Author: Jeff Mitchell

‘The Cursed’ conjures up a strange and spooky cinematic hex

Jeff Mitchell

“The Cursed” (2021) – “She was bitten?  Where is she?” – John McBride (Boyd Holbrook) Both brave and fearful folks will ask these two questions when hearing that a woman is hurt due to “something” terrorizing a small village and regularly ripping human flesh like a twisted animal.  McBride resides in the former camp.  Set in rural 19th-century France, writer/director/cinematographer Sean Ellis’ (“Anthropoid” (2016)) horror movie feels like a throwback to tangible, soiled Hammer Films and a rich, atmospheric 21st-century production.  Many outdoor shots trigger unsettling memories of Robert Eggers’…

‘Dog’ attempts too many tricks during this bumpy but well-intentioned road trip

Jeff Mitchell

“Dog” (2022) – U.S. Army Ranger Jackson Briggs (Channing Tatum) is struggling.  He needs a job. Briggs served in the Middle East for years and lives stateside now but suffers from concussions and post-traumatic stress.  The man searches for a purpose and – hopefully – another military assignment.  However, he deals with more rejection than a ticketless, penniless football fan negotiating with pricey scalpers outside a Super Bowl venue.   Well, finally, an old colleague grants him a chance.  It’s a weekend job but a valuable, salient one.  Sadly, a fellow…

‘Uncharted’ is lost

Jeff Mitchell

“Uncharted” (2022) – “There are places out there you can’t find on any map.  They’re not gone.  They’re just lost.” – Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) “The weather started getting rough.  The tiny ship was tossed.  If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost.”  – “The Ballad of ‘Gilligan’s Island’” “Gillian’s Island” (1964 – 1967), an amusing, silly sitcom of seven castaways stuck on an uncharted island, was joyful candy – 22 minutes every weekday minus the ads – for this latchkey kid during the…