NY Timeout: Critics are constantly beset by cries that “you guys hate movies!” Here’s a dirty secret: Most of us actually love movies. So much so, in fact, that we’ll go into a film that sounds slightly generic—say, the story of an Oklahoma kid (Graye) chasing high-school wrestling glory—and hold out hope that something, anything, will surprise or reward us. Mel Damski’s rote take-it-to-the-mat drama, however, doesn’t make that goal easy. There’s exactly one shot—our hero, Cal, shadow-grappling to Puccini—that qualifies as unique or resonant.
Final Destination is a reminder of our mortality.
‘It Follows’ still lurks.
The Parenting Review: It starts off as a fun horror-comedy with a great cast, but loses its charm halfway through. The laughs fade, the scares feel predictable, and by the end, it’s just another forgettable haunted house story.
