In current events, a lot has been said about artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity. This documentary by Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell explores the ongoing debate: some fear AI will cause humanity’s downfall, while others see it as a path to vastly improved lives. The film examines both the benefits and risks of… Continue reading THE AI DOC: OR HOW I BECAME I BECAME AN APOCALOPTIMIST – Is Compelling And Insightful
Author: Mark Saldana
SXSW 2026: PRETTY LETHAL Is Gruesome, Bloody Fun, Even If It Doesn’t Make Sense
Violent carnage reigned at SXSW this year, so it is fitting that a movie about a ballet troupe in peril would turn its protagonists into action heroes. Writer Kate Freund and director Vicky Jewson offer an imaginative, creatively realized film that celebrates the strength and athleticism of ballet dancers without sacrificing the grace and beauty… Continue reading SXSW 2026: PRETTY LETHAL Is Gruesome, Bloody Fun, Even If It Doesn’t Make Sense
SXSW 2026: READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME – A Fun Sequel That Expands on The Lore Of The First Installment
On the second night of the 2026 SXSW Film & TV festival, the programmers scheduled and screened the highly anticipated sequel to Ready or Not, directed by the respected Radio Silence collective (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett). The movie delivers more of what fans of the first film enjoyed, along with some expansion of the… Continue reading SXSW 2026: READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME – A Fun Sequel That Expands on The Lore Of The First Installment
THE BRIDE! Takes An Ambitious Approach To The Bride of Frankenstein Lore.
It is possible that I am in the minority, but I actually enjoyed Maggie Gyllenhaal’s approach to reimagining The Bride of Frankenstein. Is the movie a bit messy? Yes. However, I applaud the filmmaker’s creativity, and Gyllenhaal takes a fresh, inventive approach to the material that stands out among previous adaptations. Topped with excellent performances… Continue reading THE BRIDE! Takes An Ambitious Approach To The Bride of Frankenstein Lore.
Fantastic Fest 2025: Sirāt Delivers Breathtaking Tension
I was not at all prepared for this movie. I was offered a guaranteed ticket and reserved seat, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to experience a film that would absolutely blow my mind. Though I read the synopsis offered by Fantastic Fest, I had no idea what kind of experience I would have.… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: Sirāt Delivers Breathtaking Tension
HOW TO MAKE A KILLING Has A Wickedly Fun Premise That Lacks Swagger And Attitude
A dark comedy featuring gallows humor is totally my jam, and after reading the synopsis of How to Make a Killing, I was excited for a wild, possibly absurd ride. Inspired by the film, Kind Hearts and Coronets, which is based on the novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal by Roy Horniman, writer/director John… Continue reading HOW TO MAKE A KILLING Has A Wickedly Fun Premise That Lacks Swagger And Attitude
WUTHERING HEIGHTS: This Is Not Your Mother’s, Grandmother’s, Or Great-Grandmother’s Adaptation
Ever since Emily Brontë’s novel was published in 1847, there have been multiple adaptations of the story. Provocative filmmaker Emerald Fennell (Saltburn, Promising Young Woman) now takes a turn with a version of the “love story” that is bold, passionate, and also hilarious and quite naughty. I have watched only the 1939 version starring Laurence… Continue reading WUTHERING HEIGHTS: This Is Not Your Mother’s, Grandmother’s, Or Great-Grandmother’s Adaptation
Fantastic Fest 2025: GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE
One of the secret screenings of Fantastic Fest came as a complete surprise to me. I had never heard of the movie, so when the title leaked before the screening, all I could do was shrug. I knew it was the newest movie from director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaker behind the first three Pirates of… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE
CRIME 101: A Solid And Often Intriguing Crime Thriller
Based on the novel of the same name by Don Winslow, Crime 101 comes across as a Michael Mann crime thriller copycat. It is not a bad imitation, but it doesn’t achieve the same level of quality in storytelling and filmmaking that makes its inspirations, like Mann’s Heat, seminal classics. Writer/director Bart Layton and team… Continue reading CRIME 101: A Solid And Often Intriguing Crime Thriller
GOAT: An Animated Underdog Story That Has Visual Flash, But Is Lacking In The Humor Department
In an alternate earth where anthropomorphic animals thrive, a skilled, athletic goat aspires to take the sports world by storm, allowing other smaller-statured athletes to prove themselves. I often enjoy a good underdog story, but the problem is that there have been so many others that have preceded it, with varying degrees of success. This… Continue reading GOAT: An Animated Underdog Story That Has Visual Flash, But Is Lacking In The Humor Department