Witchboard 2 (1993) - Possibly better than it had any right to be

I'd never even heard of 'Witchboard 2' when I decided I was in the mood for some low-budget horror, so I have no idea how it relates to 'part 1' (or even if there was a previous entry that ran narratively into this one).  So, going into 'Witchboard 2,' I really didn’t expect much.  It’s cheap, definitely looks like a made-for-TV movie and the premise isn’t exactly groundbreaking — another story about someone messing around with a Ouija board and getting more than they bargained for.  But, to my surprise, there was actually enough here to keep me entertained all the way through.

The movie leans into its cheap and cheerful charm and, while it’s not scary in any real sense, it moves along with just enough mystery and weirdness to stay engaging.  I even found myself taking a bit of cheeky enjoyment out of it — the kind where you realize you’re having more fun than you probably should be.  Some of the plot twists actually caught me off guard, which is more than I can say for plenty of bigger-budget horror flicks in general.

Sure, it’s not original and it has that unmistakable early-’90s “cable movie” feel, but for what it is, 'Witchboard 2' offers a solid dose of supernatural fun if you're in a particularly forgiving mood.  You could definitely do worse in the world of made-for-TV-style horror, especially if you can watch it for free like I did on a streaming service.

6/10

Marching Powder (2025) - Danny tries Trainspotting 

Believe it or not, I'm actually quite a fan of Danny Dyer.  I don't expect he'll ever win any Oscars, but he's watchable enough to be amusing if given the right role/material.  However, 'Marching Powder' tries hard to blend gritty realism with cheeky British humor, but the result feels a bit confused. The film seems to believe it can channel the spirit of 'Trainspotting' — complete with drug-fueled escapades, introspective monologues and moments of grim social commentary. Unfortunately, it lacks both the talent and the depth to pull it off.

Dyer, while a decent enough actor in the right role, struggles here with the dramatic readings of his lines. His trademark cockney banter and rough-edged charm aren't up to the film’s attempts at serious character development.  It’s as if someone thought, “What if we made a cockney version of Trainspotting?” — only to forget that those introspective, tortured inner monologues don’t quite land without an actor of Ewan McGregor’s emotional range and sheer antihero qualities.

The film isn’t without merit: a few scenes carry that familiar Dyer energy and the direction captures the grime and chaos of London’s underbelly and social tensions.  But the tone is all over the place — one moment it’s a dark comedy, the next it’s a gritty morality play and neither fully sticks the landing.

In the end, 'Marching Powder' feels like a a decent attempt for Dyer to try to be more than his previous roles, but, although it wants to be profound, it ends up as a muddled showcase of him doing only bits of what he does best.

5/10

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) - One big yawn

After the surprisingly okay 'Halloween 4,' here we have the fifth entry in the long-running slasher series which takes a noticeable step back (we're not including the 'Marmite-esque 'Halloween 3: Season of the Witch,' as that didn't feature Michael Myers as the antagonist).  'Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers' tries to continue the story of Jamie Lloyd and her relentless, masked uncle, but the result is a sluggish and unfocused sequel that lacks any of the previous tension and atmosphere that made the 1978 original a classic.

The pacing is one of the biggest letdowns here. For a film about a silent killer (in an inside out William Shatner mask!) stalking small-town victims, Halloween 5 takes way too long to get going, with long stretches where nothing really happens.  The original suspense of John Carpenter’s original are replaced with meandering scenes and virtually no character development.  And, while we're on the subject of the 'characters' (and I use that term loosely!), almost everyone here is hard to like.  The teens are written as generic horror cannon fodder and even Jamie—played again by Danielle Harris—feels more like a plot device than a fully realized person this time around.

Donald Pleasence returns as Dr. Loomis and he gives his usual committed, slightly unhinged performance.  At least his intensity provides a few memorable moments, but even his larger-than-life presence can’t save the muddled story or elevate its dull execution.  By this point, Loomis’s obsession with stopping Michael feels more repetitive than anything else.

Despite Pleasence’s dedication, 'Halloween 5' fails to capture the suspense or spirit of any of its predecessors (I even preferred 'part 3' or any of the Rob Zombie remakes!).  With its slow pace, unlikable cast, and lack of real scares, it’s one of the weaker and more forgettable sequels in the franchise.

4/10