★★★ About twenty minutes or so into action/thriller Yakuza Princess, I became convinced that it had to be based on a graphic novel. The primary reason for this assumption is the complex lore and bloody, visceral action-violence. It turns out the film is, indeed, based upon Danilo Beyruth’s Samurai Shiro—if any recent film has felt … Continue reading Film Review: Yakuza Princess
Fantasia International Film Festival 2021 Wrap-Up
2021's edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival collects genre cinema of the highest order and eclectic filmmakers with a unique vision. It also happened to have quite a few films I had seen at previous festivals. This wrap-up acts as the cherry-topper for an unconventional fest; included beyond the jump is our entire festival … Continue reading Fantasia International Film Festival 2021 Wrap-Up
Fantasia 2021: Midnight
★★★★★ Strictly for fans of pulse-pounding, Hitchcockian suspense, Midnight is a South Korean thriller that comes in clutch with fascinating characters, propulsive score, and shocking sequences of stalking and pursuit. It has a signature Asian flair that makes it unique, and certainly allows for ample wiggle room structurally and realistically that Western productions would have … Continue reading Fantasia 2021: Midnight
Fantasia 2021: The Sadness
★★★★★ Gnarly practical effects are showcased on an increasingly limited scale in the modern world of CGI overload. Thankfully, The Sadness never shies away from the gory zombie goods. In fact, I would go so far as to say this is one of the nastiest and downright mean movies I have watched in ages. Written … Continue reading Fantasia 2021: The Sadness
Interview: Actresses Isabelle Fuhrman & Stefanie Scott
Allison and I got together this week for a trip to the winter of 1843, as we dissect the new Fantasia International Film Festival horror thriller, The Last Thing Mary Saw! Our special guests, genre vets Isabelle Fuhrman and Stefanie Scott, join us to talk about filming behind blindfolds, staying in character, LGBT representation, and … Continue reading Interview: Actresses Isabelle Fuhrman & Stefanie Scott
Fantasia 2021: #Blue_Whale
★★★★ The newest entry in the Screen Life genre of filmmaking, #Blue_Whale, is a horror mish-mash of The Ring, The Suicide Club, Unfriended, and Nerve. The voyeuristic creepiness and disturbing visuals recur frequently enough to leave a lasting impression. Produced by Timur Bekmambetov and offering up a directorial debut from Anna Zaytseva, this terrifying piece … Continue reading Fantasia 2021: #Blue_Whale
Fantasia 2021: The Night House
★★★ The Night House is a twisty new mystery film from horror director David Bruckner (The Ritual, V/H/S) that almost feels like a riff on The Invisible Man. The cinematography is equally as gorgeous as the lakeside setting, making the most effective part of the film the locale itself. Rebecca Hall absolutely slays her role … Continue reading Fantasia 2021: The Night House
Fantasia 2021: Glasshouse
★★★★ Blending the genres of drama, sci-fi, and thriller whilst injecting a cult creepiness has never felt quite so sublime. A stumbling man on his way to seek refuge in a gargantuan and gorgeous home made of glass is our first introduction to the fantastical dystopia of Glasshouse. The sound of a gunshot breaks through … Continue reading Fantasia 2021: Glasshouse
Fantasia 2021: The Righteous
★★★★ The black-and-white beauty of The Righteous proves writer/director Mark O’Brien (Ready or Not) is just as skilled off-camera as he is in front of the lens. Performances from Henry Czerny (the unhinged father figure in 2019’s masterful Ready or Not), Mimi Kuzyk, and O’Brien himself feel honest and revelatory in a way I was … Continue reading Fantasia 2021: The Righteous
Fantasia 2021: The Last Thing Mary Saw
★★★★ If The Crucible and The Witch had a baby, it would probably grow up to be Edoardo Vitaletti’s electric period-piece horror thriller, The Last Thing Mary Saw. It manages to establish the mania and tense atmosphere one imagines when picturing old-time Salem. Everyone would blame their problems on witchcraft, pointing the finger at the … Continue reading Fantasia 2021: The Last Thing Mary Saw