Another week, another set of unmissable movie reviews are on the way (you’re welcome). But wait, what’s this?! Is this week’s batch of films heavily slanted towards horror?
Why, yes, it is. With the exception of the action movie, Ballerina, horror is very much the focus.
While recent summer blockbusters such as Karate Kid: Legends and Lilo & Stitch have been nice and light, it’s time for the summer season to serve up a touch of darkness. And this week, we are getting that darkness and then some!
Reviews include the Australian survival picture, Dangerous Animals; teen slasher, Clown in a Cornfield; and animated sci-fi horror, Predator: Killer of Killers. Plus this week Al Pacino and Dan Stevens star in supernatural movie, The Ritual; there’s a nautical nightmare in Screamboat; and Ana de Armas leads the aforementioned action film, Ballerina.
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On disc…
Screamboat (2025)
First up this week is the horror comedy, Screamboat. Directed and co-written by Steven LaMorte, and starring David Howard Thornton, Alison Pittel, and Jesse Posey, the film tells the story of a murderous mouse who goes on a rampage aboard a late night ferry.
In the movie, various passengers (including a party of young women dressed as copyright-friendly Disney Princesses) board the Staten Island Ferry hoping for a short and carefree journey. However, an anthropomorphic mouse with a thirst for blood is on the boat, and appears intent on killing everyone off.
Quickly, two things become clear. Not everyone is going home alive, and not everyone watching this movie will stick it out to the end.
For those unaware, Screamboat is a horror romp loosely inspired by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerk’s 1928 animated short, Steamboat Willie. The film exists because Steamboat Willie is now in the public domain, so the opportunity to create a copyright-free horror movie out of the subject matter seemed far too tempting to resist.
It’s already happened to Winnie-the-Pooh and one or two other high-profile characters, so it was only a matter of time before Willie (a version of Mickey Mouse) got the same treatment. Although, this isn’t quite the same treatment.
There is some good news. Screamboat is better than those pretty terrible Winnie-the-Pooh movies.
The film is largely (and wisely) played for laughs, and the kills aren’t bad. David Howard Thornton also appears to be having a ball as the monstrous mouse.
However, the bad news is, Screamboat is still mostly twaddle. The story is basic, the characters one-note, and the runtime is much longer than it needs to be.
The film takes too long to get going, then once it is moving, it becomes tedious and ever so drawn out. There’s just nothing here to latch onto, the novelty wears off very quickly, yet the runtime just keeps on going.
Screamboat could be worse, but this is far from an endorsement. It tries, and this is at least something, but trying and succeeding are two very different things.
Unless you have a strong desire to watch Screamboat, you are best skipping it. There’s not much more than basic horror on offer, and the story runs out of steam.
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In cinemas…
Clown in a Cornfield (2025)
Over to the cinema now, and in Clown in a Cornfield, 17-year-old Quinn Maybrook moves to the small town of Kettle Springs with her father. He’s a doctor, they’ve both experienced tragedy in the lives, and now it’s time for dad and daughter to find some peace and hopefully some much-needed bonding.
However, while Dr. Maybrook is ready to embrace their new surroundings, Quinn is less keen. Kettle Springs doesn’t have a lot going for it, unless you count the imminent ‘Founder’s Day’ celebration, or the now-defunct Baypen Corn Syrup factory which burnt down a while ago.
Outside of this, the only other notable feature of Quinn’s new home is Frendo the clown. Frendo is the former mascot of Baypen, who in recent years has been given a new lease of life thanks to some high school students.
Reimagined as a serial killer, Frendo is the star of a YouTube channel, where he commits ‘scares’ on unsuspecting victims for views. The channel currently has 65,000 subscribers, and the owners of the channel (who Quinn befriends), believes he is far more interesting than the yawn-inducing celebrations or the corn.
But things take a terrifying turn when a seemingly real-life Frendo suddenly appears on the scene and starts bumping off the teens. Could they have inspired a real-life killer clown or is something more sinister in play?
Directed and co-written by Eli Craig, Clown in a Cornfield stars Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Vincent Muller, Will Sasso, and Kevin Durand. Based on the book of the same name by Adam Cesare, the movie is a teen slasher which serves up a mix of splatter, comedy, and occasional creepiness.
Taking inspiration from various slashers of the past, and chucking in a touch of Scooby-Doo for good measure, Clown in a Cornfield plays like an adult episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark?. A ruddy good adult episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark?!
The film starts off fairly straightforward, heading down the standard route you might expect for a horror of this ilk, then things get shaken up at the midway point and it really finds its groove. From here, Clown in a Cornfield takes a left turn, altering expectations and keeping things interesting for the back half of the picture.
All the way through, the cast are likeable, the script is witty, and the vibe is good! Clown in a Cornfieldgets off to a solid start, maintains momentum, and ends in a satisfying way.
It’s the sort of film where ‘one-and-done’ is fine, but if sequels were to follow it wouldn’t be a bad thing to see more. Adam Cesare has written other books in the Clown in a Cornfield series, so it’s entirely possible more films will materialise.
Highlights of Clown in a Cornfield include a surprise house call from Frendo; a cornfield massacre; and a pitchfork predicament. The movie also benefits from a fab performance from Katie Douglas as Quinn, as well as smart direction from Eli Craig.
All of the above, plus a bum-friendly runtime of 96 minutes adds up to a neat horror. Clown in a Cornfield doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but there is plenty of air in the tires, leading to a smooth ride.
Should you wish to check out Clown in a Cornfield, the movie is now playing in UK and US cinemas. You’d be a bozo to miss it.
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In cinemas…
Dangerous Animals (2025)
Sticking with the big screen, and just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, Dangerous Animals is here to prove it doesn’t matter if you’re in the sea or you’re on land, if you happen to be in the company of a serial killer you’re screwed. And if that serial killer has a thing for sharks, you had best hope you don’t taste delicious!
This is the predicament Aussie surfer Zephyr finds herself in when she crosses paths with complete nut-job, Tucker. He’s crazy, he owns a boat, he likes abducting people, and then he likes feeding them to the sharks.
Why? Because he’s off his melon!
Either way, after being kidnapped, Zephyr has to find a way to escape Tucker’s clutches before she becomes fish food. But is she safer in the water or on the boat?*
*Neither.
Directed by Sean Byrne, Dangerous Animals is an Australian survival horror starring Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Jai Courtney, and Rob Carlton. The movie is new to UK and US cinemas and is a tense frightener, which is part Dead Calm (1989), part Wolf Creek (2005), and part The Black Phone (2021), with some Jaws (1975) tossed into the mix.
As highlighted above, the story is fairly simple, and is essentially a kidnap picture with an innocent, yet resourceful heroine at the centre of the tale, as well as a crazed loon at the dark heart. She’s played brilliantly by Hassie Harrison, he’s played menacingly by Jai Courtney.
Both are excellent, and both deserve recognition for their parts in the film. Harrison ensures Zephyr is someone who MUST survive this ordeal, while Courtney as Tucker is the grim villain you want and/or need to scare you witless.
Tucker’s introduction scene is superb. The sequence in which he abducts Zephyr is equally as nerve-wracking, as are the many scenes where he’s gleefully videotaping his activities.
He’s essentially unhinged and then some! Courtney and director Sean Byrne make it so you never quite know what Tucker is going to do next, which keeps the audience booing and hissing, and firmly on its toes.
In terms of suspense and tension, Dangerous Animals has boat loads of it. There’s also some nasty situations too, and of course there’s room for a drop of blood.
The film isn’t a wall-to-wall splatter fest, but it’s not for the squeamish either. There are a couple of wince-inducing moments which may cause some audiences to momentarily avert their eyes, and at least one of these moments has nothing to do with the sharks.
And speaking of sharks, when it comes to the shark movie hierarchy, Dangerous Animals is up there. It’s no Jaws, nor is it Deep Blue Sea (1999), but it ranks high.
Dangerous Animals is well received in the shark movie rankings because in a refreshing change, it’s a shark film which doesn’t position the shark as the big bad. A scene towards the end of the film makes it clear the sharks are caught up in Tucker’s sordid affair, and human depravity is the real villain.
As with Clown in a Cornfield, Dangerous Animals is another winner. The film is a dark and twisted picture, and one which is confident in its approach and execution.
There is a gritty realism to the elements of fantasy, and there are moments of beauty amongst the darkness. Dangerous Animals is one to watch.
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In cinemas…
The Ritual (2025)
And from a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat, to one that will have you nodding off on your comfortable recliner (if you’re lucky enough to have a cinema with recliners). The film is the snooze-fest, The Ritual.
Directed and co-written by David Midell, The Ritual stars Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, and Abigail Cowen, and is yet another bog standard exorcism movie where lots of holy folk stand around a bed chanting scripture at a young woman who looks a bit worse for wear.
Incidentally, why do all these exorcisms take place around a bed? Why not an exorcism on the back of a bicycle, in a dance hall, or on the log flume at Alton Towers?!
Anyway, the year is 1928 and priests Theophilus Riesinger (Pacino) and Joseph Steiger are tasked with exorcising a dark presence from an allegedly possessed young woman named Emma Schmidt (Cowen). What follows is much chanting, various rituals, and enough shaky camera work to make even the saltiest sea dog feel seasick.
There are two very frustrating things about The Ritual and the first is the camera work. The movie feels like it has been filmed for television, with lots of close ups, as well as plenty of shots that wouldn’t look out of place on a US sitcom.
It’s possible the camera work is designed to unnerve audiences, but all it actually does is annoy. Nothing about the way the film is shot feels cinematic.
Meanwhile, the second frustrating aspect of The Ritual is the simple fact this is just another generic exorcism picture. Take away the priests and the exorcism and there’s nothing else going on.
This alone begs the question: Why do Hollywood execs think this movie will wow audiences when this whole schtick has been done countless times before? Between The Conjuring Universe, The Pope’s Exorcist (2023), the awful The Exorcist: Believer (2023), and many, many movies and TV shows over the years, the exorcism thing has been done to death.
Presumably the reason this movie exists is because it is based on a true story, which is reportedly one of the most documented exorcisms in US history. Perhaps this was enough of a hook for the top brass to give it the green light.
Hmm… only they know for sure. Either way, it’s still a bit crap.
Putting aside the terrible camera work and the repetitive story, there’s really nothing much to say about The Ritual. Stevens is good, Pacino less so, but the movie itself is as dull as ditchwater.
Hollywood wonders why audiences aren’t showing up for movies, and then serves up the same old tripe like this. Baffling. Truly baffling.
Anyway, should you need a good nap in a dark room, The Ritual is now playing in UK and US cinemas.
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Now streaming…
Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)
Over to streaming now for the animated anthology film, Predator: Killer of Killers. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg and Joshua Wassung, and featuring the voice talents of Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Rick Gonzalez, and Michael Biehn, the film follows a trio of heroes as they encounter Predators across different time periods in Earth history.
The first hero is a Viking champion named Ursa, who meets a hulking Predator in 841 AD. Appearing in the opening chapter, ‘The Shield’, Ursa is a skilled warrior, and essentially a one-woman army, which makes her ideal prey for this brutish Predator.
Chapter two, ‘The Sword’, jumps forward in time to Japan 1629, where a feud between two ninjas is interrupted by another Predator. While the ninja warriors are quite content battling each other, they soon realise their common enemy is a much more pressing threat, and have to join forces to take on the heavily armed alien.
The third chapter, ‘The Bullet’, moves the action to 1942 where a young pilot, drafted into World War II, meets a Predator while flying over the North Atlantic. Here he must use his piloting skills to defeat his new enemy.
All three chapters are essentially stand-alone affairs to begin with, with the individual heroes battling their Predators and showcasing their expertise in the process. However, as the film heads into its final act, the tales and the characters intertwine for a rousing showdown which sees humans from different backgrounds unite against a deadly foe.
Featuring slick animation, a solid story, and heaps of action, Predator: Killer of Killers is an enjoyable offering which should please fans of this long-running franchise. Not only does the movie introduce a collection of new protagonists, which could keep various tie-in offshoots going for years (comics, games, books, etc), but the film also features different Predators for different scenarios, which ensures things remain interesting.
Killer of Killers co-director Dan Trachtenberg is no stranger to the Predator franchise, having previously helmed 2022’s Prey, and it appears he understands what fans and general audiences want from the series. Working alongside co-director Joshua Wassung, the pair bring a good mix of action and sci-fi horror goodness, while pushing the series forward in new and interesting ways.
The anthology format can often be a tricky beast, but Trachtenberg and Wassung appear to have (mostly) mastered it. As such, the film offers short sharp bursts of adventure, while at the same time telling a story which has a larger, grander outlook.
Between the aforementioned Prey and this new entry, Killer of Killers, Disney is moving the Predator series in the right direction. With another Predator film on the way later this year, in the shape of Predator: Badlands, now is a good time to be a fan.
And of course if you’re not a fan, you can still find enjoyment in this new movie. If animation and action are your thing, you’ll find plenty of it and more.
Should you wish to check out Predator: Killer of Killers, the movie is streaming on Disney+ in the UK, and on Hulu in the US.
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In cinemas…
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025)
And finally, stepping away from horror now for the action movie, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (or Ballerina as it will be simply known from here on out). Directed by Len Wiseman, Ballerina stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves, and is a spin-off from the highly successful John Wick movie series.
Slotting in between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023), Ballerina focuses its attention on Eve Macarro, the titular ballerina who is also an assassin. In the movie, when Eve is just a little girl her father is killed, which sends her down a path towards revenge!
Along the way Eve rubs shoulders with various characters from the John Wick series, including Ian McShane’s Winston Scott, and of course the big guy himself. She also kicks some butt, pulls some triggers, and whirls and twirls in a training montage.
OK, so let’s just cut to the chase: Ballerina is perfectly fine as a slice of high-kicking entertainment. At times it’s a fairly standard actioner, and the script is flimsy, but the film has its moments and if you’re a fan of the Wick universe you’ll be fairly pleased about how it all connects.
You don’t need a degree in Wick lore to be able to watch this picture, but if you are well-versed then you will be happy with the way this entry is built into the existing films. That said, you could easily walk into the cinema to watch this instalment having no concept of what came before, and you can follow along without any trouble.
Ballerina’s biggest selling point is Ana de Armas, who gives it her all as Eve. de Armas has a likeable screen presence, can hold her own in some well choreographed fight scenes, and feels very much like she’s here to stay, should future sequels, spin-offs, or crossovers materialise.
Does Eve quite match up to Wick? Arguably no, but she certainly doesn’t drop the ball, and it’s not difficult to become invested in her journey.
Where Ballerina struggles a bit is in the general story, as well as any character development outside of Eve. The narrative is well-worn, with the general sense this has all been done before, while the supporting cast of characters largely seem to exist for the express purpose of giving de Armas a break for a couple of minutes.
Take The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus, who pops up during the first half of the movie, does little more than share a few lines, then exits rather abruptly. It’s almost as if his sole reason for being in the film is to allow de Armas to have a quick breather.
Although, considering how many action scenes she features in, a breather is certainly warranted. Ballerina does appear to enjoy short sharp bursts of action, with de Armas front-and-centre throughout.
Oh, and if you’re wondering about Reeves’ involvement in Ballerina, no major spoilers here, but he’s not in the film all that much. Ballerina could have easily gotten away with less involvement, so it’s good he appears in more than one scene, just don’t expect to see he him at every turn.
While Ballerina is unlikely to have everyone pirouetting into the cinema, those who do take a look will find it mostly quite agreeable. The story lacks originality, but the conveyor belt of action makes up for it, and then there is de Armas who is fab.
Should you wish to watch the film, Ballerina is now playing in UK and US cinemas. One to watch with popcorn and expectations adjusted.
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Movie of the Week
Time for Movie of the Week and following on from the double choice last week (Warfare and The Salt Path), there are two Movies of the Week again this week. The first is Clown in a Cornfield, while the second is Dangerous Animals.
Both are fab horrors which hold the attention and are worth your time. I also have a feeling we’ll see sequels to both in the not-too-distant future.
But for now, if you like Clown in a Cornfield you may also like:
- Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) – Clown in a Cornfield filmmaker, Eli Craig directs and co-writes this horror comedy about two well-intentioned hillbillies who are mistaken for serial killers.
- It (2017) – Andy Muschietti directs this adaptation of a Stephen King novel about a group of children terrorised by an entity which takes the form of a clown.
- Clown (2014) – In Jon Watts’ supernatural horror, a father dresses up as a clown to entertain his son at his birthday party, only to discover something sinister about the costume.
And if you like Dangerous Animals you may like:
- The Loved Ones (2009) – Dangerous Animals filmmaker, Sean Byrne writes and directs this Aussie horror about a teenage boy who finds himself in a precarious situation when he declines a girl’s offer to attend the school dance.
- Dead Calm (1989) – Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman, and Billy Zane star in director Philip Noyce’s dark Aussie thriller about a couple isolated at sea, who take a stranger aboard their ship.
- Wolf Creek (2005) – Aussie horror from writer/director Greg McLean which follows three backpackers in the outback who are taken captive by a killer.
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Forthcoming attractions
That’s it for another week, but don’t worry, more movie reviews will be heading your way in just a few days. Plus, coming soon there’s fantasy and adventure in the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon; sci-fi horror hijinks in M3GAN 2.0; and post-apocalyptic drama in 28 Years Later.
And don’t forget you can get more movie review goodness via the monthly Movie Reviews Specials (the latest edition is dedicated to Superman), as well as the semi-regular Movie Reviews Franchise Focus (this month is all about Police Academy).
With all this and much, much more, you’d be mad to go anywhere else.
Alex
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Thank you for taking the time to read Movie Reviews 2025 on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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