Matt Shiverdecker, Author at MendoWerks

Maika Monroe Shines in ‘Watcher’ (Review)

14Oct

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

Maika Monroe Shines in ‘Watcher’ (Review)

Maika Monroe first caught my attention with a double shot of incredible performances in 2014's 'The Guest' and 'It Follows.' She's had a little less success with finding the right roles since then, but a recent binge of scary movies for October leads me to recommend this thriller that she stars in that was written and directed by Chloe Okuno. Maika Monroe stars in 'Watcher' (IFC Midnight) In 'Watcher,' Monroe plays Julia, a woman who has relocated to Bucharest with her husband Francis (Karl Glusman) for his new job. Mostly left to her own devices, Julia is excited for her new surroundings, but stuck in a manner of being unable to communicate and feeling isolated. A slate of murders in the area start to permeate daily life and before long Julia becomes convinced that a man w...

What to Watch: October 2022 Streaming Preview

7Oct

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film

What to Watch: October 2022 Streaming Preview

If you’re looking for something new on streaming in October, we’ve got you covered. Maybe you want to sit down with a brand new release to rent on VOD? If you’d rather check out something that has just hit a service you already subscribe to, we’ve got you covered there too. Across every platform, there are plenty of new and original horror films to keep you scared all month long. Check out some of our picks for what you should add to your October streaming watchlist! What are you most excited to see? Javier Bardem stars in 'The Good Boss' (Cohen Media) Newly Available on VOD this October Billy Flanigan: The Happiest Man on Earth (available now)Emily The Criminal (available now)The Good Boss (available now)Jeepers Creepers: Reborn (available now)The Silent Twins (available...

‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever’ Falls Short (Review)

30Sep

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever’ Falls Short (Review)

Peter Farrelly's follow-up to his mawkish Best Picture winner 'Green Book' is a more interesting film, but I'm not sure 'The Greatest Beer Run Ever' is a good movie. Actually, I'm quite positive that it isn't, but it is an inherently watchable one. That has everything to do with Zac Efron, who makes a rather unlikeable character surprisingly sympathetic. He plays John "Chickie" Donohue, a merchant Marine in 1967 New York City who concocts a rather ridiculous plan while out shittalking at the bar with his buddies. Zac Efron brings his buddy a PBR in 'The Greatest Beer Run Ever' (Apple TV+) From the Five Boroughs to Da Nang If this wasn't based on a true story, you'd be forgiven for thinking the plot was absurd. Chickie makes a plan to go to Vietnam and deliver cans of Pab...

B.J. Novak Heads to Texas for ‘Vengeance’ (Review)

23Sep

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

B.J. Novak Heads to Texas for ‘Vengeance’ (Review)

'Vengeance,' the directorial debut of 'The Office' star B.J. Novak, is a sharply observed Texas-based noir that explores more territory than you might expect. Novak wrote, directed, and starred in this darkly comic thriller as somewhat of an aimless journalist named Ben Manalowitz looking for his ticket to success. B.J. Novak and Boyd Holbrook star in 'Vengeance' (Focus Features) An Unexpected Trip to West Texas His career is on a decent path, but his ambitions are higher. His love life is fleeting, with an iPhone full of women that he identifies mostly by where he met them to jog his own memory. Callous and selfish, his tendency is to sacrifice genuine relationships for brief moments of pleasure. Ben's life changes when he gets a phone call from a man named Ty (Boyd Hol...

‘Confess, Fletch’ is a Welcome Return (Review)

16Sep

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Confess, Fletch’ is a Welcome Return (Review)

The character of I.M. Fletcher, aka Fletch, began with series of mystery novels released by Gregory Mcdonald starting in 1974. That original novel was adapted for the big screen in 1985 with Chevy Chase taking on the titular role of an unconventional investigative reporter. Known for his comedic prowess, Chase helped cement the character into the realm of pop culture. After an ill-fated sequel in 1989 that was not based on an existing novel, Fletch's big screen adventures ended even though there are 11 existing books in the series. There has been talk of trying a cinematic reboot for years, but it took actual decades to get off the ground. Jon Hamm stars in 'Confess, Fletch' (Paramount/Miramax) 'Confess, Fletch' is based on the second book in the series, originally published...

‘Clerks III’ is a Heartfelt Trip Back to the Quick Stop (Review)

9Sep

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Clerks III’ is a Heartfelt Trip Back to the Quick Stop (Review)

Kevin Smith wraps up the raunchy 'Clerks' series by facing his mortality. I was a freshman in college and working in a video store when the original 'Clerks' was released in 1994. To call me the target audience is an understatement. With a tagline that read "just because they serve you doesn't mean they like you" and its raw black-and-white aesthetic, it just worked on every level at that specific moment in my life. 2006's sequel found our slacker characters Randal (Jeff Anderson) and Dante (Brian O'Halloran) jumping from the Quick Stop convenience store into the fast-food world of Mooby's. While it didn't hit as sharply for me, it was undeniably funny, crass, and built upon the cult classic status of the first film to become an even bigger hit. Jeff Anderson and Brian O'Hallora...

What to Watch: September 2022 Streaming Preview

31Aug

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film

What to Watch: September 2022 Streaming Preview

If you’re looking for something new on streaming in September, we’ve got you covered. Maybe you want to sit down with a brand new release to rent on VOD? If you’d rather check out something that has just hit a service you already subscribe to, we’ve got you covered there too. Check out some of our picks for what you should add to your September streaming watchlist! What are you most excited to see? September streaming pick: Ana de Armas stars as Marilyn Monroe in Netflix's 'Blonde' Newly Available on VOD this September Kaepernick & America (September 2) Marcel The Shell With Shoes On (PVOD @ $19.99, September 6 - our review)Where The Crawdads Sing (PVOD @ $19.99, September 6) From Where They Stood (September 13)Confess, Fletch (PVOD @ $24.99, September 16)The Story of Film...

‘Spin Me Round’ Takes Us On Absurdly Comic Trip to Italy (Review)

26Aug

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Spin Me Round’ Takes Us On Absurdly Comic Trip to Italy (Review)

In Jeff Baena's new indie comedy 'Spin Me Round,' a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity turns out to be a ridiculously bad idea. Alison Brie ('Community') stars as Amber, the longtime manager at the Bakersfield, California location of an Italian restaurant chain called Tuscan Grove. At one point she had quit to start her her own restaurant with a boyfriend. He ended up driving the business into the ground and destroying her credit, so she comes back to sling salads and breadsticks. Alison Brie and Aubrey Plaza star in 'Spin Me Round' (IFC Films) As Amber returns to a kitchen that mostly heats things up in a microwave and uses pre-made sauces out of plastic bags, a silver lining appears. She wins an all-expenses-paid trip to Tuscan Grove's luxurious "institute" outside of Florence, It...

‘Stay On Board’ Chronicles Life of Trans Skateboarder Leo Baker (Review)

16Aug

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Stay On Board’ Chronicles Life of Trans Skateboarder Leo Baker (Review)

For two decades, Leo Baker was a professional skateboarder who competed professionally all around the world. Co-directors Nicola Marsh and Giovanni Reda followed Baker from 2019 to 2021 during a period of intense personal turmoil. The film begins with what should have been a career highlight - Baker was announced to represent the USA on the first-ever Women's Olympic Skateboarding Team. Leo Baker reaches new heights in 'Stay On Board' (Netflix) The problem? Baker was experiencing extreme gender dysphoria, already identifying themselves as Leo and using they/them pronouns amongst friends and family. Being chosen for the Olympics was a life changing moment, but not in the way you might expect. Every interview and comment that identified them as a woman became harder and harde...

The ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ Hit The Floor This Weekend at Theaters Nationwide (Review)

12Aug

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

The ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ Hit The Floor This Weekend at Theaters Nationwide (Review)

'Bodies Bodies Bodies,' the latest release from A24, is a perfect pick if you're looking to get in some jump scares before the summer ends. Let's get one thing clear - this is not a slasher film. Just seeing the company's logo up top should give you an indication that this is something more unexpected. 'Bodies Bodies Bodies' expands nationwide this weekend. (A24) The Story In this wild satirical whodunit directed by Halina Reijn, a bunch of filthy rich kids plan a hurricane party at remote family mansion. Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) is a recovering addict. She hits the road with her girlfriend Bee (Maria Bakalova) to head out to a gigantic house where her best friend David (Pete Davidson) is hosting friends to weather a massive storm. Upon arrival, it's clear that Sophie an...