Since I don’t have as much time to write longer reviews than I used to, I figured I would just post shorter reviews for horror/cult films that I feel deserve your attention.
Starring: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Judy Greer, Mark Hamill
Genre: Horror/Science Fiction/Thriller
Run Time: 108 Minutes
Plot:
In a dystopian, alternate-America ruled by a totalitarian regime, 50 teenage boys take part in a deadly annual walking contest, forced to maintain a minimum pace or be executed, until only one survivor remains.
Review:
Based on a 1979 Stephen King novel of the same name [under his pseudonym Richard Bachman], THE LONG WALK was passed around for a long time before this film adaptation was actually filmed and released. From George A. Romero in 1988, to Frank Darabont in the 2000s, to both New Line Cinema and then eventually Lionsgate for the actual release, this adaptation for such a simple story took its sweet time getting its moment in the spotlight. And it was definitely worth the wait, as THE LONG WALK is one of 2025’s best horror films.
There’s not much to say about the film without really spoiling what happens [for those who didn’t read the novel, which I’m sure is quite a few], but THE LONG WALK is very well-made visually and tightly structured from a narrative standpoint. It’s a simple story with a group of young men walking for their survival in order to gain money and a single wish. And Francis Lawrence’s direction captures that really well, as the film isn’t all that stylish or distracting with unnecessary visual effects. From what I understand, the film was shot chronologically meaning the day scenes and the night scenes were all environmentally legit - which is a great touch and convincingly showcases the characters’ struggle to keep going during each day of the walk. While the death scenes are shot well and are visceral, considering how close we get to the characters and their stories, that wouldn’t happen if Lawrence just lets the story and the actors do most of the work for him, elevating a pretty simple point-and-shoot affair.
And boy - are the actors really great here. While each of the young men contribute something to the narrative, whether we grow to love them or despise them, the film is strongly carried by the central duo of Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson. Considering his father has passed away in the story, it’s easy to see Hoffman using the pain of his own paternal loss [the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman] as a catalyst for Ray’s motivations to win the walk. And Jonsson has become a young actor I’ve been really enjoying onscreen lately, carrying himself with the charisma and confidence of someone beyond his years. And an unrecognizable Mark Hamill as The Major adds some ironic humor to a serious story, bringing much needed levity.
I wish THE LONG WALK had done better at the box office. But considering how non-flashy it is, it’s easy to see why many would probably wait until digital or streaming to check it out. And I hope audiences do when the time comes because it’s a super solid Stephen King adaptation that deserves a cult status in years to come. THE LONG WALK has the endurance to be in my Top 10 of 2025 Horror Films for sure.
SCORE
3.5 Howls Outta 4
(9 out of 10)
Starring: Tyriq Withers, Marlon Fox, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Supernatural/Sports
Run Time: 96 Minutes
Plot:
After suffering a potentially career-ending brain trauma, Cameron Cade receives a lifeline when his hero, legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar Isaiah White, offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife. But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker.
Review:
Maybe besides TRON: ARES, no other trailer really got me hyped for a film like 2025’s HIM. For one, it was produced by Jordan Peele, who has had a great track record since joining the horror genre. Two, we rarely get horror films involving sports, making it stand out. Plus, a bonkers Marlon Wayans in a serious role? Sign me up as this couldn’t fail.
Yeah… about that. Man, talk about cinema disappointments of the year but HIM is definitely Him when it comes to that description. HIM is a film with so many ideas and so many things it wants to be and wants to say that it ends up saying not much at all. Watching this with one of my best friends who is more of a football fan than I am [even though I do watch and follow], I feel he got more of a commentary than I did. Yet, he felt the same disappointment that I did. What is this film about? CTE? Drug use in sports and how hard men have to live up to a certain status as they get older? Daddy issues and the shadow of the patriarchy? The rumors that the Illuminati controls how the sport is run with a cult-like mentality? There’s so much going on that I was pretty overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time watching this.
I felt the first half of the film was the more interesting portion, as it seemed to focus on Cade’s struggle to live up to who his late father wanted him to be. He sacrifices his individuality and his own health to achieve his [and/or his father’s dream] to be a pro football player. Cade even gets to train with Isaiah, who is his hero - yet, at the same time, his rival and the man he’s supposed to replace because of Isaiah’s age catching up with him. There seems to be a slight tug-and-war in how the two interact. It looks friendly on the surface, but Isaiah obviously has nefarious plans for Cade with randomly taking blood from him, giving him mystery drugs and even strange training where other players are brutally punished for missing plays. You start to feel for Cade a bit because you realize this isn’t exactly what he signed up for.
But then it starts becoming more supernatural and the film goes into a tired direction I had expected and was really disappointed by. Let’s say it goes from grounded to BLACK SWAN or a mixture of THE SUBSTANCE with MIDSOMMAR. The film becomes so surreal that it just loses its way towards a predictable ending. What do these random images mean? Why is the pacing so weird? And is that really the answer to the mystery [which I pretty much predicted]? I was more frustrated than entertained.
What saves HIM is that Justin Tipping directs a beautiful film that makes interesting and sometimes breathtaking visual choices. A lot of the film feels like a Jordan Peele homage in terms of framing, editing and sound choices. But Tipping lacks the restraint and voice that Peele does, making the film kind of a visual mess as it goes along. With so many random images popping up, you’re just wondering what they have to do with anything. I don’t think even Peele could have saved this visually, as the script feels like a first draft that needed another edit.
The cast is probably the highlight of HIM. Tyriq Withers holds his own in the lead role, making the best of whatever’s thrown at him. Julia Fox and Jim Jefferies add some quirkiness and humor to the surrealism. But Marlon Wayans is the standout here, stealing the spotlight from Withers in every scene. I like seeing Wayans in serious roles because he obviously has range, which HIM definitely proves. He’s sympathetic. He’s manic and out-of-control. He’s sometimes terrifying. And he’s great.
If you’re a Marlon Wayans fan, then HIM may be worth checking out. He’s really the only reason to see this, despite a game cast and interesting visuals that fall apart due to a script that needed more edits and doctoring. It’s nice seeing more sports-centric horror films though, as HIM shows a lot of promise but never lives up to its Game Day potential.
SCORE
2 Howls Outta 4
(5 out of 10)
Starring: Madelaine Petsch, Richard Brake, Rachel Shelton, Gabriel Basso, Froy Gutierrez, Brooke Lena Johnson
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Slasher
Run Time: 96 Minutes
Plot:
When The Strangers learn that one of their victims, Maya, is still alive, they return to finish what they’ve started.
Review:
For those who read my review for THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1 last year, you knew how much I hated the reboot for a franchise that didn’t even warrant one. The characters had no agency. The lead characters were two of the dumbest, most useless protagonists I’ve seen in a horror film in a very long time. And even when action happened, it wasn’t all that exciting. CHAPTER 1 felt like a weaker retread of the 2008 film. In fact, CHAPTER 1 was my Worst Film of 2024 in any genre.
So of course, I watched THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 because I was so excited for it.
Yes, that was sarcasm if you couldn’t tell.
I will say this for THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2: the trailer gave me slightly more optimism than CHAPTER 1’s trailer did. I knew CHAPTER 1 would be terrible from the trailer, but at least CHAPTER 2 seemed to have more action, stalk-and-slash and an interesting side story that hadn’t been done in the franchise yet. I wasn’t expecting greatness but even a sequel that ended up being “mid” would have been enough for me.
Calling THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 “mid” would be extremely generous, as this sequel is just an extension of last year’s garbage. Our Final Girl still lacks a bit of agency, despite what happened to her and knowing the threat that’s coming for her. The new characters add absolutely nothing to the movie, with some not even getting more than a single scene before they’re taken out. The backstory for two of the Strangers, while welcome, still manages to be fairly generic and done better in many other movies. And the script tosses so much random and weird stuff for our leading lady that I’m wondering if anyone read the script before thinking it was okay to fund and film this. Like seriously… who are these movies for?
That being said, CHAPTER 2 at least tries to be better than CHAPTER 1. The opening hospital sequence, while not HALLOWEEN II, is at least an attempt to create tension and thrills as the Strangers chase Maya within the building. Yes, Maya still makes really dumb choices or doesn’t react to much at all at times. But at least she’s fighting back stuff and taking some control of the situation whenever the film sees it fit.
There’s also a random scene in the middle of the film involving a CGI wild boar that attacks Maya for, like, five minutes that had the entire audience laughing at how ridiculous it all was. This scene honestly should have made me walk out of the theater and demand a refund on my AMC A-List Membership. But it was so random and so bizarre that I wish more of CHAPTER 2 was this weird. At least it would have shown that Renny Harlin and/or whoever had a say in this project was willing to take wild chances that would have given CHAPTER 2 a reason to exist and be memorable. This is, without a doubt, the thing I will take away from this movie and I can’t hate this sequel for that.
While Renny Harlin does infuse the film with more tension, action and strange CGI animals, nothing Harlin does visually can save an awful and sloppy screenplay. The film looks polished and the opening sequence has promise. But Harlin has directed so many better films than this and there’s nothing stylish about this film that makes it stand apart from any other horror film of this kind.
The actors really try here and I feel bad that they’re in this movie. Madelaine Petsch is way better here than she was in the previous movie. But the script makes her character so dumb and frustrating that I keep wishing for the Strangers to end her journey sooner than later. Richard Brake gets nothing really to do as a shady sheriff [his role seems bigger in, sigh, CHAPTER 3] and Gabriel Bosso is creepy but it never really goes anywhere. Like, at all. These actors could have had interesting characters. But I couldn’t tell you what made any of them sign up for this besides a nice paycheck.
Saying CHAPTER 2 is better than CHAPTER 1 is like saying that Chlamydia is better than Herpes. While just a tiny bit better, it’s still an awful sequel that only fans of this franchise or anyone who has to see every horror film ever made [like me] should give any attention to. And yes, I’ll be there to suffer through, sigh, CHAPTER 3. I’m hoping the third time’s the charm, but I’m not holding my breath.
SCORE
1 Howl Outta 4
(3 out of 10)
Starring: Maddie Hasson, Alex Roe, Marco Pigossi, Andra Nechita
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Comedy/Mystery
Run Time: 94 Minutes
Plot:
A couple’s romantic vacation at a secluded lakeside estate is upended when they are forced to share the mansion with a mysterious and attractive couple. In this darkly hilarious and seductive horror story, a dream getaway spirals into a nightmarish maze of sex, lies, and manipulation, bringing terrifying secrets to light and triggering a bloody battle for survival.
Review:
With a title like BONE LAKE, you’re expecting a horror film involving a lot of sex. Or at least, a film sort of making fun of sexual exploits in a horror-comedy fashion. The trailer, which would play every time during the previews for the past month or so, had me intrigued with its teases of salacious manipulation and promise of some sort of sex-thriller that we’ve haven’t really seen much of in mainstream horror since the 1990s really. Luckily, I was able to see this before its wide release date to see if the film lived up to what the trailer promised.
Unfortunately like most trailers, they swerve the audience in presenting one thing but giving you another. BONE LAKE is no exception, as it’s a film that’s not the sex-thriller romp I was expecting. While the opening scene does have both male and female nudity and there are sexual scenes once every blue moon, BONE LAKE is pretty conservative for the story it wants to visually tell, making it somewhat of a disappointment of something more interesting. It’s not unlike anything you could watch on a Lifetime or on a Tubi - a messed up game involving two random couples who just end up at the same lakeside estate due to a double booking. But as the film rolls along, one of the couples seems to be much more than they appear, making their own rules and manipulating the other couple for reasons that are revealed in the final act. The revelation, which I was indifferent to, will probably divide audiences - although I did feel like it made one of the couple’s motivations to be at the estate interesting enough.
So while the story is pretty basic and predictable, I did think Mercedes Bryce Morgan’s direction had some style to it, while the visuals popped with vibrant colors [even at night] and with, of course, some nice eye candy for everyone. The use of special effects for the horror elements and gore are done surprisingly well for an independent flick. There’s an opening kill involving an arrow through someone’s testicles as they escape [the audience popped for that one] and there are a bunch of amputations during the film’s final act involving an axe and a chainsaw [a bit of an EVIL DEAD tribute in particular moment]. Not a bad looking nor badly paced feature.
The actors are fine. Maddie Hasson looks like Florence Pugh and is quite good as the more conservative Sage. She has nice flirtatious chemistry with all of her co-stars, regardless of gender. Alex Roe plays the attractive and manipulative bad boy, Will, having the film’s more humorous moments. Andra Nechita brings sex appeal as the seductive Cin, while Marco Pigossi plays, what some may call the Beta Male, Diego perfectly. Since the film focuses on such a small cast, I thought these four actors did what they could with the simple and expected material to not make it boring. So kudos to them.
Honestly, I was expecting BONE LAKE to be more provocative and sleazy considering what the trailer teases. But it’s just a predictable and fairly conservative mystery that’s not all that sexy, scary or laughs-out funny. But it entertained me for 94 minutes and I was along the ride to see how it would all end. A theatrical watch could be a tough one, but definitely a good time on streaming.
SCORE
2.5 Howls Outta 4
(6 out of 10)