David Simkins Movies

A small town supermarket serves as the setting for this suspenseful sci-fi thriller about a malevolent alien seeking to take over the human race. Nothing unusual ever happens at Hastings Market, so when a heavily armed gang enters the store guns blazing at closing time, the terrified shoppers and employees at first assume they're the victims of a violent armed robbery. But appearances can be deceptive, as they're about to find out. Something inhuman has gotten loose inside Hastings Market - something that, if allowed to escape, could bring about the downfall of humanity. Now, as the police surround the building, a mysterious man begins scanning everyone inside in an attempt to root out the alien invader. Within one of these people dwells an extraterrestrial with the power to claim our planet as its own. But the worst is yet to come, because when an off-duty cop attempts to play hero, he inadvertently destroys any chance of determining which one of the hostages is serving as host to the alien. Now, the only way ensure the survival of our species is to kill everyone in sight, or die trying. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The most controversial -- and one of the shortest-lived -- series of the 2005-2006 network season, The Book of Daniel concerned the troubled family of an Episcopalian priest. Aidan Quinn starred as Reverend Daniel Webster, who dealt with most crises by popping prescription pills and brooding over his inability to "reach" his parishioners. Daniel's wife, Judith (Susanna Thompson), spent much of her time drinking martinis and complaining about lost opportunities; his 23-year-old son, Peter (Christian Campbell), was a neurotic homosexual, still plagued by guilt over the death of his twin brother; 16-year-old daughter Grace (Alison Pill) was a would-be manga artist who sold marijuana on the side; and the Websters' adopted Chinese son, Adam (Ivan Shaw), was more concerned about scoring with chicks than anything else. Adding to Rev. Webster's burden was the remonstrative input of no-nonsense Bishop Beatrice Congreve (Ellen Burstyn) and rule-bound senior parish warden Roger Paxton (Dylan Baker). Whenever things became too much to bear for Rev. Webster, he would solicit the advice of his "best friend," Jesus Christ (Garret Dillahunt) -- yes, that Jesus Christ, beard, white robes, and all. It was the calculatedly irreverent portrayal of the Son of God (who trafficked in wisecracks rather than parables) that stirred up the bulk of the controversy surrounding the series. While many big-city critics liked the show, general audiences could not warm up to it at all. Debuting January 6, 2006, on NBC, The Book of Daniel had been slated for a six-week trial run before going to full series; slaughtered in the ratings and roundly condemned by conservative media commentators, it lasted only four episodes before cancellation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Emerging from the mansion's plumbing system, the legendary Lady of the Lake (Danielle Bisutti) solicits the aid of the Charmed Ones to protect the enchanted sword Excalibur. As a result, innumerable strange characters -- possessing powers ranging from evil to really evil -- show up at mansion, hoping to pull the fabled sword from the fabled stone. As it turns out, the only one capable of pulling it off (or should that be "pulling it out"?) is Piper (Holly Marie Combs), who now must locate Excalibur's rightful owner before the sword's power overwhelms and destroys her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this TV drama series, the somewhat sinister anti-hero Mr. Chapel (Michael Madsen) is "Mr. Right for those who've been wronged." Working outside the system, Chapel delivers his own brand of justice. When a criminal gets away with it and is declared not guilty, friends and loved ones of victims can get satisfaction from Chapel, who's aided by a past beneficiary of his efforts, paralegal KC Griffin (Kathleen York). In the pilot episode, the secretary who knew too much (about money-laundering) is murdered, and her wealthy killer is acquitted by a $1,500-per-hour attorney (Ray Wise). Vigilante Chapel steps in to even the score. Filmed in Los Angeles, this series premiered September 29, 1998 on ABC. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Hiding Out, a surprisingly entertaining and engaging action comedy, directed by Bob Giraldi, takes the implausible idea that an adult man could enroll in high school and pass as a student and makes it real. Andrew (Jon Cryer) is a stockbroker hunted by a professional killer. He flees to stay with his sister and her teenage son Patrick (Keith Coogan). Andrew shaves off his beard, cuts his hair, and enrolls in Patrick's high school, pretending to be 17 years old. Cryer does a great job of convincingly playing both ages, and Coogan shines as the teenage son. Director Giraldi has great visual style and gives the film an energy that makes it both enjoyable and believable. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide