Mystery – The 4th Reel

January 25, 2013

The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code Release Date: May 19, 2006 Runtime: 149 minutes Rating: PG-13 Studio: Columbia Pictures (Sony) Director: Ron Howard Cast: Tom Hanks; Audrey Tautou; Ian McKellen; Jean Reno; Paul Bettany; Alfred Molina OK, I read “The Da Vinci Code” a long time ago, so […]

January 26, 2013

Where The Truth Lies

Where the Truth Lies Release Date: October 7, 2005 Runtime: 107 minutes Rating: R Studio: THINKFilm Director: Atom Egoyan Cast: Colin Firth; Kevin Bacon; Alison Lohman; Rachel Blanchard; David Hayman This is an interesting little noir. Not as tight as it could probably be, but still […]

January 30, 2013

Mama

Mama Release Date: January 18, 2013 Runtime: 100 minutes Rating: PG-13 Studio: Universal Director: Andres Muschietti Cast: Jessica Chastain; Nikolaj Coster-Waldau; Megan Charpentier; Isabelle Nelisse; Daniel Kash This is a creepy little movie. Mama tells the tale of two little girls who are brought to a […]

February 9, 2013

The Others

The Others Release Date: August 10, 2001 Runtime: 101 minutes Rating: PG-13 Studio: Dimension Films (Miramax) Director: Alejandro Amenabar Cast: Nicole Kidman; Christopher Eccleston; Fionnula Flanagan; Alakina Mann; James Bentley [POSSIBLE SPOILERS] “The Others” reminds me of how much fun going to the movies can be! If […]

March 24, 2013

Stoker

Stoker Release Date: March 1, 2013 Runtime: 99 minutes Rating: R Studio: Fox Searchlight Director: Chan-wook Park Cast: Mia Wasikowska; Nicole Kidman; Matthew Goode; Jacki Weaver; Dermot Mulroney This is a nasty little number. The first English-language film from Chan-wook Park, director of “Oldboy,” is a […]

March 27, 2013

Thief of Hearts

Thief of Hearts Release Date: October 19, 1984 Runtime: 100 minutes Rating: R Studio: Paramount Pictures Director: Douglas Day Stewart Cast: Steven Bauer; Barbara Williams; John Getz; David Caruso; George Wendt The first thing I have to say about this movie is that it’s almost impossible […]

April 3, 2013

Side Effects

Side Effects Release Date: February 8, 2013 Runtime: 106 minutes Rating: R Studio: Open Road Films Director: Steven Soderbergh Cast: Jude Law; Rooney Mara; Catherine Zeta-Jones; Channing Tatum Instead of going out with a bang, Steven Soderbergh decided to go out with more of a tremble. […]

April 5, 2013

Body of Evidence

Body of Evidence Release Date: January 15, 1993 Runtime: 99 minutes Rating: R Studio: MGM Director: Uli Edel Cast: Willem Dafoe; Madonna; Joe Mantegna; Anne Archer; Julianne Moore; Frank Langella; Jurgen Prochnow Hoo-boy!!! This one’s a doozy! No one in this train wreck could possibly have thought […]

June 24, 2013

Passion

Screened at the Provincetown International Film Festival – June 22, 2013 – US premiere Passion Release Date: August 30, 2013 Runtime: 105 minutes Rating: R Studio: Entertainment One Director: Brian De Palma Cast: Rachel McAdams; Noomi Rapace; Karoline Herfurth; Paul Anderson De Palma is up to his […]

June 29, 2014

Mike’s Murder

This is an often overlooked, unseen 1984 film from director James Bridges (“The China Syndrome,” “Urban Cowboy”). While not entirely successful, it’s still an interesting curio and a helluva time capsule for 1980s enthusiasts.

December 4, 2016

The 4th Man

It’s only fitting that a movie review site called The 4th Reel review a movie called “The 4th Man,” so here goes! A virtual blueprint for his later, more mainstream potboiler “Basic Instinct,” “The 4th Man” exhibits all of the elements of director Paul Verhoeven’s mode of outrageous storytelling that has made him one of the most audacious film directors working today.

August 22, 2017

Let’s Scare Jessica to Death

This low-key quickie hearkens back to a sort of golden age for low-budget chillers. While not as gruesome as some of its contemporaries (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes), this film makes tremendous use of its spooky old house and outdoor locations. Despite a horrendous title, Let’s Scare Jessica To Death is an effective little creeper: high on atmosphere and long on style.