There is something inherently interesting and thought-provoking from Charles Williams’s first time feature, Inside (not to be confused with the Willem Dafoe movie from a few years back), but the longform execution of this seems to be where it slightly… Read More ›
film festival
Uttera Singh’s feature directorial debut dramedy “Pinch” views universal issues through a specific cultural lens. [Tribeca]
Trigger Warning: Mention of sexual abuse in the following review. Regardless of time and place, some people will only seek to take advantage. All they need is an opportunity and the belief that no one will turn them in and… Read More ›
Propulsive and raw music doc “Metallica Saved My Life” requires no prior exposure or knowledge of the band, the only entry fee being empathy. [Tribeca]
Trigger Warning: Metallica Saved My Life features a variety of flourishes in the editing that include light bursts that may prove impactful for photosensitive viewers. Concert footage does also include expected flashing lights, but nothing out of the ordinary. Some… Read More ›
“Horsegirls” prances into your heart and lands each aspect of its mashed genres of comedy and drama. [Tribeca]
Writer and director Lauren Meyering swings for the fences with a difficult yet captivating story that is surely going to resonate with certain viewers, certain parents, and make for a compelling career moving forward in the feature industry with her… Read More ›
“A Tree Fell in the Woods” blends realism with surrealism in an examination of perception. [Tribeca]
When writing a comedy about couples where everything and anything can go wrong, there is a lot of territory that has already been covered. Entries into the genre consistently feel like they’re beating a dead horse. Trying to find something… Read More ›
When “Man Finds Tape,” seeing is disbelieving. [Tribeca]
Under the oral traditions of yesteryear, the things humans couldn’t explain or understand, the things for which there was little proof beyond anecdote, fell under myths and legends. Now, however, in the digital age, when it’s so easy for anyone… Read More ›
Rowan Haber’s comedic exploration into the character proudly proclaims “We Are Pat.” [Tribeca]
A lot of people say, “What’s that?” It’s Pat! A lot of people ask, “Who’s he? Or she?” A ma’am or a sir, accept him or her or whatever it might be. It’s time for androgyny. Here comes Pat! –… Read More ›
Documentary “The End of Quiet” uses a microcosm to ask big questions about the cost of modernity. [Tribeca]
In the modern era, noise is constant and everywhere. Doesn’t matter if you live in urban, suburban, or rural areas, if you’ve got some kind of signal transmission, it produces sound, whether you can hear it or not. Recognizing the… Read More ›
Audiences find the groove emanating within Logic’s feature film directorial debut, workplace comedy “Paradise Records.” [Tribeca]
A little word of advice, my friend. Sometimes you gotta let those hard-to-reach chips go. – Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran) in Clerks. One night, while attending a youth group function, someone decided, for reasons lost to the annals of time,… Read More ›
Comedy thriller “Birthright” leaves you laughing hysterically in the darkest of corners. [Tribeca]
If you’re a fan of the most insane over-the-top, completely plausible, uncomfortable comedies of all time, then Zoe Pepper is a name to look out for and her newest feature, Birthright, is an absolute must-see. While the film is not… Read More ›
“Lemonade Blessing” will have you doing spit takes both cringe and comical. [Tribeca]
Without having ever met or talked to writer/director Chris Merola (The Stall), I think it’s fair to say and even assume that the inspiration behind Lemonade Blessing may have come from an episode of The Simpsons. This isn’t a dig… Read More ›
Like a good trap, Predator animated anthology “Killer of Killers” proves to be an extraordinary mix of gorgeous violence and narrative propulsion. [Tribeca]
Since 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg released his addition to the Predator franchise, Prey, in 2022 on Hulu, audiences have grown ever more hungry for new Predator stories. Sure, audiences have four other films to explore, plus two Alien… Read More ›
28 Tribeca Film Festival 2025 films that we’d love to explore.
Tribeca Film Festival 2025 marks the fourth time that Elements of Madness is covering the festival and we’re excited to get started. Having combed through the festival guide, we’ve put together a list of films that caught our interest or… Read More ›
“Manas” turns years of research into a sobering drama with intimate and powerful storytelling. [SFFILM]
Manas is a sweeping and emotionally resonant film that lingers long after the credits roll. With breakthrough performances and a poignant human feel that permeates every frame, it is not only a must-watch but also a strong contender for awards… Read More ›
The clear potential in “The Devil Smokes” gets hampered by narrative indecision and a need for stronger directorial discipline. [SFFILM]
The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box) (El diablo fuma (y guarda las cabezas de los cerillos quemados en la misma caja)), also listed simply as The Devil Smokes, is an ambitious and visually arresting… Read More ›
Filmmaker Ali Weinstein’s “Your Tomorrow” explores the past and present of a publicly-invested third space. [ATLFF]
Third places are an important part of any community. They provide individuals, young and old, a place to congregate outside of home and work/school, to relax with various kinds of leisure activities. For the Ontario, Canada, community, this includes Ontario… Read More ›
Pavli Serenetsky’s coming of age tale “More Beautiful Perversions” explores the importance of discovery through transient, ephemeral love. [ATLFF]
Content Warning: Adult nudity is present in the film. Nothing explicitly sexual, but not discrete. Not every relationship we have is meant to last. This is a painful realization, whether it occurs as a child, a teen, a young adult,… Read More ›
“Sister Midnight” loses itself amidst a glut of messaging and genre-bending. [BUFF]
Writer/director Karan Kandhari (Bye Bye Miss Goodnight) presents audiences with Sister Midnight, a dark comedy (slightly akin to Nightbitch (2024) while also being incredibly different) about the situations that arise from arranged marriages and what happens when you’re just not… Read More ›
Dramatic thriller “Honeymoon” examines the emotional erosion of war breeching a newly marital home. [SFFILM]
Zhanna Ozirna’s Honeymoon (Медовий місяць) is a film that speaks directly to our moment in history, an intimate yet shattering portrait of love under siege. Evocative of Raymond Briggs’s When the Wind Blows (1986), it shares that film’s power in… Read More ›
Documentary “Sonaggios” shows us the modern day struggles of an artisanal tradition. [SFFILM]
Sonaggios is an incredibly moving and visually captivating documentary that takes viewers into the heart of Tonara, a small village in the mountainous region of Sardinia, Italy. For nearly 150 years, Tonara has been home to a unique artisanal tradition… Read More ›