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Dustin Putman
Tomatometer-approved critic
Dustin Putman is an alumnus of American University with a BA in Film & Visual Media. A member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA), he has been reviewing movies professionally since 1997 and has been quoted in print ads, magazine articles, television commercials and DVD/Blu-ray covers. His debut book, "The Fright File: 150 Films to See Before Halloween," was published in 2013. Dustin loves all things Halloween and lives in Ashburn, Virginia.
Frederick, Maryland, USA
http://www.themovieboy.com
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Scream (2022) |
This year's SCREAM is a total blast; the decade-plus-long wait was well worth it. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Jan 14, 2022
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Onward (2020) |
Looks can be deceiving, proclaims the age-old adage, and so it goes with "Onward," a fantastical comedy with a soul both remarkably wise and touchingly human. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Feb 21, 2020
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Cats (2019) |
The truth is, "Cats" is destined for cult status, misunderstood by the uninitiated, unaccepted by the "it's-cool-to-hate" crowd, and cherished by a special brand of audience who sees the value in art that dares to be different. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Dec 20, 2019
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) |
A rousing, thrilling, altogether touching farewell to the Skywalker legacy. It scarcely could have ended in a lovelier place. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Dec 18, 2019
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Joker (2019) |
As unsettling as it is rapturous. Sobering and, yes, shocking, "Joker" creatively invigorates in its sheer unvarnished madness. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Oct 02, 2019
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It: Chapter Two (2019) |
Sticks the landing & then some. This chance-taking, frightful, deeply poignant conclusion is a beautiful phantasmagoria that deepens what came before it while provocatively & rather astutely delving into decades-spanning reverberations of trauma & grief. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Sep 06, 2019
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Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019) |
The tears, by the end, are cathartic in the best way, fully earned and nourishing. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Aug 19, 2019
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Good Boys (2019) |
Undeniably ribald yet surprisingly sweet, the firmly R-rated "Good Boys" rings just as true as 2007's "Superbad" while holding up decidedly better within the context of its more inclusive, post-#TimesUp climate. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Aug 15, 2019
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Blinded by the Light (2019) |
A feel-good triumph earning every one of its spirited emotions, "Blinded by the Light" gets to the heart of the often deeply personal power of music. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Jul 25, 2019
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Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) |
A satisfying step in the right direction. There's plenty of fun to be had, and a mid-credits coda teases the setup for a truly enticing and provocative third installment. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Jul 02, 2019
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Annabelle Comes Home (2019) |
A clever mood piece with all the requisite suspense one could hope for. "Annabelle Comes Home" works like gangbusters, a funhouse-style thriller with an emphasis on the fun. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Jun 27, 2019
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Midsommar (2019) |
A renaissance of the macabre, a cinematic symphony of lulling, twisted goodbyes and portentous shadows in the blistering light of day. Once it latches on, there's no breaking away. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Jun 26, 2019
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Ma (2019) |
A great performance can often elevate a stock plot, and that's precisely what happens with "Ma." Octavia Spencer is simply sensational in the title role. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted May 31, 2019
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Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) |
Loses its way by trying to do too much and, consequently, not doing enough, gravely assuming loud noises, freneticism, and lots of crashing and bashing is all audiences need to get their money's worth. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted May 29, 2019
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Aladdin (2019) |
Fantasy, comedy, music, adventure, thrills—"Aladdin" has got it all. This is a remake to be proud of, a resplendently imagined family feature that lives up to—and, in some crucial empowering ways, surpasses—the animated original. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted May 24, 2019
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The Sun Is Also a Star (2019) |
A timely adaptation of Nicola Yoon's best-selling 2016 novel, "The Sun Is Also a Star" is a winsome romance caught in the tangled web of harsh reality. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted May 15, 2019
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Poms (2019) |
A simple, undemanding cinematic pleasure, a high-spirited underdog comedy with a bittersweet center. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted May 09, 2019
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Avengers: Endgame (2019) |
Not only pays off in nearly every conceivable respect, but frequently surpasses one's loftiest hopes. For casual fans, it's the can't-miss event of the season. For die-hards, it earns its spot as the can't-miss event of the decade. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Apr 24, 2019
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The Curse of La Llorona (2019) |
Captures the viewer's attention immediately. A taut, brooding, admittedly streamlined instrument of the playfully macabre. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Apr 19, 2019
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Pet Sematary (2019) |
Viciously poignant and dread-inducingly eerie. As far as inferior remakes go, it achieves a welcome unpredictability precious few manage. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Apr 05, 2019
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Dumbo (2019) |
This new "Dumbo," while not without a few moments of whimsy, tries to overcomplicate the beautiful simplicity of the original, and what we're left with is not even a quarter of that classic's depth and wonder. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Mar 29, 2019
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Shazam! (2019) |
Like a kid-friendly "Deadpool," the film combines action, broad comedy, and emotion into a pleasing brew. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Mar 26, 2019
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Us (2019) |
Duplicitous yet unsuspectingly human, "Us" is an expertly crafted cinematic hall of mirrors drenched in sinister, provocative portent. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Mar 22, 2019
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Isn't It Romantic (2019) |
"Isn't It Romantic" not only understands the tropes of cinematic love stories, but also knows how to comedically reference them while also treating Natalie's personal journey seriously. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Feb 14, 2019
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Happy Death Day 2U (2019) |
"Happy Death Day 2U" is almost ridiculously fun, a snappy, thoughtful ride with the ability to have viewers uproariously laughing one minute, wiping away tears the next, and on the edge of their seats throughout. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Feb 14, 2019
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Serenity (2019) |
The deeper one delves into the film's brazen, unconventional pleasures, the more intimate yet expansive its ambitions become. The sooner one sees it the better; the daring and wild secrets it holds are simply too bold to risk having them spoiled. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Jan 30, 2019
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The Kid Who Would Be King (2019) |
An inviting, often wise family film, boasted by wonderful protagonist at its center. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Jan 16, 2019
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A Dog's Way Home (2019) |
Certainly manipulative but also ultimately affecting, the picture knows exactly how to wrap audiences around its furry little paw. Stone-hearted cynics need not apply. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Jan 11, 2019
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Escape Room (2019) |
"Escape Room" is going to either send the popularity of actual escape rooms into the stratosphere, or be the cause of their hasty demise because everyone will be too scared to try them; it's that effective. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Jan 04, 2019
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Death of a Nation (2018) |
Intellectually dishonest, morally hypocritical swill. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Dec 17, 2018
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Lean on Pete (2017) |
Tough to take but impossible to turn away from. An indelible, remarkably moving glimpse into the margins of American life as seen from the point of view of a boy in search of a safe place to call home. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Nov 27, 2018
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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) |
The ambition, skill, and immersive wonder of the landscape J.K. Rowling has built continues to bewitch. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Nov 14, 2018
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Roma (2018) |
A breathtaking travelogue through the profundity of memories, "Roma" exhales the magic and empathy inherent in the very best which film has to offer. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Nov 12, 2018
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Suspiria (2018) |
A sustained death rattle in dread-inducing cinematic form, a tale of thematically loaded suggestion and ominous fate, of deep-seated guilt and haunting premonition. Seeing it once isn't nearly enough. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Nov 08, 2018
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Boy Erased (2018) |
An exceptionally moving, beautifully modulated film, hopefully eye-opening for those whose eyes have been closed for far too long. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Oct 25, 2018
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Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) |
A dual showcase for colorful, albeit reclusive, late author Lee Israel and for Melissa McCarthy, who disappears into her potentially career-redefining dramatic role. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Oct 20, 2018
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What They Had (2018) |
"What They Had" has a way of feeling low-key and explosive all at once. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Oct 19, 2018
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Halloween (2018) |
A reverent, rousing, moody, marvelously suspenseful success, a new perennial holiday-horror mainstay. "Halloween" is the "Halloween" the world needs in 2018. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Oct 17, 2018
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Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018) |
Involving, thoroughly atmospheric, and altogether satisfying. For 90 minutes it celebrates the season of the witch with celebratory imagination and mirthful energy to spare. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Oct 12, 2018
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First Man (2018) |
A great idea in search of a film to match. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Oct 10, 2018
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Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) |
A deliberately woven tapestry deliciously toying in different tones and genres, the picture marches to the beat of its own deviously methodical drummer. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Oct 10, 2018
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Venom (2018) |
There's plenty of promise percolating on a cellular level; with another installment, perhaps a merely good picture can become something more. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Oct 05, 2018
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The Hate U Give (2018) |
An impassioned drama about a critical topic, and Amandla Stenberg is the shining light at its center. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Oct 03, 2018
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The House With a Clock in Its Walls (2018) |
Gateway horror full of punchy repartee and an empathetic soul. The blending of the spooky and sweet is infectious. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Sep 19, 2018
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A Star Is Born (2018) |
Proves there is still plenty of life left in this tale of fame, addiction, and sacrifice. "A Star Is Born" is an emotionally intimate journey that makes itself feel like an event. An astonishing Lady Gaga positively soars. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Sep 13, 2018
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A Simple Favor (2018) |
A slick, visually dynamic true-crime treat. "A Simple Favor" isn't so simple at all, and that's the key to its mischievously layered pleasures. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Sep 11, 2018
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The Nun (2018) |
"The Nun" is handsomely shot and rich in atmosphere, but it cannot sustain itself on a darkly attractive veneer when there is little else about which to think or care. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Sep 06, 2018
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Ghost Stories (2017) |
A rattling scare show with a brain. Defies expectations by shattering conventions of the classic horror-anthology style. - TheFrightFile.com
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| Posted Aug 30, 2018
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Tag (2018) |
Just because "Tag" is inspired by a true story doesn't make it any less asinine. Unctuous, unfunny, & developmentally discombobulated to the extent it feels like a fever dream in retrospect, the film is 100 minutes of would-be rollicking nothingness. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Aug 29, 2018
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Searching (2018) |
An urgent and unnerving masterclass in creating tension through minimalism, dripping with the peril of what has already taken place and what may occur next. "Searching" is sure to remain one of 2018's best and smartest thrillers. - TheFilmFile.com
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| Posted Aug 24, 2018
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