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
TIFF 2023: ‘The Umbrella Men: Escape From Robben Island’ – A High Energy Crime Sequel
In 2022, The Umbrella Men surprised as a wildly entertaining heist film. The South African caper gave strong Ocean’s vibes and was one of the most rewatchable genre films of TIFF 2022. To our surprise, a sequel to that fun film landed at TIFF 2023. With Director John Barker returning, The Umbrella Men: Escape From … Continue reading TIFF 2023: ‘The Umbrella Men: Escape From Robben Island’ – A High Energy Crime Sequel
Review: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ – It’s No Mystery, This is Branagh’s Best Poirot Yet
It seemed that after the critically and commercially lukewarm Death on the Nile, the case closed on Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot franchise. However, the famed star and director has reinvigorated the series with the fresh and smart A Haunting in Venice. Boasting a new cast, new locale, and a looser adaptation of Agatha Christie’s source … Continue reading Review: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ – It’s No Mystery, This is Branagh’s Best Poirot Yet
Review: ‘A Haunting In Venice’ – Branagh’s Poirot Goes Dark In A Supernatural Crime
The third of his series featuring Agatha Christie's legendary detective is off-the-bat a tone changer compared to Orient Express and Death On The Nile. Immediately, it had me intrigued because Kenneth Branagh's choice to adapt Christie's Hallowe'en Party instead of another previously adapted book (Evil Under The Sun was the original sequel to Nile under … Continue reading Review: ‘A Haunting In Venice’ – Branagh’s Poirot Goes Dark In A Supernatural Crime
Review: ‘Bottoms’ – Revenge Of The Ladies With A Can Of Whoop-Ass
Most hormone-raging high-school sex comedies have mainly involved teenage boys looking to get laid for the first time. Porky's and the infamous peephole, Fast Times At Ridgemont High and Phoebe Cates, and American Pie with the use of webcams. None of them included sex and creating plans to make their own fight club, as one … Continue reading Review: ‘Bottoms’ – Revenge Of The Ladies With A Can Of Whoop-Ass
Venice Film Festival 2023: ‘For Night Will Come’ Ruminates on Power, Sacrifice, and Family
Becoming a parent fills many with dread. The grip our children have over our emotions cannot fully be described. Despite this, many see their entire world shift beneath their feet. Yet, some parents sacrifice in ways that no parent would wish on their worst enemies. Throughout For Night Will Come, a mother tries to reckon … Continue reading Venice Film Festival 2023: ‘For Night Will Come’ Ruminates on Power, Sacrifice, and Family
Venice Film Festival 2023: ‘Through the Night’ – An All-Too-Common Tragedy
"He said, she said" narratives stem from a patriarchal lens, yet filmmakers continue to shift that truth. After all, in a post-Me Too era for American filmmakers, there's genuine hope that the lines have been redrawn. However, the mindset of "deserving" sex and power continues to corrupt. Director Delphine Girard reminds the audience in Through … Continue reading Venice Film Festival 2023: ‘Through the Night’ – An All-Too-Common Tragedy
Venice Film Festival 2023: ‘Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person’ Mixes Incredible Charm and Violence
In 2022, Bones and All sought to reshape the teenage cannibal film. Luca Guadagnino’s triumph did not work on some, but it also pushed for a reimagining of traditional horror tropes. The power of the monster has rarely been in its scares but instead in its commentary. This allows Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person … Continue reading Venice Film Festival 2023: ‘Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person’ Mixes Incredible Charm and Violence
Review: ‘The Good Mother’ – A Predictable But Effective Mystery
The lengths a family goes to protect their own can lead down dark paths. Our willingness to even ignore the bad deeds of family can doom us to make our own mistakes. Throughout The Good Mother, director Miles Joris-Peyrafitte wants to highlight the choices in morally grey areas. The result is rather predictable storytelling, but … Continue reading Review: ‘The Good Mother’ – A Predictable But Effective Mystery