Diverse Film Offerings: From Thrillers to Dramas, This Week's Reviews

This week's cinematic landscape offers a varied selection, with reviews covering a survivalist thriller, a dark comedy remake, a character-driven drama, and an indie sci-fi exploration. Audiences can delve into tales of isolation, revenge, marital introspection, and parallel universes.

Last Ride: A Predictable Survival Thriller

Cin'qué Lee's "Last Ride" attempts a survivalist coming-of-age thriller but is hampered by a predictable narrative. The film interweaves two half-told stories, one set in the present and another flashing back to 1982, where three children are trapped in a cable car. Despite visually interesting elements and atmospheric sound design, the film struggles to maintain audience investment due to its foreseeable conclusion and underdeveloped characters.

How to Make a Killing: A Missed Opportunity in Dark Comedy

Inspired by the 1949 British film "Kind Hearts and Coronets," John Patton Ford's "How to Make a Killing" aims for a modern dark comedy thriller. While boasting a strong cast including Glen Powell and Margaret Qualley, the film falls flat, offering a curiously uninvolving and half-baked experience. Despite a rising body count and some twists, it lacks the sharp wit and social commentary of its predecessors, resulting in a dull and inconsequential murder comedy.

Midwinter Break: A Ponderous Look at a Long Marriage

"Midwinter Break," directed by Polly Findlay, is an adult-oriented drama based on Bernard MacLaverty's novel. Starring Lesley Manville and Ciaran Hinds as a long-married couple on a trip to Amsterdam, the film explores buried secrets and marital dissatisfaction. While the performances are commendable, the narrative struggles to connect its various plot threads, leading to a ponderous and cinematically tepid experience that fails to deliver emotional impact.

Redux Redux: An Intriguing Indie Sci-Fi Journey

"Redux Redux," directed by the McManus brothers, is an indie sci-fi film that excels by focusing on what it doesn't reveal. The story follows Irene Kelly (Michaela McManus) as she travels between parallel universes to exact revenge on her daughter's killer. The film prioritizes character development and atmosphere over intricate sci-fi explanations. A significant shift occurs when Irene encounters a younger version of her daughter, leading to a compelling dynamic that elevates the latter half of the film, culminating in an ambiguously satisfying conclusion.

• Key Takeaways:"Last Ride" suffers from predictability despite visual efforts."How to Make a Killing" fails to live up to its promising premise and cast."Midwinter Break" offers strong performances but a disjointed narrative."Redux Redux" succeeds through its minimalist approach to sci-fi and character focus.

Sources

• Cinque Lee's latest gets snowed under by predictability, Roger Ebert.

• How to Make a Killing movie review (2026), Roger Ebert.

• Midwinter Break movie review & film summary (2026), Roger Ebert.

• Redux Redux movie review & film summary (2026), Roger Ebert.