Imagine, if you will, that you’re a teenager sitting at your local hangout, a Circle K, perhaps, when someone drops out of the sky and tells you they are from the future and that you’re destined to be the foundation… Read More ›
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Charlie Kaufman’s “i’m thinking of ending things” pulls off the seemingly impossible task of adapting Ian Reid’s book with ease and grace.
When I read a book, I feel accomplished. When I read a book based on a film, I feel elitist. When I read a book based on a film before its release, I feel completely untouchable. I know I shouldn’t,… Read More ›
Documentary “Class Action Park” is incredibly riveting and oddly fun, despite it serious nature. [Fantasia Film Festival]
Ah, amusement parks; the sites of “controlled fun” that you either love or loathe. Whether you like the themes and characters of something like Disney World, the rides and thrills of Carowinds, or the wet-and-splashy water park fun of Wet… Read More ›
Character drama “The King of Staten Island” comes home with plenty of in-depth bonus features.
Inspired in-part by his own real-life trauma, comedian Pete Davidson (Saturday Night Live) crafted a story in partnership with director Judd Apatow (This is 40) and writer/producer Dave Sirus that presents a fictional tale of heartache, profound pain, and, ultimately,… Read More ›
“Hard Kill” is a disappointing, low stakes action flick.
We all love a good action flick. Even the worst action movies can get somewhat of a pass if the action is exciting and visceral. Action movies, as of late, have become much more versatile than some might expect. On… Read More ›
Explore the legend of pre-Civil War hero Shields Green via new home release “Emperor.”
The truth is often less exciting, less inspirational than fiction. My presumption for this is not because the truth lacks power, but that our individual imaginations build up ideas until they are larger than any one person or concept. It’s… Read More ›
A Conversation with director Tyler Smith.
Elements of Madness contributor Lindsey Dunn recently had the opportunity to interview Tyler Smith, creator of the video essay Reel Redemption: The Rise of Christian Cinema. Hollywood and the Church make for odd bedfellows. But the success of many faith-based movies… Read More ›
“Reel Redemption: The Rise of Christian Cinema” reflects on the shaky relationship of Hollywood and the Church.
Adjunct professor and lifelong lover of film Tyler Smith takes a historical deep dive into the sometimes contentious relationship between Hollywood and the big-C Church in his 96-minute video essay, Reel Redemption: The Rise of Christian Cinema. Rather than attempt… Read More ›
A mash-up of styles and approaches, Michael Almereyda’s “Telsa” attempts to capture the eccentric spirit of the brilliant inventor.
After premiering at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, director Michael Almereyda’s (Marjorie Prime) experimental biopic Tesla is coming available to audiences. Much like the titular man, Almereyda’s film possesses idiosyncrasies as it mashes together a steam punk vibe, chronological anomalies,… Read More ›
“Random Acts of Violence” exists in a strange gray area where you lose much of the fantastic elements present.
The rise of the comic book movie has mainly accrued its time and money within the industry using big-budget superhero movie universes. While gritty graphic novel adaptions had their day in the mid-2000s with the hits of Sin City, V… Read More ›
Disney+’s “The One and Only Ivan” is a bittersweet tale that’ll encourage empathic development in younger audiences.
Sometime around 1964, an infant silverback gorilla was rescued from poachers, was brought to the U.S., and lived with a family in their home until he grew too large. At that point, the silverback, called Ivan, became the headlining act… Read More ›
Sci-fi crime thriller “Project Power” asks what you’re willing to give up to become something more.
Superhero stories are in vogue right now between the mass popularity of big screen films from Marvel and DC and the programs, primarily DC properties, which are all over television and the fact that many of the showrunners, producers, and… Read More ›
Teddy Grennan takes a stab at rape-revenge with “Ravage,” a well-intentioned but misguided horror flick.
Anyone familiar with rape-revenge films knows that the formula for this horror sub-genre can be particularly tricky. While the genre continually offers up new ways for audiences to process and discuss trauma, rape-revenge films can be quite problematic when not… Read More ›
“The King of Staten Island” Digital Code Giveaway
Elements of Madness is excited to announce we’ve partnered with Universal Pictures on the upcoming home release of The King of Staten Island. In anticipation of the Blu-ray/DVD release on August 25th, we are giving away five (5) digital codes of… Read More ›
Looking to take a risk on some at-home entertainment? Gamble on “Lucky Grandma.”
No matter what you think of how movies are being distributed in the COVID Era, there’s no denying the quality of the films finding their ways to audiences. If you don’t think there’s anything to watch, that may be because… Read More ›
Documentary “Boys State” is a shockingly high-energy, edge of your seat experience.
Founded in 1935 by The American Legion, Boys State is an event in which young men from around the country gather in various cities for one week to get immersed in politics. In its lengthy history, past members like William… Read More ›
Alexandra Shipp shines in supernatural romance “Endless.”
Let me describe to you a movie in brief: two young lovers are ripped apart as one dies tragically while the other tries to cope with life without their partner, except — and here’s the twist — the one who… Read More ›
Lech Majewski’s “Valley of the Gods” possesses high concepts which never coalesce.
There is, perhaps, nothing more frustrating for a cinephile than to finish a film wherein the pieces are stronger than the whole. Where you can understand the intent of a project, yet, whether by style, structure, or some other technical… Read More ›
Aaron Fisher’s “Inside the Rain” uses his personal experience to craft a compelling meta-drama.
As writer, director, and lead actor of the Act 13 distribution Inside the Rain, Aaron Fisher constructs a therapeutic reflection of the struggles he has faced over the course of his life, dealing with bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, and borderline… Read More ›
Remarkable crime thriller short “Baby Mine” requires intellectual participation and vulnerability from its audience.
When considering a short film such as director Nour Wazzi’s project Baby Mine, we are reminded that the cinematic potential of any project is not limited by its runtime or distribution range. This 20-minute narrative short possesses many of the… Read More ›