Author Archives
Founder: Elements of Madness | Past Bylines at CLTure, Pretty Vacant One, FilmFed, & Mountain Xpress | NC Film Critics Association, Southeastern Film Critics Association, & Critics Choice Association member | Rotten Tomatoes approved individual critic
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Hot Contents: dark-tinged crime comedy “Chili Finger” may scald parents young and old. [The Overlook Film Festival]
There are many weird things regarding the rules of storytelling and one of them is tied to the concept of reality. Unless one is dealing with space wizards and laser swords, orcs and elves, a certain adherence to what is… Read More ›
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Meet Me at the Movies: SXSW 2026 Breakouts & Hidden Gems
SXSW 2026 ran from March 12th – 18th, 2026 and I had the pleasure of covering the festival once more. Accompanied by EoM Contributors Justin Waldman and AJ Friar, we screened 24 films and provided reviews for each. Out of… Read More ›
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Taratoa Stappard’s Māori gothic horror “Mārama” offers retribution and reclamation without making space for false righteousness. [The Overlook Film Festival]
“Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua (I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past).” – A Māori proverb. There’s this strange belief coursing through some in the United States that European culture is being threatened by… Read More ›
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Head back to 1987 with Paul Michael Glaser’s “The Running Man” on Blu-ray.
Most folks know a dystopia when they see one. It’s not all Escape from New York (1991), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), or The Hunger Games (2012); sometimes it looks exactly like your regular life does just with more distinct… Read More ›
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Stephen Fung’s wuxia comedy “Tai Chi Zero” is the latest addition to Imprint Film’s Imprint Asia sublabel.
There’s something about an ensemble cast that can make a movie. We’re talking from the lead actor to the barely there scene-stealers, the right collection of actors can elevate even the dullest of tales while they can send a strong… Read More ›
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Mona Fastvold’s musical drama “The Testament of Ann Lee” brings its hunger and thirst to home video.
Each award season brings frustration as a film that one loves (for any reason) doesn’t make it onto the short list — it gets snubbed. In a sea of talented performances, gifted crew, and dazzling creative leadership, there’s always going… Read More ›
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Caleb Phillips’s sci-fi thriller “Imposters” demonstrates the cost of living an inauthentic life. [SXSW]
“Victims; aren’t we all?” – Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) in The Crow (1990) The beauty and horror of life is that there’re many different ways to look at a situation. Because of this, whether it’s a massive life event or… Read More ›
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The blood will flow in New Orleans! 22 Overlook Film Festival 2026 films to add to your fest schedule.
For the fourth year in a row, Elements of Madness will officially be covering The Overlook Film Festival and, this year, am joined by EoM Contributor Justin Waldman. This year’s slate of titles includes several we’ve seen, so our recommendation… Read More ›
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High school drama “Dead Deer High” misplaces its focus in examining the wake of school violence. [SXSW]
Trigger Warning: The subject matter within Dead Deer High centers on the aftermath of a school shooting. While a great deal of care is given to ensuring little feels melodramatic, the material may still be difficult for sensitive viewers. As… Read More ›
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“Dream Eater” Blu-ray Giveaway
In October 2024, the brain-child of co-writers/co-directors Alex Lee Williams, Mallory Drumm, and Jay Drakulic — Dream Eater — released into select theaters. Now, thanks to Mill Creek Entertainment, fans and curious horror hounds can own their film in a… Read More ›
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Takashi Miike’s sports drama “Blazing Fists” is ready to enter the ring at home.
Everything you have in this life is because of where you started. Some people have a leg up by being born into a wealthy family (and can afford to get bailed out time and again), while others struggle to afford… Read More ›
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Filmmaker Tsui Hark’s violent wuxia deconstruction “The Blade” joins The Criterion Collection with a first-time 4K UHD restoration.
Martial arts fans have it so good right now; it’s truly incredible. With deals being made to restore and re-print various titles out of Hong Kong, what was once hard to find (Hard Boiled) and barely accessible on HD (Rumble… Read More ›
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“Evil Nun” DVD Giveaway
After a September 2025 release, filmmaker Jose Prendes’s (Monster Mash) Evil Nun is receiving a DVD edition via Greenfield Media 1. Trying to get your hands on this Asylum title is way less effort than being a final girl in her… Read More ›
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Jonás Cuarón’s novel adaptation “Campeón Gabacho” exalts the power of hope and community at a time we need it most. [SXSW]
Despite all the arguments for America First ideology as a way to preserve the United States with the ideology formed on a basis of Christian Nationalism, it’s a belief system that cannot stand in the wake of actual data and… Read More ›
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“The Key” 4K UHD Giveaway
Over the last few years, physical media boutique Cult Epics has released a series of restorations of filmmaker Tinto Brass’s catalogue, the latest of which is his 1983 erotic romance The Key. Courtesy of Cult Epics, EoM is giving away… Read More ›
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Run, run, run! It’s time to hide. “Ready or Not: Here I Come.”
The directing team known as Radio Silence, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, have established themselves over the years as an assured hand in the horror space. From their contribution to the 2012 anthology series V/H/S to revitalizing the Scream series… Read More ›
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Filmmaker Mika Ninagawa’s directorial feature “Sakuran” joins the 88 Asia Collection with a befitting limited edition.
Adapting a work properly requires a confluence of events. It’s more than just translating one media into another as you need someone who understands the context of the source, who gets what it means to be moved to a new… Read More ›
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Meta thriller “And Her Body Was Never Found” is not #relationshipgoals, but it is a dynamic and cruel feature film directorial debut. [SXSW]
“L’enfer, c’est les autres.” – Jean-Paul Sartre in No Exit. Making movies is a large endeavor. Outside of the requirement for a creative idea, you also need the time to cultivate it, the financing to fund it, and the team… Read More ›
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“DRAGN” Digital Code Giveaway
Since the age of machines, horror stories have found various ways to incorporate them into our nightmares. Did the toaster become sentient? Is our relaxing trip to the local galleria about to turn into a chopping mall? Is that Furby… Read More ›
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Allow animated dramedy “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” to ascend to your home collection.
At a point in the director interview for their film, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (Amélie et la métaphysique des tubes), co-directors Maïlys Vallade (The Lighthouse Keeper) and Liane-Cho Han (Voodoo) discuss the Japanese belief that children under… Read More ›