The Cottage

This horror flick managed to be campy, quirky & scary simultaneously, which is no easy feat. Serkis was wonderful. 3/5

The Cottage on Netflix

The Kingdom

Berg delivers another excellent thriller with expert acting, a sharp plot & exceptional direction. Solid work. 4/5

The Kingdom on Netflix

Citizen X

A fascinating plot but amateurishly told, although the ending was satisfying. It felt emotionally flat - just okay. 3/5

Citizen X on Netflix

South of Pico

This film was going for a "Crash" vibe but never got there - the end made little sense with no resolution. 3/5

South of Pico on Netflix

Bedevilled

I'm a big fan of Korean revenge thrillers, and this is one of the best I've seen in a long while, in a similar vein to "Lady Vengeance" and "I Saw the Devil". VERY brutal, very dark, very cohesive. I had to take off half a star for a really bizarre thing that happens in the second half of the film that's never explained though, a real "Texas Chainsaw Massacre what happened to the trucker" moment. Otherwise, truly wonderful. 4.5/5

Bedevilled on Netflix

The Ladykillers

This Coen brothers farce felt forced & utterly absurd - I didn't feel connected to it at all. Not good for me. 2/5

The Ladykillers on Netflix

Death of a President

This. Is. BRILLIANT. This historical fiction film discusses what happens in the wake of the assassination of George W. Bush in 2007. It seamlessly and beautiful weds newsreel and film footage together into a completely convincing whole. Perhaps the most amazing thing though is the film's plot, which presents as a suspense thriller and it executed to perfection. There wasn't a thing wrong in this film, I loved it and was totally captivated throughout. Highly recommended. 5/5

Death of a President on Netflix

Sugarhouse

The story of this taught drama unfolds slowly like a lotus but is worth the wait - tremendous acting as well. 3.5/5

Sugarhouse on Netflix

The Taking of Deborah Logan

This was one scary found-footage style film with a tremendous performance from Jill Larson. Nice. 4/5

The Taking of Deborah Logan on Netflix

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This sequel is every bit as charming & lovely as the first, wonderful acting as always. 4/5

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel on Netflix

Particle Fever

This documentary about the Higgs boson is equal parts exciting & terrifying. It's a brave new world indeed. 4/5

Particle Fever on Netflix

Jarhead 2: Field of Fire

I loved "Jarhead". I thought it a gritty, realistic, and honest portrait of the life of a Marine. I went so far in my review to say I felt it to be the true inheritor of "Full Metal Jacket" in many regards. But this sequel? This has nothing whatsoever to do with the original film. It's nothing more than an empty popcorn action flick with no substance and a highly predictable plot. Why it's even called a sequel I don't know. At all. Don't go into this film thinking it will have a damn thing to do with the first and you'll be okay. But if you love the first film like me, maybe skip this. Very average. 3/5

Jarhead 2: Field of Fire on Netflix

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within

A truly worthy sequel, this thriller has a solid plot & tremendous acting. Can't wait for the end! 4/5

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within on Netflix

If I Stay

This made me cry more than most Nicolas Sparks films. Beautifully told, if a bit overly sentimental. Lovely. 3.5/5

If I Stay on Netflix

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

This sequel is just as strong as the first film with compelling characters and a solid plot. Great action film. 4/5

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on Netflix

Dead Within

So the zombie apocalypse happens, and it's just you and your spouse, locked in a cabin, away from the world. Your spouse ventures out for food and supplies, but they insist you don't go, because it's safer inside. So they go out for long stretches of time and you wait, inside, listening to the noises of the end of the world. Days turn to weeks turn to months, and, most of the time, it's just you. You and the starvation and the lack of sleep and light and the nothing. How long until you begin to lose your mind, just a little? How long until you aren't quite sure what's real and what's not? How long until it's worse being inside than it would being out? How much can a mind take before it snaps? How long do you trust yourself, or your spouse, or anything you see or hear? Think about it for a while. You think you know what you'd do, we all would. We think, I would always know what was real. I would always know what to do. But how do you know that? And does being that sure of your own sanity leave that much more room for insanity to creep in? Think about all this, and then watch this film. You won't be disappointed. 4/5

Dead Within on Netflix

The Champ

Dear god, all the feels. I'm still weepy. The acting in this is excellent, especially Schroder, who was phenomenal. 4/5

The Champ on Netflix

Stonehearst Asylum

What an utterly intriguing thriller, I never saw most of it coming. Excellent acting all around as well. 4/5

Stonehearst Asylum on Netflix