Apple TV+’s Moody Mystery Series Finally Finds Its Depth
When Surface debuted on Apple TV+ in 2022, it wasn’t exactly an acclaimed darling. Critics felt the show was too much of a slower-than-usual slow burn, with gaps between the story and characters. While the performances were at the top…
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John Carpenter Bit Off A Bit More Than He Could Chew But I Still Enjoy This Chilling Yet Overstuffed Ghost Story
After cementing himself in a more grounded kind of horror with Halloween, genre icon John Carpenter gradually began exploring the world of the supernatural, whether it was the assimilation terrors of The Thing or the Lovecraftian mind-bender that is In…
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Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore
Deaf actress and activist Marlee Matlin was born 58 years ago in Morton Grove, Illinois. When asked to do a PBS Masters biography of her life, she requested a deaf director. Shoshanna Stern became the guiding force behind this autobiographical…
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The Murderous Lives of College Admissions Coaches
Editor's note: The below recap contains spoilers for Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 12. Ah, college admission season. I remember it like it was yesterday, even though it was more years ago than I'd care to admit right now. However long…
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‘Severance’ Season 2 Episode 6 Recap: You Must Grow Up
Editor's note: The below recap contains spoilers for Severance Season 2 Episode 6. Last week's installment of Severance was a major episode for everyone inside Lumon's creepy halls. Milchick's (Tramell Tillman) performance review went about as well as expected, Dylan…
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I’ve Never Seen So Many Effectively Creative Kills In A Horror Movie Whose Absurd Comedy Is A Strength & Weakness
The Monkey shouldn’t be taken seriously — at all. That’s because it rarely takes itself seriously. The film, written and directed by Osgood Perkins and adapted from Stephen King’s short story, is a horror comedy that takes a lot of…
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Mr. Nobody Against Putin Screens At Sundance 2025
Pavel Talankin, director of Mr. Nobody Against Putin, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Helle Moos “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” is about the Putin-dictated shift in Russia’s schools, which was…
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Matty Battles Her Closest Ally
Editor's note: The below recap contains spoilers for Matlock Episode 12.The truth finally comes out on Matlock, but it isn't the truth that Matty (Kathy Bates) was hoping for. There isn't a new breakthrough on the Wellbrexa investigation, but a…
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Stephen Amell’s Spin-Off Raises the Bar Against a Hollywood Backdrop
During the SAG and WGA strikes, several shows halted production, leaving viewers dependent on series that were already available to stream. In a twist of fate, Suits — a legal drama that aired on the USA Network from 2011 to…
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I’m Baffled At How This Action Comedy Could Be So Flat & Boring While Making Lucy Liu Look Bad
Typically occupied by Liam Neeson, we seem to be in an era of the aging hit man/killer story. In the movies, this has taken the form of Neeson’s In the Land of Saints and Sinners, and on TV, Sylvester Stallone…
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Action, Comedy, and Chaos in an Uneven Blend
Jonathan Eusebio’s Love Hurts marks his directorial debut with an action-comedy that aims to balance high-octane fight sequences with romantic and comedic elements. Starring Ke Huy Quan as a former hitman-turned-realtor, the film boasts a strong ensemble cast, including Ariana…
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Michael Mann-Influenced Heist Thriller Has All the Tools, but No Plan
In 2008, a band of European criminals executed what would become Denmark's most lucrative heist ("The Copenhagen Job," as per Atavist Magazine). Frederik Louis Hviid's The Quiet Ones recounts the event as a steely thriller, from blueprint planning stages to…
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