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It was a grab bag of options this week at the movies. Below is my take on all the new releases. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Clown in a Cornfield (Theaters)
Starring: Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Vincent Muller, and Will Sasso
Synopsis: When we see clowns, it likely conjures a certain reaction. Some might feel a shiver of fear or panic, seeing them as something sinister. Others might feel a wave of happiness, thinking of good times with party or circus clowns. But either way, the image provokes a reaction. In the new horror film Clown in a Cornfield, which opens on Friday, you might be tempted to see it both ways. The titular clown is the symbol of the town’s biggest business and factory. (Though why you’d choose a clown as a mascot escapes me.) But someone has also used that symbol as their emblem of evil as they reign terror on the youths of the town. The film is based on the novel from Adam Cesare and comes from director Eli Craig, who co-wrote the script. Craig is no stranger to a twisted tale, having previously helmed Tucker and Dale vs Evil and Little Evil. Here, he offers another tale that has twists and blends some fun humor into the traditional slasher format. We begin in 1991 at a town party in a cornfield. A pair of teens head off into the depths of the field for a good time. Instead, they meet their doom. Flash-forward to the present, and Dr. Maybrook (Abrams) is moving to this small town with his teen daughter Quinn (Douglas). They are looking for a fresh start after Quinn’s mother passed away. This town needed a doctor, and it looked like a quiet place to begin again. The town is, in some ways, a time capsule. There is a quaint feel, and the adults seem committed to keeping it something of a throwback. Quinn is warned not to connect with the wrong sort of people, but she quickly forms a connection with the popular kids, including the Mayor’s son, Cole (MacCormac). The kids make horror videos, pranking the town and clowning on its history. That rankles many of the adults, including the Sheriff (Sasso) and Cole’s father the Mayor (Kevin Durand). The town itself is struggling, too. A fire at the factory led to it shutting down, hurting the economy. When the teens begin to disappear, it’s clear something is afoot. When the town’s mascot, Frendo the Clown, begins terrorizing people, it becomes a fight for survival. The twist here is who is behind it all and why they’re doing it. That’s a fun note that plays out mostly in the Third Act. But much of this is a straightforward horror/slasher film. And it works in that way. There’s a creepy set up, some interesting locations, and plenty of creative kill sequences. There’s also a good touch of humor, one that plays off the things that feel alien to the younger generation. If you’re an older viewer, like me, you might get an even bigger kick out of this. Craig does a nice job of laying out the story. Frendo is sufficiently creepy and the main teen actors do a nice job. I liked Douglas as the lead and had a lot of fun with her reaction to what is going on. The adult actors, like Abrams, Sasso, and Durand do a nice job, too. This ends up being a fun watch for horror fans that will be a solid addition to the lineup in theaters.
Rating: Rated R for bloody horror violence, language throughout and teen drinking.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Fight or Flight (Theaters)
Starring: Josh Hartnett
Synopsis: Air travel can be harrowing. It’s even more of a challenge when your plane is full of professional killers bent on ending your journey before you reach the ground. That’s the set-up, in part, for Fight or Flight, a new action film that opens Friday. It focuses on a down-on-his-luck agent offered a chance at redemption if only he can find a person of interest and bring them safely to his superiors in San Francisco. It sounds simple enough, but it turns out to be anything but simple. The film centers on Lucas (Hartnett) who is given this task by Katherine (Katee Sackhoff). It’s supposed to be a simple mission. But once seated on a long, trans-Pacific flight, it turns out the plane is full of killers. Worse yet, they’ve been given Lucas’ picture. That quickly makes him a target. He dispatches some attackers and manages to locate his target. She (Charithra Chandran) is posing as a member of the flight crew. Lucas tries to keep the flight on schedule and keep her safe and anonymous. But when her identity is uncovered, it leaves them little choice but to turn the plane into an arena of battle. This film comes from producers who previously worked on the John Wick franchise. In fact, most of the producers, writers, and director all have experience with action films. It’s clear this is meant to be a good old-fashioned brawl in mid-air. We’ve seen a similar set up before. Bullet Train from the summer of 2023 featured a similar set up that took place aboard a moving train. You have a hero, a mission, and a confined space packed with violent obstacles. Here, we have to see if our hero can survive and get on the ground safely. Hartnett makes for a solid lead here. We’ve seen him do a variety of roles over the past few years from serious Oscar bait to an M. Night Shymalan thriller. Here, he does a nice job in the lead role as something of an action star. He fits the part and the action well and is fun as our focal character. The plot, such as it is, doesn’t try too hard. There’s a set-up, some double-crosses, and plenty of lead-ins to action sequences. We also end in a place where it’s possible to see a future franchise, but that will likely depend on audience reaction. This film and its execution reminded me of Havoc, the Tom Hardy-led action film that debuted two weeks ago on Netflix. It was nearly a constant stream of fights for our hero. That’s the case here, though the set up seems to work a little better. Still, your enjoyment of this film will likely hinge on how you feel about these action sequences. And some of them—the third act in particular—are over-the top. If that’s your jam, this will likely be a thrilling trip to the theater.
Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout and some drug material.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Nonnas (Netflix)
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, and Talia Shire
Synopsis: We all have sweet memories from our time with our mothers and grandmothers. They are the women that can help shape our lives. And when their time is over, it makes sense to want to honor what they’ve passed on. That idea is at the heart of Nonnas, which is a sweet comedy that has released on Netflix in time for Mother’s Day. It’s based on a true story of a man who opened a restaurant to honor his mother, providing an outlet for several other mothers and grandmothers along the way. In the film, Joe (Vaughn) works for the New York transportation department. He’s a kind man who hasn’t really pursued any dreams. When his mother dies and leaves him money, his friends (Joe Manganiello and Drea De Mateo) push him to use that money to follow his dream. Turns out, that dream is connected to the time spent with his mother and grandmother in the kitchen. He buys a restaurant on Staten Island. Joe sees it as a place to honor that legacy, welcoming in other “Nonnas” to act as the chefs. That leads him to recruit his mother’s friends, Gia (Sarandon) and Roberta (Bracco), along with two others—Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro) and Teresa (Shire)—who respond to his ad on Craig’s List. Together Joe and his chefs craft a menu, while Joe and his friends build the spot out and give it life. But when it comes time to open the doors, will enough people find it to make it a success? This is based on a true story, as noted above. The closing moments of the film showcase the real Joe and his real Nonnas through pictures and videos. It’s a nice touch that will definitely hit you in the feels, especially after all that’s come before it. It’s been a while since I’ve really enjoyed one of Vaughn’s films. Often, he plays characters that are a little too glib or smug. He has a knack for it and has made it work in some genuinely funny films, too. But here we get to see a different side of Vaughn. There is humor here, but it comes through circumstance and charm. Here, his Joe is just a loveable guy who wants to honor his mother and support some other ladies living out their dreams, too. He's really fun in this role. You can’t help but root for him in all phases, and that makes this film a lot of fun. That’s also a credit to director Stephen Chbosky, who does a beautiful job of bringing it to life, and the rest of this charming supporting cast. I enjoyed the back-and-forth between Bracco and Vaccaro, and the way they interacted with Shire and Sarandon. It’s a different kind of story and some different kind of roles for these ladies, but I really enjoyed the journey. This is a perfect kind of streaming film to watch with the special mother in your life. It’s a beautiful and sweet story that will get you in the feels.
Rating: Rated PG for suggestive material, language and thematic elements.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Summer of 69 (Hulu)
Starring: Chloe Fineman, Sam Morelos, Paula Pell, and Charlie Day
Synopsis: The teen sex comedy is a staple of film. They are often wild with some over-the-top scenarios. The best of them can create some iconic laughs. Others, however, turn out to be a slog. In the latest entry in the genre, Jillian Bell makes her directorial debut with a story about a young girl who hires a stripper in order to learn the art of the 69. She thinks it is integral to seducing the guy in her high school she’s always liked. Hilarity ensues through a comedy of errors that leads to new friendships and new experiences for all involved. That sounds like a sweet and entertaining journey. At times it kind of achieves that, but this film is messy. There are talented people involved, but the premise is thin. Some of the sequences between Fineman—who plays the stripper Santa Monica—and Morelos, our curious teen, are awkward and sloppy more than they’re funny. We get some other good actors making cameos or supporting roles but none of it really comes together in a coherent or enjoyable way. This is a broad swing, but it’s ultimately a miss for me. Bell is a talented writer and comedian and I think she’ll find her way as a director with better material. This isn’t it.
Rating: NA
Verdict: One and a half stars out of five