The Vile is the latest intense horror/psychological thriller from acclaimed Emirati filmmaker and genre master Majid Al Ansari (Zinzana, The Intruder, “Paranormal” series). The alum of Fantastic Fest made his 2025 return with the world premiere of The Vile, shot entirely on 16mm film. His debut feature was Zinzana (Rattle The Cage) in 2015. The… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: The Vile from Emirati Filmmaker wins Best Horror Film
Month: September 2025
FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Vicious: incoherent, overwrought exercise in nonsense
Some films try to unsettle and challenge audiences with psychological tension and emotional depth. Vicious, unfortunately, does neither. Marketed as a psychological thriller, it ends up as an incoherent, overwrought exercise in nonsense — a film that confuses moodiness for meaning and atmosphere for actual storytelling. The story follows Polly (Dakota Fanning), who receives a… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Vicious: incoherent, overwrought exercise in nonsense
FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Chocolate (2008, Remastered)
I’ll admit it: I had never seen Chocolate before this year’s Fantastic Fest. Now that I have, I’m kicking myself for missing out on one of the most exhilarating and emotionally satisfying action films of the 2000s. Presented in a stunning 35mm remaster for the festival’s 20th anniversary celebration, Chocolate is more than deserving of… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Chocolate (2008, Remastered)
My Fantastic Fest 2025
As of September 25, 2025, Fantastic Fest has concluded and is now in the books. The Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar once again played host to one of the world’s favorite genre film festivals, where fanatics gathered to celebrate the fest’s 20th anniversary. From TVR, Laurie Coker, Liz Lopez, and I attended movies for eight days… Continue reading My Fantastic Fest 2025
Fantastic Fest 2025: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (Secret Screening #3)
Going into 2025’s Fantastic Fest, I had two big wishes for the secret screenings. The first was the latest film by Paul Thomas Anderson, an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, a movie titled One Battle After Another. On Tuesday night of the festival, the programmers made that wish come true. I have never read Pynchon’s… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (Secret Screening #3)
FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Sirāt – draws you in and refuses to let go
Some films don’t just unfold before you — they draw you in and refuse to let go. Premiering at Fantastic Fest 2025, Sirāt, the latest from director Óliver Laxe, is one of those rare, compelling cinematic experiences. Shot with hypnotic beauty by cinematographer Mauro Herce, the film follows Luis (Sergi López, in one of his… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Sirāt – draws you in and refuses to let go
FANTASTIC FEST – APPOFENIACS: the true horror runs much deeper, in the ideas that pulse beneath its gore
Premiering at Fantastic Fest 2025, Appofeniacs is the kind of horror film that sneaks under your skin and stays long after the credits roll. On the surface, it might appear as a blood-soaked spectacle — and yes, there’s plenty of viscera on display — but the true horror runs much deeper, in the ideas that… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST – APPOFENIACS: the true horror runs much deeper, in the ideas that pulse beneath its gore
Crítica de película de Fantastic Fest: One Battle After Another – Familia, acción y drama es todo un éxito
La nueva película de Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another, está inspirada en la novela “Vineland” de Thomas Pynchon, ambientada en los años 80. El guion de Anderson es una historia de familia, drama y resistencia que cautivará al público. Aunque esta historia se desarrolla hace unas décadas, la historia de la resistencia no… Continue reading Crítica de película de Fantastic Fest: One Battle After Another – Familia, acción y drama es todo un éxito
FANTASTIC FEST 2025: One Battle After Another- ambitious, bold, and often wildly entertaining
Bob is a washed-up revolutionary living in a haze of stoned paranoia, off-grid with his spirited and self-reliant daughter, Willa. When his evil nemesis resurfaces and Willa goes missing, the former radical races against time to find her as both father and daughter face the repercussions of their pasts. One Battle After Another was among… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025: One Battle After Another- ambitious, bold, and often wildly entertaining
FANTASTIC FEST – Bad Haircut: Animal House meets Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Some movies make you rethink a bad haircut. “Bad Haircut,” which premiered at Fantastic Fest 2025, makes you reconsider stepping foot in a barbershop ever again. On the surface, Kyle Misak’s debut appears to be a quirky indie thriller about a guy trying to reinvent himself with a new look — but once the scissors… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST – Bad Haircut: Animal House meets Texas Chain Saw Massacre