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This Drama/Comedy made full use of the premise, with strong wind and rain effects to simulate a hurricane. This unique story is set against the real event of hurricane Charley hitting Florida in 2004. The movie features a talented cast and compelling stock footage of the hurricane's aftermath.

Do you believe in Aliens? On a clear night looking up a vast mosaic of stars, it does make you wonder what is out there. At very least, we know a lot of our universe cannot be fully explained. It is a darkened sky and this bold curiosity that kicks off the premise of Encounter.

When an otherworldly object streaks the sky and crashes down to Earth, a group of friends decide to bring it home as a souvenir. Soon it becomes clear that this object will have a physical and emotional impact on any human it comes in contact with. To best describe the tone of Encounter, think Invasion Of The Body Snatchers or a more youthful, edgy version of Cocoon.

From the start, we know the stakes are high. Two FBI agents are tasked with tracking down and securing these foreign objects by any means necessary. It would appear these friends have no idea what danger they have put themselves in with this encounter. In that sense this movie is also a mystery that has flourishes of comedy.

Encounter is a Cronenberg style Sci-Fi Thriller. Without spoiling the story, I can say this movie has impressive practical effects that serves the story and adds production value. The main character is Will, he has reason to believe this alien object has more power then they could ever imagine. Luke Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok, Westworld) gives a stand out role as the complex character of Will.

All of the actors in Encounter gave a stellar performance. The cast includes Anna Hutchison (The Cabin In The Woods), Sarah Booth (The Scarehouse, Last Call) and even the well traveled actor Tom Atkins (Lethal Weapon, Maniac Cop). These actors were able to portray the subtle drama and emotion that is unearthed through the narrative of this story. Paul Salamoff, the writer/director of Encounter, crafted a well paced genre bending story.

If you are a fan of smart contained science fiction tales, Encounter is a movie for you. At times it will thrill, sometimes it may surprise, like with a gut punch of an ending you will not see coming. Encounter is now available on Blu-Ray, DVD and streaming on Amazon, I-Tunes and other platforms.

Leave it to the award winning screenwriter of Juno to write a comedy about a burn victim. Paradise is about Lamb, a highly sheltered young woman who was raised under strict religious values by her family in small town in Montana. A traumatic plane crash leaves most of her body severely burned, she later gets a large settlement of money from suing the plane manufacturer. The movie begins with lamb announcing that she will not give any of her new found riches to the church as originally planned but will go out to Las Vegas and start to enjoy life. When she arrives at sin city Lamb become friends with a female lounge singer, (Octavia Spencer) and an amorous British bartender (Russell Brand). Together they help Lamb check off things from her "Bucket List of Sin" in the city that never sleeps.

I must be clear that I am a Diablo Cody fan, I have been since the beginning when she wrote her novel Candy Girl, about her experiences as a stripper. What makes Paradise unique is that this is the first feature Diablo Cody wrote and directed. I had to check this movie out and watched it keeping that in mind. This movie, Paradise was made on a lower budget then the previous films she wrote. It was shot digitally, not on film but I feel this did not take anything away from the story because it was so funny and well written.

The witty dialogue in this film is what you would expect from Diablo Cody. It is the kind of humor that makes you laugh and then laugh louder when you think about it more. This writer's use of voice over is also a strong element. Cody said that this voice over was an after thought, conceived while they were editing. This narration helped carry us through the story, I am glad they added it. By the time I reached the films ending it was clear that this movie was more than just your run of the mill comedy. Diablo Cody paid attention to every detail, she foreshadows things nicely and it shows.

How well did this accomplished screenwriter do as a director? The movie looked good and showed off a different side of Las Vegas. The camera movement was motivated and supported what was going on in the scene, something first time directors can have trouble with. In a recent KCRW radio interview Diablo Cody said that being a full time mother and a director was too much, that she does not want to direct again. She did a great job. Maybe someday when her kids are older she will changer her mind and take the director's chair again. If Paradise is any indication, her fans will still be there. I know I will.

• Review written by Curt Wiser, writer director of the thriller Cam-Girl (aka Web-Cam).