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Posts Tagged ‘New Horror films’

Black Phone 2 (Review)

Posted in New Movie reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Black Phone 2, directed by Scott Derrickson (Black Phone, 2021) and Starring Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeline McGraw and Jeremy Davies, follows brother Finn and sister, Gwen, after surviving a terrifying kidnapping.


A mind-bending psychological and supernatural thriller. The film’s edgy energy presented something classic and unique. Now 17, Finn (Thames) is struggling with the emotional scars and impact that (The Grabber), portrayed by (Hawke), has had on his life. Unable to shake off the dark and traumatic experience, Finn has changed, using those experiences as a means to protect himself.
Meanwhile, his sister Gwen (McGraw) is struggling with her special abilities as her dreams become more vivid and her power grows stronger within each dream. After a very disturbing dream, Gwen’s abilities force her and Finn to follow a lead connecting their past to a series of unsolved murders at a Winter Christian camp in the mountains.

The Black Phone becomes the key, while Gwen’s dreams become the door through which The Grabber can penetrate. The evolution of Finn and Gwen’s story is built on solid character development. Both present a vulnerability that connects resilience, pain, love, hope, and faith into a force that is capable of bringing evil to its knees. This film was a great horror that was well written and visually composed of many frightening elements that blended reality and the supernatural, creating a marriage between the two. Thames and McGraw’s chemistry as brother and sister balances well with their personalities. At the same time, Ethan Hawke’s hauntingly dark portrayal of the evil antagonist brings out an emotional rawness that further enhances the development of Finn and Gwen.


The music throughout the film took us back to the 80s, shaping the mood and atmosphere of this cinematic world. The special effects were scary, realistic, and visually stomach-churning at times, and grossly entertaining.


I gave Black Phone 2 (5)stars for an exciting, fun time!
Watch the trailer below.

Check me out having a little fun at the Black Phone 2 experience at New York City’s Comic Con NYCC2025!

The Black Phone 2 experience at New York City’s Comic Con NYCC2025.

Happy Halloween Season!!!

L.L.

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28 Years Later “Review”

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

28 Years Later, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jodie Comer, tells the story of how a group of people have survived on a Scottish island since the initial Rage Outbreak over twenty years ago.

The film opens with father and son, Jamie and Jimmy, trekking through treacherous and unstable terrain as Jamie teaches Jimmy how to defend himself against the Infected. Jimmy is on a mission to learn how the world works while attempting to stay safe and be fully aware of his surroundings. Eventually, the actions of the father and son, in conjunction with their family dynamic, set the stage for Jimmy to venture beyond the borders of their small island in search of answers to aid his ailing mother.

This movie felt completely disconnected and seemed more like a stand-alone film, rather than part of a franchise. There were so many elements that went wrong. The beginning was off to a decent start. By the time we explore the middle of the film, we are lost in the concept of ridiculous storytelling. Jimmy, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, was underdeveloped as a character, while Dr. Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes, was just bizarre.

The zombies were beyond terrible. This film attempted to convey a sense of evolutionary nature within them. The first type of zombie we see is the basic rage zombie; however, these zombies were completely nude, which didn’t make sense. I could see tattered clothes, but just running with nothing on was just over the top. Then we have another type, which is just an overweight crawling zombie. Their origin was explained, but it was so pointless that I can no longer recall how they came to be.

Unfortunately, this movie was a waste of time and a big disappointment.

I gave this film 1 star.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.  

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Final Destination: Bloodlines (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Final Destination: Bloodlines, directed by Zack Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, starring Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Tony Todd, and Teo Briones, follows college student Stefani as a recurring nightmare haunts her. Desperate to seek answers, Stefani soon returns home and begins to uncover the secrets of her family history.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is a scary good time, with unexpected twists at every corner.

The story adds a fresh spin on the modern horror classic while exploring the deep connection between the historical elements of established characters.

The death scenes were exciting and uniquely created. They provide a pace of progression that exposes multiple layers of human experience. Each choice and decision relates to one another while adding complexity to the story.

The score was well done, while the special effects presented a hauntingly realistic nature that drew the audience in deeper.

Elements of comedy created balance, while the cast of relative unknowns delivered a sense of cohesiveness that only the FD franchise can generate.

As a horror icon and industry staple, it was amazing to see our beloved Tony Todd one final time as JB. It was great to see how the franchise paid homage to a decades-long story and character.

Overall, FDB is a 5-star horror film that fans of the franchise will get a kick out of.

Check out the trailer below.

L.L.

Check out the trailer below:

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Nosferatu 2024 Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers and starring Bill Skarsgard (Count Orlok), Nicholas Hoult (Thomas Hunter), Lilly-Rose Depp (Ellen Hunter), and Willem Dafoe (Albin Eberhart von Franz), is a dark tale that follows a mystical young woman haunted by the dark forces of an evil creature as he attempts to possess her heart and mind.

This version of the 1922 horror remake created a level of cinematic depth that opened the moviegoer to a realm of dark creativity. The world-building was authentic and pulled viewers in like a magnet.  The story, loosely based on Dracula, was well written and presented an interesting connection between Emma and Count Orlok. The film explores deeper supernatural elements within the 1800s that deliver a timeless notion between religious beliefs and the belief in Science. All of which push the boundaries of the characters involved.

Nosferatu was well done; Bill Skarsgard’s portrayal of The Count created a captivating performance. However, I was a bit disappointed over the Character’s esthetic. The creature design fell short for me. I wanted the Character to look more like the original gangly vampire, with the large piercing eyes, oval-shaped head, and pointed elven ears, all elements that make Max Schreck’s original so memorable. Despite this design oversight, Skarsgard did a fantastic job bringing the creature back to life uniquely. Lilly-Rose Depp and Nicholas Hoult did a nice job intertwining their characters. The closeness they shared through their distance was another piece that made the story work so well. The costume designs were fabulous and added personality to the development of the characters.  The Gothic nature of this film created a whimsical horror fantasy that will make fans of the genre appreciate the film’s intention.

I gave this film 4 stars.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton, Winona Rider, Cathrine O’Hara, William Dafoe, and Jenny Ortega, follows the story of Spiritual Medium and Paranormal Investigator Lydia Deetz as she deals with her father’s death, which opens the door to a past of unfinished business with the haunting ghoul Beetlejuice.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was a lot of fun to experience, and it was especially refreshing to explore the Afterlife further through Tim Burton’s lens. With the theme of death at the forefront of the storytelling process, the theme of family and elements of forgiveness, acceptance, and living are interwoven into the tapestry of a great Horror Comedy that is bound to end in a promising trilogy.

The plot is layered with multiple storylines that make the film entertaining and engaging from the very start. The special effects, costume design, and creature design create a captivating allure that only Tim Burton could deliver. Michael Keaton’s performance as Beetlejuice was comedy gold that brought me back to that 80s kid.

Winona Rider’s complex character gave way to an even deeper persona that presented a softer and more elevated side to her character. The addition of Astrid, portrayed by Jenny Ortega, created a rich family extension. Cathrine O’Hara did a great job reprising her role as the family matriarch while maintaining the spotlight and evolving her part in the story. The supporting cast kept the plot going in a fun way, while all the other components, including the score, added to the film in a meaningful way.  

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the perfect film to kick off the Halloween movie season. It’s great fun for the family and has lots of laughs, thrills, and chills. I gave this film 5 stars.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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The Watchers Review

Posted in New Movie reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Warning Mild Spoilers below:

The Watchers, directed by Ishana Shyamalan and starring Dakota Fanning, follows the story of a young artist who travels to a remote location in Ireland to deliver an exotic bird, only to find herself trapped and unable to leave.

Mina, portrayed by Fanning, finds herself among a group of lost travelers as they try to work together to survive the mysterious forests surrounding them. Mina learns that she must follow a specific set of rules while allowing a group of creatures to watch her through a mirrored fortress know as the coop. As the pain of her tragic past surfaces, Mina breaks the rules with another lost traveler, Daniel, portrayed by Oliver Finnegan, in hopes of leaving the dreaded forest. Mina’s plan backfires as she learns that the consequences of her rebellious ways.

Days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months; Mina and the others, Clair, portrayed by Georgina Campbell, and Madeline, portrayed by Olwen Fouѐrѐ, begin to uncover the secrets of the forest and other useful information that helps them understand the history behind the forest, and it’s dark inhabitants.

The Watchers was an interesting film that brought Irish folklore into the modern world. Dakota Fanning’s portrayal of Mina was revealing, complex and relatable. The supporting cast held their own throughout, and the director’s point of view appeared strong while certain visual and story elements echoed classic M, Night Shyamalan.

I thought this was a good movie to see during fall instead of late spring. There were a lot of jump scares, and “things that go bump in the night.” Horror fans will appreciate the mysteriousness and dark energy this film gives. The flow of the film progressed, and the visual elements were magical. The scenes were authentic and transported moviegoers into the realm of fantasy/horror.

I gave this movie 3 and a half stars.

Please check out the trailer below.

L.L.

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