I had a great time with Parker Finn’s original feature Smile. It was a fun flick with great performances. Even still, when I stepped into the theatre for Smile 2, my expectations were in check. And yet, I, along with the rest of the audience, all responded to the new sequel. The surprisingly excellent sequel offers a compelling story that builds on its creepy premise. The kills are intense, and for a longer film, it never wears out its welcome. Much of the success can be given to the talent of its filmmaker, Parker Finn. However, you also have to give credit to the film’s star, Naomi Scott. The actress gives an incredible performance and makes you truly care about her dilemma. Check out our own Chris Bumbray’s review here.

It’s always nice to step into an interview with genuine excitement for the film. And I loved this movie. First up, I spoke with the filmmaker, Parker Finn. He talked about building this cinematic world and casting Naomi Scott in the lead. Next up I had the chance to speak with Ms. Scott. Having interviewed her before, I was more than pleased to talk again. Naomi is excellent here, and she opened up about playing a pop star who is facing a serious crisis in her life. Smile 2 is a terrific horror film, but it’s also incredibly unsettling, and it rarely pulls any punches. It’s more than a little refreshing to see a genuinely great sequel, and for me, this one is certainly up there.

Check out Smile 2 this weekend with a crowd!

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There is something quite creepy about getting lost in the woods. The filmmaking duo Celine Held and Logan George add something unique to that trippy and intriguing story. Caddo Lake stars Dylan O’Brien, Eliza Scanlen, and Diana Hopper. The film explores the disappearance of an 8-year-old girl and the lives it affects. To say too much might be a disservice, as there is much to admire here. All the performances are terrific, but Dylan O’Brien and Eliza Scanlen who stand out in this complex and grounded tale. The two are exceptional, and given the impressive script, it offers both much to work with.

I first interviewed Dylan O’Brien during the press tour of one of the Maze Runner features. He was awesome to interview and has only gotten better. Since then, we’ve spoken often (we just interviewed him about his work in Saturday Night), and frankly, we’ve gained quite a friendly and respectful relationship. I genuinely dig this guy, and he is a fantastic talent. His work in Caddo Lake continues to impress (check out our review). The actor’s character takes on a very personal journey in this story. While there are many secrets, it works due to the grounded nature of the script and the amazing talent bringing their voice to it. And he had much praise for the filmmakers and their creation.

Caddo Lake is refreshingly inventive, with excellent performances from the cast. Check it out this week on Max!

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Do you remember the first scary movie you watched? To be fair, mine was Halloween, so I got an early taste of R-rated terror. However, for many, it was something like The Monster Squad, The Watcher in the Woods, or perhaps The Gate. And now, we have a fun ride with the good and spooky natured, Monster Summer. Featuring Mel Gibson, Lorraine Bracco, and Mason Thames. For Mason, who was terrific in The Black Phone (and will soon be seen in The Black Phone 2), the actor proves that he is one to watch. The actor brings heart to his performance and shines opposite Gibson.

Recently, I sat down with the two, and the legendary Mel Gibson (who we previously interviewed HERE), was full of praise for his younger co-star. Both actors work especially well together, and frankly, it’s not surprising that Thames is getting a ton of work on genre projects. He’s a talented young man, and he brings honesty to both this and, of course, his turn as Finney, opposite Ethan Hawke in The Black Phone. Monster Summer is certainly more in line with a family film, but the Halloween-inspired elements work. If you are in the mood, you might find Monster Summer an early holiday treat.

Here’s the official synopsis: Monster Summer follows a local boy, who after his best friend is mysteriously taken, begins to suspect that a supernatural entity may be hunting the children of Martha’s Vineyard. After seeking the help of an aging detective (Gibson), they soon discover they’re on the path of a witch who has recently retired to their island. 

Monster Summer is heading into theatres this coming Friday, October 4th.

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In 1984, Wes Craven presented to the world an iconic villain, Freddy Krueger. The guy with knives for fingernails and a dirty red and green sweater. And he almost joined the ranks of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, and perhaps, now, may actually be the greatest slasher of all time. Since A Nightmare on Elm Street terrified audiences back then, it has spawned a legacy of sequels. Dream Warriors and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare are my favorites. Still, I have a soft spot for even the weakest entries. However, there’s nothing like the first installment, and seeing A Nightmare on Elm Street recently, with its new transfer (on a Friday the 13th, no less), was incredible. It brought my love of the original film back in the most maniacally mesmerizing ways!

Those in attendance included Charles Bernstein (Composer – Nightmare 1), Jack Sholder (Director – Nightmare 2), Dan Perri (Title Designer Nightmare 1,3,4), Steven Fierberg (Cinematographer – Nightmare 4), John Skipp (Nightmare 5), Rodd Matsui (Nightmare 6), Miko Hughes (New Nightmare), Zack Ward (Freddy vs. Jason), Mark Swift & Damian Shannon (Freddy vs. Jason) and Andrew Kasch (Director – Never Sleep Again doc). Seeing those who’ve worked on the franchise mingle with the dedicated fans in attendance was fantastic.

After the movie, there was a fun question-and-answer session with the guests of honor. Nostalgic Nebula‘s own Cody Chavez took on moderating duties. With that many people on stage simultaneously, you don’t get to focus on each. However, the colorful collection of filmmakers shared terrific stories about Freddy Krueger’s dark history.

A few of my favorite moments came from the legendary composer Charles Bernstein. He discussed the many films he’s scored, with only a handful being genre. Ironically, he’s known for his iconic spooky sounds. He also discussed his feelings now and how it was when he first witnessed the work in print.

“I didn’t know that when I got involved. I was thinking, I don’t think this movie’s going to see the light of day. It was a work print. It was black and white. A lot of scenes were just slugged in because they hadn’t done the visual effects. It was kind of a I honestly didn’t think it was a good idea.

I remember one scene in particular when I was thinking about it tonight. It’s that scene where the plastic tongue comes out of the phone. I was watching the black and white VHS at home. And I just remember when that tongue shot out, I got up and hit the pause button. And I just said, Charles, what are you doing? What is this?

It was one of those moments where I just was kind of baffled by the style. And yet, one of the beautiful things about Wes [Craven], he was a beautiful man, and I loved working with him. He knew how to put some humor in, the way Hitchcock could do that and some other great directors. And I realized there’s a lot of little touches, like when she says, you know, she looks, “Oh my God, I look 20,” or whatever, that there’s humor in there.”

The evening was a beautiful tribute to the stunning legacy created by the great Wes Craven. I’m still blown away by the power that this wild, scary, and funny classic still has. With Halloween just a month away, now is a good time to celebrate with the legends of horror and remember so very fondly the Nightmare that Wes built.

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Matt Reeves take on The Batman brought us Colin Farrell. The actor blew me away. His performance as Oz Cobb/The Penguin was exceptional thanks to the many elements with it. It was a sublime introduction to an intriguing character. And I’m extremely happy that the Max TV series The Penguin, which follows the events of the 2022 film, is outstanding on every level. From the first episode, you get a sense of how deeply they explore every single character. Mr. Farrell gives one of his best performances. And frankly, this is one of the most complex and fascinating villain stories I’ve beyond enjoyed tuning into. You can check out Alex Maidy’s rave review here. In it, he calls it a masterpiece. I tend to agree.

I first had the opportunity to meet and interview Colin Farrell back with In Bruges. Throughout the years, I’ve grown to genuinely admire and respect him. Farrell is an exceptional talented actor. As well, he is a supremely kind human being with a generous and giving nature. As evidence, he created the Colin Farrell Foundation in hopes of making the lives of those with Intellectual Disabilities much easier “through education, advocacy, and innovative programs.” Something that means a whole lot.

For us at JoBlo we’d like to thank Mr. Farrell for an amazing chat. As always, it was wonderful to see him. A great actor, great human being, and someone I love talking to. As we began our conversation, Colin gave one of the best responses to any question regarding his hope that people enjoy The Penguin. He talked about bringing all of the elements together, and the amazing cast and crew that have gathered to tell this crime story. The man is one of my favorite guys in Hollywood. And one hell of a fantastic actor.

The Penguin premieres this Thursday, September 19th.

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Never Let Go is definitely one of the most highly anticipated genre movies of the fall season. The latest from Alexandre Aja features Halle Berry, Anthony B. Jenkins, and Percy Daggs IV is one that resonated with me big time. In it, a mother and her children are tormented by a malicious spirit which keeps them, literally, tied to the foundations of their home. At its heart, it has an amazing performance from star Halle Berry, who grounds the horror somewhat. The sweet and loving nature of her relationship with her children is beautifully played out. But, it also has plenty of horror elements baked in, which show off Aja’s amazing talent for the genre in a big way. Recently, I had the chance to interview Berry, Jenkins, and Daggs, and I found it to be an utterly charming experience.

First off, I’ve never had the chance to talk to Ms. Berry before. She is a spectacularly sweet person, and I’m still giddy about how damn cool she is. It was so enjoyable just talking with her and her co-stars. We chatted about playing this kind of role and her connection to horror. Both Anthony and Percy were very easy to talk to. They had such great energy that it was clear why they worked as well as they did, casting-wise, in the film.

I also had the chance to chat with Alexandre Aja. We’ve spoken on a couple of projects before, and he is always a very friendly guy. And I still have such a ridiculous love for Haute Tension (even with that twist). We discussed how he approached dealing with the themes involved in the film. And it was clear that this was a movie-making experience that meant a lot to Barry and the rest of the cast. I dug it a lot.

Scripted by KC Coughlin and Ryan Grassby, Never Let Go follows a mother (Berry) and her fraternal twin sons (Daggs and Jenkins) who have been tormented by an evil spirit for years and are convinced to never let go of their family’s protective bond. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, their connection is severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival. Here’s a different version of the synopsis: As Evil takes over the world beyond their front doorstep, the only protection for a mother (Berry) and her twin sons is their house and their family’s protective bond. Needing to stay connected at all times – even tethering themselves with ropes – they cling to one another, urging each other to never let go. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.

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Most of you would love to be able to converse with your future or former selves. I know I would. That brings us to My Old Ass. This charming and occasionally heartbreaking flick tells the story of a girl named Elliott (Maisy Stella) and her 39-year-old self, played by Aubrey Plaza. It’s a terrific feature from the very talented filmmaker Megan Park. It’s a bright, honest, bold story that offers Stella the chance to shine in the leading role. The actress is stunning in an authentic and emotional take on a young woman discovering herself. As for the wonderfully funny Plaza, she gave another one of her terrific performances. When covering interviews, frequently, the talent sets the mood. And the mood for the My Old Ass interviews was celebratory. Megan Park, along with Maisy Stella – who I remember as Connie Britton’s daughter in Nashville. Yes, I watched a couple of seasons and enjoyed the hell out of the music. And before I sat down with them, the energy they gave was infectious.

During the conversation, they discussed creating the character of “Elliott,” technically represented by two actors and a director. As for Stella, it was a chance to take on an impressively authentic portrayal. Park opened up about her influences and finding the right cast to portray the role. Finally, the two talked about working with Aubrey Plaza. Both the filmmaker and star gave high praise to Ms. Plaza. Suppose you are looking for something that will charm the hell out of you. My Old Ass is a charmer, and I look forward to seeing more from both Maisy and Park.

My Old Ass has the following synopsis: An 18th-birthday mushroom trip brings Elliott face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self. When the older Elliott starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn’t do, she realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what’s becoming a transformative summer.

Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza are joined in the cast by Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks, Percy Hynes White, Maria Dizzia, Seth Isaac Johnson, and Carter Trozzolo.

My Old Ass is now in theatres. Will you be checking out the film this weekend? Watch the interviews above, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

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One of my favorite guys to interview is Dave Bautista. He admirably takes his craft seriously and continues to impress with each role he plays. The man is freaking talented, and he works at it. And he is one of the kindest guys to talk to. Sitting across from him and Sofia Boutella to discuss their new film The Killer’s Game was a delight. Sofia opened up about being a dancer, which is quite prevalent in the new movie. The two enjoyed each other’s company as their on-screen chemistry expertly translated into an in-person chat beautifully.

Dave Bautista is one of those guys who are genuinely entertaining to watch. In his latest, he portrays an assassin who discovers he has a terminal illness. The feature, directed by J.J. Perry, has fun blending drama, action, and comedy. And it also helps that Mr. Bautista’s co-star is Sofia Boutella. The two are undeniably terrific together. It’s easy to see a little of the modern action influence from films like John Wick. And yes, the R-rated violence and the wild cinematic assassins this creates have a little gleeful fun with a terrific performance from Bautista and Boutella.

After our interview with the actors, we spoke with J.J. Perry, who presented quite an engaging conversation. The filmmaker discussed his approach to the action and the visuals and was thrilled to work with Bautista and Boutella. It’s a fun movie, and clearly, the team behind it enjoyed the bit of genre mash-up that the project presented to them.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis, courtesy of Lionsgate: In the new action-comedy THE KILLER’S GAME, when top hitman Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to take matters into his own hands – by taking a hit out on himself. But when the very hitmen he hired also target his ex-girlfriend (Sofia Boutella), he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it’s too late.

Bautista and Boutella are joined in the cast by Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, White Chicks), Scott Adkins (John Wick: Chapter 4, Dayshift, Avengement), Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Thunder Force, Westworld), and Ben Kingsley (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Sexy Beast, Schindler’s List).

Take a look at our interviews with the director and stars, then check out The Killer’s Game in theatres this Friday.

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I’ve long appreciated the work of filmmaker James Watkins, and his latest is no exception. Speak No Evil – a remake of the excellent Denmark thriller by the same name (read our review of the Danish film HERE) – takes the ordinary and makes it horrific. In it, Ben and Louise (Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis) are a couple on vacation. While there, they run into the charismatic couple Paddy and Clara (James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi). The two families get along well. So much so, Paddy insists they come and spend time with them at home that summer. They take them up on that offer. And no, they shouldn’t have. It’s a taught and scary thriller with exceptional performances from all involved. Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down for interviews with Watkins, McAvoy, Davis, and McNairy.

First, James McAvoy (who reteamed with his Split and Glass producers at Blumhouse for this film) spoke about playing a character as despicable as he can be charming. He is stunning in the role. And during our conversation, James discussed taking on more challenging roles throughout his career. And yes, he is perfect for the role of Paddy. Mackenzie Davis is always a delight, and she is just as terrific here as a woman concerned about the new questionable friends. She opened up about taking on this role and how her character reacts to the madness. It was a fun and fascinating conversation. Ms. Davis is excellent here, and thankfully, her character adds a little sanity to the creepy thriller. I’ve never had the chance to interview Scoot McNairy, and I am glad I did. Scoot may be one of the kindest fellows that you could meet. The man is a joy to talk with. We had a fun conversation about his relationship with the original film. And yes, like the others, he is terrific here. He is a part of a solid cast that will make the movie all the more disturbing.

Finally, we spoke with James Watkins. James and I talked about his own adventures in bleakness with the excellent Eden Lake. However, with Speak No Evil, he took a slightly different turn from the original. And they both work. Rarely does a horror remake match up to the original, but even with the changes, Watkins’s take on Christian Tafdrup’s original is horrifically compelling. Speak No Evil is a fascinating exploration of trust and boundaries and the evil that some men do.

Check out Speak No Evil this Friday at a theatre near you.

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It was Blue Ruin for me. Jeremy Saulnier is the real deal. The talented filmmaker has crafted a few fantastic thrillers, including Green Room and Murder Party. And now, Jeremy explores the battle between an ex-Marine (Aaron Pierre) and a small-town police department led by Chief Burrows (Don Johnson). Rebel Ridge is a stunning thriller. It is a tense new feature that smartly explores the conflict. And yes, both Johnson and Pierre are excellent here. If you have Netflix, I highly recommend checking this out beginning Friday.

Recently, I had the chance to speak with a man who has long been a cinematic hero. Don Johnson, who gave such an iconic turn as Sonny Crockett in the hit series Miami Vice. Speaking to Don was everything I could have hoped. He discussed working with Saulnier and creating a complex and intriguing character. Mr. Johnson is excellent in Rebel Ridge, and what a joy it was chatting about this terrific thriller.

Next, I spoke with both Jeremy Saulnier and Aaron Pierre. I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with Saulnier before, and frankly, the man always impresses. He opened up about bringing on cinematographer David Gallego. Aaron discussed working with the filmmaker and finding the reality in the situation. It’s a powerful flick, guys, and the cast is all terrific .Rebel Ridge is well worth investing in. Look for it on Netflix this week!

Here’s the official synopsis: Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre) enters the town of Shelby Springs on a simple but urgent mission– post bail for his cousin and save him from imminent danger. But when Terry’s life’s savings is unjustly seized by law-enforcement, he’s forced to go head to head with local police chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson) and his combat-ready officers. Terry finds an unlikely ally in court clerk Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb) and the two become ensnared in a deep-rooted conspiracy within the remote township. As the stakes turn deadly, Terry must call upon his mysterious background to break the department’s hold on the community, bring justice to his own family– and protect Summer in the process.

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