Derrick ❤️ Movies
@derrickmurray83.bsky.social
Film critic for nerdbot.com Co-producer of thisisforreel.com. HCA. Festival goer. Cinephile. MMA enthusiast. Die Hard is a Christmas Movie. nerdbot.com/author/derrick-murray/
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"Bugonia" Humanity's Self-Destruction, Big Pharma and Aliens?? [Review]
"Bugonia" pulls the rubber band until it snaps, and before you have a chance to gather your senses it unfolds with unrelenting insanity - a staple of Yorgos and a welcomed explosion of WTF.
nerdbot.com
I love me some Lanthimos, and #BUGONIA is absolutely a Yorgos vibes check. Shockingly accessible but no less weird, Stone and Plemons make a meal out of this insane pressure cooker of a thriller. In select theaters tomorrow, everywhere Oct 31st. Review out, enjoy!
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Really wanted to like #TheRunningMan, but even with all of Glen Powell's movie star charisma and a completely unhinged Coleman Domingo it can't save this shockingly dull and messy adaption. In theaters Nov 14th. Review out, enjoy!
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"The Running Man" Surprisingly Bland, Disappointingly Dull [Review]
I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.
nerdbot.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Really wanted to like #TheRunningMan, but even with all of Glen Powell's movie star charisma and a completely unhinged Coleman Domingo it can't save this shockingly dull and messy adaption. In theaters Nov 14th. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/11/11/t...
nerdbot.com/2025/11/11/t...
PREDATOR BADLANDS is a fun sci-fi action flick but is a lesser Predator entry as it compares to the recent highs from Trachtenberg. Still, the franchise is best in his hands even if the hero's journey Yautja reframing is a bit misguided. Full review out, enjoy!
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nerdbot.com/2025/11/07/p...
"Predator: Badlands" Fun Sci-Fi Action Hero Story [Review]
"Predator: Badlands" is the lesser of the latest three helmed by Trachtenberg, lacking the grit and rawness of "Prey" and the blood soaked adventure of "Killer of Killers." It's not so much that it's ...
nerdbot.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
PREDATOR BADLANDS is a fun sci-fi action flick but is a lesser Predator entry as it compares to the recent highs from Trachtenberg. Still, the franchise is best in his hands even if the hero's journey Yautja reframing is a bit misguided. Full review out, enjoy!
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nerdbot.com/2025/11/07/p...
Historical accuracy aside, I dug the hell out of NUREMBERG, a true throwback court room drama with big time dad movie energy and a chilling message about the current state of the world. In theaters Friday, review out. Enjoy!
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nerdbot.com/2025/10/30/n...
"Nuremberg" Classic Court Drama with Haunting Warning [Review]
Sure to frustrate the historical purist crowd, the latest iteration of "Nuremberg" trades out accuracy for thrilling court room drama, fueling its
nerdbot.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Historical accuracy aside, I dug the hell out of NUREMBERG, a true throwback court room drama with big time dad movie energy and a chilling message about the current state of the world. In theaters Friday, review out. Enjoy!
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nerdbot.com/2025/10/30/n...
#HEDDA gets better on a rewatch and better the more I think about it.Thompson is phenomenal as the titular titan of chaos, and Nia DaCosta directs the absolute hell out of this film. The best movie you'll watch on streaming right now without question. review out, enjoy!
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Tessa Thomson Electric in Nia DaCosta’s Night of Debauchery "HEDDA" [Review]
It’s a rare thing to see both a break out lead performance from an ever reliable performer and a break free moment from franchise shackles for a director.
nerdbot.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:27 PM
#HEDDA gets better on a rewatch and better the more I think about it.Thompson is phenomenal as the titular titan of chaos, and Nia DaCosta directs the absolute hell out of this film. The best movie you'll watch on streaming right now without question. review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/10/29/t...
nerdbot.com/2025/10/29/t...
I love me some Lanthimos, and #BUGONIA is absolutely a Yorgos vibes check. Shockingly accessible but no less weird, Stone and Plemons make a meal out of this insane pressure cooker of a thriller. In select theaters tomorrow, everywhere Oct 31st. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/10/22/b...
nerdbot.com/2025/10/22/b...
"Bugonia" Humanity's Self-Destruction, Big Pharma and Aliens?? [Review]
"Bugonia" pulls the rubber band until it snaps, and before you have a chance to gather your senses it unfolds with unrelenting insanity - a staple of Yorgos and a welcomed explosion of WTF.
nerdbot.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I love me some Lanthimos, and #BUGONIA is absolutely a Yorgos vibes check. Shockingly accessible but no less weird, Stone and Plemons make a meal out of this insane pressure cooker of a thriller. In select theaters tomorrow, everywhere Oct 31st. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/10/22/b...
nerdbot.com/2025/10/22/b...
Really enjoyed BLUE MOON, a dazzling showcase for Ethan Hawke as he chews through pages of dialogue with a masterful balance of wit, heartache and self destruction. In select theaters now. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/10/17/e...
nerdbot.com/2025/10/17/e...
Ethan Hawke Shines in Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon" [Review]
"Blue Moon" is a character study of genius, brought to life by a powerhouse performance from Hawke, a sharp script and a soft touch from Linklater's hangout direction.
nerdbot.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Really enjoyed BLUE MOON, a dazzling showcase for Ethan Hawke as he chews through pages of dialogue with a masterful balance of wit, heartache and self destruction. In select theaters now. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/10/17/e...
nerdbot.com/2025/10/17/e...
It's such a shame that A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE starts off incredibly strong and sadly implodes to nearly unwatchable (in a bad way) the longer it goes. On Netflix Oct 24th. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/10/16/a...
nerdbot.com/2025/10/16/a...
"A House of Dynamite" Tension-Filled Missile Fizzles Out [Review]
"House of Dynamite" simply attempts too many things without saying anything for itself, leaving it in a sort of limbo where its highs are rocket ships in space but the lows are scouring the bottom of ...
nerdbot.com
October 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
It's such a shame that A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE starts off incredibly strong and sadly implodes to nearly unwatchable (in a bad way) the longer it goes. On Netflix Oct 24th. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/10/16/a...
nerdbot.com/2025/10/16/a...
New Lanthimos is a hell of a way to start a Friday morning! #NowWatching
October 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
New Lanthimos is a hell of a way to start a Friday morning! #NowWatching
ROOFMAN is the Mystery Screening tonight, so here's my review out of TIFF. Genuinely enjoyed this one more than expected, with Channing Tatum turning in a career best performance. Worth checking out tonight or Oct 17th when it releases wide. Enjoy!
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"Roofman": Channing Tatum's Career Best Performance [Review]
"Roofman" is a heartfelt showcase for Tatum and a light watch whose safe play and sticking to convention ends up serving as a compliment to its charm
nerdbot.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:40 PM
ROOFMAN is the Mystery Screening tonight, so here's my review out of TIFF. Genuinely enjoyed this one more than expected, with Channing Tatum turning in a career best performance. Worth checking out tonight or Oct 17th when it releases wide. Enjoy!
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I had a lot to say about #OneBattleAfterAnother and I still don't think I said it all! Truly the movie of our time, the best film of the year, and an undeniable cinematic event! Review out, enjoy!
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"One Battle After Another" Masterpiece of Our Time [Review]
"One Battle After Another" is a masterpiece, the true movie moment of our time and one of the most important films to see as it arrives at the precise time it needs to. This timeless yet timely tale t...
nerdbot.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I had a lot to say about #OneBattleAfterAnother and I still don't think I said it all! Truly the movie of our time, the best film of the year, and an undeniable cinematic event! Review out, enjoy!
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I'm all for hyper stylized, sweaty Colin Farrell, but BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER is a sometimes kinetic but mostly meandering misfire that defined style over substance. In select theaters Oct 15th, Netflix Oct 29th. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/09/21/b...
nerdbot.com/2025/09/21/b...
"Ballad of a Small Player" First Major Misfire from Berger [Review]
once the ominous atmosphere and chaotic gambling framework and high strung bright lights fade, "Ballad of a Small Player" has no hand left to play. It is at best a fun time spent with Farrell who is r...
nerdbot.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I'm all for hyper stylized, sweaty Colin Farrell, but BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER is a sometimes kinetic but mostly meandering misfire that defined style over substance. In select theaters Oct 15th, Netflix Oct 29th. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/09/21/b...
nerdbot.com/2025/09/21/b...
Gonna take a bunch of Tylenol, get autism, get rich counting cards at a casino, then take some horse tranquilizer with some raw milk and sewer water while stomping on viles of polio and measles vaccines to turn back to normal.
Since that's apparently how this all works now.
Since that's apparently how this all works now.
September 22, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Gonna take a bunch of Tylenol, get autism, get rich counting cards at a casino, then take some horse tranquilizer with some raw milk and sewer water while stomping on viles of polio and measles vaccines to turn back to normal.
Since that's apparently how this all works now.
Since that's apparently how this all works now.
Wish I enjoyed this more, but it just didn't live up to the hype nor does it ever land a knockout punch. In theaters Oct 3rd. Review out, enjoy!
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nerdbot.com/2025/09/20/t...
"The Smashing Machine" More Unanimous Decision Than KO Victory [Review]
Safdie's final product feels more self indulgent than self reflective, and approaches the material at arms length and a sort of meandering disinterest in his subject. At no point in "The Smashing Mach...
nerdbot.com
September 21, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Wish I enjoyed this more, but it just didn't live up to the hype nor does it ever land a knockout punch. In theaters Oct 3rd. Review out, enjoy!
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One of my favorite things about festivals is discovering hidden gems like My Father's Shadow. A magnificent, moving piece of cinema that isn't just one of the best films of the festival, it might be one of the best films of the year. Review out, enjoy!
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nerdbot.com/2025/09/11/m...
"My Father's Shadow" Powerful Recollection of Parental Memory [Review]
"My Father's Shadow" is a profound piece of cinema, a wondrous triumph and one of the best films of the year.
nerdbot.com
September 12, 2025 at 1:04 AM
One of my favorite things about festivals is discovering hidden gems like My Father's Shadow. A magnificent, moving piece of cinema that isn't just one of the best films of the festival, it might be one of the best films of the year. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/09/11/m...
nerdbot.com/2025/09/11/m...
Strap in folks, there's gonna be a TON of these coming over the next two weeks! The first round of TIFF films I've seen and recommend to put on your radar! Enjoy!
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nerdbot.com/2025/09/02/t...
10 Films We Totally Recommend Seeing at TIFF 2025
It's that time of year again! The fall festival season is upon us, with big and small titles hitting Venice, then Telluride, and then the Toronto
nerdbot.com
September 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Strap in folks, there's gonna be a TON of these coming over the next two weeks! The first round of TIFF films I've seen and recommend to put on your radar! Enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/09/02/t...
nerdbot.com/2025/09/02/t...
Absolutely adored Highest 2 Lowest, a messy and sometimes silly but always electric loose adaption of a masterpiece that, in itself wrestles with legacy and purpose in some truly profound ways. Review out, enjoy!
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"Highest 2 Lowest" Cinematic Love Letter From One of the Greats [Review]
"Highest 2 Lowest" is Lee at his most reflective and sentimental, using masterpiece source material to deliver a thrilling and deeply funny love letter to cinema, music, New York, creativity, legacy, ...
nerdbot.com
August 22, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Absolutely adored Highest 2 Lowest, a messy and sometimes silly but always electric loose adaption of a masterpiece that, in itself wrestles with legacy and purpose in some truly profound ways. Review out, enjoy!
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Dug the hell out of #RelayMovie a taught, throwback paranoid thriller they just don't make any more, but probably should. Review out, enjoy!
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"Relay" Exciting Thriller They Just Don't Make Anymore [Review]
"Relay" is a well crafted, taut, clever thriller that works best when operating within its genre confines. It manages to blend formulaic thriller tropes with unpredictability and arresting intrigue, s...
nerdbot.com
August 19, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Dug the hell out of #RelayMovie a taught, throwback paranoid thriller they just don't make any more, but probably should. Review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/08/16/r...
nerdbot.com/2025/08/16/r...
The solo Coen Brother experiment continues to not pay dividends, and even with their muse Margaret Qualley at the lead, HONEY, DON'T is another misfire. In theaters Aug 22nd. Review out, enjoy!
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"Honey, Don't" Proves it's Time for the Coen Brothers to Reunite [Review]
...even at its funniest and horniest it fails to jolt any electricity into its disjointed and purposefully convoluted plot, leaving "Honey, Don't" feeling as flat as its Bakersfield desert setting.
nerdbot.com
August 18, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The solo Coen Brother experiment continues to not pay dividends, and even with their muse Margaret Qualley at the lead, HONEY, DON'T is another misfire. In theaters Aug 22nd. Review out, enjoy!
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nerdbot.com/2025/08/16/h...
Sadly, I was not a fan of the latest unnecessary sequel #Nobody2. Review out, enjoy!
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"Nobody 2" Sometimes Fun Action Sequel, Mild Musings on Fatherhood [Review]
"Nobody 2" feels half baked and undercooked, and while there's some fun to be had sometimes it's all but forgotten by the time you get home.
nerdbot.com
August 18, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Sadly, I was not a fan of the latest unnecessary sequel #Nobody2. Review out, enjoy!
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nerdbot.com/2025/08/16/n...
Had a blast talking #Weapons with the ForReel crew today! Check out our conversation! Yes it contains spoilers.
youtu.be/FOgUrxv0cBk?...
youtu.be/FOgUrxv0cBk?...
Weapons | This Week On ForReel, Episode 8
YouTube video by ForReel
youtu.be
August 10, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Had a blast talking #Weapons with the ForReel crew today! Check out our conversation! Yes it contains spoilers.
youtu.be/FOgUrxv0cBk?...
youtu.be/FOgUrxv0cBk?...
We stan HARD for Margaret Qualley 'round these parts. #NowWatching HONEY DON'T
August 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
We stan HARD for Margaret Qualley 'round these parts. #NowWatching HONEY DON'T
Dug the hell out of #WeaponsMovie another banger from Zach Cregger who is more than solidifying himself as a distinct voice in horror. Completely spoiler free review out, enjoy!
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"Weapons" Frightening, Weird, and Yes, Very Funny [Review]
I'm not ready to call "Weapons" a masterpiece, but I am ready to call it an evergreen brain worm that - if you're willing to let it - stays with you indefinitely and will be a film we talk about for a...
nerdbot.com
August 7, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Dug the hell out of #WeaponsMovie another banger from Zach Cregger who is more than solidifying himself as a distinct voice in horror. Completely spoiler free review out, enjoy!
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nerdbot.com/2025/08/06/w...
Had an absolute blast with #TheNakedGun a tried and true parody comedy that more than delivers on the laughs and jokes. In the ever growing hellscape that is life in 2025, this is the kind of escapism cinema needs now more than ever. Full review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/08/02/t...
nerdbot.com/2025/08/02/t...
"The Naked Gun" Joke Per Minute Comedy, Legacy Sequel Done Right [Review]
Sure, it's not quite as good as the original, but it doesn't have to be so long as it honors its legacy and does right by the classics. "The Naked Gun" does both of these things, and if you're looking...
nerdbot.com
August 4, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Had an absolute blast with #TheNakedGun a tried and true parody comedy that more than delivers on the laughs and jokes. In the ever growing hellscape that is life in 2025, this is the kind of escapism cinema needs now more than ever. Full review out, enjoy!
nerdbot.com/2025/08/02/t...
nerdbot.com/2025/08/02/t...
I'm genuinely proud at how well this little remix works.
August 2, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I'm genuinely proud at how well this little remix works.