In the world of legal dramas, ‘Burial’ stands out as an interesting tale of justice with a David versus Goliath spin. At the forefront is the tenacity of an ostentatious personal injury attorney. Directed by Maggie Betts and available on Prime Video, this based-on-a-true-story film brings to life the courtroom battle between a small-town funeral… Continue reading The Burial: Foxx Shines in David and Goliath Legal Drama
Category: Reviews
Fantastic Fest: Totally Killer – Totally Fun
Featured as the closing film of Fantastic Fest 2023, ‘Totally Killer’ director Nahnatchka Khan decently combines two fun genres into one delightful Halloween-appropriate movie. Feeling at times like ‘Back to the Future’ and at others, ‘Scream,’ ‘Totally Killer’ is exciting enough for adults and mild enough for older teens. Perhaps missing is a better soundtrack… Continue reading Fantastic Fest: Totally Killer – Totally Fun
Fantastic Fest featured Argentina’s When Evil Lurks and Now in Theaters
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
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
STORY AVE
Directed by Aristotle Torres from a script co-written with Bonsu Thompson, Story Ave had the World Premiere at the SXSW Film & Television Festival this past March. Story Ave received the SXSW 2023 Special Jury Award for Cinematography by Eric Branco (Clemency). The film stars Asante Blackk (“When They See Us”), Luis Guzmán (“Wednesday,” Boogie… Continue reading STORY AVE
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