Predator: Badlands (2025) Review

I am a fan of The Predator franchise and seeing Prey a few years ago was a real shot in the arm to this universe and I really hope this film can keep up that momentum. I watched Predator: Badlands today and here is my review for it. The Premise of the film sees a young Predator get exiled and sent to destroy a monster where he has to learn about himself. 

Main Character

The main character is a Predator called Dek played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamtangi and I really enjoyed this character. We have only really ever seen The Predator as an ice cold killing machine, but this is an actual character here and he was a character that I enjoyed watching. He has an arc throughout the film and I thought it was really well done for a Protagonist.    

Supporting Characters

Elle Fanning plays Thia & Tessa and she is great. First of all as Thia, she is a great partner for Dek and they have great chemistry together. She has some real charm about her and adds plenty of charisma to this role that adds some life to it. Tessa meanwhile, is more of a traditional synthetic and she also delivers this role well with the contrast being really here. 

To be honest, there isn't really any other characters in the film. Some of the creatures are really well designed and some of them have great moments which was really cool to see. 

Story

The story is pretty simple, it is basically a Predator going on a hunt after a big beast. But it is handled pretty well and leads to some cool things taking place. Dek also has a clear progression and story arc which is well handled and made me care about the character. However, I do think the film is a bit formulaic and plays it pretty easy, also I thin the last 5/10 mins feel really tacked on and I think could have actually been saved for a sequel. 

Script

The script is okay, I really liked that Dek only spoke in his own language as it really added something to the role. There was some humour and decent drama with the progress of Dek. But it doesn't really have any huge moments with its script like it could have, especially with a lack of depth with its story. 

Style

The film looks fantastic. The planet is filmed really well and the different creatures have great designs. There are some really fun action sequences that uses the technology of The Predator well and the grand nature of his enemies. Though, I did think there was a pacing issue. The First act in particular feels like it rushes through and it is just action scene after action scene without much depth to it. 

Overall

Overall, Predator: Badlands is a good movie. It has a great depiction of The Predator and I really liked the world building and action scenes. Though, it has a pretty basic plot and slight pacing issue. It is fun and is worth a watch, especially if you love The Franchise. 

Rating - 7/10

Frankenstein (2025) Review

For a long time now, this new Frankenstein movie directed by Guillermo Del Toro has been much anticipated for its release on Netflix. It made its way onto the streaming service today and I have found the time to watch it and here is my review for Frankenstein. The premise of the film sees an egotistical scientist believe he can avoid people dying and create the answer to everlasting life. 

Main Character

Oscar Isaac plays Viktor Frankenstein and he shows just how fantastic an actor he truly is. He is such a complex person and Isaac really shines and shows the different sides to Frankenstein. He clearly believes he is the greatest and he is super arrogant but I felt sorry for him and I felt the real reasons that he had for doing what he does and it makes him super fascinating. 

Jacob Elordi gives the performance of a lifetime as The Creature and he adds such humanity and care to this monstrous being and he really added so much to the role. This is a really difficult role to get right but Elordi nails it and this is an incredibly memorable performance.

Supporting Characters

Christoph Waltz plays Harlander and he is great as you would expect. He is the benefactor of Frankenstein and he has great chemistry with Isaac and their scenes together are a highlight. His character is given some depth and it is worthwhile for a great actor. 

Mia Goth plays Elizabeth and she is also really good. She is an interesting character and has a complex story. I slightly wish she had a bit more screen time and a bit more time to shine but that doesn't stop Goths good performance. 

Felix Kammerer plays her Fiancé William Frankenstein and he is good as well. You feel like his relationship with Viktor is a mixed bag and it is a nice subplot seeing them try and work through it together. 

There are also some really cool smaller supporting roles played by Charles Dance, David Bradley & Lars Mikkelsen and they add plenty to their small roles. 

Story

The story is fantastic, you see the perspectives from both Frankenstein and the creature and both are real character studies and they are both handled really well. It shows the differences & similarities between the two of them and it is just super interesting and focuses on large themes. 

Script

The film is really well written. The dialogue feels very snappy, especially from Frankenstein himself, but there are some really dramatic scenes and character moments between the characters to really flesh them out. 

Style

The film looks absolutely stunning, the cinematography looks brilliant and I do wish that a cinema near me had it as it is worthy seeing at the cinema, it is one of the best looking films of the year. But this film has a pacing issue in that it just feels quite long and their were points where I felt that it slightly dragged. 

Overall

Overall, Frankenstein is a fantastic film that has beautiful visuals, great acting and brilliant storytelling. Some slow bits do not hold it back from being one of the best films of the year and certainly worth a watch. 

Rating - 9/10

Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers (2025) Review

This documentary has been dominating the Netflix charts since its release last week, So I decided to give Aileen: Queen of The Serial Killers a watch and here is my review for it. The premise of the Doc looks at Aileen Wuornos and how she came about murdering seven men. 

The best thing that this documentary does is that it is very informative about the subject matter. I went into this not knowing anything about the person or incidents and I feel like coming out of it, I know much more about what went on and how the people reacted to it. 

It uses archive footage from the timeline of the original which makes it feel more legit and does give a feel that we are seeing the unedited footage of what really happened. 

The problem is that this film doesn't offer anything particularly interesting. There is no why she committed these crimes or why everyone was against her. Or how exactly these murders really happened and how it affected the families of the people that she murdered. 

It is just a bit dull and it feels like the story either isn't that interesting or the people that made this film didn't have the means to make it interesting and that is a shame. Just some discussion with the victims family could have offered a greater perspective. 

Overall, Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers is an average documentary that fits in right in the middle. It documents this interesting story but doesn't have much to say and it does make you question why it really even exists. 

Rating - 5/10

Bugonia (2025) Review

There are a lot of films coming out before the end of the year and one that caught my eye was Bugonia. I saw the trailer for it before watching another film and was intrigued, I found the time today to go and watch it and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees two young men kidnap a CEO with the thought that she is an Alien who is set to destroy the world. 

Main Character

Emma Stone plays Michelle and she does a great job in this film. She is clearly the victim here but she owns the role and as it progresses she grows braver and more confident which is where she really shines. Stone is really good at keeping the viewer guessing about what is really going on and that makes her interesting. 

Supporting Characters

Though Emma Stone is great, Jesse Plemons steals the show here as Teddy. He gives a sublime performance that is just unnerving but full of emotion and I really do believe his name will be thrown around when it comes to award season as he us that good. 

Aidan Delbis plays Don and he has a pretty tragic tale in the film. He really isn't sure what to do and he really nails it and I felt really sorry watching him and his story throughout the film. 

There aren't too many other characters here. There is a police officer that I thought was a little tacked on and a bit weird of an addition, maybe it was a missed opportunity to not have one or two more interesting characters here. 

Story

The story is great, it is an absolutely ridiculous idea and presentation but it just really works. The storytelling by the actors, writers and director makes this premise work and the characters are really interesting with a really effective ending that really resonated and made me think long after it.

Script

The film is incredibly well written, the dialogue is sharp and natural with a great blend of drama and some well placed humour in there. It is a great example of how dialogue can really influence a film as this one really relies on it. 

Style

The film looks really good, it is very old school and uses many different techniques to make it stand out alongside some really tense sequences. The music as well and sound design is so good and added to the overall feeling of the film. 

Overall

Overall, Bugonia is a Fantastic Film and I really was surprised by how much I was invested in the film and the acting. I think this film will be much talked about when it comes to The Oscars and it is really deserving of all the praise. 

Rating - 9/10

 The Witcher Season 1 (2019) Review

The 4th season of The Witcher dropped last week on Netflix, but I have only watched the 1st season before and even that was 6 years ago. So I thought I would start a watch of the series and I have just completed the first season of the show again and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees a Monster Hunter sent on a quest to embrace his destiny and save another. 

Main Character

Henry Cavill plays Geralt of Rivia and he is fantastic in the role. It has been known for a while that he is a huge fan of the games and the character and he really gives it his all in this show. He really encapsulates the role of Geralt and I loved watching his character and the adventures that he goes through. 

Supporting Characters

Anya Chalotra plays Yennefer and she is also fantastic on the show. For the majority of the season she has her own story and it really shows her development and growth and how she struggles to really find her place in the world. 

Freya Allen plays Ciri and she is good on the show. She finds herself on the run and her has her own story arc and Allen does a good show. I was interested in her character but the show definitely keeps its cards close to there chest regarding her abilities. 

Joey Batey plays Jaskier and he is a lot of fun and a bit of comic relief for the show. The chemistry between him and Cavill works for the show and I really enjoyed the episodes that he was around for. 

MyAnna Burning plays Tissaia and she is an interesting character. She is a strong mage and spends plenty of the season teaching Yennefer and her cold delivery was pretty memorable and she is a solid part of the show. 

Story

The story is pretty episodic in nature but I love being introduced to this world and learn more about it. Seeing Geralt go against these different monsters is really call and works really well alongside Ciri & Yennefer's stories as well. However, this show has some confusing timeline issues and I had to google when certain parts of the story take place as it isn't explained that well on the show. Also, I thought the finale focused way too much on Yennefer instead of Geralt considering he is the main character. 

Script

The writing for the show was good. Geralt is a very serious character but they manage to provide enough humour to make it not a totally grim affair. Those dramatic moments were well handled though and made me care about the characters involved. 

Style

This show clearly has a huge budget and it looks beautiful, the show is epic in nature and doesn't hold back on the effects. The Action scenes are also fantastic and flow incredibly well with Geralt in particular being incredibly entertaining when in these fight scenes with either humans or different monsters. 

Overall

Overall, The Witcher Season 1 is a Fantastic Season of TV and I loved this universe that they were setting up. A Pretty simple premise but it worked really well and I loved the first season of The Witcher.

Rating - 9/10

Ballad of a Small Player (2025) Review

Netflix has been making plenty of original films that involve big stars and that can be a big marketing ploy for their streaming service. The next one being Ballad of a Small Player starring Colin Farrell and I watched the film today, here is my review. The premise of the film sees a gambler struggling to meet ends meet when he finds someone who might be able to help them. 

Main Character

As mentioned above Colin Farrell plays the lead character Lord Doyle and he is fantastic here. You really believe the peril that this man is in and his performance is always on edge that you can't take your eyes off of him and he is by miles the best thing in this film. 

Supporting Characters

Fala Chen plays Dao Ming and she is fine in the film. She is a good companion to Farrell and I liked how their characters build this dynamic and progress throughout the film. 

Tilda Swinton has a role in this film as Blithe and when she is on screen she is great, she just isn't used that much. The chemistry between her and Farrell is clear and is handled pretty well. 

The rest of the cast are functional but don't really offer much, even Chen and Swinton don't do that much. This is the Farrell show and that does affect the overall group of characters presented here. 

Story

The story is basically how one mans life can go downhill as quickly as possible and in terms of that it handles it pretty well as I did feel for Lord Doyle and wanted to see him get out of the rut that he is in. However, I think that is more down to Farrell's performance as the story is pretty dull and though there is an interesting twist towards the end of the film, it didn't quite hit the mark for me as much as it really could have done. 

Script

There is some decent writing here, especially when it comes down to Lord Doyle and his way of trying to get out of different situations. But the film does lack some dramatic moments and isn't funny so it doesn't go as far as it really needed. 

Style

The film is set in Macau and it looks beautiful and is a nice fresh location on film. Also the first act of the film moves at a great pace and is shot beautifully. However, the films pacing grinds to a halt and basically kills all of the momentum that the film had and made the final act feel a bit underwhelming. 

Overall

Overall, Ballad of a Small Player is an Above Average Film and that is mostly due to a great Colin Farrell performance. It is a nice film to look at but it lacks lots of substance and just needed better writing to make it stand out, so probably only worth a watch if you are a big Colin Farrell Fan. 

Rating - 6/10

Tron: Ares (2025) Review

After 15 years, we finally have another Tron film and with our huge advances in technology there should be big hopes for Tron: Ares and I managed to finally give it a review today so here is my review for Tron: Ares. The premise of the film sees a programme from the grid sent into the real world in order to undertake a mission. 

Main Character

Jared Leto plays Ares and he does an okay job. Now, though his career recently has been a bit of a mixed bag, I really do think he is a great actor and he is really trying his best here to make this character interesting. But Ares just falls a bit flat for me, his character arc is really rushed through and it makes him a pretty forgettable protagonist. 

Supporting Characters

Greta Lee plays Eve Kim and I actually like her character. She is the new chairwoman of Encom and she is looking to help the world but she actually has some personality to her and somebody who actually seems worth rooting for. 

Jodie Turner-Smith plays another programme called Athena and I thought she was great. There was just a presence about her intimidating role and there was definitely some development in her character, I just wish there had been more. 

Evan Peters plays Julian Dillinger and he was an over the top generic bad guy. I mean Peters is a good actor and he is clearly committed here but there is nothing for him to really do in the film and he kind of gets forgotten about. 

The great Gillian Anderson plays his mother in this film and she is completely wasted, she could have been played by anybody and she was just a pointless character that was super cliché and poorly written.

Story 

The story has some good themes to it and at least tries to give some of the characters arcs throughout. It also tries some new things in an attempt to refresh the franchise. But this story has no meat on it and feels incredibly rushed, it moves so quickly through it that it doesn't give us anything to make us really care, it is definitely style over substance. 

Script

The Script has some decent moments, I actually chuckled a few times which I wasn't expecting from this film. But the writing is overall pretty weak and doesn't allow the characters or plot to shine in a way that it could have. 

Style

The style of this film is beautiful. Tron films have always really focused on its style but this film really nails it. It feels really grand in scale and finally delivers on what it wanted to back in the 1980s. The film flowed really well and it is just hard to take your eyes off of this beautiful film. 

Overall

Overall, Tron: Ares is an Above Average Film and is actually my favourite film in the franchise. It is frustrating as I truly believe this could have been a fantastic film and it falls way short of that. But when it comes available on a streaming service I would say it is potentially worth a watch. 

Rating - 6/10