Night Swim offers an immersive dive into the deep end of suburban horror, drawing its dread from the supposedly serene family pool turned terror trough. Director Bryce McGuire makes his feature film debut with this creepy concoction, expanding his 2014…
Read more
Writer-director Jesse Edwards makes his feature-length debut with the western actioner The Stolen Valley (formerly titled Alta Valley). Lupe (Briza Covarrubias), a Mexican-Navajo mechanic, is in dire need of some fast cash. The money is for an operation that’ll save her dying…
Read more
In Godzilla Minus One, director Takashi Yamazaki takes us on an epic journey to postwar Japan. Not only is what we see impressive but it is also astonishingly immersive. In the 37th film of the globally celebrated Godzilla series, Yamazaki…
Read more
The Big Picture Hilary Swank brings spunk and charisma to her role, but the script falls into clichés and lacks depth. The emotionally manipulative storytelling and unclear character motivations detract from the film. The climax is drawn out and loses…
Read more
SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024 REVIEW! Our numbers are dwindling. Those of us who survived life without the aid of a cell phone, much less a smartphone. Man, that was a long time ago. In his documentary Disconnect Me,…
Read more
Few experiences in life induce the sort of bewildering bewilderment akin to viewing Gods of the Deep, the latest science fiction venture by Charlie Steeds. Despite its potential for engaging visuals and compelling lore, this underwater misadventure regrettably fails to…
Read more
Evolution moves at a glacial pace, but in the pilot episode of RZR, David Bianchi plays a man who has discovered the key to humanity’s next step. Grimm (David Bianchi) is a scientist working out of a clandestine laboratory in…
Read more
Midnight Peepshow marks an ambitious and mesmerizing venture into the macabre, interweaving a labyrinth of desire, fear, and the grotesque that delves deep into the psyche of its audience. Helmed by an eclectic mix of directors—Jake West, Andy Edwards, Airell…
Read more
The Big Picture Starship Troopers is a satirical masterpiece criticizing militarism and propaganda. The film uses over-the-top military propaganda and Nazi-like symbolism to highlight the dangers of extremism. While action-packed, the film's real strength lies in its social commentary and…
Read more
The Big Picture The dramatized sequences in Four Daughters enhance the story rather than cheapen it. The conversations between the film's subjects and actors are fascinating and authentic. While Olfa's life is fully explored, more time could have been given…
Read more
SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2024 REVIEW! Directed and written by Omar S. Kamara, African Giants follows two African American brothers who spend the weekend together in LA. Meet Sheku (Omete Anassi) and Alhaji (Dillon Daniel Mutyaba). Sheku is the younger of…
Read more
Amazon Prime has delivered some stinkers over the years but Saltburn might just trump the rest. A film that pretends it’s smarter than its viewers every step of the way as some Downtown Abbey dress down to sickening levels for…
Read more