With limited cinemas being open due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been questioning whether to venture out to see the films in the theatre depending on the titles. With Dave Franco’s The Rental, I was glad I ventured out to see this one on the big screen. In Franco’s directorial debut, The Rental is a chilling and suspenseful vacation film that leads a deadly trail of deception, dishonesty, and danger among its four main characters as they take a vacation in an Air BNB in the mountains of Oregon. One tactic leads to another which had me aching in curiosity of what the outcomes would be for Charlie (played by Dan Stevens), Michelle (played by Alison Brie who is also the director’s wife), Mina (played by Sheila Vand), and Josh (played by Jeremy Allen White).

The plot of the film is that the two brothers (Charlie and Josh) decide to take their girlfriends (Michelle and Mina) on a weekend getaway to celebrate work success. At first, some seem skeptical, but figure it is in a house with privacy and that it cannot be that bad (unfortunately it is the opposite). Once they all settle in on the first day, all of them get into hard drugs, drinking and partying. Some decide to call it a night early and go to sleep, but others keep the party going and start engaging in mischievous activities believing they will not get caught. However, they are already in the spotlight due to hidden cameras around the house. Two of the guests start to realize their risqué behavior was probably recorded and worry that they could face all kinds of life-threatening conflicts if the video is out there. The key is that the man behind the cameras can see everything. Soon the house becomes more dangerous, as he sees everything and creates tension via the technology that he uses to challenge the behaviors of his guests.

The tension in the film was intense as were the emotions of the characters as they try to maintain their safety and fight for their lives, but also somehow find the footage of the lewd behavior that was recorded of them. The film reminded me of Vacancy (2007). I felt the premise was similar, but this was a film that has a setting which is much less predictable. Both films ask the same question, i.e. how can the protagonists fight for their lives when the antagonist can see all they do technologically? The Rental takes those tense elements many levels up, given the cameras are wireless and hidden in many places that people would not think about.

The Rental may well have been one of the best movies I have experienced with shock and horror during these hard times. I love films with jump scares as well as people chasing and trying to fight others. The Rental spoke to me throughout its ninety minutes. It had me on edge, and while it was somewhat predictable in some moments, in others twists of shock are thrown in. Franco has done an excellent job with the shock value in his directorial debut. Three and a half stars.

When it comes to movies gearing on peril, I have always been a sucker. Especially when the film involves airplanes in menacing situations or on the verge of finding safety with little time and no assistance, I am a fan.  Some of the films in this genre include Flightplan (2005), Con-Air (1997), Flight (2012), and United 93 (2006). United 93 is hard to watch given it is based on the 9/11 events, but the realism is what makes the film engrossing. The others are not based on actual events, but they have a variety of hazardous airplane scenes that make viewers feel they are part of the action. Patrick Vollrath’s 7500, however, is just average. While it has a chilling setup and structure, it is dry and probably one of the quieter movies with airplane danger that I have seen.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Tobias Ellis, a pilot en route to Paris from Berlin.  Shortly after the flight takes off, terrorists try to take control of the flight deck killing Tobias’s co-pilot, but Tobias manages to keep them locked out of the pit. With one pilot dead, terrorists on the plane cause much harm to the passengers to get Tobias’s attention in order to let them take control of the flight deck, Tobias finds himself having to talk to the flight tower to try to get help from below along with constantly wondering how much danger the passengers are in. Although the premise is a good setup, it is not as suspenseful as I expected, most of the suspense came from the consistent banging on the cockpit by the terrorists along with dialogue via radios.

As always, I try to be fair with my reviews, and I am trying to be positive here even though it is a challenge for this one. 7500 keeps its viewers on edge (albeit quietly), but it is more irritating with repetitive sound effects than suspenseful. I found myself wondering if Tobias would ever leave the cockpit cabin, or if there would be slightly more physical action.  Unfortunately, there was only a light amount of physical action, and not much of a change of scenery. This film just seemed rushed.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivered a solid performance, but the script was not very well written and not very memorable.

7500 is a mediocre action/thriller film that could be better, but it was just rushed. The premise had potential, but the filmmaking, the writing, and the setup of the hijacking was where it all lacked. Therefore, I give 7500 just two stars.

In Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, the opening scenes link to historic moments in the fight against racism. Beginning with clips including Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., the movie then moves on to a tragic backstory that gears on redemption and winning on a hunt for gold. This film is what most viewers have come to expect from a movie directed by Lee, a film which features cultural tides and tension.  Da 5 Bloods takes those elements to a level that is invigorating and powerful.

Da 5 Bloods centers on four African American veterans who include Paul (played by Delroy Lindo), David (played by Jonathan Majors), Otis (played by Clarke Peters), and Eddie (played by Norman Lewis). These veterans reunite for a new mission in Vietnam after the death of their friend Stormin’ Norman (played by Chadwick Boseman). The goal of their mission in returning to Vietnam is to find what was left of their fallen soldier, and to recover fortunes of gold that Norman helped them hide. Paul is a soldier who has witnessed countless disturbing scenes in Vietnam. David, Paul’s son, is concerned that his father may be going insane. The truth is, everyone is going insane, not just because of trying to find the gold, but because of the PTSD from their previous mission in Vietnam.  Now, they find themselves back in a place and encountering scenarios that have irreparable consequences.

I was hooked on this movie right from the start because the way Lee’s direction explores multiple elements from the past to the present. This happens in sequences in which there are moments of truth or despair which made me reflect upon how historic scenarios connect to the present conflict. The performance by Lindo is superb as he is the one who burns up the screen with being self-absorbed and macho.  Paul, his character, believes that he is the one who deserves the glory based on what he has endured. The rest are more dead-pan, and believe Paul is going crazy. Lee does a solid representation of how the past muddies up the present in the return to this dangerous world for the veterans.

During the moments of hunting for gold, there are unexpected surprises that lead to life and death conflicts. This includes land mines, nature’s wild animals, and more soldiers. The only veteran that finds himself afraid is David (because he joins them last minute). With David’s father being so focused on himself, he does not have much sympathy towards his son as he does towards his own earnings if he is able to find gold. The father and son disconnect made Da 5 Bloods an engrossing, yet disheartening journey as the film hits uncharted territory. Lee is an expert at portraying uncharted territory.

I give Da 5 Bloods three and a half stars. It is close to being excellent, but it is at times a bit over-done. However, given that we’re in the midst of a pandemic, it is an inviting thrill-ride that has a Full Metal Jacket (1987) mixed with Apocalypse Now (1979) feel, but with more cultural tides and historic moments blended in to make a more suspenseful film. I have respect for Spike Lee, because his surprises that come out of the blue consistently take his directing to another level. For those who are fans of his other films, then Da 5 Bloods is not to be missed.