★★★★ (Written by Allison Brown) The Menu is a deliciously refined social satire that reveals the darkest nature and most shallow attributes of the elite class. With involvement from Adam McKay, who directed one of my favorites from last year, Don't Look Up, I knew this film would be a biting attack on ego. Sarcasm … Continue reading Film Review: The Menu
Film Review: The Wonder
★★ Ever since experiencing Florence Pugh’s explosive performance in Ari Aster’s masterful Midsommar, I have followed along to see literally anything she does next. Though Pugh has yet to star in any film on quite the same level, the closest until now has been her turn in 2019’s Little Women. Thus brings us to the … Continue reading Film Review: The Wonder
Film Review: Girl at the Window
★★★ On first impressions, little Australian horror/thriller Girl at the Window was a real schlocky piece of work. However, as the film progressed, it started to grow on me. Ella Newton and Radha Mitchell lead the film as daughter and mother, who of course have an obscene amount of friction. With heavy shades of Disturbia … Continue reading Film Review: Girl at the Window
TV Review: Manifest – Season 4, Part 1
After what seems a laboriously long wait between seasons, sci-fi mystery/drama series Manifest returns at long last for the first stretch of its final season! Miraculously revived by Netflix in the aftermath of being cancelled at NBC after three seasons, I have to say that it was certainly well worth the wait. We follow the … Continue reading TV Review: Manifest – Season 4, Part 1
Film Review: The Good Nurse
★★★ Based on a true story, The Good Nurse serves as an acting masterclass from two Oscar-winners in Jessica Chastain (It Chapter Two, The Eyes of Tammy Faye) and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). While the film’s mystery elements work pretty well, the choreographing of each aspect … Continue reading Film Review: The Good Nurse
Brooklyn Horror 2022: Influencer
★★★★ As unexpectedly appearing as they often do, I seem to have discovered a new horror/thriller that neatly slides into one of my favorite unsung subgenres: obsessive psycho bitch. Influencer, from Spiral director Kurtis David Harder and co-writer Tesh Gutti, feels like a modern day Single White Female told through a strikingly feminine lens. I … Continue reading Brooklyn Horror 2022: Influencer
Film Review: Piggy
★★★★ Bullying soars to dizzying heights in Spanish horror/thriller, Piggy. After debuting earlier in the year at Sundance, it was quickly swooped up by Magnolia Pictures for theatrical distribution—it is not hard to see why. Channeling the best elements of the coming-of-age genre, Piggy presents an unconventional revenge/slasher splatter flick with heart. The fact that … Continue reading Film Review: Piggy
Film Review: Halloween Ends
★★★★★ Halloween has always been one of the most enduring slasher franchises, reaching entries well into the double digits while other series struggle to even reach five. The timeline is incredibly muddled, but for all the faults, this actually makes Halloween a fun series to rewatch. Think of it like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” … Continue reading Film Review: Halloween Ends
TV Review: The Midnight Club
While author Christopher Pike never quite reached the level of Stephen King or R.L. Stine for me personally, there is no denying his young adult brand of horror novels made an imprint on a generation of genre-loving teens. I remember reading Pike’s signature 1994 novel The Midnight Club for the first time when I was … Continue reading TV Review: The Midnight Club
Film Review: The Inhabitant
★★★★ Part gripping slasher, part psychological coming-of-age horror fun, Lizzie Borden-inspired The Inhabitant is a surprising gem among the prime crop of 2022 genre films. If one can get past the oddly generic title, there is a lot to love here. Led by Odessa A’zion (who is notably about to have a great horror year … Continue reading Film Review: The Inhabitant