Tag: island

SHELTER – Review

As a huge Jason Statham fan, I was somewhat disappointed by the balance between drama and action in his latest vehicle, SHELTER. It’s slower and darker than most of his body(-slamming) of work. Here he’s a recluse living solo with his dog on a small island off the dreary Scottish coast, with only a small shack and decommissioned lighthouse. His only dealing with other humans is a boat that brings supplies once a week. Jessie (Bodie Rae Breathnach), the girl who delivers them, is supposed to just drop the box and leave without even seeing him. Her one attempt at conversation is curtly rebuffed.

That solitude falls apart when a sudden storm swamps Jessie’s boat, forcing him to rescue the girl and treat her injuries. He really doesn’t want to leave the island, but eventually must to get medical supplies. That’s when he’s picked up by ever-vigilant government agents who monitor the ubiquitous security cameras throughout what’s left of the Empire. He’s on Her/His Majesty’s terrorist watch list, so the heavy-duty pursuit begins. A retired spy network mucky-muck (Bill Nighy) has his own surveillance system (which even monitors the government’s), and his own agenda. We soon learn that Jason isn’t really a terrorist, but has been framed, which is why he’s been in hiding for a decade, or so. Not much of a surprise there. It’s Jason-freakin’-Statham! We already knew there ain’t no way he’s gonna be the bad guy!

So one faction deploys all their assets to arrest him, and one sends meaner minions to kill him. And Jessie, while they’re at it, since she’s seen too much of this top-secret stuff. The rest is a chase with almost enough action to satisfy Jason’s fans. His backstory is that he’s got super-lethal skills akin to his eponymous character in THE BEEKEEPER, allowing him to contend with vastly superior forces, while having to protect Jessie along the way.

Two problems. One is that most of the fights occur in dark settings, obscuring the action. The main reason for any butts plopping down on those theater seats is to watch Jason go all Statham-y on hordes of baddies in vivid detail. Shame on director Roman Waugh for undercutting his most valuable asset. The dude’s helmed enough action flicks to know better. The second is that Jessie’s character is written (also by Waugh) as annoyingly whiny, imposing too much dialog and too many moody silences on what couldda shouldda been a faster-paced adventure, as THE BEEKEEPER and A WORKING MAN were within the last two years. This plays out as if it were written for someone like Liam Neeson, who typically has more quiet, thoughtful stretches between his action scenes.

So, if Stathamians (Stathamites?) lower their adrenaline expectations, they can still find this worth the time. If not, then hope for BEEKEEPER 2: THE RETURN OF THE HIVE, or some other project that better serves The Master.

SHELTER opens in theaters on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.

RATING: 2 out of 4 stars

SEND HELP – Review

After last weekend’s brutal winter storm, aren’t you dreaming of a getaway to a tropical island where you’re not wrenching your back shoveling snow or scraping ice off of your car’s windshield? Ah, but what if it’s deserted, with little to no chance of leaving (if only that old boat that’s got “S.S. MINNOW” painted on its side didn’t have that nasty hole in it hull)? And forget about any rescue ships arriving. Perhaps you’re not alone, at least that makes things more bearable. But what if it’s that co-worker you can’t stand? Or trust? These are all things to ponder while basking away in the warmth of your multiplex while watching at least one of these “stranded castaways” make several attempts to SEND HELP.

One part of that duo is introduced in the film’s opening scenes, Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams). She’s a thirty-something single lady who spends most of her evenings devouring episodes of the TV series “Survivor” with her pet bird, when she’s not prepping for the next day. She’s “workin’ 9 to 5” as a bean counter “cog” at a big investment firm downtown. Its owner has just passed, leaving the company to his arrogant, entitled son, Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien). Linda’s all prepared to be appointed the new vice-president, due to her skills, seniority, and a promise from the late Mr. Preston. But naturally, the VP promotion goes to one of Bradley’s “frat bros”. Linda confronts Bradley, who really wants to axe her. However, he’s told of her invaluable “number-crunching”, so she’s spared. This also gets her an invite on the private jet to Bangkok to help seal the deal on a big merger. But these skies are far from friendly, as a storm cripples the aircraft, plunging it into the sea. Linda survives and awakens on the shore of what appears to be a large, lush, deserted island. As she has been researching and training to audition for her fave TV show, she’s in her element. And…she’s not alone. Further down the beach is her injured boss Bradley. Linda tends to the wounds of the ungrateful CEO, while locating food and building a shelter. The two clash, as it becomes clear that in this place, Linda is the boss. Can they work and live together? And does Linda really want to be rescued and return to her dreary life slaving for the obnoxious BP?

As you’ve probably guessed, this is basically a two character study, though enlivened with plenty of action and suspense. At the heart of it is Linda Liddle superbly brought to life by the talented McAdams. Though she’s mainly known for dramas, she expertly delivers her best comedy performance since the original MEAN GIRLS (that can’t be 22 years ago). She’s endearingly awkward and klutzy in the story’s first act, establishing Liddle as socially inept and dripping with “flopsweat” through her “bargain basement” attire. I was reminded of Michelle Pfieffer’s Selina in BATMAN RETURNS. And like her, trauma changes Liddle (the plane crash here) into someone completely different, full of purpose and drive. And often very intimidating. McAdams succeeds at turning our chuckles into gasps, almost reaching through the screen to pull us in (I’m guessing the 3D version works well). Luckily she’s got a superb scene, and island, partner with the versatile rising star O’Brien. I sang his praises a couple of years ago for his remarkable recreations of young Dan Aykroyd in SATURDAY NIGHT. Since then, he was also compelling in TWINLESS (but let’s forget ANNIVERSARY, shall we). As with McAdams, his take on Bradley is a comic horrible boss straight out of many workplace romps in act one. We even see some of his snark and venom-spewing attitude in his beach rescue. Somehow, O’Brien is able to turn it around, and have us in his corner, for a bit. Then we see that his seeming change of heart masks plenty of dark intentions. His vulnerability his another mask to cloud his cruelty. These are two charismatic screen actors in top form.

And who’s “pulling their strings”? Why, it’s none other than the glorious genre movie-making mastermind Sam Raimi. Actually, he’s got his fingerprints all over it, delighting and engaging us with his manic storytelling style, full of dark, almost pitch black, comic set pieces (somehow the plane crash is harrowing and hysterical), heightened by his still energetic compositions that careen from big close-ups (that tuna fish on Linda’s chin) to the sweeping island panoramas (take in the ragged cliffs). Those paying close attention will be rewarded by several of his endearing “call backs” (look at the office wall and the parking garage) that clearly set this in the quirky “Raimi-verse”, much like his last foray in the “Marvel-verse”. Be forewarned that he doesn’t hold back on the blood, guts, and mayhem (yes, there are native wildlife in the tall grass). And there are still lots of narrative “tricks” up the sleeve of this directing “prankster” as he makes good “pop pulp” out of the clever, twisty script from Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. Plus, two of Raimi’s stalwarts, cinematographer Bill Pope (making both the gleaming offices and lush beaches glisten) and composer extraordinaire Danny Elfman lift the film up with their artistry. Couple that with some vibrant visual effect magic and startling stunts and Raimi, along with McAdams and O’Brien, bring lots of energy (Sam’s been at this for five decades now) and a very entertaining take on cinematic castaway tropes (a nice mix of the Hanks classic, along with SWEPT AWAY and MISERY) in SEND HELP.

3.5 Out of 4

SEND HELP opens in theatres everywhere on Friday, January 30, 2026

BLINK TWICE – Review

Naomi Ackie stars as Frida in director Zoë Kravitz’s BLINK TWICE, an Amazon MGM Studios film.
Photo credit: Carlos Somonte. Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios. © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut BLINK TWICE starts out with a great deal of promise but ultimately fails to live up to its promise. The target Kravitz appears to be aiming for is a GET OUT-style smart horror thriller, with a set-up the recalls both KNIVES OUT and THE MENU, where a select group of beautiful people on a private island with wealthy types, an island where things go very wrong. In this case, the island is owned by tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum), who invites a pair of waitresses who have dressed up to crash his posh cocktail party, Frida (Naomie Ackie) and Jess (Alia Shawkat), to join him and his friends for a couple of days on his private island. It’s a dream come true for Frida, the reason she had dressed up to crash the party to catch the billionaire’s eye.

What starts out like a Disney-ish meet-cute romantic fantasy, with Frida and Jess whisked away on a private jet, plied with champagne, and then ensconced in little bungalows filled with clothes and luxurious supplies, has some creepy foreshadowing. There is some scandal around Slater King, dealing with something that happened at parties with a #MeToo vibe followed by a unconvincing public apology. Nonetheless Frida is enamored with the handsome billionaire, although when Frida is introduced at the cocktail party to King’s therapist, played by Kyle MacLachlan, she jokingly says “blink twice if I’m in danger” and the therapist pauses before he smiles. On the island, they are expected to give up their phones, and Jess jokes about whether the human sacrifice is before or after dinner.

Despite all that, the women quickly settle into a pattern of lounging around the pool, night spent dinning on fine cuisine and never-ending champagne, as host Slater King asks “Are you having a good time?” to which they invariably reply “I’m having a great time.”

And that’s where the film bogs down, going through iterations of that party scene a few too many times without any thing much happening. It works less to build suspense than to dissipate the little threat that had been created. When the horror/thriller finally gets underway, the events that unfurl are far-fetched and it really doesn’t make sense, or even hold one’s interest. Yes, horrible things happen but we see them coming from far off, which dispels any suspense, and the explanations really don’t hold up, sometimes in eye-rolling inducing fashion.

Naomie Ackie plays the central character, Frida, and on screen most of the time but the character is surprisingly underwritten, with little if any backstory and a romantic innocence that seems more fitting for a teenager. Ackie works hard to make the most of this thin material, while Alia Shawkat as Jess provides comic commentary, as well as an every-present yellow lighter whose true purpose is eventually revealed, to balance Frida’s romantic view, a view that circumstances upend. Channing Tatum is charmingly oily as the tech billionaire hosting this sinister party.

The film features a good supporting cast that includes standout Geena Davis as Slater King’s sister and assistant Stacy, his high-strung assistant, who combines a hyper-competency with a tendency to drop things as she runs around handling all the practical matters of having an island full of guests and more. Christian Slater plays Slater King’s right-hand man Vic, while Haley Joel Osment plays Tom, a bitter, washed-up star and gourmet meals are prepared by chef-guest Cody (Simon Rex). On the female side of the guests, another standout is Adria Arjona as Sarah, a “Survivor” winner who is a beauty with a special set of skills, while Trew Mullen plays stoner-girl Heather, always up for smoking fat blunts. Liz Caribel plays Heather’s pal and Levon Hawke plays handsome Lucas.

Adam Newport-Berra provides stylish cinematography heavy on quick cuts, visuals supplemented by heavy-handed sound design.

Zoe Kravitz deserves credit for aiming high, for a stylish, high-concept thriller with a have and have-not commentary, blended with a feminist one. The film is certainly stylish to look at, with great costumes and sets. While the cast is good, the script, co-written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum, just doesn’t achieve its ambitions.

BLINK TWICE opens Friday, Aug. 23, in theaters.

RATING: 2 out of 4 stars