Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: A year after her sister, Melanie, went missing, Clover and four of her friends visit the last place she knew Melanie was alive to pay their respects. After getting a clue from a local convenience store clerk, the group heads to Glore Valley, a deserted town that was destroyed by a mining disaster with only the visitor center remaining. Soon after arriving, the friends discover they are in a time loop, terrorized by monsters and other deadly traps on a repeating cycle until they can survive until dawn. Who's in it? The movie stars Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino , Odessa A'zion, Ji-Young Yoo, Peter Stormare and Belmont Cameli. Review: I came across Until Dawn while scrolling through movies on Netflix as I waited for my wife to get done at her sewing studio. I had never heard of the video game that inspired this film but thought it looked intriguing. We ended up watching it yesterday evening and it more than exceeded our expectations. I tend to be a bit critical about m...

Synopsis: New Yorkers Skip Donahue and Harry Monroe are wrongfully accused and convicted of a bank robbery in Arizona. When the warden discovers Skip has a natural talent for riding bulls, the two friends and some of their fellow inmates come up with a plan to escape during the prison's upcoming rodeo. Who's in it?  The movie stars Gene Wilder , Richard Pryor , JoBeth Williams , Craig T. Nelson , Barry Corbin and Erland van Lidth. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Stir Crazy (1980) ___________________________________________________________ Here are some reviews of other 1980s comedies: Movie Review: Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) Movie Review: Teen Wolf (1985) Movie Review: Clue (1985) Movie Review: Back to School (1986)

Synopsis: After an embarrassing joint press conference, recently elected United States President Will Derringer, a former popular action movie star, and UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke attempt to show unity by flying to a NATO conference together onboard Air Force One. The plane is shot down over Belarus by a group of terrorists controlled by arms dealer Viktor Gradov. While Derringer and Clarke survive by parachuting prior to the plane crashing, they are presumed dead and must get to safety on their own.  Meanwhile, the world is on the brink of chaos after Gradov gains access to a global surveillance program and releases evidence of NATO allies spying on and sabotaging each other. Who's in it? The movie stars John Cena , Idris Elba , Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Paddy Considine and Carla Gugino. Review: I came across Heads of State on Amazon Prime a few days ago and, since I do seem to enjoy most John Cena movies, decided to add it to my list. My wife and I ended up watching it la...

Synopsis: A passenger cruise ship under the command of soon-to-be-retired Captain Ashland is on the final leg of its journey when it is rammed by a mystery ship and sinks, leaving only an unconscious Ashland and eight others alive. They believe they are rescued when they come across a freighter but soon learn the ship, German and dating back to World War II, is deserted. Not long after, their lives are put in danger as the ship seems to be actively trying to kill them. To make matters worse, Ashland regains consciousness and seems to be under the ship's control. Who's in it? The movie stars George Kennedy, Richard Crenna , Kate Reid, Nick Mancuso and Victoria Burgoyne. Review: My wife looked for a movie to watch yesterday evening while I cooked dinner on the grill. She was still trying to make up her mind by the time I was done and, since Death Ship looked somewhat interesting, we decided to just give it a try. While not the worst horror movie I've watched, it did kind ...

Synopsis: While piloting a commercial airliner from Orlando to Atlanta, Captain Whip Whitaker experiences severe mechanical issues that force him to fly the plane inverted until he is able to crash land in a field. His heroic piloting results in only six of the 102 passengers and crew losing their lives. However, Whitaker has a problem. He had been flying with both alcohol and cocaine in his system, including vodka he was drinking in the cockpit. As a result, even though the crash was clearly caused by a mechanical issue, he faces possible prison time. Who's in it? The movie stars Denzel Washington , Kelly Reilly, John Goodman , Don Cheadle and Tamara Tunie. Review: My wife and I saved Flight to our library a couple weeks ago but held off watching it to take a break from Denzel Washington. We finally gave it a try this weekend and it ended up being not what we expected but also still a good choice. The plot of the movie is intriguing. Whitaker (Washington) performs some near-im...

Synopsis: A rich and reclusive amputee invites the doctors who left him crippled to his mansion. One-by-one, they, along with the home's other guests, are murdered by a mysterious figure. Sensing his new love interest might also be in danger, a mystery writer must figure out who is behind the murders before it is too late. Who's in it?  The movie stars Bela Lugosi , Lionel Atwill , Irene Hervey, Nils Asther and Ralph Morgan . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Night Monster (1942) _____________________________________________________________ Here are some reviews of other movies starring Bela Lugosi: Movie Review: The Thirteenth Chair (1929) Movie Review: Spooks Run Wild (1941) Movie Review: Murder by Television (1935)

Synopsis: Work-obsessed District Attorney Jim Stowell nearly forgets his wife, Lucy's, birthday and is then shot by someone related to one of the people he prosecuted. Realizing he needs to change his ways, Jim promises to take Lucy on a much-needed vacation but then cancels that plan when given the opportunity to prosecute a wealthy professor who shot his wife after finding her in the arms of another man. As the case progresses, Jim sees similarities between the professor's marriage and his own and begins to suspect Lucy is having an affair. Who's in it? The movie stars Warren William , Gail Patrick , Ralph Morgan , William Lundigan and Constance Moore . Review: I came across Wives Under Suspicion last night and, since I am both a fan of actor Warren William and director James Whale, I decided to add it to my library. I watched it this morning and it turned out to be an intriguing film. There are a couple things I found I really liked about this movie. One of them was...