Terror on the Prairie - 3/5

This movie is sufficiently terrifying, despite a few isolated moments of bad acting. The story does not make use of Gina Carano’s fighting ability, but that’s part of the point of the film and it allows her acting to shine. This is her best acting in a role to date, but the real showstealer is Nick Searcy who is riveting as the main villain. However, the pacing is rough and the stakes keep getting shifted in ways that make it a bit difficult to keep up with. And if it bothers you in a film when characters can’t hit a target that’s right in front of them then don’t even try to watch this one, as that constitutes the bulk of the runtime.

Content warning: scalping, attempted rape

Closest comparison: It’s like Once Upon A Time In The West crossed with Meek’s Cutoff.

Setting: Western
Plot: Home Invasion
Tone: Thriller

Scorched Earth (2018) - 2/5

This is a lackluster, low budget, post-apocalyptic attempt at cool action that almost becomes decent. The acting is stage quality for the most part, and while the story has good bones it doesn’t have the writing to carry it through. The film plays fast and loose with the rules of its world and doesn’t rely on them to drive the story or play heavily into its characters, which makes impotent one of its stronger points — the setting. There are enough good bones to this movie, however, that I would be very interested in seeing a big budget remake.

Closest comparison: It’s like Domino (2005) by way of The Book of Eli, but with a much smaller budget.

Setting: Western
Plot: Sci-Fi
Tone: Action

In the Blood (2014) - 4/5

This is a harrowing hostage rescue movie that flips the genre on its head and while firing on all cylinders. It has brutal interrogation scenes reminiscent of Man on Fire that show the lengths people are willing to go to save someone they love. The plot also kicks into gear at unexpected points, leaving the audience in tension and expecting the worst. It’s not for the faint of heart, but for those who enjoy the genre this is an underrated gem.

Closest comparison: It’s like Rambo: Last Blood by way of Man on Fire.

Setting: Exotic Adventure
Plot: Hostage Rescue
Tone: Harrowing Action

Haywire (2011) - 3/5

This is big budget proof of concept that feels like an indie project. It’s fairly uneven from its acting to its pacing, but the parts that hit are really well done. The fight scenes feel like choreography, but that of a very high caliber, well executed and a thrill to watch. The framing for the “in medias res” plot structure is pretty contrived and while it’s used in many stories it unfortunately doesn’t work here. If you like good action and don’t mind an overused plot, this movie is definitely worth a watch.

Closest comparison: It’s like Mission: Impossible by way of The Bourne Identity.

Setting: Espionage
Plot: Thriller
Tone: Action

The Mandalorian (Season 2, Disney+) - 2/5

The second season of The Mandalorian keeps introducing great characters, moments, and setpieces like the first season, it sprinkles in painfully terrible characters, dialogue, and character choices. The action is often good, though sometimes absolutely terrible, and Amy Sedaris, Sasha Banks, Katee Sackhoff, and even occasionally Rosario Dawson are painfully grating every instant they are on screen. Boba Fett gets many outstanding moments that fans will appreciate, though he gets Worf’ed in another pointless and irritating scene. Overall it’s like nice dinner of filet mignon and lobster tail with a diarrhea gravy; the wonderful things in this show get completely ruined by the vomit-inducing parts. If you can ignore the bad and enjoy the good, or just have selective memory, then it’s worth a watch.

Closest comparison: This is the Shanghai Nights of the Star Wars saga.

Setting: Sci-Fi
Plot: Western
Tone: Adventure

The Mandalorian (Disney+) - 4/5

This show is the best Star Wars to come out since Return of the Jedi (1983). It starts off strong, then dips to its worst episode in episode 4, then climbs back up to finish strong in the final two episodes. Not only are the stakes small enough to care about but the job-a-week format keeps the plot moving to new and exciting places, both physically and metaphorically. The music is outstanding, not relying on any of the previously established themes, and the cast is mostly character actors that settle comfortably into a flushed-out world.

Closest comparison: It’s like a mix of Have Gun Will Travel (1957) and Lone Wolf and Cub (1970) with all the trappings of the original Star Wars trilogy.

Setting: Sci-fi
Plot: Western
Tone: Adventure