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Movie Reviews

BROKEN LAND – Award-Worthy Texas Western with Deep Natural Humanistic Connection

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Directed by Joseph T. Walker
Written by Joseph T. Walker and Christopher C. Young
Starring David Morse (as Carson Tidwell), Jaklyn Bejarano (as Irene Romero), Bill Heck (as Harley Tidwell)

Synopsis: Carson Tidwell, a secluded rancher, inadvertently shoots Irene Romero, a pregnant undocumented immigrant who was trespassing on his land. He has second thoughts and decides to hide her from his estranged son Harley, a Border Patrol agent. Carson and Irene form a redemptive bond.

Although the film reflects the underlying dangers of those taking extreme risks migrating to the United States in search of a better, safer life from their country of origin, there is much more to the storyline than just migration. It encompasses a man being wrecked by quiet remorse after the passing of his wife that came with serious repercussions, which led to the arising tension with his son. By choosing to support a pregnant woman through her journey, he finally experiences true peace and liberation.

Director Joseph T. Walker filmed Broken Land in the rustic areas of Alice and Freer, Texas which brings authenticity to the storyline. Walker captures the rugged yet majestic Texas scenery with its picturesque sunsets in the cattle capital. Utilizing these specific locations anchored the film’s tone and his beautiful use of animals symbolized deeper thematic elements that illuminate the characters’ true nature, allowing to instill an empathetic relation to their experiences.

David Morse naturally embodied the spirit of a Texas cattleman. The highly respected actor and extraordinary Hollywood gem gave an impeccable performance that elevated the material with Jaklyn Bejarano. Bejarano, an actress from Mexico, showcased remarkable devotion to her role being transformative and reflecting absolute emotional vulnerability. Their most notable work transpired while defining conflict amidst their characters and moving toward a shared resilience. There is a notable linguistic barrier between Morse and Bejarano, which they cleverly used as an opportunity to establish a connection that brought their characters closer. It was captivating and felt deeply connected throughout every scene.

The title, Broken Land, perfectly fits the description of anyone who isolates themselves in desolation after a traumatic experience. This profoundly impactful film has a deeply humanistic narrative that focuses heavily on human worth, empathy, and establishing a natural connection. I believe this film is award-worthy for its original cinematography and outstanding performances.

Broken Land is available on video on demand (VOD) starting June 12, 2026.

Watch my interview with Director Joseph T. Walker and distinguished actor David Morse.

Sabrina "Kiddo" is the newest member of Countdown City Geeks and is a contributor of movie and television show reviews. Her passion for film derived from her college days where her rhetoric-writing professor focused on the aspects of screenwriting and music lyrics. She also has a knack for memorizing and repeating movie quotes, catchphrases.

Movie Reviews

DISCLOSURE DAY – Radiant as a Meteor that Fizzles Out Into the Night Sky

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Directed by Steven Speilberg
Screenplay by David Koepp

Starring: Emily Blunt (Margaret Farichild), Josh O’Connor (Daniel Keliner), Colin Firth (Noah Scanton), Eve Hewson (Jane Blankenship), Colman Domingo (Hugo Wakefield)

Synopsis: A government whistleblower races the clock to expose decades of state secrets and that will fracture human history: we are not alone, and they are already here.

Being one of the most anticipated films by Steven Spielberg – notable for his masterful technique in visual storytelling – Disclosure Day meets the base line sci-fi thriller expectations through its dramatic characters, visually elaborate cinematography and microbursts of action. However, it appears that it did not match the impact of his legendary films that have pioneered a standard of excellence.

The all-star cast held the line together sustaining the film in a uniform effort. There were slight standouts from Josh O’Connor with his approach of complex inner conflict blended with emotional intelligence. He was a great counterweight to his costars: Eve Hewson’s dynamic exceling in psychological thrillers, and Emily Blunt’s craft of enduring pressure with fierce determination. Their action sequences delivered edge-of-your seat captivating thrills that were relentlessly entertaining.

While the topic of government cover-up on extraterrestrials is intriguing, Spielberg leaned heavily on nostalgic repetition of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind with the added bonus excitement of Indiana Jones. He did incorporate effective touches of deep animal symbolism that layered the narrative of humanity and spiritual faith. However, the film’s impact was undermined by an anticlimactic “disclosure” of the outer space visitor. The production design was noticeably a half-hearted attempt to phone in the main prop reveal.

Disclosure Day is an average watch. It offers flashes of brilliance like a meteor but ultimately fizzles out into the night sky.


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Movie Reviews

Into the Unknown: Reviewing ‘From the Beyond: High Strangeness in the Bennington Triangle’

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In this video, we take a deep dive into the mysterious and unsettling documentary ‘From the Beyond: High Strangeness in the Bennington Triangle’.

Exploring one of America’s most infamous paranormal hotspots, this film examines eerie disappearances, strange sightings, and the chilling folklore surrounding Vermont’s Bennington Triangle. We break down the documentary’s storytelling, evidence, interviews, and overall atmosphere—does it truly uncover something unexplainable, or does it leave more questions than answers?

If you’re into unsolved mysteries, paranormal phenomena, and high strangeness, this one’s for you.


Synopsis: Since the mid twentieth century, a mysterious section of land in rural Vermont has been the home of untold strangeness. Rumors of UFOs, ghosts, phantom lights and mysterious creatures can all be found there in abundance, while verified reports of odd disappearances – many still unsolved – cast a shadow over Glastenbury Mountain. From the Beyond: High Strangeness in the Bennington Triangle goes beyond the rumors and campfire stories, while daring to ask what may be the most frightening question of all – why is Glastenbury Mountain so inexplicable, and what happened to those who have gone missing?

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Movie Reviews

THE SHITHEADS aka IDIOTS – Sticky, Icky, and Out of Control

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The Shitheads, now renamed Idiots, was showcased during the 2026 SXSW festival and is scheduled for a theatrical release in August of this year. The film is directed by Macon Blair which he co-wrote with Alex Orr, starring Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Mason Thames. The plot is driven by a couple of underachievers taking on what should be an effortless task of transporting an affluent teen to a rehab center, but this intellectually predatory teen throws them off course.

It didn’t quite reach the heights it aimed for. I was anticipating this dark comedy to be an exciting adventure, bursting with laughs, but it was frustrating like your car getting a flat tire. The characters are defined by basic emotions-anger and confusion-but nothing beyond that. The movie never explores them, so it’s difficult to empathize. When faced with several misfortunes, they lack impact because the audience has no emotional connection.  The weak characters are just along for the ride, dictated by the script rather than the narrative cohesion, making that “road to nowhere” feel long and exhausting. It spends a lot of time lingering on repulsive comedy scenes that not even a jumbo roll of toilet paper could wipe up this mess. It can get sticky, icky and out of control.

Mason Thames, however, made chicken salad out of… well, you know. He impressed me with his performance, a revelation role of a charismatic irritant-sociopathic, spoiled, privileged brat. Thames could have elevated his character to higher levels and carry the film to the finish line. While critically acclaimed renowned actor Peter Dinklage had a brief cameo, it served as a tantalizing preview of the chemistry he might share with Mason Thames for a future team-up.

There is a much better movie buried somewhere inside the pile of Idiots. The underlying premise has potential, but the film eventually stalls under the coherent thematic arc and inconsistent pacing. It’s not a disaster by any means, but it is a disappointing work of inspired fragments rather than a cohesive narrative that falls short of being essential cinema.

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