Thanksgiving: Blu Ray Review

Cast: Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae, Rick Hoffman, Patrick Dempsey, Gina Gershon, Milo Manheim

Director: Eli Roth

Expanded out from a 2007 faux trailer within the Grindhouse movies, Eli Roth's Thanksgiving offers enough gore and genre thrills - if you're in on the joke.

Set in Plymouth, Massachussetts, Thanksgiving follows a group of teens caught up in the aftermath of a Walmart-style store riot on Thanksgiving. But when it appears a killer is targeting those who were in the store and wreaked havoc, a desperate race against time begins to unmask the killer before it's too late.

It's hard to recommend Thanksgiving without your tongue being firmly in your cheek.

With its mix of entrails, cheesy kills and awfully obvious dialogue, Thanksgiving zeroes in on the horror of the holidays, the greed of consumerism and the absolute cynicism that underpins the tradition full stop.

Yet while the Pilgrim-masked Carver feels like a boogeyman for the times with his blank unexpressive face, the same can't really be said for some of the script that drops characters without warning after building them up.

Sure, it's a case of misdirection and essentially most of the audience is only here for the kills, but long-term plotting of Roth's massacre feels like it's going more for the cheaper end of the spectrum rather than something for the ages.

It's not so much a turkey, but perhaps a lot of its target audience may not be as au fait with the original trailer as would be expected, something which could harm Thanksgiving's long term box office.

If you're already over the holiday season and are gorged enough on all the trimmings, it offers enough of a diversion to satiate - but don't expect it to offer long term thrills, unless you're aware of the genre and its limitations.

Wonka: Blu Ray Review 

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Tom Davis, Olivia Colman and Hugh Grant.
Director: Paul King

There's plenty of touches of Roald Dahl throughout director Paul King's "origin" tale of Willy Wonka.

From the elements of Fantastic Mr Fox (a trio of baddies take on the central good guy who tries to outwit them) to the obvious Chocolate Factory visual cues, the pawprints of the past are all over this candy-covered slice of nostalgia-led modern day origin story.

A thoroughly charming Chalamet plays Willy Wonka, who's been onboard a boat for seven years dreaming of launching a chocolate business in London, buoyed on by the inspirations of his mother (Hawkins, in an all too brief cameo). 

When the almost naive Wonka falls foul of Olivia Colman's Scrubbit, he's forced into a world of servitude - and despite the influence of a "chocolate cartel", he still plans against the odds to bring his magical sweet emporium to life.

There's an innocence to Wonka that gives it the sweetness rather than a cloying feeling as this nearly two hour musical unspools. From fabulous production values that soar and capture the technicolour of the film's Gene Wilder outing via tunes from The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon to the innocence that has replaced the original bitterness, this perfect cinematic family confection plots an easy course to the viewing public's heart.

While the fat shaming of Keegan-Michael Key's corrupt police captain is perhaps one of the film's rare sour notes and with the energy dipping somewhat in the film's back third, there's little here to stop the heart from soaring with enjoyment.

Whereas initial trailers hinted at Grant's Oompa-Loompa playing a large part in proceedings, Grant's character doesn't appear until an hour in, leaving Chalamet and newcomer Lane to form a perfect bond as two orphans chasing their dreams. Chalamet brings the easy charm to proceedings, but this is largely an ensemble piece that benefits greatly from seeing a nice guy overcome the odds. Stripped back to its basics, it's a tale of immigrants overcoming the echelons of years of entrenched British attitudes - certainly with the world's contemporary problems, there's much to inspire here.

It may creak in its back third, and the threadbare plot is laid bare by an occasionally over-stuffed runtime, but Wonka has a certain something that helps it overcome its flaws, thanks to a film that's largely about hope in the face of all adversity.

There's also a generosity of spirit, a heart that beats within that's hard to deny = even the most cynical will be overcome by the family-led antics. It's a perfect antidote for a bummer of a cinematic year - and a sign that whimsy and well-meaning movies still have a winning place in moviegoers' hearts.

Late Night with the Devil: Movie Review

A genre film mixing pulp thrills and a recreation of a 70s late night talk show, Late Night with the Devil manages to be a canny extension of the found footage movie.

David Dastmalchian stars as late night host Jake Delroy, a "perennial also-ran" whose show Night Owls is continually running second to Johnny Carson. After his wife dies from cancer, Delroy begins plummeting further and so he plans a special Halloween outing for the show.

It may be gimmicky in parts, but Late Night with the Devil's desire to mix a solid recreation with the idea of the 70s Satanic Panic in the US create potent genre results that thrill as much as they amuse.

Blending cheesy lines with some genuinely unsettling moments and anchoring the film with Dastmalchian's committed performance amid the more than accurate period recreation, directors the Cairne brothers create a film that's rich on subtext as well as full-on scares when necessary. 

Cleverly mixing tropes and also giving a feeling it's all leading somewhere, Late Night with the Devil is a true fairground ride of a film. Mixing found footage with the master tape of what goes on during the breaks gives the film a kind of grounded feel before things go completely and inevitably ballistic. In parts though, it can't help but feel like a deliciously deviant Larry Sanders Show episode.

But not once do the directors devolve the film into the kind of trashy exploitation of the genre, preferring instead to let atmospherics and scares combine to make an experience that's deeply unsettling in parts, and crowd-pleasingly pulpy in others.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire: Movie Review

Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Rachel House, Alex Ferns, and Fala Chen

Director: Adam Wingard

If you're going to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire for an intellectually stimulating time, you're fresh out of luck.

Wingard's latest MonsterVerse movie is less interested in its narrative and more concerned with extended build up to a final monster showdown as well as seeming at times like an backdoor episode of Planet of the Apes.

As the threat from beneath the Hollow Earth emerges, and both Godzilla and Kong have to face off against enemy the Skar King and his minions, there are one or two surprises, but really it's less interested in spending time with the human elements of the cast, more concerned with fitting Kong with a Transformers-style robot fist and letting him go smashing.

(Talking of which, Godzilla now has a pink hue as well, perhaps indicating Warner Bros. Barbie takeover of every franchise is now complete.)

It's not that the humans don't have some fun - former Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens is clearly having a blast as the Hawaiian shirted goofball vet who's prone to cheesy moments. But for every Stevens' moment with 80s needle drops, there is a swathe of Rebecca Hall being saddled with heavy exposition - and even Henry's conspiracy theorist blogger has been dialled down in this latest.

Yet the humans are not the stars of the show here, and in fairness, neither is Godzilla.

After the truly magnificent Godzilla Minus One showed what could be done with the creature, it's disappointing to note that Kong is the only one afforded a level of depth here. From early scenes highlighting his loneliness (and even a shower sequence) to his joy at finding others from his kin, it's clear the writers have looked to the Planet of the Apes and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers for inspiration and come away with some.

Godzilla meanwhile is left to skulking underwater, smashing things and in one hilarious ongoing visual gag, curling up in Rome's Coliseum - it's an undignified approach to the kaiju king to say the least.

Throw in elements of Prey as well and you have some indication of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire's lack of depth - albeit the film celebrates its own shortcomings and just simply gets on with the job it needs to do. 

It's more homage to other films than its own definite brand - and while the creature chaos is carefully choreographed and defined so it doesn't become a CGI blur and the movie offers some vicarious blockbuster bombast and enjoyment, it's still nothing more than icing on a frustratingly hollow cake.

The Mountain: Movie Review 

Cast: Elizabeth Atkinson, Terrence Daniel, Reuben Francis, Fern Sutherland, Troy Kingi, Byron Call
Director: Rachel House

Child cancer, dead mothers, errant fathers - they're all big weighty issues in director Rachel House's drama, which doesn't shy away from reality or indulge in mawkish sentimentality.

Atkinson plays Sam, a child cancer patient who breaks out from her hospital ward via the roof to go and visit her spiritual ancestor Mount Taranaki from which she believes she will be able to draw strength. 

An accidental meeting with Mallory (Francis) who's recently lost his mother to cancer convinces Sam he can be her sherpa and get no credit from climbing to the top.

Along the way they bump into Terrence Daniel's Bronco, a staunch Maori enviro-activist, who sees litter as "blinking disrespectful" and who believes he's being ignored by his father, a policeman who's just moved to the area. All three of them set out with something to prove - but will they make it?

The Mountain is occasionally uneven, and has some rough edges with its first time cast - despite having great heart and mana about it.

Moments that should be jokes sometimes fall flat, punchlines are not as snappy as they could be; but the film's heart shines through in some inspired and creative moments. from the use of KRS-One's Sound of the Police at a fireside hangout to some unbelievably jaw-dropping shots of Mount Taranaki itself.

Perhaps some of the problem with The Mountain is it never really rises above its sweetness and intentions as a kids' film. With little to no conflict in the movie, the film's drama is severely undercooked and feels more like a hangout movie rather than anything with definitive aims.

It's worth noting that the trope of the quirky Maori kid is once deployed in Bronco, a crowd-pleaser who wears his heart on his sleeve; but it's disappointing to see this once again rolled out for global audiences. 

Yet among the group of Mallory, Sam and Bronco, there's a pleasing dynamic and an understated bond that runs tried and true throughout. It's all held together by the first time actors - and by leaving them as a gang while the parents try and track them down and deal with their own issues, the Mountain doesn't seek to overcomplicate matters throughout.

There's a charm in The Mountain, and an understanding of what the ancestral home means to Sam, Mallory and Bronco in their own ways proves to be a valuable message for viewers.

But make no mistake, while it doesn't reach perhaps the summit of what it could be, House's take on a coming-of-age story that's etched with tragedy, yet never overplays its inherent sadness, is something to be saluted.

What's on Neon in April

Here's everything coming to Neon this April

The Sympathizer (April 15)

Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren't over. 

Starring: Hoa Xuande, Sandra Oh and Robert Downey Jr., who plays multiple roles. 

On The Roam (April 22)

Follow Jason Momoa as he travels across the U.S. to meet extraordinary people who are blazing their own path - from craftsmen, to motorcycle fabricators, musicians to athletes. Momoa has spent his entire life taking the road less travelled, in this series he's chasing art, adventure, and friendship through the lens of craftsmanship, seeking out individuals on an endless quest to make a difference in their field and the lives around them. 

Movies

Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (April 8)

When a magical meteor crash lands in Adventure City, it gives the PAW Patrol pups superpowers, transforming them into The MIGHTY PUPS! For Skye, the smallest member of the team, her new powers are a dream come true. But when their arch-rival Humdinger breaks out of jail and teams up with a mad scientist to steal the superpowers, the Mighty Pups must stop the super-villains before it's too late, and Skye will need to learn that even the smallest pup can make the biggest difference. 

Starring the voices of Kristen Bell, James Marsden, McKenna Grace and Taraji P. Henderson. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (April 1)

The Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. But they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutantsis unleashed. 

Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken (April 15)

A shy teenage girl learns that she comes from a royal family of legendary sea krakens and her destiny lies in the depths of the oceans. Starring the voices of Lana Condor, Toni Collette and Colman Domingo.

Kung Fu Panda 4: Movie Review

Cast: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Bryan Cranston, James Hong
Director: Mike Mitchell

Fast and frenetic, but tailing off in its final strait, Kung Fu Panda 4 represents an amiable passing of the torch story.

When Dragon warrior Po (an amiable and energetic Jack Black) is told he needs to find a successor so he can ascend to the next level of his calling, he's forced onto an adventure he doesn't really want - with Zhen (Awkwafina, the perfect foil for Black) a companion who's less than thrilled to be tagging along.

But that's not the only problem facing Po - a new threat is rising in the Valley of Peace, the evil Chameleon (Davis, on slinky menacing form)...

Kung Fu Panda 4 is the first return of the loveable rogue since the wrapping up of the trilogy in 2016, and shows that when done well, superior animation is more than passable enough family entertainment.

Packed full of action sequences and wonderful blink-and-you'll-miss-it sight gags, Kung Fu Panda 4 may lack some of the heart and spirituality of the previous films and may go more for a message that change is good, but also scary, yet it manages to feel like 100 minutes well spent in a cinema.

While the Chameleon doesn't really do much until the end, much of the movie's pleasures come from the odd couple journey of Zhen and Po. Both Black and Awkwafina make the camaraderie that grows between them feel real and warm, even if their journey follows very familiar beats.

There will be much to amuse children and young-at-heart parents here - and with momentary gags working with ease, the story doesn't exactly challenge audiences, but does provide them with enough sustenance.

Equally, the animation is perfectly fine too, with some gorgeous vistas, cities and underground worlds well committed to screen.

But if the movie feels like it's running out of creative steam, it's to both Black and Awkwafina's immense credit that they muster up plenty of on-screen charisma from just vocal work. They do much of the heavy lifting of the film, and justify spending more than one more round with this Panda.

What's on DocPlay in April

Here's everything that's coming to DocPlay this April.

This month, DocPlay presents Jean Luc Godard’s seminal The Rolling Stones doc, Sympathy for the Devil. One of the landmark new wave films of the ‘60s, the film gives audiences an unprecedented view of the The Rolling Stones' creative process, while reflecting on political and social issues of the time. Explore art of a different sort in Daniel Richter and The Promise, two new German documentaries that explore visual and architectural art forms, respectively. Two docs premiere for Earth Day: the timely portrait of resistance Lakota Nation Vs United States, and The Oil Machine, which interrogates society’s reliance on oil.

Daniel Richter  |  1 Apr

Three years with Daniel Richter: director Pepe Danquart opens the door to the famous painter’s studio for us and draws a multifaceted portrait of the political artist.

The Promise. Architect BV Doshi  |  4 Apr

Balkrishna Doshi, one of India's most influential 20th century architects and recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, shares his sources of inspiration and motivation. His presence of mind, humour and wisdom create the image of a man from whom we can not only learn to build humanly, but from whom we can learn – to be human.

Mafia & Banks  |  8 Apr  |  Series

Produced by Arte, this three-part documentary tells the little-known story of the symbiotic link between criminal organisations and the banking sector.

Sympathy for the Devil  |  11 Apr 

Sympathy for the Devil, one of the landmark new wave films of the late 1960s, directed by the celebrated auteur Jean-Luc Godard, alternates between reflections on contemporary politics and social issues of the late 1960s as well as giving the audience an unprecedented view of The Rolling Stones' creative process.

Dates That Made History  |  15 Apr

Across two seasons, revisit historical dates of monumental proportion through the prism of memory.

Lakota Nation Vs United States  |  18 Apr  |  Exclusive

Premiering at Tribeca Film Festival, Lakota Nation vs. United States chronicles the Lakota Indians' century-long quest to reclaim the Black Hills, sacred land that was stolen in violation of treaty agreements. A searing and timely portrait of resistance.

The Oil Machine  |  22 Apr  |  Exclusive

The Oil Machine explores our economic, historical and emotional entanglement with oil by looking at the conflicting imperatives around North Sea oil.

Kokoda  |  25 Apr

From the corridors of power to the blood-stained battlefields of the Papua New Guinea highlands, Kokoda tells the story of the brutal World War Two military campaign between Australia and Japan that changed the course of Australian history

Untouchable  |  29 Apr

The inside story of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

What's on Prime Video in April

Here is what's on Prime Video in April.

FALLOUT

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 11 APRIL 

Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. Two-hundred years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind—and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them. Ella Purnell is Lucy, an optimistic Vault-dweller with an all-American can-do spirit. Her peaceful and idealistic nature is tested when she is forced to the surface to rescue her father. Aaron Moten is Maximus, a young soldier who rises to the rank of squire in the militaristic faction called Brotherhood of Steel. He will do anything to further the Brotherhood’s goals of bringing law and order to the wasteland. Walton Goggins is the Ghoul, a morally ambiguous bounty hunter who holds within him a 200-year history of the post-nuclear world. These disparate parties collide when chasing an artifact from an enigmatic researcher that has the potential to radically change the power dynamic in this world.

Fallout stars Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, Aaron Moten, Moisés Arias, Kyle MacLachlan, Sarita Choudhury, Michael Emerson, Leslie Uggams, Frances Turner, Dave Register, Zach Cherry, Johnny Pemberton, Rodrigo Luzzi, Annabel O'Hagan, and Xelia Mendes-Jones.

MÚSICA

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 4 APRIL 

Rudy Mancuso, a charismatic but directionless young street performer from Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood, has a unique view of the world. Thanks to a rare condition called synesthesia, he experiences everyday noises – from car horns to water droplets to doors slamming – as a series of complex rhythms. He struggles to keep the music in his head at bay, but it’s not so easily accomplished. 

When he’s not taking classes to finish his college degree or staging puppet performances for commuters on the streets of the Ironbound’s close-knit Brazilian community, Rudy is trying to convince his girlfriend, Haley (Francesca Reale), that he will eventually figure things out. He lives with his mother, Maria (played by the actor’s real-life mother, Maria Mancuso), who wants her son to dump Haley and settle down with a nice Brazilian girl from the neighborhood. Rudy also gets advice on life and love from his best friend, Anwar (comedian J.B. Smoove), a food truck operator whose cultural identity morphs based on where his truck is parked on any given day. Matters take a turn for the chaotic when Rudy is literally knocked out by a flying piece of frozen fish. The accident leads to an encounter with Isabella (Camila Mendes), a beautiful young Brazilian woman who works in the local fish market and who may understand Rudy in ways nobody else ever has. Caught in a love triangle, Rudy tries to balance his cultural heritage, the women in his life and the música inside his head.

Música stars Camila Mendes, Francesca Reale, J.B. Smoove and Rudy Mancuso. 

HOW TO DATE BILLY WALSH 

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON FRIDAY 5 APRIL 

Teenagers Amelia (Charithra Chandran) and Archie (Sebastian Croft) have been best friends since childhood. Archie has always been there to fight Amelia’s battles and laugh at her jokes all whilst keeping his lifelong love for her a secret. Just when he builds up the courage to declare his feelings, Amelia falls head over heels for Billy Walsh (Tanner Buchanan), the new American transfer student. Heartbroken Archie goes to great lengths to try and keep Amelia and Billy away from each other but ends up pushing them closer together and risks losing his best friend in the process.

How To Date Billy Walsh stars Sebastian Croft, Charithra Chandran and Tanner Buchanan. 

THEM: THE SCARE 

SEASON 2 AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 25 APRIL 

Them will once again be set in Los Angeles County (the first installment, subtitled Covenant, took place in Compton circa 1952 but will move the time frame forward to 1991). The new story centers on LAPD Homicide Detective Dawn Reeve who is assigned to a new case: the gruesome murder of a foster home mother that has left even the most hardened detectives shaken. Navigating a tumultuous time in Los Angeles, with a city on the razor’s edge of chaos, Dawn is determined to stop the killer. But as she draws closer to the truth, something ominous and malevolent grips her and her family…

Them: The Scare stars Deborah Ayorinde, Pam Grier, Luke James, Joshua J. Williams, Jeremy Bobb, Wayne Knight, Carlito Olivero, Charles Brice and Iman Shumpert. 

PUPPY LOVE

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 18 APRIL 

After a disastrous first date, wild child Nicole (Lucy Hale) and socially anxious Max (Grant Gustin) vow to lose each other’s numbers, until they learn that their dogs found a love match, and now puppies are on the way! The hilariously mismatched Nicole and Max are forced to become responsible co-parents, but may end up finding love themselves.

Puppy Love stars Lucy Hale, Grant Gustin, Jane Seymour, Michael Hitchcock and Nore Davis

GOING HOME WITH TYLER CAMERON 

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THURSDAY 18 APRIL 

Going Home with Tyler Cameron stars reality TV star and former The Bachelorette heartthrob Tyler Cameron as he follows his dream of starting his own construction and home renovation company. After the sudden loss of his mother, Tyler moved back to his hometown, Jupiter, Florida, to reunite with his family and finally achieve his goal of launching his business, Image One. With the help of his team members - house-flipping expert, Robb Ritch, and Miami-based interior designer, Jessica Quintero - Tyler builds his company from the ground up, exceeding his clients’ expectations one home renovation at a time. As the projects get bigger, better and more complex, Tyler navigates the challenges of entrepreneurship, demonstrating his growth and resilience. Leaning on his tight-knit community for support, the series features appearances from familiar faces, including former Bachelor Nationstars Matt James, Rachael Kirkconnell, Jason Tartick, and even The Bachelorette who once captured his heart, Hannah Brown. With each episode ending in the exciting reveal of Image One’s latest stunning remodel, the season culminates in the most important undertaking of them all – turning the house that Tyler’s late mom left behind into the family home that she always dreamed of.

 

APRIL 2024 TOP PICKS:

LAST TANGO IN PARIS (MOVIE) 1/04/24

HACKERS (MOVIE) 1/04/24

MANNEQUIN (1987) (MOVIE) 1/04/24

BABY DRIVER (TV) 1/04/24

RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION (MOVIE) 1/04/24

BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK (MOVIE) 1/04/24

RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE (MOVIE) 1/04/24

RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE (MOVIE) 1/04/24

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (2016) (MOVIE) 1/04/24

RESIDENT EVIL (MOVIE) 1/04/24

RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION (MOVIE) 1/04/24

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (MOVIE) 1/04/24

MADAGASCAR (MOVIE) 1/04/24

PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR (MOVIE) 1/04/24

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE (MOVIE) 1/04/24

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL (MOVIE) 1/04/24

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (MOVIE) 1/04/24

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 (MOVIE) 1/04/24

PIXELS (MOVIE) 1/04/24

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (MOVIE) 1/04/24

PETER RABBIT (2018) (MOVIE) 1/04/24

JUMANJI (1995) (MOVIE) 1/04/24

CONSTANTINE (MOVIE) 2/04/24

MÚSICA (MOVIE) 4/04/24

HOW TO DATE BILLY WALSH (MOVIE) 5/04/24

DEFIANCE (MOVIE) 7/04/24

GOOSEBUMPS (MOVIE) 10/04/24

FALLOUT S1 (TV) 11/04/24

BIOSPHERE (MOVIE) 15/04/24

HIP HOP WORLD (MOVIE) 16/04/24

CRIMINAL (2016) (MOVIE) 16/04/24

PUPPY LOVE (MOVIE) 18/04/24

GOING HOME WITH TYLER CAMERON S1 (TV) 18/04/24

MISS SLOANE (MOVIE) 23/04/24

THEM: THE SCARE S2 (TV) 25/04/24

COMEDY CLASS S1 (TV) 26/04/24

WHICH BRINGS ME TO YOU (MOVIE) 26/04/24

ACMA GAME S1 (TV) 26/04/24

AMERICAN ULTRA (MOVIE) 28/04/24

Love Lies Bleeding: Movie Review

Cast: Kristen Stewart, Katy M O'Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco, Jena Malone
Director: Rose Glass

Fever dream Love Lies Bleeding crosses an aesthetic that oscillates between 80s B-movie  and domestic drama as it tells the love story of Lou (Stewart)and bodybuilding hopeful Jackie, a drifter who happens to roll into town.

Set against a dead-end American backdrop, riddled with crime overseen by a lank-haired Ed Harris, the film's homage to hot, scuzzy life and lustful longing is etched everywhere from beginning to end.

Director Glass zooms in on the almost fetishised aspects of Jackie's musculature and Lou's leering eye as the two fall head over heels in lust for each other over a meet at a garage gym.

But as the affair unravels, both find themselves caught in an ever-tightening noose as consequences catch up to them.

While Love Lies Bleeding is not perfect thanks to occasionally underdeveloped side characters and a fuzziness on some details, what plays out is a giant swing of a movie that largely lands most of its hits with veritable aplomb.

The usually twitchy Stewart brings her nervous energy to Lou, who's caught between desperation at her domestic situation and a powderkeg of a relationship. Equally, The Mandalorian's O'Brien is eminently watchable as the on-edge Jackie, whose obsession and self-control issues could signal the end of everything.

Harris adds a suitably sleazy edge as the crime-lord father who's in more than he admits, dragging in an aesthetic of 80s-style rogues who are bad but are more an outlier presence than a narrative driver.

Ultimately Love Lies Bleeding is a perfectly impressive film that may not quite hit all of its lofty ambitions, but it certainly evokes the era and style of film it's trying to relive - and thanks to two impressive lead performances, it's a perfectly watchable movie that meshes genres with ease.

New Doctor Who trailer arrives

A brand new trailer for the first full Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson season of Doctor Who has arrived.

The show premieres on BBC and Disney+ from May 10.

Rise of the Ronin: PS5 Review

Developed by Team Ninja
Published by Koei Tecmo Games
Platform: PS5

Continuing their fascination with all things ninja and samurai, and no doubt fired up by the success of Ghost of Tsushima, Koei Tecmo Games' latest release Rise of the Ronin sees the studio leaving the more linear hack and slash path to pursue a more open world game - but with mixed results.

Set in Japan's "Bakumatsu" period, the final years of the Edo era, during an undercurrent of political discord between east and west, Rise of The Ronin puts you in the shoes of a warrior ronin who has a "blade twin", an opposite who complements their own skills in combat.

As the pair embark upon a quest against a backdrop of Japan being forced to open up in 1863, events conspire to send your player on a journey through various regions and on various missions.

It's difficult to launch into specifics of the game's narrative as much has been laid down by Team Ninja that conspires to pull the rug from under the player - but suffice to say, there's as much betrayal and twists as you'd expect in this kind of open world game.

There is much to enjoy in Rise of the Ronin, but it has to be said graphically, the game feels like it has not grasped on the power of the PlayStation 5 and feels in many ways visually like a game from prior generations. It's disappointing to say the least, especially as the game relies on its different locales, violent cut scenes and general interactions with NPCs throughout - but there's a feeling that by not seizing on the best of the tech, this game will age quickly and cause much consternation with those who buy it on the premise of being a PlayStation exclusive.

Fortunately, the open world gameplay and mechanics bring depth to Rise of the Ronin.

While it does feel like a mix of Far Cry, Assassin's Creed and Ghost of Tsushima throughout and struggles to carve its own identity, the depth of what's on offer is more than enough to satiate those willing to spend hours being poured into the world.

From sprawling districts to pastoral lands, to cats and dogs to be petted among the NPCs that litter the game, there's much to do in terms of side quests. And while many of them feel like familiar territory thanks to prior games, there are gameplay tweaks within that make Rise of the Ronin accede to its promise.

Chiefly, its divergent narrative strands and its ability to incorporate and initiate Bonds with other characters give Rise of the Ronin an emotional depth and heft that is worth sinking time in. Early encounters offer you the choice to kill or save enemies, only to have them appear later on as companions or potential threats; equally some key NPCs companions give you the chance to buddy up in conflict and swap characters during an encounter, something which offers a frisson of thrills, even if it is just sadly simply confined to missions alone.

There's a humanity through this sandbox game and one that sees the world of Japan open up more than a traditional fixed narrative, but it also offers an insight into the Edo period that's compelling and engaging (even if it is a little repetitive in terms of missions). The team has built upon worlds and combat elements from games like Nioh, and each encounter offers a need to build combat skills but it proves rewarding and will satiate the time that's needed to be sunk into every fight and subsequent reply.

There is ambition in Rise of the Ronin, and while not all of it is graphically seized upon by the team,  it's certainly a world that has promise in its premise - and one that will suck up your time without realising. It's just a shame that without the requisite polish, Rise of the Ronin could end up overlooked.

Rise of the Ronin releases exclusively on PlayStation.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire: Movie Review

Cast: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, Dan Akroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, Kumail Nanjiani, James Acaster, Patton Oswalt
Director: Gil Kenan

Returning after the well-intentioned but occasionally weak 2021 Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the latest installment of the family friendly, sometimes scary franchise proves to be a mixed but mostly enjoyable albeit patchy outing.

Two years after events in Oklahoma, the nuclear family of Trevor, Phoebe, Callie and Gary are living the life of a Ghostbuster in New York at the traditional base of the firehouse. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, it's up to the Spenglers and the older generation of the Ghostbusters to come together to save the day.

Despite a very bizarre AI-led opening with its uncanny valley settings, the tone of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is largely comfortable.

That is to say the return of the old favourites - including Slimer the greedy ghost and the mini Stay Pufts from Afterlife - feels like putting on an old pair of slippers. Complete with characters from the past, the film settles for an odd mix of prolonged build up to CGI ghost-related mayhem and a mesh up of Jurassic Park where the animals escape to catastrophic effect. 

Which all means that it perhaps feels a little too familiar in parts, and a bit strained as the long two hour tease plays out. With nods to the past (the refrain of "Are you the Fire Master" feels like the 2024 equivalent of "Are You the Keymaster") and some easy comedy largely from Nanjiani and Acaster's awkwardness, it's all very affable stuff, if somewhat underwhelming in parts thanks to long stretches of exposition and a MacGuffin.

A side story that involves Grace's Phoebe feeling sidelined in life and indulging with dalliances with a ghost that conjures up the spirit of Jenna Ortega hits some emotional moments, but it's all in service of a wider narrative rather than character development.

It also doesn't help much that a largely overstuffed cast struggles to have their consistent respective moments - and in some cases, suffer largely from cameo-status. 

But as the proton packs are fired up and the gang race through the streets of New York to where it all began, complete with a CGI baddie that's evocative of Ray Harryhausen and the models of the first film, as well as old school simplicity, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire coalesces into something that gets to the ethos of the success of the Ghostbusters, even if it does reek of rolling out greatest hits from the genre.

Chiefly that busting - even with its flaws and moments of underdevelopment - makes you feel good.

Immaculate: Movie Review

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Benedetta Porcaroli, Simona Tabasco, Alvaro Morte

Director: Michael Mohan

Re-teaming with her The Voyeurs director Michael Mohan, Euphoria and Madame Web star Sydney Sweeny plays a nun in this horror that ends up being a commentary on women's bodies and reproductive rights while adding in some scares as well.

Sweeney is Sister Cecilia, a newcomer to an exclusive convent in Italy where old nuns live out their final days before ascending to heaven. Initially finding her calling a tonic to a near death experience, she soon begins to discover oddities at the convent, including a nail reportedly used to crucify Jesus.

Soon her life is in danger in more ways than one.

Mohan's sparse story and gentle helming of this film initially yields minimal results, from jump scares to atmospheric dissonance, there's much here that feels ripped from the likes of Rosemary's Baby and the Omen films.

But gradually what unfurls in Immaculate is a film that doesn't overstate its intentions, nor overplay its journey. While Sweeney opts a lot for big-eyed horror at what unfolds, hers is a performance that feels fleshed out, offers some sense of dread and in the final moments, sees her blaze upon the screen.

Mainly a tale about the Church's desire to continue into eternity and the bastardisation of religious fervour, Immaculate's strength grows from moments that seize upon primal dread, mistrust of authority figures and the literal horror that men continue to do unpunished through the ages.

Yet while it doesn't hammer home its message, it's there for all to see and judge - but thanks to Sweeney's performance and a quietly insidious aesthetic, Immaculate emerges as something that is likely to inveigle its way under your skin in ways you'd least expect.

What's on Disney+ in April

Here's everything streaming in April on Disney+

Tiger (April 22)

All-New Feature Film Streams on Disney+ Beginning Earth Day, April 22, 2024, Marking 15 Years Since Disneynature’s Inaugural Release, “Earth”

Disneynature’s “Tiger” will launch on Disney+ this Earth Day, April 22, 2024—exactly 15 years after the label’s first release, “Earth.” Also revealed today, Priyanka Chopra Jonas will narrate the compelling story, which lifts the veil on our planet’s most revered and charismatic animal, inviting viewers to journey alongside Ambar, a young tigress raising her cubs in the fabled forests of India. “It’s just wonderful to be able to be a part of something so special and to tell the story of this magnificent animal that comes from my country—I was very honored,” Chopra Jonas said. “I have always loved tigers and I feel a kinship with the female tiger—I feel very protective of my family. Ambar’s journey is something I think every mom would really relate to.”
 
In the film, the cubs—curious, rambunctious and at times a bit clumsy—have a lot to learn from their savvy mother who will do all she can to keep them safe from pythons, bears and marauding male tigers. Directed by Mark Linfield, co-directed by Vanessa Berlowitz and Rob Sullivan, and produced by Linfield, Berlowitz and Roy Conli, “Tiger” is the groundbreaking culmination of 1,500 days of filming. Combining fast-paced action with remarkably intimate moments, Disneynature’s all-new original feature film streams on Disney+ beginning on Earth Day, April 22, 2024.
 
TIGERS ON THE RISE
Also streaming on Disney+ this Earth Day is a companion film to “Tiger”—“Tigers on the Rise.” Narrated by Blair Underwood, the film celebrates the remarkable comeback of one of the world’s most iconic animals. Tiger populations have rebounded so successfully, many of the big cats are venturing from India’s forest reserves into farms and villages—a monumental challenge for both people and animals. The heroes in this story are the vets, scientists and community patrols dedicated to ensuring that tigers and people can coexist. Disneynature’s “Tigers on the Rise” is directed by Rob Sullivan, co-directed by Alistair Tones, and produced by Sullivan, Vanessa Berlowitz, Mark Linfield and Roy Conli.

1 April

Vanderpump Villa

Star Original Series

Premiere

Decadence and debauchery collide in “Vanderpump Villa,” a new unscripted docu-drama following Lisa Vanderpump’s hand selected staff as they work, live, and play at an exclusive French estate: Chateau Rosabelle. Each scintillating episode follows the elite staff as they try to provide luxurious, once-in-a-lifetime, Vanderpump-curated experiences for guests while dealing with rivalries, romances, and raucous misadventures that come from living and working together 24/7.

3 April

Wish

Disney+ Premiere

In this animated musical-comedy, Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a powerful wish that’s answered by Star, a ball of boundless energy. Soon, Asha and Star must face a formidable foe and prove that one brave human can make wondrous things happen.

26 April

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story

Star Original Series

Premiere

The four-part, all access docuseries chronicles the epic past and uncertain future of one of the most recognizable bands in the world and its front-man Jon Bon Jovi. A 40-year odyssey of rock and roll idolatry on the precipice as a vocal injury threatens to bring everything to a screeching halt.

12 April

The Greatest Hits

Star Original Movie

Premiere

Harriet (Lucy Boynton) finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time – literally. While she relives the past through romantic memories of her former boyfriend (David Corenswet), her time travelling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present (Justin H. Min). As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders – even if she could change the past, should she?

17 April

We Were The Lucky Ones

Star Original Series

Premiere

Based on Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestselling novel, the television adaptation of “We Were the Lucky Ones” is a limited series inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of WWII. The series follows them across continents as they do everything in their power to survive, and to reunite. “We Were the Lucky Ones” demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive. The series is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds.

30 April

FX’s The Veil

Star Original Series

Premiere

“The Veil” is an international spy thriller series that explores the surprising and fraught relationship between two women who play a deadly game of truth and lies on the road from Istanbul to Paris and London. One woman has a secret, the other a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost. In the shadows, mission controllers at the U.S. CIA and French DGSE must put differences aside, as difficult as it may seem to be, and work together to avert potential disaster before it’s too late.

22 April

Secrets of the Octopus: Season 1

Series

Premiere

Just beyond our shores, a creature with extraordinary powers rules its domain. Experience new science, amazing moments, and stunning, never-before-seen behaviour with  8 different octopus species around the world. Journey with our octopus characters as they adapt, learn, intimidate and co-operate — each with their own unique personalities. No animal is so different… and yet, so like us.

Also in April…

3 April

Star Original

International

UFO Factory: Season 1

Series

Me & Mickey (Shorts): Season 2

Morphle (Shorts): Season 1

Firebuds: Season 2 

Tracker: Season 1

6 April

Star Original

International

The Fable: Season 1

7 April

Star Original

International

Go! Go! Loser Ranger!: Season 1

10 April

Star Original

International

Blood Free: Season 1

Series

American Dad: Season 18: New Episodes

12 April

Series

Miraculous World Paris: Tales of Shadybug and Claw Noir

17 April

Disney+ Original

International

The Secret Score: Season 1

Star Original

See You in Another Life: Season 1

Series

Good Trouble: Season 5: New Episodes

Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet: Season 12

20 April

Star Original

High Hopes: Season 1

22 April

Disney+ Original 

Tigers on the Rise

24 April

Star Original 

House of the Owl: Season 1

New Episodes

FX's Shōgun New episodes weekly on Tuesdays, finale 23 April

Grey’s Anatomy: Season 20 New episodes weekly on Thursdays

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Season 3 New episodes weekly on Wednesdays

The Simpsons: Season 35 New episodes weekly on Wednesdays

X-Men ‘97 New episodes weekly on Wednesdays

Hailey’s on it!: Season 1 5 x new episodes 10 April

Miraculous Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Season 5 New episode 10 April

Not Dead Yet: Season 2 New episodes weekly on Wednesdays

Sand Land: The Series New episodes weekly on Wednesdays

Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Season 3 New episodes 3 & 17 April

Station 19: Season 7 New episodes weekly on Thursdays 

The Impossible Heir Finale 3 April

Undead Unluck New episodes weekly on Wednesdays

Will Trent: Season 2 New episode 3 April

Wonderful World New episodes weekly on Saturdays and Sundays

Morphle and the Magic Pets (Shorts): Season 1 8 x new episodes 17 April

SAND LAND demo is available now

Get a first hands-on experience with SAND LAND demo, available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. 

You’ll be able to explore part of the map alongside Beelzebub, Rao and Thief and experiment with some of their unique skills.

Whether cruising through the dunes or fighting off enemies, you will also get a feel for weapon customisation and other upgrades for your vehicle. Increase your vehicles’ efficiency during your battles and lead the gang to victory!

SAND LAND will be available on 26^th April 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC for Steam.

What's on Shudder in April

Here's everything streaming on Shudder on April.

SHUDDER ORIGINALS AND EXCLUSIVES 

Infested 

Streaming Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+ 

Film Premieres Friday 26 April  

Director Sébastien Vanicek makes his feature film debut with a story that follows Kaleb, who is about to turn 30 and has never been lonelier. He’s fighting with his sister over a matter of inheritance and has cut ties with his best friend.  

Fascinated by exotic animals, he finds a venomous spider in a bazaar and brings it back to his flat. It only takes a moment for it to escape and reproduce, turning the whole place into a dreadful web trap. 

Starring Théo Christine (Suprêmes), Finnegan Oldfield (Final Cut), Jérôme Niel (Smoking Causes Coughing), Sofia Lesaffre (Les Misérables) and Lisa Nyarko. 

Mute Witness 

Streaming Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+ 

Film Premieres Monday 1 April  

From director Anthony Waller (An American Werewolf in Paris), A mute makeup artist working on a slasher movie being shot in Moscow, is locked in the studio after hours.  

While there, she witnesses a brutal murder, and must escape capture.  

The Tunnel: The Other Side of Darkness 

Streaming Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+ 

Film Premieres Monday 15 April 

On the 10th anniversary of the Australian found footage film The Tunnel, this documentary delves into the filmmakers endeavors to challenge how films are financed and  distributed, and the lasting impact The Tunnel had internationally. 

*The original film The Tunnel also available  on 15 April.

NEW ADDITIONS TO SHUDDER’S FILM LIBRARY 

April 1 

Vesper 

Struggling to survive with her father after the collapse of Earth’s ecosystem, 13-year-old Vesper must  use her wits, strength and bio-hacking abilities to fight for the future.  

April 4 

Gateway 

In an ordinary abandoned house – on what could be your ordinary street – a gang of desperate  criminals have found something – or it has found them.  

April 15 

The Tunnel 

An investigation into a government cover-up leads to a network of abandoned train tunnels deep  beneath the heart of Sydney. As a journalist and her crew hunt for the story, it quickly becomes clear  the story is hunting them.  

April 22  

13th Floor 

As a child, a girl witnessed her father electrocute a young boy. When she grows into an adult, the  ghost of the murdered boy appears to her, and together they set out to expose the crimes of her  father. 

Final Cut (aka Death Games) 

A reporter and his girlfriend follow around a famous actor/entrepreneur and discover some dirt on him  to be made public.  

Road House: Movie Review

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Conor McGregor, Jessica Williams, Billy Magnussen
Director: Doug Liman

Much like a punch to the face, the 2024 version of Road House offers some vicarious hits in among the bruises.

A buffed up Jake Gyllenhaal brings a degree of charm and smarm to his ex-UFC fighter Elwood Dalton, a man who doesn't like to get angry and who is grappling with issues from his own past.

After a fight he is due to take part in is cancelled last minute, Dalton is approached by Frankie, (Williams) the owner of a road house in the Florida Keys and offered a job in security. Reluctantly he takes it, and finds himself slap bang in the middle of a war between the owners of the Road House and local real estate broker Ben Brandt (Magnussen) who wants to close down the establishment and take the land for nefarious reasons.

The thing with the 2024 remake of Road House is that it veers between tones with nary a moment of consideration for the viewers.

On the one hand, it's a film about a man dealing with his past demons; on the other, it's a film of cartoonish violence shot from a POV camera that feels like something from the 80s. Yet at the same time, it's possibly destined to become a guilty pleasure of a film, one that is solidly watchable in parts despite its absurdities.

Gyllenhaal is impressive as Dalton, and his obvious charisma and appeal is on show throughout. But his appeal becomes somewhat one dimensional as the movie goes on and his lack of any potential relationship with an ER doctor (Melchor) as hinted at earlier on, just fizzles out.

As for controversial UFC fighter McGregor, it's hard to know exactly what tone Liman wanted from his villain - other than "shoot for OTT and then go even further". After a memorable entrance, McGregor's character simply becomes a cartoon threat, one that's snarling and snapping and acting in a different film to everyone else.

There are moments when the fight choreography shines in its frenetic ways, but coupled with some poor lighting and some editing, it doesn't quite gel as perhaps it should. Certainly there's plenty of bone-crunching violence, but not the relevant amounts of gore to match what transpires.

Ultimately, the 2024 Road House is the kind of B-movie you'd probably watch after a few beers with some mates; it has a few pervasive pleasures, but feels like a movie that's confused by what it wants to be - an updated homage to the Patrick Swayze great.

Road House begins streaming on Prime Video from March 21.

Doctor Who to return in May

Calling across the Whoniverse! Disney Branded Television and BBC jointly announced the premiere date for the next “Doctor Who” instalment, the first-ever season to launch on Disney+ and release simultaneously worldwide. Beginning Saturday, May 11, at 12:00 pm NZST on Disney+ in New Zealand, audiences will return to “The Church on Ruby Road,” which premiered last December, and journey through two all-new episodes.
 

Accompanying the news, Disney+ released new key art and a gallery image featuring the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, and his companion Ruby Sunday, portrayed by Millie Gibson.
 
This season of “Doctor Who” follows the Doctor and Ruby Sunday through infinite adventures across time and space in the TARDIS. From the Regency era in England to war-torn futures, the duo champion the forces of good while encountering incredible friends and dangerous foes.
 
Showrunner, executive producer and writer Russell T Davies said: “At last, it’s my great delight to unleash a whole new season of the Doctor and Ruby’s adventures together. Monsters! Chases! Villains! Mysteries! And a terrifying secret that’s been spanning time and space for decades. Don’t miss a second!”
 
The previously announced guest cast includes Aneurin Barnard, Anita Dobson, Yasmin Finney, Michelle Greenidge, Jonathan Groff, Bonnie Langford, Genesis Lynea, Jemma Redgrave, Lenny Rush, Indira Varma and Angela Wynter.
 
“Doctor Who” is produced by Bad Wolf, with BBC Studios for Disney Branded Television and BBC. Under the creative vision of Davies, the additional executive producers include Phil Collinson, Joel Collins, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter. The new season features episodes directed by Ben Chessell, Jamie Donoughue, Julie Anne Robinson and Dylan Holmes Williams.

Win a Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire prize pack

To celebrate the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in cinemas March 21, thanks to Sony Pictures New Zealand, you can win a prize pack.

About Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. 

But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Starring Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O’Connor, Logan Kim, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts

Inside each prize pack is:

Squishy keychain

Pencil case

Car window vinyl

Double pass to the movie

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is in cinemas March 21

Skull and Bones: PS5 Review

Developed by Ubisoft Singapore
Published by Ubisoft
Platform: PS5

Skull and Bones has had a long gestating pre-release period.

First touted back in 2017, the live-action RPG went through many iterations and was seemingly inspired by the naval battles of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag. But finally bursting onto the waters of the 2024 release schedule, the game's been somewhat battered by underwhelming reaction to what really is a very solid tactical game.

Perhaps some of the issue is the fact this high seas adventure looks graphically a little weak, with very little sign that any of it has been fixed up for the next gen consoles. But in truth, some of that can be overlooked by very polished mechanics of boats at sea, plundering the waves, even if some of the game feels like a grind and feels a touch repetitive at times.

From building craft to securing gold, upgrading cannon, it's a very realistic pirate experience that trades off a suspension of disbelief as well as a willingness to forego some of the moments where the game falls short.

Chiefly, the game does fall apart a little when it's played solo, as other players can take you down, and it feels in the early stages of it like it doesn't quite give you enough power to beat the combat at sea or avoid a fate in Davy Jones locker.

But pairing up with others provides spoils and plunders worth exploring and gives you a chance to build your boat up to a ferocious scurvy dog of the seas. Ship to ship combat is naturalistic and relies on your understanding of life on the water, from harnessing the best winds to make a speedy getaway or powering into combat with an all-powerful cannon.

There's much here to engage in and while the game takes its time to unfurl its grip, some will say it's only an extension of AC: Black Flag. But for those not familiar with the Animus' water offering, Skull and Bones proves to be the foundation of a very solid RPG set on the sea - particularly with a year's worth of content roadmap all laid out.

Maybe its narrative is somewhat lacking, and the single-player campaign is not as engaging as it could be - but Skull and Bones proves to offer fertile rewards when played online, and with others. It's a solid start that lays down the promise of something further. 

Hopefully that future promise won't be lost at sea.

Helldivers 2: PS5 Review

Developed by Arrowhead Games
Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PS5

Easily dismissed as Starship Troopers the video game, Helldivers 2's commitment to its own OTT language and visuals makes it a game that knows what it's doing and will have a damn good time doing it.

A Sequel to the top down 2015 hit Helldivers, Arrowhead Games' latest sees you back in the thrall of the Helldivers as they head to the outer reaches of space to bring their own level of justice and colonisation to their exploration.

If you're not familiar with Starship Troopers, much of the game's opening sequence which seems like an updated satire on the alien invasion will be lost on you - but the game's fairly open about what it wants to achieve. It wants to send you down to an alien world with a desire to team up with others and to kill.

From kitting out your crew member with the right kit, steeling them with strategems, and weapons, the game makes it pretty simple to face off against hordes of marauding aliens. But it's the element of strategy that comes largely into force with Helldivers 2 and the game's difficulty levels kick in the lower your ammo goes and the longer it takes for your various perks to cool down.

It also becomes harder to achieve the more simplistic tasks the further into the game you go, and while you level up as time goes on, so does the achievement levels you need to meet.

From chunky feeling weaponry that kicks in via the DualSense to crisp graphics on foreign worlds, Helldivers 2 is the kind of multiplayer shooter that's all encompassing - even if it's better played with friends than online unknowns who have a tendency to abandon the team on successful completion.

All in all, Helldivers 2 offers a strong argument for a simple co-op concept, brilliantly executed.