★★★★ Doomed romantic crime thrillers are a dime a dozen, but when executed well, they can become classics of the genre. Looking to films such as Natural Born Killers, Bonnie and Clyde, and even Bound for inspiration, filmmaker Adam Rehmeier and screenwriter Tom Dean craft a harrowing story lifted up by two bold performances. Kyle … Continue reading Film Review: Carolina Caroline
Film Review: Pitfall
★★★★ A gory slasher set in the woods is an automatic must-see for this horror fanatic. Drop in a group of young adults, bolstered by a compelling storyline involving past traumas, and a hulking brutish killer, and the end result gives plenty to love. That simple setup remains rich territory for this brand of scenario … Continue reading Film Review: Pitfall
Theater Review: Well, I’ll Let You Go
Traditional plays aren’t always my forte. I tend to gravitate towards a bubbly musical over the typically heavy themes and topics explored in many plays. Still, when that perfect meeting of great writing meets excellent acting, there can be no denying the power of a potent play. Enter: Well, I’ll Let You Go, straight from … Continue reading Theater Review: Well, I’ll Let You Go
Theater Review: The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is genuinely one of my favorite films of all time. The longest running theatrical release in movie history brought the strange and unusual into the mainstream. Endlessly quotable and bizarrely twisted, that film, hatched from the stage show, still sells out midnight shows and features shadow casts to reenact the … Continue reading Theater Review: The Rocky Horror Show
Film Review: Obsession
★★★★★ Curry Barker proves that early short film success was no fluke—Obsession, his feature film debut, is one of the freakiest horror films of the decade. From beginning to end, it hooks the viewer in a tense game of foreplay until it explodes in gory mayhem. Perhaps it works so well because the story deals … Continue reading Film Review: Obsession
Film Review: Driver’s Ed
★★★ Leave it to director Bobby Farrelly to craft a fun road trip comedy directly imported from the 80s. For a genre that’s been on a bit of a decline for years, mid-budget movies like this have become something of a lost art. Driver’s Ed definitely speaks to a generation that grew up on movies … Continue reading Film Review: Driver’s Ed
Theater Review: The Lost Boys
80s vampire horror classic The Lost Boys takes a bite out of the Broadway stage in Michael Arden's lavish, gorgeously-constructed new take on the material. All the familiar story beats are here, punctuated by powerful vocals and a character-first approach that adds surprising depth. With a book by David Hornsby and Chris Hoch featuring music … Continue reading Theater Review: The Lost Boys
Theater Review: Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Playwright August Wilson can certainly be something of an acquired taste, as evidenced by the reactions to his Fences, The Piano Lesson, and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. His takes on Black America examine a time long gone, yet still feel achingly relevant for the black community. His works often utilize a dash of magical realism … Continue reading Theater Review: Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Film Review: Blue Film
★★★★ One could be forgiven for assuming Blue Film’s provocative, sexually-driven sole goal is to shock and titillate given the jaw-dropping premise. But this compelling indie from writer/director Elliot Tuttle has far more on its mind. The setup is deceptively simple: a cocky camboy agrees to spend the night with an anonymous high-paying client. What … Continue reading Film Review: Blue Film
Film Review: The Devil Wears Prada 2
★★★★★ Gird your loins! Two decades after the first film emerged as the rare chick flick with cross-gender appeal, the entire gang comes back together again for The Devil Wears Prada 2. This immaculately conceived sequel doesn’t just replay the hits or rehash the first movie; instead, the sharp script from Aline Brush McKenna finds … Continue reading Film Review: The Devil Wears Prada 2