VODepths: What to See (and Avoid) on Demand This Week
This week’s VOD slate offers a mixed bag, ranging from the abysmal Russian family comedy “Papa Bear” to the modestly entertaining body‑horror “Thinestra.” The releases include a self‑referential horror‑romance, a spaghetti‑Western‑tinged drama starring John C. Reilly, and a teen radio‑show comedy, each receiving grades from D to B‑. Critics highlight poor dubbing, uneven storytelling, and occasional strong performances as the primary differentiators. Overall, the lineup underscores the variability of quality in low‑profile digital releases.
American Berserk: Chuck Norris and Invasion U.S.A.
In 1985 Cannon Films released *Invasion USA*, the most ambitious Chuck Norris vehicle of his early career, produced under a six‑picture deal that followed the successful *Missing in Action* series. Norris co‑wrote the script after reading a *Reader’s Digest* piece on...
Three Decades of Sniper, the Unkillable Action Franchise
The *Sniper* franchise, launched in 1993 with a modest $19 million box office, has just released its twelfth entry, *Sniper: No Nation*, on VOD and DVD. Over three decades the series has outlasted many higher‑budget action franchises, maintaining a core fan...
Classic Corner: The Falcon and the Snowman
John Schlesinger’s 1985 film *The Falcon and the Snowman* dramatizes the real‑life espionage case of Christopher Boyce and Daulton Lee, two privileged California youths who sold U.S. secrets to the Soviet Union for modest pay. The movie, scripted by Steven...
Slither at 20: The Way of the Gunn
James Gunn’s first feature, the body‑horror comedy *Slither* (2006), was produced for $15 million but earned only $12.9 million in theaters before becoming a cult hit on DVD and streaming. The film showcases Gunn’s blend of grotesque humor and genre‑bending storytelling, a...
Classic Corner: One-Eyed Jacks
Marlon Brando’s sole directorial effort, *One‑Eyed Jacks*, ballooned to twice its schedule and three times its budget, with Brando shooting more than a million feet of film before Paramount trimmed the cut to a marketable 141 minutes. Released in 1961,...
Serpent’s Path: An Unseen Revenge Drama From Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Imperial Era
Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s 1998 revenge thriller *Serpent’s Path* finally receives a US theatrical rollout, opening at New York’s IFC Center and expanding nationwide through April, paired with his experimental 2024 short *Chime*. The film was shot in a single week as...
Inside Man at 20: How Spike Lee Put a Crew Together to Pull Off a Brilliant Heist
Spike Lee’s 2006 heist thriller *Inside Man* marks its 20‑year anniversary, showcasing a rare convergence of A‑list talent—Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe—and Lee’s signature visual flair. The film weaves classic robbery mechanics with pointed social commentary, from...
VODepths: What to See (and Avoid) on Demand This Week
This week’s VOD lineup spans Italian drama, Serbian horror, and a Japanese‑inspired MMA story, with most titles earning middling grades. Brian Austin Green’s counterfeit‑currency thriller "Golden" and Billy Zane’s meta‑horror "Int. Hallway / Night" both receive C‑range scores for weak...
Larry Cohen Made a Grindhouse Vertigo with the Sleazy Noir Special Effects
Larry Cohen’s 1984 film *Special Effects* offers a grimy, low‑budget reinterpretation of Hitchcock’s *Vertigo*, swapping De Palma’s sleek style for grindhouse sleaze. The story follows a deranged director who murders an aspiring actress and then turns her death into a movie,...
VODepths: What to See (and Avoid) on Demand This Week
This week’s VOD lineup showcases a mix of low‑budget genre experiments and internationally‑styled action. Jonas Odenheimer’s NFT‑themed horror Cursed Images stalls after a lengthy crypto infomercial, while Elina Psykou’s documentary Stray Bodies follows European women chasing restricted medical procedures across...
Aging Outlaws With Aching Joints: Robin and Marian at 50
Robin and Marian (1970) reunites Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn as aging outlaws confronting love and mortality after two decades apart. The film blends gritty action, humor, and melancholy, highlighting the physical toll of battle on veteran heroes. Connery delivers...
Harvey’s Hellhole: Il Postino (The Postman)
Harvey Weinstein aggressively positioned the Italian romance Il Postino for Oscar glory in 1996, expanding its theatrical run and launching a high‑profile awards campaign. The film earned over $21 million domestically, secured five Academy Award nominations—including Best Picture—and won Best Original Score....
Review: Pompei: Below the Clouds
Gianfranco Rosi’s new black‑and‑white documentary *Pompei: Below the Clouds* offers a poetic, narration‑free portrait of life in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. The film juxtaposes serene daily routines with the ever‑present threat of volcanic eruption, using stark imagery and ambient...
A Matter of Time: L.A. Confidential and the Art of Aging Well
L.A. Confidential, Curtis Hanson’s 1997 neo‑noir thriller, earned nine Oscar nominations but only two wins, losing Best Picture to Titanic. While critics’ groups crowned it Best Picture across major cities, the film has outlasted many contemporaries, becoming a benchmark for...
Review: Scream 7
*Scream 7* returns with original creator Kevin Williamson at the helm, yet critics say it lacks the sharp wit of earlier installments. The film leans on new cast members and forced references to past characters, but delivers weak kills and overused...