East Of Wall (2025) Film Review

A rebellious South Dakotan rancher makes hard decisions related to her fractured family, financial uncertainty and unresolved grief, all while providing refuge for a group of wayward neighbourhood teens.

East Of Wall is directed by Kate Beecroft which is her directorial debut. 

Authentic would be the best word to describe East Of Wall, not only does it take on a very documentary like approach. But the film based on the lead actress Tabatha Zimiga’s real life, it’s a docufiction film done at its absolutely best. 

The performances feel incredibly raw, Tabatha Zimiga gives her debut performance and does such a beautiful job. Almost immediately you connect with her story simply due to how well the film establishes her and her story very early on, Porshia Zimga similarly plays herself and does just as an incredible job. With a cast that is filled with mostly nonprofessionals we really get to see and feel the impact of Zimiga’s story and the performances here feel that much more authentic. While yes Scoot McNairy and Jennifer Ehle are here (who also do a great job) that does not take away from the authenticity of the film. They mix well with the rest of the cast and fit into the story being told. 

Almost immediately you get Chloe Zhao’s The Rider (2018) vibes from the film and in a good way. Much like that film, we get to see the daily lives of Tabatha and her daughter Porshia in this authentic way that shows them living their lives on screen. It’s like we are just watching them for a distance and seeing what unfolds, we get some beautiful cinematography from Austin Shelton who captures the beauty of South Dakota particularly the Badlands a forgotten beauty (that we do not see much in film.) 

The writing is phenomenal, Kate Beecroft also wrote the script and apparently lived 3 years with Tabatha and her family. That definitely shows throughout the film, you can feel this personal power that is poured into the script as the film goes on, the emotional moments hit one hundred times harder than they normally would. The quiet moments feel more connective, scenes of Tabatha and her family just talking and bonding are beautiful. There is much beautiful character work here as well as acting talent. 

Overall East Of Wall is straightforward yet is the very definition of authentic, it’s a beautifully told story that might take a bit to get going. But it is absolutely worth experiencing. 

East Of Wall is available on all VOD platforms.

9/10 A

The Black Phone 2 (2025) Film Review

Bad dreams haunt 15-year-old Gwen as she receives calls from the black phone and sees disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp. Accompanied by her brother, Finn, they head to the camp to solve the mystery, only to confront the Grabber — a killer who’s grown even more powerful in death.

The Black Phone 2 is directed by Scott Derrickson director of Hellraiser: Inferno (2000), The Exorcism Of Emily Rose (2005), The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008), Sinister (2012), Deliver Us From Evil (2014), Doctor Strange (2016), The Black Phone (2022) and The Gorge (2025). The film serves as a sequel to The Black Phone (2022). 

When The Black Phone 2 was announced a lot of the reactions were something along the lines of “where does it go from here?” The first film was a surprisingly quite strong film that felt raw, it also came out in 2022 the year that was filled to the brim with excellent horror films. Luckily The Black Phone 2 does the smart move of being the complete opposite of it’s predecessor, rather going for more of the same thing the film opts to go for this Nightmare On Elm Street inspired feel. Which in the end works in the film’s favor due to just how well the film is executed. 

The performances all around are fantastic, Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw are both once again fantastic, we get to see their trauma and what has changed since the last film. McGraw especially gets one particular moment during the film’s final moments that I was not expecting to cry at, without spoiling it I will say that it was a very well built up to moment that really does a fantastic job of showing Gwen as a character and just strong McGraw is here. It’s a touching moment that leaves the viewer in tears during the film’s final moments. 

Although Ethan Hawk is not in the film as much as one would expect, what makes The Grabber so effective this time around is feeling his presence in the atmosphere itself. Ethan Hawke does deliver a solid performance here and while it is a bit of a shame we do not get to see him as much as we did in the first film, I do think the payoff and what we do end up getting with the atmosphere and dream sequences (I’ll get into that soon) is wonderful and makes up for it. 

The supporting cast such as Demián Bichir and Arianna Rivas are both strong here as well, we get to see some genuinely solid moments of the two helping Finney and Gwen, plus a few moments of Bichir’s character Armando showing some vulnerability. It might not be a particularly huge moment but it does show that the film wants everyone to at least be involved in the film’s world. 

The Nightmare On Elm Street inspirations become very clear when it comes to the dream sequences, these sequences are filmed using an 8mm camera and they are quite haunting. You can fell the dark atmosphere and The Grabber’s presence throughout these scenes, these moments perfectly capture what it’s like to have very unclear and confused dreams that get you thinking about what exactly happened. The 8mm camera only adds to the blur and confused nature as well as this terrifying painting of trauma, there is this theme of trauma here that is very effectively done. As the dream sequences keep occurring we see more and more build up until the whole film leads to the return of The Grabber making his presence known. 

The writing does have its cornball moments, however the film mostly stays on the ball with delivering a ton of genuine moments that are touching. Finney’s bond with his sister Gwen is incredibly charming and the roster of characters all feel involved as I mentioned before, some are definitely more important than others but the film does a great job of giving these characters life. 

Overall The Black Phone 2 is a very strong sequel that’s just as great as its predecessor, it was a very smart move to go for a much different direction rather than doing the same thing again. It does interest me where they will go if a Black Phone 3 does happen. 

The Black Phone 2 is available on all VOD platforms.

9/10 A

Hedda (2025) Film Review

HEDDA (Tessa Thompson) finds herself torn between the lingering ache of a past love and the quiet suffocation of her present life. Over the course of one charged night, long-repressed desires and hidden tensions erupt–pulling her and everyone around her into a spiral of manipulation, passion, and betrayal.

Hedda is directed by Nia DaCosta director of Little Woods (2018), Candyman (2021) and The Marvels (2023). 

Nia DaCosta knocks it out of the park with Hedda, a very confidently directed film that displays tons of fantastic performances, visually stunning, and some clever build up that captures the atmosphere that is needed to make the film work in the end. 

The performances are a delightful to watch, Tessa Thompson gives a career best worthy performance that fills the screen with passion for her character Hedda. Thompson is able to show her acting power here which leads to a complex and layered performance, she brings Hedda to life as this character who is a agent of chaos who will sit back and enjoy the show. Thompson’s subtle acting with her eyes, breathing or even just standing completely still make the film all the more effective. One of the best performances of the year as well as one of the most passionate ones. 

Nina Hoss and Imogen Poots are both incredibly strong here as well, Hoss definitely gets the bigger part as she gives a volcanic performance that shows great deal of strength and range. Her chemistry with Thompson oozes with passion and immediately hits you with this electric type of feel. Much like Thompson, she’s able to portray a complex character brilliantly and in this way that will keep the viewer invested throughout the film. 

The cinematography from Sean Bobbitt is absolutely wonderful here, what makes this a very interesting and clever case is the camerawork and how well the stories and emotions of the characters are told through the camera movements. Even when there are some scenes that do not have the writing to back them up, you have the clever use of the camera to back the film up and the results are genuinely beautiful. Due to this we get to see the performances shine front and center, with tons of attention to detail with the costumes and the many conversations that take place throughout the film. 

The writing is sharp, very well blended together and has a lot of passion going on here. While it does take a bit to get going, the setup of the film is worth it and ultimately builds to a final act that is very worthy and fits the film like a glove. The atmosphere that is attached to the writing as well as the film’s world is rich and perfectly captures the “whodunnit” genre, it has this classic Hollywood feel that Tessa Thompson and Nina Hoss radiate throughout the film with each and every scene. 

Overall Nia DaCosta lands her best film to date, it’s a confidently directed film with clever camerawork and excellent performances. It might have a slow start but once it gets going there is so much to absolutely fall in love with. 

Hedda is available on Amazon Prime Video.

9/10 A

After The Hunt (2025) Film Review

A college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroad when a star student levels an accusation against one of her colleagues, threatening to expose a dark secret from her own past.

After The Hunt is directed by Luca Guadagnino director of A Bigger Splash (2015), Call Me By Your Name (2017), Suspiria (2018), Bones and All (2022), Challengers (2024), Queer (2024) and a few others. 

After The Hunt is a rare miss for Luca Guadagnino, last year he did incredibly well with delivering two of the best films from last year Challengers and Queer. After The Hunt however is a bit of mess that tells it’s story in the most bland and most frustrating way possible, there is clearly some sort of effort put into the movie thanks to the cast and even some solid moments. But for the most part the movie either does not explore the characters nowhere near enough or is holding back for no explainable reason. 

Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri all try their best with a script that is not doing the movie any favors. Roberts gets the biggest end of the stick mainly due to having a number of more quiet moments where you can really tell how she is feeling and what she is thinking during certain scenes. While Andrew Garfield does give a solid performance and even has one particular moment that is quite memorable, he has given far better performances before. At certain points during the movie it almost feels like the script is holding him back from making his performance even better. Ayo Edebiri unfortunately gets the short end of the stick, while her performance is certainly not bad. The movie fails to give her character any sort of strong writing or dialogue to help her stand out. These are all very talented actors that are unfortunately held back by such an empty script that gives nothing for the viewer to chew on. 

The writing is what breaks the movie, what makes Guadagnino’s films so interesting (at least for me) is always the characters and the world in which they live in. There is always this element of surprise and intrigue that quickly brings the viewer into his films almost immediately. You do not get that here with After The Hunt, instead you get a very messy story that has no real idea of what it’s trying to go for here, the serious subject matter is just not taken with the care it deserves. The movie does not add anything new to the conversation and instead feels like it’s repeating itself over and over again.

Which leads to the movie’s 139 minute runtime which is baffling to say the least, it goes on for way too long and adds so much extra padding. It gets to a point where the movie almost has this run on sentence type of feel, with every couple of great moments that show signs of a decent movie there is at least ten moments that say the exact same thing. 

Overall After The Hunt is not as bad as some will say, however it is a huge mess of a movie that has very little to say about such a serious subject. It’s by far the most disappointing move of the year and I’m not sure if it’s even close. 

After The Hunt is available on all VOD platforms.

5/10 C

The Smashing Machine (2025) Film Review

The true story of mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr, whose obsession with greatness made him a legend — and nearly cost him everything.

The Smashing Machine is directed by Benny Safdie director of which his is first film directing without his brother Josh Safdie. 

The Smashing Machine tells the story of Mark Kerr a former amateur wrestler and MMA fighter. I must say that this one surprised me, while yes this does have a lot of the usual biopic tropes that we as the audience have come to expect. There is something about The Smashing Machine that clicked for me and I’m still not quite sure what it was, perhaps it’s due to the film feeling like one of the more down to earth and humanly told biopics or in other words ones that don’t feel manufactured. 

Dwyane Johnson gives a fantastic performance here, he shows that he can really go all out as an actor. There is plenty of scenes here that he shows little subtleties on his face and body language which goes a long way, he gives this authentic and surprisingly shows vulnerability. Johnson plays Mark Kerr in this way that shows he doesn’t know how really register the rest of the world when he isn’t fighting. His body language is shaky, he hesitates for periods of time before speaking and he’s actually intimidated, it’s this fragile portrayal and feel that shows the complete opposite of the type of performances Johnson has been doing the last several years. 

Emily Blunt is also fantastic here, the messy relationship between Mark Kerr and Dawn Staples is shown here and in surprisingly raw detail. The scenes of the two arguing are brutal and raw, brutal in the sense that these are the sort of arguments feel all too real. These are the type of fights that feel like they come from years of loving someone and standing by them but the pressure just keeps building up until nobody can take it anymore. Each of these scenes are heartbreaking and tragic to watch, it ultimately builds into one particular scene that is genuinely soul crushing. Emily Blunt does such a fantastic job of displaying a lot of this and being the anchor of the film and reminding us how violence is not just in the ring. Blunt gives a heartbreaking performance that feels all too real and can absolutely be relatable to the viewer. 

Speaking of which the fight scenes themselves are done in a quite fascinating way, the fights have this documentary and dream like feel. There’s this sense of Mark Kerr feeling like he’s lost and cannot find where to go or what is going on when his opponent is right in front of him, the brutality during these scenes almost feels like the camera is scared of it. This brings the question if Mark is scared of the brutality as well? It’s something the film does a fantastic job of exploring during these sequences and we really do not get a conclusive answer. 

The 90s like filming style is quite phenomenal, there’s this old VHS type of look that compliments the film incredibly well and gives the film this sort of classic pay per view wrestling type of nostalgic feel. I’m not into wrestling and know very little about it, but I do remember a lot of people talking about pay per view wrestling growing up and this film’s filming style really captures that feel incredibly well. Cinematographer Maceo Bishop does a wonderful job of showing this in a very natural and nostalgic way that you can’t help but think about. 

The writing does have some typical biopic tropes, if you have seen the documentary about Mark Kerr you already know what’s going to happen. The film also does fall in the department of not showing enough of how Kerr’s chaos hurt others (outside of Dawn Staples), the film only touches on this but does not go far enough. However that does not take away from the film’s brutal honesty during a lot of moments, the addiction scenes are anxiety inducing, the romance as said before has so many broken moments and there’s this sense of loneliness that hits you in this quiet but powerful way, the presence of loneliness remains throughout the film. 

Overall The Smashing Machine feels humane and tender, between the raw performances and the many different themes as well as the filming. There is truly something powerful here that might not show up immediately but will eventually leave you thinking about it. 

The Smashing Machine is available on all VOD platforms.

8/10 B+

Highest 2 Lowest (2025) Film Review

When a powerful music mogul is targeted by a ransom plot, he is forced to fight for his family and legacy while jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma.

Highest 2 Lowest is directed by Spike Lee director of Do The Right Thing (1989), Malcolm X (1992), Inside Man (2006), Old Boy (2013), BlacKkKlansman (2018), Da 5 Bloods (2020) and many others. The film serves as an English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese film High and Low. 

Highest 2 Lowest is sort of a fascinating one, it’s obviously not going to hold candle to Kurosawa’s film but unlike Lee’s attempt at tackling Old Boy this one fairs a lot better due to its cast, the decently fun atmosphere and a few scenes that make the film stand tall. 

Denzel Washington is to no one’s surprise quite fantastic here. Washington is one of those actors who constantly brings in powerhouse performances and here is no exception, while the writing does get very messy towards the end. Washington’s performance remains consistently striking throughout the film, it’s a classic showcase of a powerhouse actor who elevates the material even when said material is at its low points. A lot of what I said about Washington can be said about Jeffery Wright, his ability to portray a nuanced and authentic bond is incredibly investing. 

A$AP Rocky is also quite excellent here as well, Spike Lee has said that Rocky went “toe to toe” with Washington and he is not exactly wrong. There are plenty of scenes here that display Rocky keeping up with Washington, the chemistry between the two works incredibly well especially during one certain scene that’s also one of the film’s best. This is the type of performance that shows a lot of potential for an actor. 

The writing is where the film falls a bit, the character writing that we get from the first half of the film is quite great, we get some solid introductions to the characters. The writing itself does a pretty good job of making the New York setting feel alive, plus I will give credit where credit is due that this manages to be a quite different take on High and Low. With that being said the third act is where things fall apart, a lot of the character writing (or writing in general) that the rest of the movie built up to lacked power and led to messy execution. 

With that being said, I do think Highest 2 Lowest is still quite great. The character writing definitely needed more power and the pacing ultimately does hurt the film in the end, but Spike Lee does seem like he’s having a blast directing the film and the cast really makes this work as well as it does. 

Highest 2 Lowest is available on Apple TV+ 

8/10 B+

Pools (2025) Film Review

In the midst of her whole life falling apart, Kennedy attempts to somehow reconnect with her dead father, searching for permission to live her own life within a wild pool-hopping escape through the elaborate estates of her college town.

Pools is directed by Sam Hayes which is his directorial debut. 

Pools is a coming of age film that may not exactly do anything brand new, however there is this theme of being young and having to grow up and how life can uppercut you that quickly connects to the viewer and it’s done in a way that feels very natural. Combine that with some strong performances, camerawork and direction you have yourself a charming little film. 

Odessa A’zion has quickly become a rising star and this is yet another showcase of how great of an actress she really is. She plays her character Kennedy incredibly well and in this natural way that quickly gets the viewer invested into her character, she adds so many layers and depth to Kennedy. She has her own personal issues underneath it all and the way the film goes about exploring these issues is interesting and really shows how talented A’zion is as an actress. 

The rest of the cast is quite great, while the character writing is not as strong for the rest of the cast. They all still turn in great performances, particularly Ariel Winter and Mason Gooding both of which I’m not exactly crazy about as actors. But I will admit that they do a pretty solid job here especially in one particular scene that shows some sort of depth for these characters. 

The technical aspects of the film are surprisingly pretty solid, the cinematography from Ben Hardwicke has this summer vibe going on here which matches with the film quite well. The editing and camerawork which includes some zoom ins make for some decently funny visual language. The atmosphere also has this laid back summer feel that mixes well with the film’s more dramatic moments. 

The writing has plenty of raw moments that helps these characters explore their issues in their personal lives, the humor can be a bit of a hit or miss and as I said before Pools is not exactly groundbreaking. However the film has this charming message and wonderfully funny atmosphere that you cannot help but enjoy. 

Overall Pools is a fun little coming of age film that is backed by its cast, direction and technical elements. 

Pools is available on all VOD platforms.

7/10 B

Roofman (2025) Film Review

After escaping from prison, former soldier and professional thief Jeffrey Manchester finds a hideout inside a Toys “R” Us, surviving undetected for months while planning his next move. However, when Jeffrey falls for a divorced mom, his double life starts to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.

Roofman is directed by Derek Cianfrance director of Brother Ted (1998), Blue Valentine (2010), The Place Beyond The Pines (2012) and The Light Between Oceans (2016). 

Often times I find that films that are about bizarre true stories where if you told someone who was completely unfamiliar them they would look at you like you have five heads to be the most interesting. That’s especially the case here with Roofman a film that tells the story of Jeffery Manchester a spree robber who escaped prison and who hid in a Toys R Us, he escaped in June 2004 and was recaptured in January 2005. It’s a bizarre story that the film tells incredibly well, there is even a lot of heart in the film as well. 

First and foremost the performances here are quite fantastic, Channing Tatum gives such a wonderful performance that captures the bizarre nature of the story as well as just being incredibly charming. He has so much charisma and works with the rest of the cast effortlessly, there’s this sense of vulnerability that is shown through the film’s more quiet moments. It’s a bit surprising to see given the film’s story but at the same time it’s not, Cianfrance’s usual bringing out career worthy best performances from several actors is present here and that can be argued for Tatum. 

The film also does not undermine the effect the actions of what Jeffery (played by Channing Tatum) has had on the people in his life, even showing how people who were caught in the crossfire were hurt, it’s done in this way that is meaningful and shows everyone’s reactions in this detail that has a lot of emotion and power. 

Much like Tatum, Kristen Dunst gives an incredible performance here. A lot of what I said about Tatum’s performance can be said about Dunst. Her chemistry with Tatum is absolutely wonderful and really elevates the film, the close-up shots of the two is emotional and really pushes the film to greatness. Dunst has this charm to her performance that also shares vulnerability, the scenes of Dunst and Tatum just talking about each other and sharing their life story are some of the film’s most powerful and intimate moments that truly make the film. 

The writing is truly fascinating here, this is one of those films that gives the supporting cast no matter how small of a part they have something to do. LaKeith Stanfield is of course fantastic and Peter Dinklage gives a humorous performance. The writing also does a great job of balancing the dramatic moments with the humor, the humor is not the main focus of the story (which the trailer would make you believe that it is) but it’s still present and blends well with the dramatic moments. The character writing from this film is shockingly quite great, it brings the viewer’s interest quickly and does a wonderful job of giving these characters the rawness they need. 

Finally there is Cianfrance’s direction which is quite excellent, as mentioned before he loves to bring out career best worthy performances and that’s the case here with Tatum. The humor and drama he brings to the story is carefully put together, one does not overwhelm the other. It’s all done in this sort of direction that has a lot of heart and care, which is a very interesting approach to such a bizarre story that really works. 

Roofman is available on all VOD platforms. 

8/10 B+

The Lost Bus (2025) Film Review

A white-knuckle ride through one of America’s wildfires as a wayward school bus driver and a dedicated school teacher battle to save 22 children from the inferno.

The Lost Bus is directed by Paul Greengrass director of The Bourne Supremacy (2004), United 93 (2006), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Captain Phillips (2013), Jason Bourne (2016), 22 July (2018) and many others. 

The Lost Bus follows the story of the 2018 Camp Fire in North California’s Butte County which ended up being the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 

This is a film that really nails down its atmosphere, if it’s one thing that this film does such an excellent job with its showing how quickly all of this happened in a matter of minutes. While there are some writing issues and the character writing needed a bit more work, that does not take intensity and anxiety inducing feel of the film. It does such a great job of really unnerving the viewer and showing the destruction and the reactions from the characters is nothing short of devastating. 

The performances are great, Matthew McConaughey is gives a much more quiet performance but at the same time it’s powerful. That is especially displayed with his scenes with America Ferrera who is just as terrific here. Together, the two really go all out with their performances and paint a stressful and emotional picture. The supporting cast while great do not get a whole lot to work with, although I will say the reactions of the fire’s destruction and hearing updates of the status of the bus have this sense of rawness that helps balance things out. 

The writing definitely has its missteps, the character writing is missing heavily here that’s mainly due to the film being a bit too long. With a 130 minute run time you can really only do so much before certain moments start to come off as repetitive and the character writing either feels missing or incredibly weak. Despite this however, the writing gets a boost due to the film’s atmosphere and emergency like feel. It has the rawness that is just enough to forgive the film’s writing missteps especially with the performances from McConaughey and Ferrera who are consistently very strong throughout the film. 

Overall The Lost Bus is a solid film that captures the destruction of the 2018 Camp Fire, it may have writing issues but the film does an excellent job of bringing rawness, quickness (when it comes to how quickly the fire happened) and power into the mix. 

The Lost Bus is available on Apple TV+

Plainclothes (2025) Film Review

In the 1990s, an undercover officer is told to entrap and apprehend gay men only to find himself drawn to one of his targets.

Plainclothes is directed by Carmen Emmi which is his directorial debut. 

Plainclothes is one of the most underrated films of the year as well as being one of most surprising. A very strong thriller with tense and powerful performances mixed with rich atmosphere makes this one feel all the more real especially with its themes. 

Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey are both phenomenal here, the chemistry between the two is wonderful and they perfectly capture the film’s theme of romance being hopeless and dead thing from the start. Having to hide everything of what you are until it fills you up and destroys you, that’s something Blyth and Tovey depict masterfully, devastating performances that capture the film’s atmosphere and emotion. There is this physical passion between them but when you are only allowed to be shells of human beings, that gets to you incredibly quickly. 

The film’s VHS-style is quite wonderful and really captures 1990s New York incredibly well, the cinematography from Ethan Palmer allows the viewer to explore New York in this classical way that is filled to the brim with atmosphere. The style also gives the film a more authentic feel that quickly brings the viewer into the film. The direction from Carmen Emmi is confident, raw and has this tenseness to it that helps both Blyth and Tovey’s performances stand incredibly tall. 

The theme of performing different versions of yourself to navigate the world is powerfully done, in this case hiding sexuality which the film brings this heartbreak and tense atmosphere to compliment it all. While there is not exactly anything new discussed or explored here, the way that Emmi explores these themes and topics is what keeps the viewer intrigued.

Finally there is the writing which is done very well here, the build up from the start of the film to the complete turmoil at the end is worth the wait and results in a final act that does a splendid job of bringing its themes together. There is a ton of character moments here that Emmi throws in to make each and every scene all the more important and powerful. 

Overall Plainclothes is quite great, it’s an intense and emotional thriller filled with strong performances and just being a cleverly put together film. 

Plainclothes is available on all VOD platforms. 

8/10 B+