Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Laine Morris doesn't believe her best friend, Debbie, killed herself and convinces both her sister and a group of friends to use Debbie's Ouija board to contact her from beyond the grave. However, instead of contacting Debbie, they inadvertently awaken the evil presence that killed her. Who's in it?   The movie stars Olivia Cooke, Ana Coto, Darren Kagasoff, Bianca Santos and Shelley Hennig. Review:  I've seen Ouija before, but I couldn't remember a whole lot about the movie, other than I didn't like it all that much. When I came across it again, I decided (as I sometimes do) to give it a second chance. My opinion of it was the same as I remembered. I think the main problem with this film is it tends to drag things out a little bit too much. Other than a couple jump scares, the movie just lacked any real action or urgency with much more buildup than was necessary to justify the very little that happened.  As a result of that, this film was just dull....

Synopsis: Eccentric ex-detective Nick Trayne is offered $25,000 to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy banker. The case becomes more challenging when the banker returns to his house in a zombie-like state and, a short time later, the banker’s brother-in-law is found murdered in the garden. It’s up to Nick to figure out which of the banker’s uncooperative relatives is behind all of it. Who's in it?   The movie stars James Dunn, Joan Woodbury , Vera Gordon, Lawrence Grant , Norman Willis and Gus Glassmire. Review: I came across The Living Ghost and, realizing it had been a while since I last watched it, added it to my library. I wound up watching it again this morning and it is as good as I remember. I’ve mentioned in the past that I’m a huge fan of mysteries and this film offered up a pretty decent one. Not only did we not know what happened to the banker (Glassmire) and why he was in a zombie-like state. At times, he would actually turn violent and there was a ...

Synopsis: Years after their Guantanamo Bay incident, Harold and Kumar have gone their separate ways. When a package for Harold is accidentally delivered to Kumar's apartment, he does the right thing and drops it off at his former best friend's house and the pair accidentally burn down a Christmas tree given to Harold by his Christmas-tree-obsessed father-in-law. They go out in search of a replacement and end up on a new adventure as a result. Who's in it?  The movie stars Kal Penn , John Cho , Danny Trejo , Danneel Ackles and Eddie Kaye Thomas. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011) ______________________________________________________________________ Here are some reviews of other movies from 2011: Movie Review: The Rite (2011) Movie Review: Beneath the Darkness (2011) Movie Review: The Three Musketeers (2011) Movie Review: Mean Girls 2 (2011)

Synopsis: Ernest P. Worrell loses his job as a taxi driver after giving Santa Claus a free ride. However, he doesn't have time to fret over it because he has a much more important job, helping Santa convince a former children's show star to take over as his replacement. Things become more complicated when a teenage runaway steals Santa's bag of toys on Christmas Eve. Who's in it?  The movie stars Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Oliver Clark, Noelle Parker and Billie Bird. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) ______________________________________________________________________ Here are some reviews of other Christmas movies: Movie Review: A Christmas Melody (2015) Movie Review: A Christmas Carol (1938) Movie Review: A Kiss Before Christmas (2021) Movie Review: In Merry Measure (2022)

Synopsis: Professor Cosmo Jones, who recently graduated correspondence school with a degree in criminal psychology, witnesses a body being dumped in front of the police station and takes an interest in the case that results in him getting thrown in jail by Police Chief Murphy. After Pat Flanagan secures his release, the grateful Jones insists on helping the police sergeant catch both the killer and, later, the person who attempts to kidnap heiress Phyllis Blake. However, his meddling results in Flanagan being demoted and a misunderstanding that puts Flanagan's romance with Susan Fleming on the rocks. Who's in it? The movie stars Frank Graham, Edgar Kennedy , Gale Storm , Richard Cromwell, Gwen Kenyon and Mantan Moreland . Review: I still can't remember the name of the movie I thought I picked out a couple nights ago but, while searching for it again, I did come across Cosmo Jones in the Crime Smasher and thought it looked interesting enough to give a try. I watched it t...

Synopsis: A Nazis ambush during World War II leaves an American Army squad dead except for Sarge, Mittens, Joey and a news reporter, Dolan. Trapped 10 miles behind enemy lines and lost because of misfunctioning compasses, the men try to find their way home before being captured and killed. However, they find a new complication. An alien spaceship has crashed in the area, and the Nazis are hunting for its survivors. Determined not to let that happen, Sarge and his crew work to prevent it despite being grossly outnumbered. Who's in it? The movie stars Tim Thomerson, Timothy Van Patten, Art LaFleur, Biff Manard and William Paulson. Review: As has happened way too often since I've gotten older, I went to bed intending to watch a certain movie this morning and woke up not remembering the title (I really need to start writing things down). As a result of that, I instead chose Zone Troopers , which has been in my library for a while. Overall, I have to say I liked it, though that o...