Justified: City Primeval (2023)

15 years later, Raylan's vacation with his teenage daughter is interrupted by local events that require his attention.

'Justified: City Primeval' is an event season that resumes the story of Raylan Givens, 15 years later than we last saw him in the last season of Justified, and introduces a more modern, complex and rapidly developing context. And so Boyd Holbrook enters the scene in an intriguing and nuanced role, not qite as nuanced as everyone's favorite antagonist (Boyd Crowder), but a close attempt. However, the rest of the context loses a bit of its weight, plausibility and authenticity. Just enough. A shame, but still worth watching.

Director:  Michael Dinner and others   

Production:  FX   

Creator:  Dave Andron, Michael Dinner   

Duration:  1 special season of 8 episodes (48 minutes each)   

With: Timothy Olyphant, Boyd Holbrook, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Marin Ireland, Vivian Olyphant, Terry Kinney

Rating: 7/10

The Empty Man (2020)

A former policeman investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl but finds evidence of a mysterious conspiracy.

'The Empty Man' is a horror-mystery film. The mystery exists in abundance, it is well maintained, hardly ever revealed, the effect slightly frustrating. The horror part is there, but it's not in the cheap, usual style, which helps and doesn't help at the same time. The film is well made, but a slow burn in the true sense of the word.

Director:  David Prior      

With: James Badge Dale, Marin Ireland, Sasha Frolova, Samantha Logan

Rating: 7/10

The Dark and the Wicked (2020)

The children of a dying father return to the isolated parental home to see him on his last days.

'The Dark and The Wicked' is a horror film that's completely based on atmosphere and directing ability. The acting, the well-controlled and well-choreographed rhythm, the well-placed special effects and the visual effects all contribute without a doubt to the construction of a film (or the promise of a film) as horror fans only dream of. Too bad it's all for an almost empty and meaningless story that does not rise up to expectations born out of the ever growing and gradual suspense.

Director:  Bryan Bertino      

With: Marin Ireland, Michael Abbott Jr., Julie Oliver-Touchstone, Lynn Andrews

Rating: 7/10