Movies

I really thought combining Jason Statham’s tough-guy persona with the high-octane world of Mad Max would be amazing, and Death Race seemed like it had all the ingredients for a hit. Sadly, it just didn’t quite work for me. It’s based on the cult classic Death Race 2000 and an older story, but this version feels much grimmer than you’d expect, even for a movie with ‘death’ in the title! The story follows Jensen Ames (played by Statham), who gets a chance to earn his freedom by competing in a brutal, televised race where drivers battle it out in armored cars on a specially designed track – last man standing wins. But, naturally, things aren’t what they appear to be in this dark and twisted competition.

The new Punisher comic, written by Benjamin Percy with art by José Luis Soares Pinto and Oren Junior, picks up right after the events of last year’s ‘Punisher: Red Band.’ Previously, Frank Castle was briefly manipulated by the Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, through a brain implant. Fisk, seeking redemption after a supernatural experience with Daredevil, used Castle to target other crime leaders. But Castle realized he was being controlled and managed to remove the implant.

Amazing Spider-Man / Venom: Death Spiral #1 is written by Joe Kelly, Al Ewing, and Charles Soule, who currently write the Amazing Spider-Man, Venom, and Eddie Brock: Carnage comics. The majority of the issue focuses on setting up the current storylines for these characters. Throughout the issue, each page also includes a small panel detailing the story of someone affected by the villain, Torment. It’s eventually revealed that these victims are all distant relatives of either Spider-Man (Peter Parker) or Venom (Eddie Brock).

The latest season is currently getting positive reviews, with a 79% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 critic reviews. While slightly lower than the 86% score of the first season, early feedback suggests it will still be a hit when it starts streaming in a few days.

— Arcivescovo Carlo Maria Viganò (@CarloMVigano) February 17, 2026

In 2021, Nicolas Cage took on a role that felt different from anything he’d done previously. Trailers showed him looking worn and aged, suggesting a character who had faced hardship. This was a noticeable change from his typical on-screen persona. When the film Pig was released, it showcased a brilliant performance from Cage, offering a subtle and complex portrayal that was a refreshing change of pace for the actor, and a level of dramatic depth he hadn’t displayed in a while.

Midnight Mass is a truly unique horror series that stands out from others in the genre. It’s a slow-paced, deeply unsettling story that explores faith, addiction, loss, and the dangers of extremism. Expect long, thoughtful conversations, awkward pauses, and sudden moments of intense violence. Even if you’re familiar with Mike Flanagan’s other work, this Netflix show will stay with you long after the credits roll.

A follow-up to the popular 2004 crime thriller Layer Cake is in the works, titled Viva La Madness. This new film will continue the story, but with Jason Statham stepping into the lead role originally played by Daniel Craig in his breakout performance. Based on a novel by J.J. Connolly, who also wrote Layer Cake, Viva La Madness will reunite Statham with his Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels co-star, Vinnie Jones. Think of it as a spiritual successor to the original, rather than a direct sequel.

While publicizing his work with DTF St. Louis, David Harbour spoke with Entertainment Tonight about his next film, Avengers: Doomsday. He described the movie as incredibly large in scale and importance. “That movie is huge,” Harbour explained, adding, “I thought Stranger Things 5 was a big project, but this is the biggest thing I’ve ever worked on.” He emphasized just how ambitious the new Marvel film is turning out to be.

Rumors started circulating earlier this month that Keri Russell might be up for a role in a DC movie. The gossip site Deuxmoi reported she was being looked at for a part, and fans quickly guessed it could be Batman in the upcoming film The Brave and the Bold. This speculation arose after ScreenRant covered the initial report, though nothing has been officially confirmed. The movie is part of the new direction DC Studios is taking with its cinematic universe.