Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Miranda Riley is trying to secure more funding for the struggling aquarium she is running when she must contend with a much worse problem. The animals are dying from a strange ailment and coming back to life as zombies. To make matters worse, the aquarium's safeguards have her and several others locked inside. Who's in it? The movie stars Vivica A. Fox , Eva Ceja , D. C. Douglas , Erica Duke and Anthony Jensen . Review: I came across this film on Paramount Plus a few days ago and, thinking it looked interesting, added it to my library. My wife and I watched it tonight and, overall, I thought it was an OK film. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a great film by any means. The special effects were barely passable, and the acting was sub-par. However, it was admittedly entertaining. I think the thing I liked best about this film was how surprisingly dangerous the aquarium turned out to be. I was a bit skeptical about that at first because fish live in the water a...

Synopsis: After a failed time travel experiment resulted in his test subjects disappearing, Dr. James Radnor walks away from his research and publishes a "fictional" account of the event. The military, without his knowledge, reactivates the experiment and when they are unable to close the portal to the future, allowing creatures known as Morlocks into the present, Radnor and a group of soldiers need to travel back to the future to save the day. Who's in it? The movie stars David Hewlett , Christina Cole , Jim Fyfe , Hamish Clark and Shelly Varod . I couldn't find a trailer for the movie so please enjoy this scene from The Big Bang Theory Review: My wife and I decided to save the new episodes of our favorite shows for the weekend, and I ended up searching for a movie to watch instead. I didn't have a lot of expectations for this film but thought it would at least have plenty of action, so we gave it a try. After seeing it, even with the lowered expectations, I h...

Synopsis: Shortly after moving to Madison, Delaware with his widowed mother, teenager Zach befriends his next-door neighbor, Hannah despite the unfriendliness of her father. After hearing Hannah scream, believing something bad happened to her and getting no help from the inept police department, Zach breaks into her house with one of his classmates, Champ, and inadvertently learns her father is author R. L Stine when he accidentally releases the monsters Stine had trapped in manuscripts of his books. Who's in it? The movie stars Jack Black , Dylan Minnette , Odeya Rush , Ryan Lee , Halston Sage and Amy Ryan . Review: As someone who never read the Goosebumps books when I was younger (they didn't even come out until I was in high school), I wasn't overly enthusiastic about seeing this movie when it first came out. However, my youngest daughter is going to be auditioning for a play based on one of the episodes from the series based on the books and, since I couldn't fi...

Now that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has officially been traded to the New York Jets, a new era is starting in Green Bay. For some, the change at quarterback is signaling a rebuild year in 2023. I am not one of the people who believes that. I'm not saying the team won't have its struggles but there are three big reasons why the Packers aren't starting over from scratch even without their former 4-time MVP. First, Jordan Love isn't a rookie. While he may not have played much since the Packers drafted him in 2023, fans shouldn't dismiss the experience he has gained in practices. This includes practicing with the starters throughout much of the regular season last year because of Rodgers' thumb injury. This isn't unlike Rodgers, who sat behind Brett Favre for three years before getting his chance. Rodgers only played in 7 games during his first three seasons, attempting 59 passes. Love has played in 10 games and has attempted 83 passes. And unlike Rodgers when Fa...

Synopsis: In the year 2078, mining company New Economic Block discovers an energy source on a distant planet. However, when the mining practice creates toxic pollution, the scientists and miners form an alliance and go on strike, eventually prompting a war. Five years later, with both sides in a stalemate thanks in part to the "Screamers," self-replicating group of killer machines created by the Alliance, the Alliance commander receives an offer for a peace negotiation from the NEB. However, while traveling to meet with the other side, learns the Screamers have evolved and nobody is safe from them. Who's in it? The movie stars Peter Weller , Roy Dupuis , Jennifer Rubin , Andy Lauer and Ron White . Review: I came across this movie on Amazon Prime yesterday morning and my wife and I ended up watching it while having dinner last night. I wasn't really expecting a whole lot from the movie, but I thought the premise would at least mean it would be somewhat entertaining...

Synopsis: After having a vision of a deadly accident, high school senior Wendy panics and her, along with 6 others, are kicked off of a roller coaster ride moments before her premonition comes true. Still mourning the loss of her classmates and boyfriend, Wendy realizes she and the other survivors are still in danger from a presence that is determined to make sure they die. Who's in it?  The movie stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Ryan Merriman , Kris Lemche , Sam Easton and Texas Battle. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Final Destination 3 (2006) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: A group of friends decide to hold late night festivities in a forest known for being a popular place to commit suicide. Their fun is interrupted, however, by an unknown supernatural presence that begins killing them one by one while, at the same time, seemingly preventing their escape from the woods. Who's in it?  The movie stars Shelby Young , Kyle Fain , Chloe Bridges , Taylor Murphy and Carter Jenkins . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Nightlight (2015) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: When a drug smuggler's airplane dumps its shipment of cocaine over a Georgia forest before crashing, the drugs are ingested by a black bear who then goes on a murderous rampage at the same time multiple groups of people, ranging from drug dealers to a mom searching for her daughter, converge on the location. Who's in it? The movie stars Keri Russell , Alden Ehrenreich , Ray Liotta , Christian Convery and Margo Martindale. Review: I wasn't really sure what to think about this movie when I first saw trailers for it. It looked entertaining but I've never been a big fan of comedic films that make fun of real-life tragic events (one of the reasons why I'm not a big fan of The Town that Dreaded Sundown). However, we ended up watching it during our family movie night. First of all, when it says it is based on a true story, I would probably put that in the same "true story" classification The Texas Chainsaw Massacre falls under. Basically, there once...

Synopsis: Crime author Neil Broderick is writing a book about the Black Ace, a killer known for warning his victims in advance by giving them an Ace of Spades. He visits wealthy Black Ace expert Thornton Drake in Chicago, befriending Martha, the daughter of Drake's secretary Austin Winters, on the train ride there. When the Black Ace leaves a warning message in a puzzle, the group, along with two police officers, take a private plane to Louisiana. However, the threat wasn't meant for Drake and during a blackout on the plane, Winters is murdered instead. Who's in it? The movie stars Chester Morris , Vivienne Osborne , Frank McHugh , Allen Jenkins and Grant Mitchell . Review: I came across this movie on Paramount Plus early this morning and, while the description left a lot to be desired, the short runtime made it a good choice before heading into the office. Overall, I'd have to say it exceeded my expectations. I am a big fan of "locked room" mysteries and ...

Synopsis: A World War II mine sweeper comes under the command of a by-the-book commander who quickly angers his fellow officers because of his obsessive and paranoid personality. When he freezes during a typhoon and puts his ship in danger, his first officer relieves him of command and faces mutiny charges as a result. Who's in it?  The movie stars Humphrey Bogart , Fred MacMurray , Van Johnson , Lee Marvin and Robert Francis. You can read my review of The Caine Mutiny here:  Movie Review: The Caine Mutiny (1954) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: When an unknown force knocks out all electronic devices, including those in cars, it doesn't take long to figure out the same event stopped people from being able to sleep. Jill's daughter, Matilda, is the lone exception, something that forces Jill to flee with Matilda and her son, Noah out of fear of what might happen to the girl as the sleep-deprived world grows increasingly insane. Who's in it? The movie stars Gina Rodriguez , Ariana Greenblatt , Lucius Hoyos , Shamier Anderson and Jennifer Jason Leigh . Review: I came across this movie on Netflix a couple days ago and the trailer made it look interesting enough for me to add it to my list. I ended up watching it with my wife tonight and was pleasantly surprised. I think the thing I liked most about this movie was the mystery surrounding what happened. It was something that happened without warning and without any explanation (until later in the movie) so it was unclear whether it was a terrorist plot, ali...

Synopsis : After spending the last three years helping on her dad's fishing boat following a bad breakup, Beth returns to Los Angeles to take care of an aunt who broke her leg. When her photo is taken without her knowledge while she's sniffing roses at a flower market and makes the cover of a local magazine, it goes viral and makes her an instant celebrity. As she tries to figure out what to do with her newly found fame, Beth is unaware her new boyfriend, Jake, is the person who took the photo. Who's in it? The movie stars Rhiannon Fish , Tyler Hynes , Samantha Ferris , Robert Wisden and Alison Araya. Review: After spending a good chunk of the day outside and enjoying the gorgeous weather, my wife and I settled down on the couch and looked for a movie to watch. We have a bunch of Hallmark films in our library and this one looked interesting, so we gave it a try. Overall, I thought it was an OK choice. A couple things really stood out for me when it came to this movie. Fo...

It was nice out today, so we went for a family walk. It was a bit more crowded than when I go during the week and a lot of the critters were hiding as a result, but I managed to get a pair of photos:

Synopsis: Dr. Veronica Simon has spent a great deal of effort being the perfect politician's wife, even pushing aside her own political aspirations in support of her husband despite rumors he is having an affair. When he and their daughter are out of town, Veronica, feeling neglected, winds up having a weekend fling with a mentally ill local artist, Victor, who develops an obsession with her and begins stalking her and her family. Who's in it?  The movie stars Mira Sorvino , Cary Elwes , Christopher Backus , Katherine McNamara and Melora Walters . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Indiscretion (2016) (wizzley.com)

 Just some photos from today's walk:

 The weather was absolutely gorgeous today, warm without being too warm for April, so I managed to get out with my camera again and got some photos:

Synopsis: Following a burglary that turned into an assault, Liza still has nightmares and her son, Jules (who witnessed it) no longer speaks. Feeling a change of scenery will do them some good, her husband, Sean, moves them into a guest house on the Heelshire Mansion property. When Jules discovers a porcelain doll buried in a makeshift grave, his parents let him keep it and are thrilled when he seems to be showing signs of improvement. However, it doesn't take long for Liza to realize her son is developing an unhealthy attachment to the doll, Brahms, that could be putting her and her husband's lives in danger. Who's in it? The movie stars Katie Holmes , Christopher Convery , Owain Yeoman , Ralph Ineson and Daphne Hoskins . Review: My wife and I liked the first movie when we first saw it and ended up rewatching it with our teenager yesterday evening. Since she enjoyed the first movie as well and we still had time, we ended up watching to sequel too. Unfortunately, it wa...

Synopsis: A year removed from facing vengeful fisherman Ben Willis, Julie is still suffering from nightmares and paranoia and her relationship with Ray is on the rocks as a result. When her friend wins a free trip to a remote island in the Bahamas, she agrees to go. However, while her friend hopes to get her to relax and maybe become involved with a new man, Julie, instead, finds herself being stalked again. Who's in it? The movie stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Mekhi Phifer , Brandy Norwood , Muse Watson and Freddie Prinze, Jr. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) (wizzley.com)

The trails are still a bit muddy, but the weather was too nice to stay indoors all day, so I ventured out with my camera and got a few photos. Here are some of them.

Synopsis: San Francisco art collector Tess Delaney has a shaky relationship with her mother but is following in her footsteps by traveling the world and may be in line for a big promotion. However, her world is flipped upside down when she is contacted by her father's side of the family and learns she has inherited half a California apple orchard from her recently deceased grandfather and has a half-sister, Isabel. She reluctantly visits the property and begins to connect with the family she didn't know about before learning another secret, the orchard is about to be foreclosed upon. Who's in it? The movie stars Rachelle Lefevre , Niall Matter , Helena Marie , Donia Kash and Sarah Hayward. Review: I came across this movie on Hallmark earlier today, while watching another show. It looked interesting so I ended up adding it to my library and my wife and I ended up watching it this evening. The movie wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought, from the description, i...

Synopsis: After suffering a mild stroke and being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Judith Albright reluctantly chooses to move into a historic nursing home, so her daughter and teenage grandson don't need to care for her as she deteriorates. Shortly after arriving, she notices a dark figure in her room at night and begins to suspect someone or something is killing the patients. However, due to her condition and recent diagnosis of dementia, nobody believes her. Who's in it? The movie stars Barbara Hershey , Bruce Davison , Jill Larson , Nicholas Alexander and Katie Amanda Keane. Review: My wife and I finished our first movie sooner than I expected yesterday and since we still had a couple hours before we'd be thinking about going to bed, I decided to make it a double feature with this film I came across earlier yesterday morning. Since I hadn't heard about the movie before and the plot sounded similar to plenty of other films, I wasn't expecting much but ...

Synopsis: Lou and her four friends, Trish, Maura and Betty, became New England Patriot and Tom Brady fans back in 2001, when Lou was successfully defeating cancer. In 2017, Brady takes his team to another Super Bowl and Lou, believing her cancer might have returned, decides to secretly buy four tickets, pretending she won them in a contest, and go with her friends. The 80-year-old women discover the adventure of a lifetime, especially when they learn the tickets aren't real. Who's in it? The movie stars Lily Tomlin , Sally Field , Jane Fonda , Rita Moreno and Tom Brady . Review: My wife was interested in seeing this movie when she first learned about it so, when I came across it on Paramount Plus, I made sure to add it to the list. We ended up watching it yesterday afternoon and I'll admit it was better than I expected. There are some things about this movie that are a bit predictable. For example, as soon as the "responsible one," Betty (Fields), was put in ch...

Synopsis: A University of Maine student attempts to kill himself in 1969. Shortly after recovering, he learns his mother has suffered a stroke and he decides to skip a concert in Toronto and, instead, starts hitchhiking home so he can see her in the hospital. Along the way, he encounters a number of strange people on the highway and, ultimately, is forced to make a decision about whether his mother should die or if he is willing to die instead. Who's in it?  The movie stars Jonathan Jackson , David Arquette , Barbara Hershey , Erika Christensen , Nicky Katt and Cliff Robertson . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Riding the Bullet (2004) (wizzley.com)

  My other web series Life Lessons from Horror Movies has run its course and I've decided to retire it after 75 episodes, though it still remains active for those who want to read it. I am replacing it with my new series It Happened on Hump Day . This is something I've been wanting to do for a while. I am a big fan of history and have a teaching degree in the subject (though I never became a teacher) and I figured this would be a good way for me to both learn new things and share my knowledge with others. The first three episodes are in the process of being published and are free if you'd like a preview.

Synopsis: After finally being caught by the police, a gang of animal criminals tries to avoid prison by pretending to reform their ways. There's just one problem, their leader, Wolf, really does want to change. This leads to a rift between the friends when they are framed for stealing a famous meteorite. Who's in it? The animated movie uses voices from  Sam Rockwell ,  Marc Maron ,  Awkwafina , C raig Robinson and  Zazie Beetz . Review: I came across this film on Netflix a couple days ago and since I knew it was something my daughter wanted to see, saved it for our family movie night last night. Overall, it ended up being an OK movie but not one of my favorite animated films. I thought the premise of the film was decent albeit a little predictable. The idea of certain animals being judged by what they are is something that has been done before (Zootopia comes to mind) but it still worked, especially when you look at this as purely a movie meant for younger k...

Synopsis: Siblings Jackson and Angela run a profitable scam involving Angela pretending to be a medium with the ability to talk to ghosts and convince them to leave people's homes. When Jackson insists they pull the same scam at a former foster home with a history of a brutal mass murder, he thinks of it as just another job. However, this time, something is different. Angela really can see and hear the ghosts of the little girls who were tortured and killed. Who's in it?  The movie stars Florence Pugh , Ben Lloyd-Hughes , Scott Chambers , Celia Imrie and Georgina Bevan . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Malevolent (2018) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: Los Angeles couple Frank and Lenore Davis go to the hospital to deliver their second child. However, likely due to the birth control pills she had taken prior to getting pregnant, their baby is horribly mutated, animalistic and blood thirsty. After it kills the hospital personnel in the delivery room, it escapes into the city sewers and causes a city-wide hunt. Who's in it? The movie stars  John P. Ryan ,  Sharon Farrell ,  Andrew Duggan ,  Guy Stockwell and  James Dixon. Review: I had this movie in my library and my wife remembered seeing it when she was younger and being frightened by it so we decided to watch it last night. The movie wasn't as scary as she remembered but still ended up being an OK choice. To tell you the truth, the part about the mutant baby was better than I was expecting it to be. The film does a good job showing just enough of the child to give people an idea of what it looked like without letting people fixate on any fakenes...

Synopsis: A deep space medical ship receives a distress call from an abandoned mining operation located on a comet about to be pulled into a gigantic supernova. When they arrive, they rescue one survivor, who smuggles an alien artifact on board the ship and is determined to do everything he can to make sure the crew doesn't follow through on threats to eject it. Who's in it?  The movie stars James Spader , Lou Diamond Phillips , Angela Bassett , Robert Forster and Peter Facinelli . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Supernova (2000) (wizzley.com)

Synopsis: When her lover, Sam, tells her he can't marry her until he's out of debt, Marion Crane decides to steal a $40,000 cash deposit that was entrusted to her by her employer and drive to California to be with her boyfriend. Feeling stressed and guilty after an encounter with a police officer and accidentally getting off the highway because of the rain, Marion checks into the Bates Motel and has a run-in with its mother-obsessed manager, Norman. Who's in it?  The movie stars Janet Leigh , Anthony Perkins , Vera Miles , John Gavin and Martin Balsam . Review: I came across this movie last night while my wife was taking a shower and, since it had been a while since I had an opportunity to watch it in its entirety, decided to do so. Even though I have seen this Alfred Hitchcock classic at least a dozen times, it still manages to impress me. Even though this movie is now roughly 63 years old, it still sets a standard when it comes to slasher movies. And that has very litt...