Few would dispute that Mike Flanagan knows how to tell a great dramatic story. However, even the famed horror director has outdone himself this time. A master of suspense and dramatic storytelling, Flanagan tells his most ambitious story to date with The Fall of the House of Usher for Netflix. The eight-part limited series debuts … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ – Sexy, Bloody, Gothic Horror is Back on Netflix
Fantastic Fest 23: ‘So Unreal’ – Cyberspace and the Digital World on Film
While the 1999 Wachowski film The Matrix looms large over the cyberpunk genre, directors and artists have long been interested in the subgenre. After all, as computers gained a foothold in American culture, the figures that promoted them became fascinations. Through various projects, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Paul Allen became integrally tied to the … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 23: ‘So Unreal’ – Cyberspace and the Digital World on Film
TV: ‘Sex Education’ – A Final Season Farewell for Characters That Belong Together
Few shows began quite like Sex Education. The British pseudo-rom-com followed a group of teenagers over four seasons as they dealt with the pressures of growing up. Of course, sex and relationships occupy their mind, but the power of the series always came in the ways the relationships between each character evolved. With the cast … Continue reading TV: ‘Sex Education’ – A Final Season Farewell for Characters That Belong Together
Fantastic Fest 2023 Preview – 10 Most Anticipated Films
Few genre festivals feel like instant kingmakers. Yet a great showing at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, can be a launchpad for smaller films. The impressive list of alumni continues to grow year after year. With another excellent lineup on the horizon and a handful of secret screenings to contend with, 2023 could be a … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023 Preview – 10 Most Anticipated Films
Film Review: ‘El Conde’ – A Fascist Vampire Still Living On Blood And Death
Pablo Larraín, the director behind the American biopics Jackie and Spencer, is back in his native Chile to poke at the horrendous dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The infamous man ruled ruthlessly from 1973 to 1989. As seen in his Oscar-nominated docudrama No, Larraín is not afraid of looking back into his country's troubled past. Even … Continue reading Film Review: ‘El Conde’ – A Fascist Vampire Still Living On Blood And Death
TIFF 2023: ‘Summer Qamp’ – A Free-Flowing Portrait of LGBTQ+ Youth
While some states have seemingly taken on war against young LGBTQ+ individuals, other locations have become havens. In the case of Camp fYrefly, some youth in Canada have the freedom to find their voice. The documentary Summer Qamp examines a seeming paradise for teens who will have to return to the difficult lives they lead. … Continue reading TIFF 2023: ‘Summer Qamp’ – A Free-Flowing Portrait of LGBTQ+ Youth
TIFF 2023: ‘God is a Woman’ – Memory and Tradition Framed Through Cinema
The power of film on the collective memory of a community can rarely be understood. Documentary remains one of the most impactful ways to remember a place, a time, and a culture. Yet the true power of these films stems from the emotion that rises naturally over their runtimes. While God is a Woman begins … Continue reading TIFF 2023: ‘God is a Woman’ – Memory and Tradition Framed Through Cinema
Bela Lugosi’s Undead – Halloween Horror Nights 2023 Final Preview/Hype Episode!
It's been a difficult month since the end of our 2nd season, and we're back to kick off Season 3! Both our hosts moved, and one had a bout with Covid. Of course, this left us eager to return to our favorite topic. Halloween Horror Nights 2023 kicked off a couple of weeks ago, but … Continue reading Bela Lugosi’s Undead – Halloween Horror Nights 2023 Final Preview/Hype Episode!
Review: ‘Smile’ – Trauma Exploration Falls Short of its Marketing Campaign Promise
Rejoice! For spooky season is upon us once again. Last year’s annual cinematic celebration of the macabre was kicked off by a new offering in the horror canon, Smile. A creepy trailer accompanied by a clever viral marketing campaign that saw random people eerily smiling in public venues such as sporting events helped catapult Smile … Continue reading Review: ‘Smile’ – Trauma Exploration Falls Short of its Marketing Campaign Promise
TIFF 2023: ‘Fair Play’ Shines a Light on Power, Work, and Entitlement
While Wall Street has been a fruitful location for storytelling, the business world has become a hotspot of creative activity. The high-stakes world has often served as a microcosm for larger issues in America. Director and writer Chloe Domont utilizes this approach, as well as audience awareness of Wall Street and Industry, to deliver a … Continue reading TIFF 2023: ‘Fair Play’ Shines a Light on Power, Work, and Entitlement