The Rule of Jenny Pen is a rare gem in the horror genre, offering a unique and nuanced portrayal of aging that is sure to intrigue and captivate audiences. Directed by James Ashcroft, this New Zealand thriller takes a familiar horror trope—fear of the elderly—and flips it on its head, treating its aging characters with… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024: The Rule of Jenny Penn
Month: September 2024
Fantastic Fest 2024: Get Away
Get Away is a wickedly dark and hilariously twisted thrill ride, offering a unique blend of horror, action, and comedy that will keep you guessing and grinning. Written by and starring Nick Frost, this blood-splattered romp feels like a mashup of Kill Bill and Shaun of the Dead, with Frost’s signature comedic touch keeping things… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024: Get Away
Fantestic Fest 2024: The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot is an enchanting and heartwarming animated adventure that offers a fresh take on the “fish out of water” story, blending science fiction with themes of survival, family, and connection. The film, adapted from Peter Brown’s popular book, follows Roz, a ROZZUM unit 7134, a shipwrecked robot who finds herself stranded on an… Continue reading Fantestic Fest 2024: The Wild Robot
Movie Review: The Seed of Truth Hollyshorts Film Festival – Continues on to the Catalina Film Festival
The Seed of Truth is a short film screened during the Hollyshorts Film Festival. The film continues the film festival circuit, screening in September and October at the Catalina Film Festival, NoHo Cinefest, and Raw Science Film Festival. According to a statement by filmmaker W. Y. Geng, “The inspiration for the film came from a… Continue reading Movie Review: The Seed of Truth Hollyshorts Film Festival – Continues on to the Catalina Film Festival
Fantastic Fest Movie Review: Faces – Showing in the Short Fuse Block
Faces is an award-winning short film playing at Fantastic Fest 2024 in the Short Fuse Block during the opening weekend. Written and directed by Blake Simon (Red Velvet, Goldilocks), the film recently won the Audience Award Gold for Best International Short Film at the Fantasia Film Festival 2024 this summer. The film cast includes Cailyn… Continue reading Fantastic Fest Movie Review: Faces – Showing in the Short Fuse Block
Fantastic Fest Movie Review: Strange Harvest: Occult Murder in the Inland Empire
Writer/Director Stuart Ortiz has a new feature, Strange Harvest: Occult Murder in the Inland Empire, that celebrated the World Premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX, this weekend. Although I knew going into the theater that this is not a factual documentary, the excellent story Ortiz has written will undoubtedly have you thinking this is… Continue reading Fantastic Fest Movie Review: Strange Harvest: Occult Murder in the Inland Empire
Movie Review: THE SUBSTANCE Is Currently My Favorite Horror Film Of The Year
I know we’ve only begun the Halloween movie season, but thus far, The Substance has risen above all the other horror flicks I have enjoyed this year. 2024 has been a great year for scary and wicked fare. Among my other favorites are The First Omen, Late Night With The Devil, Abigail, Longlegs, and Strange… Continue reading Movie Review: THE SUBSTANCE Is Currently My Favorite Horror Film Of The Year
Movie Review: HIS THREE DAUGHTERS Officially Kicks Off Awards Season
For Austin film critics, a press screening in a theater for a Netflix release means it is awards season. For most of the year, if an Austin critic is assigned a Netflix movie or chooses to review it, the streaming service provides a digital screener. However, when Netflix wants us to consider a feature for… Continue reading Movie Review: HIS THREE DAUGHTERS Officially Kicks Off Awards Season
Movie Review: TRANFORMERS ONE Delivers More Than What I Expected.
I shouldn’t pre-judge a movie based on a trailer, but I couldn’t help it. After watching the joke-heavy trailer for Transformers One more than once, I couldn’t envision that this film would be as compelling or entertaining as it turned out to be. I should have remembered that a context-less trailer can be quite deceiving.… Continue reading Movie Review: TRANFORMERS ONE Delivers More Than What I Expected.
Fantastic Fest 2024: World Premieres to See Among the Many This Year
Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the US, specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and action movies worldwide, is now upon us. Starting Thursday, September 19, in Austin, TX, features and shorts are too numerous to list at once, but here are some for your consideration. FANTASTIC FEST WORLD PREMIERES AJ GOES to the… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024: World Premieres to See Among the Many This Year