psychological

SMILE 2: An Ambitious Sequel That Shows That Sometimes Less is More
SMILE 2: An Ambitious Sequel That Shows That Sometimes Less is More

Smile 2 may occasionally overdo it with its over-the-top approach, and it contains a scattershot plot, but its strength lies in its presentation.

Apartment 7A: Subletting A Classic, No Remodeling Allowed
APARTMENT 7A: Subletting A Classic, No Remodeling Allowed

While Apartment 7A far exceeds the 1978 sequel and the 2014 remake of Rosemary’s Baby, it neither lives up to the suspense or the politics of the original.

NIGHTMARE ALLEY: An Average Thriller From a Masterful Storyteller
NIGHTMARE ALLEY: An Average Thriller From a Masterful Storyteller

Nightmare Alley is a tense thriller that will be sure to please audiences if they can get past the film’s length, but it still had potential to be more.

A QUESTION OF SILENCE: Unquiet Revolt
A QUESTION OF SILENCE: Unquiet Revolt

A Question of Silence is considered by many well-versed feminists and academics to be a classic of progressive cinema. So, why haven’t you heard of it?

DOCTOR SLEEP: A Worthy Successor to Both King's Novel and Kubrick's Adaptation
DOCTOR SLEEP: A Worthy Successor to Both King’s Novel and Kubrick’s Adaptation

Doctor Sleep may not be the most satisfying conclusion to both the book and film version of The Shining, yet it is still an engaging film in its own right.

TIFF 2019: JOKER: A Lackluster Attempt at Humanizing an Iconic Character
TIFF 2019: JOKER: A Lackluster Attempt At Humanizing An Iconic Character

Joker, although clearly a different approach to comic book movies than in the past, just doesn’t feel like a fully developed film.

ESCAPE ROOM: Come For The Thrills, Stay For The Kills
ESCAPE ROOM: Come For The Thrills, Stay For The Kills

A thriller like Escape Room is a good time so long as you switch your brain to “just go with it” mode.

DON’T GO: Parental Grief With A Sci-Fi Sampling
DON’T GO: Parental Grief With A Sci-Fi Sampling

Director David Gleeson constructs a haunting but picturesque film with Don’t Go, a sci-fi about grief and loss.

NAPPILY EVER AFTER: An Exploration of Beauty That’s Shallow and Often Judgmental
NAPPILY EVER AFTER: An Exploration Of Beauty That’s Shallow & Judgmental

Though Nappily Ever After begins as encouragement that Black women embrace their natural beauty, it soon feels like a judgment of women who put effort into their appearance.

CASTLE ROCK: A Worthy Delve Into The Arcane “Severance”, “Habeas Corpus” & “Local Color”

Airing the first three episodes at once, we’re able to get a good grasp on Castle Rock’s core tale, without fully knowing the depths of this thrilling new series by creators Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason.

SHARP OBJECTS “Dirt” (S1E2): Another Terrifically Moody Episode

If last week’s series premiere was about laying the table for the consuming mystery, Sharp…

DISTORTED: Below Ricci & Cusack's Talent Level
DISTORTED: Below Ricci & Cusack’s Talent Level

Distorted leaves viewers with a disjointed, unoriginal story, a made-for-tv feel, and underwhelming thrills, with the only saving graces being the presence of Ricci and Cusack.

THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX: Inventive Marketing Doesn't Help This Generic Space Thriller
THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX: Inventive Marketing Doesn’t Help This Generic Space Thriller

The Cloverfield Paradox is helped along through a clever use of viral marketing, but it’s not enough to save an otherwise generic and messy sci-fi thriller.

ON THE BEACH AT NIGHT ALONE: Expelling The Sins Of The Past
ON THE BEACH AT NIGHT ALONE: Expelling The Sins Of The Past

Director Hong Sang-Soo’s latest effort, On The Beach At Night Alone, is one of his most deeply autobiographical (and best!) to date, but it isn’t particularly accessible for newcomers to his filmography.

GERALD'S GAME: Yet Another Exemplary King Adaptation
GERALD’S GAME: Yet Another Exceptional King Adaptation

Mike Flanagan’s Gerald’s Game, though not quite as dark as its source material, still showcases his talent for immersive horror film-making.