Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: 9:40

By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ “9:40” is the 12 minute Spanish language short horror film from Mexico starring Kristyan Ferrer (“Sin Nombre,” “600 Miles”). Ferrer’s performance in the “Sin Nombre” film written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga is among many of the outstanding performances from that film and I knew to anticipate an engaging… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: 9:40

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: JALLIKATTU

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From India, but not from “Bollywood,” comes an outstanding achievement in direction, cinematography, editing and sound that has a simple story with astute political connotations. This film, by director Lijo Jose Pellissery and writers R. Jayakumar and Hareesh S., challenges people’s perceptions of strength and valor… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: JALLIKATTU

Review: HUSTLERS

By Laurie Coker Rating: A Everyone hustles – for a job, to care for the kids, to win a race or earn a promotion, but no one hustles like actress Jennifer Lopez in her latest film Hustlers.  Writer-director, Lorene Scafaria brings out the best in her cast and Lopez uses every gift that nature gave… Continue reading Review: HUSTLERS

Review: AUGGIE

By Laurie Coker Rating: B What if someone could read your mind? And what if that someone came in the guise of a life-like AI image? Such is the case in Auggie, an Indy film co-written and directed by writer-director Matt Kane and Marc Underhill. Starring Richard Kind, Auggie plods along much like its lead… Continue reading Review: AUGGIE

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: COLOR OUT OF SPACE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) After taking an extended break from narrative feature filmmaking, director Richard Stanley is back with an adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft short story, The Color Out of Space. Stanley is no stranger to Fantastic Fest, as he attended the festival in 2014 in support of the… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: COLOR OUT OF SPACE

FANTASTIC FEST 2019 News: Takashi Miike’s “First Love” (Hatsukoi) Plays Opening Night Of The 15th Annual Genre Festival

By Liz Lopez Takashi Miike  received the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Fantastic Fest after the screening of his film, “First Love,” that had a World Premiere at Cannes 2019 (Directors’ Fortnight) and a North American Premiere at TIFF this year as well.  He has directed more than 100 features between the late 90s… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2019 News: Takashi Miike’s “First Love” (Hatsukoi) Plays Opening Night Of The 15th Annual Genre Festival

Review: HUSTLERS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Loosely based on the New York magazine article by Jessica Pressler, The Hustlers at Scores, Hustlers the film follows an all too familiar formula when it comes to a true crime story. To its benefit, though, the story is an interesting one, and one that keeps… Continue reading Review: HUSTLERS