Every story is designed to convey something. Doesn’t matter if it’s a comedy, drama, mystery, or horror tale, from the surreal to the pointed, stories possess something that they want to pass along to the audience. Some grow richer through… Read More ›
When the institution becomes bigger than the idea which spawned it, a problem forms. Ideas are free-flowing, malleable, capable of change with new information or situations. Institutions are rigid, structured, and harder to redirect once a flow is created. If… Read More ›
There are many reasons films get adapted. Sometimes it’s because a film wasn’t received well or, confusingly, because a film was received extraordinarily well. Adaptations aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Because someone sought director Roger Corman’s 1960 Little Shop of… Read More ›
There’s no place like home. Except in horror films, in which case, there’s no place that’s safe. Part of the tension in a good horror film is the realization that danger lurks whether you’re in a cabin in the woods… Read More ›
Finding your people while growing up is pretty difficult. It can be accidental, it can be manufactured through parental involvement, but it always remains trying as you discover who you are as you collect the people you hope to keep… Read More ›
The cult cinema streaming service Arrow Player is no stranger to the grotesque, the bizarre, and the gloriously macabre, making it the perfect home for the French dark fantasy film, Pandemonium. This visceral and nightmarish flick, which made the rounds… Read More ›
The cinema has entered a weird stage in its history. Movies still arrive in theaters weekly but have shorter life spans. This means certain films have a quick turnaround on the home release market. While not yet on Blu-ray or… Read More ›
“For want of a nail …” Requiem for a Dream (2000), The Fountain (2006), and Uncut Gems (2019) are examples of a type of film which is well-made, thoughtful, subject to acclaim, and less likely to be revisited, the latter… Read More ›
Do you recognize the following three products: the Artic Hat, the Air Hawk, and the Easy Feet? What if these were replaced with Veggetti, Shake Weight, or ShamWow? Can you picture them? Hear the sales pitch? Can you remember the… Read More ›
Author Frank Herbert reportedly got the spark for the concept of his book Dune after observing conservation attempts along the Oregon coastline, creating from this a science fiction action-adventure tale that would inspire readers for generations. Parts of this inspiration… Read More ›
Photosensitivity Warning: There are multiple sequences — some short, some prolonged — of intense strobing and glitching effects, which may trigger migraine or other neurological issues. In the age of digital media, developing parasocial relationships occurs before most even realize… Read More ›
It’s been stated before, but it bears reminding: expectations can ruin an experience. This is equally true when the hype ahead of something implies one thing when the truth is something very different. In the real world, it can look… Read More ›
Event storylines in comics are not unusual. It’s a way to take on something that doesn’t quite fit in the everyday narratives, while also providing a means of both bringing characters together and altering their trajectory. In the world of… Read More ›
Long ago, in a time before the internet and social media, there was a world that Gen X remembers well — the ‘80s had Reagan, the AIDS epidemic, big shoulder pads, bigger hair, bold makeup, and colorful, poppy music videos… Read More ›
When one thinks of the filmography of actor Jason Statham, films typically feature him in one of two roles: quiet badass or loudmouth badass. He’s certainly done more with turns in Snatch (2000) and London (2005) demonstrating his versatility, but… Read More ›
As satisfying as it can be to view one whole story when you sit down to enjoy a film, there are exceptions where a second (or more) is needed to really make it satiating. Especially when it comes to adaptations,… Read More ›
It all starts with an idea. Then, if you’re lucky, that idea blossoms into a complete story that can then be transformed from words on a page into a fully-staged production. For all the films released in a week every… Read More ›
1980s American cinema included some of the most influential teen comedies in cinema. So much so that filmmakers continue to take inspiration from them. The thing is that, while significant for their time, the majority of these films focused on… Read More ›
Monster (2023) was one of the best films of last year that no one saw, as is typical of Hirokazu Kore-eda’s (Shoplifters; Nobody Knows) films as of late. It’s also part of a worrying trend and aftershock of American politics… Read More ›
Horror movies usually tend to fixate on fears to engage their audience or do something truly horrifying and disturbing. The latter are typically easier to digest since they’re easier to shake off as they’re not exploiting something the audience may… Read More ›