Fantastic Fest hosted two public screenings of When Evil Lurks by Argentina’s director/screenwriter Demián Rugna (Terrified, 2017). A story about possession in a remote area, this is a supernatural thriller that some of the audience may find shocking, and others will feel the hair on the back of the neck stand on end at times.… Continue reading Fantastic Fest featured Argentina’s When Evil Lurks and Now in Theaters
Category: MAIN
Texas, USA Documentary Now Available on Digital Platforms
Texas, USA is written and directed by Andrew Morgan and is his latest feature documentary. This film is about the fight for real and lasting change in Texas and beyond, featuring candidates and organizers who never give up on our democracy. The film showcases what it takes to fight for a stronger democracy through the… Continue reading Texas, USA Documentary Now Available on Digital Platforms
THE BURIAL
Director and co-writer Maggie Betts’ film, The Burial, is an inspirational courtroom drama with some humorous moments most likely never seen in an episode of “Perry Mason” on television or the film To Kill a Mockingbird. Betts (The Novitiate, 2017) and award-winning playwright Doug Wright co-wrote the adapted screenplay from Jonathan Harr’s article “The Burial,”… Continue reading THE BURIAL
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
‘Reptile’ – A Tense Thriller That Slithers Away from Its Promise
The opening moments of “Reptile” are undeniably riveting, setting the stage for an enticing murder mystery anchored by Benicio del Toro’s character, Detective Tom Nichols. However, before we delve into the film’s merits and drawbacks, it’s necessary to dispel any initial misconceptions about the “reptilian” title. Contrary to what one might assume, ‘Reptile’ is not… Continue reading ‘Reptile’ – A Tense Thriller That Slithers Away from Its Promise
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
Dumb Money Review – careful for Spoilers!
We are so fortunate to be living in a time where massive stories that grip the entire globe are being told very soon after actual events unfold. We used to have to wait years and years to relive a story via cinematic dramatization, but now a mere two years after the GameStop saga, Storytellers Lauren… Continue reading Dumb Money Review – careful for Spoilers!
Fantastic Fest 2023 Pet Sematary: Bloodlines – the Idea Should have Stayed Buried
Fans of Stephen King’s eerie novel ‘Pet Sematary’ and those who remember the chilling 1989 adaptation might have once wished for a sequel or a remake. Hollywood granted those wishes, but the results were mixed. Too often, Hollywood attempts to create equally successful prequels or sequels and fails. And we now have ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines,’… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023 Pet Sematary: Bloodlines – the Idea Should have Stayed Buried