Author: Rob Dean

Harry Houdini died Halloween night in 1926 from peritonitis that may have been due to appendicitis and/or some powerful punches he received a week and a half earlier. But my younger self didn’t know that about the most famous magician of all time; no, I believed he died in the famed “Water Torture Cell” after an act went wrong. And I thought that because I had seen the 1953 biopic “Houdini” starring Tony Curtis and that’s how the escape artist perishes at the end of the film. “Print the legend” is an alluring siren song for biographers and especially for…

1.079 billion. As I watched “Joker: Folie à Deux,” I couldn’t help but think, “Why was it made?” Sure, the previous “Joker” won awards and did well at the box office, but this sequel adds nothing to that 2019 film. When I looked to see how well it did, I found that it made $1.079 billion at the global box office. No corporation would dare pass up a chance to dip into that massive wellspring of money again, and certainly the director behind “The Hangover II” and “The Hangover III” wouldn’t be above returning for a shockingly bland and unnecessary…

“The Substance” is a wonderfully horrible experience. The second feature film from writer/director Coralie Fargeat (who debuted with 2017’s incredible “Revenge”) is a boldly disgusting body horror movie that has a lot to say about objectification, aging, and the superficial society in which we live. It’s also hilarious, inventive, beautiful, hideous, and witty in all the best of ways as it patiently builds up to a gonzo third act that could only be pulled off by an artist as assured and powerful as Fargeat. “The Substance” is absolutely not for everyone, for a whole host of reasons people may object…

Failed comedy is the worst. And while “The Killer’s Game” isn’t a total wash in the laughter department (I definitely chuckled a couple of times, even if they were guilt-laden chortles), it’s a good reminder—other genres’ failures can be fun, but a bad comedy simply devolves into groan-inducing slog. First time director J.J. Perry is far better equipped with the action side of things, creating a couple of standout sequences that are entertaining with their stunts and fight choreography, but those oases stand amidst lots of obvious quips and lame character beats. The assembled cast is game and does what…

It’s fitting that so much of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” takes place in the netherworld between the land of the living and the realm of the great beyond, as the film itself is stuck in its own awkward halfway point. Torn between reverence for the 1988 original movie and a desire to do its own thing, the sequel manages to mostly serve both masters fairly well. And while it is full of great performances and excellent visuals, director Tim Burton’s latest suffers from a far too overstuffed script with unnecessary tangents and narratives. “Beetlejuice” was a clever premise (what if the ghosts…

We live with a lot of regret. So much of our mental space is taken up by a giant question of “what if”—wondering what would’ve happened if you did X instead of Y and how that reverberated throughout your life. This is reflected in our speculative storytelling, with multiversal stories, time-loop tales, and time travel all exploring how small changes can echo outward to create a new reality. “My Old Ass” isn’t a time travel movie, per se, but it does involve the collision of the past and the future to alter the present. It’s a fun, lighthearted movie that…

“Blink Twice” is a good reminder that there are few things as exciting to movie lovers as seeing the assured debut of a new director. While co-writer/director Zoë Kravitz has been working in front of the camera for many years, this is her first time helming a feature film and it’s an impressive feat. Whether it’s Ana Lily Amirpour’s “A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night,” Robert Eggers’ “The Witch,” or Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” these bold introductions belie the nascent nature of the talent involved and show an artist in excellent control of her abilities. “Blink Twice” isn’t as…

“Alien: Romulus” does so many things so well, that it’s a pity it’s not in service to a better movie. Director Fede Alvarez builds up lots of goodwill in the beginning of the film that it becomes heartbreaking to see all that excellent work get swallowed up by a screenplay (by Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues) bogged down with too much nostalgia, too little logic, and a daft ending that repeats many of the previous installments’ same mistakes. Still, the lead actors are phenomenal, the set and costume design are great, and there are multiple clever and exciting sequences throughout. It’s…

“The Instigators” poses an interesting question: is the dream of the ‘90s cinema alive in 2024? The film, directed by Doug Liman from a script by Chuck MacLean and Casey Affleck, is a throwback to the ensemble crime comedy that was in abundance following the success of Tarantino. Titles like “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead,” “Killing Zoe,” “2 Days In The Valley,” “8 Heads in a Duffel Bag,” “The Way of the Gun,” and many more filled the multiplexes and video store shelves that tried to capitalize on the new auteur’s success, influenced by the Coen Brothers,…

“Twisters” proves there is no simple math for defining what makes a good movie. An original story full of depth, innovation, and discovery is of critical importance to a well-made film, right? Well, “Twisters” doesn’t have any of that. How about smart character arcs that are surprising and rewarding for the way the journey is undertaken? Surely, that’s necessary for a great trip to the theater? Again, you won’t find that with “Twisters.” And yet…the late sequel (in concept only) by director Lee Isaac Chung is a genuinely entertaining time that overcomes its numerous shortcomings through charm and chemistry, almost…