Chris Jones
Entertainment Editor
Chris Jones, from Washington, Illinois, is the Mail Entertainment Editor covering Movies, Television, Books, and Music topics. He is the owner, writer, and editor of Overly Honest Reviews.
Some movies embrace their budgetary constraints and transform them into assets, delivering a creative, rough-around-the-edges experience that still packs a punch. TRANCERS is one of those films. With a blend of sci-fi, noir, and time travel, it taps into the best elements of genre filmmaking without competing with the era's big-budget productions. Instead, it thrives on its premise, performances, and a pulpy sense of adventure that keeps things fun despite its flaws.
In 1953, director Jack Arnold, famed for his science fiction endeavors, detoured into film noir with THE GLASS WEB. This crime thriller, set against the burgeoning television industry, explores a narrative rich in ambition, deceit, and moral ambiguity.
Sometimes, the most compelling narratives come from characters forced to navigate impossible circumstances, testing their resilience against a world that offers them little authority. This film is one of those—packed with shifting allegiances, calculated risks, and a protagonist who refuses to let others decide her fate. It’s equal parts noir, social commentary, and psychological drama wrapped in a visually striking package that feels sharp and immersive.
Eureka Entertainment presents a fascinating double feature showcasing Venom Mob’s range with THE DAREDEVILS and ODE TO GALLANTRY. These two films highlight Venom Mob's martial arts prowess while exposing Chang Cheh’s storytelling strengths and weaknesses. While these films stand as a testament to the group's versatility, they also demonstrate the limitations of focusing on physical spectacle over narrative cohesion.
Standing in the shadow cast by Bruce Lee, SHAOLIN BOXERS arrived quietly on the martial arts scene, a humble contender amid the genre’s bustling heyday. Directed by Ta Huang, a filmmaker whose resume barely extends beyond this entry, this film won't reshape your idea of kung fu cinema, but it might earn your affection for its oddly endearing sincerity even if it stumbles through familiar ground, just enough flashes of charm and idiosyncratic details intrigue viewers.
LOCKED takes the tension of a thriller and cranks it up inside the unlikeliest of arenas—a luxury SUV (a “2024 Dolus” was specifically designed and built for the film for $1.3 million. Based on the Land Rover Defender, only two were made – one for the interior shots and one for the stunt driving sequences.) What starts as a seemingly routine car theft quickly spirals into a fight for survival as Eddie, played by Bill Skarsgård, finds himself at the mercy of William, a self-proclaimed vigilante brought to life by Anthony Hopkins. Directed by David Yarovesky and produced by Sam Raimi, the film traps audiences in a tightly wound battle of wits and wills, transforming a confined space into a psychological battlefield where the difference between justice and cruelty is razor-thin.
In a television landscape filled with sanitized portrayals of family life, few shows dared to portray the messy realities of poverty, addiction, mental health, and chaotic love as boldly as SHAMELESS. Adapted from its British counterpart, this American series set in Chicago’s South Side delivers a decade-spanning chronicle of the Gallagher family's relentless fight for survival. Far from being a simple comedic depiction of disorder, the show consistently ventures into raw emotion, balancing satire with deeply moving character drama. With an impressive eleven-season run, it takes audiences through relentless hardships, growth, setbacks, and everything in between, marking itself as one of television's most compelling explorations of humanity.
If you ever wondered how quickly society could slip backward when confronted with its deepest fears, look no further than HOOD WITCH—a contemporary drama set on the rugged outskirts of modern-day Paris. This isn't your typical scary flick stuffed with jump-scares or ghostly apparitions. Instead, director Saïd Belktibia cleverly uses familiar horror conventions to craft a cutting social commentary, making it clear right from the get-go that he's got something meaningful—and undeniably relevant—to say. Though occasionally uneven execution, the film still hits many marks, boosted by a committed cast and a flair that helps lift it above the ordinary.
When the battlefield smoke clears, there's usually something heavier lurking in the silence that follows. Colin Henning’s APPALACHIAN DOG captures this lingering tension through a unique exploration of a soldier’s return home after World War II. It's 1946, and amidst the quietness of the Appalachian mountains, a tailor and his seamstress wife attempt a hopeful and unsettling reunion. Henning's debut offers a compelling look into the strained home life of post-war, layered with heartfelt performances, stunning cinematography, and quiet humor, though occasionally held back by overly cautious storytelling.
Celebrity obsession has always bordered on the extreme, but ANTIVIRAL imagines a world where the lines between admiration and possession have completely blurred. In this cold, clinical future, fandom is not just about following your favorite star’s career or emulating their style—it’s about physically experiencing their existence. The film takes this concept and stretches it to unsettling extremes, where people pay for the privilege of injecting themselves with viruses extracted directly from celebrities. The result is a horror-tinged dystopian thriller that feels uncomfortably plausible, raising disturbing questions about identity, devotion, and the commodification of the human body.
Rarely has a dystopian world been presented with such a wicked sense of humor. This film plunges into a surreal nightmare where desperation breeds absurdity, and every frame bursts with creativity. Mixing a dark tone of comedy, horror, and romance with an offbeat energy, it constructs a bizarre yet captivating universe that refuses to adhere to conventions.
THE MASK OF SATAN resurrects an old curse, blending Gothic horror with supernatural possession to create a visually sinister, if sometimes uneven, experience. Lamberto Bava channels the spirit of his father’s work while injecting his 80s-inspired flair, crafting a film that thrives on haunting imagery and an unsettling sense of isolation. While the narrative struggles to maintain momentum, the film’s visuals, score, and surreal horror sequences make it a fascinating relic of its time. The young Bava was certain to clarify that this wasn’t a remake but an homage to his father's work (as he was notoriously known for hating remakes…)
Certain films capture the balance between ambition and connection, but few do it with the depth and sincerity found here. This story is about intellect and emotion colliding, a thoughtful examination of what happens when two minds push in opposite directions. Its layered storytelling, dialogue, and visual contrasts deliver an experience far beyond the final frame.
Few thrillers tackle institutional corruption with the ferocity seen here. This film distinguishes between exposing systemic failures and keeping audiences on the edge of their seats. Wrapped in military discipline and chain-of-command politics, the narrative builds a mystery while confronting uncomfortable realities about power, secrecy, and justice. The deeper the investigation goes, the murkier the morality becomes, making an unsettling experience as compelling as it is.
There’s something undeniably captivating about uncovering the secrets of a place designed to be flawless. STOLEN KINGDOM thrives on that sense of curiosity, revealing the hidden world of urban explorers, underground collectors, and the gray areas where nostalgia and crime intersect. Director Joshua Bailey delivers a documentary that feels like an expose on Disney and a surreal experience, pulling audiences into a world where passion for a theme park turns into an obsession with trespassing and stolen artifacts. It’s an unfiltered look at a community that operates in the shadows of a corporate giant, raising questions about ownership, ethics, and just how far some fans are willing to go for a piece of history.