Stalked by My Doctor (2015)

Sophie is a happy high schooler with a jock boyfriend who nearly kills her by texting while driving, then takes his frustration out on her because his broken leg will probably prevent him from getting a scholarship.

Dr. Beck is head of cardiology who saves her with emergency surgery and then assaults Sophie while she's still under anesthesia after the operation.

Sophie's dad thinks that the concerns about Dr. Beck held by Sophie and his wife are probably an overreaction and, possibly, even Sophie's retaliation over rejection by Dr. Beck.

Basically, Sophie is surrounded by toxic men. And a really really bad movie. I mean everything from the script, to the acting, to the set decoration (check out Sophie's totally normal teen girl bedroom) is laughably bad. But Dr. Beck is also just so disgusting that I couldn't even have fun watching it.

F

The Innkeepers (2012)

"The Yankee Pedlar Inn" is closing down and two employees, Claire and Luke, are living there 'round the clock for its last few days in business. There's legend that a jilted bride haunts the premises and Luke claims to have seen her. They would like to capture proof of the haunting before time runs out.

What a great setup! And what a complete letdown. The story goes nowhere until the very last scene and its scares depend so heavily on the stupidity of those involved that it was difficult to feel anything other than annoyance. Avoiding danger would've been so easy. Also, the age difference between the two leads was so large that his interest in her felt super pervy.

D+

M3GAN 2.0 (2025)

"Amelia" is a new military-grade bot running on code lifted from M3GAN. So, what's the best way to take it down? By resurrecting the original M3GAN, of course. I mean, I guess? 

This story is a lot more silly than the first, which I welcomed. Though still capable of scary things, M3GAN (who has been lurking and watching in the home's tech since she was deactivated) has upgraded some of her social skills, making her a lot less terrifying to those who mean no harm. This plays much more like an action comedy than a horror movie.

C+

Primal Fear (1996)

A shy young man (Edward Norton) is accused of the brutal slaying of a beloved archbishop. A hotshot lawyer (Richard Gere) can't wait to head up the defense in this sensational case. Though the accused insists on his innocence and his love for the victim, the evidence uncovered makes it hard to deny. Unless, perhaps, he's both innocent and responsible? Hmm...

Norton makes his film debut here and is immediately recognizable as a huge talent. The movie, however, feels more than a little like an episode of Law & Order: SVU. 

C+

The Exorcism (2024)

Has-been former addict actor is given a chance for a comeback in a small-budget remake of The Exorcist after the original actor suddenly dies. His teenage daughter, fresh from being kicked out of her boarding school, is given a job as his personal assistant. 

I don't think there's anything redeemable at all here. He's clearly possessed (e.g. speaking in different languages/voices, literally contorting himself in ways that defy his physicality), and it's all written off as "he must be doing drugs again!" Several times, characters seemed to be in his apartment and then immediately on-set (wait -- did he LIVE on set?) and vice versa. I was so damned confused about what the hell was happening and, worse, I was never ever anywhere close to being scared.

It's such an embarrassing worthless piece of work.

F