Tag: thriller
-
Moon: The Body Knows Before the Mind
In Moon, Kurdwin Ayub directs with a quiet pulse, letting the body speak before the mouth does, letting silence stretch across gilded rooms and dusty training mats. Florentina Holzinger’s Sarah is a woman of muscle and memory, a fighter who has lost her fight, now wandering through a world that doesn’t know what to do…
-
Sharp Corner: The House That Watches
There is a quiet dread that pulses beneath Jason Buxton’s “Sharp Corner,” a film that never shouts but always trembles. It opens with a promise—a family moving into a new home, a fresh start, a clean slate. But the slate is cracked from the beginning, and the cracks widen with each passing car, each screech…
-
Borderline: A Review with Bite and Whiplash
In Borderline Jimmy Warden directs with a taste for the absurd, the unsettling, and the kind of fanfare that thrums behind obsession. Borderline lands somewhere between fever dream and exploitative thrill ride—but it rarely stays in one genre long enough to unpack its luggage. This is a movie that jerks, dazzles, whimpers, and chuckles inappropriately…
-
Final Destination; Bloodlines—Bloodlines and Broken Threads
There are moments in Final Destination: Bloodlines when fate feels less like a script and more like a fever dream passed down through family bone. Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein lean hard into the lore’s more elegiac tones, dialing back the franchise’s manic edge in favor of a generational haunt. Death still delivers,…
-
The Bad Guys 2: Claws, Chaos, and a Kiss in Orbit
“The Bad Guys 2,” directed by Pierre Perifel and JP Sans, continues the story with a pulsing mix of ambition and mayhem. Sam Rockwell’s Mr. Wolf leads the crew again—still struggling with society and chasing the possibility of redemption—but this time, they face a new threat that turns their reputations inside out. The film commits…
-
Locked: A Gospel of Glass and Grief
David Yarovesky’s Locked unfolds like a haunted hymn, a tale of punishment and penance sung from the belly of a machine. The Dolus SUV is no mere vehicle—it is a confessional booth, a tomb, a pulpit. Inside it, Eddie Barrish, played with blistered conviction by Bill Skarsgård, is both sinner and sacrament. He is Scrooge…
-
The Fantastic Four: First Steps— Toward the Mythic
Matt Shakman’s Fantastic Four: First Steps begins not with spectacle, but with quiet intention. The film’s heartbeat is the family dinner, where wonder, love, and uncertainty pulse beneath champagne toasts and cosmic dread. Pedro Pascal plays Reed Richards with grace tethered to guilt; his intellect is not the prize, but the price. He carries the…
-
Sew Torn: Unspools with Flair and a Few Snags
Freddy McDonald’s “Sew Torn” stitches together crime, choice, and metaphysical quilting with the kind of unraveled bravado that most directors wouldn’t dare thread. It’s an oddball of a film, laced with absurdity and grounded emotion, and while it doesn’t always hit straight, the pattern it leaves is hard to forget. As a crime drama that…
-
I Know What You Did Last Summer: Hook, Line, and Trauma: A Fisherman’s Guide to Gentrified Guilt
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer feels like a haunted yearbook, scribbled over by a drunken librarian who’s secretly the Fisherman in disguise. The movie returns to the curse of cover-ups, guilt, and hook-wielding justice with a cast so earnest it’s as if they believe trauma can be buried…
-
Marked Men: Rule + Shaw- Marked by Tenderness
In Nick Cassavetes’ Marked Men: Rule + Shaw, the familiar beats of a love long held, quietly yearned for, and finally unearthed are played like notes in a bittersweet melody. The romance between Rule Archer and Shaw Landon unfurls not with innovation, but with the kind of warm sincerity that softens even the most well-worn…
-
Opus: Pearls in the Firelight
In Opus, director Mark Anthony Green orchestrates a nightmarish requiem for celebrity culture, burning through the lacquered illusions of fame like candlelight against velvet. Anchored by Ayo Edebiri’s poised and perceptive turn as journalist Ariel Ecton, the film juggles psychological horror, dark satire, and cult paranoia—sometimes deftly, sometimes erratically. It’s a fever dream that dares…
-
Superman: Solar Messiah: A Kryptonian Reckoning
James Gunn’s Superman is a baroque cathedral of spandex and salvation—part cosmic opera, part gospel pamphlet. It’s a film where every punch echoes through dimensions, and every teardrop carries mythic weight. Starring David Corenswet as the Sun-borne savior and Nicholas Hoult as the malevolent mind behind his misery, the movie balances reverence for its comic…
-
The Shrouds: The Whispers Beneath the Stone
The dead are restless, but not in the way you’d expect. They don’t scream. They shimmer. They peel away in layers of corrupted light. David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds, now streaming on the Criterion Channel, isn’t a ghost story—it’s a fugue composed in grief’s decaying architecture. It moves like a procession through data-sickened catacombs, its horror…
-
Jurassic Park: Rebirth- Mutants, Mosasaurs, and Mutadons: A Roaring Return That Almost Finds Its Footing
It’s hard not to chuckle when the newest entry in the Jurassic franchise opens with a mutated six-limbed T. rex named “Distortus rex”—a name that feels like it was brainstormed after two energy drinks and a midnight viewing of Sharktopus. Jurassic World Rebirth, directed by Gareth Edwards and penned by original Jurassic Park screenwriter David…
-
Heads of State: World Leaders, Weaponized Banter, and One Crashed Plane
Dateline: everywhere from the tarmac of a flaming Air Force One to a Montenegrin weapons bazaar via the septic sewers of Brussels. The international order is in disarray—not from nuclear brinkmanship or cyberterrorism, but from a bickering transatlantic odd couple who would rather throw haymakers than shake hands. In Heads of State, a satirical action-thriller…
-
Ash: A Paranoid Sci-Fi Slow Burn That Smolders More Than It Scorches
Flying Lotus’s Ash, now streaming on Shudder, is a bold attempt at a cerebral sci-fi thriller—equal parts paranoia, body horror, and meditative grief-trip. It strives for the haunted, airless intensity of Alien and the narrative unreliability of Sunshine, but doesn’t always cohere. Its ambitions often outpace its execution, and while not everything sticks, it’s never…
-
The Actor: Amnesia with Stage Lighting
In The Actor, a murky little dream of a film currently playing on Hulu, you’re never quite sure whether you’re watching a noir thriller about memory or a rehearsal for one. The film, directed with an affection for theatrical smudges and slow reveals by Duke Johnson, wears its origins proudly—it’s based on Donald E. Westlake’s…
-
M3gan 2.0: Version Control and the Valley of Vengeance
When Gerald Johnstone returned to direct R3GAN 2.0, he may not have expected to helm a technothriller where satire and sincerity arm-wrestle in every frame—but that’s precisely what this quirky, circuit-fried sequel delivers. It’s a film that glances over its shoulder at its predecessor’s campy charm, then grabs a soldering iron and welds on a…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Operation Wakaliga: Fate and Blood (2024) Review – A Wild Fusion of Action, Satire, and Ugandan Cinema
Ori Yakobovich, Maya Rudich, and Nabwana IGG’s *Operation Wakaliga: Fate and Blood* (2024) marks a groundbreaking collaboration between Israel and Uganda. This film seamlessly blends high-energy action with satirical elements. It follows two Israeli commandos who are sent to Uganda to rescue the kidnapped son of Israel’s Prime Minister from the notorious Ugandan Tiger Mafia,…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: The Misadventures of Vince and Hick: A High-Octane, Offbeat Crime Caper
Trevor Stevens’ *The Misadventures of Vince & Hick* (2025) is a fast-paced, darkly comedic crime thriller that showcases its eccentric characters and relentless energy. The film follows Vince (Heston Horwin), a recently released car thief, who finds himself entangled with Hick (Chase Cargill), an overambitious con man. Together, they must deliver a valuable car to…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Pater Noster and the Mission of Light: Vinyl Gospel in a Wasteland of Flesh: A Hymn to Broken Generations
If vinyl could bleed, and discourse could blister, this film would be the wound. In Pater Noster and the Mission of Light, director Christopher Bickel doesn’t soothe—he scalds. He conjures a world where sociological theory is spliced with mutant births, and where peace-sign prophets and punk-rock oracles clash beneath the flicker of analog ghosts. We…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Old Wounds: **The Body Remembers What the Heart Cannot Say**
In the tremor before a word is spoken, Old Wounds begins—shaky, intimate, already too close. The screen pulses with breath, not score. The light is soft with intent, like the hush before a wound reopens. Director Steven Hugh Nelson does not ask us to suspend disbelief—he quietly informs us we’re already inside the story, that…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Good Night: Turns Chaos into Catharisis
When dusk swells over Buenos Aires and the pavement begins to sweat neon, Good Night unfurls like a whispered dare. Matías Szulanski’s urban nocturne doesn’t just walk you through the city—it hurtles you headlong into its waiting mouth. Here, the moon bears witness to impulsive crimes and fractured trust, and every alley glimmers with potential…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Alan at Night: Scales in the Spotlight: The Nocturnal Comedy of Terror Rift Sideways**
In the hush of handheld horror, where moonlight flickers through cheap blinds and digital grain crackles with dread, Alan at Night slinks into view—a mockumentary masquerading as midnight confession. Jesse Swenson paints his tale not in blood, but in deli meat, spilled milk, and the soft scuttle of reptilian feet. Humor is the bait; horror,…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: House of Ashes: A Haunting Allegory of Oppression and Survival
Izzy Lee’s *House of Ashes* (2025) is a deeply unsettling horror film that combines psychological terror with sharp social commentary. Premiering at the Etheria Film Festival, the film follows Mia (Fayna Sanchez), a woman coping with a miscarriage and the death of her husband, Adam. Although she has been acquitted of his murder, Mia is…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Itch: **The Burn Beneath the Skin**
In a corner-store cocoon carved from grief, Itch! writhes into life—a survival psalm in shades of grief and fluorescent doom. Bari Kang’s debut horror feature unfurls like skin under fingernails: tender, raw, and impossible to ignore. Jay—widower, drunk, father—staggers beneath the weight of sorrow’s shadow. His daughter Olivia, a light too bright for his hollowed…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Solvent: **The Skin Beneath the Screen**
Solvent does not begin. It ruptures. Like a fever breaking under pale light, like memory surfacing in static. From its first frame, the film unspools not in story but in sensation—choppy, quick-cut reveries that lacerate the eye and unsettle the breath. You do not watch Solvent so much as stagger through it, questioning what lingers…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: The Only Ones :**When the World Forgot, They Remembered**
In The Only Ones, director Jordan Miller distills horror into something intimate and aching—a kind of psychological erosion whispered through branches and gasoline haze. The terror here is not cosmic or conjured; it grows like mold in closed rooms, fed by silence, by second glances, by what was almost said. From the first frame, we…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Hacked: A Double Entendre of Rage Fueled Karma (2025) Review – A Darkly Comedic Revenge Fantasy
Shane Brady’s *Hacked: A Double Entendre of Rage Fueled Karma* (2025) is a genre-blending revenge thriller that turns digital theft into a blood-soaked, darkly comedic spectacle. Based on actual events, the film follows the Rumble family, whose dream of buying their first home is shattered when a notorious hacker known as *The Chameleon* (Chandler Riggs)…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Dark My Night: **No Flame Without Ash**
Neal Dhand’s Dark My Night doesn’t begin—it circles. It pulses forward only to collapse inward, again and again. A severed foot is discovered on a beach, but it’s not the first time Mitchell Morse, played with fraying precision by Albert Jones, has seen it. Or maybe it is. The investigation consumes him not in a…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: The Harbor Men: A Haunting Exploration of Isolation and Fate
Casey T. Malone’s *The Harbor Men* (2025) is a moody and atmospheric film that combines psychological tension with existential dread. Set in a decaying coastal town, the story follows a group of men who gather at a mysterious harbor, each burdened by the weight of their past decisions. As the tides shift, so do their…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: They Were Witches: **The Wind Spoke Their Names**
They didn’t just find her—she found them. In They Were Witches, director Alejandro G. Alegre trades in pastoral mysticism for a blood-soaked countdown cloaked in midnight folklore. What begins as a quirky detour to a rural motel becomes a staging ground for ritual slaughter, as a group of unsuspecting 20-somethings are marked for death by…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Abigail Before Beatrice: All Roads Turn Back
Cassie Keet’s *Abigail Before Beatrice* hums beneath the skin like a memory that never quite settled. It opens not with a bang, but with a breath held too long—a dusty room, a girl staring at a letter she’s unsure she has the right to open. Abigail (Riley Dandy) doesn’t speak in declarations. She watches. She…
-
Chattanooga Film Festival: Crossword: A Puzzle of Grief and Psychological Unraveling
Michael Vlamis’ *Crossword* (2024) is a psychological thriller that delves into the depths of grief and the vulnerable nature of the human mind. The film follows James, portrayed by Vlamis himself, a grieving father who becomes fixated on solving a daily crossword puzzle. As he immerses himself in this obsession, the words in the puzzles…
-
28 Years Later: The Virus Sleeps, But Never Dies
Danny Boyle returns to the wastelands he once scorched with fire and fury, but *28 Years Later* is not a reprise of screams and sprints—it’s an elegy. The world has not healed. It has learned to limp, hush at night, and whisper under its breath when the wind shifts. The Rage virus, once a storm,…
-
Straw: The Straw That Snapped the Stillness
Tyler Perry’s *Straw* arrives not with sermon nor spectacle, but with the raw pulse of a woman’s unraveling—tight as breath, quiet as thunder rolling under concrete. This is not a rise-and-triumph tale. It is a lament, cracked open—a portrait of a single mother crossing the faultline between survival and surrender. Taraji P. Henson delivers one…
-
Cleaner: Suspended Justice
If *Cleaner* were just another hostage thriller with eco-terrorists and corrupt CEOs, it might have passed unnoticed beneath the smudged windows of a crowded genre. But Martin Campbell directs this skyscraper siege with a bruised soul, and Daisy Ridley, a haunted window cleaner with combat instincts and a battered sense of duty, drags the film…
-
The Phoenician Scheme: A Meticulously Crafted Tale of Power and Redemption
Wes Anderson’s *The Phoenician Scheme* is a film about power, legacy, and the fine art of surviving assassination attempts with impeccable tailoring. Benicio del Toro plays Anatole “Zsa-Zsa” Korda, a wealthy man who even gravity hesitates before inconveniencing him. After his sixth near-death experience—this time involving a plane crash, a cornfield, and a pilot who…
-
EchoValley: Whispers in the Tall Grass: A Study in Panic and Plum Jam
*Echo Valley* unfolds in low tones and unbroken gazes. Michael Pearce directs with the precision of someone listening rather than announcing, each moment placed with the care of a steady hand rebuilding something cracked. Julianne Moore embodies Kate Garrett, a woman who lives among horses and unfinished conversations. Her home, buried in rural Pennsylvania, contains…
-
Deep Cover: Smoke and Mirrors: A Game Played in the Dark
The first rule of a good cover: don’t blink. In *Deep Cover*, Bryce Dallas Howard’s eyes are steady as cut glass, sharp enough to split a lie clean down the middle. She moves through the neon-lit underworld like a ghost in borrowed skin, playing a role so well that she forgets where she ends and…
-
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina- Grace and Vengeance: A Stylish but Familiar Spin on the John Wick Universe
Ana de Armas steps into the neon-lit underworld with a commanding presence in *Ballerina*, an expansion of the *John Wick* mythos that leans into the franchise’s signature style while attempting to carve out its narrative space. Directed by Len Wiseman, the film balances its brutal action with moments of introspection, though it occasionally struggles to…
-
Lost in the Shadows: *Night Moves* and the Disillusionment of the Neo-Noir DetectiveMovie Review
Arthur Penn’s *Night Moves* (1975) is a quintessential film within the neo-noir private detective genre, embodying a complex reflection on the futility of investigation amidst the disillusionment of post-Watergate America. The narrative follows Harry Moseby, portrayed with remarkable nuance by Gene Hackman, who delivers a weary and incisive performance that captures the character’s profound internal…
-
A Desert: Lost in the Dust
me roads don’t lead anywhere. A Desert, directed by Joshua Erkman, understands that more than most. It’s a film about return—not to home, but to the places where something once mattered, and the slow realization that nothing remains the same. Alex Clark (Kai Lennox) is a photographer retracing the spaces that first made him semi-famous,…
-
The Surrender: A Ritual of Grief and the Horrors That Follow
The dead don’t always stay where they belong. That’s the first lesson in *The Surrender*, Julia Max’s eerie, candle-lit descent into the madness of mourning. It starts with a whisper, a flicker of doubt, a mother and daughter staring into the abyss of loss. But grief is a hungry thing, and when you feed it,…
-
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning: A High-Stakes Dance with the Endgame
The world is on the brink, teetering between order and chaos, and Ethan Hunt is running out of time. *Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning* is not just another mission—it’s the reckoning of everything that came before, the culmination of thirty years of impossible feats, betrayals, and relentless pursuit of justice. Christopher McQuarrie delivers a…
-
Fountain of Youth: A Swashbuckling Chase Through Time and Temptation
The legend has whispered through the ages, a promise too tantalizing to ignore—the Fountain of Youth, hidden somewhere beyond the reach of mere mortals. But Guy Ritchie doesn’t deal in myths. He deals with men who chase them, gamble with fate, and come out grinning. *Fountain of Youth* is a rollicking, globe-trotting adventure that wears…
-
Night Call: A Midnight Descent into the Abyss
The night is a treacherous beast, stretching long and lean over the damp streets of Brussels, preying on the weak and challenging the strong. *Night Call* doesn’t merely enter this darkness—it plunges in, fists clenched and heart racing. Michel Blanchart’s debut feature is a gripping and relentless thriller that grabs you by the collar and…
-
Fight or Flight: **A Turbulent Ride Through the Skies of Absurdity**
If James Bond ever faced a midlife crisis, stranded in Bangkok with only a bottle of cheap whiskey and a vendetta against his ex, he might have found himself in the chaotic mess of *Fight or Flight*. However, this airborne spectacle belongs to Josh Hartnett, who exchanges suave espionage for a pair of first-class pajamas…
-
Harbin: A Snowbound Requiem for Freedom and Fate
There is something about the cold—how it settles into the bones and sharpens the edges of history. *Harbin*, directed by Woo Min-ho, is a film steeped in frost and fire, a historical thriller that moves like a ghost through the corridors of time, tracing the footsteps of Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-Geun (Hyun Bin) as…
-
The Surfer: Nicolas Cage’s Descent into Sun-Baked Madness
Lorcan Finnegan’s *The Surfer* is a psychological thriller that traps Nicolas Cage in a relentless nightmare, stripping him of his dignity, possessions, and sanity under the scorching Australian sun. What begins as a simple homecoming for Cage’s unnamed protagonist—a man returning to his childhood beach with his teenage son—quickly spirals into a surreal battle against…
-
La Cocina: A Fever Dream of Heat, Hunger, and the Ghosts of the American Dream
There is a rhythm to a kitchen, a pulse that beats beneath the clang of metal, the hiss of steam, and the barked orders that slice through the air like knives. Alonso Ruizpalacios’ *La Cocina* captures this rhythm with feverish intensity, weaving a tale of sweat-soaked survival in the heart of Times Square, where immigrant…
-
Thunderbolts: Marvel’s Misfit Heroes Find Their Groove
Thunderbolts” is a bold and refreshing addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, directed by Jake Schreier and featuring a stellar ensemble cast led by Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The film diverges from the typical superhero formula, focusing on a group of antiheroes who confront personal trauma, seek redemption, and navigate the complexities…
-
The Accountant 2: A Calculated Sequel That Balances Action and Heart
**The Accountant 2**, starring Ben Affleck, offers an engaging sequel that expands upon the groundwork laid by its predecessor while introducing new dynamics and exhilarating action sequences. Directed by Gavin O’Connor, the film resumes years after the original story, bringing audiences back into the intricate world of Christian Wolff, a brilliant yet neurodivergent accountant renowned…
-
Havoc: A Symphony of Chaos and Redemption
Gareth Evans‘ *Havoc*, featuring a compelling performance by Tom Hardy, immerses audiences in a grim world marked by profound moral decay, relentless action, and the elusive nature of redemption. Set against the backdrop of a rain-soaked, unnamed metropolis, the film follows Wilson, a weary and disillusioned cop entangled in a labyrinth of corruption and escalating…
-
Last Breath: Riding the Tides of Fate, a Deep-Sea Survival Triumph
In *Last Breath*, director Alex Parkinson immerses viewers in the perilous and claustrophobic realm of saturation divers operating under the North Sea’s turbulent waves. In this harsh environment, every heartbeat counts. The line between routine duty and catastrophic failure is as fragile as the umbilical cables connecting these brave professionals to the surface. The film…
-
Bring Them Down:A Bleak Symphony of Sorrow
Streaming now on MUBI, Chris Andrews’ *Bring Them Down* is a stark and haunting exploration of grief, guilt, and the corrosive forces of revenge. Anchored by a profoundly nuanced performance from Christopher Abbott as Michael O’Shea and an unsettling turn by Barry Keoghan as Jack, the film navigates rural Ireland’s unforgiving emotional and physical terrain…
-
The Amateur: A Cold Calculus of Revenge and Redemption
Janes Hawes‘ *The Amateur* is a razor-sharp thriller that plunges viewers into the shadowy depths of espionage and personal vengeance. With Rami Malek at the helm, the film delivers a chilling exploration of grief and justice, wrapped in the cold precision of a spy’s world. Charles Heller, portrayed with haunting restraint by Malek, is a…
-
A MinecraftMovie: Almost a Diamond, But More Like Gold
When Jared Hess took on the monumental task of creating a *Minecraft Movie*, expectations were understandably high. After all, how do you transform a game that’s 50% about punching trees and 50% about running from Creepers into a cohesive narrative? Ultimately, Hess crafted a reasonably entertaining experience filled with some standout moments, though a few…
-
Novocaine: Tender Numbness
Novocaine, Dan Berk‘s and Robert Olsen’s uniquely illuminating yet introspective exploration of painlessness, presents a touching blend of humor, noir, and deep existential reflections. In this poignant film, Jack Quaid delivers a heartfelt performance as Nathan “Nate” Caine, bringing to life a character who navigates the complexities of living without emotional sensation. His portrayal reflects…
-
Slamdance 2025: In the Mouth: : A Quirky Nightmare Comedy That Conquers Anxiety
Movie Info: Merl has been living his life as a recluse, in complete isolation, unable to leave his house after discovering a giant version of himself protruding from his lawn, blocking any attempt at escape. He’s run out of money, but If he doesn’t pay his rent in the next 5 days his land lord…
-
Slamdance 2025: “Fanboy”: A Thought-Provoking Journey Through Identity and Legacy
Movie Info: Fanboy follows Allen, a socially awkward young man on a personal pilgrimage to Columbus, Ohio, where he immerses himself in the world of college football in hopes of reconnecting with his estranged father. As the 2014 football season unfolds, Allen becomes lost in a whirlwind of sensory overload and culture shock. With no…
-
Slamdance 2025: Universe 25: A Sci-Fi Exploration of Human Connection
Movie Info: A young postman is tasked with sorting out lost post. Upon reading an opened letter, written by an author who claims to be an angel from the future, the postman embarks upon a fantastical journey and attempts to get the letter to its intended destination. Review: ” Universe 25” is a thriller that…
-
The Seed of the Sacred Fruit: Roots of Resistance
Movie Info: Shot entirely in secret, Mohammad Rasoulof’s award-winning thriller, THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG, centers on a family thrust into the public eye when Iman is appointed as an investigating judge in Tehran. As political unrest erupts in the streets, Iman realizes that his job is even more dangerous than expected, making him…
-
September 5: Navigating Tragedy Through the Lens of Media: A Reflection on “September 5
Movie Info: During the 1972 Munich Olympics, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes Review: September 5,” directed by Tim Fehlbaum and starring Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin, presents a hauntingly eloquent portrayal of a tragic event, tinged with grief and introspection. The film delves deep…
-
Longlegs: A Haunting Masterpiece
Movie Info: In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree. Review: **”Longlegs,”** directed by Osgood Perkins and starring Nicolas Cage, is a chilling horror film that delves into the dark and eerie world of a serial killer known…
-
Companion”: A Robo-Rom-Com with a Twist
Movie Info: A billionaire’s death sets off a chain of events for Iris and her friends during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate. Review: Drew Hancock‘s “Companion” is a genre-bending romp that marries the whimsy of a rom-com with the thrills of a sci-fi horror, all while throwing in a healthy dose of artificial…
-
Sundance 2025: The Things You Kill: A Thought-Provoking Journey Through Self-Discovery
Movie Info: Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance. As long-buried family secrets resurface, the police tighten their noose, and doubts begin eroding his conscience. Ali has no choice but to look into the abyss of his own…
-
Sundance 2025: Plainclothes: A Gripping Tale of Duty, Identity, and Forbidden Love
Movie Info: A promising undercover agent assigned to lure and arrest gay men defies professional orders when he falls in love with a target. Review: Plainclothes,” directed by Carmen Emmi, is a compelling drama set in the 1990s that explores the intricate dynamics of duty, identity, and forbidden love. Inspired by true events, the film…
-
Flight Risk: A High-Flying Thriller with Wahlberg at the Helm
MOVIE INFO: In this high-stakes suspense thriller, Academy Award® nominee Mark Wahlberg (Actor in a Supporting Role, 2006 — The Departed) plays a pilot transporting an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery) accompanying a fugitive (Topher Grace) to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is…
-
“Blink Twice: A Third Blink Needed for Tatum and Kravitz’s Twisty Love-Thriller!”
MOVIE INFO: When tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his fundraising gala, sparks fly. He invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. It’s paradise. Wild nights blend into sun soaked days and everyone’s having a great time. No one…
-
Sleep: A Haunting Exploration of Possession and Matrimonial Unity
MOVIE INFO: SLEEP follows newlyweds Hyun-su (Lee Sun-kyun, PARASITE) and Soo-jin (Jung Yu-mi), whose domestic bliss is disrupted when Hyun-su begins speaking in his sleep, ominously stating, “Someone’s inside.” From that night on, whenever he falls asleep, Hyun-su transforms into someone else, with no recollection of what happened the night before. Overwhelmed with anxiety that…
-
A Different Man: Sebastian Stan Shines in “A Different Man,” a Dark Comedy That Challenges Perceptions
MOVIE INFO: REVIEW: Sebastian Stan delivers a standout performance in “A Different Man,” a dark comedy that explores themes of identity and transformation. Stan’s portrayal of Edward, an aspiring actor with neurofibromatosis who undergoes a radical medical procedure to change his appearance, is both captivating and deeply moving. His performance in this film is a…
-
Red Rooms: A Haunting Dive into the Dark World of True Crime Obsession
MOVIE INFO: The high-profile case of serial killer Ludovic Chevalier has just gone to trial, and Kelly-Anne is obsessed. When reality blurs with her morbid fantasies, she goes down a dark path to seek the final piece of the puzzle: the missing video of a murdered 13-year-old girl, to whom Kelly-Anne bears a disturbing resemblance.…
-
Last Summer: A Bold Exploration of Forbidden Desires
MOVIE INFO: With her first film in a decade, the fearless 75-year-old French auteur Catherine Breillat (Fat Girl, The Last Mistress) proves she’s as provocative as ever with her Cannes-stirring film, which drives down the dark road of uncontrollable passion. A remarkably nuanced, radiant Léa Drucker plays Anne, an attorney who has plateaued in her…
-
Oddity: A Masterclass in Atmospheric Horror
MOVIE INFO: When Dani is brutally murdered at the remote country house that she and her husband Ted are renovating, everyone suspects a patient from the local mental health institution, where Ted is a doctor. However, soon after the tragic killing, the suspect is found dead. A year later, Dani’s blind twin sister Darcy, a…
-
Babygirl – A Mixed Bag of BDSM Exploration, Missteps, and Overused Tropes
MOVIE INFO: A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern. REVIEW: Babygirl,” a film that attempts to delve into the world of BDSM dynamics, presents an intriguing and often conflicting narrative about power, control, and submission. While the film provides a…
-
Juror #2: Clint Eastwood’s Riveting Farewell to Filmmaking”
MOVIE INFO: “Juror #2” follows family man Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) who, while serving as a juror in a high profile murder trial, finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma… one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict–or free–the accused killer. REVIEW: “Juror #2” is a compelling courtroom drama that showcases…
-
Carry-On: High-Flying Action with Riveting Tension Between Egerton and Jason Bateman
MOVIE INFO: A young TSA agent fights to outsmart a mysterious traveler who blackmails him into letting a dangerous package slip onto a Christmas Eve flight. REVIEW: “Carry-On,” streaming now on Netflix, is a thrilling homage to the iconic “Die Hard” series, infused with fresh character dynamics and modern twists. The film deftly balances high-octane…
-
Conclave: A Thrilling Dive into the Vatican’s Heart of Darkness
MOVIE INFO: REVIEW: Conclave” navigates the intricate corridors of Vatican politics with a deft hand, crafting a clerical thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The film unfolds during a papal election, capturing the suspense, power struggles, and moral quandaries that define this clandestine world. As a thriller set against the backdrop…
-
Kraven the Hunter: A Ferocious Yet Flawed Entry in the Spider-Verse
MOVIE INFO: Kraven the Hunter is the action-packed, R-rated, standalone story of how one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Kraven, a man whose complex relationship with his ruthless gangster father, Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe), starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not…
-
“The Order: A Gripping Dive into Domestic Terrorism with Stellar Performances and Bold Direction”
MOVIE INFO: For over a year, a series of bold daylight bank robberies and armored car heists leaves law enforcement baffled and the public panicked throughout the Pacific Northwest. As the attacks become increasingly violent, FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) becomes convinced that the robberies are the work of a domestic terrorist gang that…
-
Heretic: Hugh Grant Plays His Mystique to See if There Really are Children of a Leser God
MOVIE INFO: Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. REVIEW: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the dynamic duo behind “Heretic,” have once again delivered a thought-provoking cinematic experience…
-
Venom: The Last Dance – A Symbiotic Swan Song That Stumbles”
MOVIE INFO: In Venom: The Last Dance, Tom Hardy returns as Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters, for the final film in the trilogy. Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that…
-
MaXXXine: A Dazzling Dive of a Mess into 80s Hollywood with Mia Goth’s Interesting Performance.
MOVIE INFO: In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past. REVIEW: MaXXXine is a vibrant and thrilling but messy conclusion to Ti West’s “X” trilogy, It captures the…
-
Wolfs – A Mixed Bag of Clooney-Pitt Charm and Chaos
MOVIE INFO: Global superstars George Clooney and Brad Pitt team up for the action comedy Wolfs. Clooney plays a professional fixer hired to cover up a high profile crime. But when a second fixer (Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control…
-
‘It’s What’s Inside: A Body-Swap Bash that Dances on the Edge of Delight and Disappointment”
MOVIE INFO: A group of friends gather for a pre-wedding party that descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend arrives with a mysterious game that awakens long-hidden secrets, desires and grudges. REVIEW: In Greg Jardin’s debut feature, It’s What’s Inside, we are thrust into a world where the mundane and the fantastical collide with…
-
Joker: Folie à Deux – A Chaotic Musical Ride with Phoenix and Gaga’s Twisted Duet”
MOVIE INFO: Joker: Folie à Deux” finds Arthur Fleck institutionalized at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that’s always been inside him. REVIEW: Alright, let’s dive into the madcap world of “Joker: Folie à Deux,”…
-
In a Violent Nature: A Slasher Movie Looking for a Soul
MOVIE INFO: When a locket is removed from a collapsed fire tower in the woods that entombs the rotting corpse of Johnny, a vengeful spirit spurred on by a horrific 60-year old crime, his body is resurrected and becomes hellbent on retrieving it. The undead golem hones in on the group of vacationing teens responsible…
-
Boy Kills World: A Frenzied Ballet of Blood and Vengeance
MOVIE INFO: Bill Skarsgård stars as “Boy” who vows revenge after his family is murdered by Hilda Van Der Koy (Famke Janssen), the deranged matriarch of a corrupt post-apocalyptic dynasty that left the boy orphaned, deaf and voiceless. Driven by his inner voice, one which he co-opted from his favorite childhood video game, Boy trains…
-
Speak No Evil: A Masterclass in Psychological Horror
MOVIE INFO: When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare. REVIEW: “Speak No Evil” is a chilling exploration of human vulnerability and the dark corners of…
-
Rebel Ridge: Homaging Billy Jack the Right Way
MOVIE INFO: REVIEW: In “Rebel Ridge,” director Jeremy Saulnier delivers a gripping and exhilarating thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The film stars Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond, a man on a mission to rescue his cousin from the clutches of a corrupt small-town police force. What…
-
Afraid: A.I. Horror That Fulfills its Coding.
MOVIE INFO: In AFRAID, Curtis (John Cho) and his family are selected to test a revolutionary new home device: a digital family assistant called AIA. Taking smart home to the next level, once the unit and all its sensors and cameras are installed in their home, AIA seems able to do it all. She learns…
-
Alien: Romulus: A Greatest Hits Version That Won’t Make You Scream
MOVIE INFO: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. REVIEW: Alien: Romulus doesn’t really try to recreate the series. It’s content to recycle the greatest hits. It’s filler. The original 1979 masterpiece has…
-
Trap: Watch Out, It’s a Parent Trap!
MOVIE INFO: A father and teen daughter attend a pop concert, where they realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event REVIEW: I suspect every kid has suspected, at one point, their dad might be a serial killer. The more he loved you, the more you thought he wanted to kill you. …
-
Femme: Bad Boy, Good-Bad Boy-Girl
MOVIE INFO: With his performances as Aphrodite Banks, Jules (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Candyman) has a place among London’s celebrated drag artists. One night after a show, he steps out to get some cigarettes and is brutally attacked by a man (George MacKay, 1917), out with a gang of his friends. Although Jules is able to recover…
-
Land of Bad: A Russell Crowe Almost Worth Droning on About
MOVIE INFO: Starring Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth, a covert Special Forces operation in the South Philippines spirals into a brutal 48-hour battle for survival. When an elite extraction team is ambushed deep in enemy territory, rookie officer Kinney (Hemsworth) is left outnumbered but determined to leave no man behind. With an air strike closing…
-
Love Lies Bleeding: K Stew Finds Crazy Love
MOVIE INFO: Director Rose Glass comes an electric new love story; reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family. REVIEW: I like it when Kristen Stewart’s acting…
-
Twisters: Getting Past the Past
MOVIE INFO: Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kate Cooper, a former storm chaser haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado during her college years who now studies storm patterns on screens safely in New York City. She is lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Golden Globe nominee Anthony Ramos, In the…
-
Arcadian: The Kids Get All the Breaks
MOVIE INFO: In a near future, life on Earth has been decimated. Paul (Nicolas Cage) and his twin teenage sons, Thomas (Jaeden Martell) and Joseph (Maxwell Jenkins), have been living a half-life — tranquility by day and torment by night. When the sun sets, ferocious creatures of the night awaken and consume all living souls…
-
Chattanooga FF: Quantum Suicide: The Infinite Possibilities of Going Crazy and Dying
MOVIE NFO A lone physicist builds a particle accelerator in his garage and embarks on a quest to understand the nature of reality. REVIEW: Quantum Suicide involves the possibilities of death by a gun pointed at your head gong off if rigged to a computer system, a particle accelerator and if life or death is…