Insidious 3 is the best of the bunch

The Horror Movie Show, hosted as usual by Jerry & Mark, is weighted toward the science-fictionish sort of nastiness, though the first movie reviewed is as close to an old school ghost story as you can find these days.

Insidious Chapter 3 is a starring vehicle for actress Lin Shaye. And about time, too. The versatile & recognizable Shaye has played the psychic Elise Rainier in each of the Insidious movies. This flick gives us her back story. And it’s safe to say this is the best of the three movies in what has been a weak, if popular, franchise.

Jurassic World is one of those summer blockbusters that looks so good up on the big 3-D screen it seems churlish or just plain bad-tempered to tear it apart for its failure to have either a good script or decent acting. Of course, being bad-tempered has never stopped our hosts who chomp a few holes in this prehistoric mess big enough to drive a herd of triceratops through.

Star Leaf is a cute & occasionally humorous independent movie about the greatest ganja the world has ever smoked — because it came from outer space. A fun, funny little flick.

The next two movies share similarities of story — both are about thinking humanoid robots — but one is far superior to the other. Writer-director Alex Garland‘s Ex Machina is sci-fi at its best. Neill Blomkamp‘s Chappie is less successful. However, the two movies would make a good double-bill.

Finally, Closer to God is a stylish wee movie from writer-director Billy Senese. Sort of a modern take on Frankenstein, it settles a little too quickly for violent horror. A shame it didn’t stick with the more cerebral angle of the promising story.