This week on Movie Reviews 2025 prepare yourself for an eclectic mix of films which include the biographical British drama, I Swear; the documentary movie, John Candy: I Like Me; the mystery thriller, The Woman in Cabin 10; and the animated kids’ film, The Twits. Plus, Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst star in crime comedy, Roofman.
And as it’s spooky season there’s also a heavy dose of the macabre in horror sequel, Black Phone 2. The film is a follow-up to 2021’s The Black Phone, so let’s see how this second instalment shapes up.
Sound good? Great, then without further ado let’s dive right in.
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In cinemas…
I Swear (2025)
First up this week, it’s off to the cinema to watch the British biographical comedy-drama, I Swear. Written and directed by Kirk Jones, and starring Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peak, Shirley Henderson, and Peter Mullan, the movie is based on the real-life story of Scottish Tourette’s campaigner, John Davidson.
In the film, the year is 1983 and 15-year-old John lives with his family in Galashiels, Scotland. He’s a bright kid, who does well in lessons and has aspirations to be a footballer when he grows up.
However, things take an unexpected turn when John starts to experience tics and symptoms which are later diagnosed as Tourette’s Syndrome. As the story continues and begins to jump forward in time (initially by 13 years), John’s struggle with the condition is laid bare in all its heart-breaking detail.
Now, at the end of this year, when all is said and done, there are a number of movies that will make it onto my list of top film recommendations for 2025. One of those movies will be I Swear.
Not only is this a superbly written, brilliantly directed, well acted, and highly emotive movie, I Swear is also an informative film which sheds light on an oft-overlooked subject. That subject is Tourette’s, which few understand and perhaps even fewer have experienced.
But through this two-hour movie the experiences of people like John are explored and explained. And through filmmaker Kirk Jones’ eyes and words, it is done so in a compassionate way.
There are a number of key takeaways from I Swear, including the importance of educating and informing, but having compassion is crucial. John’s journey is bumpy and filled with challenges, but the support and understanding he encounters from a handful of people along the way makes all the difference.
It’s the age old thing of the domino effect. One person can help change another person’s life or change their viewpoint if they give that person a chance, and it builds from there.
In John’s case this begins with help from an old school friend, which in turn leads John to meet his greatest supporter, Dottie. She then becomes the catalyst for further positivity and change.
Dottie is played by Maxine Peake, and you don’t need me to tell you how good she is in this movie (or any movie for that matter). Peake is one of the UK’s best actresses and she absolutely shines in I Swear.
Similarly, Robert Aramayo is excellent, taking on the role of John. Aramayo brings heart and warmth to the part and his performance is both captivating and the solid backbone of this picture.
As for the remainder of the cast, well they are also fab – especially Peter Mullan as John’s friend and work colleague, Tommy. Mullan’s time on screen is limited, but he brings a great deal of strength and empathy during the scenes he has and leaves a lasting impression even when he’s not on screen.
Add to all this some great drama, an excellent dose of humour, and one or two heartfelt moments capable of drawing a tear from a glass eye, and I Swear is a triumph. It’s one of those brilliant British movies which seems to come out of nowhere but you can’t help but get swept up in it.
If horror isn’t your thing this spooky season, and last week’s sci-fi nonsense Tron: Ares left you cold, be sure to catch I Swear. The movie is currently on general release in UK cinemas.
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Now streaming…
John Candy: I Like Me (2025)
Sliding over to streaming now for the documentary movie, John Candy: I Like Me. Directed by Colin Hanks, and available to view on Amazon Prime Video, the docu-film details the life and career of the late Canadian actor famous for movies such as Stripes, Splash, and Uncle Buck.
Featuring input from Candy’s wife and children, as well as actors including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Mel Brooks, Macaulay Culkin, and Tom Hanks amongst others, John Candy: I Like Me provides a portrait of the man. The film begins with his childhood, then runs through his television and movie work, before touching upon his death in 1994, as well as his legacy.
As with most documentaries, John Candy: I Like Me features a significant amount of archive footage. Some of the material is from home videos, other footage is from his movies and early improv work, and a great deal of what’s on offer shows the heart and warmth of the man in the spotlight.
However, it is the contributions from the many famous faces which is a big selling point of this documentary. Murray, Hanks, Culkin, et al are there on camera making it clear how much they loved and appreciated the man and their words add so much weight to the picture.
The other big selling point is just how kind-hearted and likeable he was. As Mel Brooks puts it: “He would be remembered, very simply for his good nature.”
Whether you grew up watching Candy’s films or you’re a recent convert, John Candy: I Like Me is a fascinating look back at the life of a Hollywood legend. The film offers a mix of happiness and sadness, but above all else it is a celebration of a person who no one has a bad word for.
Stars come and go, but Candy has never lost his sheen. John Candy: I Like Me is a reminder you can go far in showbiz with talent and a heart of gold.
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Now streaming…
The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025)
Sticking with streaming for this next movie, the Netflix mystery thriller, The Woman in Cabin 10. Directed by Simon Stone and based on the book of the same name by Ruth Ware, the movie stars Keira Knightley, Guy Pearce, Art Malik, Hannah Waddingham, Kaya Scodelario, David Morrissey, and Paul Kaye, and focuses on a murder-mystery on a super yacht.
In the movie, Laura ‘Lo’ Blacklock is a journalist looking for a break from her usual hard-hitting stories. So, when Lo is invited to cover a human interest story aboard a posh yacht bound for Norway, she jumps at the chance.
But Lo comes to regret her decision when on the first night she hears a commotion, sees a woman has gone overboard, and she is now floating in the water. Lo quickly raises the alarm, but whoever the unidentified woman is, she disappears from sight.
Trying to piece it all together, Lo is adamant the drowned guest was staying in cabin 10, but according to the ship’s owner this can’t be possible. No one was staying in Cabin 10 and all the guests and crew are currently accounted for.
As far as everyone is concerned, Lo imagined the entire incident. But Lo knows her mind isn’t playing tricks on her, meaning something sinister is taking place instead.
With an all-star cast and a Agatha Christie-style set-up, The Woman in Cabin 10 has the foundations for something appealing. If you’re a murder-mystery fan and you like watching a bunch of famous faces wheeled out as suspects, you may want to take a look.
But be warned, while The Woman in Cabin 10 is fine in places, and has all the right components for a gripping yarn, it doesn’t quite work as hoped. The mystery runs out of steam at least two-thirds of the way through; some elements of the story seem preposterous; and a number of the actors are vastly under utilised.
On the plus side, The Woman in Cabin 10 looks good and Keira Knightley is on fine form as Lo. However, despite some bright spots this is mostly a disappointing offering from Netflix.
Not disappointing because it’s rubbish, but because it could be much better. What should be a grand affair, built around a clever conundrum, ultimately descends into the sort of drama you might find served up on Channel 5.
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Now streaming…
The Twits (2025)
In animated children’s movie The Twits, young orphans Beesha and Bubsy set out to investigate a bizarre crime involving hotdog meat. Their investigation leads them to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Twit – an odious, hate-filled couple who are devoid of any joy or compassion.
The Twits dislike everything in the world, and can barely stand each other. The only joy they get is derived from pulling mean pranks on one another, and even then there are only so many pranks to be pulled.
However, they have reserved an ounce of additional joy for a new theme park they have created in their backyard, named Twitlandia. This rundown, death-trap of an amusement area is their new obsession, solely because they believe it will bring them great fortune.
Trouble is, with Beesha and Bubsy poking around and causing them hassle, the Twits might not be able to get Twitlandia off the ground. That is, unless they can convince the citizens of Triperot to invest in their venture.
Directed and co-written by Phil Johnston, and Loosely based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, The Twits is a somewhat jumbled, but ultimately fine animated picture which children will enjoy and parents will find serviceable. The story is a tad patchwork, with various ideas and elements being chucked at the screen, but the characters are weird in just the right way, and there’s enough farting, gunk, and animals to appeal to the target audience.
The backwards-talking toad is particularly fun, especially every time he mentions his toes. It’s daft nonsense like this which papers over some of the cracks and shortfalls in the script, but it works, so take what you can.
The Twits isn’t the best animated movie, but it’s mostly fine. The movie’s themes of belonging and empathy are delivered well, and the voice cast which includes Margo Martindale, Johnny Vegas, Natalie Portman, and Emilia Clarke are all on fine form.
So, not amazing, but not bad either. The kids will enjoy it, so that’s probably all that matters.
Should you wish to check it out, The Twits is now streaming on Netflix.
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In cinemas…
Roofman (2025)
Back to cinemas now for the crime comedy, Roofman. Directed and co-written by Derek Cianfrance, the film stars Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, and focuses on the true story of Jeffrey Manchester – a real-life convict who became famous in the late 1990s for stealing from McDonald’s restaurants after entering via the roof.
In the film, the year is 1998 and Manchester is a divorced army veteran and father to three children. Struggling to provide for his kids, he decides to use his army know-how, as well as his skills for observation, to break into McDonald’s restaurants and steal the takings.
Entering via the roof, Manchester manages to pull off 45 robberies without resorting to violence, and always treating staff in a cordial manner. However, his crimes eventually catch up with him and he is sent to prison.
Cut off from his kids, and aware his life is sliding away from him, Manchester breaks out of prison and goes on the run. Along the way he stops at a Toys R Us store where he decides to hold up for a while.
After disabling the CCTV system, and establishing the perfect hiding spot, Manchester remains in the store for weeks, living off candy and any supplies he can take from the shelves. However, over time he starts to venture outside and develops a romantic relationship with an employee which puts his temporary freedom at risk.
Now, putting aside the debate about romanticising criminal activity, Roofman is a ruddy good movie. It’s one of those pictures which gets the tone right from the very first frame, and then becomes a likeable, effortless watch until the credits roll.
Tatum is great as Manchester, Dunst is solid as love interest and Toys R Us employee Leigh Wainscott, and there’s a fun (if brief) supporting role for Peter Dinklage as Leigh’s boss, Mitch. Chuck in a few other well known faces, such as Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Uzo Aduba, and Juno Temple, etc and the picture is well cast.
But what makes Roofman work as well as it does is Derek Cianfrance’s direction. He demonstrates a bright and breezy handling of the material, which allows the story to play out without too much fuss.
The combination of Tatum’s charm and Cianfrance’s direction ultimately proves to be a winner. Roofman is an enjoyable crime caper which should bring a smile to your face on more than one occasion, while at the same time hitting you right in the nostalgia with all the ‘90s Toys R Us fun.
The movie also flies by, never loses momentum, and at times is delightful. Should you wish to take a look, Roofman is now playing in UK and US cinemas.
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In cinemas…
Black Phone 2 (2025)
And finally, in Scott Derrickson’s Black Phone 2 the year is 1982 and it has been four years since Finney ‘Finn’ Blake escaped the clutches of The Grabber. Within this time Finn has tried to move forward with his life, but he keeps suffering from flashbacks, as well as images of The Grabber which he can’t ignore.
But it’s not only Finn who is experiencing disturbing images. His psychic sister Gwen is having dreams about The Grabber too, which relate to three children who disappeared at a Christian camp during the 1950s.
After discovering a family connection to the camp, Finn, Gwen, and their friend Ernesto, set out to uncover the truth about the children. Along the way they discover even in death The Grabber cannot be so easily defeated.
When The Black Phone debuted a few years back it was a great little slice of horror, which got the story, the tone, and the level of creepiness just right to become a marvellously macabre movie. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of Black Phone 2, which gets the tone right, and makes a decent stab at the creep factor, but struggles when it comes to the story.
It’s not bad, but it just doesn’t live up to what came before. The problem is, we’re very much in sequel territory, and this film sure feels like your average sequel.
There are interesting elements, but there are a lot of underwhelming parts too. For example, for this outing The Grabber appears to be taking one or two cues from the Freddy Krueger playbook, but sadly he lacks the presence Freddy had.
The cast of characters is also a mixed bag. Returning players, Mason Thames (Finn), Madeline McGraw (Gwen), and Jeremy Davies (Terrence) slot back in nicely, but newcomers such as Arianna Rivas, Demián Bichir, and Maev Beaty get stuck with dull characters who feel one-dimensional and are instantly forgettable.
On the plus side, some of the camera work is excellent, Ethan Hawke’s Grabber gets one or two moments to look suitably terrifying, and the finale is arguably the best bit. There’s blood, ice, and an all-important showdown between good vs evil, so this is something to look forward to during some of the slower moments in the film.
All-in-all, Black Phone 2 is OK, and for some horror fans this will be enough. The film fleshes out the universe a little, finding ways to dovetail back into the original, and this will work well enough for anyone keen to see Black Phone expanded into a franchise.
But for those who felt like The Black Phone was a ‘one-and-done’ movie with no need for more, this sequel won’t change your mind. It lacks the impact of the original, as well as some of the magic, so take it for what it is.
Either way, should you wish to take a look, Black Phone 2 is now playing in UK and US cinemas.
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Movie of the Week
Time for Movie of the Week, and this week there are some hot contenders with Roofman, and John Candy: I Like Me all in the running. However, this week the prestigious title of Movie of the Week has to go to I Swear.
Heartfelt, emotive, informative, and just bloody good, I Swear is simply fab. It’s British drama at its best.
And if you like I Swear, you might also like:
- Waking Ned (1998) – I Swear director Kirk Jones’ directorial debut about two old friends who attempt to claim the lottery winnings of a deceased man.
- John’s Not Mad (1989) – Valerie Kaye’s short BBC documentary which shadows 16-year-old John Davidson as he deals with Tourette’s syndrome.
- See No Evil: The Moors Murders (2006) – Maxine Peak takes on the role of notorious serial killer Myra Hindley in this critically acclaimed ITV drama.
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Forthcoming attractions
That’s it for yet another week, but coming soon The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, and Shelby Oaks are all on the horizon. Plus, in the not-too-distant future the Predator movie series continues with Predator: Badlands.
All this and so much more is on the way. And you can read all about it in Movie Reviews 2025.
Oh, and before you go, should you wish to take a look into the future, you should check out the recent edition of Movie Reviews Special. Titled ‘2026 Preview‘ this Special takes a look at some of the big films heading your way next year!
Alex
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews 2025. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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