Reviews

A woman with long hair crouches in a snowy forest, surrounded by frost-covered branches, looking distressed.

Bergholm and Rautsi’s “Nightborn” falls short in delivering something darker to sink your teeth into. [Fantasia]

By justin waldman on July 30, 2026 • ( 1 )

I first got to discover director Hanna Bergholm with her debut film, Hatching, in 2022 as part of virtual Sundance, and instantly fell in love with her direction, writing, and prowess. So, when it was announced that Hanna and her… Read More ›

Close-up of a young woman with long brown hair, red lips, and a weary expression, set against a softly blurred pastel background in purple and green tones.

Harrison Atkins’s keeps his trippy “Sour Minnows” experience grounded enough for audiences to buy-in to the ride. [Fantasia]

By justin waldman on July 29, 2026 • ( 1 )

Harrison Atkins’s Sour Minnows is an experimental film in an unconventional sense of the definition, with a very loose and whimsical plot. It doesn’t feel anything like a Stan Brakhage (Dog Star Man) movie (depending on how that makes you… Read More ›

Cover of the film "Falling Down," featuring a man in a white shirt and black tie holding a briefcase, with a blurred cityscape behind him and text describing the film.

Controversial to this day and timely to a fault, Joel Schumacher’s darkly comic “Falling Down” comes home via Arrow Video.

By Blak Cinephile on July 29, 2026 • ( 0 )

You couldn’t make a film like this today. Joel Schumacher’s (Flatliners) dark and comedic rage-against-the-machine thriller, Falling Down, is truly a ballsy product of its time — the loud, colorful 1990s. Boasting a terrific against-type performance from Michael Douglas (Basic… Read More ›

Close-up of the Criterion Collection cover for "HUD," featuring Paul Newman in a cowboy hat and denim shirt, with other figures in the background, and bold text presenting the title and year.

Paul Newman’s 1963 film “Hud” arrives on 4K from The Criterion Collection with new special features in tow.

By Gabe Lapalombella on July 28, 2026 • ( 0 )

Paul Newman is considered by many to be one of the best actors of his generation. His charm, humor, and dramatic heft in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), and The Verdict (1982) are… Read More ›

A young man in a leather jacket stands at the forefront of a crowded nightclub, surrounded by blurred figures and warm, colorful lights.

Open up wide and let “Corpus” in. [Fantasia]

By Douglas Davidson on July 27, 2026 • ( 1 )

“And I need you now tonight And I need you more than ever And if you only hold me tight We’ll be holding on forever And we’ll only be making it right ‘Cause we’ll never be wrong Together, we can… Read More ›

A tense face-off between a man in a leather jacket and a woman with injuries, both staring intensely at each other.

The only thing stopping Springtime for Hitler is “The Last Temptation of Becky.” [Fantasia]

By Douglas Davidson on July 26, 2026 • ( 1 )

“You probably heard we ain’t in the prisoner-takin’ business; we in the killin’ Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin’.” – Lt. Aldo Raine in Inglourious Basterds (2009) There are a few things in cinema that most audiences agree on:… Read More ›

A prominent adult figure and a child stand at a cave entrance, looking out at a snowy landscape under a full moon, with grass and distant trees.

Filmmaker Kenichi Kutsuna’s animated video game adaptation “Sekiro: No Defeat” beautifully captures its jidaigeki roots through classic animation and action. [Fantasia]

By Douglas Davidson on July 25, 2026 • ( 0 )

What does it mean to live an honorable life? Is it honoring yourself? Honoring your community? Existing by a code? These may sound like old-fashioned queries, the sort of things that warriors or soldiers asked themselves when written by poets,… Read More ›

A sculptor works on a clay model of Slimer from "GHOSTBUSTERS" in a dim workshop filled with tools and materials.

Nick Taylor’s doc “RUBBERHEAD: The Life & Monsters of Steve Johnson” successfully unveils the magic of making movies but not of the subject himself. [Fantasia]

By Douglas Davidson on July 24, 2026 • ( 1 )

Movies are a place for escape, but also for self-discovery. They take us to unseen lands, places of pure imagination, situations in which the amazing and the horrible occur in equal measure, containing the ability to excite us in ways… Read More ›

Two fashionable women walk down a blue carpet at a red carpet event surrounded by photographers, one in a light gray embellished coat and the other in a striped suit.

Characters are in this year via David Frankel’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and you can bring them home.

By Douglas Davidson on July 23, 2026 • ( 0 )

Photosensitivity Warning: As much of the film deals with fashion, there are press in attendance at various points of the film which results in quite a few flashing cameras. Scenes like these are also used in the supplemental materials of… Read More ›

Two individuals in black clothing stand beside a parked silver car at night, with a lit bridge and city lights in the background.

Berner’s “Splash City” is a brutal Bay Area crime thriller dominated by powerful performances.

By Michelle Swope on July 21, 2026 • ( 0 )

Born in the Sunset District neighborhood of San Francisco, Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr., known professionally as Berner, is a rapper with multiple albums under his belt, as well as a cannabis entrepreneur. Berner is the Co-founder and CEO of Cookies,… Read More ›

Close-up of the Criterion Collection cover for "The Elephant Man," featuring a monochromatic, grainy image of a figure in a hat and coat.

The Criterion Collection re-commissions David Lynch’s “The Elephant Man” via a brand-new 4K UHD restoration.

By Douglas Davidson on July 21, 2026 • ( 0 )

As preservation dwindles, those who continue to offer physical editions of films are going to be hailed as heroes. It’s not just that a movie in the digital era can get lost amid the various digital streamers, it’s that, sometimes,… Read More ›

Flameo, Hotman! “Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender” satisfies like a fresh cup of tea from the Jasmine Dragon.

By Douglas Davidson on July 20, 2026 • ( 0 )

“No one wins a fight.” – Dalton in Road House. When Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino premiered their Nickelodeon program Avatar: The Last Airbender in 2005, there was likely little sense of what the response would be. On paper,… Read More ›

A man and woman in a vehicle look alarmed, displaying signs of distress and injuries, as they focus on something outside the frame.

“Big Break” has cult comedy group Simple Town leap from the stage onto the cinema screen, creating plenty of hysterics along the way. [Fantasia]

By justin waldman on July 20, 2026 • ( 1 )

Comedy is subjective, but when it’s done right and done in a way that hasn’t been overdrawn and overdone, then it can be a wild success. In Ian Faria’s first feature, cult comedy group Simple Town (known to their fans,… Read More ›

Film still from the action thriller ATTACK ON PARADISE. It features several people facing the camera while holding weapons.

Director Bob Colaers’s “Attack on Paradise” attempts a fresh perspective on well-worn tropes with mixed results. [Fantasia]

By Douglas Davidson on July 20, 2026 • ( 1 )

When stories aren’t being told the way you want to see them, sometimes you have no choice but to make them yourself. Based on an artist’s statement, that’s the idea behind the creation of Attack on Paradise (formerly Paradise) by… Read More ›

A young woman appears on a movie screen in a cinema, while a viewer sits in the foreground holding a phone, surrounded by empty yellow seats.

“You Are the Film” continues the trend of fantastical whimsy as writer Makoto Ueda shifts his talents to include the director’s chair. [Fantasia]

By Douglas Davidson on July 19, 2026 • ( 1 )

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts – From the “All the World’s a Stage” speech within William… Read More ›

Two male characters sit closely together, engaged in conversation, with warm yellow curtains in the background.

“Tight Lettuce” recounts the weight of the opioid crisis on a family level in an appropriately darkly comedic drama. [Fantasia]

By justin waldman on July 18, 2026 • ( 2 )

Addiction is not an easy subject to tackle, and it’s even harder to tackle when it’s inspired by a true story. A lot of care was taken and understanding was used to tell this story, which a close friend of… Read More ›

Behind-the-scenes shot from "LEE CRONIN'S THE MUMMY," showing a bloodied mummy character alongside crew members and camera equipment in a dimly lit room.

“Lee Cronin’s The Mummy” arrives in a 4K UHD home release.

By AJ Friar on July 17, 2026 • ( 0 )

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy arrives on physical media after its theatrical run, which was met with mixed criticism from fans and critics alike. While some enjoyed this new take on The Mummy, it seemed to divide audiences by being too… Read More ›

A director speaks to two actors at a table during the filming of "THE DRAMA," with wooden paneling and warm lighting in the background.

Bring all “The Drama” home in an A24 exclusive 4K UHD.

By justin waldman on July 16, 2026 • ( 0 )

The year is 2026 and writer/director Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) is back to terrify audiences with his horrifying social commentary that extends far past the marriage dynamic and how society as a whole has accepted something so heinous that it… Read More ›

Two individuals interact indoors; one is blowing a blue bubble gum bubble while the other appears to be speaking animatedly, with soft light from nearby windows.

Writer/director J Pinder’s “Cotton Candy Bubble Gum” maintains its flavor within its “one crazy day” antics.

By Douglas Davidson on July 15, 2026 • ( 0 )

Trigger Warning: While no depiction is provided, a school shooting is a key character element within the film. A lot can happen in a day. Regardless of time and place, you can find the entire trajectory of your existence shifted,… Read More ›

Title card for the film "EVIL DEAD BURN," featuring bold, distressed red text on a black background.

When communication breaks down and anger seethes, “Evil Dead Burn.”

By Douglas Davidson on July 14, 2026 • ( 0 )

Trigger Warning: There’s a brief club sequence early in the film that features flashing lights that may be disturbing for photosensitive viewers. Additionally, the subject of familial abuse courses throughout. Be sure to take precautions before watching. Sheila: You found… Read More ›

Elements of Madness

Cinematic Reviews, Recommendations, and More