Scenes That I Love: The Martians Attack In The War Of The Worlds

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today’s scene that I love comes from the 1953 film, The War of the Worlds.

It’s a scene that perfectly establishes the fact that, in this film, humanity has no hope when it comes to defeating the Martians that have invaded the planet. Trying to reason with them, as Uncle Matthew does, is useless. Trying to fight them, as the army does, is useless. Matthew is atomized as he approaches in peace. The tough and plain-spoken military man — a reassuring authority figure in so many 50s films — is destroyed as he orders everyone out of the bunker. The Martians, meanwhile, are unstoppable and, even worse, they are without mercy or concern for the people that they are destroying.

Seriously, this is a frightening scene when viewed today! I can only imagine how it traumatized audiences in 1953! After watching this scene, all I can say is Thank God for the common cold.

4 Shots From 4 Films: Intergalactic Mayhem Edition

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking.

Are we alone in the universe? To help us consider that question, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Films

The War of the Worlds (1953, dir by Byron Haskins)

Not of this Earth (1957, dir by Roger Corman)

Alien Dead (1980, dir by Fred Olen Ray)

Starship Troopers (1997, dir by Paul Verhoeven)

Live Tweet Alert: Join #FridayNightFlix for Big Bad Mama!

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

As some of our regular readers undoubtedly know, I am involved in a few weekly watch parties. On Twitter, I host #FridayNightFlix every Friday and I co-host #ScarySocial on Saturday. On Mastodon, I am one of the five hosts of #MondayActionMovie! Every week, we get together. We watch a movie. We tweet our way through it.

Tonight, at 10 pm et, I will be hosting #FridayNightFlix! The movie? 1974’s Big Bad Mama!

If you want to join us this Friday, just hop onto twitter, find Big Bad Mama on Prime or Tubi, start the movie at 10 pm et, and use the #FridayNightFlix hashtag! I’ll be there happily tweeting. It’s a friendly group and welcoming of newcomers so don’t be shy.

See you there!

Artwork of the Day: The Day After Christmas

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Dazzling Erin

by Erin Nicole

Christmas is over and out goes the tree.

Music Video of The Day: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey (1981, directed by ????)

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Jedadiah Leland

Don’t Stop Believin’ is now probably destined to be forever associated with The Sopranos but the song itself had established itself as a classic long before it was used in the finale of HBO’s famous show about the New Jersey mafia.

In fact, the song means so much to Journey’s Steve Perry that he was hesitant to give HBO permission to use the song until it was explained to him exactly how the song was going to be used and he was assured that it wouldn’t be played over any type of violence. Other than the members of the cast and the production crew, Steve Perry was one of the few people to know, in advance, how The Sopranos was going to end.

While Perry has said that the majority of the lyrics were inspired by his own early struggles to find success in the music industry, keyboardist Jonathan Cain says that the name was inspired by something that his father told him when Cain was thinking about leaving Hollywood and returning to Chicago. Cain’s father told him, ‘No, son. Stay the course. We have a vision. It’s gonna happen. Don’t stop believin’.”

As for the video, it was filmed in Houston and features Journey performing the song as a part of their Escape tour. With the exception of the infamous video for Separate Ways, Journey was known for keeping things simple and straight-forward when it came to their music videos. This one is no exception.

Lifetime Film Review: Abducted in the Everglades (dir by Damian Romay)

Posted on December 25, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

It’s Spring Break!

For Carly (Tommi Rose) and her friend, Simone (Nikki Nunziato), that means heading down to Florida so that they can drink, dance, and party on the beach.

For Carly’s mom, Beverly (Tori Spelling), it means staying up all night and worrying about her daughter.

Beverly owns a diner and she’s worked hard to put Carly through college. Carly appears to be super responsible and she’s got a bright future waiting for her. She’s going to go to medical school and becoming a doctor. Compared to Simone, Carly can be a bit naive. No sooner has she arrived in Florida than she’s accidentally insulted a local named Luke (Joseph Cannon). Later, when Simone introduces her to the obviously sleazy and tattooed Pete (Nick Flaig), Carly’s first impulse is to ask him what college he goes to.

Pete doesn’t go to college. Instead, he lives in an isolated Everglades cabin. That’s where Carly ends up, tied to a chair and blind-folded after an attempt to humiliate her and Simone goes wrong. Pete, it turns out, is related to Luke. And a plan to simply embarrass a snobbish college student has instead led to Carly getting abducted and Simone ending up in a coma at a local hospital.

When Beverly attempts to report her daughter missing, the local authorities tell her to calm down. It’s Spring Break. College students come down to Florida and forget to check in all the time. Carly’s probably just drunk somewhere. “Not my daughter!” Beverly says and soon, she’s in Florida searching. Helping her out is Ray (Luke Ballard), a hot and rugged local boatman. Even if Beverly doesn’t find her daughter, it looks like maybe she’s found a new husband!

Advertised as being based on a true story, Abducted In The Everglades tells a familiar Lifetime story. That said, as I’ve explained in the past, the familiarity is often the point when it comes to Lifetime movies. One doesn’t necessarily watch a Lifetime movie to be surprised. Instead, one watches to see how the film will embrace the melodrama. There’s a comfort to watching a Lifetime movie. Watching a Lifetime movie is like visiting an old friend who never changes and who always delivers what they’ve promised.

For a lot of viewers, the main appeal of this film will be the chance to see Tori Spelling playing the mother. Back in the 90s, Spelling almost always played the naive daughter who ended up getting kidnapped (Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?) or the snooty popular girl who upset the wrong person (Death of a Cheerleader). Now, Spelling is the one worrying about her college-age daughter. Tori Spelling has never been much of an actress. She wasn’t particularly good in any of her earlier movies and she’s not particularly believable as a blue collar mom in this film. But oddly, that’s part of the appeal of Tori Spelling. It’s not just that she’s a bad actor. It’s that she’s so spectacularly bad that it becomes fascinating to watch.

The rest of the cast is a bit better, especially Luke Ballard and Nick Flaig. That said, the real stars here are the Everglades, the cottonmouths, and the alligators. They all do their bit to bring this Florida film to life. I should note that Jeff and I spent the first half of our summer vacation in Florida and we absolutely loved it. It’s a beautiful state. If Texas ever brings back the state income tax, I know where I’m moving.

Lifetime Film Review: Murder At The Lighthouse (dir by Eric D. Howell)

Posted on December 25, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

In Murder at the Lighthouse, Jessica Vickers (Skye Coyne) is trying to escape her abusive husband, Colton (Mark Justice). She meets up with Rory (Brandon Brooks), an old friend from college who now runs a charter boat service with his brother Anthony (Tyler Noble). It’s implied that Rory has always had romantic feelings for Jessica and, when she asks him to help her escape from Colton, he agrees to use his boat to take her to Canada.

The only problem is that they sail straight into a storm. While Colton is murdering Anthony on the mainland, a tidal wave is capsizing the boat. Rory drowns. Jessica washes up on a nearby beach where, the next morning, she is found by Adeline (Shelli Manzoline). Adeline takes Jessica back to the lighthouse that she calls home. When Jessica wakes up, Adeline explains that the lighthouse is pretty much isolated from the rest of civilization. The nearest town is a few miles away. There’s no landline. There’s no cell reception or WiFi. There’s just Adeline, the lighthouse, and a goldfish.

At first, Jessica keeps her past a secret from Adeline. But, when Colton shows up at the lighthouse and asks Adeline if she’s seen Jessica or Rory, Jessica finally breaks down and tells Adeline everything. Adeline reveals that she is also a victim of abuse and she promises to protect Jessica from Colton.

At first, I was like, “Yay!” Women have to stand up for other women and I was very much looking forward to Adeline protecting Jessica from Colton in much the same way that Lillian Gish protected the children from Robert Mitchum in Night of the Hunter. However, as the film progressed, I noticed that there seemed to be something a bit off about Adeline. I was so happy that she was going to stand up to the vile Colton that it took both me and Jessica a while to notice that she had a possessive streak of her own. It turns out that Adeline has some secrets as well.

Murder at the Lighthouse is a superior Lifetime film, one that plays with the genre’s conventions and successfully lulls the audience into a false sense of security before tossing a few new twists at them. Skye Coyne, Mark Justice, and Shelli Manzoline all give strong performances. Mark Justice is especially intimidating at Colton, a husband who is not just an abuser but also a corrupt cop as well.

What really makes Murder at the Lighthouse stand out, though, is its ominous atmosphere. From the opening shots with the wind howling in the background to the final confrontation at the lighthouse, Murder at the Lighthouse makes a wonderful use of its isolated and stormy setting. The lighthouse is a wonderful location and the movie does a good job of keeping Jessica and the audience disorientated. About halfway through the movie, I was truly asking myself, “How is she ever going to find her way out of there?”

Murder at the Lighthouse is a bit of somber film, especially by Lifetime standards. That said, it keeps you guessing and it ultimately embraces the melodrama in that way that we all love.

Here Are The 2025 Nominations From The Puerto Rico Critics Association

Posted on December 25, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here are the 2025 Nominations of the Puerto Rico Critics Association!

Best Picture
Frankenstein
It Was Just an Accident
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Sirāt
The Testament of Ann Lee

Best Puerto Rican Film
@-Amor
Esta Isla
Parto

Best Director
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Mona Fastvold – The Testament of Ann Lee
Oliver Laxe – Sirāt
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet

Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

Best Actress
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Jennifer Lawrence – Die, My Love
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee

Best Supporting Actor
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo – Sinners
Paul Mescal – Hamnet
Josh O’Connor – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value
Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actress
Jodie Comer – 28 Years Later
Mia Goth – Frankenstein
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan – Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

Best Adapted Screenplay
28 Years Later
Frankenstein
Hamnet
No Other Choice
One Battle After Another
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Best Original Screenplay
It Was Just an Accident
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Sorry, Baby
Weapons

Best Animated Feature
Arco
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2

Best Documentary
2000 Meters to Andriivka
Cover-Up
Megadoc
My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow
The Perfect Neighbor
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk

Best International Feature
It Was Just an Accident
No Other Choice
Resurrection
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sirāt

Best Action Film
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
F1
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
One Battle After Another
Predator: Badlands
Superman

Best Horror Film
28 Years Later
Final Destination: Bloodlines
Frankenstein
Sinners
The Ugly Stepsister
Weapons

Best Comedy/Musical
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
The Naked Gun
No Other Choice
One Battle After Another
The Testament of Ann Lee
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Best First Film
The Chronology of Water
Eephus
Lurker
Sorry, Baby
The Ugly Stepsister
Urchin

Best Cinematography
28 Years Later
Frankenstein
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Sirāt
Train Dreams

Best Costume Design
Frankenstein
Hamnet
The Phoenician Scheme
Sinners
The Testament of Ann Lee
Wicked: For Good

Best Film Editing
It Was Just an Accident
No Other Choice
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sinners
Sirāt

Best Hair & Makeup
28 Years Later
Frankenstein
Sinners
The Testament of Ann Lee
The Ugly Stepsister
Wicked: For Good

Best Production Design
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Sentimental Value
Sinners
The Testament of Ann Lee
Wicked: For Good

Best Original Score
Frankenstein
Hamnet
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Sirāt
The Testament of Ann Lee

Best Original Song
Lowly – 28 Years Later
The Risk – A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Golden – KPop Demon Hunters
I Lied to You – Sinners
Clothed by the Sun – The Testament of Ann Lee
Train Dreams – Train Dreams

Best Sound
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Frankenstein
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Sirāt

Best Visual Effects
28 Years Later
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Frankenstein
Sinners
Tron: Ares

Brad reviews THE HANGOVER PART III (2013), directed by Todd Phillips!

Posted on December 25, 2025 by Bradley Crain

In THE HANGOVER PART III, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), and Doug (Justin Bartha) get back together so they can help Alan (Zach Galifianakis), whose gone off his meds and seems incapable of handling his dad’s sudden death. After a family intervention, the guys are driving him to a rehabilitation facility when their car is forced off the road and out steps the gangster Marshall (John Goodman), assisted by Black Doug (Mike Epps). Marshall kidnaps (white) Doug as leverage to force the guys to bring him their old friend Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong) within three days, or they won’t see Doug alive again. It seems that Chow, who recently escaped from a Thai prison, had stolen $21 million in gold from Marshall, and he’s pissed. The Wolfpack head back to Vegas, and with the help of a few old friends, they do whatever they have to do to save Doug one more time!

Released in the summer of 2013, THE HANGOVER PART III pulled in around $362 million in worldwide box office against a $103 million budget. While definitely a box office hit, these numbers are a big step down from the prior film’s $586 million, so up to this point, Part III has remained the Wolfpack’s last adventure. While THE HANGOVER PART II was practically a remake of the first film, PART III seems to be going the opposite way and actively tries not to repeat itself. The “what the hell happened last night” plot lines are abandoned for something different, and honestly, that’s probably about the smartest decision the filmmakers could have made for this installment. The film plays more like a darker, R-rated crime comedy, leaning into the action, heist, and confrontation sequences. While the change isn’t entirely successful, I definitely appreciate the attempt to come up with something different.

Even though THE HANGOVER PART III isn’t as funny as the prior films, I still enjoy the chemistry between Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis as the primary members of the Wolfpack. I also thought it was funny that Justin Bartha’s pack member Doug is once again relegated to the guy who’s not really involved, as he’s the one who’s kidnapped. Ken Jeong’s Mr. Chow, as cartoonish and unhinged as he is, is probably my favorite character in the series at this point. He pretty much steals every scene he’s in. John Goodman is a welcome addition as the intimidating bad guy, and he’s good in the film, but it’s the kind of role he could do in his sleep. I also really liked the fact that PART III returned to the initial setting of Las Vegas, which provides a nice sense of closure to the series, while also allowing for the participation of former characters like Heather Graham’s Jade and her son Tyler! It was nice to check in with them again.

Ultimately, THE HANGOVER PART III is a pretty good conclusion to the series. It’s certainly not as funny or outrageous as the prior films, but it does deserve some credit for trying something new instead of simply repeating the formula for a third time. And I also thought the final scenes were emotionally effective as they took us for a quick trip down memory lane with the Wolfpack. It felt like the end, and I felt good watching it.