Spell (2020):

This South African-shot horror-thriller was destined for theatres last August, but Covid-19 intervened, and here it is now, on DVD and On Demand. Marquis (Omari Hardwick) is a son, husband, and father who, en route by private plane to his father’s funeral, runs into a freak storm that both pushes him off course, and causes a crash. His family was in the plane with him when the event occurred, while flying through the Appalachian mountain range. When Marquis awakens, he is alone in what appears to be the attic of a house, and very soon, Ms. Eloise (Loretta Devine) appears, seeming to be a compassionate caregiver. Not quite … Ms. Eloise is big into Voodoo, and says that she can heal and help Marquis with the assistance of “Mr. Boogety,” a doll made from the blood and skin of Marquis. It’s soon clear that he is being held against his will, and that Ms. Eloise is more than she appears to be – not helpful, but the epitome of evil. Not too much original here, but for fans of the genre, it will work. Rated 14A.

American Dream (2021):

If you want a clinic in how to break a person’s kneecaps 10 different ways, this hyper-violent crime thriller will teach you all of that and more. Nicky and Scott (Michael Huisman and Luke Bracey) are a pair of entrepreneurial young men in present day Southern California who set their business up – a business, by the way, that has nothing legal about it – by borrowing from a loan shark. To further compound their bad deeds, they cut a Russian Mafioso out of the action by infringing on his territory. Not a nice thing to do, because these Russians do not play nicely. To demonstrate what happens when you walk on the wrong side of these guys, the boys are tied up to a chair, while a bag full of quarters is used as a blackjack on their knees. That is an attention-getting device … and so is being hung by the neck from a basement rafter, and the bad guys are just getting started. The American dream is turning into a nightmare. Rated 18A for language and extreme violence.

Skylines (2020):

The title on this new release is sometimes given as “Skylines 3” as it is the third and final part of a sci-fi trilogy in which humanity and the people of earth have been engaged in a battle with invading alien forces. A truce of sorts has been arrived at, and the aliens live among us as hybrids, creating the impression that all is well, and that the ultimate in diversity and inclusion has been achieved. That’s how things are until a mysterious virus begins circulating through the alien hybrids that seems to attack the brain, and have them revert back to the vicious would-be conquerors that they were originally. Lyndsay Morgan returns to her role as Rose, and Rhona Mitra joins the cast as Dr. Mal. They have to team up in a suicide mission to the alien’s home planet to find a way to stop the destruction and the dramatic change in their respective lives. Rated 14A.

Enola Holmes (2020):

Netflix acquired the distribution rights for this whodunnit after it was decided to stream the movie rather than put it in theatres.  It's a Sherlock Holmes story, but unlike any that have come before.  Enola (Millie Bobby Brown who played "Eleven" on ``Stranger Things") is a much younger sister to Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes, but she has the detective genetics that it takes to go looking for a mystery to be solved.  None of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books mention a younger sister, but here she is, and when her mother goes missing, Enola sets off to find her.  Helena Bonham Carter plays Mother Holmes, and Henry Cavill is Sherlock.  When it's discovered that mother is missing, and that there are a number of gifts and trinkets that she has inexplicably left behind, big brother Sherlock continues to insist that Enola leave the matter alone, and head off to boarding school.  Not her ... soon she is searching all of London, looking for clues.  A crime-adventure, rated 14A. 

Country-ish (2020)(TV series):

This Netflix original is a reality series that features country singer and internet star Coffey Anderson and his wife Criscilla.  It walks through their daily lives with the couple, and focuses on their careers - she's a hip-hop artist - their Christian faith, and their desire to provide wholesome entertainment in a world that seems to want things a lot more raunchy.  A former U.S. Marine, and an active participant in the Nashville music scene, Coffey has released nine albums so far, about half of them faith-based and the other half mainstream.  He was a contestant on season 2 of American Idol in 2003 where he made it as far as the Hollywood round.  Rated PG.

Pets United (2020):

A perfect animated film for youngsters, parents, and grandparents, but only if they watch with the kids. The central characters are all pets of one sort or another, and their common thread is that they are spoiled, they are selfish, and they live a life of luxury, because their owners have all the mechanical denizens of Robo City doing the hard work.  But what happens when the robots run amuck and the humans have to flee?  Time for the skate-boarding pug, the self-aggrandizing Siamese, a pet pig, and a smart fox to grow up and take some responsibility.  Good fun for kids of all ages - meaning, much past 13, they will probably think it's lame, but younger ones will relish it.  Rated G.