Category: Reviews

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: FIRST LOVE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Japanese filmmaker extraordinaire Takashi Mikke brought his latest movie to Fantastic Fest this year and the it’s definitely a fun, crazy and violent affair. Mikke’s latest piece presents a true romance amidst criminal power plays, serendipitous circumstances, and filters it through a slightly heightened reality where… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: FIRST LOVE

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: SCREAM, QUEEN! MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Actor Mark Patton will forever be remembered as the male “scream queen” of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. Even though he has been honored and celebrated in recent years as a trailblazer in horror cinema, his journey to this status has been a… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: SCREAM, QUEEN! MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

Review: LUCY IN THE SKY

By Laurie Coker Rating: C- There is a history, a deep one, behind Natalie Portman’s latest film, Lucy in the Sky. Stories and rumors flew like fireflies about the Paul McCartney, John Lennon song first performed by the Beatles for their Sgt. Pepper album in 1967.  LSD (acid, Lucy) certainly, according to tabloids, was the… Continue reading Review: LUCY IN THE SKY

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: THE DEATH OF DICK LONG

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Writer Billy Chew and director Daniel Scheinert take a relatively simple, but disturbing true story and spin it into a suspenseful and intguing yarn that is certain to shock and awe. Normally, I would reveal the true events that inspired this feature film, but to do… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: THE DEATH OF DICK LONG

Review: JUDY

By Liz Lopez Rating: A Many people of a certain age may remember watching “The Wizard of Oz” and the female lead, Judy Garland. The new film, “Judy,” starring Renee Zellweger is not set during the time of “The Wizard of Oz,” but the audience certainly will see some scenes of her youth and what… Continue reading Review: JUDY

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON

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By Liz Lopez Rating: B – “In the Shadow of the Moon” is a police drama with a Sci-Fi feel, and violence that a young Philadelphia cop, Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook, known as “Locke” to his friends and colleagues), can’t help but want to investigate although he is not a detective. As he is immersed… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON

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