The Night House grabbed me by the throat and slowly squeezed.

The Protégé is an aggressively nasty actioner that fearlessly mucks around in the mud while embracing practically all of its cartoonishly pulpy attributes.

While I’m no gamer, Free Guy is one breezily intoxicating expedition into the unknown I wish I could pick up a controller and play for myself, and that’s a compliment.

Car chases. Shootouts. Brutal fights, many of them between multiple adversaries wielding clubs, knives and all sorts of slice-and-dice weaponry. It’s all here, and every bit is glorious.

Tailgate introduces a villainous stalker for the ages, and the next time I’m behind the wheel I’ll be on my best behavior just to play it safe.

Life’s Labyrinth, or How One Cinematic Sarah Leads to Another (just without the “h”)

Masquerade pulls off this final act of subterfuge just well enough I do believe some will come away suitably shocked and impressed, and maybe that’s enough for this one to warrant a mild recommendation.

The Green Knight is an otherworldly tale told at a measured pace that doesn’t spoon-feed the viewer a single easy answer to any of its impenetrable psychoanalytical moralistic queries.

Kids will undoubtedly disagree with me on Jungle Cruise, and had I watched this one with eight-year-old eyes possibly I’d think differently about all this cartoonish hooey.