Savage Salvation

Thriller

Available on VOD: 14 september 2023

Director: Randall Emmett

Cast: Robert De Niro (The War with Grandpa, The Irishman, Joker), John Malkovich (Ava, Deepwater Horizon, Bird Box), Jack Huston (The Irishman, Fargo (series), Ben-hur), Dale Dickey (Hell or High Water, Winter's Bone)

Sheriff Church (Robert de Niro) and Detective Zeppelin strive to keep the peace in their rough town, where residents' only two interests are the church or oxycodone.

Newly engaged Shelby John (Jack Huston) and Ruby Red want a fresh start. They decide to have a family together and get clean, with the support of Peter, Ruby's brother-in-law (John Malkovich). However Shelby discovers his beloved Ruby dead on their porch before she could fulfill her final wish: to be baptized in the river and washed away from her past sins.

Filled with fiery rage, Shelby embarks on a vengeful killing spree to right all the wrong done to Ruby by every link in the drug dealing chain. Armed with nothing but adrenaline and a nail gun, Shelby picks off dealers and junkies one by one until he gets to the top.

Sheriff Church and Detective Zeppelin must race against the clock to put an end to Shelby's vigilante justice before his fight with the crime lord Coyote (Quavo) turns the entire town into a bloodbath.

• Filmhype.com: Very respectable: the two protagonists in love are played by Willa Fitzgerald and by a feral and effective Jack Huston, while the two think about the tragic love story with final revenge. heavyweights of American cinema: the Oscar winner Robert De Niro (here in the role of the rough sheriff Church) and an unprecedented John Malkovich.
• TheGuardian.com: Deliciously camp from De Niro and Malkovich.

The Collective

Action

Available on VOD: 21 september 2023

Director: Tom DeNucci

Cast: Don Johnson (Miami Vice, Django Unchained. Machete), Lucas Till (X-Men saga, MacGyver), Ruby Rose (Orange is the New Black, John Wick 2), Tyrese Gibson (Fast & Furious saga, Morbius)

In this high-octane action thriller, an elite group of secret agents called "The Collective" operates in the shadows of the international underworld. Headed by Liam James (Don Johnson, Knives Out, Django Unchained, Miami Vice), the group's newest recruit is Sam Alexander (Lucas Till, MacGuyver, X-Men: Days of Future Past), a former District Attorney disillusioned by the justice system. Sam's first assignment is to rendezvous with in-hiding Collective member Hugo Fredericks (Tyrese Gibson, the Fast & Furious franchise, Transformers, Morbius). Together, their mission will be to take down a human trafficking ring--fronted by the vicious Daisy (Ruby Rose, The Meg, John Wick Chapter 2, SAS: Red Notice)--that has nabbed a government whistleblower and set him on an auction block for the highest bidder. If the Collective agents are unable rescue their asset in time and his intel falls into the wrong hands, their failure will have perilous consequences and send shockwaves across the globe.

• Aarttvreview.blogspot.com: a solid thriller that doesn't venture into groundbreaking territory, but delivers the action and excitement viewers are looking for.
• Cailloupettismoviereviews.com: The action sequences are skillfully executed.

The Channel

Action

Available on VOD: 26 oktober 2023

Director: William Kaufman

Cast: Clayne Crawford (Lethal Weapon, The Killing of Two Lovers), Max Martini (The Purge, Bosch - Legacy), Juliene Joyner (Unhinged), Paul Rae (True Grit)

After their bank heist goes wrong, a desperate criminal, his out-of-control brother, and their motley crew of ex-marines must escape New Orleans and the determined FBI agent who pursues them.

• TheActionElite.com: One of the year’s best action movies with memorable characters, explosive action scenes and brisk pacing that never lets up.
• Actionreloaded.com: A must-watch for fans of adrenaline-fueled action films. With its powerhouse performances, expert direction, and a gripping storyline, this movie is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
• Movieweb.com: A deeply engaging character driven story that will have audiences on the edge of their seat. The Channel is bolstered by powerful performances throughout, resulting in an action-packed, bank heist movie thriller, and is not to miss.
• Thehollywoodoutsider.com: Through blood, violence, and probably more than 3.000 rounds of ammunition per person, The Channel takes the traditional heist formula to another level: fully automatic guns, sulfuric acid, heart-pounding action sequences that last 5-10 minutes, and a blend of family drama. This mission is a non-stop, exhilarating thrill ride.
• Amovieguy.com: The Channel is an intense and non-stop piece of action, continuing to remind us that when a heist movie is done right, there is nothing else like it.
• Spectrumculture.com: Kaufman drops the audience directly into a heavily-armed bank robbery and spends the next near half-hour showing why he’s the DTV king of tactical action.
• Hmuncut.com: high-octane action and impressive display of firepower.
• Trueviewreviews.com: The action sequences are excellent. There is outstanding choreography, and the military dialogue sounds on point.
• Voicesfromthebalcony.com: The Channel is the kind of film that deserves to have been picked up by a company like Lionsgate and given the theatrical/digital/hard copy release they give the half-assed thrillers they seem to specialize in these days.

Talk To Me

Horror

Available on VOD: 16 november 2023

Director: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou

Cast: Sophie Wilde, Joe Bird, Alexandra Jensen, Miranda Otto (Lord of the Rings, War of the Worlds)

When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and opens the door to the spirit world forcing them to choose who to trust: the dead or the living.

• 95% FRESH op Rotten Tomatoes!
• RTL Boulevard / Tim Oliehoek: Beste horrorfilm van 2023. Bekijk het item hier.
• Telegraaf.nl: Talk to Me is een film die de luide buzz, die begon op het Festival van Sundance, weet waar te maken. Een beklemmende, effectieve en onvergelijkbare aanwinst in een genre dat de afgelopen jaren te weinig nieuwe impulsen kende. Lees de hele review en een interview met de regisseurs hier.
• AD.nl: Wurgende horrorhit Talk to me is de Evil dead voor de TikTok-generatie (****). Lees de hele review hier.
• Volkskrant.nl: Een zowel beklemmende als gruwelijke horrorfilm over de wurggreep van rouw. De hellevaart van regisseurs Danny en Michael Philippou kent geen enkel taboe of creatieve rem (****). Lees de hele review hier.
• NPO3.nl: Wanneer je over een nieuwe horrorfilm hoort dat hij de engste of beste van het jaar is, denk je inmiddels: yeah right, zal wel. Maar het debuut Talk to Me van de Australische YouTubers Danny en Michael Philippou is écht heel tof en écht creepy. Lees de hele review hier.
• DeCorrespondent.nl: Talk to Me kan zo in het lijstje van horrorfilms die het genre de afgelopen jaren nieuw leven hebben ingeblazen, samen met andere aanraders Nope, Smile en Pearl. Lees de hele review hier.
• Filmkrant: Een uiterst efficiënte schrikmachine, die een slimme moderne twist geeft aan het aloude genre van possession-horror en waar de lol van het maken aan alle kanten vanaf spat. Lees de hele review hier.
• VPROGids.nl: Australische horrorhit Talk to Me grijpt je bij de keel (****). Lees de hele review hier.
• Gids.tv: Talk to Me heeft naargeestige humor met zeer gruwelijke (schrik)momenten en een ijzersterke twist die vrijwel nog nooit vertoond is. Kortom: we kunnen wel stellen dat deze productie nu al dé moderne horrorklassieker van onze tijd is. Vier en halve ster. Lees de hele review hier.
• PU.nl: Horrorfanaat Rogina durft echter nu al met zekerheid te zeggen dat Talk To Me de beste horrorfilm van dit jaar is. Lees de hele review hier.
• SchokkendNieuws.nl: De Philippou’s halen de hele cinematische trukendoos leeg om de spanning aan te houden. Dus roep wat vrienden bij elkaar en ga naar de bios, Lees de hele review hier.

Deliver Us

Horror

Available on VOD: 4 januari 2024

Director: Cru Ennis, Lee Roy Kunz

Cast: Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong, Stalingrad, Der Untergang, Eichmann), Alexander Siddig (Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Foundation), Maria Vera Ratti, Lee Roy Kunz

When a nun in a remote convent claims immaculate conception, the Vatican sends a team of priests to investigate, concerned about an ancient prophecy that a woman will give birth to twin boys: one the Messiah, the other the Anti-Christ.

• RoberEbert.com: Stands apart from many other recent indie genre movie throwbacks given a flurry of endearingly creaky and lurid flourishes. ***.
• Battleroyalewithcheese.com: not for the squeamish or the faint of heart - especially with its subject matter and manner of brutal filmmaking - but if you’re on board with the religious horror sub-genre, then they’re a lot to enjoy and takeaway. It will stay with you long after the movie ends.
• Cailloupettismoviereviews.com: Manages to provide a suspenseful and thought-provoking viewing experience, making it a respectable addition to the religious horror subgenre.
• Flickdirect.com: An interesting story steeped in faith and lore yet grounded in the staples of the horror film genre.  It has suspense, gore, weapons, etc. and so many of the usual tropes.  Most importantly, it has the legs to become a universe of its own with several sequels organically built in.
• Hmuncut.com: This film is not just a movie; it's an experience that will challenge your beliefs and leave you questioning the boundaries of good and evil. Don't miss out on this hauntingly enchanting journey into the unknown.
• Irishfilmcritic.com: who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned thriller about ancient biblical prophecies and the end of times?
• Jbspins.com: This kind of demonic horror is truly scary.
• Nycmovieguru.com: Gritty, foreboding and atmospheric.

Dangerous Waters

Thriller

Available on VOD: 11 januari 2024

Director: John Barr

Cast: Odeya Rush (Goosebumps, The Giver), Ray Liotta (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Goodfellas), Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy, Euphoria)

19 year-old Rose lives a tough, small town life in Florida with her single mother Alma. Their luck seems to take a turn when Alma’s new businessman boyfriend, Derek, whisks them away on a sailing adventure to Bermuda.

While at sea, Derek’s “business” is revealed to be less than legitimate when their boat is attacked by savage villains, set on fire, and Alma is viciously killed. 

Left for dead, Rose must learn to sail the treacherous Atlantic, and navigate an uninhabited island filled with a host of horrors. 

Locked in a ruthless battle with man and nature, Rose unearths a primal instinct of survival and a terrifying need for vengeance. 

She will not yield until those responsible her mother’s murder are dead. 

• TheGuardian: Ray Liotta, who in his final performance (he died during production) still has an offbeat intensity, like a deranged William Shatner. Barr keeps things motoring with a baleful zip.
• Anygoodfilms.com: Dangerous Waters is entertaining and deliriously daft and is firmly in the 'Saturday night pizza and a six pack' category but it’s a lot of fun and Odeya Rush at only 26 years of age is great in the role relishing every smack down.
• Mybloodyreviews.com: Young Israeli American star Odeya Rush makes for a credible and engaging lead and both Eric Dane and the late Ray Liotta bring the required menace to proceedings with their usual aplomb.
• Guyatthemovies.com: Odeya Rush Kicks Ass.
• Moviesreview101.com: It keeps offering more leading us to the surprise direction everything ends up going. Odeya Rush is brilliant in the leading role.
• Mailnewsgroup.com: It securely anchors within its genre, offering a tumultuous voyage that will undoubtedly be enjoyed by those who dare to navigate its stormy narrative seas of survival, revelation, and retribution.

The Puppetman

Horror

Available on VOD: 8 februari 2024

Director: Brandon Christensen

Cast: Michael Paré (The Philadelphia Experiment, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Virgin Suicides), Alyson Gorske (Shrinking), Angel Prater

The Puppetman, a convicted killer on death row, always maintained his innocence and that it was an evil force controlling his body as he slaughtered his victims.

Now Michal, the killer's daughter, begins to suspect that there may be some truth to her fathers claim when those around her begin to die in brutal ways.

She must try and break the curse of The Puppetman before all her loved ones are killed.

• Heavenofhorror.com: This is very much a horror movie. And a good one at that.
• Loudandclearreviews.com: The Puppetman will satisfy horror fans with its kills.
• Scifihistory.net: Great thrills and chills.
• Rogerebert.com: The horror flicks transition to a “Final Destination” collage of kills possibly guided by fate or some other being. These are bloody, gruesome deaths.
• Nightmare on Film Street: A supernatural shocker that boasts some of the year’s most brutal moments in horror.
• Confessionsofahorrorfreak.org: Thanks to Gorske Michal’s character development can be properly seen and her transition from vulnerable to creepy is believable.
• Heavenofhorror.com: A true horror treat.
• Jbspins.com: Christensen’s best film yet, thanks to some genuinely eerie séance sequences and the super-nasty spin it puts on demonic possession. Christensen takes viewers to some dark, twisted places, which is great.
• Vanessasnonspoilers.com: It has the potential to pave the way for more films in this subgenre, exploring the depths of fear and psychological terror even further. Overall, The Puppetman is a great horror movie enlisting a new type of evil power to contend with.
• Signalhorizon.com: It's a moody and atmospheric film with several memorable and jolting kills.