Movie reviews of Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen

Caddo Lake is the kind of rich mystery that, despite perhaps sometimes showing its cards a little too early on for me, really makes you think about the fates of the characters and the events in life that seem impossible to explain. Review

Gary Dauberman's Salem's Lot adaptation won’t be the definitive version as it is far too superficial of an adaptation to be that but, nonetheless, there are a good number of fast thrills along the way, and its moments of sufficient style made it so that I still had a good time with it despite its obvious drawbacks. Review

There are some things that I think are competent-enough about the film, despite some massive issues related to tone, pace (it feels much longer than it is), acting (though J.K. Simmons is perfectly fine in this, everyone around him struggles mightily to get anywhere close to the performance he is delivering), and writing. Review

Lawrence Sher’s cinematography is one of the film’s key highlights. So, despite the issues that the vocal majority of the internet is running with, there are legitimate things to praise about this fascinating but also deeply flawed sequel. Review

Despite being a noteworthy reunion for two movie stars, they are shockingly outshone by a relative newcomer, while the film, despite its eventual magnetic movie star charms, doesn’t feel like anything special, which is a huge missed opportunity given the talent involved. Review

Inside Out 2 is a really well-designed Pixar sequel that hits on all of the elements that made the first film great. It may be somewhat familiar and it may not be as emotionally impactful, but it still features inventive animation, great comedy, and exceptional and well-chosen vocal performances. Review

I’d still recommend this documentary to people who know nothing about this strange and cruel chapter of television history. Review

McAvoy predictably delivers a gloriously entertaining performance, as he always does in thrillers, and that alone will be enough, for many, to be excited by the competent remake, even if it is, ultimately, not particularly necessary. Review

It’s messy and overcrowded, and the ultimate climax of the film, which is the point of the film that feels the most like a trite and safe legacy sequel, isn’t as fresh as you would’ve hoped. That said, there is more than enough in this doubly named sequel that works... Review

Rebel Ridge is a brilliant showcase for its central, triple threat filmmaker, Jeremy Saulnier, and its lead actor, Aaron Pierre. Review

Warts and all, I had a good time with this film. It is a perfectly fine debut that pulls off great work from its enormously talented leading ladies. It never quite reaches the heights of Hitchcock, but that would be an unreasonable standard to hold anyone to in their debut. Review

Despite spending decades in the pipeline, it has ended up as nothing more than a forgettable and unnecessary late-summer movie season update on a beloved 90s cult hit. Review

It’s funny, oddly sweet in moments, freaky, occasionally sexy, and absolutely thrilling — the runtime flew by, for me. Review

On the whole, although it is perhaps slightly uneven and has notable warts, Blink Twice is a solid and relatively promising start to Zoë Kravitz’s career as a feature director. Review

Spaeny does a phenomenal job of telling a lot with very few speaking lines, as her nuanced work helps to give you somewhat of an idea of how she feels. Review

It is a relatively safe playing of the hits that does, however, have moments of greatness in its evocation of the film series’ classic horror roots, as well as a small handful of clever new sequences. Review

Deadpool & Wolverine is an entertaining and unashamed theme park ride of a superhero film that knows exactly what it is and has a lot of fun with what it is... Review

Twisters is an exciting Hollywood blockbuster disaster film that is packed with pretty much everything you could ask for, including a super entertaining performance from one of Hollywood’s rising stars, who manages to give the film a needed boost of energy and charisma right when it starts to feel too much like a retread. Review

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a messy end to the DCEU. It features a jumbled overall narrative, a bunch of actors that have been wasted, a tonal mishmash, and so many jokey references to better superhero films that it ends up feeling like the film is shooting itself in its own foot — or, should I say, fin? Review

The key strengths of A Quiet Place: Day One are the core performances, its moments of great poignancy and beauty, and the ways this film feels connected to the sensibilities of its primary filmmaker, Michael Sarnoski. Admittedly, I don’t think it comes close to being as effective as the first film in the series... Review

Despite its well-trodden narrative elements and its overall predictability, Gareth Edwards’ The Creator succeeds thanks to touching character moments, a capable cast, great sci-fi action filmmaking, and jaw-droppingly good visuals. Review

An extremely entertaining and charming romantic dark comedy... Review

It is a biblical and mythological revenge coming-of-age saga soaked in gasoline that includes intriguing and important politics, gorgeous visuals, great performances, and memorable set-pieces. Review

But despite its structure and its obvious and convenient ending, I will say that I did enjoy this a fair bit. Although I do think the narrative underserved David Corenswet, I thought Lucy Boynton and Justin H. Min brought a charming and realistic on-screen presence... Review