2024 - R - 8/10 - A solid follow up and another creepy trip.

I was pleasantly surprised by the first Smile. Stop reading here if you don’t want spoilers, I warned you. The first Smile has a great “unreliable narrator” twist to it as the protagonist loses her mind and we go with her. This movie doubles down on that bit and pays off in a lot of the same ways. The one thing that I will knock here is that it feels like a remake of its predecessor with a larger budget, without pushing the lore or larger story much further. That is a nitpick though as this film delivers again on this premise.

2024 - R - 9/10 - Another Robert Eggers Masterpiece.

This is a great film that delivers exactly what you would hope for when you hear Nosferatu is being remade by the director of The Witch. If you are not familiar with Eggars, he loves a slow burn movie oozing with atmosphere. This is only his 4th movie and his constant refinement of his craft really shows. Here he is attempting to make the definitive version of this story and by referencing other versions of Dracula in other movies and staying close to the source material, he may have accomplished just that.

This year saw Inside Out 2 and Wolverine & Deadpool duke it out for the top spot, followed by Wicked, Moana 2, and Despicable Me 4 to round out the top 5. Otherwise, there were several other films that, while they didn’t crack into the top spots, still made a decent amount versus their expectations. The most notable of these was Terrifier 3 which made waves by burying Joker 2 during its second weekend and wildly outperforming its expectations overall.

2024 continued to be the mixed bag for Hollywood that we have seen the last few years but we also saw signs that audiences still turn out for quality movies. Hopefully things like Terrifier 3, The Substance, Oddity, Nosferatu, Longlegs, etc will start to give more momentum to appropriately sized budgets and projects that stay true to artists’ vision instead of blowing up budgets on safe mediocre things we have seen 100 times.

Overall, 2024 was a decent year for movies in the theater and definitely had a better “average” experience than other recent years where we saw huge flops and stretches of nothing interesting enough to invest in seeing at the theater.

Streaming delivered another good year of hidden gems, foreign oddities, and low budget chances taken on quality projects. Over on Letterboxd, we were able to look at the best reviewed movies from 2024 that didn’t make a splash at the box office. In this list, we have some great films like Oddity, I Saw the TV Glow, Anora, The Wild Robot, and VHS: Beyond.

For best theater experiences this year, it has to be Dune 2 in the Dolby Cinema. It is hard to beat the feeling of the seats and your entire existence rumbling as Paul Atreides climbs his way up to set the reigns on that sandworm. As for streaming/home experiences, Oddity was a great surprise that we were talking about for weeks afterwards.

Overall, our favorite movie of 2024 was The Substance. Unhinged from start to finish, it was amazing to see an over-the-top gore-filled arthouse character study while it was new and in the theater. Sure, the movie isn’t for everyone but it is great to see what will be a cult classic when it is new instead of finding it decades later.

So, as we look forward to 2025, we have another year that looks to be stacking up about the same. There are a few big sequels, several smaller things to get excited about, and plenty of questionable things getting a green light. Keeping an eye on Jurassic World, Avatar, and several smaller horror movies. Follow along here as we see how it unfolds. Happy New Year!

I know we have started off nearly every newsletter with a thank you but, truly, thanks to everyone who made Thrills Ville part of your holidays! We decided late to add a couple of extra shopping days for you all and open up on 12/23 and 12/24, when we typically would have been closed, and the response was great. We had a good run starting from Black Metal Friday through the end of the year.

Thanks again for all the support in 2024!

BUT no reason to slow down now! See below for info on the Thrills Ville party for Joe’s birthday later this month. We have several big things lined up, including an in-store performance by our friends Low Water Mark for Ghosts!

Happy New Year, here’s to a big 2025 for Thrills Ville!

2012-2014 - PG-13-R - 8/10 - An overstuffed Middle-earth dessert.

I know this trilogy has a lot of haters, and I’ll admit it is a bit of an overstuffed mess compared to LotR, but my take has always been that LotR is like watching history play out in realtime where the Hobbit is intentionally more cartoonish and fantastical as it is Bilbo’s retelling of his adventure. Thinking of it this way, I appreciate this trilogy as a complement to, not extension of, the LotR trilogy. I know it has its flaws, and plenty of them, but I also understand why they chanced giving us too much instead of too little.

2001-2003 - PG-13 - 10/10 - An unmatched cinematic achievement.

In nearly every way you could judge a movie, the LotR stands head and shoulders above the rest. Created at a time when CGI was still expensive enough to justify doing a lot of practical work, the visuals are a perfect blend of gritty realism and CGI-heightened fantasy elements, the script is about as true to the books as you could expect, the cast is a tour-de-force of at-the-time unknowns, and Howard Shore’s score is one of the most iconic of all time. If you have not seen these, do yourself the favor.

2024 - PG-13 - 6/10 - Not bad but we wanted to like this more.

The last hour of this movie actually delivers on a lot of the lore of Helm Hammerhand and how Helm’s Deep got its name. The first hour of this movie could use some editing and, frankly, gives you too much time to focus on the things that are bothering you about the film. This uses that half animation / half CG style that a lot of people don’t like. It also has some writing, editing, and pacing issues. These are all forgivable in the solid second half but you gotta make it through that first half first…

2024 - PG - 9/10 - A great take on a great musical.

Guest Gen Alpha Review by Elyse Weasle

I have seen Wicked on stage before so I was excited to see how they made it a movie. The movie was great and I can see why it’s trending everywhere. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were both great along with the rest of the cast. I do enjoy that they took time to develop more story line in The Emerald City but they did not add too much. It was more than the play but it was still Wicked. Some movie versions of musicals do not succeed but I’d say this was a success and I cannot wait for pt. 2 in 2025. - E.W.

The Thrill of the Binge

Once the costumes and decorations of Spooky Month are packed away, it’s time for another time-honored tradition: The movie marathon. Whether you’re waiting for Tom Turkey or Kris Kringle, there’s something about gathering for a marathon that is perfect for the holidays.

We here at Thrills Ville are equal-opportunity bingers. Whether it’s Star Wars, Harry Potter, a Marvel marathon, Jurassics Park… Jurassics Parks? Jurassic Parks?, whatever, maybe it is just a pile of movies you love, we’re here for it. For us, Lord of the Rings has become an annual tradition. Every year, we gather to make it a full-day event. We’ve learned that it’s not just about watching the movies—it’s about embracing the ritual, the game breaks, the food, the company, and the excitement as those final moments close in.

Over the years, we’ve perfected our marathon game. It’s not just about zoning out in front of a screen. We turn it into an event. A marathon can be a feast, a celebration, party. Even a simple movie night can feel special if you invest the time in making it memorable - grabbing themed snacks, playing games between movies, or giving it the MST3K treatment.

So, this holiday season, don’t just press play. Take the time to plan your own marathon, create an experience out of it, and invite your friends to join in. You’ll find that what could have been another casual viewing becomes something you’ll look forward to each year. We have included a schedule for those brave enough to do the full 15 hour trek to Mount Doom in a day.

Happy marathoning, everyone!

The Plan of the Things

Use this schedule and menu for a 15 hour quest! This is timed to breaks in the Extended versions:

• 9:00 AM (30 min) - Gather and Breakfast
Bacon & eggs. A variety of breads for the day.

• 9:30 AM (1 hr 45 min) – Fellowship Pt. 1

• 11:15 AM (30 min) – Second Breakfast
Crockpots: potato soup or chili. Keep these out.

• 11:45 AM (1 hr 35 min) – Fellowship Pt. 2

• 1:20 PM (1 hr) – Luncheon
Meat and cheese tray, play some games.

• 2:20 PM (1 hr 50 min) – Two Towers Pt. 1

• 4:10 PM (20 min) – Dinner
Last call on crockpots, prep for supper.

• 4:30 PM (1 hr 50 min) – Two Towers Pt. 2

• 6:20 PM (1 hr) – Supper
Grilled chicken, salad, and games.

• 7:20 PM (2 hr 15 min) – RotK Pt. 1

• 9:35 PM (25 min) – Dessert
Last break, last call for food! Clean up and put away all the food and break out the desserts!

• 10:00 PM (2 hr) – RotK Pt. 2

• 12:00 AM – Farewells
Sigh of relief, final cleaning, dole out left-overs, your work here is done.
Make sure your discs are put away properly, return them to the shelf to wait for next year’s marathon!

The holidays are here, and while nothing tops the thrill of Halloween, this season has its own kind of magic—cozy nights, twinkling lights, and the fun of finding something totally perfect for the raddest people in your life.

The holidays are the perfect time to escape the chill, cozy up with your favorite movies, and let nostalgia take over. Whether you’re staying in for a marathon of cult classics or bundling up to drive around and take in the magic of twinkling Christmas lights, we’ve got just the thing to make it all feel extra special.

While you’re out cruising through the festive glow, swing by Thrills Ville to grab a gift that is unique and won’t just sit under the tree—it’ll outshine it!

• Nosferatu - The mystery surrounding this one is only adding to the hype.

• Wicked - Good or bad, sure to be essential viewing for anyone discussing pop culture for the next few months.

• Dream Scenario - Have heard this is another modern Nic Cage masterpiece…

• Heretic - Looks intense and creepy.

• Paddington in Peru - Hyped for this because, unironically, Paddington 2 is one of the best movies ever made. Full stop.

• A Real Pain - This is that Jesse Eisenberg / Kieran Culkin movie no one remembers the name of, looks good!

1999 - R - 10/10 - Must see Halloween classic

This movie is a classic for a reason. If you caught our October episode of Scary But Not That Scary, you know that 25 years later we still can’t stop raving about Sleepy Hollow. Tim Burton’s gothic visuals, the eerie fog, and the iconic Headless Horseman perfectly capture the spirit of Halloween. It is so effective in all areas, it raises the bar for what we expect from all other movies. Stylish, mysterious, and full of spooky charm, it blends a classic story with great filmmaking, earning its place atop Burton’s catalog.

2024 - R - 8/10 - If you liked Fury Road at all, See this now

Another one that we chatted about on the podcast and I need to mention here because it was a favorite of mine this year. Like the internet says, this is essentially the Kill Bill, Vol. 2 for Fury Road, bringing some quality action but a lot more of the story to life. Hemsworth is having fun as the unhinged Dementus which helps draw you in for another installment of Miller’s over the top heavy metal wasteland. More rough edges than Fury Road but this was 100% the Fury Road follow up I was hoping for.

2024 - R - 7/10 - Exactly what we hoped, for better or worse

If you have seen the other Deadpool movies, you pretty much know what you are getting yourself into here. The addition of Wolverine definitely doesn’t tame down the Deadpool, it just adds a grumbly Logan to the mix. Ok, let’s face it, you have probably already seen this and know that it was hilarious and mostly great but it would seem odd to have a life-sized Deadpool in the store and not mention this movie! My only concern is whether the jokes will hold up during a rewatch but this was a blast in the theater.

The Substance vs Terrifier 3. This year saw two movies shock audiences and get well-deserved mixed reviews. Which was better?

Stats

The Substance - Mubi - September 19, 2024 - Rated R

Terrifier 3 - Cineverse Corp. - September 19, 2024 - Rated R

The Good

The Substance

The Substance is a crazy, mind-bending rollercoaster through a lot. Mostly emotion as visual metaphor, the movie leaves little to the imagination and more than drives home its main point but does so in a way that feels fresh and exciting. All the manic energy, sleaze, craziness, and body horror of Showgirls, Black Swan, and Society tossed into a blender.

Terrifier 3

The little indy shockfest that could, Terrifier is back for a 3rd installment. Picking up 5 years after part 2, this one sees more lore, more gore, and more… Terrifier than we have seen before. With more budget at his command, Damien Leone is able to go even further with Art and give even more of the stomach-churning, soul-crushing, over-the-top depravity the series is known for.

The Bad

The Substance

There is a sarcastic streak and sensibility that runs through The Substance as it hammers you over the head with its main point. There is no escaping the intensity as the movie continually doubles down on being equal parts sleazy and brutal. Nearly everything in the movie is designed to be an offputting over-the-top version of itself. Some will find this intriguing, some will find it overbearing.

Terrifier 3

Terrifier 2 is too long, Terrifier 3 is shorter but still too long. The movie constantly toggles between bland melodrama and shocking gorefest so often it never finds a rhythm or a purpose and becomes a 2 hour slog to get through. 3 movies in, the parts that are designed to be shocking are shocking but are missing elements that would make this an enjoyable movie instead of an endurance test.

The Verdict

Seeing these movies so close to one another cried out for a comparison. On one hand, in The Substance, we have a film that is pushing your buttons with purpose. Instead of just talking through the emotions, it is using quality filmmaking to force you to experience them: the disgust, self-loathing, the jealousy, the fear of being exposed… it all comes out in a nightmare thrill ride that is as engaging as it is harrowing. On the other hand, we have Terrifier 3, which, as much as I hate to admit it, starts to feel like a kid kicking your chair just to make you squirm. Like The Substance, the discomfort is the intent but here there is no higher purpose. the reaction is the point. 3 movies in, Art needs a new trick. The clear winner to me is The Substance. It is definitely not for everyone but The Substance may be my favorite movie of the year.

Thanks to everyone who came through for Trick or Treating on Main Street before Halloween! We loved seeing the little ones all decked out as their favorite characters and all the reactions to our buddy Screampool. For about 2 straight hours we had a parade through the store as we gave kids the ultimate trick or treating pop quiz: candy from the chocolate bucket or candy from the fruity bucket?

Fortunately, Joe has made a full recovery after his surprise run in with Michael Meyers. If that doesn’t make sense to you, you should check out the Halloween ad on our YouTube channel!

2024 - PG-13 - 6/10 - Solid Sequel

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is an overstuffed, muddy mess of a film that I was entertained by from beginning to end. It definitely needs some editing and better focus on the main storyline. That said, I had a great time with this movie. Michael Keaton hasn’t lost a step in the 35 years since he last played this role. I loved all of the Tim Burton elements in this film, which felt like a return to form for him. Don’t overthink it and there is a good time to be had with this return to the land of the recently deceased.

Well, this is issue one out the door. We are excited to finally get this into your hands. We have a lot of ideas to get going over the next few months. Thanks for being here at the beginning. We hope you follow us on our journey!
- Adam

1990 - PG - 9/10 - A Favorite of Joe’s And Still A Must See

A surprisingly well made movie about 4 brothers dealing with the loss and hardship of losing their home and dealing with their father’s kidnapping, taking his rescue into their own hands. An odd description for a movie with main characters in 6 ft rubber turtle suits made to capitalize on a children’s cartoon but that is the brilliance of TMNT.
While we saw it as kids because it was a Turtles movie, we love it years later because it is also an excellent movie that borders on film noir.

2024 - R - 7/10 - Impressively Unnerving And Intense

From the team who brought you the underseen but great Caveat is another intense little film. Taking place in essentially one location, Oddity does a great job of introducing few characters and plot points but drawing every bit of intensity and anxiety possible from those elements. From the beginning, this movie puts you on the defense and starts cranking up the tension. Great filmmaking and a sense of foreboding around every corner make this a great slow burn horror thriller.