From alien mayhem - to a subtitled swoon - and a gritty hometown mystery- this weekend’s releases deliver range, said critic Greg Russell of MovieShowPlus.com, during an appearance on Live in the D’s “Reel Talk” segment.
First up is Predator: Badland, a standalone entry that doesn’t require prior franchise homework. “I give it four reels because it was fun,” Russell said, adding that going the one-off route makes it “its own movie.”
Streaming on Netflix is a romance set at a resort on a mango farm in Spain. Russell called it “a nice little rom com - or rom drama,” noting that while parts are subtitled, much of the film is in English and it’s buoyed by a surprise Motown-heavy soundtrack. He rated it 3.5 reels, saying “the half comes because of the Motown sound,” which includes an opening track by Martha and the Vandellas.
Rounding out the slate is Daughters of the Domino, a Michigan-made crime thriller shot primarily in Romulus. The detective-noir follows estranged sisters who reunite to find a missing child. Russell awarded it four reels. “Michigan made and it is a good movie. It will pull you in,” he said. Director Jesse McAnally described it as “your worst family reunion mixed with Silence of the Lambs,” with the genre’s stakes made personal at every turn.
To watch the segment, click on the video above. For more reviews, interviews and giveaways, visit MovieShowPlus.com.