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Cold Fish (2010)

Directed by: Sion Sono

Starring: Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Denden, Asuka Kurosawa

Rated: NR (Suggest R for Violence and Disturbing Graphic Images, Some Sexual Assaults and Language)

Running Time: 2 h 26 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Pacing, Story, Effects, Writing, Directing

WEAKNESSES: -

Cold Fish (2010)

October 15, 2018

After a man’s daughter is caught stealing at a store and a friendly storeowner steps in to help, the man and the storeowner strike up a friendship. But when the storeowner asks the man for a favor, things take a very dark turn. 

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In Biographical, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Epic, Foreign Film, Horror, Mystery, Thriller Tags Sion Sono, Misuru Fukikoshi, Denden, Asuka Kurosawa, NR, Japan, 4.5 Stars, 2010
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Apostle (2018)

Directed by: Gareth Evans

Starring: Dan Stevens, Michael Sheen, Kristine Froseth, Bill Miner

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Graphic Bloody Violence and Disturbing Material)

Running Time: 2 h 10 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Production Design, Atmosphere, Effects, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Content Will Deter Some Viewers, Some Plot Holes

Apostle (2018)

October 15, 2018

A man journeys to an island that is home to a cult in an attempt to rescue his sister.

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In Adventure, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Thriller Tags Gareth Evans, Dan Stevens, Michael Sheen, Kristine Froseth, Apostle, 2018, 4 Stars, NR
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The Limehouse Golem (2016)

Directed by: Juan Carlos Medina

Starring: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Grisly Violence and Some Sexual Material)

Running Time: 1 h 49 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Atmosphere, Acting, Writing

WEAKNESSES: Pacing

The Limehouse Golem (2016)

October 14, 2018

As famed musician Elizabeth Cree awaits her death sentence for the apparent murder of her husband, Inspector Kildare investigates a series of murders that might coincide with Cree’s husband. 

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In Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Thriller Tags NR, Juan Carlos Medina, Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth, 2016, 3.5 Stars
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From Hell (2001)

Directed by: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes

Starring: Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm

Rated:R for Strong Violence/Gore, Sexuality, Language and Drug Content

Running Time: 2 h 2 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Production Design, Atmosphere, Some Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Cheap Thrill Moments, Some Awkward Scenes, Color Grading

From Hell (2001)

October 14, 2018

In 1888, Jack the Ripper stalks the Whitechapel District of London. 

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In Biographical, Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller Tags From Hell, 2001, Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes, Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm, R, 3.5 Stars
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The Skeleton Key (2005)

Directed by: Iain Softley

Starring: Kate Hudson, Peter Sarsgaard, John Hurt, Gena Rowlands

Rated: PG-13 for Violence, Disturbing Images, Some Partial Nudity and Thematic Material

Running Time: 1 h 44 m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Creepy Imagery, Cool Locations

WEAKNESSES: Acting, Pacing, Editing, Writing

The Skeleton Key (2005)

October 13, 2018

A hospice nurse moves into a home outside New Orleans to take care of an elderly man and his wife, only to find the house holds some secrets.

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In Crime, Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller Tags The Skeleton Key, 2005, Iain Softley, Kate Hudson, Peter Sarsgaard, John Hurt, Gena Rowlands, PG-13, 2 Stars
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Cabin Fever (2002)

Directed by: Eli Roth

Starring: Jordan Ladd, Rider Strong, James DeBello, Cerina Vincent, Joey Kern

Rated: R for Strong Violence and Gore, Sexuality, Language and Brief Drug Use

Running Time: 1 h 33 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Meta Feeling, Some Writing

WEAKNESSES: Acting, Most Writing, Flat Direction and Cinematography

Cabin Fever (2002)

October 12, 2018

Five college kids rent a cabin in the woods and fall pray to a horrifying virus. 

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In Horror, Comedy, Thriller Tags Jordan Ladd, Rider Strong, James DeBello, Cerina Vincent, Joey Kern, Eli Roth, R, 3 Stars, 2002, Cabin Fever
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Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Directed by: Zack Snyder

Starring: Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, Ty Burrell

Rated: R for Pervasive Strong Horror Violence and Gore, Language and Sexuality

Running Time: 1 h 50 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Practical Effects, Zombie Stuff

WEAKNESSES: Anytime the Characters Talk

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

October 12, 2018

During a zombie outbreak, a group of survivors team up in a mall.

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In Action, Adventure, Horror, Fantasy, Thriller Tags Zack Snyder, James Gunn, Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, Ty Burrell, 3 Stars, 2004, R
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Silent Hill (2006)

Directed by: Christophe Gans

Starring: Radha Mitchell, Laurie Holden, Sean Bean, Jodelle Ferland

Rated: R for Strong Horror Violence and Gore, Disturbing Images, and Some Language

Running Time: 2 h 5 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Visuals, Atmosphere, Production Design, Soundtrack

WEAKNESSES: Writing, Acting, Story Structure, Length

Silent Hill (2006)

October 11, 2018

A young girl’s recurring nightmares about Silent Hill, the place she was born, prompts he mother to take her to take her daughter there, only to find that Silent Hill is not at all what they thought it might be. 

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In Adventure, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller Tags 2006, Silent Hill, Christophe Gans, Radha Mitchell, Laurie Holden, Sean Bean, Jodelle Ferland, R, 2.5 Stars
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Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018)

Directed by: Sonny Lennon, Tommy Wiklund

Starring: Thomas Lennon, Nelson Franklin, Jenny Pellicer, Charlyne Yi

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Strong Graphic Violence, Sexual Content and Nudity, and Language- All Involving Puppets)

Running Time: 1 h 30 m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Puppets, Practical Effect, Concept

WEAKNESSES: Writing, Acting, Story, Tone

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018)

October 10, 2018

A comic book writer travels to a convention where he hopes to sell a rare puppet, but the puppet has other intentions.

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In Action, Comedy, Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller Tags Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich, 2018, 2 Stars, Sonny Lennon, Tommy Wiklund, Thomas Lennon, Nelson Franklin, Jenny Pellicer, Charlyne Yi, NR
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Puppet Master (1989)

Directed by: David Schmoeller

Starring: Paul Le Mat, William Hickey, Irene Miracle

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 30 m

TMM Score: 1.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Puppets

WEAKNESSES: Literally Everything Else

Puppet Master (1989)

October 10, 2018

A group of psychics attend a funeral for an old colleague, only to be attacked by murderous sentient puppets. 

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In Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Horror Tags 1.5 Stars, David Schmoeller, Paul Le Mat, William Hickey, Irene Miracle, R
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Unsane (2018)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharoah

Rated: R for Disturbing Behavior, Violence, Language, and Sex References

Running Time: 1 h 38 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Distractingly Bad Cinematography, Pacing

Unsane (2018)

October 9, 2018

A young woman is involuntarily committed to a mental institution, believing her stalker has purposefully brought her there. Is it all in her head, or is it really happening?

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In Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller Tags R, 2.5 Stars, Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharoah, 2018, Steven Soderbergh
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A Cure for Wellness (2016)

Directed by: Gore Verbinski

Starring: Dane Dehaan, Jason Isaacs, Mia Goth

Rated: R for Disturbing Violent Content and Images, Sexual Content Including an Assault, Graphic Nudity, and Language

Running Time: 2 h 26 m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Production Design, Cinematography, Soundtrack

WEAKNESSES: Acting, Pacing, Dialogue, Length

A Cure for Wellness (2016)

October 9, 2018

A wealthy young executive is sent to a retreat in the Swiss Alps to retrieve his company’s CEO, only to find the spa where the CEO is staying might hold some dark secrets. 

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In Drama, Epic, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller Tags 2 Stars, 2016, Gore Verbinski, Dane Dehaan, Mia Goth, Jason Isaacs, R
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A Dark Song (2016)

Directed by: Liam Gavin

Starring: Catherine Walker, Steve Oram, Mark Huberman

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Thematic Material and Some Disturbing Imagery)

Running Time: 1 h 40 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Pacing, Message

WEAKNESSES: Ending Won’t Work For Everyone, Not Scary for Genre Hardened Fans

A Dark Song (2016)

October 8, 2018

A young woman teams up with an occultist to attempt a dangerous but powerful ritual; in doing so they risk their lives and souls.  

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In Art House, Fantasy, Drama, Horror, Thriller Tags A Dark Song, 2016, 4.5 Stars, Liam Gavin, Catherine Walker, Steve Oram, Mark Huberman, NR
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Skyscraper (2018)

Directed by: Rawson Marshall Thurber

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Pablo Schreiber, Roland Moller, Hannah Quinlivan

Rated: PG-13 for Sequences of Gun Violence and Action, and For Brief Strong Language

Running Time: 1 h 42 m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: It’s Exactly What You’d Expect

WEAKNESSES: It’s Exactly What You’d Expect

Skyscraper (2018)

October 8, 2018

A security expert must save his family from a 225-story building that is besieged by criminals and also on fire.

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller Tags Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Pablo Schreiber, Roland Moller, Hannah Quinlivan, Rawson Marshall Thurber, 2018, 2 Stars
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The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

Directed by: Andre Ovredal

Starring: Brian Cox, Emile Hirsch, Ophelia Lovibond

Rated: R for Bloody Horror Violence, Unsettling Grisly Images, Graphic Nudity, and Language

Running Time: 1 h 26 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Brian Cox, Effects, Atmosphere, Simplicity of Story

WEAKNESSES: Emile Hirsch, Some Dialogue

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

October 8, 2018

A father and son coroner team performs an autopsy on a body of an unknown woman discovered at a crime scene, only to find her body harbors some grim secrets. 

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In Drama, Crime, Horror, Thriller Tags Emile Hirsch, Brian Cox, Ophelia Lovibond, 3 Stars, R, Andre Ovredal
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Ghost Stories (2017)

Directed by: Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman

Starring: Andy Nyman, Martin Freeman, Paul Whitehouse, Alex Lawther

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Disturbing Material, Some Violence and Language)

Running Time: 1 h 38 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Cinematography, Unique Story Structure

WEAKNESSES: Twist Ending, Second Anthology Story, Pacing

Ghost Stories (2017)

October 7, 2018

A Professor bent on debunking popular ghost stories and psychics is given a file of three cases that a ghost expert couldn’t crack. 

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In Drama, Horror, Mystery, Anthology, Thriller Tags 2017, Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman, Martin Freeman, Paul Whitehouse, Alex Lawther, NR, 3 Stars, seth steele
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Kwaidan (1964)

Directed by: Masaki Kobayashi

Starring: Rentaro Mikuni, Michiyo Aratama, Miskako Wantanabe, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiko Kishi

Rated: NR (Suggested PG-13 for Some Frightening Moments)

Running Time: 3 h 3 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Cinematography, Stories, Culture, Mis-en-scene

WEAKNESSES: -

Kwaidan (1964)

October 7, 2018

An anthology film of four Japanese folk tales with supernatural themes.

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In Art House, Crime, Drama, Epic, Fantasy, Foreign Film, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Thriller Tags Kwaidan, 1964, Masaki Kobayashi, Rentaro Mikuni, Michiyo Aratama, Miskako Wantanabe, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiko Kishi, 5 Stars, NR, Japan
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Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

Directed by: E Elias Merhige

Starring: John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, Cary Elwes

Rated: R for Some Sexuality, Drug Content, Violence and Language

Running Time: 1 h 32 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Production Design, Atmosphere, Writing

WEAKNESSES: Cinematography, Small Target Audience (?)

Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

October 6, 2018

The filming of Nosferatu (1922) is complicated by the demands and habits of lead actor Max Schreck.

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In Art House, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Biographical Tags 2000, R, E. Elias Merhige, John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, Cary Elwes, F.W. Murnau, Max Schreck, Bram Stoker, Eddie Izzard, 4 Stars
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Berberian Sound Studio (2012)

Directed by: Peter Strickland

Starring: Toby Jones, Antonio Mancino, Guido Adorni

Rated: NR (Suggested PG-13 for Some Disturbing Thematic Material)

Running Time: 1 h 32 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Cinematography, Sound Design, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Artistic Nature Will Deter Normal Genre Fans

Berberian Sound Studio (2012)

October 6, 2018

A British sound engineer travels to Italy to help finish a horror film, only to find working on the film is a literal nightmare.

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In Art House, Thriller, Horror Tags Peter Strickland, Toby Jones, Antonio Mancino, Guido Adorni, 4 Stars, 2012
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Venom (2018)

Directed by: Ruben Fleischer

Starring: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed

Rated: PG-13 for Intense Sequences of Science-Fi Violence and Action, and For Language

Running Time: 1 h 52 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: It’s Hilarious, Some Action

WEAKNESSES: Acting, Writing, Directing, Logic, Story, Plot Holes

Venom (2018)

October 5, 2018

While journalist Eddie Brock is working on a story he encounters a powerful symbiote and becomes an anti-hero. 

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci Fi, Superhero, Thriller Tags Venom, 2018, Ruben Fleischer, Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, PG-13, 2.5 Stars
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