Alien³ (1992)

 

Ripley continues to be stalked by a savage alien, after her escape pod crashes on a prison planet.

Although it has a good premise, all the necessary ingredients and some great visual moments, this movie is from beginning to start incoherent, basically a total mess.

On re-watching: the longer so-called Assembly Cut is a major improvement and offers a more stringent narrative than the original theatrical release.

Halliwell (no star): "Grim, grey sequel that struggles, and fails, to add something new to the now familiar story."

Maltin**: "More-of-the-same sequel...Good performances, some scares, but a definite feeling of deja vu hangs over the proceedings."

 

Aliens (1986)

 

The planet from Alien (1979) has been colonized, but contact is lost so a rescue team with impressive firepower is sent to investigate.

Sensible sequel to a sci-fi classic and upping the ante on suspense and action, although there are some silly moments (alien mother riding the elevator).

On re-watching: A step down from the original, more focused on action, but it certainly delivers the goods.

Halliwell*: "Frightening but mechanical sequel with none of the half-assed poetry of the original."

Maltin***1/2: "Intense, exciting sequel directed by Cameron the same way he did THE TERMINATOR - once it gets going there's just no letup! Weaver is sensational in compelling leading role."

 

Mom and Dad (2017)

 

A teenage girl and her younger brother must survive a wild 24 hours during which a mass hysteria of unknown origin causes parents to turn violently on their own kids.

Good satirical premise has its moments and an enjoyably off-kilter performance by Nicholas Cage, but is really only mildly entertaining.  

Stridulum (1979)

 

The soul of a young girl with telekinetic powers becomes the prize in a fight between forces of God and the Devil. 

After an interesting Jodorowsky-like opening sequence this star-studded horror flick descends into a wildly incohesive Omen wannabee; some weird sequences do make it watchable, though.

Halliwell (no star): "Fussy direction, minimal acting and a plot that makes little sense combine to create an incoherent movie."

Maltin**: "...this passable time-killer wastes a good cast in yet another OMEN rip-off; too bad Huston or Peckinpah couldn't have directed as well." 

Alien³ (1992)

Ripley continues to be stalked by a savage alien, after her escape pod crashes on a prison planet.

Although it has a good premise, all the necessary ingredients and some great visual moments, this movie is from beginning to start incoherent, basically a total mess.

Halliwell (no star): "Grim, grey sequel that struggles, and fails, to add something new to the now familiar story."

Maltin**: "More-of-the-same sequel...Good performances, some scares, but a definite feeling of deja vu hangs over the proceedings."

Screamers: The Hunting (2009)

A group of humans arrive on Sirius 6-B to investigate an SOS signal sent out from the planet, which has been supposedly deserted since the destruction of the man-made weapons known as "screamers."

Mediocre sci-fi horror with some graphic violence and a completely predictable ending.

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

A man robs a bank to pay for his lover's operation; it turns into a hostage situation and a media circus.