balthesaur Reviews

Voyagers (2021)

Think 'Lord of the Flies' in space

[7/10 · 1 May 2024]

In the not to distant future, society on Earth is on the brink of collapse, due to extreme scarcity of resources and overpopulation. Humanity's next big plan is to launch a spaceship to a nearby planet and colonize it, so that the human species can survive. Richard (Colin Farrell) and 30 tender age children - bred and born to the 'Voyagers', who along with their descendants, will colonize the new planet - launch on an 86 year long mission. After 10 years, however, things begin to unravel and life aboard the ship becomes a matter of life and death.

The film is decently shot and acted. The majority of the conflict happens between Christopher (Tye Sheridan) and Zac (Fionn Whitehead) as they try to assert dominance, but there is not much character development beyond that. The plot is sound, but the ending feels rushed, especially after the climax.

Worth a watch.

Loudermilk (2017–2020)

Witty, funny, and oddly deep at times

[8/10 · 29 April 2024]

'Loudermilk' follows the title character, Sam Loudermilk (Ron Livingston) and his roommate Ben Burns (Will Sasso) - two recovering alcoholics that regularly host and attend group meetings. After a rich donor to the church where the Sober Friends meetings are gathered seeks help for her daughter, Sam is coerced into taking Claire (Anja Savcic) as a second roommate while also trying to keep her sober. In Sam's life, that is the easy part - everything else is a struggle.

The show is well written and has loads of witty cynicism. Between the one-liners and slapstick comedy, the deeply involved and well rounded character developments, and the over-arcing storylines, Loudermilk is a captivating show!

Definitely worth a watch!

Breaking the Waves (1996)

A simple film about a simple girl

[6/10 · 17 March 2024]

'Breaking the Waves' follows Bess McNeill (Emily Watson), a woman in a deeply conservative and religious sect from Scotland, who marries Jan Nyman (Stellan Skarsgard) after falling madly in love with him. After a fateful accident on an oil rig injures Jan and leaves him bed ridden, Emily prays for guidance and a miracle, while Jan tries to convince her to sleep with other men.

The film is shot in a diluted color scheme; almost grayscale at times. The cinematography seems like it is shot from a handheld rig anyone can buy - with shaky scenes, improperly framed material, and at times, and oddly out of focus close ups. The other issue is the lead character appears to be mentally simple, which doesn't leave a lot to the character development for Emily. The plot makes a logical conclusion, but with a 2 1/2 hour run time for the lackluster finish, it is unrewarding.

Might skip this one.

The Fallout (2021)

How does one process a school shooting?

[7/10 · 4 March 2024]

Trigger Warning: This film is based on a school shooting.

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Vada (Jenna Ortega) is an average 16-year-old high school student, but one fateful day in the bathroom, the sounds of screaming and gunfire can be heard echoing through the halls. Taking shelter in a toilet stall, Vada and another girl, Mia (Maddie Ziegler) spend the longest six minutes of their lives trying to stay as calm as possible. What happens after is 'The Fallout'.

Well written and acted drama about a serious and recurring issue in American culture. Without diving into politics or other divisive story arcs, this film focuses on the life effects of Vada for the month after the incident.

Well worth a watch!

The Package (II) (2018)

Fairly amusing and easy to follow comedy

[6/10 · 23 February 2024]

When Jeremy Abelar (Eduardo Franco) and his friends, Sean (Daniel Doheny), Sarah (Sadie Calvano), Donnie (Luke Spencer Roberts), and sister Becky (Geraldine Viswanathan), all go camping in the woods, they expect to have an entertaining and enjoyable time of drinking and sharing life stories, but when Jeremy has a horrible accident and his most valuable possession is separated from him, his friends have to find a way back down the mountain and save 'The Package'.

The film is decently shot and the acting is a bit nonsensical at times, mostly for comedic effect. The story does make a logical conclusion and is entertaining enough to keep a viewer interested.

Worth a once over.

Leave the World Behind (2023)

A sense of realism in an apocalyptic world

[7/10 · 28 January 2024]

'Leave The World Behind' follows Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) and her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) who book an Airbnb house with their children, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah MacKenzie). While vacationing in a luxury house, the home's owner, G. H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter, Ruth (Myha'la) knock at the door, seeking refuge from a temultuous night.

Excellently filmed and decently acted. The flow is solid and doesn't lull too long in any one point, but the key downfalls are an odd element of racism that doesn't seem to fit the character and some of the main plot points are not well explained. The ending is decent and leaves the viewer to infer a lot of loose ends.

Worth a watch.

Tacoma FD (2019–2023)

Solid comedy from the Broken Lizard alums

[8/10 · 28 January 2024]

Chief Terry McConky (Kevin Heffernan) and Captain Eddie Penisi (Steve Lemme) run a ragtag crew of firefighters in Tacoma, Washington. Whether it be annoying kids stuck in wells, horny housewives, or the occasional fire, the public servants of 'Tacoma F. D.' - Granny Smith (Marcus Henderson), Ike Crystal (Gabriel Hogan), Andy Mayawani (Eugene Cordero), and Lucy McConky (Hassie Harrison) - are ready for any shenanigans that come their way.

Solid comedy and easy to follow plot lines. The show has some slapstick gags and some one-line jokes, but also has a surprisingly well written overarcing story. After the first few episodes, the characters fall into archtypical tropes, but they mesh very well.

Definitely worth a watch, especially if you are a fan of Broken Lizard's other works.

Paradise (I) (2023)

Another movie that should have been a series

[6/10 · 22 January 2024]

'Paradise' follows Max (Kostja Ullmann), an AEON salesman for a radical and novel medical procedure which takes the youth from one person and transfers it to another in exchange for a monetary payout. After a catastrophic fire in their apartment, Max's wife, Elena (Marlene Tanczik/Corinna Kirchhoff), is forced to give up almost 40 years of her life in exchange for the debt incurred by the fire, and Max takes on the AEON CEO, Marie Theissen (Lisa-Marie Koroll) to get those years back.

The script is sound, but rushed at some points. The medical procedure of transferring youth from person to person is not explained at all, save for an odd injection with a curious 3-pronged syringe. The radical antagonist group, Adam, is not explored until the third act, making their appearance somewhat inconsequential. In all, the acting was decent, but the direction attempted to add far too many things into a short time frame, with not a lot of exposition.

Might be worth a once over. Should have been a series.

The Sinner (2017–2021)

Decent first season, but the gas runs out in season 3

[7/10 · 15 January 2024]

'The Sinner' follows Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) as a seasoned detective on the verge of retirement, who attempts to solve complicated and suspicious cases in the Dorchester, New York. With questionable methods and an affinity for bending the rules, Harry solves the cases other detectives would cast aside without a second look.

The show is shot and acted very well. The first season - as it was originally intended to be a limited series - is the most engaging and entertaining one, but as the show progresses, the quality and believability start to falter. The plot and over-arching storylines are well constructed and the show's season finales all make logical and satisfying conclusions.

Worth a watch!

Obliterated (2023)

All the ingredients to make a wildly entertaining show!

[10/10 · 10 January 2024]

When Russian terrorists plan to set off a briefcase-sized nuclear bomb in Las Vegas, it falls on an elite special operations group - Chad McKnight (Nick Zano), Trunk (Terrence Terrell), Angela Gomez (Paola Lazaro), Maya Lerner (Kimi Rutledge), Paul Yung (Eugene Kim), and Haggerty (C. Thomas Howell), under the leadership of Ava Winters (Shelley Hennig) - to stop it before it's too late. In the aftermath of one crazy night of celebrating after a successful mission, the team realizes it may have been too early to become 'Obliterated'.

This show is wildly entertaining! Lots of great acting and well-paced action, comedy, sex, intrigue, and a surprisingly solid plot make this show as memorable as it is whimsical. The show is a set series, so each episode picks up where the last one left, making it easy to follow. The overall sense that America's fate rests in the hands of some irresponsible partiers may be over the top for some, but it does make for a compelling watch!

Definitely worth a watch!

Brain on Fire (2016)

Solid film with decent acting and believable plot

[8/10 · 6 January 2024]

When Susannah (Chloe Grace Moretz), a 21-year-old New York Post reporter, suddenly starts to experience strange episodes of disorientation, hallucinations, and muscle spasms, the people in her life begin to question what is really wrong with her. Doctors ask her boyfriend Stephen (Thomas Mann) and parents, Tom (Richard Armitage) and Rhona (Carrie-Anne Moss), about her drinking, but nothing seems to help Susannah come back from her illnesses, in 'Brain on Fire'.

Believeable film and easy to follow. Acting is decent, the script is straight forward, and the flow is good. The supporting characters Margo (Jenny Slate) and Richsard (Tyler Perry) are fairly well developed as well.

Worth a watch!

Look Away (2018)

Mirrors are unique in suspense films

[6/10 · 3 January 2024]

After years of being an outcast, Maria (India Eisley) is introduced to an alternate ego in the mirrored reflection in her bathroom, Airam, who tells Maria her whole life can change if Airam is allowed to come out. When a small ritual is conducted, her best friend Lily (Penelope Mitchell), jock and bully Mark (John C. MacDonald), her crush Sean (Harrison Gilbertson), and her parents Amy (Mira Sorvino) and Dan (Jason Isaacs) all can tell Maria is not her normal doormat self, in 'Look Away'.

The story is fairly straight forward, acting and flow are solid, and the special effects (especially the reflection interactions) are ingenious. The fault, however, lies in the plot. There are some loose tie-in bits about a twin, but it may have been left on the cutting room floor during editing, making the third act a bit muddled.

Worth a watch!

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Uniquely shot short film

[7/10 · 15 December 2023]

'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar' follows the title character, Henry (Benedict Cumberbatch), a rich gambler who finds a mysterious book that teaches him how to see without using his eyes. Through practice, he soon is able to read playing cards at a blackjack table and make millions.

The film is shot like a play, in that very obvious set pieces are constructed in real time by stage hands. The narration is done by both Henry Sugar and the various characters in the scene - all of whom break the fourth wall and speak directly to the viewer. The acting is well done, but does feel a bit lacking in emotion.

Worth a watch!

Leo (I) (2023)

Cute family film about a turtle and a lizard

[7/10 · 9 December 2023]

'Leo' (voiced by Adam Sandler) is a lizard living in an terrarium habitat in a grade school class room with his friend Squirtle (voiced by Bill Burr). After substitute teacher Ms. Malkin (voiced by Cecily Strong) tells the students they are to take one of the class pets home for the night, Leo accidently lets it slip that they can communicate with humans. What ensues thereafter is some much needed therapy, jealousy, and shenanigans - all from the whimsical mind of the Happy Madison production company.

Decent flow and fairly amusing plot. The script is straight forward and doesn't leave a lot to interpretation. There are some adult humor jokes in the film, but they are tame in comparison to other Sandler films, like 'Eight Crazy Nights' (2002).

Worth a watch!

Knights of the Zodiac (2023)

Flashy and amusing, but lackluster plot

[6/10 · 25 November 2023]

'Knights of a Zodiac' follows Seiya (Mackenyu), a young street fighter, as he is recruited by Alman Kido (Sean Bean) to be a body guard for his daughter, Sienna (Madison Iseman) - the human embodiment of the goddess Athena. With Vander Guraad (Famke Janssen) searching for Sienna, Seiya learns how to summon the power of the Pegasus Knight, with the help of Marin (Caitlin Hutson), to protect Sienna at all costs.

This film is produced by Toei Animation, the same studio that produces the 'Dragonball' franchise, and as such, much of the film is shot in anime-style action sequences and unrealistic physical combat. The acting is decent, but the fault in this film lies in the plot - Seiya seems not to know what he is doing and makes irrational decisions. All chemistry between him and Sienna seems awkward and forced, and Marin seems like an important character that gets glossed over.

Might be worth a watch.

Downsizing (2017)

Interesting premise, but shoddy plot

[6/10 · 24 November 2023]

After a radically new medical procedure is introduced to the world where humans can elect to shrink to a five inch tall version of themselves - commonly known as 'Downsizing' - Paul (Matt Damon) and Audry Safranek (Kristen Wiig) consider the option, as they are struggling to keep up with their bills; the small population has a magnified conversion rate for their funds. Paul soon finds that not everything is as good as it seems when you're small.

The acting and cinematography are well done. The film has a decent premise - shrinking the population to a fraction of their size to reduce pollution - but the execution and the side points, like politics and worldly dangers, are not explored very well. The plot is muddled in the delivery, almost like this should have been a series and not a movie.

Might be worth a watch.

The School for Good and Evil (2022)

Flashy and entertaining

[7/10 · 19 November 2023]

When Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso) and Agatha (Sofia Wylie) get accepted/abducted-by-a-giant-bird to attend the mysterious 'School for Good and Evil', they soon find themselves thrown into a world they only thought existed in stories. With magic and intrigue, Sophie - the would-be princess turned villian - tries to find a way to the good school, while Agatha attempts to navigate her way out of the academy all together. While exploring the school, Sophie and Agatha uncover a conspiracy that threatens the foundation of the school.

Decently shot and acted film! The plot lacks some substance during the third act and some of the supporting characters seem to not get enough screen time to justify why they have speaking roles, but the film makes a logical conclusion.

Worth a watch!

Gen V (2023– )

A decent spinoff series

[8/10 · 12 November 2023]

'Gen V' tells the story of Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair), a hemomancer and orphan who is accepted into a prestigeous Godolkin University - a school for super-powered humans. Together with her roommate Emma (Lizze Broadway), and her friends, Cate (Maddie Phillips), Andre (Chance Perdomo), and Jordan (London Thor/Derek Luh), they uncover a secret that Vought is testing on the 'supes'.

Decently shot and well acted! The show falls in 'the Boys' (2019) universe and there are cameos, such as A-Train (Jessie T. Usher), the Deep (Chace Crawford), and Solider Boy (Jensen Ackles) to tie in with this series. Unlike The Boys, there is no nudity and the jokes are not as intense (see 'Herogasm'), but the story is well-written and easy to follow.

Definitely worth a watch!

Old Dads (2023)

Fans of Bill Burr's comedy will enjoy this film

[7/10 · 12 November 2023]

Jack Kelly (Bill Burr) and his company partners, Connor (Bobby Cannavale) and Mike (Bokeen Woodbine) sell their sport jersey business to live their lives, they find it has been bought by a millennial named Aspen (Miles Robbins), who is intent on rebranding the company as some new-age eco friendly niche clothing store. Beset by hipsters on motorscooters, unbearable private preschool administrators, and horomonal wives, the 'Old Dads' find their world has changed since 1987.

Decent watch and pretty funny! Fans of Bill Burr might find similarities with his animated show, 'F Is For Family' (2015), where Bill Burr's character struggles to fit in in the world around him. The script is a little muddled towards the end, but the film does make a logical conclusion (and Jack learns a valuable lesson).

Worth a watch!

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018–2020)

Witchy powers activate!

[6/10 · 12 November 2023]

'The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' follows Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka), a half-human / half-witch hybrid on the verge of her 16th birthday and Dark Baptism ceremony. With her aunts, Zelda (Miranda Otto) and Hilda (Lucy Davis), Sabrina must make a deal with the Dark Lord (Luke Cook) if she wants to keep her magical gifts, but that would mean she would have to renounce her human friends, Harvey (Ross Lynch), Ros (Jaz Sinclair), and Susie/Theo (Lachlan Watson).

Nicely shot and decently acted periodical. The cinematography is well done, but where this show lacks in the scripts. The story revolves around Sabrina - as the show's namesake would warrant - but the mindset of this 16 year old being the last bastion between humanity and world-ending terrors each season is a stretch. The show does make the logical conclusion, but by the end of the series, it seems apparent the novelty had worn off.

Worth a watch.

57 Seconds (2023)

Solid time-jump film with a sci-fi twist

[7/10 · 31 October 2023]

After saving Anton Burrell (Morgan Freeman) at a tech expo, Franklin Fox (Josh Hutcherson) finds a mysterious ring that teleports him backwards in time '57 Seconds'. Franklin uses this newfound power to take down Sig Thorenson (Gren Germann) and his Pharmaceutical company, responsible for making an addictive drug that killed his sister.

The film is pretty straight forward, after the initial discovery of the ring. There are some plot holes as to the origins of the ring and the Dark Man (Kenneth Kynt Bryan), Anton's associate, but overall, the acting and flow are decent, but don't expect a genre-defining film.

Worth a watch.

Ma (I) (2019)

Not much for scares, but a decent watch

[6/10 · 21 October 2023]

When a group of high school-aged kids - Maggie (Diana Silvers), Haley (McKaley Miller), Andy (Corey Fogelmanis), Chaz (Gianni Paolo), and Darrell (Dante Brown) - try to get an adult to buy them alcohol, they meet Sue Ann (Octavia Spencer), who agrees to buy them some beer and liquor. What begins as a chance encounter becomes more of an obsession when Sue Ann invites the kids to drink in her basement and she garners the moniker 'Ma'.

Decently shot and acted film. The set pieces are well made and the flow is pretty solid, but there are a bunch of plot holes. Without giving too much away, the biggest question is why are the cops not involved?

Worth a watch.

Elemental (2023)

What if elements had feelings and had to deal with prejudices?

[7/10 · 14 October 2023]

'Elemental' tells the story of Bernie (voiced by Ronnie Del Carmen) and Cinder (voiced by Shila Ommi) - two fire elementals who immigrate to Element City. After having a child, Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis), Bernie and Cinder try to maintain their store while also keeping Ember away from the water elemental Wade (voiced by Mamoudou Athie), in a 'Romeo and Juliet' style tale.

The film is animated in the Pixar quality viewers have grown to expect. The flow is solid and the voice acting is done quite well, but there are a few plot holes in the movie that raise more questions than answers.

Worth a watch!

The Imperfects (2022)

Silly at times, serious at others. Entertaining nonetheless.

[6/10 · 14 October 2023]

'The Imperfects' follows Tilda (Morgan Taylor Campbell), Abbi (Rhianna Jagpal), and Juan (Inaki Godoy) - three early-twenty-somethings with superhuman abilities. Early in life, these three were diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder and given an experimental blue serum to combat the effects, but when the supply runs out completely, the results are Tilda being able to hear things and shriek, Abbi being able to use her pheromones to charm those around her, and Juan being able to transform into a mythical Chupacabra monster. Together with the help of Dr. Sydney Burke (Italia Ricci), the team seeks to find Alex Sarkov (Ryhs Nicholson) and get him to make them human once again.

The acting and flow are decent. The special effects are kinda cheesey, but more in the way that the producers aren't trying to hide the CGI. The scripts, though easy to follow, have a lot of plot holes, but ultimately, if the viewer can get beyond the nonsense psuedo-science aspect, 'The Imperfects' is enjoyable.

Worth a watch!

Accused (2023)

What would you do?

[8/10 · 1 October 2023]

'Accused' follows Harri Bhavsar (Chaneil Kular) as a Pakistani in England who takes a train to his parents' house in the countryside. While on the train, news quickly flies that a terrorist explosion has rocked the station he just left from, not ten minutes prior. Suspicion grows even more rapidly as tourists and other internet surfers place someone who looks like Harri at the scene, and a horrifying night of cat-and-mouse survival ensues for Harri.

Firstly, great idea, especially given the last 20 or so years of 'brown person bad' xenophobia and racial hatred towards anyone who looks Middle Eastern - the plausability and unfortunate relatability is well constructed in this film! The acting, flow, and overall tone of the piece are well done, particularly in the third act, when the plot comes to a head; Harri is not Superman and he actions seem desperate and real enough to believe.

Definitely worth a watch!