If you’re reading this latest edition of Movie Reviews 2025 in the run-up to Friday, then let me wish you a happy Halloween! If on the other hand you’re reading this latest edition of Movie Reviews 2025 a few days or weeks after Halloween, then happy Bonfire Night or maybe happy Thanksgiving!
And if you’re reading this at a time when none of the above is applicable, then where the heck have you been? Seriously, what ya been doing?
Anyway, I shall excuse your tardiness, because the important thing is you’ve arrived, which in itself is a cause for celebration. So, to mark the occasion you can have a whole bunch of movie reviews to satisfy your soul and give your eyeballs a work out.
Sound good? Great!
This week’s reviews include children’s comedy-horror fantasy, Sketch; the romantic drama, Regretting You; and supernatural mystery, Shelby Oaks. Plus, over on disc there are reviews for animated musical, South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, as well as Stephen King’s Thinner.
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In cinemas…
Sketch (2024)
First up this week is the children’s fantasy comedy-horror, Sketch. Written and directed by Seth Worley, the movie stars Tony Hale, Bianca Belle, Kue Lawrence, Kalon Cox, and D’Arcy Carden, and focuses on two siblings who bring some unsettling drawings to life.
In the film, Amber and Jack Wyatt are a sister and brother duo who live with their father, Taylor. Following the death of their mother, Amber and Jack have been doing their best to cope, but Amber appears to be struggling the most.
Every day, she draws troubling pictures in her notebook, depicting terrifying creatures. These images are of deep concern to her school, and her father doesn’t know what to do about it.
But while Taylor is preoccupied with helping Amber, Jack is off getting into his own drama. He discovers a nearby lake which can fix broken things, and has plans to bring his mother back to life by pouring her ashes into the water.
However, Jack’s plans go awry when Amber’s drawings accidentally fall into the lake and the magical powers of the water bring her creepy creations to life instead. From here, Amber, Jack, and their friend Bowman must figure out a way to stop the drawings from running amuck.
OK, so before going any further it’s worth noting that for Sketch’s UK theatrical release, the movie has been awarded a ‘12A’ from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). This is important to note, because while this film is aimed at children, and certainly has kid-appeal, there is some material in this film which may be a frightening for some youngsters.
One of Amber’s creations tries to eat the kids, another is a dark goth-like being with a disturbing face, and then there are the Eye-Ders – a whole swarm of red spiders that are essentially eyeballs on legs. Sure, all of the creatures are brought to life as living sketches, so they are cartoonish, but still, some young audiences may find this all a bit too much.
Now, all that said, Sketch is a superb fantasy film, which not only features a great cast – Bianca Belle, Kue Lawrence, and Kalon Cox are excellent as Amber, Jack, and Bowman – but it also has a strong story. Amber’s creatures maybe the big draw here, but the film’s themes of loss and grief are the real winners and they ensure this is a picture with something to say.
Sketch is a touching film, which really digs into the pain of losing someone. It demonstrates how grief can affect people in different ways, and shows how Amber, Jack, and Taylor navigate this rocky path.
At times it seems as if some are dealing with the situation better than others, but the stark reality is everyone has their own struggles and no one is coming through it all unscathed. The important thing is, the film isn’t afraid to address this, and while it shows the dark side of grieving, it also highlights the hopeful side too.
As mentioned above, the cast are all fab, especially the younger members, while the script is masterfully crafted, getting the tonal balance just right. Filmmaker Seth Worley has to deal with some heavy elements, yet he infuses his story with heart and humour, to ensure this never becomes a depressing tale.
To add to this, Sketch is visually impressive too. The whole thing is photographed beautifully by cinematographer Megan Stacey, while the visual effects are fab.
If there’s one downside, it’s that Sketch takes a little while to get to the creatures, but this is a minor grumble on my part, which you can ignore should you wish. Sketch is a creative picture, which deserves to be seen and is almost certainly going to become one of those movies that the current younger generation will look back fondly on in about 20 years from now.
It is a bit scary for all ages, which is why it’s important to take note of that ‘12A’ rating, but with its Spielberg-like feel, and it’s marvellous array of monsters, this is a real treat. Should you wish to check it out, Sketch is new to UK cinemas this week.
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In cinemas…
Regretting You (2025)
Sticking with cinema for this next movie, the romantic drama Regretting You. Directed by Josh Boone, and based on Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, the movie stars Allison Williams, McKenna Grace, Mason Thames, Dave Franco, Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald, and Clancy Brown, and is probably not the movie you think it is.
If you’ve seen some of the social media/press interviews for this picture and you are under the impression Regretting You is a sappy rom-com, largely centred around McKenna Grace and Mason Thames’ characters getting it on, then prepare to have your bubble burst. Regretting you has aspects of this, and there is indeed a romance for the pair, but there’s also a drama about two couples who lose their respective partners in a car accident, and then discover they were having an affair.
The two plot-lines are then sandwiched together, in a rather ham-fisted way, in a film which doesn’t so much entertain as it just exists. Stuff and things happen, drama is flung at the screen, and the audience is expected to stick with Regretting You despite it just going on, and on, and on.
In terms of the story, Morgan (Williams) and Chris (Eastwood) are married and have a teen daughter, Clara (Grace), while Morgan’s sister, Jenny (Fitzgerald) is with Jonah (Franco), and they have a baby boy. However, when tragedy strikes and Chris and Jenny die in the same car accident it exposes a secret affair which leaves Morgan and Jonah broken.
Meanwhile, Clara starts a romance with fellow teen, Miller (Thames). He works at the local cinema, has plans to go to film school, lives with his uncle (Brown) who has cancer… and yada, yada, yada.
Sounds like plot threads from a TV show, doesn’t it? And if this were a television show it might work.
As a movie it’s messy. The affair angle would be fine on its own, as would the teen romance, but together it’s too much.
One minute the audience is supposed to care about Morgan and Jonah, the next about Clara and Miller, and then on the odd occasion Miller’s uncle is wheeled out, as is Clara’s friend who I haven’t even bothered to mention above because she brings nothing to the story. Put simply: Regretting You has too many characters, and too many threads, and it lacks focus.
Worst of all, Allison Williams is cast as McKenna Grace’s mother, despite the fact they could easily pass for sisters. In real life, Williams is 37, while Grace is 19, so technically there is 18 years between them, but it just seems so odd.
Williams looks younger than 37, while Grace looks a fraction older than 19, so they seem far closer in age than that 18-year gap. Plus, why is Williams being cast as the mother of a teen-soon-to-be-adult?!
In the M3GAN movies, Williams plays the aunt/mother figure, but that is of a young girl. Casting Williams as the mother of someone Grace’s age just feels like she’s being prematurely aged out of the game.
*Shakes head from side-to-side*
On the plus side, all the cast are fine and the chemistry between Grace and Thames is believable. The pair are reportedly a real-life couple now (if you follow the gossip columns) and this would make sense, considering how well they play their on-screen romance.
But outside of this, Regretting You is disappointing. The film ambles along at the pace of an arthritic tortoise, with a story which feels like it’s been bolted together, and the end result is something which is both boring and incredibly underwhelming.
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On disc…
South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut (1999)
Over to disc now for the 4K UHD release of one of the greatest musicals of all time. No, it’s not Moulin Rouge (although that one is awesome), it is of course South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut!
Originally released in cinemas back in 1999, director Trey Parker’s animated extravaganza is a work of musical genius, is bloody funny, and can now be yours in swanky 4K glory. And at this present moment, it couldn’t be more timely!
For those who have somehow missed this marvellous slice of ‘90s genius, South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut follows Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny as they get caught up in a heap of trouble involving a movie. In the film, the quartet sneak their way into an ‘R’ rated Terrance and Phillip film filled with profanity, including the kind of words kids aren’t supposed to know.
Unfortunately, Stan and Co. start repeating those words at school, as do their classmates, which makes Kyle’s mother furious. So much so, she triggers a war between the US and Canada, which in turn kick-starts armageddon led by Satan and Saddam Hussein.
Now, as mentioned above this film’s 4K disc release couldn’t be more timely, and this is because there are significant elements of South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut which feel relevant to what’s going on in the world right now, specifically when it comes to the US. Moral panics, censorship, a lack of accountability, and a desire to ‘do right’ by kids (by going off on a misguided crusade no matter the cost), appears to be the flavour of the month.
So watching South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut at times feels like a combination of watching the news, as well as watching a worrying future being played out. Thankfully, it’s also a case of watching something which is shamelessly entertaining.
The dialogue is hilarious, the levels of parody and satire are brilliant, and the songs are just magnificent. From the rousing ‘Blame Canada’ to the outstanding ‘Kyle’s Mom’s a Bitch’ and the delightful ‘Up There’ (sung by Satan himself), the tunes are a massive send-up of the musical genre, and are skilfully written, arranged, and performed.
Add to this a great story and a slick 81-minute runtime and there’s nothing (not a single thing) bad about South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut. It’s brilliant, plain and simple.
Should you wish to grab a copy, the 4K disc of South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut is available now from all good entertainment retailers priced at £22.99. Sadly there are no extra features, but the film is enough of a treat in itself to let this little wrinkle slide, so take the opportunity to catch up with Cartman and the gang for a fantastic piece of cinema.
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On disc…
Thinner (1996)
Also on disc this week is the mid-‘90s body horror, Thinner. Directed by Tom Holland (not that one), the movie stars Robert John Burke, Joe Mantegna, and Kari Wuhrer, and is an adaptation of the Stephen King story of the same name (penned under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman).
In the movie, Billy Halleck is an overweight husband, father, and lawyer who lives in Connecticut. Billy is good at his job, but this is mostly because he rubs shoulders with the right people. *wink wink.*
One night while driving home from dinner, Billy accidentally runs over an old Romani woman while he is being given a blowjob by his wife. The old woman dies, there’s a coroner’s inquest, and thanks to some well-placed friends in high places, Billy manages to get away with the crime.
Outraged at the injustice, the deceased woman’s father places a curse on Billy. The curse makes Billy lose weight at an alarming rate, making him thinner, and thinner, and yep, you guessed it, thinner!
But with Billy losing weight at a rapid pace, how long will it be before he is just skin and bones? And when he reaches that point, will he still keep losing weight until there is nothing left?
Daft, a bit ropey in places, and filled with some questionable acting, it’s fair to say Thinner is not the best Stephen King adaptation. The story feels somewhat hollow, none of the characters are likeable, and during the second half the movie starts to run out of steam.
Yet there is a bizarre charm to Thinner. The special effects are decent, the curse is unsettling, and if you are happy enough to lean into the silliness, and accept Robert John Burke’s acting, there’s some fun to be had.
The whole thing screams “this should be an episode of Tales From the Crypt”, and in reality it would work much, much better as a shorter piece, but it is ghoulish nonsense which just about works. The best thing to do is take none of it seriously, and run with it.
Should you wish to grab a copy of Thinner, the movie is available on DVD and Blu-ray courtesy of Final Cut Entertainment. The DVD costs £9.99, while the Blu-ray is £14.99, so it will certainly make your wallet thinner.
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In cinemas…
Shelby Oaks (2025)
And finally, back to the cinema for the supernatural mystery, Shelby Oaks. Written and directed by Chris Stuckmann, and starring Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, and Keith David, the movie is a partial-found footage film which focuses on a woman searching for her lost sister.
In the movie, four paranormal investigators, who create videos for YouTube, go missing while investigating a prison in the town of Shelby Oaks. Three bodies are eventually recovered, leaving Riley Brennan unaccounted for.
Twelve years later, Riley’s sister, Mia investigates. But is she prepared for what she finds?
Taking heavy doses of inspiration from The Blair Witch Project, a dash of Paranormal Activity, and the mere hint of Most Haunted, and Shelby Oaks starts off quite promising. The opening prologue, which largely focuses on Mia discussing Riley’s disappearance while found footage plays out is rather good, and this sets the scene quite nicely.
Unfortunately, the wheels begin to come off as soon as the movie begins to lessen the found footage approach in favour of a regular, linear horror. This change between grainy-shot imagery and slick Hollywood visuals is quite jarring and is also the exact moment the film has an identity crisis.
If the audience is expected to buy into the realism of the found footage content, how is it expected to now buy into the realism of a standard horror film? Shelby Oaks can’t be both, and by not picking one over the other the sense of realism that’s built up in those opening scenes is instantly killed.
So, while Shelby Oaks begins as The Blair Witch Project, it soon becomes Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2. That’s not to say it doesn’t have some creepy moments, but the potential is squandered and it never truly recovers.
Where Shelby Oaks is at its best is when it’s attempting to keep things simple. Shots of abandoned buildings are unnerving, as are hints of things existing in the shadows.
Where the movie struggles, is the aforementioned sense of reality, as well as its desire to over-egg the pudding. One moment, something is lurking and obscured (scary), the next it’s exposed (not scary).
A perfect example of this is when Mia encounters an old woman in the woods. Stood in the doorway of her decrepit house the woman is sinister, but once the audience is given a full look at the old lady the horror is quickly diluted.
Ultimately, Shelby Oaks is watchable and it may provide one or two scares for Halloween, but it’s simply not the movie it could be. It’s clear it can’t decide what type of horror it’s trying to be, and in an attempt to frighten the audience it throws everything but the kitchen sink at the wall in the hopes it will stick.
Some of it works, some of it doesn’t. Approach with caution.
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Movie of the Week
Over to Movie of the Week, which isn’t South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, sorry (although it is a brilliant movie so PLEASE revisit it). No, this week it seems only fair to award Movie of the Week to Sketch, because it is a heartfelt, emotive, creative children’s film which tackles grief head-on, while offering lots of fantasy and adventure.
And if you like Sketch you might also like:
- Goosebumps (2015) – Horror-comedy in which author R. L. Stine’s horror characters come to life.
- Jumanji (1995) – Robin Williams-starring fantasy adventure about a jungle board game where each turn can be deadly.
- Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) – Sort-of Jumanji spin-off about two children who play a space game.
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Forthcoming attractions
And that’s it for yet another week, but worry not, more movie reviews are coming down the track. In fact, coming soon there’s action and adventure in Predator: Badlands; there’s dystopian hijinks in The Running Man; and there’s musical fantasy in Wicked: For Good.
Plus, the Crocodile Dundee movies return to disc (well, two of them), and Netflix gathers together an all-star cast for the latest Benoit Blanc mystery, Wake Up Dead Man. Oh, and Disney unleashes Zootopia 2.
Want to read all about it? Then I guess I’ll see you soon.
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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