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Polytechnique (2009)

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve 

Starring: Maxim Gaudette, Sebastien Huberdeau, Karine Vanasse, Evelyn Brouchu

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Extended Sequences of Realistic and Disturbing Violence) 

Running Time: 1 h 17 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Some Acting, Cinematography, Pacing, Structure, Relevance

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Respect for Victims 

Polytechnique (2009)

December 15, 2020

A dramatization of the Montreal Massacre of 1989.

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In Action, Drama, Crime, Horror, Thriller, Biographical Tags Denis Villeneuve, Maxim Gaudette, Sebastien Huberdeau, Karine Vanasse, Evelyn Brouchu, 2009, NR
1 Comment
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Maniac (2012)

Directed by: Franck Khalfoun

Starring: Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, Americo Olivo

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Graphic Violence and Nudity)

Running Time: 1 h 29 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Practical Effects

WEAKNESSES: Cinematography, Nothing New

Maniac (2012)

October 16, 2020

A man struggles to suppress his desire to kill.

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In Crime, Horror, Slasher, Thriller Tags Franck Khalfoun, Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, Americo Olivo, NR
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Cargo (2017)

Directed by: Ben Howling, Yolanda Ramke

Starring: Martin Freeman, Susie Porter, Simone Landers

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Some Graphic Violence and Language)

Running Time: 1 h 45 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Themes, General Execution

WEAKNESSES: Well Worn Territory, Pacing 

Cargo (2017)

October 12, 2020

In zombie-ridden Australia, a father searches for someone to protect his infant daughter. 

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In Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller Tags Ben Howling, Yolanda Ramke, Martin Freeman, Susie Porter, Simone Landers, NR
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Hell House LLC (2015)

Directed by: Stephen Cognetti

Starring: Gore Abrams Alice Bahlke, Danny Bellini, Ryan Jennifer Jones, Lauren A Kennedy, Adam Schneider

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Terror and Language)

Running Time: 1 h 33 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Ingenuity, Low Budget Gem, Genuinely Creepy Atmosphere

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Some Plot Points Brushed Over, Some Stupid Character Choices

Hell House LLC (2015)

October 9, 2020

A documentary crew sets out to explain what happened the opening night at a Haunted House attraction where fifteen people died mysteriously. 

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In Mockumentary, Thriller, Horror, Fantasy Tags Stephen Cognetti, Gore Abrams Alice Bahlke, Danny Bellini, Ryan Jennifer Jones, Lauren A Kennedy, Adam Schneider, NR, 4 Stars
1 Comment
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Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel (2018)

Directed by: Stephen Cognetti

Starring: Vasile Flutur, Jillian Geurts, Joy Shantz

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Violence and Terror)

Running Time: 1 h 59 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Some Spooky Moments

WEAKNESSES: Acting, Generic

Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel (2018)

October 9, 2020

Eight years after the tragedy at Hell House LLC, an investigative journalist decides she will try to uncover the mystery of what happened that night. 

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In Fantasy, Horror, Mockumentary, Thriller Tags Stephen Cognetti, Vasile Flutur, Jillian Geurts, Joy Shantz, NR, 2.5 Stars
1 Comment
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Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire (2019)

Directed by: Stephen Cognetti

Starring: Gabriel Chytry, Elizabeth Vermilyea, Sam Kazzi

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Language and Terror)

Running Time: 1 h 25 m

TMM Score: 1.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: A Few Spooky Moments

WEAKNESSES: General Execution, Writing, Lack of Creativity

Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire (2019)

October 9, 2020

The infamous Abaddon Hotel reopens as an interactive show known as Insomnia. What could possibly go wrong? 

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In Thriller, Horror Tags Stephen Cognetti, Gabriel Chytry, Elizabeth Vermilyea, Sam Kazzi, 1.5 Stars, NR
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Starry Eyes (2014)

Directed by: Kevin Kolsch, Dennis Widmyer

Starring: Alex Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Noah Segan

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Disturbing Graphic Violence and Gory Images, Language and Nudity)

Running Time: 1 h 38 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Third Act, Some Acting, Writing, Themes

WEAKNESSES: Some Subpar Moments

Starry Eyes (2014)

October 3, 2020

A Faustian tale about a young actress struggling to make it in LA. 

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In Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller Tags Kevin Kolsch, Dennis Widmyer, Alex Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Noah Segan, 2014, NR, 4 Stars
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Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922)

Directed by: Benjamin Christensen

Starring: Astrid Holm, Clara Pontoppidan, Benjamin Christensen

Rated: NR (Suggested PG-13 for Thematic Elements and Partial Nudity)

Running Time: 1 h 44 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Influence, Inventiveness, Structure, Themes

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Small Target Audience

Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922)

October 1, 2020

A silent era documentary concerning medieval beliefs about witchcraft. 

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In Anthology, Drama, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Foreign Film, Silent, Thriller Tags Astrid Holm, Clara Pontoppidan, Benjamin Christensen, 1922, NR, 5 Stars
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Nostalgia (1983)

Directed By: Andrei Tarkovsky

Starring: Oleg Yankovskiy, Erland Josephson, Domiziana Giordano

Rated: NR

Run Time: 2h 5m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Production Design, Meditative, Acting

Weakness: Pacing

Nostalgia (1983)

March 13, 2020

A Russian writer, doing research in Italy, suffers an extreme bout of homesickness for Russia.

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In Art House, Drama, Foreign Film Tags Michael McDonald, Nostalgia, 1983, Andrei Tarkovsky, Oleg Yankovskiy, Erland Josephson, Domiziana Giordano, NR, 3 Stars
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Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)

Directed by: Bong Joon Ho

Starring: Sung-Jae Lee, Doona Bae, Ho-Jung Kim, Hee-Bong Byun

Rated: NR (Suggested R)

Running Time: 1 h 50 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Unique Premise, Direction

WEAKNESSES: Unlikeable Characters, Pacing

Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)

March 6, 2020

A part-time college professor finds himself annoyed by a perpetually yapping dog and decides to take action.

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In Crime, Foreign Film, Comedy Tags Bong Joon Ho, Sung-Jae Lee, Doona Bae, Ho-Jung Kim, Hee-Bong Byun, NR, 3 Stars
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Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973)

Directed by: Yasuharu Hasebe

Starring: Meiko Kaji, Masakazu Tamura, Yumi Kanei

Rated: NR

Running Time: 1 h 29 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Fun, Style, Pacing, Meiko Kaji

WEAKNESSES: A Bit Superfluous

Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973)

February 20, 2020

The final chapter in the Female Prisoner Scorpion series.

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In Action, Adventure, Exploitation, Foreign Film, Thriller Tags Yasuharu Hasebe, Meiko Kaji, Masakazu Tamura, Yumi Kanei, 1973, NR, 3.5 Stars
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Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)

Directed by: Shun’ya Ito

Starring: Meiko Kaji, Fumio Wantanabe, Yukie Kagawa, FUdeko Tanaka

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Graphic Violence and Nudity)

Running Time: 1 h 30 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Style, Direction, Story, Action, Fun

WEAKNESSES: Sleazy/ Exploitative (?)

Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)

February 18, 2020

The second entry in the Female Prisoner Scorpion series. After being locked in solitary confinement for a year, Matsu the Scorpion escapes with a van full of prisoners and flees across a surreal landscape. 

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Fantasy, Foreign Film, Mystery, Exploitation, Thriller Tags Meiko Kaji, Fumio Wantanabe, Yukie Kagawa, FUdeko Tanaka, Shun'ya Ito, 1972, NR, 4 Stars
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November (2017)

Directed by: Rainer Sarnet

Starring: Rea Lest, Jorgen Liik, Jette Loona Hermanis, Jaan Tooming, Arvo Kukumagi

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Some Nudity)

Running Time: 1 h 55 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, World Building, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: -

November (2017)

February 12, 2020

A poor village in Estonia tries to survive the winter by using magic, and a young girl among the villagers attempts to woo a young man. 

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In Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Foreign Film, Horror, Romance, Thriller Tags Rainer Sarnet, 2017, Rea Lest, Jorgen Liik, Jette Loona Hermanis, Jaan Tooming, Arvo Kukumagi, NR
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The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre

Rated: NR

Run Time: 1h 15m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Clever Plot, Brevity

Weakness: Slight

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

January 31, 2020

When an American Family, vacationing abroad, gets mixed up in an assassination plot, the couple must choose between stopping an international coup or saving their kidnapped daughter.

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In Crime, Foreign Film, Mystery, Political, Thriller Tags Michael McDonald, Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre, NR, The Man Who Knew To Much, 1934, Alfred Hitchcock, 3 Stars
1 Comment
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Foreign Correspondent (1940)

Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall

Rated: NR

Run Time: 2h

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Cinematography, Execution of Some Sequences.

Weakness: Seems Slight, Dated Sentimentality, Weak Love Story

Foreign Correspondent (1940)

January 31, 2020

John Jones is tasked with drumming up the news of what is going on in Europe during the lead up to WW2. As he probes for information he witnesses an assassination, falls in love with the daughter of a peace broker, and even avoids assassination himself. Whatever it takes to get the scoop.

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In Adventure, Drama, Political, Romance, Thriller, War Tags Michael McDonald, Alfred Hitchcock, Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, NR, 3 Stars, 1940, Foreign Correspondent
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Midnight Family (2019)

Directed By: Luke Lorentzen

Starring: Fer Ochoa, Josue Ochoa, Juan Ochoa

Rated: NR

Run Time: 1h 20m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Immersion, Cinematography

Weakness: Lack of Subtextual Themes

Midnight Family (2019)

January 23, 2020

The Ochoa family operates a private ambulance in corrupt, poor, and under-serviced Mexico City districts.

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In Documentary, Foreign Film Tags Michael McDonald, Fer Ochoa, Josue Ochoa, Juan Ochoa, NR, 3 Stars, Luke Lorentzen, Midnight Family, 2019
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Synonyms (2019)

Directed by: Navid Lapid

Starring: Tom Mercier, Quentin Dolmaire, Louise Chevillotte

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Strong Graphic Nudity and Sexual Content, and for Language)

Running Time: 2 h 3 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Story, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Mild Pacing Issues

Synonyms (2019)

December 20, 2019

A young Israeli man flees to Paris to begin a new life. 

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In Coming of Age, Drama, Crime Tags Navid Lapid, Tom Mercier, Quentin Dolmaire, Louise Chevillotte, NR, 4.5 Stars
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The Bloodstained Butterfly (1971)

Directed by: Duccio Tessari

Starring: Helmut Berger, Giancarlo Sbragia, Evelyn Steart, Silvano Tranquilli, Wendy D’Olive

Rated: NR (Suggested R for A Scene of Sexuality, Some Violence and Thematic Elements)

Running Time: 1 h 39 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Perspective, Twist, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Some Pacing, Some Melodrama

The Bloodstained Butterfly (1971)

November 25, 2019

After a young girl is murdered in a park, a television anchor is arrested for her murder, but murders of a similar style soon follow. 

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In Drama, Crime, Foreign Film, Mystery, Thriller Tags Helmut Berger, Giancarlo Sbragia, Evelyn Steart, Silvano Tranquilli, Wendy D’Olive, Duccio Tessari, NR, 3.5 Stars
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Tel Aviv on Fire (2019)

Directed By: Sameh Zoabi

Starring: Kais Nashif, Lubna Azabal, Yaniv Biton

Rated: NR

Run Time: 1h 40m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Humor, Performances

Weakness: Cultural Jokes May Elude Americans

Tel Aviv on Fire (2019)

November 6, 2019

Summary

A PA on Israel’s most popular soap opera, “Tel Aviv on Fire,” gets his big break when he starts using material from his real life to impress the show’s producers.

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In Buddy Movies, Comedy, Foreign Film Tags Michael McDonald, Tel Aviv on Fire, 2019, Sameh Zoabi, Kais Nashif, Lubna Azabal, Yaniv Biton, NR, 4 Stars
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Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Directed by: Charles Barton

Starring: Bud Abbot, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, Lenore Aubert, Jane Randolph

Rated: NR (TMM Suggested PG for Some Scary Images)

Running Time: 1 h 23 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Comedy, Production Design, Writing, Wide Appeal

WEAKNESSES: Some Jokes Go On Too Long

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

October 27, 2019

Two freight handlers encounter Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolf Man.

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In Adventure, Buddy Movies, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Bud Abbot, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, Lenore Aubert, Jane Randolph, Charles Barton, NR, 4 Stars, 1948
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