Nerdy Squirrel Reviews by Pasckie Pascua

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” (Netflix) biographical crime drama , chronicles the case of the real-life brothers convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez. Before you click-watch, be warned that this is a Ryan Murphy project, part of his “Monsters” anthology. Mr Murphy is also the dude behind the popular gore “American Horror Story,” 12 Seasons and counting. (BTW, Ryan also masterminded the highly-popular jukebox musical “Glee,” 2009-2015.)         Albeit masters of different genres, Ryan Murphy aligns somehow with David E. Kelley (courtroom drama) and Taylor Sheridan (action thriller) in behind the scene gravitas.         The difference with Mr Murphy's work, especially those that delve with real-life characters (such as Jeffrey Dahmer), tabloid-styled sensationalism is expected. Shock is an understatement. “Lyle/Erik” did present an argument but mostly for their defense as delivered by lawyer Leslie Abramson. The series incorporat

“Triangle of Sadness” (2022, Hulu) satirical black comedy film, follows a celebrity couple on a luxury cruise with wealthy guests that end up stranded on a desert island and fighting for survival.        Before I say (type up) anything, this whacked-out movie was multi-nominated, including Best Picture and Best Director (for Ruben Ostlund) in the Oscars and Best Supporting Actress (for Filipina Dolly De Leon) in the Golden Globes and BAFTA. Okay? BTW, Mr Ostlund is an awarded filmmaker, especially in Europe.         Ensemble acting is kickass. Funny, the surreal kind. Still funny. Woody Harrelson was Woody Harrelson. Harris Dickinson was tongue in cheek comical, as well as the old man Zlatko Buric. And, yes indeed, kababayan Manang Dolly was awesome. I should check her other movies out.        But was this insane shenanigan sic (!) one of the best movies of the year 2022? I don't know. The first part was fine but the 2nd part was riotously frat house mischief, LOL! The last part&

“Kleo” (Netflix) Season 2, German action -thriller comedy series, follows the revenge journey of a former East German Stasi assassin after her arrest and subsequent imprisonment until the fall of the Berlin Wall.         Kleo is Jella Haase. Did I already write that she's my new crush? So I am saying it again! Reason why “Kleo” is fun to watch is mainly due to her oblivious charm, deadpan wit, and “I don't care” allure.         Synopsis: In 1987, after successfully assassinating a double agent in a West Berlin club, East German Stasi assassin Kleo Straub is falsely imprisoned by her agency. When she is released after the Berlin Wall is taken down in 1989, she plans her revenge on the conspirators who framed her. Meanwhile, Sven Petzold, an underappreciated fraud policeman who witnessed the 1987 murder, finds connections between it and Kleo, leading him to impede her vengeance quest.        Although the comedic treatment of an otherwise serious political plotline tends to

“The Old Man” (Hulu) 2 Seasons. Political drama thriller , based on the 2017 novel “ The Old Man ” by Thomas Perry . The series premise revolves around Dan Chase, a former CIA operative and Vietnam veteran, who 30 years ago was in Afghanistan. But there’s more beyond and around Dan’s story. It’d help a lot to do some reading prior to watching this interesting series due to its affinity with current events, especially in regards to geopolitical maneuverings in/around Afghanistan.         Some pertinent points: <>1979. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, its Central Asian neighbor to the south. <>The U.S. support of the Afghan resistance fighters. The Taliban’s ascent to national authority in the post-Soviet power vacuum. <>Post-Fall of Kabul, 2021. And the approximately $7 billion of Afghan’s funds or assets deposited in U.S. financial institutions at the time of the Afghan government’s collapse in August 2021. And <>Washington-favored installation of U.S.-ed

“Blue Bloods” (Paramount+) Season 14, police procedural drama, follows members of the fictional Reagan family, an American- Irish Catholic family in New York City with a history of exemplary work in law enforcement.         The series stars Tom Selleck as the Police Commissioner Frank Reagan. Cop sons are portrayed by Donnie Wahlberg and Will Estes, Assistant DA daughter is Bridget Moynihan. L en Cariou is grandpa and ex-commissioner.        “Blue Bloods” is a wholesome, weekend family viewing. Yes, including the kids. But if you are into “The Shield,” “The Wire,” or “Line of Duty,” you may get bored by Season 3. But I wasn't bored at all. Probably because the stand-alone 1 episode scripts, which dabbled on current issues, are navigated and explored without offending this side or exalting that side of the culture war. 🎥📺📽 “Grace” (BritBox/Amazon Prime) Season 4, British crime drama series, based in the English city of Brighton & H ove. J ohn Simm in the title role o

“Outside” (2024, Netflix) Philippine post-apocalyptic drama horror, tells the story of a family trying to outrun a zombie outbreak by returning to the father's childhood farmhouse. Quite honestly, this is one of the best zombie movies that I have seen, and I have seen a lot since George Romero's 1978 classic “Dawn of the Dead.”        Utmost, the acting is exemplary. Sid Lucero as the conflicted, homicidal dad Francis, deserves an award for this. As well as Beauty Gonzales as the tormented wife, Iris.           You can let go of the lumbering, super slow delivery of the dialogues, which reminded me of Nicolas Winding Refn's movies. But Refn's work bored me; not “Outside,” written and directed by Carlo Ledesma.         Apparently, the movie was low-budgeted yet the non-bombastic treatment of the series kept it focused. This is more of a family drama than a post-apocalyptic horror. The zombies were actually portrayed by residents of the Negros Occidental town where the