Justin Harrison, Author at The Spool

6.7

We Live In Time too caught up in clock watching

John Crowley’s romantic drama boasts a fine pair of lead performances that it repeatedly undercuts with poorly executed timeline hopping.

7.0

Reviews

Kill goes in when taking names and faces but stumbles elsewhere

By: Justin Harrison

The Hindi "Die Hard on a train" actioner is worth seeing, but it's not an all-timer.

5.0

Reviews

Ultraman Rising strikes out

By: Justin Harrison

Netflix's animated take on the Ultraman franchise is a kitschy, kid-friendly take that waters down the tokusatsu in uninspiring ways.

Unraveling pop-culture one thread at a time

The Spool is an irreverent, informative source for film and television coverage, focused on diverse, thoughtful opinions that seek out a greater understanding of the media we love.

4.0

Reviews

Unfrosted is less fun than eating a burnt Pop-Tart

By: Justin Harrison

A few dollops of pure absurdity aren't enough filling to overpower Jerry Seinfeld's mean-hearted, sour comedy pastry's chalky taste.

8.9

BEST NEW MOVIE

The Fall Guy’s jaw-dropping stunts hit their marks

By: Justin Harrison

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt charm and thrill—carrying The Fall Guy over the gap between its thin script and its joyful execution.

8.9

BEST NEW SHOW

Knuckles’ zany buddy comedy is worth digging into on Paramount+

By: Justin Harrison

Idris Elba and Adam Pally's chemistry anchors the consistently hysterical and well-choreographed miniseries.

6.8

Reviews

Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver’s ponderous lore leaves a mark

By: Justin Harrison

The second installment of Zach Snyder's Netflix epic science fiction series' bombast and humanity get dragged down by molasses-slow lore and portent.

9.5

BEST NEW MOVIE

The impeccable Love Lies Bleeding flexes its way through bloody lesbian noir

By: Justin Harrison

Rose Glass' neon-soaked crime thriller is a perfectly arch, deviously dark romance.

6.0

Reviews

Best check out early from Hazbin Hotel

By: Justin Harrison

Messy writing keeps this solid cast from shepherding Hotel to strong Yelp scores.

9.0

BEST NEW SHOW

True Detective deftly navigates the weirdness of Night Country

By: Justin Harrison

Jodie Foster and Kali Reis shine as a pair of detectives investigating an increasingly surreal crime.

8.9

BEST NEW MOVIE

Michael Mann fills Ferrari with all his sound and fury

By: Justin Harrison

Adam Driver does insightful, searching work as auto legend Enzo Ferrari in the filmmaker's study of a pivotal year in his life.

8.1

BEST NEW SHOW

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off what’s come before in favor of dawning something new and wonderful

By: Justin Harrison

The ScienceSaru-produced animated series rebuilds rather than retells Bryan Lee O'Malley's beloved comic.

Reviews

Scattered charm can’t make Inspector Sun shine

By: Justin Harrison

A kid-friendly detective movie in the spirit of the classics would be great. Inspector Sun tries but sadly never manages to spin the right web. NOW STREAMING: Powered by JustWatch I love detective stories. Tales of how, as Sara Gran would say, “truth lives in the ether.” Explorations of people and places and how they ... Scattered charm can’t make Inspector Sun shine

Features

When William Friedkin cuts to the heart of The Hunted, it shines

Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio del Toro's climactic duel is a stupendous piece of filmmaking in a good film that could have been great with some judicious paring.

Fantastic Fest 2023

Fantastic Fest 2023: Baby Assassins 2 Babies offers sublime action and glorious goofiness

By: Justin Harrison

Stuntwoman Saori Izawa anchors an often hysterical, occasionally pointed action comedy about surviving the soul-killing grind of modern work—whether mascotting or assassination. Yugo Sakamoto’s Baby Assassins 2 Babies is a glorious hat trick of a movie. It’s a reliably funny, sometimes downright hysterical character comedy. It’s a thrilling action film, proof that Kensue Sonomura (director ... Fantastic Fest 2023: Baby Assassins 2 Babies offers sublime action and glorious goofiness

Features

Sorcerer thrills thanks to Friedkin’s wizardly control of tone

By: Justin Harrison

Friedkin's classic thriller frays viewers' nerves without relying on bombast.

Reviews

The Last Voyage of the Demeter raises solid B horror from the grave

By: Justin Harrison

Javier Botet skillfully embodies a cunning Orlokian Dracula in André Øvredal's enjoyably vicious horrorshow.

Features

Kill List disturbs thanks to Wheatley’s merciless anti-romanticism

By: Justin Harrison

A disaffected hitman and his best pal descend into an entirely different sort of hell in the director/writer’s genre-hopping nightmare.

Reviews

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’s characters and mood triumph over a wobbly script

By: Justin Harrison

The latest incarnation of Eastman and Laird’s adolescent terrapin martial artists are wonderful characters. Watching them in action is a ball. Unfortunately, the rest of the flick does not quite match them.

Anniversaries

Small Soldiers at 25: Design for Living

Joe Dante's 1998 teens n' toy creatures v killer toy commandos flick boasts marvelous character and design work for its titular playthings, which in turn lead to thoughtful observations on toymaking.

Reviews

The Flash wastes Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, and the audience’s time

By: Justin Harrison

It's a shallow, sour, bizarrely mean cape flick that prioritizes tacky, hollow nostalgia-baiting over fine work from its co-stars.

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