Anything for Jackson (2020) A good idea is not fully realized in this lackluster crossbreeding of Rosemary’s Baby and James Wan. An older couple (Sheila McCarthy and Julien Richings) turn to Satanism in order to bring back their dead grandson, Jackson, by imprisoning a pregnant woman (Konstantina Mantelos) in their house and using witchcraft to transfer Jackson’s soul into the unborn baby. After a good first 30 minutes the screenplay (by Keith Cooper and Justin G. Dyck) descends into unbelievable plot twists and dreary character motivations that don’t make any sense. Nice try, but no cigar. (Shudder) C–
Blood Beat (1983) An obscure supernatural slasher about a group of friends spending Christmas in rural Wisconsin and are in danger when the bloodthirsty spirit of a samurai warrior starts killing in the area. This is plagued with unnecessary subplots (two characters are psychic) but once the paranormal stuff kicks in this is an enjoyable, nonsensical myriad of oddball aesthetics and dream-like structure. Writer/director Fabrice-Ange Zaphiratos admitted to being on drugs at the time he wrote the screenplay, which explains a lot. Under the right circumstances, this could be your new favorite Christmas horror movie. (AMC, Shudder) B
The Brain (1988) A sort of cross between David Lynch and Roger Corman, this schlocky Canadian low-budgeter pits a high school rebel (Tom Bresnahan) and his girlfriend (Cynthia Preston) against a mad scientist-type (David Gale) who’s using the mind powers of an alien brain creature to control the population of the nearby town. Rubbery but fun monster FX and a sense of spirit help lift this above its mediocre plot. Re-Animator‘s Gale is underused but Bresnahan and Preston are likable and if you don’t take any of it seriously you might enjoy this late ’80s cheese fest. (Amazon) B–
Dahmer (2002) An example of a good performance trapped in a mediocre film, this biopic of notorious killer, Jeffrey Dahmer, stars Jeremy Renner as the Milwaukee Cannibal who, in his younger years, started picking up men at bars, drugging and raping them, and eventually graduating to murder. Renner is terrific in the title role, giving the character both the charm and hint of underlying boiling rage the real Dahmer evidently had. Unfortunately the script (by director David Jacobson) doesn’t give the real life figure much to do, at times making the movie feel somewhat aimless and transparent. (Tubi) C
Freaky (2020) Amusing variation on Freaky Friday in which a mousy teenage girl (Kathryn Newton) switches bodies with a serial killer (Vince Vaughn). A good cast (Vaughn is pitch perfect) and some funny moments help mask an uneven screenplay that at times feels forced and lacking the organic flow found in writer Christopher Landon’s earlier, and superior, Happy Death Day 2 U. A terrific opening and the use of practical gore FX throughout give this a slightly higher rating than it deserves. (HBO Max) C+
Jeruzalem (2015) An interesting take on Cloverfield, this features a small group of travelers who’re stuck in the middle of literal hell when the city of Jerusalem cracks open and spits out various demons and monsters, all caught through the camera of a character’s smart glasses. Because of obvious budgetary restraints there’s too much time spent on uninteresting characters standing around and talking, but when the action gets going this is an enjoyable monster mash. (Tubi) B–