August 2024 New Movie Releases: A Ranking and Review of What I Saw

With August at an end, it is time to sum up this month in movies. This month was a bit light regarding big-name blockbusters with the only "big movie" coming out being Alien: Romulus. Regardless, I still managed to see seven new releases. This probably wasn't the strongest month in terms of movies. There were fewer movies I went overall positive on than usual, and there were a lot more mixed movies for me, but not every month can be big with a constant stream of good movies. With all that said, here are my thoughts and ranking of the seven August new releases that I saw.

6. Borderlands

Borderlands was easily one of the worst movies I saw this month and will probably be one of the worst of the year. As a point of perspective, I have never played any of the Borderlands games so have no context as to whether the movie is accurate. However, from just a general viewer's perspective, this movie is just not good. The trailers sold this movie as Mad Max meets Guardians of the Galaxy but in reality, it ends up being an incredibly bland version of this. None of the characters have any sort of charm or chemistry with each other. My guess is that the studio decided to throw a bunch of big-name actors into the movie and hoped they could work well together. They did not. That is nothing against any of the actors, they just didn't have much to work with. Several story elements really didn't work especially in the final act which essentially turns into Captain Marvel. While the movie is not good, it is never boring. It isn't the type of movie that is a slog to get through but there still isn't anything about it really worth watching. In the end, this is just a forgettable summer blockbuster that tries to be like Guardians of the Galaxy but ultimately fails.

Grade: C Score: 5/10

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5. Trap

Trap was a movie that I was initially quite disappointed by but have warmed up to over time. I think Josh Hartman does a great job as the lead of the story. He toes the line between being an engaged Dad and an unhinged psycho. I also like how the movie carries this weight of tension throughout the film. We are left on the edge of our seats with how various characters are supposed to get out of the situations they are in. I also like how everything seems to move at a brisk pace. There are never any slow moments to get a break from the tension. Once I had my expectations managed with this movie, it came across as a much better movie to me. Instead of expecting a twist and being disappointed when there isn't one, I find myself enjoying more of the thrill ride. While I have warmed up a bit to the movie, I still think the trailer revealed too much and set the movie back in quality. I think the movie would have been much better had the big reveal happened in the first third of the film instead of in the trailer. I also still think the movie has some serious lapses in logic. The FBI's plan makes no sense and some of the dialogue is a bit on the nose. Overall, I would go a bit more positive on this movie while still having some significant hang-ups with it.

Grade: B- Score: 6.5/10

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4. Blink Twice

Blink Twice was the second and ultimately the much better thriller I saw this month. Much like Trap, this movie does a great job of portraying a sense of unease throughout the runtime. You can tell the entire time, that something is off with this island but aren't sure what it is. I thought Channing Tatum did a great job as the tech mogul character. He is likable while also giving off a sense that he is hiding something sinister. I thought the twist in the final act of the movie was very well done. This is the first twist I've seen in a while that I didn't think was dumb or over the top. A good twist makes you view the movie in a new light and I think this movie does that. This movie also does a good job of balancing humor with the tension. There are a few moments here and there that make you chuckle but they are never at a time that undercuts the building tension. One of the issues that I had was that the twist did open up a few plot holes that were never fully resolved. The twist is also a bit divisive and maybe a bit off-putting to some viewers. In the end, this is a solid little thriller and a good directorial debut for Zoe Kravitz.

Grade: B Score: 7/10

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3. Jackpot!

Jackpot was the one streaming movie I saw this month and was a bit of a pleasant surprise. This movie follows a new resident of LA, Katie as she unwittingly wins the grand lottery. The only issue is that, for 24 hours, any of the lottery losers are legally allowed to kill her and take her winnings. I thought this movie was a lot of fun. It stars Awkwafina and John Cena, a pair you wouldn't normally picture but ends up working well. This movie is pretty much nonstop action and comedy. The first 45 minutes are a lot of fun where we watch these two characters attempt to navigate the city while everyone is trying to kill Katie. The action has a lot of energy and is so over the top but still works. The movie captures the signature style of Paul Feig very well and creates a movie very much in the vein of Bridesmaids and The Heat. Of course, a movie like this isn't big on plot or character development. I also thought it slowed down a bit in the final third of the movie. Regardless, I still had a lot of fun with this movie. Overall, this is a fun action-buddy comedy that matches the level of many of Paul Feig's other films.

Score: B Score: 7.5/10

2. Alien: Romulus

Alien: Romulus is the newest entry in the franchise and is miles above the previous films on this list. This film is a solid back-to-basics Alien movie. This movie does a great job of recapturing the horror vibes and charm of the original film. The characters are all solid parts of the story and we get this sweet relationship between Rain and her "brother" at the core of the movie. The relationship gives the movie some heart and makes for some emotional moments. I also like how the movie wisely goes back to hiding the Aliens in darkness. I think they are much more sinister when you can't see them. The movie also decides to add the face huggers as more prominent threats which I thought was a welcome change. The movie also does a great job of making connections to the original film. Several moments reference the original film and supply some decent fan service. This movie is just a perfect example of delivering what Alien fans want. The only thing keeping this score down was that the movie was a bit derivative of the original film. It is derivative in the way The Force Awakens was to A New Hope so it still made for a solid film and works for the fans. Overall, this is a great addition to the franchise and I hope more films continue on this path.

Grade: B+ Score: 8/10

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1. Strange Darling

Strange Darling was a movie that was not on my radar and is probably one of the biggest surprises of the year. Strange Darling follows a one-night stand that spirals into a serial killer's murder spree. I won't give any more details to avoid spoilers in the film. This was a movie that did the thriller genre right. The movie is one one-part thriller and one-part chase film and manages to keep you on the end of your seat from beginning to end. You can feel the inspiration from many classic thrillers with the movie using these inspirations in such an effective way. The way the story is told causes you to never be truly aware of what is going to happen. With a lot of thrillers, I can kind of see where the movie is going but with this film, I had no idea. Both of the main characters play their respective roles very well and really add to the suspense of the film. The story itself is very simple and straight forward but the structure really lends itself to make for a very suspenseful time with lots of questions. This is the type of movie that you really need to go in not knowing anything as the excitement of learning information as the movie goes on is what makes it so great. In the end, this film was a huge surprise for me and is a must-see film. If you like classic David Fincher thrillers like Gone Girl, Zodiac, and Se7en, you will love this film.

Grade: A- Score: 8.5/10