Content warning: Irreversible contains extreme depictions of violence, rape, racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, strobe effects, disorienting cinematography and soundtrack, and whatever else you can think of. If you could be negatively affected by something, it’s most likely on full display… Read More ›
In Theaters
Dr. Jenny Mackenzie’s “The Right to Read” offers striking evidence that all caregivers should consider and heed. [Santa Barbara International Film Festival]
Once you learn to read, you will be forever free. – Frederick Douglass Even before COVID-19 revealed to the public the struggles of education in a populace unwilling to put in the work to help their children learn, there existed… Read More ›
Come for the blood, stay for the sinister humor in “Consecration.”
Consecration is following in the footsteps of Watcher, Resurrection, and Skinamarink with IFC Films’s and Shudder’s distribution partnership, putting indie horror that would usually not get a chance for theatrical distribution out to the masses. Particularly with Skinamarink’s recent success… Read More ›
M. Night Shyamalan’s “Knock at the Cabin” is one you’ll want to answer.
Right before the pandemic really kicked off, I read Paul Tremblay’s The Cabin at the End of the World. It had been the hot new horror novel on the block a little while back and I figured it to be… Read More ›
The cinéma vérité approach of documentary “Sweetheart Deal” results in profound surprise, investment, and disgust. [Slamdance Film Festival]
Content Warning: The documentary explores drug use and addiction and the narrative involves sexual assault. For at least 10 years, Laughn Elliott Doescher presided over Seattle, Washington, living in an RV and providing support of various kinds of the sex… Read More ›
True crime adaptation “American Murderer” raises the kinds of questions even justice may not answer.
No matter how close we are to someone, they’ll never truly know us. We can get close, sharing secrets others don’t know or confiding intrusive thoughts we might otherwise not, but without an actual mindmeld, it’s impossible for someone to… Read More ›
Family rom-com “Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out” is a tale for the lost and not-yet-found. [Sundance Film Festival]
Whether young adult or full grown, rom-coms tend to follow a similar track. The characters are on different trajectories, there’s a meet-cute, they find themselves drawn to each other, and then there’s conflict. Perhaps it was a conflict the audience… Read More ›
Eroticism is in the details in Patricia Ortega’s “Mamacruz.” [Sundance Film Festival]
When director Patricia Ortega found a revealing picture of her mother as a young woman, scantily clad in an open bathrobe, she didn’t recoil in embarrassment. She made a movie about it. Ortega was surprised by such a blatant display… Read More ›
Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck’s doc “And the king said, what a Fantastic Machine” will get you thinking about the relationship you possess with your camera. [Sundance Film Festival]
Part historical revue, part sociological examination, co-directors Axel Danielson (Kneg) and Maximilien Van Aertryck’s (Kneg) documentary And the king said, what a Fantastic Machine (also referred to simply as Fantastic Machine), premiering at Sundance Film Festival 2023, takes the audience… Read More ›
“The Underbug“ sparks conversations that will last long past the 68-minute runtime. [Slamdance Film Festival]
The COVID pandemic has forever changed the landscape of our world, effecting everything from religion and politics to visits to the local grocer. During the early days there was an overwhelming sense of dread due to the unseen force that… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
Performances from Joanna Scanlan and Nathalie Richard linger well “After Love” completes.
This is going to sound rather silly, but it has merit so please bear with me as I explain my logic and theory behind it. Non-American television and movies are typically better than American (US/Canadian) product. That is not to… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
“Alice, Darling” stands on strong performances, directing, and writing.
**Trigger Warning: Alice, Darling involves emotional and psychological abuse.** There are movies that create such a tense, uncomfortable, but horribly familiar atmosphere for audiences which don’t need to fall into the horror genre but rather into a drama that truly… Read More ›
Experimental drama “The Seven Faces of Jane” makes something whole and beautiful out of its fractured pieces.
In a world where there are literally countless hours of product out there, having something with power behind and in front of the camera that breaks the mold so drastically is always something that catches the eyes of a viewer…. Read More ›
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 ›
Meet “M3GAN”: a wonderfully fresh addition to the collection of iconic horror villains.
If you aren’t a part of the community as I am, the world of Gay Twitter™ went absolutely hog wild when the trailer for M3GAN dropped back in October. Within mere minutes, drag queens all across the world were dropping… Read More ›