Actor Austin Abrams seems to have found his niche, playing scared, tense, and sometimes timid characters reacting to harrowing or highly stressful situations. Previous movies such as Weapons and Resident Evil show that a likable, talented actor can pull off both thrilling and comedic moments. In his latest role in Whalefall, Abrams gets to show… Continue reading WHALEFALL: A Nerve-Wracking Thriller With A Sincere Heart
Author: Mark Saldana
MISTY GREEN: Chris Rock’s Hate Letter to Hollywood
After watching Chris Rock’s latest film, I get the strong impression that he does not like Hollywood. That sentiment is actually very fair given the events that transpire in his movie, Misty Green, which examines the life and career of a black actor (the titular character) who achieved some success and acclaim as a television… Continue reading MISTY GREEN: Chris Rock’s Hate Letter to Hollywood
THE SOCIAL RECKONING: A Fine Follow-Up to an Iconic Film
Sixteen years after David Fincher’s The Social Network took cinema by storm, its writer, Aaron Sorkin, returns to write and direct a sequel that addresses the aftermath of Facebook’s effect on the world, particularly in America. Sorkin takes a different approach, narrowing the scope to focus on the investigative journalism and whistleblowing carried out by… Continue reading THE SOCIAL RECKONING: A Fine Follow-Up to an Iconic Film
DIGGER: A Film Guaranteed to Divide Audiences
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from Digger, filmmaker Alejandro Iñárritu’s latest entry, since my only reference was a couple of trailers I’d watched. Given Iñárritu’s track record and my feelings about the films I’ve seen, I still didn’t know what to expect. After experiencing the big-swinging, tour de force that is Digger, I… Continue reading DIGGER: A Film Guaranteed to Divide Audiences
Fantastic Fest 2026: Beware Boiúna Is A Lackluster Opening For the Festival
When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I was definitely intrigued. I love a good monster movie that promises fun and thrills, but unfortunately, this one delivers weakly. I was initially bewildered that the highly anticipated film Resident Evil wasn’t the official opening-night movie, given how good it is, and that this seemingly… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2026: Beware Boiúna Is A Lackluster Opening For the Festival
Fantastic Fest 2026: PRIMETIME
In 2004, NBC debuted To Catch a Predator. It was a reality television show where NBC journalist and host Chris Hansen and a group of associates set up an undercover sting, in conjunction with local police, to catch sexual predators in the act of targeting minors. The show became a ratings success for the network,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2026: PRIMETIME
HEART OF THE BEAST: A Solid Survival Thriller
From writer Cameron Alexander and director David Ayer comes a riveting wilderness survival thriller starring Brad Pitt as Army Special Forces veteran James Belmont, and four German Shepherd dogs portraying Belmont’s best friend, Odin. Though the story plays out more or less as expected, Ayer and his crew develop and execute intense, nail-biting, harrowing sequences… Continue reading HEART OF THE BEAST: A Solid Survival Thriller
Fantastic Fest 2026: RESIDENT EVIL
The unofficial festival opener of this year’s Fantastic Fest is the new movie from acclaimed horror filmmaker Zach Cregger. The film is the latest adaptation of the Resident Evil video game franchise. When I initially heard that Cregger’s latest cinematic offering would screen at Austin’s beloved genre film festival, I was ecstatic. Though I have… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2026: RESIDENT EVIL
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