Pasckie Pascua's Nerdy Squirrel Reviews: Movies.

“Greenland” (2020, Amazon Prime) disaster film . A family who must fight for survival as a planet-destroying comet races to Earth. Stars Gerard Butler.         Effects-smothered, comet hurtling to earth, people in gargantuan panic, and all that apocalypse cinema obligatories? Chaos, destruction, and torn-up families? Even a Gen Z has seen too much of these already (mostly with zombies) that they can easily lip-sync the dialogues.         But for some reason, with Gerard Butler's perpetually worried but reassuring face as center of this b-movie weekend couch ride, you may forgive the “here we go again!” smirk. Mr Butler makes a disaster movie less disastrous, so there's a sequel. Of course. 🎥💻📽 “Greenland 2: Migration” (2026, Amazon Prime) post-apocalyptic film . Sequel to “ Greenland ” (2020). The Garrity family leaves their failing underground bunker to trek across a ruined Europe chasing rumors of a fl...

“Revoir Paris” (2022, Tubi) French drama . About a woman who is struggling with the lingering mental health effects of having survived a terrorist attack in Paris.         This movie, as in most French work of the same dramatic vein, focuses on mass shooting survivor Mia's torment. Essayed by a restrained but involved Virginie Efira, we can't help but be part of her confusion, guilt and lostness. A very sensitive treatment sans dramatic bombast by writer-director Alice Winocour . 🎥💻📽 “Only the Animals” (2019, Tubi) French crime drama that tracks how the disappearance of a wealthy French housewife connects five desperate people across rural France and the Ivory Coast.         Smart, meticulous direction (by Dominik Moll) that expertly handled the multi-characters into a coordinated balancing act. Based on the novel “Seules les betes” by Colin Niel, the first few sequences can be a bit of a surreal puzzl...

“ The Silence ” (2019, Netflix) post-apocalyptic horror. The world faces a deadly attack from flying, bat-like creatures called "vesps." These monsters are blind and hunt their human prey entirely by sound.         This tired derivative (sic) is an obvious take-off from Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 classic “The Birds” (based on Daphne du Maurier's short story) albeit weird, flying creatures as antagonists (apart from a pursuing cult). Think as well of John Krasinski's “A Quiet Place” franchise, which is a lot better than “The Silence.”        Stanley Tucci and Kiernan Shipka deliver fine performances but their effort failed to placate this pseudo-dread's predictability, cliche scares, and blank pacing. 🎥💻📽 “The Awakening” (2011, Amazon Prime) British historical horror thriller. Set in post-World War I England (1921), it follows an author who exposes hoax ghost sightings, as she travels to a countryside boarding sch...

“Brothers Under Fire” (2026, Hulu) action film . A decorated U.S. Army Captain and his military squadron travel to Mexico for a comrade's wedding. When a ruthless local cartel violently interrupts the celebration and kills a groom, the joyous trip turns into a brutal fight for survival. Stars Kiefer Sutherland.          The action sequences are alright and neatly-executed but not the sort that'd stick in your memory. Yet there's nothing in this by-the-motions cartel cliche that is fresh or new. Mr Sutherland's talent goes through a day-job gig. Get paid, done. That's all. 🎥💻📽 “Normal” (2025, HBO Max) action thriller . The story—set in the fictitious, titular town of Normal, Minnesota —follows a newly-arrived interim sheriff who investigates a town-wide conspiracy after a botched bank robbery.         The premise is ridiculously cartoonish or wildly whacked but no matter. This movie revels on Bob Odenkirk'...

“Borderlands” (2024, Fandango) science fiction action comedy. Cate Blanchett stars as Lillith, an outlaw who forms an alliance with a team of misfits to find the missing daughter of the most powerful man in the universe.         One critic called this cartoonish din, “generic gaming adaptation.” Sure, it is just one of countless video game movie adaptations, and this is one of the worst. The production budget is $115 million; the box-office take is $31 million. Imagine the money wasted! Worse than “Supergirl,” I guess.         To add to the pain, Kevin Hart and Jack Black are here. But thank God, Jack was actually just the voice of the robot Claptrap (but still annoying). The only good thing here is Cate Blanchett. Enough said. 🎥💻📽 “The Toxic Avenger” (2023, Amazon Prime) superhero black comedy . A bullied, downtrodden janitor falls into toxic waste and transforms into a deformed, super-powered vigil...

“Lone Samurai” (2025, Plex) Japanese-language survival action. A shipwrecked 13th-century samurai overcomes his desire for ritual suicide after being captured by a violent cannibal tribe on a remote island.         The movie opened in slow-paced but visually stunning sequences. Ruminative. The real drama commences when Riku's seppuku (or suicide) attempt was halted when a violent, cannibalistic tribe captured him. The real show is the final act's choreographed combat.         It takes patience to watch this but it's okay, in the end. 🎥💻📽 “ Waiting for Dalí ” (2023, Tubi) Spanish comedy-drama. Two brothers fleeing political trouble in 1974 Franco-era Spain find refuge and culinary purpose at an eccentric coastal restaurant obsessed with the famous artist Salvador Dalí.        Alluring cinematography, Spanish small-town cultural atmosphere, awesome food preparation, and a ...