by Josh Sewell
Masters of the Universe
(Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence/action, some suggestive material and language. Opens in theaters on June 5.)
The premise: In this big-screen adaptation of the popular 1980s cartoon and toy line, Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) comes back to Eternia after a 15-year absence only to discover his home is ruled by the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man.
The verdict: It’s tough to capture the nostalgic feeling of an ’80s kids show, but director Travis Knight pulls it off with the help of screenwriter Chris Butler (working from a previous screenplay by Aaron Nee, Adam Nee and Dave Callaham), along with a cast who totally gets the campy tone the filmmakers are going for. Look, a movie called Masters of the Universe isn’t going to achieve a spot in the pantheon of all-time classics, but it understands the silly target it’s aiming for.
Galitzine, Mendes and Elba are fantastic, handling the action sequences and comedic moments with equal aplomb. I hate to admit it, but Leto is also great. The usually annoying (and super problematic) actor never appears on screen, but his vocal performance is genuinely funny and nails what makes Skeletor an entertaining villain.
The special effects are average for a massive blockbuster, adding a cheesy element that might not be intentional but hits the spot regardless. It’s also way too long for a flick aimed at older kids, clocking in at almost two-and-a-half hours.
I’m not sure what the franchise’s future looks like (considering the astronomical budget), but I’d love to see a follow-up with these actors and creatives. At the very least, this adaptation is a lot better than the awful 1987 version with Dolph Lundgren and future Friends star Courteney Cox.
Grade: B-
Backrooms
(Rated R for language and some violent content/bloody images. Now playing in theaters.)
The premise: Based on director Kane Parsons’ massively popular web series, this horror flick centers on furniture store owner Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who discovers a dimension of seemingly endless liminal spaces accessed through the basement of the store. When he disappears, his therapist Mary (Renate Reinsve) sets out to find him, encountering unexplainable terrors.
The verdict: After decades of studios mostly catering to my specific tastes, Backrooms is the movie that made me realize I’m no longer Hollywood’s target demographic. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course – it’s just not helping with my ongoing midlife crisis.
The first half of Parsons’ flick drew me in thanks to solid performances from Oscar nominees Ejiofor and Reinsve, along with Danny Vermette’s genuinely creepy production design. I just wish the rest of the film maintained that air of mystery and intensity.
Will Soodik’s screenplay accomplishes the bare minimum, setting up characters who explore the titular backrooms. However, he fails to establish them as people we should care about. Parsons and Soodik also commit two cardinal horror movie sins – the protagonists don’t act like real people (some of their conversations could’ve been generated by ChatGPT) and nothing is genuinely scary.
Sure, the liminal spaces within Clark’s furniture store are unsettling, but nothing that happens there scared me. Oddly enough, it made me think about the 1995 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s novella The Langoliers. That wasn’t great either, but director Tom Holland (not the current Spider-Man, obviously) understood that people were just as important as creepy settings.
As I watched Ejiofor and Reinsve stumble their way through bland office buildings and dull furniture, I wished their acting capabilities could’ve elevated the lackluster story surrounding them. When the movie cut to the end credits, I sighed because the inevitable sequel isn’t going to be worth the anticlimactic ending leading up to it.
Grade: D+
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
(Not rated but contains language, sexuality and thematic elements. Now available to own or rent On Digital.)
The premise: From its origins as a London rock musical to its meteoric rise, fall and resurrection as the biggest cult film of all time, this documentary chronicles the full history of The Rocky Horror Show. Directed by Linus O’Brien (the son of Rocky Horror creator Richard O’Brien), the film includes interviews with O’Brien, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and many more. It also explores what makes the show and film such a beloved phenomenon.
The verdict: The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a flawed movie, but the excellent music and totally committed actors make it worth watching. It’s also a highly effective time capsule, shining a light on a segment of society that was ridiculed throughout the 1970s and 1980s (when they weren’t being persecuted or outright ignored).
Linus O’Brien – using his nepo baby powers for good to interview almost everyone involved with the stage and film versions – focuses on that aspect of that film in the second half with several poignant fan testimonials. However, in the first half, he takes viewers through his father’s journey of conceiving the show, writing the songs (Richard O’Brien performs some acoustic versions, proving he’s still got a great voice for someone in his 80s) and finding the perfect cast.
That’s where Strange Journey really shines. I had a big grin on my face listening to O’Brien, Curry, Sarandon, Bostwick and so many others reflect on their time associated with Rocky Horror. Hardcore fans probably won’t hear anything new, but this is a great way for the average viewer to learn a lot of compelling info about one of the most adored cult films of all time.
Grade: B+
(Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence/action, some suggestive material and language. Opens in theaters on June 5.)
The premise: In this big-screen adaptation of the popular 1980s cartoon and toy line, Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) comes back to Eternia after a 15-year absence only to discover his home is ruled by the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man.
The verdict: It’s tough to capture the nostalgic feeling of an ’80s kids show, but director Travis Knight pulls it off with the help of screenwriter Chris Butler (working from a previous screenplay by Aaron Nee, Adam Nee and Dave Callaham), along with a cast who totally gets the campy tone the filmmakers are going for. Look, a movie called Masters of the Universe isn’t going to achieve a spot in the pantheon of all-time classics, but it understands the silly target it’s aiming for.
Galitzine, Mendes and Elba are fantastic, handling the action sequences and comedic moments with equal aplomb. I hate to admit it, but Leto is also great. The usually annoying (and super problematic) actor never appears on screen, but his vocal performance is genuinely funny and nails what makes Skeletor an entertaining villain.
The special effects are average for a massive blockbuster, adding a cheesy element that might not be intentional but hits the spot regardless. It’s also way too long for a flick aimed at older kids, clocking in at almost two-and-a-half hours.
I’m not sure what the franchise’s future looks like (considering the astronomical budget), but I’d love to see a follow-up with these actors and creatives. At the very least, this adaptation is a lot better than the awful 1987 version with Dolph Lundgren and future Friends star Courteney Cox.
Grade: B-
(Rated R for language and some violent content/bloody images. Now playing in theaters.)
The premise: Based on director Kane Parsons’ massively popular web series, this horror flick centers on furniture store owner Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who discovers a dimension of seemingly endless liminal spaces accessed through the basement of the store. When he disappears, his therapist Mary (Renate Reinsve) sets out to find him, encountering unexplainable terrors.
The verdict: After decades of studios mostly catering to my specific tastes, Backrooms is the movie that made me realize I’m no longer Hollywood’s target demographic. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course – it’s just not helping with my ongoing midlife crisis.
The first half of Parsons’ flick drew me in thanks to solid performances from Oscar nominees Ejiofor and Reinsve, along with Danny Vermette’s genuinely creepy production design. I just wish the rest of the film maintained that air of mystery and intensity.
Will Soodik’s screenplay accomplishes the bare minimum, setting up characters who explore the titular backrooms. However, he fails to establish them as people we should care about. Parsons and Soodik also commit two cardinal horror movie sins – the protagonists don’t act like real people (some of their conversations could’ve been generated by ChatGPT) and nothing is genuinely scary.
Sure, the liminal spaces within Clark’s furniture store are unsettling, but nothing that happens there scared me. Oddly enough, it made me think about the 1995 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s novella The Langoliers. That wasn’t great either, but director Tom Holland (not the current Spider-Man, obviously) understood that people were just as important as creepy settings.
As I watched Ejiofor and Reinsve stumble their way through bland office buildings and dull furniture, I wished their acting capabilities could’ve elevated the lackluster story surrounding them. When the movie cut to the end credits, I sighed because the inevitable sequel isn’t going to be worth the anticlimactic ending leading up to it.
Grade: D+
(Not rated but contains language, sexuality and thematic elements. Now available to own or rent On Digital.)
The premise: From its origins as a London rock musical to its meteoric rise, fall and resurrection as the biggest cult film of all time, this documentary chronicles the full history of The Rocky Horror Show. Directed by Linus O’Brien (the son of Rocky Horror creator Richard O’Brien), the film includes interviews with O’Brien, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and many more. It also explores what makes the show and film such a beloved phenomenon.
The verdict: The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a flawed movie, but the excellent music and totally committed actors make it worth watching. It’s also a highly effective time capsule, shining a light on a segment of society that was ridiculed throughout the 1970s and 1980s (when they weren’t being persecuted or outright ignored).
Linus O’Brien – using his nepo baby powers for good to interview almost everyone involved with the stage and film versions – focuses on that aspect of that film in the second half with several poignant fan testimonials. However, in the first half, he takes viewers through his father’s journey of conceiving the show, writing the songs (Richard O’Brien performs some acoustic versions, proving he’s still got a great voice for someone in his 80s) and finding the perfect cast.
That’s where Strange Journey really shines. I had a big grin on my face listening to O’Brien, Curry, Sarandon, Bostwick and so many others reflect on their time associated with Rocky Horror. Hardcore fans probably won’t hear anything new, but this is a great way for the average viewer to learn a lot of compelling info about one of the most adored cult films of all time.
Grade: B+
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com or on BlueSky @joshsewell.bsky.social
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