In this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025 you’ll find reviews for streaming titles, Ballad of a Small Player and A House of Dynamite, plus on disc there’s a double helping of ‘80s Aussie action with Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut and Crocodile Dundee II. Meanwhile, over at the cinema, the Predator franchise returns with Predator: Badlands.
Following on from two recent, well-received direct-to-streaming titles (Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers), can this latest Predator outing cut the mustard on the big screen? You’ll have to read on to find out.
Which incidentally is your cue to read on and find out. So, go on.
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Now streaming…
Ballad of a Small Player (2025)
First up this week is the psychological thriller, Ballad of a Small Player. Directed by Edward Berger and based on the novel of the same name by Lawrence Osborne, the movie stars Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, Alex Jennings, and Tilda Swinton, and focuses on a gambler with a shady past who is down on his luck.
In the film, Lord Freddy Doyle is a gambling addict currently living in Macau. When he’s not knocking back the booze, Doyle spends his nights cruising the casinos trying to win big.
But at the moment Doyle is struggling to make any wins at all, and has exhausted his line of credit in almost every casino. He also owes a large sum of money to one casino owner in particular and has just three days to repay the debt before things get nasty.
After being thrown a lifeline by the mysterious Dao Ming, it looks as if Doyle’s luck has finally turned around. That is until he crosses paths with a private investigator who knows the truth about his past.
With super-slick visuals, excellent staging, a sumptuous colour palette, and great performances from Farrell and Swinton, Ballad of a Small Player certainly has what it takes to make a great film. It looks fantastic, has the acting talent to back it up, and from the cinematography of James Friend through to the score by Volker Bertelmann, there’s much to like.
Problem is, the story isn’t quite as strong as all the other elements of the movie. Doyle’s gambling woes, as well as his spiralling mental health, are interesting to watch but the script lacks the right hook to get it over the line.
The story of a struggling gambler has been done before, and while the presence of Farrell always elevates things, it’s not quite enough to lift the narrative. It’s fine, but nothing to keep investment levels high, and this ultimately proves to be a shame.
Ballad of a Small Player isn’t exactly a case of style over substance, but the style does account for the majority of this movie’s highlights and this proves to be a big stumbling block. That said, it’s difficult to knock the film’s creative achievements, so it’s far from bad.
Watch Ballad of a Small Player if you’re a fan of Farrell; watch it for the visuals; or watch it because you’re intrigued. Don’t expect to be wowed by the story, but it’s perfectly reasonable for a cosy night in front of the TV.
Should you wish to take a look, Ballad of a Small Player is now streaming on Netflix.
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Now streaming…
A House of Dynamite (2025)
Next up is the political thriller, A House of Dynamite. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and starring Rebecca Ferguson, Idris Elba, Tracy Letts, Gabriel Basso, Moses Ingram, Jared Harris, and Anthony Ramos, the movie details the US government’s reaction when the country is targeted by a nuclear missile.
Presented in three segments, each revolving around the same scenario but told from a different perspective, A House of Dynamite focuses on the government’s initial response to the incoming attack. In the film, a missile is launched, the government attempt to destroy it, but when their counter measures fail the weapon makes its way toward Chicago.
Unable to identify the origin of the missile, the President must decide what to do once it strikes its target. Retaliation without the correct intelligence could result in an all-out nuclear war between nations, so gathering as much information is vital.
Tense, dramatic, and worryingly relevant (the film offers a dire warning of the future), A House of Dynamite is an excellent thriller from Kathryn Bigelow. It’s compelling stuff, which highlights how quickly the world could come to an abrupt end, and it’s told masterfully with a tight script from writer Noah Oppenheim.
The crux of the story is how the US officials react to the incoming strike. Once it is clear the missile is unlikely to be stopped, and that casualties will occur in Chicago, the story is very much about discussing what happens next.
However, the beauty of this movie is the story never gets to the ‘next’ part. Instead, by repeating the same scenario three times, the film is able to exist purely from the build-up alone.
And it’s a stroke of genius. The audience doesn’t necessarily need to see what comes after the missile hits, this is about the anguish of facing a world-ending event and trying to figure out how to stop apocalyptic escalation, as the cast rush around and do their thing.
Leading A House of Dynamite is a superb ensemble which includes a great turn from Rebecca Ferguson, who appears during the first segment (Inclination is Flattening), as well as a solid performance from Idris Elba who becomes the main focus of segment three (A House Filled With Dynamite). Elba is brilliant as the US President, who goes from smiles and pleasantries at a basketball court to being panicked and uncertain once he learns about the attack.
He knows he will have to make a tough decision in retaliation, but making that decision puts him in an impossible situation. There is no winning in A House of Dynamite, only a lose-lose outcome, which could be devastating for the planet if he’s too hasty.
Outside of Ferguson and Elba, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Gabriel Basso et al help to maintain the tension and suspense. This is very much a film which plays off of characters and character work, rather than any flashy scenes of spectacle, and the casting is key.
Of course, A House of Dynamite won’t work for everyone, and the decision not to show the nuclear fall-out will frustrate some and may be a divisive move. This is understandable, because films which discuss a potential apocalypse usually include the actual apocalypse, so some audiences may feel short-changed.
But ultimately, this will come down to personal taste and managing expectations. If you go into this film knowing this isn’t what A House of Dynamite is about, you may find it more appealing.
Perhaps think of this film as more of a cautionary tale about having the correct people in charge of nuclear weapons. It’s not a big action feature, it’s a story about reacting to an awful situation.
Anyway, should you wish to take a look, A House of Dynamite is now streaming on Netflix.
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On disc…
Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut (1986)
Over to disc now for the first of two Australian classics from the 1980s which have been restored. The first is Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut, which is new to UK physical media this week.
Directed by Peter Faiman, Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut is an action-adventure comedy which stars Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Steve Rackman, and Gerry Skilton. The movie focuses on a US reporter who travels to Australia to meet a local legend, then brings him back to America to show him the sights.
In the movie, Sue Charlton is a features writer for a New York newspaper. After hearing news about an Australian bushman who survived a crocodile attack, she travels to the small Aussie town of Walkabout Creek to conduct an interview.
Upon arrival, Sue meets with Michael J. ‘Crocodile’ Dundee, aka Mick Dundee, but finds he is not quite the ‘legend’ she imagined. However, after spending time with him in the Bush, Sue changes her opinion and invites Mick to visit New York.
Mick agrees, and soon the pair are in the States. But with Mick more comfortable with the wilderness, how will he cope with city life?
Originally released in 1986, Crocodile Dundee is without doubt one of the most famous, and most successful Australian films of all-time. Back in the ‘80s the movie was a worldwide phenomenon, a box-office smash, and a home video hit.
The picture also did well on television. In fact, over here in the UK, when Crocodile Dundee had its television premiere on December 25th 1989, over 21 million viewers tuned in, making it the most watched Christmas Day film of all time.
And the reason Crocodile Dundee was/is so popular is because it is a likeable, charming adventure story. There’s not a great deal to it (Sue’s out of her depth in Australia, likewise Mick is off-kilter in the US), but it’s a lot of fun to watch as the respective characters find common ground.
The big selling point of the film is when Mick arrives in New York and he is somewhat bewildered with city living. He’s a down-to-Earth Aussie fella, who is used to a slower pace of life, so everything he experiences in the Big Apple is completely new to him.
This allows for some playful scenes as Mick attempts to get his head around certain customs and pleasantries which just seem alien to him. It also leads him into one or two tricky situations.
Of course, there are also one or two marvellous sequences which highlight Mick’s innocence. These include the iconic knife scene in which Mick stops a mugging without fretting the danger, as well as a comedic interaction with a pair of sex workers who he believes are just being friendly.
All-in-all there are lots of laughs to be had, and there is plenty of mileage to mine out of the premise. Mick is a relatable hero, and his time in New York brings more than a smile or two.
Now, you may be wondering why this new release of Crocodile Dundee is called The Encore Cut? Well, this is because it’s not quite the Crocodile Dundee you remember.
A couple of edits have been made to remove material which is now deemed unacceptable by today’s standards, while a couple of extra bits have been added too. This includes a piece of text at the beginning of the film which acknowledges land ownership in Australia.
Yet despite the tweaks, not much has really changed. OK, so some completists might be frustrated by the cuts, but the finished product remains very much the same article, and there’s plenty of enjoyment to be found without offending anyone.
Should you wish to take a look, Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut is available on DVD priced at £9.99, on Blu-ray at £14.99, and on 4K UHD at £24.99. If discs aren’t your thing, you can download the movie through video-on-demand platforms.
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On disc…
Crocodile Dundee II (1988)
Onto Australian classic No. 2, which is of course Crocodile Dundee II. This 1988 sequel is also out on UK DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K this week, and benefits from a restoration.
Directed by John Cornell, Crocodile Dundee II sees Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski reprise the roles of Mick and Sue for an adventure which begins in New York before moving back to Australia. Picking up the story two years after its predecessor, Crocodile Dundee II has the pair getting mixed up with a drug cartel.
In the film, Sue’s ex-husband, Bob is a photographer who takes snaps of an execution. He sends the pictures to Sue for safekeeping, before he is promptly bumped off.
Cartel leader Luis Rico travels to New York to retrieve the photos, and grabs Sue in the process. Mick mounts a rescue, before deciding they are both safer back in Walkabout Creek.
However, Rico and his men aren’t ready to give up. They head to Australia to track down Mick and Sue, leading to a fight for survival in the Outback.
Similar to Crocodile Dundee, this first sequel (there was another sequel in 2001) was also a hit upon release. Not quite the box office winner as before, but it performed well and pulled in the punters.
And to be fair, it’s enjoyable stuff. Crocodile Dundee II doesn’t quite hit as well as the original, but the core component is still in place, i.e. Mick’s charm and innocence.
Paul Hogan’s portrayal of Mick Dundee is pure gold. He is able to play comedy and action with ease, and his performance remains consistent from one film to the next.
Where Crocodile Dundee II stumbles a little is in the drug cartel plot, which isn’t as interesting as it needs to be, includes stock villains, and flounders a bit in the middle. Sure, it’s perfectly serviceable, but it’s a touch less appealing than the fish-out-of-water story from before.
That said, there is still a lot to like about Crocodile Dundee II. The sense of adventure is still here, as are the quirky characters, and the back-half of the movie set in Australia is a real treat.
Should you wish to grab a copy of Crocodile Dundee II the film is now available from entertainment specialists (HMV, Fopp, Amazon, etc) in the aforementioned formats. And following suit with The Encore Cut, the DVD of Crocodile Dundee II is £9.99, the Blu-ray £14.99, and the 4K £24.99.
Incidentally, only these two films have been released, so there’s no new physical release of 2001’s Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles I’m afraid. However, that one is rubbish anyway, so let’s not worry about it and enjoy what’s on offer.
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In cinemas…
Predator: Badlands (2025)
And finally, new to cinemas this week is the sci-fi action sequel, Predator: Badlands. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg and starring Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, the movie is the seventh entry in the Predator movie series (ninth if you include the Alien vs. Predator films), and focuses on a predator who teams up with a synthetic in a fight for survival.
In the movie, Dek is a young Yautja (Predator) looking to prove his worth. After a family conflict ends in tragedy, Dek is sent to the planet Genna, where he struggles against the unforgiving environment.
Meeting a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic named Thia, the pair join forces as Dek hunts down a seemingly powerful beast. However, the duo have much more to contend with than a legendary creature, including trouble from another synth named Tessa.
For those not keeping track, Predator: Badlands marks the third Predator movie for director Dan Trachtenberg. His previous movies, Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, were well-received by the Predator fan base and this latest offering is likely to follow suit.
Mixing action with sci-fi/fantasy, and sprinkling in some light ‘buddy-movie’ humour, Predator: Badlands is an enjoyable romp. It’s a film made by a fan, for fans, and as with Trachtenberg’s previous movies he continues to demonstrate a firm grip on the material.
What makes Predator: Badlands work as well as it does is the way it places the Predator as the protagonist. For the vast majority of the Predator films, the creature is generally regarded as the antagonist and it’s difficult to really get a grasp on the character.
For this film, Dek is placed front-and-centre, allowing Trachtenberg and co-writer Patrick Aison to expand the Predator mythology in ways we have not seen before. There’s a greater understanding of their culture, their resourcefulness, and their honour, and this is a significant plus point for the movie and the series as a whole.
It’s also worth noting, Predator: Badlands is the best Predator/Alien crossover to date, meaning it’s good for world building too. Unlike the AVP movies which threw everything at the wall in the hope something would stick, Predator: Badlands builds up the crossover organically, simply by bringing Weyland-Yutani synths into the movie, and this is a great way to bring the two franchises together without shoehorning anything else into the film.
The result is a movie which feels like it effortlessly connects with last year’s Alien: Romulus as well as this year’s Alien: Earth. Not necessarily in terms of story beats, but by tone and aesthetic, and for the first time it all gels rather well!
The other major selling point of the film is the casting. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi is great as Dek, while Elle Fanning is the stand-out player as Thia and Tessa.
Fanning is an instant fan-favourite, in a movie which is sure to become a popular entry in the series. Not better than Trachtenberg’s other movies, but certainly on par, and once again this matters greatly.
If you’re a fan of the Predator movie series, and you’ve been enjoying the recent ride the franchise has been on, you’ll be pleased to know everything is still ticking along nicely. The series is currently in a much better place than it was with 2018’s The Predator, and it looks set to continue heading in the right direction.
Should you wish to check out the movie, the film is now playing in cinemas worldwide.
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Movie of the Week
Onto Movie of the Week and this week the title is going to Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut. Crocodile Dundee was a big hit during the 1980s and all these decades on it continues to remain an entertaining watch.
And if you like Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut then you also might like:
- Crocodile Dundee II (1988) – Likeable follow-up which takes Mick Dundee back to Australia.
- Strange Bedfellows (2004) – Paul Hogan and Michael Caton team up for this Aussie comedy about two straight guys who attempt to pass themselves off as a gay couple to take advantage of a new tax law.
- Romancing the Stone (1984) – Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito star in this adventure romp about a New York novelist who travels to Colombia to rescue her sister.
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A Look Ahead
That’s all for this week, but more reviews will be with you in no time at all. And something which is also not too far away is 2026.
OK, so we still have a few weeks to go (don’t panic), but why not take a trip to the future with the recent edition of Movie Reviews Special? The Special offers up a run-through of some of the biggest titles heading your way in 2026, giving you an insight into what to expect.
Want to get ahead of the game? Then read all about the movies coming down the track 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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