kevin_robbins

I recently watched the British film 🇬🇧 The Godsend (1980) on Tubi. The story follows a family who discover a pregnant woman and help her give birth. She then mysteriously disappears, leaving the baby behind. Although the family already has six children, there's something about this child that feels unsettling-unlike anything they've experienced before as parents.

The film is directed by Gabrielle Beaumont (He's My Girl) and stars Malcolm Stoddard (Treasure Island), Cyd Hayman (Percy), and Angela Pleasence (Your Highness).

The Godsend has a strong late-'70s atmosphere, a familiar premise, and a made-for-television feel. The background music does a good job of creating tension and mood, and the locations are well chosen for the story being told. The acting is serviceable, but the horror elements largely missed the mark for me. I was hoping for more from the dream sequences, and while the film seems to be building toward something impactful, the conclusion is ultimately a letdown.

In the end, The Godsend doesn't add much to the horror genre. I'd give it a 4/10 and recommend skipping it.

We recently watched Thunderbolts+ (2025) as a family. The storyline follows Valentina, now under the watchful eye of the government, as she attempts to destroy all remaining evidence of her past- including the assassins she's historically hired. Unfortunately for her, those assassins may not go so easily.

The film is directed by Jake Schreier (Beef) and stars Florence Pugh (Black Widow), David Harbour (Stranger Things), Sebastian Stan (A Different Man), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld), and Wyatt Russell (Overlord).

This is a smart follow-up to both Black Widow and Avengers: Endgame. It does a strong job of establishing the current state of the universe and the mindset of these characters in the aftermath of recent events. The film effectively introduces "the Void" and explores how it can manifest into one's own downfall- in this case, as a supervillain. The writing is sharp, with dry humor that consistently lands, along with clever metaphors and explorations of inner demons. Overall, I liked the direction this took.

In conclusion, Thunderbolts+ is a solid addition to the Marvel Universe and does a good job of setting the table for a post-Endgame relaunch. I'd score it a 7/10.

I recently watched Spellcaster (1989) on Tubi. The storyline follows a group of contestants selected to search an Italian castle for a hidden prize. Once the game begins, people start disappearing. What exactly is lurking in the castle and killing everyone?

The film is directed by Rafal Zielinski (Jailbait) and stars Adam Ant (Cold Steel), Richard Blade (Girls Just Want to Have Fun), Gail O'Grady (Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo), and Michael Zorek (The Woman in Red).

This movie has some really fun elements. The '80s soundtrack kicks in right from the opening scene and is excellent. The film has a strong '80s vibe throughout-from the characters and fashion to the overall atmosphere. The horror effects are solid as well; the zombie makeup and creature designs look great, including a particularly cool goblin-like creature. The costumes are also well done. While the kills are fairly average and the story is straightforward, it's still an entertaining watch.

In conclusion, Spellcaster is far from perfect, but it has enough charm and nostalgia to keep a horror enthusiast's attention. I'd rate it a 5.5-6 out of 10.