One of the best films at 2021’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was the searing intimate drama, Montana Story. Both Allison and I adored this dark story, and are individually huge fans of lead actors Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague, so we were thrilled to chat with them! Our special guests this week answer … Continue reading Interview: Actors Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague
TIFF 2021: Dear Evan Hansen
★★★ (Written by Alllison Brown) The film adaptation of extremely successful Broadway musical, Dear Evan Hansen, was highly anticipated on my list. I saw the musical in February of 2019, after winning the ticket lottery, and had the luxury of watching from the very first row with a friend. Despite my caveats with its unethical … Continue reading TIFF 2021: Dear Evan Hansen
TIFF 2021: 7 Prisoners
★★★ 7 Prisoners deals with an incredibly traumatic and upsetting facet of society: human trafficking. The fact that those preyed upon are trying to better their financial situations (often to help their families) makes it altogether more depressing. I found the methods of torment to be absolutely abhorrent and appalling, which I suppose is exactly … Continue reading TIFF 2021: 7 Prisoners
FrightFest 2021: The Advent Calendar
★★★★ As the holiday season begins its approach, an early contender for this year’s best holiday horror film makes waves. I have always wanted one of those cute holiday advent calendars, but new horror The Advent Calendar has put me off of them, permanently. Despite having very few elements of typical Christmas horror features, Patrick … Continue reading FrightFest 2021: The Advent Calendar
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
Popcorn Frights 2021: Night at the Eagle Inn
★★★★ Finding the perfect place to stay can be a hell in its own right. What happens when the very grounds may hold the answer to a dark part of your family history? Erik Bloomquist’s darkly comedic new horror mystery, Night at the Eagle Inn, proves itself to be one utterly bonkers overnight stay… in … Continue reading Popcorn Frights 2021: Night at the Eagle Inn
Fantasia 2021: Tin Can
★★★ Tin Can is the third movie I have seen this year to strand a female lead in a confined setting with a sci-fi tinge to the proceedings, after both Oxygen and Meander. Unlike those other two movies, Tin Can flounders in the execution. The script favors style over substance and uses the backdrop of … Continue reading Fantasia 2021: Tin Can
Bentonville 2021: Workhorse Queen
★★★★ Mrs. Kasha Davis first came onto my radar similarly to the way many others discovered her: through season 7 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Her signature line, “there’s always time for a cocktail," thrust her into the limelight. This catch phrase marked her as a memorable and quotable queen, despite being the fifth one sent … Continue reading Bentonville 2021: Workhorse Queen
Inside Out LGBT Film Festival 2021 Wrap-Up
Inside Out LGBT Film Festival, an exclusive celebration of the best queer films from Canada and around the world, brought a unique selection of (mostly) foreign indie films rich with specificity. I had already seen a few of their selections, including the excellent Boy Meets Boy, Moffie, and Potato Dreams of America, so I was … Continue reading Inside Out LGBT Film Festival 2021 Wrap-Up
OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2021 Wrap-Up
The 2021 OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival highlighted a wide range of fascinating indies of varying qualities. I really enjoyed taking the time to watch so many of these under-the-radar movies, many of which would've probably flown under my radar otherwise. For the movies I've already covered previously, or those awarded full coverage elsewhere, I have … Continue reading OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2021 Wrap-Up