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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Comedy hybrid “Men at Work” receives a first-time North American Blu-ray as part of the MVD Rewind Collection.
There are some films that catch us at a specific moment in our lives and leave an indelible mark. Sometimes it’s a film that made you realize the limitless nature of storytelling, how much larger the world really is compared… Read More ›
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Director Jacqueline Castel explores the torment that comes without self-love in horror-romance “My Animal.” [Sundance Film Festival]
For some reason, despite its longevity in the realm of storytelling (not just cinema), horror is often pushed to the sidelines in the hallowed halls of critical praise in favor of dramas, comedies, thrillers, or traditional action-oriented narratives. Even though… Read More ›
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Documentarian Paula Eiselt’s “Under G-d” explores interfaith opposition to abortion bans. [Sundance Film Festival]
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government… Read More ›
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Every year for the last 30 years we celebrate “Groundhog Day.” This year, Sony Pictures does it with a commemorative steelbook.
Though there have been plenty of films that used time travel as a narrative mechanism for the entirety of storytelling, in recent memory, few do it as well as the Harold Ramis-directed, Danny Rubin-co-written, Bill Murray comedy Groundhog Day (1993)…. Read More ›
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Sex positive, hilarious, and kind, Mike Donahue’s short film “Troy” explores the social contract of neighbors. [Sundance Film Festival]
There’s a trope in storytelling about the nosey neighbor, the one who’s always at their window or peephole, lurking around, trying to know everything about everyone all the time. This person who folks don’t like because they are forcing themselves… Read More ›
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“There’s Something Wrong with the Children” Digital Code Giveaway
Roxanne Benjamin’s new supernatural horror film There’s Something Wrong with the Children is out on VOD and digital now, ready to chill your spine with the power of creepy children. If you’re in the mood to get wigged out, the… Read More ›
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The “New Gods” cinematic universe expands with the visually stunning “Yang Jian.”
Animation studio Light Chaser Animation has released seven films with ones most likely known in North America being White Snake (2019), New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021), and Green Snake (2021), the latter two likely because of their accessibility on Netflix…. Read More ›
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Adolescent horror-comedy “Kids vs. Aliens” is wild and rebellious, though not as gnarly as audiences may want.
**Content Warning: Photosensitive audiences may want to avoid this picture due to high frequency of strobing and flashing lights.** Director Jason Eisener’s career is a collection of short and feature-length stories, either made as a standalone or part of an… Read More ›
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“Violent Night” Blu-ray Giveaway
Kicking off the holiday season in style back in early December 2022 was director Tommy Wirkola’s Violent Night, an action-filled romp starring David Harbour as Santa Claus who finds himself in an unexpectedly brutal situation. Seems this Santa is not… Read More ›
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Dark comedy “The Menu” is a stark reminder not to mess with the people who serve you.
“The customer is always right, in matters of taste.” – Marshall Field Whether one is aware of it or not, there’s a subgenre of film called “Eat the Rich.” They can be horror films, comedies, dramas, anything really, with recent… Read More ›
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“The Grandmaster of Kung Fu” Blu-ray Giveaway
There are plenty of films which have explored the life of legendary martial artist Ip Man, but few that do the same for creator of the Chin Woo Athletic Association, Master Huo Yuan Jia. Starring Du Yuhang (Kung Fu League)… Read More ›
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Director Masaaki Yuasa’s “Inu-Oh” is more than an anachronistic jam session, it’s an exploration of the enduring power of stories.
Every story ever told really happened. Stories are where memories go when they’re forgotten. – Doctor Who, Season 9 Episode “Hell Bent” Adapted from novelist Hideo Furukawa’s “The Tale of the Heike: The Inu-Oh Chapters,” Inu-Oh is a tale of… Read More ›
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Director Kōsaku Yamashita’s 1968 crime drama “Big Time Gambling Boss” releases on Blu-ray for the first-time via Radiance Films.
In the world of boutique cinema home releases, there is Arrow Video, Synapse, Vinegar Syndrome, The Criterion Collection, and, now, Radiance films. Built by 12-year Arrow Video veteran Francesco Simeoni, Radiance Films is a brand-new boutique, offering films, books, and… Read More ›
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Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson’s “Beautiful Beings (Berdreymi)” explores lost childhood amid adolescent change.
**Content Warning: Beautiful Beings contains material involving sexual abuse of minors, inferences of abuse, and other subject material that may trigger SA survivors.** Writer/director Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson (Heartstone) followed up his first feature film with a story that’s at once… Read More ›
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“Death Knot” Blu-ray Giveaway
In the cold of winter, more and more horror films are being released for audiences. Whether it’s as a means of making the terror more chilling or to offer a different kind of disquiet when nature is resetting is up… Read More ›
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88 Films issues the final Three Dragons film, “Dragons Forever,” in a worthy limited edition restoration release.
1988 is a significant year for martial arts fans as it’s the last time the trio known as the Three Dragons were captured on celluloid. The group comprised of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Biao would make several films… Read More ›
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“Devotion” Digital Code & Book Giveaway
Director J.D. Dillard adapted Adam Makos’s novel Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice, based on an incredible true story, into the feature film Devotion starring Jonathan Majors as Jesse Brown, the first Black Navy Aviator, and Glen… Read More ›
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Director Terry Gilliam’s sixth Criterion Collection entry is the comedic fantasy “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.”
You can often tell a bit about a person based upon where they know an artist or creative from. Specifically, what period of their work. For instance, if someone were to mention the musician Sting, they could just as easily… Read More ›
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Thirteen Films From 2022 That Stuck With Me.
2022 is over and I’ve caught up with the last few films I’ve missed, so I think it’s time for EoM to unveil its Seventh Annual Sticky List! If you’re unfamiliar with the Sticky List, these are the films which… Read More ›
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Creature feature “Strange World” astounds in artistic concept where it lacks in original story.
This year Walt Disney Studios asked audiences to go on an internal journey with Meilin Lee (Turning Red) as she came into her own while addressing a generational blessing, and then look to the stars with the adventurous and introspective-resistant… Read More ›