Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Strapped for cash and taking care of a sick brother who needs a bone marrow transfusion, Iris agrees to attend a dinner party thrown by a wealthy philanthropist in the hopes he will give her money and move her brother to the top of the donor list. What she doesn’t know, however, is she and seven other guests must first compete in a sadistic version of the game Would You Rather until only one person is left alive. Who's in it? The movie stars Brittany Snow , Jeffrey Combs , Lawrence Gillard Jr ., Sasha Grey , John Heard and Robin Lord Taylor. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Would You Rather (2012) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: After his father is killed by a matador, bull calf Ferdinand escapes the bullfighting ranch and finds safety when he is found and adopted by a florist's daughter. Even though he grows into an enormous bull, he still remains non-violent. However, after a misunderstanding at the annual flower festival, he is sent back to the bullfighting ranch. If he doesn't fight, he will be sent to the meat processor. Who's in it?  The animated movie uses voices from John Cena , Lily Day , Kate McKinnon , Bobby Cannavale and Gina Rodriguez . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Ferdinand (2017) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: An 8-year-old girl, Wen, is vacationing at a remote cabin with her two adoptive dads, Eric and Andrew when a massive man by the name of Leonard walks up to her saying he wants to be her friend. He is soon joined by three others who force their way into the cabin and take Wen and her parents hostage. According to the group, they all shared a vision of the world coming to an end and the only way to prevent the apocalypse is for Wen's family to pick one of their own to sacrifice. Who's in it? The movie stars  Dave Bautista ,  Jonathan Groff ,  Ben Aldridge ,  Rupert Grint and  Kristen Cui. Review: Even though I have mixed feelings about M. Night Shyamalan movies, the trailer for this one made it look refreshingly scary. So, when I came across it on Peacock this week, I added it to my list for family movie night. Unfortunately, while not terrible, the movie did fail to live up to expectations. The premise of the film isn't a bad one. I've seen plenty o...

Synopsis: Benjamin Conroy, believing there is a connection between Christ’s death and the Egyptian god Osiris, murders his family and crucifies them, and himself, in the barn. Seventeen years later, the only survivor of the massacre, Benjamin’s youngest son, turns 18 and learns he has inherited the farm. Eager to learn more about a past he didn’t know about, Johnny decides to investigate his family’s property and inadvertently releases their restless spirits. Who's in it?  The movie stars Jesse James , Elizabeth Irene , Magda Apanowicz , Bill Moseley , Jaiden Kaine , Noah Fleiss , Geraldine Hughes and J. H. Torrance Downes . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Dead Souls (2012) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: Seeking a fresh start after the latest round of murders in Woodsboro, Sam, Tara, Chad and Mindy move to New York. The move doesn't change anything, both because of the internet notoriety that followed Sam to the Big Apple and a fresh new Ghostface seeking to finish what the previous incarnations failed to do. Who's in it? The movie stars  Melissa Barrera ,  Jenna Ortega ,  Courteney Cox ,  Mason Gooding and  Dermot Mulroney .  Review: My wife and I recently celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary and my gift from her was two tickets to see this movie. We used them earlier today and I wasn't disappointed. Movie reboots often don't work out the way the filmmakers intended. But the Scream franchise has managed to do this in a way that I feel does work. There's a great new group of young actors in the lead roles with just enough reference to the original movies to connect them. This movie wasn't an exception. I think the thing I like most about mo...

Synopsis: After learning her movie director husband has been having an affair with his much-younger leading lady and got her pregnant, a British actress travels to the Caribbean to spend time with her cousin and escape the paparazzi. As she recovers from the shock of his betrayal, she finds romance with a chef. Who's in it? The movie stars  Malin Akerman ,  Connie Nielsen ,  Philip Winchester ,  Jack Donnelly and  William Nadylam . Review: I added this movie to my library mostly because my wife and I are familiar with Philip Winchester from his time on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Unfortunately, when we watched the film this evening, we were very disappointed with it. There are a lot of films out there that try to mimic what you would expect to see in a Hallmark movie. Some are OK but others aren't so great. This was one of the latter. One of the biggest problems with this film, in my opinion, is it needed to pick a lane. By that, I mean it either n...

Synopsis: A scientist performs an experiment on the recently executed criminal Charles "The Butcher" Benton and unintentionally brings him back to life and makes him seemingly indestructible. The resurrected Benton immediately begins stalking the three accomplices he believes betrayed him, leaving a wake of dead bodies in his path. Who's in it? The movie stars Lon Chaney Jr. , Max Showalter , Marian Carr , Ross Elliott and Stuart Randall. Review: A spring blizzard ruined any plans I had today and, while waiting for there to be enough snow on the ground to justify using my snow blower, I looked for something to watch. I've had this film on my list for a while now and decided to finally give it a try. The movie turned out not to be quite what I was expecting, it was much more of a crime drama than a classic horror film, but I still enjoyed it. I think the overall plot ended up being a lot better than I thought it would be. I'm still unclear about what the scient...

It's now been more than a week since Aaron Rodgers ended his silence and announced his intention to return for another NFL season and play for the New York Jets. However, while the quarterback's desire is clear, the two teams have yet to reach a trade agreement. There have been multiple rumors about why, ranging from the Jets not wanting to part with the 13th overall pick in this year's draft to disagreements about how much of Rodgers' contract the Packers should absorb. However, a third one, the timing of the trade, might be a good reason for the delay as well. At first glance, it might seem like the best path forward for the Packers is to part ways with their disgruntled player as soon as possible (and I'm still one of the fans who would rather see this not become any more of a distraction than it already has). However, the salary cap implications can't be overlooked. The contract Rodgers signed just last year guarantees him nearly $60 million and a trade woul...

Synopsis: Margaret and Ben take a weekend trip to the woods with their friends Ellie and Thomas and their friends' two children, Lucy and Spencer. While taking a hike, they come across an abandoned building with a staircase leading to a deep pit. The kids seem to be obsessed with it and, when Margaret and Ben decide to let them spend the night in their cabin, wander back into the woods and Ben, chasing after them, witnesses them leap into the pit to their deaths. However, when he returns to the cabins, Ben discovers the kids are still alive but behaving differently. Unfortunately, nobody, including Margaret, believes him. Who's in it? The movie stars  Alisha Wainwright ,  Amanda Crew , Zach Gilford ,  Carlos Santos , Briella Guiza and David Mattle .  Review: I came across this movie a few days ago and, thinking it sounded somewhat interesting, added it to my library. My wife and I watched it yesterday evening and, overall, I thought it was pretty good. I think th...

Synopsis: 17-year-old Dora gets an unexpected Halloween surprise when her doctor tells her she is pregnant. That evening, as she waits at home for her boyfriend so she can tell him the news, a group of trick-or-treating kids begin to torment her. As they grow increasingly violent, she realizes they are after her unborn child, which is now growing inside her at an abnormally fast rate. Who's in it?  The movie stars Chloe Rose , Robert Patrick , Rossif Sutherland , Rachel Wilson and Peter DaCunha. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Hellions (2015) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: Survivalist, monster hunter and TV star Burt Gummer is filming his latest series installment when he is hired to travel to South Africa to face a newly discovered "Ass-blaster" infestation. When he arrives, he discovers their version of the prehistoric creature is both larger and more advanced, something that is bad news because South Africa's strict gun laws have left him with a very limited arsenal. Who's in it?  The movie stars Michael Gross , Jamie Kennedy , Pearl Thusi , Natalie Becker and Brandon Auret. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Tremors 5: Bloodlines (2015) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis : Three Army Reserve misfits bound for Iraq are accidentally dropped in Mexico instead. Not knowing where they are, they end up helping a small Mexican village that is under attack by a gang of outlaws, which they originally believe to be terrorists. Can they save the day? Or, will they cause an international incident? Who's in it?  The movie stars Larry the Cable Guy , Bill Engvall , DJ Qualls , Keith David and Bill Doyle . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Delta Farce (2007) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: A detective, with the help of a psychoanalyst, investigate the alleged rape of a teenage girl in Minnesota. She blames her father and, even though he can't remember the event, he accepts responsibility. However, when they investigate further, they discover the rape might be part of a satanic cult ritual. Who's in it?  The movie stars Ethan Hawke , Emma Watson , David Dencik , Aaron Ashmore and Devon Bostick. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Regression (2015) (wizzley.com)

As rumors continue to swirl regarding trade negotiations between the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets over quarterback Aaron Rodgers one topic that doesn't get discussed is how the Packers haul from the trade (or lack of one) will affect General Manager Brian Gutekunst's job security. Hired in 2018 following Ted Thompson's health-related retirement, Gutekunst's first four seasons with the team arguably had mixed results. Unlike Ted Thompson, Gutekunst seems to be willing to be more aggressive in free agency. However, while some of those signings, like Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith worked out well for the team, quite a few, like Jimmy Graham, Muhammad Wilkerson, Sammy Watkins and Rick Wagner weren't as impactful as the team probably hoped.  Where Gutekunst has seemed to struggle more than his predecessor is the draft, especially on offense. Only three players drafted in 2018 and 2019, Jaire Alexander, Elgton Jenkins and Darnell Savage are on the roster tod...

Synopsis: To celebrate their success, business partners Charlie and Mina decide to rent a remote coastal house for the weekend and have a romantic couple's getaway with Charlie's wife, Michelle, and Mina's boyfriend/Charlie's brother, Josh. After some tension between Mina and the seemingly racist caretaker, Taylor, the couples finally have a good time. However, an ecstasy-fueled bender results in Charlie and Mina having sex in the shower while their partners sleep and, the next morning, Mina discovers their infidelity was caught on one of the video cameras that are hidden throughout the house. Things begin to spiral downward from there. Who's in it? The movie stars Dan Stevens , Alison Brie , Sheila Vand , Jeremy Allen White and Toby Huss. Review: My wife and I had time to watch a movie last night and, since I knew she was tired from work (she's a teacher assistant and they had a field trip that day), I picked this one out mostly because it was relatively sh...

Now that the cat is officially out of the bag and Aaron Rodgers has confirmed the poorly kept secret about him wanting to play for the New York Jets in 2023, the ball is in the Green Bay Packers court to get that deal done. However, there are some reports that claim the Packers are asking for more compensation than the Jets are willing to pay. If that's true, then the Packers should do the former face of their franchise justice by lowering that asking price. I'm not saying the Packers don't have a lot of leverage with this. They have Rodgers under contract through 2024 and the Jets lack of secrecy about their desire to have him as their QB1 this fall, combined with the possible free agent alternatives already being signed by other teams puts Green Bay in the catbird seat, especially since they have until the start of the season to trade him and avoid paying him a significant bonus. What I am saying is, even though the Packers do have that leverage, they should just agree to...

Synopsis: When he learns the fracking company he works for is behind a series of mini quakes in the Los Angeles area, an engineer hurries to rescue his estranged wife and daughter before trying to stop his boss from starting up a new fracking location, one that will cause a massive earthquake that will destroy the city. Who's in it?  The movie stars Henry Ian Cusick , Chasty Ballesteros , Cameron Richardson , Jeffrey Jones and Kristen Dalton. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: 10.0 Earthquake (2014) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: In 1978, 12-year-old Florida resident David Freeman is sent to escort his 8-year-old brother, Jeff, home from a friend's house and ends up falling into a ravine. He climbs out a few hours later and discovers, while he hasn't aged, it is now 1986. He has no memory of the last 8 years, but a team of NASA scientists believe his mystery is somehow connected to an alien spacecraft that crashed at the same time he reappeared and convince David to let them study him. Only he doesn't stay on the base, he instead reconnects with the alien that abducted him for study 8 years earlier and is now looking for star chart information implanted in David's brain. Who's in it? The movie stars Joey Craemer , Paul Reubens (under the alias Paul Mall) , Cliff De Young , Veronica Cartwright and Sarah Jessica Parker. Review: My wife picked out some movie options for our family movie night and, since my daughter had some homework, and this film had a reasonable runtime, it ended...

Synopsis:   Three friends formed a mystery-solving team when they were kids and, now 18, are still together and still solving child-like cases. Eager to prove they are capable of doing more, they allow a young girl to hire them and begin investigating a double homicide involving her parents. However, because of their cluelessness, they may be in over their heads. Who's in it?   The movie stars Donald Glover , D. C. Pierson , Dominic Dierkes , Aubrey Plaza and Glenn Kalison . You can read the review here:  Movie Review: Mystery Team (2009) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: A 19-year-old woman from Sweden assumes the alias Bella Cherry and tries to break into the Los Angeles porn industry. Determined to be a big star, she pushes the limits of what she is willing to do, including sexual acts that are both painful and terrifying. Who's in it? The movie stars  Sofia Kappel ,  Zelda Morrison ,  Evelyn Claire ,  Chris Cock and  Jason Toler. Review: I came across this movie on Paramount Plus this past weekend and, after reading the description, was curious if this was a serious drama or just a soft-core porn film. Since I had some free time, I decided to check it out and, as it turns out, it was a surprisingly thought-provoking film. If you decide to watch this movie solely for the sex, you are going to be disappointed. Yes, there is sex and it's quite graphic (especially in the uncut version). However, it's edited in a way that makes it less erotic and much more uncomfortable because it's being told from Bella's (Kappel) pe...

Synopsis: The subject of love is explored through the overlapping stories of eight different London couples as they prepare to celebrate Christmas. Who's in it? The movie stars Hugh Grant , Liam Neeson , Colin Firth , Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman. Review: My wife and I have both seen bits and pieces of this movie (sometimes in spoof form) and she had it in our library to watch. We finally got around to doing that tonight and, overall, I thought it was entertaining.  Some of the love stories were compelling, such as the British Prime Minister (Grant) falling in love with one of his assistants ( Martine McCutcheon ) and a business executive (Rickman) needing to choose between his wife/mother of his kids (Thompson) and his alluring secretary ( Heike Makatsch ). A couple others, like the one involving a man ( Andrew Lincoln ) being in love with his best friend's new wife ( Keira Knightley ) and a writer (Firth) trying to overcome a language barrier with the housekeeper he love...

Synopsis: After his parents die in a fluke accident on his 35th birthday, Jack struggles to keep the bank from foreclosing on their home and is close to losing his job at a toy company. Determined to get his life in order, he throws out all his childhood toys, including his favorite bear, Benny. Benny comes to life and begins killing both those who wronged Jack and those he believes Jack loves more than him. Who's in it? The movie stars Karl Holt , Claire Cartwright , James Parsons , Anthony Styles and David Wayman. Review: I came across this movie earlier today and since my first choice ended up being in a language I didn't understand, I decided to give it a try. I'll give it this much, it was definitely unique. I think the thing I liked most about this film was Benny (unlike a lot of toys from other films) was limited to some very generic toy-like responses, something that made the character a lot less predictable than he would have been had he been capable of having ...

If Green Bay Packers' President Mark Murphy's comments are an accurate depiction of the team's mindset, Green Bay is ready to start Jordan Love in 2023. However, they still have one problem, Aaron Rodgers is still on the roster. The most likely scenario at this stage is Rodgers either choses to retire or will agree to be traded to the New York Jets, a team that has been given permission to speak to him and seems to be pulling out all the stops to have him come east. But with Rodgers remaining quiet about where he is in his thought process, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding both of those possibilities. And if he decides he doesn't want to retire but also doesn't want to play for the Jets (or they find another option before he makes his decision), Rodgers could remain a Packer one more year. If Green Bay truly wanted to move on, they would normally have the option to just cut Rodgers and give him an opportunity to sign with another team. This would seem like a n...

Synopsis: When 13-year-old Toronto overachiever Meilin develops a crush on a 17-year-old store clerk, she learns of her family's "inconvenience," an ancient spell that turns the women into red pandas if they get too emotional. Her mother tells her she can be cured via a ritual performed on the night of the blood moon but only if she can control her emotions and keep the panda caged until then. However, when Meilin discovers her favorite boy band is coming to Toronto, she uses her panda form to earn money to buy tickets for her and her friends. Who's in it? The animated movie uses voices from Rosalie Chiang , Sandra Oh , Ava Morse , Hyein Park and Orion Lee . Review: I sometimes forget I pay for Disney Plus because it's not a streaming service that normally carries films I want to watch. However, we postponed this week's family movie night from Tuesday to Friday and this was a film my daughter wanted to see. Overall, I have to admit it was better than expecte...

Synopsis: After once again failing to publish a romance novel about vampires, Olivia Roma prepares to spend Christmas alone in her deceased mom's Lake Tahoe home. An injured bat crashes into the side of the house and she takes it in to try to nurse it back to health only to have the bat change into a handsome (and naked) vampire, Luke. She then lies to a vampire hunter and brings her surprise guest pig's blood so she can grill him for inside information to make her book better, oblivious to the fact her life is in danger, both from Luke and from his blood thirsty companions. Who's in it? The movie stars  Dennice Cisneros ,  Nico Bellamy ,  Laura Kennon ,  Vernon Wells and  Alan Silva. Review: I came across this movie on Amazon Prime and seeing it would no longer be available soon, decided to watch it. From the description, I thought it would end up being a unique, entertaining and probably gory vampire movie. It ended up being unique and a vampire movie, but...

Synopsis: In 1943, US President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Union Premier Joseph Stalin finally agreed to meet in person to discuss the ongoing war against Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime. Despite their secrecy, the Nazis found out about the meeting and devised an assassination plan. This non-fiction book discusses the events leading up to that meeting and the spy networks involved on both sides. Review: I like picking out random books at our local library, but this has been a bit hit-or-miss with me lately with a good chunk of the books being returned almost immediately because I lost interest after a couple chapters. That's why, when I picked out this book a couple weeks ago, my expectations were tempered. However, after finishing the book last night, I have to say it ended up being a lot more interesting than I was expecting. I think the thing I like most about this book is it really tells a couple different stories. The first one, re...

I am a person who has always believed a television series can be made stronger by having a good nemesis for a beloved character. House, MD , for example, finally hit its stride for me when the series introduced Edward Vogler ( Chi McBride ) and wasn't as enjoyable when they wrote him off the show. Even the original episodes of this series had their share of recurring villains, ranging from sleezy journalist Al Craven ( Terry Kiser ) to Dan Fielding's ( John Larroquette ) boss, Vincent Daniels ( Daniel Frishman ) that added an element of suspense to a comedy series. This is why I feel the decision to make podcaster Remecca ( Stephnie Weir ) just a one-and-done character in last night's episode was a mistake. Remecca reminded me a lot of Al Craven, who was a thorn in Harry Stone's ( Harry Anderson ) side because he was always working to portray things in a negative light. This included everything from finding out about Harry's criminal record to finding out confidenti...

Synopsis: Fifteen years after her assassin mother abandoned her as a child, Sam has the same career, working for a powerful corporation known as the Firm. When an accountant steals money from her employers, she is assigned to retrieve it, only to learn her dying target's daughter, Emily, has been kidnapped. Electing to rescue the young girl results in Sam losing the Firm's money, putting her life in danger. While on the run with Emily in tow, Sam receives some unexpected help from the woman who abandoned her and her "aunts." Who's in it? The movie stars Karen Gillan , Lena Headey , Paul Giamatti , Angela Bassett and Joanna Bobin. Review: I came across this film on Netflix earlier today and even though their description left a lot to be desired, my wife and I have liked Karen Gillan in other films, and I figured that was enough to justify giving it a try. As it turns out, it was a surprisingly good movie. I will admit, I wasn't really sure what to expect wh...

Synopsis: A struggling New York artist, Evie, takes a DNA test and reconnects with a cousin from England. She accepts his invitation to go to England and attend a family wedding and ends up falling in love with Walt De Ville, the lord of the manor the wedding is to be held at. However, she soon learns her invitation comes with a supernatural condition. Who's in it? The movie stars  Nathalie Emmanuel ,  Thomas Doherty , Sean Pertwee ,  Hugh Skinner and  Alana Boden . Review: I had seen multiple trailers for this movie and thought it looked interesting. So, when I came across it at our local library today, I decided to check it out. Overall, it was a good choice. OK, I'll start out by saying the movie is a little more predictable than I would have preferred. My wife and I figured out the big "family secret" within a matter of minutes. I won't go into too much detail, but let's just say if you've seen the movie Dracula or read the book, it won't be t...

Synopsis: Roughly 20 years after a fatal accident at a cheer competition, the Diablos are banned from performing any stunt work by their high school principal. With regionals coming up, the team captains decide to disobey and secretly practice stunts at the abandoned high school, now used for storage. However, they soon discover their lives are in danger from a murderer wearing the school's mascot costume. Who's in it? The movie stars Kerri Medders , Alten Wilmot , Sierra Holder , Alexandra Beaton and Missi Pyle. Review: I was in the mood for a slasher flick last night and had seen previews for this film before. I ended up giving it a shot and it turned out to be an OK albeit not overly special choice. I did find I liked the overall mystery about who was stalking the cheerleaders and why. I assumed it had something to do with the fatal accident (which wasn't really an accident) but the length of time between the cheerleader death and this squad complicated that theory. ...

After months of waiting, Mandy ( Emily Osment ) finally gave birth to Georgie's ( Montana Jordan ) baby last night. Unfortunately, the newest Cooper family member, Constance, wasn't enough to prevent what looks to be the possible end for George ( Lance Barber ) and Mary ( Zoe Perry ) as a married couple. I'm not going to lie; it makes me kind of angry because of how easily it could have been avoided. From the pilot episode, George and Mary seemed like the type of couple that has always had its ups and downs. They got married young because Mary was with child, and later had the stress of raising a young and complicated genius. Them having marital problems shouldn't be a surprise. Yet, despite that, it's clear they both still love each other. This is why the fact either of them would think the other is cheating seems almost ridiculous. And unfortunately, this is the type of thing that probably could have been avoided with some simple communication. Were Mary and Georg...

Synopsis: Shortly after the events of the first movie, the Creeper, on its final day of being able to eat, stalks a school bus full of basketball players returning from a state championship. When the adults are quickly killed, the kids must figure out how to stay alive. Who's in it? The movie stars Jonathan Breck , Ray Wise , Nicki Aycox , Eric Nenninger and Lena Cardwell. Review: My wife and I saw this movie sequel not long after it first came out and weren't huge fans. However, our youngest daughter recently saw and enjoyed the original and wanted to see this film as well, so we re-watched it last night. I normally try to keep an open mind when re-watching a film I haven't seen in a while, just in case my first impression wasn't as bad as I remember. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with this movie. It might have been even worse than I remembered. I think the biggest problem with this film is there are just too many characters and nobody that really stands...