Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Rope is perhaps Alfred Hitchcock’s most under-rated film. It’s one I love and enjoy revisiting. Sahin Düzgün has created a very cool alt poster tribute to the movie.
Here is what Sahin had to say about his design: A visual exploration of Hitchcock’s classic psychological thriller.
Brandon: Nobody commits a murder just for the experiment of committing it. Nobody except us.
Assistant Wives (1927)
Director: James Parrott
Screenplay: H.M. Walker
Stars: Charley Chase, Edna Marion, Anita Garvin.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Charley and his bride are just getting by. Charley needs a raise and figures if he can buddy-up to his boss, it will come. He invites his boss to dinner. Because of a misunderstanding, the boss thinks a waitress at the diner across the street is Charley’s wife.
Charley figures this could work to his advantage. Since the boss likes the waitress, Charley offers her a payday if she acts as his wife over dinner. Things go sideways when Charley’s wife and the waitress’ boyfriend see Charley and the waitress getting chummy.
Dinner is served!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor. Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.
Assistant Wives was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.
Assistant Wives (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Trap House (2025)
Director: Michael Dowse
Screenplay: Gary Scott Thompson, Tom O’Connor; story by Gary Scott Thompson.
Stars: Dave Bautista, Jack Champion, Sophia Lillis, Tony Dalton, Whitney Peak, Inde Navarrette, Zaire Adams, Kate del Castillo and Bobby Cannavale.
Tagline: This isn’t a raid, it’s a reckoning.
The Plot…
Ray Seale is a DEA Agent. On one of his drug house raids, they encountered heavy resistance. One of his agents was killed. Ray’s son, Cody, attended high school with the killed agent’s son. Cody was upset that his friend’s family would now face financial hardship and the DEA wasn’t doing anything to help.
When Ray takes Cody to an active crime scene, Cody gets an idea. He and his high school friends will use DEA info and equipment to rip off cartel drug houses. They will give the drug money they steal to his friend’s family.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I like Dave Bautista and Bobby Cannavale. Bautista and director, Michael Douse worked together on Stuber, which I rated 3 of 5 stars. Unfortunately Trap House fell short. I tapped out early on.
Bautista takes his son to an active crime scene and let’s him walk around? The high school kids are smarter than the DEA agents? They are easily able to get DEA equipment? Without any experience they are able to take down cartel houses? Yeah, no.
As always, your mileage may differ.
Trap House (2025) rates 1 of 5 stars.
At HeroesCon 2026, I commissioned Mark Stegbauer for two sketch cards: Sly Stallone as Marion Cobretti from Cobra and Stallone as Stanley Kowalski from Lords of Flatbush. You probably think that you’re looking at the Cobra commission.
If so, you’re wrong!
When I went to Mark’s table, he presented me with my two sketch card commissions. Mark then gifted me with the much bigger Cobra drawing above! What an amazing piece of art! When I offered to buy it, Mark said you don’t pay for gifts. He also refused when I tried to tip him. Mark was adamant that he enjoyed doing the drawing and it was a gift.
Since Mark often does drawings and donates a good portion of his commissions to charity, I said I wanted to give him money to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association. Mark agreed to that.
Click on the art above to see a “long arm of the law-sized” version.
I will post the two sketch card commissions Mark did for me in the near future.
In August Mark will once again be doing an Action Against Alzheimer’s art campaign. It’s a great way to pick up cool art and at the same time help a wonderful cause.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Director: Martin Brest
Screenplay: Daniel Petrie Jr.; story by Danilo Bach, Daniel Petrie Jr.
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher, Ronny Cox, Steven Berkoff, James Russo, Jonathan Banks, Stephen Elliott, Gilbert R. Hill, Paul Reiser, Frank Pesce, Paul Reiser and Bronson Pinchot.
Tagline: He’s been chased, thrown through a window, and arrested. Eddie Murphy is a Detroit cop on vacation in Beverly Hills.
The Plot…
Axel Foley is a quick-witted Detroit street cop who doesn’t play by the rules. Axel is surprised when Mikey, his ex-con childhood friend, suddenly shows up. Mikey says he’s doing well and living in Beverly Hills now.
That night Mikey is killed. It turns out he was in possession of German bearer bonds.
Axel takes vacation time and heads to Beverly Hills to find Mikey’s killers.
The heat is on!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
At one point, Sylvester Stallone was attached to star in Beverly Hills Cop. Although it was intended to be a comedy, Stallone’s rewrite took out the humor and made it more of a straight action film. That wasn’t want the producers wanted. Sly bowed out with the understanding he could keep his script ideas. Stallone turned those ideas into his film Cobra.
Eddie Murphy, John Ashton and Judge Reinhold improvised many of their lines.
Bronson Pinchot’s Serge was supposed to interact with another store salesman and Axel Foley. Pinchot’s improvs and accent were so funny, the other salesman’s part was substantially reduced and Pinchot’s role increased.
The movie proved so popular in test screenings, Paramount approved sequels before the film’s official release.
Beverly Hills Cop features the feature film debut of Damon Wayans. He is listed in the credits as Banana Man.
The mansion that appears in the final shootout was once owned by silent film star Harold Lloyd. The estate was also used in the final shootout in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s film Commando. Ironically, in both films a character named Jenny was being rescued.
Director Martin Brest appears as the desk clerk who checks Axel out of the hotel at the end of the film.
Beverly Hills Cop is a great comedy/action film. It leans more into comedy than action, but there is a heaping helping of both.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Psycho Killer (2026)
Director: Gavin Polone
Screenplay: Andrew Kevin Walker
Stars: Georgina Campbell, James Preston Rogers, Malcolm McDowell
Tagline: Meet your new nightmare.
The Plot…
Jane Archer, like her husband Mike, is a Nebraska Highway Patrol officer. Jane is going off duty when over the radio she hears that Mike has pulled a car over. Since she’s near Jane decides to swing by.
Mike says for Jane to head on home. It’s a simple traffic stop. As Jane drives away, she sees her husband gunned down. The killer takes off as Jane’s attempts to save Mike fail.
Jane is convinced that her husband was killed by a serial killer the press has named The Satanic Slasher. This psycho killer is a behemoth who has left dozens of corpses all across the Midwest. At each crime scene the police find bizarre occult symbols.
Jane takes time off. She believes that The Satanic Slasher isn’t randomly traveling the country. She’s convinced the killer has a destination in mind. If she can figure it out and get there first, she can finish him.
What Jane and no one knows is this psycho killer has an endgame in mind that will exponentially increase his number of victims and shock the world.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Psycho Killer took a looong time to get made. Andrew Kevin Walker finished the script in 2007. In 2009, Fred Durst was set to direct with Eli Roth as the producer. Gavin Polone, who ended up directing the film, signed on in 2010!
I was surprised. Psycho Killer was better than I expected. It remined me of the type of movies I’d see at drive-ins in the 70s. Perhaps nostalgia got the best of me. Your mileage, as always, may vary.
Psycho Killer (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.
The poster and trailer for Runner starring Alan Ritchson are here. This looks to be a fun ride.
Deal me in.
A former soldier is thrown into a race against time as a medical delivery makes him the target of a ruthless cartel.
Bigger and Better Blondes (1927)
Director: James Parrott
Screenplay: H.M. Walker
Stars: Charley Chase, Jean Arthur, May Wallace.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Charley is given the assignment to carry $60,000.00 of a client’s expensive jewelry back to the shop. Along the way he decides to stop for lunch. Across the diner Charley sees a woman he’s attracted to. In an effort to impress her, Charley puts on one of the rings he’s supposed to deliver. Problem is, the ring belongs to the woman. She sees Charley wearing it, and thinks he stole it.
Worse still, a group of thieves sees Charley wearing the expensive ring and that he’s carrying a load of jewelry. They decide to steal it all.
Let the antics begin!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor. Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.
Bigger and Better Blondes was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.
The $60,000.00 in jewels would be worth over a million dollars in today’s money.
Jean Arthur appeared in only one Hal Roach production and this is it. Arthur would go on to major stardom in the 1930s and 40s. Her last feature film appearance was in Shane.
Bigger and Better Blondes (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.
They Will Kill You (2026)
Director: Kirill Sokolov
Screenplay: Kirill Sokolov, Alex Litvak
Stars: Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, James Remar and Patricia Arquette.
Tagline: Let them try
The Plot…
Asia Reaves, an innocent young woman, accepts a job as a live-in housekeeper at a high-class high rise called The Virgil.
It turns out the residents of The Virgil are Satanists. From time to time they “hire” young women who won’t be missed by society. These women think they’re being hired as maids or kitchen help. The truth is they are brought in to be human sacrifices.
It also turns out that Asia Reeves isn’t so innocent. Asia came to The Virgil for a reason. She’s a skilled fighter who snuck in weapons.
One woman against a building full of killers.
Welcome to The Virgil.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
They Will Kill You is a blast. It features outrageous nonstop action, mystery and humor.
Zazie Beetz is believable as an action star. The camera loves her. She’s one to watch.
Kirill Sokolov knows how to shoot action. I love his inventive camera angles and set-ups. I can’t wait to see his future films.
The Virgil, with it’s hidden passages and secret panels, would fit in with so many horror films of the 1930s and 40s.
James Remar provides the voice for “The Pig Head” character.
They Will Kill You is like Rosemary’s Baby on steroids reimagined as an action/horror/comedy.
They Will Kill You (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars.
The poster and trailer for Colony directed by Yeon (Train to Busan) Sang-ho are here. I absolutely love Train to Busan. Peninsula didn’t reach the same heights. Here’s to the hope that Colony does.
US Release Date: August 28, 2026
Starring: Ji Chang-wook, Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Synopsis: Horror master Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan) directs a new Korean zombie thriller starring Gianna Jun and Koo Kyo-hwan. Professor Se-jeong (Jun) is thrust into a bloody nightmare when a rapidly mutating virus is released during a biotech conference causing authorities to seal the facility. Trapped inside with no escape, Se-jeong along with a small group of survivors must fight to stay alive while the infected undergo horrific transformations.
K.O. (2025)
Director: Antoine Blossier
Screenplay: Guillaume Lemans, Louis Aubert, Clément Marchand
Stars: Ciryl Gane, Alice Belaïdi,Foued Nabba .
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Bastien was a rising star in the world of professional mixed martial arts. That ended when Bastien accidentally killed Enzo, his opponent in a match. Filled with remorse, Bastien retired from fighting. He met with Enzo’s widow Emma to give his condolences and offer any support should she ever need it. Emma accepted Bastien’s apology. Her teenage son, Leo did not. He was too filled with rage over the death of his father.
Two years pass. Emma finds Bastien. He’s working in a salt mine. Emma says her son Leo has gotten involved with a gang. Worse still, Leo is missing. Emma asks Bastien to save her son.
Bastien learns from Kenza, a police officer that the gang is one of the city’s worst. The gang is violent, dangerous and has connections. Kenza is one of the few officers willing to go against them.
Rescuing Leo will be hard enough. Keeping him alive even tougher.
Ring the bell, Bastien is ready to fight again.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Ciryl Gane, the star of K.O. is one of the top rated MMA fighters in the world. At the time of this writing he is the UFC’s Heavyweight Interim Champion.
K.O. (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.
It’s cool how Joshua Budich made his Pulp Fiction alt poster look like an old beat-up pulp magazine. Take a bow, Budich!
” You lookin at something, friend?” – Butch
“You ain’t my friend, Palooka.” – Vincent
“What’s that?” – Butch
“I think you heard me just fine, Punchy.” – Vincent
SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER by David Goodis
First sentences…
There were no street lamps, no lights at all. It was a narrow street in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. From the nearby Delaware a cold wind came lancing in, telling all the alley cats they’d better find a heated cellar. The late November gusts rattled against the midnight-darkened windows, and stabbed at the eyes of the fallen man in the street.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Eddie Lynn is a piano player in a small jazz club. Eddie comes in each night, plays the piano and keeps to himself. Eddie is an enigma. Always quiet. Never talks about his past. But boy, can he make the piano sing.
One night when Eddie is playing, a man rushes in. He’s Eddie’s estranged brother on the run from two thugs who aren’t far behind. Eddie wants no part of his brother’s problem, yet he can’t stand by and do nothing. The choice to get involved will expose Eddie’s past, drag him into a world of crime and result in several murders.
Will Eddie survive?
+++
DOWN THERE, David Goodis’ classic crime novel was written in 1956. It was adapted into a 1960 French film by François Truffaut. The film was titled Shoot the Piano Player. Some reprints of Goodis’ novel use the SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER title.
Although based on David Goodis’ classic noir novel, DOWN THERE, the screenplay makes significant changes to the protagonist. In the movie his name is Charlie, in the novel it is Eddie. In the movie Charlie is small, shy and passive. In the novel, Eddie is physically imposing and he projects confidence. Eddie chooses to be private for an unknown reason. Charlie is naturally introverted.
I like the film adaptation, but the novel is better. Much better.
DOWN THERE is one of my all-time favorite novels. It’s hardboiled noir at its best.
Rating:
Reggy The Marker Artist created this cool alt Tombstone poster!
“Why Johnny Ringo, you look like somebody just walked over your grave.” – Doc Holliday
