mystery

Michael Crichton's SPHERE And The Messy Allegory Of Pandemic
Michael Crichton’s SPHERE And The Messy Allegory Of Pandemic

On the surface, Sphere — a 1998 flop directed by Barry Levinson and adapted from Michael Crichton’s hit sci-fi thriller — is perfect for lockdown.

KOKO-DI KOKO-DA: A Nightmarish Vision Of Grief
KOKO-DI KOKO-DA: A Nightmarish Vision Of Grief

Despite this film’s boundless originality, one is left with more of a sense of respect for what was attempted than of enjoyment of what resulted.

REBECCA: Ben Wheatley Heads To Manderley With Mixed Results
REBECCA: Ben Wheatley Heads To Manderley With Mixed Results

Rebecca is not a bad or dull film, but it squanders the immense potential for something vital and thrilling in du Maurier’s tale.

Nightstream Film Festival 2020: LAPSIS: Takes A Hammer To Our Broken World
Nightstream Film Festival 2020: LAPSIS: Taking A Hammer To Our Broken World

Lapsis is topical, revolutionary, and maddening, encouraging viewers to think critically about the economic systems that govern their lives.

Nightstream Film Festival 2020: DETENTION: A Taiwanese Horror That Deserves Demerits
Nightstream Film Festival 2020: DETENTION: A Taiwanese Horror That Deserves Demerits

The ghosts and ghouls are fun, but this is ultimately supposed to be an allegory for Taiwanese oppression, and on those grounds, Detention fails.

NYFF 2020: TRAGIC JUNGLE: Modern Mythmaking
NYFF 2020: TRAGIC JUNGLE: Modern Mythmaking

There is much to enjoy about Tragic Jungle, but in the end, one is left hungry for something more than what the film actually is.

ANTEBELLUM: A Failure Of Storytelling
ANTEBELLUM: A Failure Of Storytelling

Antebellum, for all it promises, fails on several levels to ever come full circle in its intent while only worrying about a failed twist ending.

ENOLA HOLMES: No Mystery To This Charmer's Success
ENOLA HOLMES: No Mystery To This Charmer’s Success

Anchored by Millie Bobby Brown’s delightful performance, Enola Holmes is a charming riff on the Sherlock Holmes lore.

CHILDREN OF THE SEA: Beautiful Images, Bewildering Story
CHILDREN OF THE SEA: Beautiful Images, Bewildering Story

For the stunning animation alone, it is worth watching, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself drowning in the film’s strange, surreal story.

RATCHED: An Origin Story at Its Finest
RATCHED: An Origin Story At Its Finest

Ratched returns Murphy to his deliciously horrific TV roots, bringing the origin of an iconic character to life for a new generation.

Frightfest Film Festival 2020: Interview with Francesco Giannini, Director of THE HALL
FrightFest Film Festival 2020: Interview with Francesco Giannini, Director of THE HALL

Stephanie Archer had the opportunity to speak with the Francesco Giannini about his film The Hall.

Frightfest Film Festival 2020: Interview with Francesco Giannini, Director of THE HALL
Frightfest Film Festival 2020: THE HALL

Heightened by its mirroring of current events, The Hall is an incredibly exhilarating ride you won’t want to get off of.

OUT STEALING HORSES: A Poetic & Softly Distressing Exploration Of Memory
OUT STEALING HORSES: A Poetic & Softly Distressing Exploration Of Memory

Overflowing with internal and external conflict, Hans Petter Moland’s Out Stealing Horses is a gently-paced, exceptionally-written, sensory experience.

DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL: A Commendable Cascade of Loose Threads
DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL: A Commendable Cascade of Loose Threads

Disappearance at Clifton Hill is at-times intriguing and often stylish, marred by its cliched insistence on making the audience question the authenticity.

EXIT PLAN: Planning for Death
EXIT PLAN: Planning for Death

Exit Plan is a slow burn, but since its stakes are the choice of life and death, every moment is filled with empathy and intensity.