If there’s one thing consistently more frustrating than a film being out-and-out unwatchable it’s a film on the cusp of being really good if not for something irredeemable getting in the film’s own way. All of the elements to make the vision happen are there and firing; the acting is solid to standout across the board, the non-linear structure is used well, and the writing is done well…for the most part. Where 96 Minutes loses effectiveness in intensity and diverts into frustration is in the primary catalyst for the film’s conflict. Partly the character at the center of it, but mostly our lack of significant knowledge about him that justifies him doing what he does and allowing us to connect with the motive. I gather that there’s much more to him beyond ignorance and anger at his current situation (at least I hope so), but all of that story happens over the course of the prior 16 years before the 96 minutes of time we experience.

Could Milla Jovovich be headed toward making a low-rent version of Resident Evil?

As if Prom Night wasn’t hard enough, Brittany Snow wants to get even in Myriad Pictures’ Breaking The Girl.

Prom Night is infinitely better than the original (partly because it doesn’t feature a ten minute disco segment in the middle). Sure, it loads up with cliches and has more fake jump moments than actual scares, but considering the target market is horny teenage boys trying to get a rise out of their dates, this is understandable.

Well, this version of Prom Night is PG-13, so you can be assured there’s no nudity or graphic sex. And that sucks. So the next best thing is to bring a date and both get drunk so you can make some nudity and graphic sex of your own. And the good news is that the more you drink, the more you date will start to look like Brittany Snow.