WE’RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE HALFWAY MARK FOR MOVIES THIS YEAR. SOME OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS ARE SET TO HIT THEATERS THIS SUMMER, WITH A FEW PROMISING TITLES LATER THIS FALL. OVERALL, IT’S BEEN AN UNDERWHELMING START TO 2025, LET’S TAKE A LOOK:

COMPANION 2.5 STARS

A FUN CONCEPT, STRONG CAST, FALLS FLAT IN THE SECOND HALF.

THE MONKEY 2.5 STARS

SOULESS DARK COMEDY WITH MANY SHINING MOMENTS, AS WELL AS SOME QUESTIONABLE ONES.

MICKEY 17 .5 STARS

WITHOUT A DOUBT THE WORST MOVIE OF THE YEAR. A POLITICAL SATIRE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO APPEAL. ASTOUNDINGLY DULL VISUALS AND STORY FLOW.

DROP 3 STARS

A GREAT SINGLE LOCATION THRILLER. DROP IS A LOVE LETTER TO WES CRAVEN’S RED EYE. A FEW TONE CHANGES AND CREDIBLE MOMENTS WOULD’VE ELEVATED THIS MOVIE TO 4 STARS.

SINNERS 3.5 STARS

INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES, CINEMATOGRAPHY AND MUSIC. SINNERS HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY IT FALLS SHORT WITH A WEAK ENDING THAT PULLS AWAY FROM THE STORY WITH POINTLESS SUBPLOTS.

BLACK BAG 3.5 STARS

AN EXCEPTIONAL ESPIONAGE THRILLER. TOP NOTCH ACTING BUT NOT THE MOST EXCITING FILM. BLACK BAG EXCELLS IN IT’S VISUAL ESSENCE AND CINEMATOGRAPHY.

THE SHROUDS 3.5 STARS

A HARD WATCH FOR ANYONE THAT ISN’T A DIE-HARD CRONENBERG FAN. THIS FILM IS DEDICATED TO HIS WIFE WHICH ELEVATES THE BEAUTY OF ITS CORE STORYLINE.

THUNDERBOLTS* 3.5 STARS

ONE OF THE BEST POST-AVENGERS FILMS. THUNDERBOLTS HAS OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY CHARACTERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY LIKEABLE. IT FALLS SHORT IN REGARDS TO A FEW CORNY ONE-LINERS BY ITS WEAKEST ACTORS. ONE MORE VILLAIN SEQUENCE WOULD’VE BROUGHT THIS FILM TO 4 STARS.

FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES 2 STARS

USING A SIMILAR FORMULA TO HALLOWEEN AND SCREAM RE-QUELS, BLOODLINES FALLS SHORT IN ALMOST EVERY ASPECT EXCEPT IT’S OPENER PREMONITION. IT LACKS A BODY COUNT WITH SIGNATURE FINAL DESTINATION TWISTS. HOWEVER, THERE’S A SAD YET BEAUTIFUL SEND-OFF FOR THE LEGENDARY TONY TODD TO BE APPRECIATED.

STAY TUNED FOR A DEEP DIVE INTO OUR SUMMER WATCHLIST! HERE’S SOME OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIES THAT HAVE YET TO RELEASE:

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING

BRING HER BACK

28 YEARS LATER

JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH

SUPERMAN

EDDINGTON

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

WEAPONS

TRON ARES

BUGONIA

PREDATOR BADLANDS

WICKED: FOR GOOD

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH