drama

Close-up of a person with a blurred, brightly lit urban background.

Horror dramedy “Bagworm” takes audiences into the perceptions of the infected and addled mind of a wayward man. [SXSW]

By justin waldman on March 25, 2026 • ( 0 )

There are movies that try to bend reality and change the way we see the world, and director Oliver Bernsen (Connective Tissue) and writer Henry Bernsen (When We Get to Heaven) certainly try to hammer down that misconception and what… Read More ›

Close-up of a man in sunglasses with a reflective scene, and another man in a suit smoking a cigarette in the background.

A classic sprawling epic of power and politics within a powerful crime syndicate, Sadao Nakajima’s “The Japanese Godfather Trilogy” finally arrives on Blu-ray, courtesy of Radiance Films.

By Blak Cinephile on March 24, 2026 • ( 0 )

Sadao Nakajima’s Japanese Godfather Trilogy is a collection of three yakuza films made between 1977 and 1978 based on the true story of Japan’s largest crime syndicate. Taking some inspiration (both thematically and visually) from Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 gangster… Read More ›

A vibrant digital artwork of a woman's face in vivid orange and red with abstract orange and yellow adornments against a dark, floral background.

Filmmaker Mika Ninagawa’s directorial feature “Sakuran” joins the 88 Asia Collection with a befitting limited edition.

By Douglas Davidson on March 24, 2026 • ( 0 )

Adapting a work properly requires a confluence of events. It’s more than just translating one media into another as you need someone who understands the context of the source, who gets what it means to be moved to a new… Read More ›

Hikers exploring a mossy, rocky area under a cliff beside a waterfall.

Meta thriller “And Her Body Was Never Found” is not #relationshipgoals, but it is a dynamic and cruel feature film directorial debut. [SXSW]

By Douglas Davidson on March 23, 2026 • ( 1 )

“L’enfer, c’est les autres.” – Jean-Paul Sartre in No Exit. Making movies is a large endeavor. Outside of the requirement for a creative idea, you also need the time to cultivate it, the financing to fund it, and the team… Read More ›

Animated character's face behind blurred pink flowers with large green eyes visible.

Allow animated dramedy “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” to ascend to your home collection.

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

At a point in the director interview for their film, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (Amélie et la métaphysique des tubes), co-directors Maïlys Vallade (The Lighthouse Keeper) and Liane-Cho Han (Voodoo) discuss the Japanese belief that children under… Read More ›

Three women stand near a bed where another woman lies face down under a blue comforter in a dimly lit blue-themed room.

Stella Markert’s tragicomic “Thanks for Nothing” invites audience to embrace anarchy and themselves. [SXSW]

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

“So many bright lights, they cast a shadow, but can I speak? Well, is it hard understanding, I’m incomplete? A life that’s so demanding I get so weak A love that’s so demanding I can’t speak …” – From “Famous… Read More ›

Young women in ball gowns and young men in formal attire stand before a large cake and "15" marquee lights at a celebration.

Horror comedy “Fifteen” proudly owns its full identity as its leads attempt to find theirs. [SXSW]

By justin waldman on March 18, 2026 • ( 1 )

Growing up is hell. I can only fathom being a girl is that much more hellacious as that’s an entirely different game and strategy on how to fit in, be popular, and make friends. None of it is easy, all… Read More ›

Minimalistic image with a white to light gray gradient and a partial circular graphic in the upper left corner.

The Criterion Collections brings the nuclear fallout of “Testament” back to life in a stunning restoration.

By Blak Cinephile on March 17, 2026 • ( 0 )

Originally made for television, Lynne Littman’s 1983 film Testament takes a human, grounded approach to the sensationalized topic of nuclear devastation. Based on the short story “The Last Testament” by Carol Amen, Testament is as prevalent today (given recent world… Read More ›

Two men on a film set; one looking down in a black t-shirt, the other operating a large camera rig.

Comedy as therapy: Deeply personal look at a failing marriage “Is This Thing On?” is now available to watch at home.

By Michelle Swope on March 17, 2026 • ( 0 )

Bradley Cooper (The Hangover; Nightmare Alley) has been acting since the late ‘90s, but it wasn’t until 2018 that he decided to try his hand at filmmaking. His first feature film, a remake of A Star is Born, stars Cooper… Read More ›

A group of eleven people with arms around each other on a wooden dock by a lake, with overcast skies and trees in the background.

“The Dads” is a moving and galvanizing feature that expands on Luchina Fisher’s original short. [SXSW]

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

8% of U.S. adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender according to an Oct 2025 Pew Research Center article based on a summer 2024 survey. There are reportedly over 342 million people living in the United States, which means… Read More ›

A man and a woman sitting in a grassy field under a blue sky.

“Reminders of Him” makes it work.

By Andrew J. Eisenman on March 13, 2026 • ( 0 )

Reminders of Him is a needlessly self-conscious film. Like the Nicholas Sparks canon before this Colleen Hoover wave (It Ends with Us; Forgetting You), the film plays melodrama as grounded drama, which often drives stray target-audience members, like unaware boyfriends,… Read More ›

A dog in a pink "ADOPT" harness sits in the foreground, while two people sit in a blue inflatable pool in the background, with a red vehicle nearby.

Mumblecore dramedy “Danny Is My Boyfriend” encapsulates the quixotic nature of heartbreak. [Slamdance]

By Douglas Davidson on March 11, 2026 • ( 1 )

“Oh, and I don’t know I don’t know what he’s after But he’s so beautiful Such a beautiful disaster And if I could hold on Through the tears and the laughter Would it be beautiful Or just a beautiful disaster?”… Read More ›

Person in a brown coat and winter hat aiming a handgun in a forest with a sunlit background.

Co-directors Jacob Hatley and Tom Vickers cinema verité doc “Clovers” explores the notion of self-determinism within the citizens of Asheboro, NC. [Slamdance]

By Douglas Davidson on March 10, 2026 • ( 1 )

In 2024, filmmaker Jacob Hatley released crime drama Rowdy Friends, a tale featuring a mixture of professional and non-actors set in rural North Carolina. This film centered J.D. Cranford playing a version of himself after he left prison and went… Read More ›

Three people talking in a sunlit forest surrounded by greenery and ferns.

Find love, catharsis, and behind the scenes details within Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” on home video.

By Gabe Lapalombella on March 9, 2026 • ( 0 )

Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao (The Eternals; Nomadland; The Rider) is a singular voice in filmmaking. Her work focuses on a naturalistic approach, making her films’ environments characters in their own rights. Some viewers could find that as nothing more than… Read More ›

An older man in a blue plaid shirt and brown cardigan stands near a window with beige curtains.

Open Dialogue with “The Optimist” actor Stephen Lang.

By Thomas Manning on March 8, 2026 • ( 0 )

Legendary actor Stephen Lang joins Thomas Manning for this Meet Me at the Movies / Screen Scene spotlight to discuss the powerful true-story film The Optimist. Best known for memorable performances in films like Avatar and Don’t Breathe, Lang talks… Read More ›

Person on stage facing a full auditorium with multiple tiers of applauding audience members.

Documentarian Matt Finlin’s music/medical doc “Matter of Time” utilizes a three-prong narrative approach to craft of tale of shared hope.

By Douglas Davidson on February 28, 2026 • ( 0 )

“This too shall pass.” – Persian phrase of complex origin Though it’s hard to say exactly when epidermolysis bullosa (EB) first appeared, the genetic disease was first noted by Austrian dermatologist Ferdinand Ritter von Hebra in 1870 and it would… Read More ›

Three people focused on a monitor in a dimly lit room.

“Song Sung Blue” is a very human musical romantic drama based on real life events.

By AJ Friar on February 27, 2026 • ( 1 )

Song Sung Blue stands as one of the most grounded and quietly affecting performances in Hugh Jackman’s career, a surprising turn for an actor often associated with larger-than-life characters and blockbuster spectacle. Here, he strips away the bravado and theatricality… Read More ›

Three people and a parrot in a tense standoff in a kitchen, featuring an antique gun and colorful attire.

“The Old Man and the Parrot” intermingles comedy and drama in a story of love and loss that may just soothe the soul. [Slamdance]

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

There are many ways to process grief. Some of them are beneficial, accompanied by a sense of healing and the ability to move on from the pain and loss, while others are like an anchor, prohibiting one from moving on… Read More ›

A woman and a man standing in a warmly lit living room with a sofa, lamp, and painting in the background.

“A Little Prayer” is a big treat on Blu-ray.

By Andrew J. Eisenman on February 25, 2026 • ( 0 )

I arrived in the city of Winston-Salem last year at the same time as A Little Prayer, one of the best films of 2025, and a film about the people here. It was a real local sensation, going on an… Read More ›

Poster featuring a silhouette holding a weapon with text "FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2."

Ms. Voorhees no more, Jason strikes in “Friday the 13th Part 2” slashing its way onto 4K in a singular edition for the first time!

By justin waldman on February 25, 2026 • ( 0 )

Back in October of 2024 (what feels like a century ago now), audiences had their first look at a 4K of Friday the 13th Part 2 in the Paramount Scares Vol. 2 box set, so we will dive deeper into… Read More ›

Elements of Madness

Cinematic Reviews, Recommendations, and More