Month: September 2026

Fantastic Fest 2026: Half – a Bloody, Relentless Revenge Film

Half is an absolute bloodbath. Directed by Samjad, the Indian action film follows Ethan and Ivy, half-human, half-vampire twins whose road trip turns horrific when a gang of armed bandits attacks them. They survive, but what follows is essentially an all-out revenge mission, and the film wastes little time getting there. The supernatural premise gives… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2026: Half – a Bloody, Relentless Revenge Film

Fantastic Fest 2026: Roma Elastica – a fever dream easy to sleep through

When the person introducing Roma Elastica called it a “fever dream,” my instincts told me to walk away. I should have listened. Director Bertrand Mandico’s film is so strange, disjointed, and deliberately disturbing that any meaning beneath its excesses is hard to find. Set in 1982, the story follows Eddie (Marion Cotillard), a French actress… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2026: Roma Elastica – a fever dream easy to sleep through

Fantastic Fest 2026: Resident Evil: a fun way to begin

Photo Credit Jack Plunkett

Fantastic Fest 2026 opened with Resident Evil, and for me, it was a fun way to begin the festival. I’d never played the video game, so I went in with little knowledge of the franchise or any particular expectations. What I found was a fast-moving, bloody, highly visual action film that immediately set the tone… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2026: Resident Evil: a fun way to begin

Fantastic Fest 2026: Flapjax World Premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin

Flapjax was once a popular menu item, but it was eliminated after some customers reported issues. The fast-food joint needs an economic boost, so a corporate manager uses the idea to bring back the beloved food item with a few tweaks. Once the “new” Flapjax arrives at the designated store, the staff is told not… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2026: Flapjax World Premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin

Fantastic Fest 2026 News: Lionsgate’s Action/Horror film Beware Boiuna Opens Annual Genre Festival

Beware Boiúna is a survival monster-horror film set in the Amazon rainforest, with a special screening at Fantastic Fest on Opening Night, September 17, 2026, ahead of its scheduled theatrical release in the U.S. on October 2, 2026. Directed by Mike P. Nelson, with a screenplay by Alan McElroy and a story by Tony Giglio… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2026 News: Lionsgate’s Action/Horror film Beware Boiuna Opens Annual Genre Festival

HOPE: A South Korean “Monster” Thriller That Goes A Bit Too Far

In the small South Korean community of Hope Harbor, the local police chief and a rookie officer must defend their home from a bizarre, seemingly monstrous threat they are clearly unprepared for. The movie starts solidly and impactfully for its first couple of acts; however, filmmaker Na Hong-jin fails to deliver a realistic ending, which… Continue reading HOPE: A South Korean “Monster” Thriller That Goes A Bit Too Far

PRACTICAL MAGIC 2: An Unnecessary Slog of a Sequel

Until last weekend, I had never watched 1998’s Practical Magic. For whatever reason, a horror/rom-com about witches just never interested me. However, when I did receive the screening invitation to Practical Magic 2, I knew I had some homework to do. After watching the sleek and lean 106-minute affair, I didn’t exactly feel like I… Continue reading PRACTICAL MAGIC 2: An Unnecessary Slog of a Sequel

Mayday Review: Familiar Action, Great Chemistry, and a Scene-Stealing Kenneth Branagh

Sometimes a movie doesn’t have to reinvent anything to be a good time. Mayday, now streaming on Apple TV, is exactly that kind of movie: fast, funny, action-packed, and familiar enough that there are very few surprises. Still, thanks largely to the chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, I had a lot of fun… Continue reading Mayday Review: Familiar Action, Great Chemistry, and a Scene-Stealing Kenneth Branagh