Summer school: Movies to catch up from the first half of the year

Every year there is a horror film that gets people saying, "I love it, and I'm not even a horror fan!" "A Quiet Place" seems to be that film for 2018. John Krasinski co-stars, and also directed, and he knocks it out of the park. However, it's Emily Blunt (his co-star and wife) who really steals the show.

You would think a movie from the director of "Ex Machina" starring Natalie Portman would have garnered some attention, but "Annihilation" seems to have flown under the radar. It's a hard film to describe, especially without spoiling anything. Let's just say that it involves a group of scientists led by Portman's character investigating a mysterious quarantined zone where terror, and tension, live.

"Beirut" knows what it is, and it delivers what you expect. It's a solid little spy thriller starring Jon Hamm, who seems like he was born to star in a movie like this. He plays a former U.S. diplomat caught in the middle of the Lebanese Civil War in 1982. This may be a "turn your brain off" movie, but that's not always a bad thing.

"Blockers" has a dumb title, and on its surface it looks like a silly gross out comedy. That's mostly true, but it's one of the better received movies of that ilk in a while. John Cena makes the move to full-on movie star, perhaps making him the next Dwayne Johnson. Plus, unlike most teen sex comedies, this one focuses on female characters.

"The Commuter" is not good in the traditional sense. It's a Liam Neeson action thriller that knows what it is and delivers what you expect. The film comes from director Jaume Collet-Serra, who also helmed Neeson-starring flicks like "Non-Stop" and "Run All Night," to give you a sense of what this movie is like. A movie doesn't have to be good to be exciting, and that's what Neeson and Collet-Serra deliver time and time again.

With "Veep," Armando Iannucci eviscerated American politics. Before that, he did the same thing in his native England with "The Thick of It." "The Death of Stalin" brings Iannucci's jet black political satire to a bygone era of Russia. You will laugh and cringe in equal measure.

Aardman Animations films are not for everybody. If you don't like that "Wallace and Gromit" style of animation, and sense of humor, skip this one. If that does tickle your fancy, or are looking for something to watch with your kids, then give "Early Man" a shot.

There have been many teenage love stories, but not many revolving around a gay protagonist. "Love, Simon" has amended that, and reminded us that crushes and heartbreak are universal. It's not a perfect film, but how many romantic comedies are? At least this one feels fresh.

"Insidious: The Last Key" came out in the first week of January, so if you missed it you've probably forgotten all about it. Some people are just into mediocre horror films that give you a few scares and don't try and reinvent the wheel. If you want an insane, ludicrous in its badness horror film, then go for "Truth or Dare" instead.

Wes Anderson fans have surely already gobbled down "Isle of Dogs," but if you missed it, do yourself a favor and check it out. If you are a fan of animation at all, or if you saw his previous film "Fantastic Mr. Fox," this should be right up your alley. The attention to detail is stellar, the stop-motion dogs are amazingly intricate, and there is heart and humor in spades.

This could make a good pairing with "Beirut," and not just because they both feature Rosamund Pike. Based on the real life hijacking of a plane by terrorists, the film didn't get sparkling reviews, but it's the kind of film that has a built in fan base out there. Some people just can't resist a thriller.

"Thoroughbreds" is messed up, and there is no way around that. A critic called it "Heathers meets American Psycho" and they were so pleased with that they put it on the movie poster. If that sounds good to you, though, this could be the film for you. Plus, it's the final film featuring the late Anton Yelchin.

Jason Reitman has not had a consistent career, but when he's on the top of his game he can knock it out of the park. His last film starring Charlize Theron, "Young Adult," is arguably his best. Now they are back at it with "Tully" (along with Diablo Cody, who wrote both "Young Adult" and "Juno") which also brings in the always great Mackenzie Davis.

Behold, the latest weirdo experiment from Steven Soderbergh. He shot the entire thing on an iPhone 7 Plus entirely in secret. Claire Foy stars as a woman on the run from her stalker who gets committed to a mental institution. It's a psychological thriller in the vein of Side Effects. If you are down with Soderbergh tooling around, dive in.

Do not watch this movie if you aren't in the mood for something dark. However, if you like the idea of Joaquin Phoenix, one of his generation's best actors, brooding and violently taking down criminals, and can handle some stuff not for the squeamish, you'll definitely want to seek out "You Were Never Really Here."