Fantastic Fest 2026 Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar knows how to make an impression, and his latest horror-comedy, Ghost in the Cell, does so with plenty of blood, outrageous situations, and an assortment of characters as entertaining as they are unpredictable. Screened at a film festival, the film proved an unusual mix of supernatural horror, dark… Continue reading GHOST IN THE CELL: a bloody, bizarre, and silly trip behind bars
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WHALEFALL: A Nerve-Wracking Thriller With A Sincere Heart
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
Runner: plenty of action and ample laughs
Alan Ritchson brings the muscle, Owen Wilson brings the chatter, and Runner delivers enough vehicular destruction to make a defensive-driving instructor weep. Scott Waugh directs this action comedy, which keeps its premise simple and its leads exceedingly busy. The mayhem has little substance, but I found plenty of excitement in watching this unlikely pair attempt a very… Continue reading Runner: plenty of action and ample laughs
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
Blood Countess: A Lavish Vampire Comedy That Overstays Its Welcome
Fantastic Fest 2026 The Blood Countess has enough color, costuming, and elaborate scenery to keep the eyes occupied long after the story should have wrapped up. At Fantastic Fest, I admired its visual extravagance while wishing someone had edited it more firmly. This peculiar vampire comedy offers plenty to appreciate, including a solid cast and… Continue reading Blood Countess: A Lavish Vampire Comedy That Overstays Its Welcome
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
Wild Horse Nine: a pairing of actors that pleases unabashedly
Fantastic Fest 2026 John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell are a pairing I could happily watch argue their way through almost anything. In Wild Horse Nine, their chemistry turns a buddy comedy with a serious undercurrent into one of my favorite Fantastic Fest experiences. Writer-director Martin McDonagh gives them clever material, and they deliver it with… Continue reading Wild Horse Nine: a pairing of actors that pleases unabashedly
Alpha Gang Review: An All-Star Alien Comedy That Gets Lost in Its Own Weirdness
Fantastic Fest 2026 Alpha Gang was one of the strangest films I saw at Fantastic Fest 2026, and I am still not entirely sure what to make of it. Directed by David and Nathan Zellner, this science-fiction comedy pairs an impressive cast with vivid colors, memorable costumes, and an enthusiastic commitment to absurdity. It was… Continue reading Alpha Gang Review: An All-Star Alien Comedy That Gets Lost in Its Own Weirdness
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