Contributor: Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

Beauty Behind the Madness

A better title would be Brokenness Behind the Emptiness.

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We Are Your Friends

We Are Your Friends feels like one of the most strangely upbeat seriously foul movies you’ll ever not really want to see.

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Badlands

The Badlands that newcomer Halsey sings about are a barren, hopeless territory for anyone unlucky enough to traverse them.

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War Room

A drama about prayer warriors isn’t like a thriller about cold warriors, but the Kendrick Brothers still manage to give the story oomph.

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What Do You Mean?

Money can buy a lot. But not, it seems, a good music video for massively popular star. (Or an understanding of a woman’s mysterious ways.)

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Sideways

Two friends take a wine-drenched, angst-ridden, sex-filled road trip through California’s vineyards.

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Sinister 2

From the point at which the Catholic priest argues that we’re impotent to confront evil—that the best we can do is run from it—things go downhill fast.

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E•MO•TION

Carly Rae Jepsen is truly in love with being in love, and she lives to feel her feelings.

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Levels

Nick Jonas is singing about “high-fiving Jesus.” But would Jesus want to high-five him back?

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Straight Outta Compton

N.W.A. always got right to the point with its music, so I’ll do the same: Simply put, Straight Outta Compton is among the harshest films we’ve ever reviewed.

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Vanity Fair

William Makepeace Thackery published Vanity Fair in 1828. But does his sprawling tale of the plucky Becky Sharp still resonate today?

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The Gift

This spine-tingling thriller isn’t fully in horror territory, yet it’s deeply disturbing nonetheless.

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Compton

Dr. Dre isn’t 23 anymore. He’s twice that age plus a few years. But he’s still in love with “making parents live in fear.”

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Kill the Lights

Kill the Lights is arguably Luke Bryan’s most mature effort to date. But that doesn’t mean he’s ready to swear off good-ol’-boy excesses just yet.

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This is Not a Test

A dc Talk reunion is just one of many tasty spiritual and sonic treats on tobyMac’s deliciously diverse seventh solo effort.

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