Tag: New Release

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Sex and Violence as an Art Form in Ti West’s ‘X’

Ah, A24. You bring us so much wonderful, weird horror. From slow, understated supernatural dramas like It Comes at Night and Witch to visceral, chaotic nightmares like The Lighthouse and Midsommar, A24’s horror selection has touched on just about every subgenre that could comfortably fit within the boundaries of what some critics have (somewhat obnoxiously) dubbed ‘elevated horror.’ These are ‘respectable’ horror films, movies that … Continue reading Sex and Violence as an Art Form in Ti West’s ‘X’

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Darkness, Hope, and ‘The Batman’

Another year, another Batman reboot. I kid, of course. It’s been five years since we’ve seen the Bat on the big screen, with Ben Affleck’s version appearing in the disastrous 2017 Justice League movie that I think we’d all just like to forget. Since that particular outing left a bad taste in the mouth (and with previous appearances not faring much better), it’s safe to … Continue reading Darkness, Hope, and ‘The Batman’

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Someone Please Just Put ‘Texas Chainsaw’ Out of Its Misery

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise is… a mess. In 1974, with the release of Tobe Hooper’s now-classic original entry, the series hit the ground running stronger than pretty much any of its contemporaries, save maybe John Carpenter’s OG Halloween. Yet despite this strong start, and the status of its mascot killer Leatherface as a genuine pop culture icon, the Texas Chainsaw sequels have crashed and … Continue reading Someone Please Just Put ‘Texas Chainsaw’ Out of Its Misery

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Reviews, You Should Watch This

‘Pig,’ and Why We Should All Worship the Ground Nic Cage Walks On

I will defend Nicholas Cage until my dying breath. Sure, he’s a little eccentric. And okay yes, maybe he doesn’t exactly always make the smartest career choices. There’s The Wicker Man, of course. And Ghost Rider. Knowing. The second Ghost Rider. You get the idea. Some real stinkers. And sadly, because of that, there seems to be a consensus within the public, pop-culture consciousness that … Continue reading ‘Pig,’ and Why We Should All Worship the Ground Nic Cage Walks On

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‘Scream’ is the Best ‘Scream’ Since ‘Scream’

Meta commentary is, for better or for worse, everywhere in film these days. Movies are increasingly self-aware, self-referential, and self-deprecating, to varying degrees of success. When done well, a movie written in this fashion can be witty and intelligent, savvy in its own genre tropes enough to lampshade and subvert them. When done poorly, however, a movie that tries too hard to be cleverer than … Continue reading ‘Scream’ is the Best ‘Scream’ Since ‘Scream’

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Halloween ‘Kills’ More Than it Does Anything Else

The Halloween franchise has had just about as long and storied a history as a horror series can possibly have at this point, with all the highs and lows that naturally come with something that’s been more or less ongoing for over forty years now. From John Carpenter’s seminal 1978 classic all the way through Rob Zombie’s ill-conceived reimaginings in the early 2000s, this slasher … Continue reading Halloween ‘Kills’ More Than it Does Anything Else

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“VHS 94:” Mostly Forgettable Analog Schlock

As I’ve said before on this site, I love anthology horror films. I find that, historically, filmmakers are able to be more creative and more inventive with the short film format than they ever are with feature-length films, mostly because they aren’t bogged down with all the narrative trappings that accompany a 90-minute-plus runtime. Movies like Creepshow and The ABC’s of Death are so full … Continue reading “VHS 94:” Mostly Forgettable Analog Schlock

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Reviews, You Should Watch This

James Wan’s ‘Malignant’ is the Greatest Piece of False Advertisement I’ve Ever Seen

James Wan is one of the most dependable and consistent directors working today, from a studio perspective. He’s essentially like a walking, one-man franchise machine: Saw, The Conjuring, Insidious, Aquaman, he cranks out hits one after the other like no one else alive. Quality may vary, as it always does, in between sequels, spin-offs, and offshoots to these franchises, but his mark is unmistakable and … Continue reading James Wan’s ‘Malignant’ is the Greatest Piece of False Advertisement I’ve Ever Seen

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Reviews, You Should Watch This

The Suicide Squad: James Gunn Finally Unleashed

I like to think of myself as pretty well-versed in comic book lore and mythology at this point. There’s a lot of obscure characters out there in Marvel and DC comic canon, which is understandable given that both companies have been around for the better part of a century now. They’re bound to pick up some oddball, one-off heroes and villains along the way. And, … Continue reading The Suicide Squad: James Gunn Finally Unleashed

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How A Quiet Place 2 is the Polar Opposite of Aliens, and Why That’s a Good Thing

The number one problem with horror movie sequels, especially those that venture into monster/creature/alien territory, is that of escalation. When the premise of a horror film centers around one singular entity as the main threat, the film can then end in only one of two ways, for the most part: Either the protagonist defeats the threat, or is ultimately killed by it. Either of these … Continue reading How A Quiet Place 2 is the Polar Opposite of Aliens, and Why That’s a Good Thing

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