★★★★ Leave it to Netflix to quietly put out a beautiful, Studio Ghibli-esque production in the form of Hitoyasu Ishida’s masterful Drifting Home. A searing, extraordinary examination on the power of friendship and the meaning of life, this animated gem is slowly-paced but gorgeously made. I was pulled in by the hand-drawn animation, and the … Continue reading Film Review: Drifting Home
Film Review: See How They Run
★★★★ If Wes Anderson helmed a throwback murder mystery whodunnit, it would probably look something like Tom George’s wickedly fun See How They Run. Like the best in the genre, it features a soaring ensemble cast that savagely devours even the smallest line of dialogue to cast villainous, shadowy doubt on their established characters. In … Continue reading Film Review: See How They Run
FrightFest 2022: Raven’s Hollow
★★★ As if the name wasn’t enough to make the comparison, Raven’s Hollow is very much like if Sleepy Hollow was combined with the eerie prose of Edgar Allen Poe. There is even a note-perfect Ichabod Crane-esque character, this time being that of Poe himself, as played by Chronicles of Narnia and The Royals vet, … Continue reading FrightFest 2022: Raven’s Hollow
Film Review: Orphan: First Kill
★★★★ 2009’s Orphan to this day remains one of the most underrated horror films of the 2000s, and a personal favorite. Brilliantly, this gem masquerades as an evil-kid movie, but is in fact far more sinister and disturbing than one would initially suspect. Spoiler alert for a film that’s over a decade old incoming… In … Continue reading Film Review: Orphan: First Kill
Fantasia 2022: Sadako DX
★★★★ Attempting to follow the chronology of The Ring films is actually more difficult than one would expect; while the American iterations have a total of three films, back in its native Japan, Ringu has been thriving for years. Sequels for this series range well into the double digits. This latest, appropriately titled Sadako DX … Continue reading Fantasia 2022: Sadako DX
TV Review: The Resort
Many a mystery show has emulated the likes of Lost, and Peacock’s new comedy/thriller The Resort appears to be another in a long line of imitators. What initially masquerades as a silly dark comedy soon reveals itself to be so much more. Hiding just underneath the surface is a burgeoning unsolved mystery just begging to … Continue reading TV Review: The Resort
TV Review: Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin
All the way back in 2010, ABC Family (now Freeform) had a hit on their hands. Based on the bestselling book series by Sara Shepard and showrun by I. Marlene King, the original Pretty Little Liars was a mixed bag of minor horror inspiration, pulpy soap-opera dramatics, and a never-ending array of mysteries to be … Continue reading TV Review: Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin
Fantasia 2022: Resurrection
★★ Rebecca Hall’s previous film release, The Night House, earned mass critical acclaim even though it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. Her first project as writer/director, cloying drama Passing, also released last year, and now, Hall brings her talents to 2022’s Resurrection. In a strange way, Resurrection would make for a perfect double-billing with … Continue reading Fantasia 2022: Resurrection
Film Review: Nope
★★★★★ Expectations were sky high for Jordan Peele’s third feature, particularly as both Get Out and Us are fantastic, layered horror films. 2019’s Us feels like forever ago at this point, but Nope makes sure audiences will not leave without knowing Peele’s name. The marketing team has actually done an excellent job at revealing just … Continue reading Film Review: Nope
TV Review: Stranger Things 4, Volume 1
I remain in awe of the massive, ever-growing fanbase for Netflix’s Stranger Things—from a sleeper hit in 2016 to emerging as one of the streamer’s finest offerings, this a horror/sci-fi success story unlike any other. The third season was my favorite so far, evolving into a campier, large-scale 80s horror extravaganza. Thanks to the worldwide … Continue reading TV Review: Stranger Things 4, Volume 1