New in Theaters April 13, 2018 "Truth or Dare," "Beirut" and "Rampage"

Truth or Dare

Starring: Lucy Hale and Tyler Posey

Rated PG-13   

What begins as a harmless game of Truth or Dare among friends, turns deadly when someone or something, begins to punish those who tell a lie or refuse the dare.

“Truth or Dare” should have been so much better, especially coming from the folks who were behind “Get Out,” and the “Purge” series.

The film is a paint-by-numbers approach to horror film making, with absolutely no artistic flair whatsoever, leaving the audience with a bland, unsatisfying and totally forgettable film experience.

“Truth or Dare” is not worth your time to see.

It gets a D and is rated PG-13.   

Beirut

Starring: Rosamund Pike and John Hamm

Rated R   

Caught in the crossfires of civil war, two CIA operatives must send a former U.S. diplomat to negotiate for the life of a friend he left behind.

“Beirut” is falling under some heavy scrutiny since it wasn't filmed on location and it is not historically accurate.

Taking that into consideration, I found the film to be a better-than-average thriller. Both John Hamm and Rosamund Pike are extremely watchable in this fast-paced story about a missing agent and the attempt made to rescue him.

In the end, “Beirut” is a film about friendships and cultures and the price paid for diplomacy and political gain.

“Beirut” gets a B and is rated R.   

Rampage
Starring: Dwayne Johnson and Naomie Harris

Rated PG-13   

“Rampage,” which is loosely based on the 1997 video game, is a throwback to the 1950's monster films, where man through science brings about devastation by trying to control nature. Then it was radiation. In today's world it's gene splicing.

Primatologist Davis Okoye shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent gorilla who has been in his care since birth.

When George along with a crocodile and a wolf are accidentally exposed to a gene-altering serum, they begin to mutate and take on violent tendencies.

It's up to Dwayne Johnson, once again playing the reluctant hero, to stop the world from ending, all the while saving his primate friend's life.

“Rampage” is a silly and fun popcorn movie. As a fan of Godzilla, King Kong and other golden age monster flicks, I liked the familiarity the film brought to the screen.

It gets a B and is rated PG-13.