Influencer Shudder

Review: ‘Influencer’ – A Follower From Hell Thriller

The world of social media mints and reshapes celebrities daily. Some find their fifteen minutes, while others launch long-term brand collaborations. Yet this also opens the door for parasocial relationships. A new Shudder thriller, Influencer seeks to capitalize on this idea. Set around social media, Influencer serves as a fun thriller. While it has little … Continue reading Review: ‘Influencer’ – A Follower From Hell Thriller

Hypnotic Robert Rodriguez Ben Affleck

Review: ‘Hypnotic’ – Ben Affleck Cannot Save a Lackluster Thriller

Once an iconic independent filmmaker, Robert Rodriguez continues to build his own ecosystem outside of Hollywood. In some cases, this has resulted in big wins, including the lucrative Spy Kids franchise. In other cases, his projects have struggled to make much of an impact. Combining forces with James Cameron and Ben Affleck opened Rodriguez to … Continue reading Review: ‘Hypnotic’ – Ben Affleck Cannot Save a Lackluster Thriller

DID I?

2023 Florida Film Festival: ‘DID I?’ Struggles With Storytelling, Despite Incredible Style

Emotional trauma has become the backbone of visual storytelling in recent years. Explorations of characters struggling with the fallout of horror have popped in every medium, from short films to long-form television. On the one hand, this has resulted in increased attention to mental health. However, sometimes the tropes become a dangerous subject matter to … Continue reading 2023 Florida Film Festival: ‘DID I?’ Struggles With Storytelling, Despite Incredible Style

2023 Florida Film Festival: ‘Simón’ – A Powerful Story of Venezuelan Dissident

Over the past decade, the people of Venezuela have fought for freedom. While Chavez died many years ago, fights between Nicolás Maduro and Juan Guaidó defined much of the last decade. Director Diego Vicentini's debut feature Simón captures the struggles of an asylum-seeking dissident. Drawing heavily on the concept of survivor's guilt, Simón delivers a … Continue reading 2023 Florida Film Festival: ‘Simón’ – A Powerful Story of Venezuelan Dissident

Yellowjackets Edible Complex

Yellowjackets – Season 2, Episode 2 – “Edible Complex”

It's time to eat up. The first camper finally took a step toward cannibalism. As surprising as it seemed, Shauna's choice to munch on Jackie's ear feels like the beginning. There were certainly other choices that would have made more sense. After all, Jackie's been dead for at least two months. Frozen, but dead. Luckily, … Continue reading Yellowjackets – Season 2, Episode 2 – “Edible Complex”

Make Believe Seattle 2023

Make Believe Seattle 2023: ‘Pursued,’ ‘Glorious,’ and ‘Mister Organ’

Closing down our coverage of Make Believe Seattle 2023, we cover our last three films. Each disturbs in its own way, and feature three of the more exciting directors at the festival. Rebekah McKendry shocked audiences with her killer feature, Glorious, especially after it landed on Shudder. Getting another screening at a festival only adds … Continue reading Make Believe Seattle 2023: ‘Pursued,’ ‘Glorious,’ and ‘Mister Organ’

Rabbit Hole Paramount+ Kiefer Sutherland

TV Review: ‘Rabbit Hole’ Embraces the Conspiracy

The dive into conspiracy theories and fears of "Big Brother" have only become stronger in recent years. The rise of QAnon and online plots increases distrust in the world at large. For many, the endless stream of data and information has become too grand to contimplate. Others struggle to comprehend how to live in the … Continue reading TV Review: ‘Rabbit Hole’ Embraces the Conspiracy

Raging Grace SXSW 2023

SXSW 2023: ‘Raging Grace’ Tells an Immigrant Story In a Haunted House

The immigrant and low SES horror film continues to gain traction in recent years. In the past few years, Nanny and His House were among the best films of the year, and struck to the heart of anxiety of moving to a new world. Director Paris Zarcilla shows a ton of potential with Raging Grace. … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Raging Grace’ Tells an Immigrant Story In a Haunted House

You - "Portrait of the Artist"

You: Season 4 – Episode 2 – ‘Portrait of an Artist’ Recap

Somehow, someway, Joe (Penn Badgley) finds himself in trouble again. Joe already has a difficult time avoiding trouble on his own. Getting framed for murder will certainly make life more difficult. We know Malcolm is off the table, so it's time to start the guessing game. Early money would be on Kate (Charlotte Ritchie), who … Continue reading You: Season 4 – Episode 2 – ‘Portrait of an Artist’ Recap

Review: ‘Knock at the Cabin’ – Shyamalan Delivers His Most Earnest Film Since The Sixth Sense

Few directors inspire as many bipolar reactions as M. Night Shyamalan. Once known as the "Master of Twists," Shyamalan ran into a dry spell during the late 2000s. Some of his films during this time struggled with storytelling and failed to gain much of an audience. Most of all, the director's reputation became too tied … Continue reading Review: ‘Knock at the Cabin’ – Shyamalan Delivers His Most Earnest Film Since The Sixth Sense