Tag: horror

Bone Lake “Review”

Release date: October 3, 2025 (USA)

Director: Mercedes Bryce Morgan

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 1h 34m

Distributed by: Bleecker Street

Production company: LD Entertainment

For a title that came out of nowhere – This was an experience 😀 Let’s Discuss!

Bone Lake starts and end strong. Doesn’t hold back on its R rating and is very expressive with it’s storytelling and adult material. This isn’t for you if you’re not into heavy adult material & gore as it’s jam packed.

Think Barbarian meets Ready or Not. Bone Lake takes two couples booking the same Airbnb on this beautiful lake that just so happens to have a ton of skulls lying at the bottom of it…supposedly…

There’s plenty of intrigue and mystery with solid casting. Sage & Diego (Played by Maddie Hasson & Marco Pigossi) are our first focus couple after the solid hook of an intro. Cin & Will ( Played by Andra Nechita & Alex Roe) are our double booked Airbnb couple that joins us moments later.

How will this affect their stay? Well, without getting into spoilers, but casting an overall plot. Bone Lake is a movie to test your relationship. Testing the trust between couples & against temptations. Will the mystery of their stay be able to stand the test that’s to come their way?

Solid movie which I look forward to re-watching with my wife. Popped score of 8/10. Pleasantly surprised to see it come from nowhere and looking forward to another Bleecker Street movie to come in December – Fackham Hall.

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Posting this one a little late but should finish this weeks batch on Monday with The Smashing Machine :D.

Let me know what you think of Bone Lake in the comments or if you plan to check it out.

Until next time, though, happy movie-going going everyone.

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Good Boy “Review”

Release date: October 3, 2025 (USA)

Director: Ben Leonberg

Language: English

MPAA rating: PG-13

Genre: Horror

Running time: 1h 13m

Poster had me, hearing it’s from the perspective of Indy, this dog had me intrigued. Let’s discuss shall we.

Stick around for after the movie ends, there’s a behind the scenes with the director and his dog Indy. We find out that Indy didn’t even know they were in a movie and it’s pretty cool the difference between movie scenes and the behind the scenes footage.

Todd (Played by Shane Jensen) has something going on, potentially health risk. He moves into his grand fathers haunted house where he lived prior to passing along with his own dog.

Within this hour and 13-minute movie, you’ll have a good horror movie. Filled with scares and uncomfortable scenes that Indy does an incredible job at, along with the directing of the scenes. (There’s a film style they used (Which I forgot) to play off the audience’s own viewing experience to fill the movement and meanings of how the characters are feeling/portraying.)

I was between a 7 and a 7.5 throughout this feature. Ultimately, going to give a Popped scoring of 7.5 for the story told. There’s potential to rewatch to connect dots, but also to watch along with others’ first viewing. This was a good horror movie done with a unique style that isn’t used often. It’s a mixture of the dog’s POV along with regular movie shots, focusing mostly on the point of view of Indy from outside the eye and within.

Thank you all for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews” I’ll be back over the weekend with 2 more movies released this week Bone Lake & The Smashing Machine.

However, until next time – It’s time for Critical Role Campaign 4 to start 😀 and also, happy movie-going fellow movie goers :D.

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One Battle After Another “Review”

Release date: September 26, 2025 (USA)

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Running time: 2h 50m

MPAA rating: R

Cinematography: Paul Thomas Anderson, Michael Bauman

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Intriguing trailer and lots of pre buzz about potential Oscar nominee – Had to check this out 😀

It’s interesting sitting down to right this as to where to start. Looking at the overview from googles search page it’s skipping the beginning of the movie which really gets going fast. Despite personally being the weakest point of the film for me. It does an incredible job setting up the entire movie. For an almost 3 hour long movie. Adding 10 minutes to fully establish / show how the connection was started between General Lockjaw (Played by Sean Penn) & the mother Perfidia Beverly Hills (Played by Teyana Taylor) would have been nice (Unless I totally missed it) (Carveat for this entire “Review” I had people talking 8 seats away from me the ENTIRE movie).

The “intro” or opening of this movie (Which felt like 3 movies in 1 without going into spoilers) had 2 timelines it felt like co-existing as they told this story of resistance and battle against the system (Without getting political within a political movie 😀 – It’s almost showing us the timeline that could occur with the current direction of America). Leonardo DiCaprio playing Bob Ferguson is later forced into a scenario where he single dad raises his daughter Willa (Played by Chase Infiniti).

You know me here at Popped I don’t like getting into spoilers so I’ll keep this groundings here to set the scene and with that One Battle After Another plays out constantly reflecting on the intros story and plagued by those decisions chasing them forth throughout the almost 3 hour long film.

Now I’ve mentioned it twice about this movie being so long, for a crucial point. To me personally, on top of the people constantly talking. Didn’t feel like 3 hours. It’s longer than Nezha 2 and still didn’t feel as long as that. Some scenes lasted more than 30 minutes but felt like mere minutes. Thanks to personally my opinion to the incredible music score. If there’s a category I’d nominate this movie for, would be that score. It impacted the scenes on an entirely different level which without it would have lost some oomph to what’s playing out on screen.

The last hour went by so quick but I honestly loved it. Great characters and impactful touching story. Wish I’d seen / saw the origins of that connection at the start but with how well crafted the entire remaining movie was. It made sense it felt complete and still played off that setup which was so crucial in driving that feeling throughout the movie.

Popped scoring of 9/10. I almost gave it 8.5 but thought of Sinners and put it down to the talking by me. I actually got up and moved seats because of them which ticked me off but I was so into the movie I didn’t want to leave. Going onto my top 10 list of 2025 which means something is getting taken off 😦 which would be Americana. This next 9/10 for 2025 is going to be tough as this is really shaping up my 9s to my 9.5 and maybe even 10 :O. INSANE! But I love movies and I hope you continue to enjoy watching them also.

Appreciate you all coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Let me know what you felt of One Battle After Another in the comments below. I was going to checkout Gabby’s Dollhouse for a joke but decided against it. Still to come later in the week is Elanor the Great.

Next batch will be pretty big next week, we have 3 movies dropping Good Boy, Anemone & The Smashing Machine to kick off October. See you in spooky season :D.

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Xeno “Review”

Release date: September 19, 2025 (USA)

Director: Matthew Loren Oates

Producers: Kevin Hart, Matthew Loren Oates, Shana Marie, Jesse Jensen, Luke Kelly-Clyne, Bryan Smiley, Rameez Khan

Production companies: The Henson Company, Tabooma, HartBeat Productions

Running time: 1h 43m

MPAA rating: PG-13

Rare opportunity to watch a movie based on the poster and nothing else… how was it?

WoW what an interesting experience. Looking at the RT scores so far only critics have there rating up which is crazy considering the polarizing contrast to Him’s rating.

Alien crashed down to earth in a rather dark opening for a PG-13 movie. Some of the films elements really pushed this rating. In England there’s a 15 rating which this movie got close to but kept within PG-13. Our main character Renee (Played by Lulu Wilson) is from an extremely toxic environment and family. Her only friends being that of her reptile friends mainly her pet snake.

Linda her mother (Played by Wrenn Schmidt) and mothers boyfriend Chase (Played by Paul Schneider) are not a supportive loving family what so ever. Chase is a dead beat drunken A-Hole of a person while Linda has not delt with the passing of her husband and stays with Chase as he makes her feel needed.

Unlike the chemistry of Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Xeno actually creates a touching story between Xeno & Renee. I didn’t cry but my feelings were for sure going within the last 30 minutes. Stick around for a mid credit scene by the way for a potential sequel 😉 :D.

For those watching Xeno with little ones. Maybe get ready for some dark / adultescent conversations afterwards. From dark matters within the home. To current situations within America when it comes to loved ones and the government. This movie touches upon a lot of subjects that may strike an emotional cord within you.

For the most past the movie was fine to good. But that last 30minutes really sealed in the 7 rating touching on some 7.5 aspects of emotional feelings and connection to the characters. Theirs growth and plenty of lore to peel back within a potential sequel. Kevin Hart was one of several producers along with his production company being apart of this title. So maybe give support if you enjoyed and see if there’s more to come from this property.

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews” :D. Appreciate you taking the time and hopefully excited or intrigued to see what comes next week with One Battle After Another. I’ve been hearing a potential award winner? We shall have to wait and see :D.

Until next batch though fellow movie goers, happy movie watching 😀

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Him “Review”

Release date: September 19, 2025 (USA)

Director: Justin Tipping

MPAA rating: R

Producers: Jordan Peele, Ian Cooper, Win Rosenfeld, Jamal M. Watson

Screenplay: Justin Tipping, Skip Bronkie, Zachary Akers

Production company: Monkeypaw Productions

Oof! This movie is getting hit hard, maybe there’s an enjoyable movie in Him…..for some?

Let’s work backwards. Then forth once more :D. Popped Score of 7/10 a weak but good watch movie. My wife literally broke this movie down on the way home saying she loved it and would re-watch it placing it in the 8’s for Popped. Online it’s getting hit with 29% to 60% for critics / audience. So what gives?

Him is a Horror? Thriller? Movie based around American Football. Cameron Cade (Played by Tyriq Withers) has been raised up on worshiping his dads/families team the San Antonio Saviers and their goat of a quarterback Isaiah White (Played by Marlon Wayans).

From his childhood to now up and comer Cameron has dedicated himself to being the Goat of the Saviers. Taking the opportunity to be trained by Isaiah White in his unfortunate forced retirement due to injury.

The trailer shows a lot of this training and despite that still offers a lot of unseen content from the second half and end of the movie. Here at Popped I wont go into spoilers. However I may touch on something that may help your experience in the below section….maybe? Which is why I gave the score on top if you’d like to give this movie a try or wait for streaming.

Wrap up Prior to “Possible” Spoiler Talk

Before we dive in deeper, wanted to say and give my appreciation to those that come by and check out Popped “Reviews”. I watch a lot of movies and sometimes come away with very different experiences to others. But hey, that’s why I love movies. We can watch the same thing and have totally different experiences and that’s a wonderful thing that movies offer in their experiences.

Giving Him a try this weekend or not, thank you very much for your time and would love to know your most marmite / vegemite movie going experience in the comments below :D. Joker 2 sticks out to me 😀

Possible Spoiler Talk

I came away from the ending having watched a dark story of American Football and the dangers that can and do occur with the game. It offers twisted horror elements and physiological imagery that creates moments of disturbed displeasure but nothing like the Conjuring with jump scares horror. It’s within the imagery and the deeper layers that this movie tells its story.

My wife came away dissecting all the layers of the movie through Theology. So much religion and messages from the working man to the 1% was dived upon within this film. Seriously I told her to make a review herself as it was such an interesting experience I didn’t have.

So maybe get into your psyche and think of depictions and meanings behind the characters and what’s being displayed on the screen. Lots of Greek nods. She never re-watches movies so to hear she would for this and the depth that the creator put so much attention into this movie was insane the divide it’s having with audience viewers. But hey, as mentioned above, that’s the beauty of the movie going experience.

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The Long Walk “Review”

Release date: September 12, 2025 (USA)

Director: Francis Lawrence

Story by: Stephen King

Screenplay: J.T. Mollner

Running time: 1h 48m

Producers: Francis Lawrence, Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Cameron MacConomy

These actors did an incredible job! – I never thought about all the hurdles walking hundreds of miles would entail but wow I got my mystery question answered without knowing I had it.

Lets discuss shall we ?!?

Teens participate from every state to participate in the long walk. Get a wish granted and a whole lot of money. That is if you’re the sole survivor on 49 total participants.

You follow an incredible cast in this movie which you’ll create strong bonds with which will pull at your heart strings. You know only 1 survives so who do you pick to follow? Choose wrong and your hearts going to hurt more than anything. This movie doesn’t hold back punches. It’s pretty in your face with the challenges these young men are having to endure.

Ever thought about the freaking bathroom situation? Yea, I didn’t until someone had to go #2! That sh*t! was insane ;P. Here’s some shout outs for the actors and who their playing.

David Jonsson (From most recently Alien Romulus) playing Peter McVries. Cooper Hoffman (Saturday Night 2024) playing Raymon Garraty – Our introductory main character to the movie and it’s universe. Ben Wang (Karate Kid: Legends) playing Hank Olson. The legendary Mark Hamill is playing The Major. Roman Griffin Davis (Acted in Silent Night, Voice Acted in The King of Kings) plays Thomas Curley. Garrett Wareing (Ransom Canyon 2025 & Dead Sea 2024) plays Stebbins. Charlie Plummer (The Return) plays Gary Barkovitch and lastly but not least for everyone else in this great movie is Tut Nyuot (This is his first movie, however most recently was in the TV Series The Witcher as Shen) Playing Arthur Baker.

Skipped the actors portion or not above that’s all well and fair. But don’t skip this movie. It’s truly a great watch and I’d love to place it in my top 10 for this year but sadly falls just short at a 8/8.5. Just the topic matter and what’s on screen isn’t something I’d grab cereal and repeat watch a dozen times :P. But I’d watch it again and it’s better than a one time solid good movie thus placing it in the great 8 tier.

No spoilers here you can see but let me know your thoughts in the comments below :D.

Appreciate you coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. I’ve seen an up tick on readers recently and I appreciate you taking the time to come on by.

We have a solid good few months remaining before the year is out. How’s your top 10 list going. Waiting for any highly anticipated movies to knock off your lower top 10 list? Let me know :D.

Still to come for September – Him, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, & One Battle After Another – For the memes maybe Gabby’s Dollhouse.

October – Smashing Machine, Roofman, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Black Phone 2, Good Fortune, Chainsaw Man, Anniversary & Stitch Head. Possibly Bugonia & Pets on a Train.

November – Predator: Badlands, Keeper, Now You See Me, Running Man, Rental Family, Wicked: For Good & Zootopia 2.

Lastly for December – FNAF 2, Scarlet, Silent Night, Avatar 3, The Housemaid & SpongeBob. Maybe Anaconda & Marty Supreme?

Until next time though, happy movie going 😀

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The Conjuring: Last Rites “Review”

Release date: September 5, 2025 (USA)

Director: Michael Chaves

Prequel: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 2h 15m

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Last Rites – The “Final” Conjuring movie? Let’s see shall we…

Last Rites is the final case for the Warrens as the film takes us from Lorraine during her pregnancy. Introducing the demon that follows another family in 1986 to the current days within 1986 for where the Warren family currently is while also telling the story of the Smurl family being aggressively haunted by the same demon entity. Through a mother fracking Mirror!. I hate mirrors!

I actually enjoyed the two stories in the beginning and middle acts. Lots of surprise scares that weren’t shown in the trailer. Sadly the ending act was the weakest and I can see why the current scores are coming in so low. With that said, it’s the final “episode” of this series so go have fun with this experience I don’t need to explain what type of movie you’re getting into.

It feels like a closing chapter for the Warrens but keep reading to hear a potential spoiler on sequel/s. Popped score of a weak 7/10. It’s a good one time watch. I actually enjoyed it for the franchise more than Wolfman which I gave a 6.5 fine score which is why it gets the 7 for me personally.

Closing out Comments prior to “Spoilers”

Before I mention a potential spoiler, wanted to say as usual a big thank you for all those that come by for these “Reviews”. We’re coming up to having done this for two years and I’m certainly not winding down any time soon….that I know of :D.

Thus stay tuned as we plan for future ideas in year 3 like the before mentioned ideas of joining Rotten Tomatoes Critic application March 1st. Among maybe other ideas? – Thinking Youtube shorts or something to co-inside with these “Reviews”. Either way, thank you again and let’s get into the potential spoiler talk for sequels.

Until next time though, happy movie going everyone 😀

*Potential Sequel Spoiler Discussion*

You’ve just watched the movie or interested to hear my thoughts on what could come next or how to continue this franchise timeline. Then let’s dicuss.

We have a couple of avenues I can see the creators taking this franchise.

Staying with Judy Warren and her husband Tony Spera and their children in the current day timeline. We’ve seen how connected Judy is to all these spirits so that’s an easy route to take.

Another route which seemed heavily nodded towards was the ending with the Annabelle music playing over the information about the current standings of the Conjuring Mirror. This could setup again within the current day timeline events that’ve occurred within our lives paranormal occurrences to the items within the Warren Museum.

Just because the Warren’s story has been told doesn’t mean that’s the ending of the spirits & Demons introduced and setup with the franchise. We have so many Youtube Paranormal investigators and experts out there inspired by the Warrens. With some good writing we could totally have modern day series based on this franchise going forth.

But that’s just my thoughts. I’d love to hear from you all in the comments below. What do you think is to come? Want this series to be over for good and return in like 20 years with the current day storyline I mentioned? I’ll be reading them all and very interested.

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The Roses “Review”

Release date: August 29, 2025 (USA)

Director: Jay Roach

Producers: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jay Roach · See more

Screenplay: Tony McNamara

Story by: Warren Adler

Running time: 1h 45m

Trailer seemed to show a lot but the actors are what intrigued me. I was expecting a comedy!

Maybe I wasn’t connected with the characters. Maybe it was the humor. Maybe I expected something else from it…. whatever it is. This movie left me in a funk for awhile after the ending dropped.

You’re setup with the couples introduction. Setting up Theo’s dream (Played by Benedict Cumberbatch) along with Ivy’s dream (Played by Olivia Colman). Skip forward 10 years (Which personally would have been nice to seen the relationship while it’s good and connect us to them.) they have a daughter and a son. Setting up the event between the dynamic. It takes the destruction of Theo’s dream and a rise and success in Ivy’s that changes the tide for this couple into a negative spiral.

While they start to resent one another. Their marriage greatly suffers. This is the movie that you’re watching. It’s not a funny light hearted feature. It’s not necessarily depressing. But it’s sad for sure. Something I’d never like my marriage to end up as.

I wont dive into all the story beats but if you check it out. I hope you enjoyed it. It’s based on reimagining the 1989 film The War of the Roses. Taking a slightly different and more modern cautionary tale.

It was mostly fine until that ending. I had movies that do this style of ending. 6/10.

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Hopefully next batch keeps above the 7’s. It’s been a minute since we had a scary movie right…? Ha, Horror has been the vastly majority lately so let’s continue it with The Conjuring next Thursday.

Either Thursday or across the Weekend I’ll try watch Splitsville also. There’s a movie called The Threesome….worth checking out? Let me know in the comments :D.

Until next batch though, happy movie going 😀

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The Toxic Avenger “Review”

Release date: September 21, 2023 (USA)

Director: Macon Blair

MPAA rating: R

Adapted from: The Toxic Avenger

Running time: 1h 42m

Distributed by: Cineverse Corp., Iconic Events

Intrigued by the trailer and loved the panel at Comic Con 2025. Had to check this feature out!

Modern day B-Movie? This was a lot of fun! Cult movie? Probably a niche interest but give it ago for sure. A fantastic intro setting up the villains grinds slightly to a slower pace before building back up into madness. So much cheesy silly fun and I’m all about it.

Peter Dinklage is playing single father “Winston Gooze”, a janitor at BTH company. A company mind you kind of like Simpsons Power Plant that’s infecting the residents through toxic waste and creating hideous mutations……

Winston’s son “Wade” is played by Jacob Tremblay, from excellent performances in the recent Life of Chuck. Prior years, Wonder, Room & Good Boys among many other features.

Kevin Bacon is the head of BTH “Robert Garbinger” who has an evil group of “Monsters?” working for him lead by Elijah Woods character (That gives me Penguin vibes) “Fritz Garbinger”.

Without going into the entire story and breaking it down. Let’s just say, our Toxic Avenger friend is here to save the day from these crooks and it sure does get toxic. Viewer discretion is advised for this unrated gore fest :D.

Sadly it didn’t keep the greatness levels engaged. However it was a solid good movie totally worth the watch. I’d watch it again for certain scenes but otherwise I’m ready to watch some sequels in this universe. Popped score of 7.5/10.

Speaking of wanting to watch more. Stick around for the ending post credit scene to see a tease of a sequel along with a fun little slice of life.

With that being said, what did you think of the Toxic Avenger? Too much and had to walk out? loved it? Something entirely else? Let me know in the comments below.

As always, appreciate you coming by Popped.blog for your movie “Reviews” stick around next up for The Roses.

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Strange Harvest “Review”

Release date: August 8, 2025 (USA)

Director: Stuart Ortiz

Producers: Stuart Ortiz, Bruce Guido, Alex Yesilcimen

MPAA rating: R

Distributed by: Roadside Attractions

Just saw Weapons and thought, hey! That was surprisingly funny now I’m looking for something darker? Then maybe your scope should be on Strange Harvest before it’s to late.

Is it real ? Is it made up? This film will have you honestly believing it’s all real. From the real locations and style of this mockumentary, Strange Harvest is a well executed and told story of Mr. Shiny a sadistic serial killer from the 1990’s to now….

You’re taken through this journey in an investigation via two detectives in the inland empire of San Bernadino County in southern California.

It starts dark and just builds to very intense and uncomfortable scenes. Like I mentioned above in the intro. You want something darker after seeing Weapons. Strange Harvest is a great dessert to end your horror movie binge :D.

7.5/10 or a weak 8/10 Popped score. Not something I’d watch again due to the content matter being enough one time but a very good watch and curious to see what director Stuart Ortiz has coming next.

Thank you all for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Stick around as coming up next is something much lighter of a tone. Freakier Friday.

Hopefully this coming weekend is a pallet changer from all the dark spookiness 😀

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