Movie reviews of Sandy Schaefer

Harmlessly silly on the whole, but may even leave fans of the previous Johnny English movies feeling underwhelmed. Review

Driven by a committed Curtis, Halloween is mostly effective in the way it takes the slasher franchise back to its roots, yet builds on its foundation. Review

Well-acted and handles a sensitive topic with the care it deserves, yet ends up being an 'important' film more than a well-made one. Review

Blends atmospheric storytelling with grisly brutality to mixed results, but makes for an effectively nasty (and bizarre) horror movie overall. Review

Lacks the charm and inventiveness of its predecessor, but still has a reasonable amount of spoopy entertainment value to offer. Review

Despite some general storytelling issues, Greengrass succeeds in delivering another well-crafted and intelligent docudrama-thriller... Review

Fueled by strong performances and Cooper's precise direction, A Star is Born is a moving (and tear-jerking) love story by way of showbiz melodrama. Review

A pleasantly breezy cops and (aging) robbers tale anchored by Redford's charismatic performance - be it his last one or not. Review

A clumsy, but ambitious directorial debut for Barinholtz and provides a blisteringly satirical examination of the modern political divide. Review

Aims to revitalize the sci-fi action franchise with fresh ideas, but succeeds at delivering mindless action more than cohesive mythology. Review

A thinly-sketched Conjuring spinoff that's light on real scares, but offers enough stylish atmosphere to make up (some of) the difference. Review

A gripping adaptation that's more Gothic drama than horror-thriller, but may haunt you long after its credits are done rolling. Review

An effectively stark prison escape (and survival) adventure with solid performances, but only digs so deep into its themes and characters. Review

Isn't lacking when it comes to hard-hitting action, but is undone by its confused narrative and over-rushed attempt at franchise-building. Review

An entertaining underwater monster movie and summer thrill ride that wholeheartedly embraces its inherent cheesiness without overdoing it. Review

A re-imagining full of heart and soul that, like the best Disney features, has something of value to offer audiences of all ages. Review

An enjoyable female buddy romp that delivers sharp action and solid laughs - despite its shortcomings as a spy movie parody. Review

A well-crafted dramatization of real events and one of Spike Lee's more effective cinematic sermons on racism in recent memory. Review

Not only (easily) the best pure action movie of Summer 2018, it's also the perfect culmination of the Mission: Impossible films thus far. Review

Offers a jubilant return to the unapologetically silly world of the original ABBA stage musical-turned movie. Review

Masterfully captures the emotional horror of being a Generation Z middle-schooler, yet tells a universally relatable coming of age story. Review

Fueled by quietly moving performances and personal storytelling, Leave No Trace makes for a tender portrait of a broken father and his daughter. Review

As schlocky and ham-fisted as the Purge films before it, yet its political subtext justifies the franchise's continued existence. Review

A competent thriller but, without the original Sicario's artistic flourishes and substance, it's somewhat forgettable. Review