The insertion of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in storytelling used to be entirely science fiction in the same way that submersible technology (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) or watch phones (Dick Tracy) were. Now, however, A.I. is being worked into… Read More ›
Recommendation
Johnnie To’s mixed-genre “Romancing in Thin Air” gets a first-time US and UK Blu-ray via Radiance Films.
When a storyteller — whether writer, director, actor, etc. — becomes known for something, they very often get pigeon-holed and face difficulty escaping that perception. People known for westerns do westerns, for action do action, for horror do horror, and… Read More ›
Meet Me at the Movies: Time for a Samara Weaving Double Feature!
On a recent episode of Meet Me at the Movies, I joined Noel T. Manning to discuss a few of my favorite SXSW 2026 titles. Since you can only cover so many well in one episode, I returned to talk… Read More ›
Sam Raimi’s survival horror comedy battle of the sexes “Send Help” is now available to watch at home.
A recent report by the Economic Policy Institute shows that the gender wage gap has increased in the past year. On average, women are paid 18.6% less than men. In addition, protections meant to enforce equal employment and prevent discrimination… Read More ›
Yûta Shimotsu’s sophomore film, cosmic horror “New Group,” challenges the meaning of “one of us.” [The Overlook Film Festival]
Muno (Yo, right), he’s tall and friendly Foofa (Oh, hehehehehe), she’s pink and happy Brobee (Woah), the little green one Toodee (Yeah, woo), she likes to have fun Plex (Woah), a magic robot Let’s all come and play with DJ… Read More ›
Conjugate the verb to go and pickup The Criterion Collection’s 4K release of Monty Python’s “Life of Brian.”
Over the last few years, the comedy troupe known as Monty Python has made their 4K UHD debuts and every transfer thus far has looked incredible. Whether it be a standard amray for The Meaning of Life (1983) or a… Read More ›
For those who came in late, “The Phantom” is bestowed a first-time 4K UHD with brand-new features via Kino Lorber.
Before comic films were cinematic, extended, or otherwise franchise driven, they were more often singular. It’s hard to believe given the proliferation of them today, however, before the 1990s, major studio cinematic comic adaptations were limited to Superman (1978) and… Read More ›
Just a “Normal” nefariously good time. [The Overlook Film Festival]
“Yea, and if some god shall wreck me in the wine-dark deep, even so I will endure… For already have I suffered full much, and much have I toiled in perils of waves and war. Let this be added to… Read More ›
“We Bury the Dead” home release offers little incentive to purchase as it lacks special features.
We Bury the Dead features a strong central performance from Daisy Ridley (Ophelia), but, unfortunately, that standout performance is not enough to elevate a film weighed down by familiar genre problems and uneven storytelling. While Ridley brings emotional commitment and… Read More ›
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 ›
“The Good Shepherd” Blu-ray release is better left to pasture.
The Good Shepherd follows a young, dedicated, and occasionally merciless fictional CIA agent named Edward Wilson (Matt Damon). Tracking his early years at Yale in the secret Skull and Bones society to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, the film… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
“The Birthday” is a totally unhinged celebration of occult conspiracies, now on 4K UHD via Arrow Video.
If you were to take The Shining (1980) and replace the psychosis with a completely different trip of mental anguish, then you’d get Eugeino Mira’s The Birthday (2004). It focuses on Norman (Corey Feldman) who’s hopelessly in love with his… Read More ›
Tobe Hooper’s Stephen King adaptation “Salem’s Lot” joins Arrow Video with a brand-new 4K UHD restoration.
Having *never* seen Tobe Hooper’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot (1979) prior to the Arrow 4K UHD release, I was surprised to notice that disk 1 (disk A) featured the miniseries versus the movie itself, so I changed disks… Read More ›
“Pizza Movie” satisfies as the next generational stoner comedy. [SXSW]
Every generation needs a stoner comedy that is so outlandishly insane and dumb yet brilliant that it stands the test of time by being ridiculous and entertaining. The early 2000s had both Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000) and Harold and… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›