Mini Review - Silent Night, Deadly Night
Silent Night, Deadly Night (out Dec 11) is what you get when you mix The Santa Clause, Halloween, and Venom. A young man dons a Santa suit, listens to a voice in his head, and then brutally murders people (who kind of deserve it). Didn't mind the idea but the direction/editing is a little choppy. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (out Dec 4) is a sequel to the horror film released in 2023 starring Josh Hutcherson. I wasn't a fan of the original and this was no good either. It's a formulaic feature with characters making over-the-top dumb decisions to fit with the already convoluted screenplay. Grade: C.
Mini Review - The Golden Spurtle
The Golden Spurtle (out Dec 11) is a cute, fun documentary about the eclectic group, both organisers and contestants, who host an annual porridge cooking competition in Scotland. Not profound but still amusing. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Pets on a Train
Pets on a Train (out Dec 11) is a French animated film, dubbed into English, about animals trying to stop a runaway train. In terms of both the animation and storyline, it's many notches below Zootopia 2 which is currently dominating the box-office. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Careless
Careless (out Dec 4) is a great documentary about the aged care sector in Australia - highlighting both the good and bad. It features some wonderful interviewees and, through their stories, you're asked to reflect on growing old and what help we should expect from society. So many angles to explore! Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Eternity
Eternity (out Dec 4) is a playful, entertaining ride centred on a thought-provoking situation. A woman has passed away after a long, rich, fulfilling life and must decide which of her two deceased husbands she wants to spend eternity with. It’s a fun riff on the traditional romantic comedy genre with great supporting characters. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - A Little Women's Christmas
A Little Women's Christmas (out Dec 4) is a modern-day remake of the classic novel. Much has been changed, and this adaptation was way too schmaltzy and cheesy for me. Clichés galore! Grade: C.
Mini Review - Nuremberg
Nuremberg (out Dec 4) is centred around the Nuremberg trials which put Nazi leaders on trial in the aftermath of World War II. The material never gels. The dialogue is silly, Russell Crowe makes Hermann Göring looks like a cheesy action movie villain, and odd subplots (an interlude with the pope?!?) are a distraction. Grade: C+.