There is something special about glancing briefly at a synopsis of a movie and solely making a decision to jump in on the film based on what the PR team decides to compare the film to. Reading that a film… Read More ›
In Theaters
Writer/director Zach Passero’s “The Weird Kidz” is an ode to the latchkey kids. [Brooklyn Horror Film Festival]
There’s a reason humanity refers to adolescence as “the formative years” — everything we experience, everything we engage with, shapes who we become as adults. The things we love, the things we fear, all of them are born of a… Read More ›
Fasten your seatbelts, “Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday” is an action-packed joyride.
Sometimes you watch a movie being completely oblivious that it’s a sequel to a movie of the same name and unaware that possibly watching the first installment would have shed a little light on the sequel. There are also times… Read More ›
Anthology film “Give Me An A” is an artful expression of rage, disappointment, and fear. [Fantastic Fest]
June 24th, 2022: the United States Supreme Court overturned the 1973 decision to make abortion in the U.S. legal. This is not only a blow to the modern Women’s Rights Movement, but it also opened the door for the Supreme… Read More ›
“Unidentified” offers a unique perspective on the concept of ‘us’ and ‘them.’ [Fantastic Fest]
During Fantastic Fest 2022, there is a segment of films the festival placed under a section titled “Burnt Ends.” To paraphrase the section description, it includes a selection of films that may have been made on a shoe-string budget, they… Read More ›
Kensuke Sonomura’s sophomore film “Bad City” includes the action you expect and subtext you won’t. [Fantastic Fest]
Over the last few years, much of the best stunt work has been coming out of Asia. Preman: Silent Fury (2022) from Indonesia, Aliennoid (2022) from Korea, Baby Assassins (2021) and HYDRA (2020) from Japan, and Raging Fire (2021) from… Read More ›
You think you’re ready for “Terrifier 2”? Strap yourself in and hold on tight.
In 2016, the world was introduced to Damien Leone’s Terrifier, and everyone had a new found fear of clowns, and rightfully so. Was the movie something we haven’t seen before? Not particularly, however what Terrifier did do was shock and… Read More ›
Not for the squeamish, “Project Wolf Hunting” unloads literal blood, sweat, and tears. [Fantastic Fest]
With Project Wolf Hunting, writer and director Kim Hong-sun ensures that the audience is taken on a journey that will test the limits of their toleration for extreme violence and bloodshed. This film is not for the faint of heart,… Read More ›
Repetitive tricks see the “Smile” leaving your face.
If you or a loved one has ever been shown that video of that car coming around a winding road in a picturesque field with tranquil music only for a horrifyingly grotesque jumpscare to pop out at you at the… Read More ›
Despite being mysterious and weird, documentary “Mister Organ” falls short of its payoff. [Fantastic Fest]
If you haven’t heard of documentarian David Farrier, there are two reasons for that. You either don’t enjoy deeply unsettling documentaries that either explore the weirdest parts of the internet or the creepiest parts of the world, or you just… Read More ›
Sci-fi drama “Vesper” is a richly constructed dystopian fairy tale with a prescient resonance. [Fantastic Fest]
Not all fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time.” Sometimes it’s a date/location with a brief setup and a rewinding of time (Pan’s Labyrinth). Sometimes it’s a voiceover that establishes a premise of wonder and awe (Stardust). In the… Read More ›
Oliver Park’s “The Offering” unleashes horrors upon the cast as tribute to the audience. [Fantastic Fest]
For what appears to be his first time directing a full feature and writing a full feature, Oliver Park certainly does not shy away from the shock and awe factor while honing his craft into Jewish lore and horrors. For… Read More ›
“Spirit Halloween: The Movie” – guaranteed to give you a family-friendly thrill.
Trigger Warning: Spirit Halloween contains several lengthy sequences featuring flashing lights that might impact those with photosensitivity. When it comes to Spooky Season, every family has their traditions. Some abstain entirely, while others go whole hog well before the calendar… Read More ›
Honor, pain, and cuddles are just the beginning of Alberto Vázquez’s “Unicorn Wars.” [Fantastic Fest]
If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise If you go down in the woods today, you’d better go in disguise For every bear that ever there was Will gather there for certain because… Read More ›
“The Antares Paradox (La Paradoja de Antares)” is a well-executed single-location story. [Fantastic Fest]
Imagine for a moment that you’ve known what you’ve wanted to do from a young age, that you’ve spent the majority of your life reaching toward a goal despite a lack of familial or even societal support. Now imagine that… Read More ›
Macarena Gómez and Sofía García make every moment of “Everyone Will Burn (Y Todos Arderán)” scorching. [Fantastic Fest]
Before we dive right into our review of the incredible Spanish horror film, Everyone Will Burn (Y Todos Arderán), we must first talk briefly about an HBO Spain show called 30 Coins. 30 Coins is a semi-religiously involved horroresque show… Read More ›
Murder mystery “See How They Run” offers gratifying escape with a dash of style.
“Oh, I like murder.” Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap Act I, Scene 1, Page 11 Murder mysteries are a staple of storytelling. Whether set upon a stage, in print, broadcast on your television, presented on the silver screen, or in your… Read More ›
“Goodbye, Don Glees!” Hello, innumerable possibilities.
As long as there are children who grow into adulthood via adolescence, there will always be coming-of-age stories. They may not be indicative of your experience, but they will speak to the universal ideas of growing up, shifting from an… Read More ›
“Confess, Fletch” doesn’t miss a step after the character’s 33-year absence in film.
If you’re an adult of a certain age, when you hear the name “Fletch,” you immediately think of Chevy Chase. Across two films, Fletch (1985) and Fletch Lives (1989), audiences watched the fast-lipped investigative reporter find his way into and… Read More ›
Documentary “Gratitude Revealed” embodies and emulates its subject matter.
And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack And you may find yourself in another part of the world And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile And you may find yourself in a… Read More ›