OK, let’s just pause for a moment. If the world is getting you down a little, you want a break from the norm, or you’re after a couple of hours of pure escapism, NOW is a good time to head to your local cinema.
Just take a look at the listings. This week alone you could be watching Thunderbolts*, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Lilo & Stitch, Ballerina, How to Train Your Dragon, Karate Kid: Legends, Sinners, Clown in a Cornfield, Dangerous Animals, and The Phoenician Scheme.
But that’s not all. This week sees the release of two new titles to add into the mix.
The first is the Disney-Pixar animated movie, Elio, while the second is the long-awaited horror sequel, 28 Years Later. Two very different movies, yet two additional film choices, if you fancy an impromptu night out, or an afternoon break from reality.
The important thing is, there are lots of options right now. So, make the most of what’s available, and just give yourself some time to switch off.
OK, time to unpause – for me, anyway. It’s back to work, where this week I am bringing you reviews for the aforementioned Elio and 28 Years Later.
Plus, in this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025 there are reviews for Tyler Perry’s Straw and David Attenborough’s Ocean. And if that wasn’t enough, the classic Harrison Ford crime-thriller, Witness, is out on disc.
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Now streaming…
Straw (2025)
First up this week is the drama thriller, Straw. Written and directed by Tyler Perry, the movie – which is streaming on Netflix – follows the story of a single mother who is having the worst day imaginable.
How bad? So bad, it’s borderline laughable the amount of problems she faces in just one morning.
In the movie, Janiyah Wiltkinson lives in a rundown, busted-ass apartment with her super-sick daughter. Janiyah works two jobs, barely has a dime to her name, and has almost the entire world against her.
If Janiyah’s deadbeat landlady isn’t shaking her down for rent money, the principal at her daughter’s school is causing problems over lunch payments. And if those two aren’t problem enough, Janiyah’s boss at the local supermarket is a complete asswipe, who grinds Janiyah down with his nasty, no good attitude.
In short: Janiyah is having a crappy time. With the exception of a co-worker who tries to slip Janiyah a bill to help her make ends meet, no one is willing to show Janiyah an ounce of decency, compassion, or human kindness.
And then things get worse.
In the space of one morning, she loses her job; she loses her apartment; she loses custody of her daughter; a jackass cop with anger issues runs her off the road; another cop issues her a ticket; and her daughter’s medication gets ruined. To add further salt to the wound, Janiyah gets caught up in a robbery at the supermarket, which results in one of the would-be thieves being shot, before Janiyah shoots her boss!
Short of a tidal wave sweeping Janiyah out to sea, a volcano erupting under her feet, or the universe collapsing in on itself and wiping out all life as we know it, there’s not much more tragedy and problems Janiyah could face. Oh wait, there is!
When Janiyah goes to cash her blood-soaked paycheque (stained with her dead boss’ blood), she inadvertently holds up the bank. And then to make matters worse, the bank manager mistakes a science fair project for a bomb, causing the police to circle the building, and Janiyah to become America’s hottest new criminal!
Now, if you think the above premise is completely, utterly, and spectacularly the most stupidest thing you have ever read, then welcome to Straw – a film which defies logic. From the moment it starts, right up to the point it ends, Straw jumps from one daft scenario to the next becoming more preposterous by the minute.
Yes, even a last-minute revelation which attempts to make sense of it all, can’t save the movie. Straw is filled with plot contrivances, some of the biggest leaps in logic imaginable, and at times it is farcical to the point of being unintentionally hilarious.
On top of this, all the main players are ridiculous caricatures, the dialogue is terrible, and everyone and everything is a cliché. To cut to the chase, it is nonsense.
Taraji P. Henson does what she can with the role of Janiyah, and watching her lurch from one problem to the next does keep things interesting for a while but the novelty soon wears off. This happens around a third of the way into the runtime, when Janiyah’s troubles begin to plateau and the film slides into a drawn-out hostage situation.
This is where the film stops being unintentionally humorous and quickly becomes rather boring. Strawthen goes through the motions as it meanders towards its ridiculous conclusion, getting increasingly more tiresome with each frame.
Between the daft premise, the ever-increasing plot escalation, and some of the hammiest soap acting on film, Straw is bobbins. Granted it is occasionally entertaining bobbins, but it’s nonsense of the highest order.
Netflix serves up some absolute tosh sometimes, but Straw takes the biscuit.
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Now streaming…
Ocean with David Attenborough (2025)
Sticking with streaming, but moving over to Disney+ for this next offering, the docu-film, Ocean with David Attenborough. Directed by Colin Butfield, Toby Nowlan, and Keith Scholey, and fronted by Attenborough, the docu-movie explores the vast wonders of the water, with an in-depth look at what’s going on in some of those hard to reach parts of the planet.
This includes a glance at such wonderful delights as the peacock mantis shrimp, as well as Phytoplankton, along with various sharks, fish, and other life forms bobbing along the bottom of the beautiful briny sea. Expect plenty of shots of intriguing looking creatures, some stunning imagery, and a wealth of information about species you’ve never heard of.
However, along with the brilliance of the above, you should also expect some important, and hard-hitting truths about what’s really going on under the surface, and how humanity is messing it up. Ocean with David Attenborough serves up a sobering portrait of how excessive fishing and mistreatment of the oceans are taking their toll and what this could mean for our future if we don’t address the problem quickly.
As Attenborough puts it, in a frank and direct account to camera, “we have drained the life from our ocean”. His words, along with the accompanying imagery provide a striking, and impactful truth, which should not be ignored.
We have time to learn, to grow, and to act. Let us hope that this documentary can be the catalyst for change, while we still have the opportunity to turn things around.
As you might expect from a David Attenborough documentary, Ocean is an enthralling piece of film which offers a window into the wider world. As the biologist and filmmaker nears 100 years on the planet, he brings with him an unrivalled understanding of the world, and this documentary is just the latest example of how vital his experiences are to us all.
If you’re a fan of his work, Ocean is another marvellous offering, which shouldn’t be missed. It is as educational as it is entertaining, and is a must-see for those looking to expand the depths of their knowledge.
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On disc…
Witness (1985)
Over to disc now for the 1985 crime-thriller, Witness. Directed by Peter Weir, the film stars Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Lukas Haas, Josef Sommer, Danny Glover, and Patti LuPone, and tells the story of a police detective who unexpectedly finds himself living amongst an Amish community.
In the film, eight-year-old Amish boy, Samuel Lapp is in Philadelphia with his mother attending a funeral. While travelling through the city, Samuel witnesses a murder at a train station.
After being questioned by Detective John Book, Samuel identifies the killer as a fellow officer. But when Book approaches the Chief of Police with this revelation, he discovers his boss is a dirty cop and an attempt is made on his life.
Wounded, Book flees the city, taking Samuel and his mother back to their home, in the hope they will be safe amongst the Amish people. However, when Book collapses from his injury, he finds himself taken in by the community, learning their ways as he attempts to heal.
Featuring an Oscar-nominated performance from Harrison Ford, Oscar-nominated direction from Peter Weir, Oscar-nominated cinematography from John Seale, and an Oscar-nominated score from Maurice Jarre, Witness is one heck of a great picture. And if you hadn’t guessed, it’s a highly rated picture too – especially in the eyes of the Academy.
Shortly after Witness was released, it was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film went on to win two of these awards, taking home Best Screenplay and Best Editing, but had it been released in another year, maybe it would have picked up more.
Witness is certainly a superb film, and arguably one of Ford’s best. The actor gives a brilliant performance in the role of John Book, delivering his trademark charm, while also ensuring a certain degree of warmth to the character.
And it’s warmth in an inviting and likeable film. With Witness, director Peter Weir serves up an intoxicating drama, which mixes action, and suspense, with a touch of romance.
The result is a strong piece which pushes beyond the boundaries of a standard cop thriller to deliver more depth, more character development, and a lot more heart. Witness also strikes the right balance between the dangerous life Book is from, and the more peaceful existence of the Amish, to highlight the difference between two worlds in one unifying story.
Should you wish to grab a copy of Witness on disc, the film is available from Arrow Video via two formats: 4K UHD (£29.99) and Blu-ray (£24.99). Both are limited edition releases which come with a booklet, a double-sided poster, six postcards, and a reversible sleeve.
Special features include audio commentary, deleted scenes, bonus footage, trailers, and image gallery. Plus a documentary and interviews with Weir, Ford, and cinematographer John Seale.
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In cinemas…
28 Years Later (2025)
In 28 Years Later, it has been 28 years since the Rage virus caused mass devastation. Within this time, the UK mainland has become populated by infected, with survivors left to their own devices.
On a small island, just off the coast, one group of survivors has built up a safe-haven for their community. Their island is only accessible once a day, via a causeway which is covered by the tide, and here they live their lives as best as possible.
One day, a scavenger named Jamie, and his son Spike leave the island to travel to the mainland. Jamie believes Spike has reached the age where he must learn how to hunt and kill the infected, so that he can protect himself in the future.
After making their way across the causeway, Spike sees sights he never could have imagined. From here, his life changes completely.
Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, the team behind 2002’s 28 Days Later, 28 Years Later is a survivalist horror-thriller which is now playing in UK and US cinemas. The movie stars Alfie Williams, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Edvin Ryding, and Ralph Fiennes; is the third entry in the ‘28…’ movie series; and is a stand-alone sequel, ideal for audiences who haven’t quite caught up on the first two films.
Going into this movie, all you really need to know is a virus has turned people into zombie-like creatures, and the UK is screwed. Other than that, you can jump in from here, with this movie being the start of a new chapter which will continue in 2026’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The focus remains on this entry, and what a good entry it is.
Tense, unsettling, and at times absolutely mesmerising, 28 Years Later is a thoroughly marvellous picture. From the casting, through to the location settings, the staging, the cinematography, the sound, and everything in between, 28 Years Later just hits every mark it aims for and keeps going.
The story is engaging, the action electric, and the horror unnerving. There are scenes in the film which raise the pulse, and there are other scenes which tug at the heart strings.
Leading the film is young actor Alfie Williams, who plays the role of 12-year-old Spike. The film is essentially built around his character, and he helps to bring audiences back into the ‘28…’ world.
Through his eyes we see the horrors that have unfolded in the years since the virus took hold, and we also get to see the way in which he interacts with other characters, their stories, and viewpoints. Every step of the way Spike is a likeable, relatable figure, and Williams plays him to perfection.
Some young actors might struggle with the material, but Williams takes it all in his stride. He also slots in rather nicely alongside the powerhouse of acting talent that comes from co-stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes.
In terms of the story, it is fairly standard survivalist fare, however, the narrative doesn’t play out as you might expect. The first third of the movie takes the story in one direction, but the film soon switches gears and moves somewhere else as things progress.
Along the way, Garland’s script takes advantage of the stunning UK landscape, to show beauty amongst the post-apocalyptic wasteland, and there are some great little character moments. The introduction of Dr. Ian Kelson (Fiennes) also moves the story into some new territory, presumably setting up a plot point or two to come in the sequel.
All-in-all, 28 Years Later is a great movie. The film provides plenty of thrills, some gruesome imagery, and a heartfelt story which places family and loved ones at the centre of the tale.
Alfie Williams is a revelation as Spike, the infected are suitably horrific, and Danny Boyle and Alex Garland prove they still know how to work their magic. Throw in excellent cinematography from Anthony Dod Mantle and the movie lands exactly as intended.
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In cinemas…
Elio (2025)
And finally, in Disney-Pixar’s Elio, orphaned alien enthusiast, Elio Solis finds himself in a tricky situation when he is abducted by extra-terrestrials and taken to space. Welcomed to the ‘Communiverse’, Elio is mistaken for the creator of the Voyager spacecraft and declared a potential candidate for the role of intergalactic ambassador of Earth.
But before Elio can correct anyone on who he really is, the ruthless warlord Lord Grigon arrives on the scene and causes trouble. From here, Elio volunteers to negotiate with Grigon, but soon gets in over his head while trying to help Grigon’s son, Glordon.
Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, Elio is a sci-fi adventure romp featuring the voice talents of Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Brad Garrett, and Jameela Jamil. The movie is now playing in UK and US cinemas and is an agreeable animated feature with colourful characters, a suitable amount of heart, and a decent number of laughs.
Elio isn’t Pixar at its best, and it does play more like a by-the-numbers offering than one of the studio’s top titles, but it’s certainly not bad. The movie’s central themes of family, wonder, and belonging are conveyed pretty well, while the friendship between Elio and Glordon is a genuine plus point.
Highlights of Elio include the imaginative character designs, the somewhat trippy atmosphere of the Communiverse, and the generally jolly spirit of the picture. Those interested in space exploration or who enjoy fun sci-fi films should find Elio pleasant enough, and the film will certainly appeal to young audiences.
OK, so Elio lacks the hook and adult appeal of the Toy Story films, Finding Nemo, Wall-E, etc, and it is unlikely to wow everyone, but it’s perfectly likeable stuff. Expect this one to provide family-friendly entertainment over the summer holidays.
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Movie of the Week
Time for Movie of the Week, and this week the prestigious title goes to 28 Years Later. Dark, brutal, but completely engrossing, the film is one to watch this summer.
And if you like 28 Years Later, you may wish to check out:
- 28 Days Later (2002) – Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland kick-start the ‘28…‘ movie series via this post-apocalyptic tale about a bicycle courier who awakes from a coma to discover the world has been ravaged by a virus.
- Sunshine (2007) – Danny Boyle and Alex Garland team up once again for this sci-fi thriller about a group of astronauts sent on a mission to reignite the sun.
- I Am Legend (2007) – Will Smith takes the lead in this post-apocalyptic action-thriller about the last man alive in New York after a virus wipes out most of mankind.
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Forthcoming attractions
And that’s your lot for yet another week, but don’t sit there looking glum, chum, because there are plenty more movies on the way. In fact, coming soon Brad Pitt takes the wheel for sports drama, F1; M3GAN returns to the big screen for sci-fi horror sequel, M3GAN 2.0; and after what seems like an eternity, Netflix finally unveils The Old Guard 2.
Plus, in just a few short weeks, a new crop of deadly dinos cause devastation in the action-adventure sequel, Jurassic World: Rebirth. Scarlett Johansson takes the lead for this seventh entry in the Jurassic franchise, while the dangerous new dinosaur is the Distortus rex!
Now, with all this and much, much more, can you afford to miss a single moment? The answer is ‘no’.
I guess I’ll see you back here next week. I’ll bring the reviews, you bring the popcorn.
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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