Fantastic Fest 25: “APPOFENIACS” is a Deepfake Nightmare
With strong, funny performances by genre favorites like Sean Gunn and Jermaine Fowler, APPOFENIACS comes from a place of loving Tarantino, but with a new, fun dimensionality.
Fantastic Fest 25: “Bad Haircut” is John Hughes by Way of James Wan
Bad Haircut is a John Hughes movie that’s been hacked away at by James Wan, and the result is the sort of haircut people can’t stop asking you about.
Fantastic Fest 25: “The Cramps: A Period Piece” Finds Humor in Period Pain
With the heart of Cellars translated through the weirdness of Waters, The Cramps: A Period Piece is a cult classic in the making.
Fantastic Fest 25: “Silver Screamers” Brings Horror to the Nursing Home
Silver Screamers is endearingly heartfelt in its pursuit of making something frightening, a mirror of sorts to life itself.
“The Long Walk” is One of the Best Stephen King Adaptations
The Long Walk is no walk in the park. It’s a brutal exercise of putting one foot in front of the other in the pursuit of an unknown finish line.
“Sunfish (& Other Stories from Green Lake)” Captures Dreamy, Lakeside Slices of Life
Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) is a love letter to a place and a season, and how they affect us all in different, beautiful ways.
Tim Blake Nelson Lands a Massive Punch in “Bang Bang”
Bang Bang is not about the moments in the ring, but the tougher moments that come after. When the spotlight’s off and the blood has dried, what kind of person will you be?
TIFF25: “Hedda” Sees Tessa Thompson Reveling in Chaos
Led by Thompson’s truly magnetic performance, Hedda provides an inspired, updated, and freshly twisted take on the classic play.
“Code 3” is an Unexpected Heartfelt Letter to EMTs
Code 3’s mix of tones creates a funny, touching film that speaks to the unsung heroes of the healthcare world: the EMTs.
TIFF25: “The Testament of Ann Lee” Shakes the Earth
The Testament of Ann Lee is a frantic piece of passion that etches Ann’s name in the history books.
“The Cut” Sees Orlando Bloom Going for the Kill
Swinging between a touch too dramatic and utterly visceral, The Cut lands its fair share of punches.
“Stranger Eyes” Asks What it Means to Be Seen
Stranger Eyes asks for the viewer’s attention and perception, skews it, and then asks viewers to find the fine line between surveillance for the sake of safety and for the thrill of voyeurism.
“Somnium” Creeps into Your Hollywood Hopes and Dreams
Somnium is an unsettling look at the facade of Los Angeles and the way it can be molded to make or break a person’s spirit.
“The Fantastic Golem Affairs” Tackles Loneliness Through Absurdity
The Fantastic Golem Affairs is about connection in the purest sense. It asks us to view each other as our weirdest and most vulnerable selves to see if there’s still worth within us.
“The Toxic Avenger” (2023) Has a Warm, Oozy Heart
Toxic Avenger gives you the splattering brain matter, flying blood, and oozy, toxic heart on its sleeve. When you boil it all down, The Toxic Avenger (2023) is a movie about a dad trying to show his kid how much he loves him and taking down the corrupt American healthcare system along the way. Isn’t that what superhero movies should be all about?
“What We Hide” Unearths Pain of Addiction
Maybe that’s where the title of What We Hide comes from. We often hide our love when people hurt us or we hide our pain when we love someone. Neither is sustainable. Something has to break.
Edinburgh International Film Festival: “In Transit” Probes the Power of a Look
In Transit captures the loneliness of creation as it mixes with the hope that an act means more than it does.
“The Knife” is a Razor-Sharp Morality Play
The Knife is harrowing in its plausibility, redefining what it means to find the truth.
Locarno Film Festival: “Keep Quiet” Speaks to Silence
Keep Quiet shows the difficult task of finding a place in this world and demonstrates how easy it is for someone to take advantage of the innate human desire to belong.
“Treading Water” is a Raw Look at Addiction in Manchester
Treading Water wants Danny, Laura, and the viewer to know that community and human connection are the answer to the high tides of our lives.
