By Tony Beal

IN THEATERS

“Horizon: An American Saga”
The American West comes to life in the first chapter of a series of interconnected stories set before, during and after the Civil War.

“Horizon” is a movie that you want to root for, given how it was made and what it stands for. But Kevin Costner’s passion project is too bloated and feels like it accomplishes little even by “Part One” standards. Every hour a new story is introduced, and the film has a bad habit of not alternating between the stories in a fluent way. At the same time, there’s a lot of fat that could be trimmed here, whether it’s scenes that could be shaved down for tension or even outright removed for the overall story. It’s a shame because there are various moments of great filmmaking here and character dynamics that I would like to see more of in future installments. There’s one extended battle sequence in particular that shows what Costner is capable of, and Sam Worthington’s general character is one of his best performances. Perhaps future installments will fulfill the potential of this story, but you still have to bring something to the table in the first movie to convince audiences to come back.
“A Quiet Place: Day One”
The invasion of the aliens seen through the eyes of two people who must work together to survive.

It’s easy for a lot of modern horror films to be described as more drama than scary, but then there are films like “Day One” that actually justify that claim for all the right reasons. It’s not a particularly scary film, in the traditional horror sense, but it more than makes up for it with its character. Lupita Nyong’O and Joseph Quinn are excellent here, as an odd pairing of two individuals with nowhere to go who find solace in each other. It’s this dynamic that still makes you feel tense during the scenes of terror, helped by the fact that director Michael Sarnoski knows how to shoot the scenes in a manner that feels large yet intimate. This film is a truly nice surprise.
“MaXXXine”
Maxine Minx’s pursuit of stardom is threatened by a serial killer with a connection to her past.

After the last two films of the X trilogy managed to strike a decent balance between homage and deconstruction, “MaXXXine” is nothing more than a dull copy-paste of more interesting movies. Every character here is just a tool or a plot point for Maxine’s main story, which isn’t even engaging. The aesthetics and gore are unmotivated, serving only to remind people of slashers and Giallo films. The images of Hollywood and the Satanic Panic are just background noise, making the film seem like it has more substance than it actually does. This isn’t new for Ti West. His previous films have had these issues, but the first two movies seemed to indicate growth on his part, making this film all the more disappointing. At the very least, Giancarlo Esposito is great as an enthusiastic agent, reminding audiences of his true range as an actor.

“Longlegs”
An FBI agent finds the case she’s investigating attached to the occult and her past.
Osgood Perkins has finally managed to fulfill his promise with the movie “Longlegs.” It’s an unnerving descent into a literal hell. It gives you the feeling of wanting to leave, but you can’t, so you just have to watch. Maika Monroe finally gets to shine as a lead in a high profile project, while Blair Underwood and Alicia Witt add to the mood of the project, and Nicolas Cage delivers a performance that’s familiar but unique at the same time. The film holds back in a sly manner that greatens the impact of many scenes. It’s a fine example of how to balance homage but still manage to make something fresh.

NEW RELEASES
August 2
“Trap”
“Harold and the Purple Crayon”
“Kneecap” (Limited)

August 9
“Cuckoo”
“It Ends with Us”
“Borderlands”

August 15
“Jackpot” (Amazon Prime Video)

August 16
“Alien: Romulus”
“Ryan’s World The Movie: Titan Universe Adventure”
“Skincare”
“The Union” (Netflix)

August 23
“Blink Twice”
“Slingshot”
“The Forge”
“The Crow”
“The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” (Hulu)

August 30
“Afraid”
“1992”
“City of Dreams”
“Reagan”
“The Deliverance” (Netflix)