William Monahan
Cast: Ben Affleck (Argo, Good Will Hunting), Tye Sheridan (Mud, The Card Counter), Lily Rabe (Miss Stevens, “American Horror Story”), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future, I Am Not a Serial Killer), Max Martini (13 Hours, “The Order”), Rhenzy Feliz (“Runaways,” “American Horror Stories”), Briana Middleton (Augustus, Sharper), Max Casella (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Jackie), Sondra James (“Sick of It,” Joker), Michael Braun (“The Sinner,” “The Affair”) and newcomer Daniel Ranieri.

In 1972, 9-year-old J.R. Maguire (Daniel Ranieri, later Tye Sheridan) spends hours scanning the airwaves for The Voice, his name for the radio deejay father who deserted him and his mom years earlier. As he dreams of the day when they can be reunited, he and his fiercely protective mother Dorothy (Lily Rabe) live with her family in his curmudgeonly grandfather’s (Christopher Lloyd) rundown house in Manhasset, Long Island, both working tirelessly to fulfill her dream of an Ivy League education for J.R.  Hungry for male attention, the boy finds comfort at the nearby Dickens pub, where the man behind the bar is his Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck). A self-educated truth-seeker with a closet full of classic books and a thirst for knowledge, Charlie takes the boy under his wing, encouraging J.R.’s aspirations of becoming a writer. As J.R. grows to young adulthood with sporadic contact with his birth father, Charlie guides him through the mysteries of manhood and includes him in bowling nights, ball games and trips to the beach with his loyal band of quirky friends.

The Tender Bar has a lot to like about it, starting with the great cast.  Although this is an all star setup, and Tye Sheridan does a great job as J.R. in his journey of discovery, the real star of this show is Ben Affleck.  His bartender character is endearing and enjoyable, with a father-like quality and a ton of relatability.  I really liked how he was tough, but also fair to J.R. and lent his ear to the young man and his friends.  He also was a character full of surprises, with a lot more going on than you originally expect.  The film also really sets the 1972 tone with some great music.  It uses this soundtrack to set the stage and does a wonderful job transporting you to this time.  And the film also has a ton of heart, as you would expect in a journey of self discovery. I loved seeing J.R.'s family helping him out and trying to guide him along on his journey.  

But the issue with the Tender Bar is the length of the story.  It's not just a pure duration, but it feels like the story goes through several arcs, some of which don't feel entirely necessary.  I enjoyed the journey for the most part, but it did seem to go on a little too long.  And on top of that, after this longer journey, you don't really end up with a satisfying conclusion.  I guess this is because the film is based on a memoir, so staying true to that original medium and life are an important aspect, but it really did feel like the film just ended.  You didn't get a great revelation, you don't really know what happened after (though you could look it up), the film just kind of concludes without much fanfare.  And maybe this should be applauded as the movie didn't try to go for a Hollywood ending, but for a viewer I left feeling unfufilled.

The Tender Bar is a film that will warm your heart, showing a coming of age story with an unconventional family environment and a loving, extended family.   

Rent it.

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The Tender Bar is playing in select theaters on December 22, 2021 and on Amazon Prime on January 7, 2022.  For showtimes, click here.

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Are You Happy Now Review: A Slow Pace With Plenty of Heart

Release date: December 7, 2021
Running time: 95 minutes
Written and Directed By: David Beinstein 
Starring: Ismenia Mendes, Josh Ruben, David Ebert

ARE YOU HAPPY NOW is the story of Adam, who can’t live without Gina, so when he finally gets the nerve up to ask her to marry he's devastated by her principled refusal. “Husbands used to own their wives!” she retorts, having no interest in recreating her parents tortured home. Gina finally agrees to marry, but Adam's hardly up to the task. Does true love mean divorce?

Your enjoyment of Are You Happy Now will depend greatly on your enjoyment of the cast. The main person of interest in this one is Josh Ruben.  Personally, I really like Josh Ruben and thankfully his character in Are You Happy Now is an enjoyable one.  I liked his mix of slacker character, strange quirks, and overall desire to better himself despite his many mess ups.  And strange quirks this movie has, especially when Adam meets up with his compatriot Walt (Ebert).  And overall, this movie had some laughs and plenty of moments, as Adam tries to understand and come to terms with his own relationship and issues.  And in the end the movie does have a decent amount of heart, even if it takes a while to get there.

But as I just said, Are You Happy Now has a very slow to develop story.  Josh's character is kind of a slacker and that shines through in this film.  Although he seems to want to improve his character, there isn't much drive behind it.  And the biggest issue with this dark comedy is that it is just not that funny.  It has its moments that will make you chuckle, but when you have a talent like Josh Ruben, you expect more.  You will definitely have a smile on your face at times, but you will often also have a blank look as the jokes just don't hit.  And after this very long journey of self discovery, the movie leaves you with an ending that feels appropriate but also unfulfilling.  It will make you wonder whether the journey we took was worth the overall payoff.  

Are You Happy Now has quirky characters and heart, but the long story and hit or miss comedy might make you ask yourself this penultimate question during the film.

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The Monkey King: Reborn Review: Beautifully Animated Anime-Style Chinese Action

Release date: December 7, 2021
Running time: 96 minutes
Directed By: Wang Yun Fei 

After short-tempered trickster Monkey King is insulted while visiting a temple with his master Tang Monk, he destroys a magical tree and accidentally releases the ancient King of Demons, who kidnaps Tang Monk as revenge for his long imprisonment. Now, Monkey King and his fellow disciples must rescue their master within three days, before the Demon King regains his full power and unleashes his armies to destroy the earth.

The Monkey King: Reborn is a beautiful film.  It is tough to stress just how nice this movie looks, with some really spectacular particle effects and environmental animation.  The fights are spectacular and some of the animation on the major characters, especially towards the end of the film, are absolutely beautiful.  And the fight scenes are rightly, for a movie about heavenly powers and world ending events, very intense.  It is like a more traditional anime made into three dimensional form, with the same speed, power, nad intensity that you would come to expect.  And the story itself is full of interesting characters and Chinese lore that will peak your interest.  

But Monkey King, like a few other Chinese animated films, tends to have a more crude humor style.  I don't think it's bad necessarily, just something that might be funnier in that culture versus an American audience.  I still enjoyed the movie, but didn't find the humor nearly as funny as I was hoping.  And the story was tough to follow at some points, again probably because of my unfamiliarity with Chinese lore.  I got enough of it and the fights were the main draw, but some of the nuances of the lore just went over my head.  I don't think either of these ruins the movie and what you are left with is a beautifully animated, exciting film.  This is similar to Nehza, where the opening sequence did not feel serious enough and was less engaging, but the later fights and sequences were stellar. 

The Monkey King: Reborn has some jaw dropping animation and fight scenes that continues the trend of beautifully animated, anime-style Chinese movies. 

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Riki Rhino Review: An Avenue To Introduce Your Kids To The Environment And Conservation

Release date: November 29, 2021
Running time: 90 minutes
Starring: Jennifer Castle ("Miss Potter") and Paul Reynolds ("Press Gang")

Riki has his horn stolen by the horrible poacher Mr Jak. To get his horn back, Riki and Beni embark on an exciting adventure through the rainforest. Along the way Riki helps other animals in trouble and every time he helps, he is rewarded with a new skill that will help him on his quest.

Riki Rhino's best asset is the environmental nature of it.  It is slightly more brutal than other kids movies I am used to, but that also opens up an avenue to talk about poaching and the environment.  The film has some important messages about hunting and conservation that I appreciated.  Seeing the effects of this on the animals, even if in a kid focused environment is a great way to raise awareness.  And it also opens up discussions about Africa and the animals that are there.  Additionally, Riki Rhino is a cute film with some very funny moments (at least that's what my kids thought).  They were very happy when certain events happened, and when Riki got his new skill. 

But Riki Rhino's biggest flaw is in the animation area.  The animation gets the point across but it is rough in many places.  It often feels like the animation you would see in a children's cartoon from many years ago, with blocky movement, obvious textures, and some low polygon situations.  It was strange to see because it really did look like it was out of a different time.  And although the story did come across, it just made me wish for something that could truly show the majesty and beauty of this environment.  And the lore of the film didn't resonate with me, with a quest that often felt convenient in what happened.  Riki's situations would often be solved by very opportune character introductions and skills, which felt like maybe the story was put together a little too quickly.  And although my kids found it very funny, I didn't laugh nearly as much.  This is a good piece of entertainment for the kids, but it is not a film that will have references that keep adults entertained.  

Riki Rhino is an avenue to discuss important environmental issues and to introduce your children to some big ideas, but the rough animation and story make this a kid-focused endeavor.  

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Encounter Review: An Unsettling Look and Feel For This Confusing Story

Release Date: December 3, 2021
Running Time: 99 Minutes
Directed By: Michael Pearce 
Written By: Joe Barton and Michael Pearce
Cast: Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal “The Night Of”), Octavia Spencer (The Help, Hidden Figures), Rory Cochrane (Argo, Hostiles), Janina Gavankar (The Way Back, “The Morning Show”), Lucian-River Chauhan (“Heartland,” “Gabby Duran & the Unsittables”) and Aditya Geddada

Desperate to save his two young sons, Jay and Bobby, from a mysterious threat, decorated Marine Malik Khan (Riz Ahmed) packs them in a car and sets off on a perilous journey across the western U.S. But while racing toward a secret military base in Nevada that may hold the key to safety, the trio encounters danger at every turn. Staying one step ahead of a group of government agents, Malik and the boys find themselves bonding in unexpected ways. As their relentless pursuers close in, and with time quickly running out, each of them must confront hard truths about the world, forcing Jay and Bobby to leave their childhoods behind. A gripping story of a father’s mission to keep his children safe at all costs, ENCOUNTER is at once a riveting thriller and a powerful drama about a family dealing with a seemingly unstoppable enemy.

Encounter has a definite style that evokes a classic feel.  I liked the older style sound and special effects that felt like a blast from the past.  And this was accentuated by a chromatic tint to some of the footage.  And similar to another movie this year (the interesting but unfulfilling Mosquito State), encounter zooms in on insects to give them an otherworldly feel.  The whole setup makes this feel like a film from the 80s or 90s, one that both looked to space for strange occurrences while acknowledging that those can occur down here on Earth.  But that insect theme permeates the whole film, as there are plenty of instances with insects being used to show the danger in the situation.  If you are not a fan of bugs, stay away from this one. 

And despite the very solid start and unsettling tone, the film just did not keep my interest.  Riz Ahmed is an amazing actor, and his performance is solid, but the film just did not have enough going on.  Part of this is the fact that you are questioning throughout what is real and what is not, which leads to some unsettling build up without any payoff.  Often you are wondering what you just saw.  The film tries to touch on aspects of mental health and PTSD, but they just did not resonate with me.  And although Octavia Spencer gets top billing in this film, she has a very limited appearance.  I was expecting more exposure from her, and she plays a key role, but ultimately this is a film about Riz Ahmed and the two kids.  Speaking of the kids, they are believable with a very good performance by the older of the two.  

And ultimately your enjoyment of the film will depend on how much you like the strange imagery and slow story.  There is some really great cinematography and use of old school effects to evoke some classic science fiction; sand some really great imagery to accompany it.  I thought that the end scene specifically had a clever setup to do just that.  But ultimately, this film feels like it has all the parts but just doesn't come together.  

Encounter has great imagery and a classic horror / scifi feel, but its slow and confusing story might make you avoid this meetup until its available to stream.  

Rent it.

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Encounter is playing in select theaters on December 3, 2021 and on Amazon Prime on December 10, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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The Humans Review: An All Star Cast In A Slow Burn Play

Release date: November 24, 2021
Running time: 106 minutes
Written and Directed By: Stephen Karam
Starring: Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell, Amy Schumer, Beanie Feldstein, Steven Yeun and June Squibb

Erik Blake has gathered three generations of his Pennsylvania family to celebrate Thanksgiving at his daughter’s apartment in lower Manhattan. As darkness falls outside and eerie things start to go bump in the night, the group’s deepest fears are laid bare. The piercingly funny and haunting debut film from writer-director Stephen Karam, adapted from his Tony Award-winning play, The Humans explores the hidden dread of a family and the love that binds them together.

The Humans feels very much like a play, and for good reason.  The film is an adaptation of a play and you can feel those roots throughout this movie.  It has a small, but phenomenal cast. It takes place almost entirely within a single apartment.  And it has a voyeuristic camera style that makes it seem like you are watching this family from another room.  Of those points, the cinematography was the standout for me.  I loved seeing these interesting, unconventional shots; you had a lot of instances of shots that were through doorways or in another room looking into the family.  It had a voyeuristic quality that made it feel like you were observing this family and their interactions.  There were some shots from lower angles and other shots that had a blurred perspective.  Overall it was a very interesting experience.  And on top of the cinematography, the writing was also an enjoyable aspect.  It definitely felt like a film that was converted from a play, with some funny statements, plenty of heartwarming family scenes, and lots of drama.  And it's strange to say this, but the film also had some natural conversation that did actually feel like how a family might converse over a Thanksgiving meal.

However, the Humans is a slow burning film, one that you will have to be in the right mindset to be in.  The story develops slowly and although it often does feel reasonably organic, it still could be tough to hold your interest.  Additionally, this slow burn feel is not helped by some sinister aspects that are introduced in the movie.  I couldn't tell if The Humans wanted to be a horror movie, but it had these moments that felt very much like the setup for something darker.  These felt clunky and ultimately didn't lead to much, and the additional concern is that these scenes felt unnecessarily drawn out.  The movie is not bad, but it does make this feel like an unnecessarily long experience despite the modest run time. 

The Humans has a fantastic cast and some very interesting cinematography, but the film's slow pace and strangely dark elements might make this a family meal you don't travel for. 

Rent it.

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Lair Review: Strong Leads and Unsettling Start

Release date: November 9, 2021
Running Time: 100 minutes
Director: Adam Ethan Crow
Cast: Corey Johnson (Steven), Oded Fehr (Ben), Alexandra Gilbreath (Wendy), Sean Buchanan (Det. Pitt), Aislinn De'ath (Maria), Kashif O'Connor (Ola), and newcomers Anya Newall (Joey) and Alana Wallace (Carly)

When Ben Dollarhdye is accused of murder, saying he was possessed by a demonic force, Steven Caramore investigates his friend's claims, setting off a chain of events that forces a young family into a terrifying battle for survival.

Lair has a suspenseful start that sets the tone very well.  This horror movie focuses on demonic possession, with a hint of voyeuristic intentions.  The main characters are in a sort of experiment, to see if ghosts are real.  This causes some suspense as you wonder what will happen next and if they will become victims of this strange experiment.  And the characters are generally well done.  I especially liked seeing a lesbian couple as the main characters in a horror film.  It seems that more and more films are coming out with diverse protagonists, and Lair continues this trend with a set of strong female leads to propel this horror movie forward.  

But although Lair starts off interesting, the film does have some odd quirks.  For example, although the writing is generally fine, there are some instances with odd lines or character turns. And the film starts off as a demonic possession type movie, but then changes into a very different type of haunting film.  I didn't love this for a few reasons.  For one, it caused the movie to escalate very quickly after a long setup of this scenario.  And this move from possession to haunting causes the situations to just be too different to feel related.   And this caused the type of situation to not match up with the introductory scene.  The whole concept behind why this family is being observed in this apartment just feels too disconnected from the initial scenario to make sense.  And although the film escalates quickly, it kind of goes off the rails in the end.  It seems like the film wants to try and go for a shock ending rather than one that seems consistent with the film.  

Lair has strong LGBTQ protagonists, a slow build up, and a decently unsettling setting that are let down by the story's disjointed nature and attempt at a shock ending.  

Rent it.

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Ida Red Review: A Strong Start That Quickly Stalls

Release date: November 5, 2021
Running time: 111 minutes
Written and Directed By: Josh Swab
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Sofia Hublitz, William Forsythe, Deborah Ann Woll, Frank Grillo, and Academy Award winning actress Melissa Leo

Crime boss Ida "Red" Walker (Oscar® winner Melissa Leo*) turns to her son, Wyatt (Josh Hartnett), to pull off one last heist to get out of prison. But with the FBI closing in, Wyatt must choose between family and freedom in this high-octane thriller.

Ida Red will get your attention right off the bat with an exciting opening and a stellar cast.  I really loved seeing Josh Hartnett and Frank Grillo in this film, and combined with the rest of the cast you have the makings of an exciting experience.  The opening scene gets this movie going with a bang and gives the viewer instant insight into the way that these brothers live.  And the brothers are the highlight of this movie.  Frank Grillo was amazing with a strange combination of unpredictability and charisma that made his character so fun to watch.  I was always holding my breath when he was on screen because I wasn't sure what he would do, but I loved every second of it.  And it was great to see Josh Hartnett back on the big screen opposite Grillo; his character was the perfect foil to Grillo's unpredictable, volatile persona.   Additionally, Ida Red has some very good music that sets the stage for this story to unfold.  It heightens the drama and action when needed, keeping the viewer invested in what is happening.  The music has a good mix of country and blues tones to set the stage and then some more tense music when jobs are happening.

But although Ida Red starts with a bang, it quickly grinds to a halt.  The story develops slowly as this family tries to figure out a way to get to their objective, but what started with a high energy, high tension encounter slowly turns into a drama with little action.  I kept wondering what would happen next and quickly lost the momentum that the opening gave.  There were glimpses after it but nothing that approached that opening scene.  And there is a large action sequence towards the end of the film that was disappointing.  The CG used made the fight look very unrealistic, and it just did not have the care and precision that was evident in earlier parts of the film.  And the story of the overall movie just does not progress quickly enough and with enough purpose.  I sat there wondering when it would pick up but it just seemed to be idling. 

Ida Red has an all star cast and a high tension start, but then quickly turns inconsistent as the slow story and questionable effects cause this film to stall. 

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One Shot Review: An Impressive Single Shot Film With Lots of Shooting

Release date: November 5, 2021
Running time: 96 minutes
Written and Directed By:  James Nunn
Starring:  Scott Adkins, Ashley Greene Khoury, Ryan Phillippe 

In an effort to prevent a terrorist attack on Washington D.C., an elite squad of Navy SEALs led by Lt. Blake Harris (Scott Adkins) and a junior CIA analyst Zoe Anderson (Ashley Greene) must retrieve a prisoner from a CIA black site island prison. Tensions flare as Deputy Site Manager Tom Shields (Ryan Phillippe) refuses to release the suspected terrorist based solely on Anderson's intel, but when the base comes under attack by waves of insurgents they must band together to complete the mission.

Like 1917 and Birdman, One Shot is an impressive feat of cinema.  As you can gather from the title, the film was done in the style of a single take, making sure that the action stays front and center and the viewer experiences the film along with the actors. It does present a much more visceral way to experience a film as the action and intrigue just do not stop.  And thankfully, the film doesn't skimp on either as One Shot has a great initial setup and good action.  And the film bolsters this style with some great actors.  Scott Adkins needs no introduction; this action star is perfectly in his element here and commands the scenes that he is in.  Ashely Greene Khoury is a great addition and I loved her strong female presence in this warzone.  And it was great to see Ryan Phillippe back on screen as well; I loved his character and the choices he had to make.  

However, One Shot sometimes shows its lower budget underpinnings during the film.  Occasionally dialogue will feel muddled, often because so much is going on around it, but I wish there had been an opportunity to rerecord or rebalance it.  I had to back up a couple times just to hear what had happened.  And occasionally, despite the good overall action the effects can be hit or miss.  And sometimes the single shot nature can hurt it.  In 1917, there was a lot of variety in locales and what happened, but here you don't get that.  There is a decent amount of scenarios, but it can start to feel the same as the core group tend to spend a good chunk of the film defending a location.  It sometimes feels like the same thing occurs in a different room, and you don't get the expanse that you got in something like 1917.  The movie is still an impressive feat, but it just needed some more variety to it.

One Shot has plenty of shooting, a wonderful cast, and intense action that keeps the viewers engaged through this impressive single shot scenario.  

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ROH (Soul) Review: An Unsettling Film That Grows On You

Release date: October 29, 2021
Running time: 83 minutes
Written and Directed by: Emir Ezwan
Cast: Farah Ahmad, Mhia Farhana, Harith Haziq, Nam Ron, Junainah M. Lojong, Putri Syahadah Nurqaseh

Cut off from civilization, a single mother puts her children on high alert when they bring home a strange young girl caked in clay. She tells of spirits and spirit hunters and after spending the night she delivers an ominous prophecy: the family will all soon die. As strangers begin to show up on her doorstep, and terrible events crop up around them, she quickly finds another reason to fear the forest. This eerily atmospheric folk horror tale marks the stunning directorial debut of seasoned visual effects artist, Emir Ezwan. From the ominous lighting, off-kilter tone, isolated locations and strange goings on, ROH is a visceral, spine-tingling revelation.

Roh is an impressive film from start to finish, starting with some really great camera work.  You get a sense of both the beauty and expanse of this forest, and the level of isolation for this family.  But unlike in a Western film, the isolation isn't overplayed, it is just a fact of where this family lives and the vastness of the forest.  And after the beautiful cinematography, you will be caught up in the wonderful effects.  Roh has good practical effects and plenty of gore.  It ties it into local beliefs and mysticism, with some sacrifices, some horrible occurrences, and plenty of gore.  It is not a gratuitous amount of gore, but it is enough to show just how good these effects are.

And the story of Roh slowly spirals as the family experiences more and more in this strange tale.  I liked the sense of unease as more strangers came and the news became more unsettling.  And the events occurring around and to the family slowly become more pronounced.  Towards the end, you have a series of horrible things happening.  And through it all I really liked the subtle music.  There is not a ton of music in this film, which contributes to the overall sense of isolation that this family experiences.  However, as the events spiral, it does seem to escalate fairly quickly towards the end.  There is a nice slow buildup that seems to descend relatively quickly.  And this might just be my own unfamiliarity with the culture, but I found it difficult to follow what was going on.  I was enjoying the experience and the wonderful setting and cinematography, but I couldn't tell you exactly what happened in this film.  

Roh (Soul) is an unsettling film with a sinister setting, wonderful camera work, and a story that descends into some dark and gory places.  

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Foundation S1E7 "Mysteries and Martyrs" Review: An Interesting Reveal Has Some New Flaws

Release date: October 29, 2021
Running time: 49 minutes

The Anacreons and their hostages board the fabled Invictus warship. The bond between Brother Dawn and Azura intensifies.

Now we are starting to barrel towards some interesting territory but it still feels like Foundation is setting up the world.  This episode is similar to others we have seen, though I will say the reveals seemed to happen more evenly throughout.  Rather than the previous episodes that seemed to have a big reveal at the start and end, this has a few spaced out.  There were a few key plot points that help to flesh out several of the stories, and I really liked some of the personal crises that this is introducing.  We get to see one of the Emperor's vulnerability, we get to see a big reveal from Gaal, and Salvor is put in very difficult position.  And I really liked he evolution of both Brother Dawn and Gaal, both of which had big story segments in this episode.  I have not been a fan of Brother Dawn, but with these new insights his overall story has become that much more interesting.  

And although Foundation is starting to come together, I still feel like this episode is building building building.  I guess that is just what this series will be, a slow intrigue setup for later episodes, but I do wonder when the payoff will happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying the characters, but the slow pace and lack of definitive movement is starting to bother me.  Still, I will keep watching as this episode showed that there is still plenty of enjoyment left in this story.

Foundation S1E7 has some big reveals and a return of some of our favorite characters, but still feels like the series is all preparation and no execution.

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Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+ with Season 1 Episode 7 "Mysteries and Martyrs" available on October 29, 2021.

Demigod Review: A Good Setup That Does Not Finish Strong

Release date: October 15, 2021
Running time: 95 minutes
Directed by: Miles Doleac
Starring: Rachel Nichols, Jeremy London, Yohance Myles, and Elena Sanchez

Upon the death of her grandfather, a woman and her husband return to her birthplace in Germany's Black Forest, only to find a terrifying secret awaits them.

Demigod has a mysterious start that will hook you, while the setting will keep you intrigued.  They both are perfect for a horror film, a mysterious past and an isolated wood cabin.  Having a couple go into a strange, deserted woods is the perfect recipe for terror.  And the film keeps the tension high with a slow build up to emphasize this great start.  You don't really know what is happening until a little ways into the film, and even then you don't know much else.  When the film uses practical gore effects, they look well done.  And I really liked the cast, specifically Rachel Nichols.  Her character is strong and mysterious, making for a compelling main character.  But I think my favorite character was portrayed by Yohance Myles, who adds a sense of heart and humor to the cast.  

But Demigod has some aspects that make it feel budget.  For one, the final monster / entity just does not seem that scary.  It appears to be someone in prosthetics and the overall power that it has is not fully explained.  It also has eyes that look like laser pointers, which doesn't strike fear in me when I saw it.  And the film, despite having a good initial start, just feels like not much happens.  Even with its exciting premise, there is never a good sense of unease or urgency after the initial few scenes.  It is strange as this film has all the components of a good horror movie, along with a strong headliner, but it just does not come together.  

Overall, despite Demigod's with a good mysterious setup and characters, it does not finish strong and is let down by a story without much drive and a confusing overall premise.

Rent it.

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Demigod is available in theaters, digitally, and on demand on October 15, 2021.  

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Foundation S1E6 "Death and the Maiden" Review: Some More Plot Lines Laid Bare

Release date: October 22, 2021
Running time: 50 minutes

Brother Day meets Zephyr Halima—a would-be leader who opposes the Empire. Brother Dusk grows suspicious of Brother Dawn.

We missed the Empire in the last episode but it comes roaring back in this one.  This episode feels more evenly split between the Empire and Foundation, but still with plenty of really great reveals.  It also feels like another groundwork laying episode, and I'm starting to wonder when the actual action will happen.  The world of Foundation is clearly a complicated one and there is a lot of groundwork to lay, but I am concerned that the show runners are just using season one a as a setup season for a more exciting season 2.  Overall I am wondering if Foundation will be all build up, no payoff.

What we do get is more reveals and a chance to see Salva with some emotion.  The reveals are both about the Empire and about Foundation's predicament.  For the Empire, we get some additional background and a look at some of the power struggles within the actual Empire.  It was another important reveal and it seems like the last couple episodes have tried to put some cracks in the Empire's previously unified front.  On the Foundation side, we see the aftermath of the invading force and the fate of Salva.  It is a sequence that allows her to show some emotion and additional character growth, but also requiring her to become a strong leader very quickly.

Foundation S1E6 has some more reveals and lays some solid foundation, but I am wondering when the series will stop building and start executing.

Rent it.

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Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+ with Season 1 Episode 6 "Death and the Maiden" available on October 22, 2021.