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Movies in Focus

Movies in Focus is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer® when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Niall Browne.

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Rating Title | Year Author Quote
2/5
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) Niall Browne Wake Up Dead Man has a great cast, but even they can’t save this atrocious third (and hopefully final) entry in the Knives Out franchise. Convoluted writing, simplistic characterisation, and flaccid plotting make this a real chore to get through.
Posted Dec 27, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Frontier Crucible (2025) Niall Browne In a time where there is a lot of talk about the death of mainstream cinema, it’s great to see a smaller film like Frontier Crucible shine.
Posted Nov 25, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
Re-Animator (1985) Niall Browne It’s darkly comic, bloody as hell and totally over the top. You have to accept it for what it is or don’t. If you buy into it then you’ll have a great time, despite the fact that it’s all totally ludicrous.
Posted Oct 15, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
Helloween (2025) Niall Browne Those expecting a game-changing horror movie may be disappointed, but viewers looking for an 1980s-style throwback that blends modern tech with some fun plot twists will find plenty to enjoy in Helloween.
Posted Oct 15, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Beast of War (2025) Niall Browne It delivers the goods on both fronts and surprises in its storytelling – and also in tremendous visuals – no easy feat when 90% of the film features a bunch of men stranded on a raft, adrift at sea.
Posted Oct 08, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Hard Times (1975) Niall Browne James Coburn and Strother Martin are great in supporting roles in this basic, but engaging drama.
Posted Sep 25, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
Waltzing with Brando (2024) Niall Browne A relaxing romp of a film, Waltzing With Brando is a good time – and at the centre of it all is a must-see turn from Billy Zane. That’s an offer you can’t refuse.
Posted Sep 13, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
The Thursday Murder Club (2025) Niall Browne The screen adaptation of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club has a very specific audience in mind – and it’s an audience that will likely be very satisfied with Chris Columbus’ comedy murder mystery.
Posted Sep 05, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
We're Not Safe Here (2025) Niall Browne We’re Not Safe Here is a deftly handled little chiller. It gets under your skin, offering up quiet scares rather than cheap shocks.
Posted Sep 04, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Self-Help (2025) Niall Browne Self-Help proves that people are still making good films out there. They might not be dominating cinemas in the way that something like Minecraft is, but they exist and discerning audiences must – and need to – seek them out.
Posted Aug 15, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
Red Sonja (2025) Niall Browne Look, it’s not without faults, but I enjoyed the old-school throwback nature of Red Sonja and the non-fussy style of its storytelling. It sets itself up nicely for a sequel—and that seems like an enjoyable proposition indeed.
Posted Aug 14, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Talk to Me (2023) Niall Browne Strong characterisation sets the scene in Danny and Michael Philippou’s tense horror, Talk To Me. It’s scary and violent when it needs to be, making for a well-balanced and strongly acted genre piece.
Posted Aug 08, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
Superman (2025) Niall Browne A brighter, cleaner, and more upbeat interpretation of the character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster back in 1938, this film is a noble and entertaining take on Superman.
Posted Jul 30, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
The Unholy Trinity (2024) Niall Browne It’s an entertaining entry into the genre, and while it doesn’t break a whole lot of new ground, there is enjoyment to be had seeing seasoned pros like Brosnan and Jackson spit out tough guy lines while brandishing a six-shooter.
Posted Jul 22, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
Clown in a Cornfield (2025) Niall Browne Look, Clown In A Cornfield won’t change the slasher movie in any way shape or form – but it is a fun ride with a game cast and plenty of silliness to entertain.
Posted Jul 21, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
The Nice Guys (2016) Niall Browne A wonderful slice of entertainment, The Nice Guys is Shane Black doing what he does best. The film riffs on his previous back catalogue, mixing in a 1970s groove to keep things feeling fresh.
Posted Jul 21, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
The Blair Witch Project (1999) Niall Browne No sequel or remake will ever match the power of what The Blair Witch Project managed to do a quarter of a century ago.
Posted Jul 21, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
The Reign of Queen Ginnarra (2025) Niall Browne Those who like old-school fantasy films will be enamoured by its style, tone and inspirations. You might have to seek it out, but The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is an intriguing piece that feels refreshing because of its big ambitions.
Posted Jul 21, 2025  Edit critic review
Rollerball (1975) Niall Browne Norman Jewison directs with style, while James Caan delivers a punchy performance in this gritty sci-fi actioner.
Posted Jun 04, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Mission: Impossible (1996) Niall Browne Excellent special effects and tense sequences (and a brilliant theme tune) make Mission: Impossible a hugely entertaining experience. Choose to accept it.
Posted May 05, 2025  Edit critic review
2/5
American Psycho (2000) Niall Browne Mary Harron’s screen adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel, American Psycho starts off well enough but it soon loses its lustre and becomes rather irksome.
Posted Apr 02, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
Late Night with the Devil (2023) Niall Browne Late Night With The Devil works because all elements come together as a whole.
Posted Oct 26, 2024  Edit critic review
5/5
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon (2023) Niall Browne Using an exceptional array of photographs and archive footage to show Simon’s rise from a would-be teeny-bopper to a fully-fledged rock star – there is a fascinating array of material that shows Simon growing as a man and a musician.
Posted Oct 20, 2024  Edit critic review
4/5
Strange Darling (2023) Niall Browne Strange Darling is a gloriously twisty and darkly comedic thriller that teases its audience and plays with convention and expectation. It’s a little bit like a cinematic tequila shot with salt and lime – it’s bitter, punchy, zesty and very salty.
Posted Sep 29, 2024  Edit critic review
3/5
Doctor Jekyll (2023) Niall Browne This Hammer Films production successfully marries gothic horror with modern sensibilities, creating a visually striking experience that pays homage to its roots while carving out its own identity.
Posted Aug 15, 2024  Edit critic review
4/5
You're Next (2013) Niall Browne You’re Next is an entertaining flick with a good cast having a good time playing an assortment of unlikeable characters. This tight and confined chamber piece has wit and ingenuity, offering up an assortment of stand-out moments and wince-inducing kills.
Posted Jul 28, 2024  Edit critic review
2.5/5
I Saw the TV Glow (2024) Niall Browne Jane Schoenbrun’s metaphysical drama is well shot and performed, but I never bought into the internal world or its central mythos. I’m sure that some people will take a lot from this, but it ultimately left me cold and somewhat disinterested.
Posted Jul 27, 2024  Edit critic review
4/5
The Inheritance (2024) Niall Browne The Inheritance delivers the goods, offering up a well-balanced mix of Knives Out and The House On Haunted Hill by way of The Haunting Of Hill House and Succession
Posted Jul 11, 2024  Edit critic review
3/5
Hundreds of Beavers (2022) Niall Browne Shot in black and white, Hundreds Of Beavers’ kinetic visual style and zingy aural aesthetic create a zesty cinematic experience.
Posted Jul 08, 2024  Edit critic review
4/5
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (2024) Niall Browne If you’re looking for epic filmmaking which attempts to push the boundaries of a century old genre, then you’ll be very much rewarded by Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1.
Posted Jul 02, 2024  Edit critic review
3/5
The Exorcism (2024) Niall Browne The Exorcism is entertaining hokum with many nods to William Friedkin’s genre definer. Russell Crowe embraces his part with gusto and while it goes off the rails at the end, the lead-up is strong – it’s still better than 99% of all other exorcism movies.
Posted Jun 29, 2024  Edit critic review
4/5
Soldier (1998) Niall Browne Soldier finally deserves a reappraisal. The Kurt Russell starrer is actually a hugely entertaining and visually arresting piece of science fiction cinema – at the centre of it is a bold performance from Russell – one in which he only speaks 104 words.
Posted Apr 17, 2024  Edit critic review
3/5
Coup de Chance (2023) Niall Browne Coup de Chance is an entertaining dramatic thriller and one of Allen’s better recent efforts. This Parisian pic has echoes of the London-set Match Point and a hint of Manhattan Murder Mystery.
Posted Apr 06, 2024  Edit critic review
3/5
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) Niall Browne An enjoyable sci-fi-comedy romp. It doesn’t top the 1984 original (what could?), but it entertains. The new cast embraces the spooky thrills and the old guard gets moments to shine. Yes, there's shameless fan pandering, but who you gonna call?
Posted Mar 29, 2024  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Sunrise (2024) Niall Browne At the centre of Sunrise is a terse and truculent turn from Guy Pearce. Pearce has long been a reliable performer, and here he chews the scenery without ever veering into pantomime villain territory.
Posted Feb 17, 2024  Edit critic review
4/4
Fast Charlie (2023) Niall Browne Master-craftsman Phillip Noyce has built a well-constructed revenge thriller around star Pierce Brosnan. Anyone looking for a good old-fashioned thriller will have to search far and wide for one that works better than Fast Charlie.
Posted Dec 02, 2023  Edit critic review
4/5
Haunted Ulster Live (2023) Niall Browne The laughs are well earned and the horror delivers some heft – especially the final moments which reminded me of the John Carpenter classic, Prince Of Darkness, as well as Prano Bailey-Bond’s Censor.
Posted Nov 24, 2023  Edit critic review
3/5
Crimes of the Future (2022) Niall Browne Diverting without ever feeling essential, Crimes Of The Future is David Cronenberg treading water. It’s competently made and good to look at, but it lacks the weight or the shock factor of his finer work.
Posted Sep 17, 2023  Edit critic review
4/5
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) Niall Browne Tom Cruise reprises his now iconic role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt, giving yet another powerhouse physical performance that reaffirms his status as the most enduring (and best) action star in the business.
Posted Jul 20, 2023  Edit critic review
4/5
The Flash (2023) Niall Browne The Flash is not without flaws – but those are inherent in many films within the genre, like the over-stuffed CG filled finale. However, for the most part The Flash is an excellent superhero adventure that has plenty to offer its audience.
Posted Jul 12, 2023  Edit critic review
3/5
Skinamarink (2022) Niall Browne Hit or miss depending on your disposition, there’s something hypnotically mesmerising about Skinamarink and it shows that Kyle Edward Ball has what it takes to be a filmmaker to watch out for in the future.
Posted Jul 11, 2023  Edit critic review
4/5
Soldier (1998) Niall Browne Soldier finally deserves a reappraisal. The Kurt Russell starrer is actually a hugely entertaining and visually arresting piece of science fiction cinema – at the centre of it is a bold performance from Russell – one in which he only speaks 104 words.
Posted Jun 25, 2023  Edit critic review
2.5/5
Boon (2022) Niall Browne The acting hits the mark and there’s plenty of gunplay to keep action fans entertained. It’s a shame that Boon’s limited budget means there’s little scope to open things up and deliver big visuals or big action.
Posted May 29, 2023  Edit critic review
3/5
Hypnotic (2023) Niall Browne Hypnotic is a twisty science fiction thriller from the mind of indie action auteur, Robert Rodriguez. The Ben Affleck starrer is an entertaining throwback piece, the type of film that Bruce Willis or even Affleck himself might have toplined 20 years ago.
Posted May 13, 2023  Edit critic review
1/5
Last Contact (2023) Niall Browne In a world filled with a never-ending stream of films and TV shows, you should do yourself a favour and decide to watch something (anything) other than Last Sentinel.
Posted Apr 29, 2023  Edit critic review
4/5
Martin (1978) Niall Browne A film that was caught-up in the UK’s Video nasty kerfuffle in the 1980s, Romero often referred to Martin as his favourite film. It may lack the visceral thrills of some of his other work, it’s easy to see why the filmmaker would think so fondly of it.
Posted Mar 19, 2023  Edit critic review
2.5/5
Cocaine Bear (2023) Niall Browne More fluff than fur, Cocaine Bear lacks bite. It’s more like cocaine bore.
Posted Mar 19, 2023  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Gateway (2021) Niall Browne Ditching many of the commercial elements of the genre (masked killings, teenagers, jump-scares and exorcisms), Gateway plays out like a arthouse horror. It’s a film which quietly builds towards the climax, slowly unveiling its mysteries.
Posted Feb 19, 2023  Edit critic review
3/5
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) Niall Browne I enjoyed Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery well enough. It’s diverting entertainment, although its 139 minute running time is 20 minutes too long and it takes too much time to get the plot in motion.
Posted Dec 30, 2022  Edit critic review
4/5
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) Niall Browne So, why did Top Gun: Maverick strike such a cord with audiences? It’s a film about feeling relevant. About a changing world. Parenthood. Friendship. It resonates.
Posted Nov 18, 2022  Edit critic review
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