The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014)

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You could pretty much rebrand the 2014 “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” as “Scream 5” and not many people would know the difference. Except that no film in the “Scream” series has ever been this bold or subversive before. “The Town…” 2014 is a film about the influence of films that disturbs, polarizes, and effects greatly. There’s rarely any satire and zero tongue in cheek, just a mad man viciously murdering people to the tune of a very effective crime thriller/slasher film from 1976. I’d be hard pressed to call this a remake or a reboot, as it’s more a sequel than anything.

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Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)

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Seeing as I never liked the original animated shorts the movie is based on, I was very skeptical toward “Mr. Peabody and Sherman.” There hasn’t been much interesting entertainment mined from the Rocky and Bullwinkle short series. Surprising enough, “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” doesn’t just adapt the shorts, but expands on them, injecting heart, characterization, and isn’t reliant on pop culture nods and winks to keep the audience entertained. It’s that refreshing element that makes this adaptation such a stellar piece of animation.

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Would You Rather (2013)

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Let’s face it. Everyone has a price. It doesn’t matter how moral or just you think you are. At the end of the day someone will put down a price for your will, or strength, and you’ll eventually cash in on what they can offer. Whether money, sex, or possessions, everyone walks around with a price tag. And while “Would you Rather?” is by no means an amazing thriller, it really does succeed in commenting on the cruelty of humanity and how much people will endure for some cash.

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Wanda Whips Wall Street (1982) (DVD)

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If you ever wondered what Regan Era Republican porn would look like, “Wanda Whips Wall Street” is about as close to the vision as it gets. It’s “Working Girl” meets “Wall Street” except its star Veronica Hart uses her brains and bones a lot of executives to rise to the top of a new company she’s working in and potentially own it. Star Veronica Hart is the perfect Right wing seductress, a business woman who is smart and clever, but also garners a voracious appetite for sex.

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The Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 4: Slabtown

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I’m not sure I entirely enjoyed “Slabtown” if only for the fact that while Beth has always been an interesting character, she’s not really going to go anywhere. I don’t really see this arc with Beth ending on a light note. In fact I foresee this being the final episodes with Beth in this zombie apocalypse. While it will suck not seeing the utterly gorgeous and talented Emily Kinney anymore, I think it might just be the sacrifice that’s worth it. While I don’t particularly agree with the methods that are practiced in this dictatorial and exploitative safe haven, the leader of the pack Dawn makes some interesting points about Beth’s survival. Ever since we met Beth, everyone’s priority has been about saving her and placing her in a higher priority. Beth has always been rescued, but she’s barely done anything to really pay people back.

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Tammy (2014): Extended Cut (Blu-ray/ DVD/Digital)

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Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy’s “Tammy” is yet another comedy vehicle this year tailored as a vanity film for a specific comic presence that fails on every conceivable level. The movie most of all fails Melissa McCarthy who is much better than this pile of unfunny junk. “Tammy” is specifically tailored for her, and yet she and husband Falcone can never decide what tone they want to run with, they never land even the slightest one-liner, and every effort to make titular Tammy likable is wasted. I’m not even sure what is wrong with Tammy and why she’s comedic. Is she mentally disabled? Is she just naive? Is she the product of coddling and spoiling who just never matured? Is she just a perpetual loser? Are we supposed to laugh at her? Why is watching a human being in constant misery supposed to be funny?

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The Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 5: Self Help

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“Self Help” belongs to Abraham Ford, and it’s a good thing too. Michael Cudlitz is a ridiculously underrated character actor, and his performance as Ford has been stellar. We didn’t just need someone who looked the role, but portrayed the immense charge of the militant character, and Cudlitz brings his A game for this episode in particular. Another great episode in a (so far) fantastic season, we meet Abraham’s group, now on the road only hours after the confrontation at the church. Everyone is still rattled from the vicious slaughter. Eugene in particular is grief stricken about Gabriel and how his cowardice really wasn’t that much of a sin, all things considered.

For fans of the comics, this episode was a long time coming.

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