So often we take for granted the time spent with friends, thinking the good times and light troublemaking will never end. I’m willing to bet most if not all would do it all over if given the opportunity. Rocky’s follows six friends who reunite under unfortunate circumstances, but their unique dynamic hasn’t faltered. The parking lot of the Rocky’s deli shop, where they spent most of their time outside of high school, is the setting for this film. You see yourself conversing with your own friends when hearing their banter. The writing is witty, the characters are all well-defined, and you really enjoy the group as a whole, dare I say would want to even join them. Rocky’s is an enjoyable self-contained story about friends converging later in life but falling back into familiar habits. Watch the film starting today on digital platforms and catch the trailer below.

Growing up, Charlie and his friends spent their days loitering in the parking lot of Rocky’s, the neighborhood 24/7 deli. Years later, after drifting apart during their college years, Charlie receives word that an ex-girlfriend has tragically died. He returns home ahead of the funeral, aware that there are some people that it will be awkward to see. His first stop is Rocky’s, where he runs into a cast of characters from his past; some are happy to see him, others are not. In real-time, Charlie’s old crew reconnects to confront past wounds, eat a few sandwiches and face the reality that they’ve grown up, whether they want to admit it or not.

ROCKY’S stars Stanley Simmons (The Iron Claw, Superior), Ben Cook (West Side Story, Pretty Little Liars), Gil Perez-Abraham (The Batman, Carry On), Jasai Chase Owens (Mutt, The Expanse), Ani Mesa (Superior), Sharlene Cruz (In The Summers), Steven Maier (Omni Loop), Brandon Lindsay (A Soldier’s Play – National Tour), and introducing Dante Palimteri and Dani Foster. The film was co-written and directed by Benjamin Cohen and Max Strand and produced by Josh Michaels, James Benson, and Grant Curatola.  Gravitas Ventures will release ROCKY’S on digital platforms on January 21, 2025. 

Talk about perfect timing to release a horror film, right after the first full moon of 2025, which is known as the wolf moon. Blumhouse is known to produce amazing horror movies without the large budget and granting directors the freedom of creativity. Wolf Man has all the right elements for delivering a fantastic terror thriller movie.

Director Leigh Whannell once again raises the bar for the new era of horror films. He knows how to get into the mind of the audience and lures them into a psychological nightmare. Whannell stuck with the Blumhouse tradition with the main plot being set in a home– a place where you typically consider to have a sense of security, a home sweet home feeling. Then, the terrifying atmosphere begins to set in as soon as rug is pulled from underneath you and the warm feeling is gone.

The storyline has a unique approach about a father-son-daughter relationship and mother- daughter relationship that applies the supernatural werewolf theme. Wolf Man has the ideal cast that were able to convert and adapt their characters gradually throughout the scenes. Christopher Abbott as Blake delivered an impressive performance, especially transforming from a subdued father to bring out his inner animal. Julia Garner as Charlotte, Blake’s wife, did well transforming from a city dweller to finding her grit to survive and protect her daughter, Ginger – played by adorable and witty Matilda Firth.

Whannell also used distinctive camera angles and styles that immerses the audience into Blake’s viewpoint when he is transitioning into a wolf man. The slow heavy breathing and deep low vibrating sound effects also added to the chilling experience. The make-up special effects department did an exceptional work with the disintegrating tissue and detaching limbs. There are plenty of gruesome scenes that will have you squirming and popping out of your seat, even pulling your hair. If you are familiar with Whannell’s work, you will even notice some references to Saw and M3GAN.

The ending did leave a bit of a cliffhanger. It will have your mind wondering and forming your own conclusions, a great way to make discussions with your movie companions. Wolf Man will be sure to satisfy the appetite of horror film fanatics.

Synopsis

Written and starring the hilarious Nick Frost, ‘Get Away‘ puts a slight spin on previous horror films such as “Midsommar‘. You get everything from the humor to the gore that you expect from a Nick Frost film and there are some twists you won’t see coming. Catch it now on the Shudder streaming service and let us know what you think in the comments.

Synopsis: The Smith family’s much-needed vacation to the remote Swedish island of Svalta takes a dark turn when they arrive during preparations for a mysterious local festival that celebrates a dark history. Unsettled by the unfriendly locals and strange rituals, they try to make the best of their trip, stubbornly enjoying the island’s isolation and natural beauty. However, as the festival looms closer, the family realizes something far more sinister is unfolding—especially when they discover that a serial killer is on the loose.