At this point in America, most people are well aware of the horrendous treatment of Native Americans that colonists and settlers had on the native people of our country. However, this ugly aspect of our history often gets overlooked, glossed over, or even justified as a necessary evil for our nation’s benefit. Based on the… Continue reading KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Reflects in Shocking Detail a Very Dark and Disturbing History of America
Author: Mark Saldana
Fantastic Fest 2023: TOTALLY KILLER
For the closing night feature of this year’s Fantastic Fest, the programmers selected a fun and exciting movie that combines time travel and slasher horror. Totally Killer is more comedic than frightening but is nevertheless a very amusing ride. The film blends the humor of Back to the Future and the horror tropes of slashers… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: TOTALLY KILLER
Fantastic Fest 2023: PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES Raises One Important Question
One question remains for those familiar with the lore of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary. Why would anyone use the power of the burial ground if they already know the results are evil? I had hoped that this prequel installment would include the answer to this question, but alas, this was not the case. Even though… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES Raises One Important Question
THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER Attempts The Impossible
After attempting to deliver sequels to Halloween (1978), filmmakers David Gordon Green and Danny McBride tried to do the same with The Exorcist franchise. Though their Halloween installments met mixed reactions, the filmmakers remained undaunted in their attempt to enrich the cinematic world, first launched by writer William Peter Blatty and director William Friedkin in… Continue reading THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER Attempts The Impossible
STRANGE WAY OF LIFE Is A Short Film Deserving of A Feature Length Treatment
The new short film by acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar is a film that leaves its audience wondering why this story was not made into a feature-length movie. With much attention to its aesthetics and exceptional character development, Strange Way of Life leaves us wanting so much more from these compelling and intriguing characters. In… Continue reading STRANGE WAY OF LIFE Is A Short Film Deserving of A Feature Length Treatment
FAIR PLAY Is More Stressful Than Erotic
Currently playing in select theaters and available for streaming on Netflix on Friday, October 6, is a film labeled as an erotic thriller; however, I feel this label is a misnomer. Perhaps my idea of an erotic thriller doesn’t give the subgenre enough credit because I was expecting a softcore erotic movie that had very… Continue reading FAIR PLAY Is More Stressful Than Erotic
Fantastic Fest 2023: ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE
At this year’s festival, I only watched one documentary feature. Enter The Clones of Bruce caught my eye because, after reading the title, I knew what this film is about. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Bruce Lee significantly impacted martial arts, kung fu cinema, and television. However, before he could genuinely attain superstar status,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE
Fantastic Fest 2023 News: Festival Award Winners
The 2023 edition of Austin’s beloved genre festival, Fantastic Fest, began on Thursday, September 21. TVR’s Laurie Coker, Liz Lopez and yours truly have been in attendance from the beginning. All three of us have partaken from the variety of cinematic offerings in the genres of horror, science-fiction, action, and international movies programmed by the… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023 News: Festival Award Winners
Fantastic Fest 2023: THE TOXIC AVENGER
I was initially bewildered by the idea of “remaking” the Troma cult classic, The Toxic Avenger when it was first announced that it would open this year’s Fantastic Fest. As a fan of all kinds of cinema, my first reaction is normal. I am sure several fans of the original film currently feel this way,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: THE TOXIC AVENGER
A HAUNTING IN VENICE Finally Scores A Win For Branagh in His Poirot Series.
Kenneth Branagh has devoted several of his recent career years to adapting some of Agatha Christie’s mysteries, which only means he loves the source material. While I moderately liked Murder on the Orient Express but was not impressed with his take on Death on the Nile, I attended this screening with tempered expectations. Thankfully, this… Continue reading A HAUNTING IN VENICE Finally Scores A Win For Branagh in His Poirot Series.