thriller

BEAUTY AND THE DOGS: Brave Performances And Bravura Storytelling
BEAUTY AND THE DOGS: Brave Performances & Bravura Storytelling

Told in just nine powerful takes, this harrowing legal drama from director Kaouther Ben Hania uncompromisingly depicts one woman’s search for justice following a sexual assault in a corrupt, patriarchal society.

AN ORDINARY MAN: Silberling At The Top Of His Game
AN ORDINARY MAN: Silberling At The Top Of His Game

Despite An Ordinary Man’s ultra slow pace, it contains a superb score, Silberings’s minimalistic story and grand direction, and Kingsley and Hilmar’s respective tour-de-forces, sharpening in tuning slowly towards a gripping climax.

REAR WINDOW: A Masterpiece of Visual Cinema and Sound Design
REAR WINDOW: A Masterpiece Of Visual Cinema & Sound Design

There are such a vast number of planes to appreciate Rear Window on and one…

SWEET COUNTRY: Magnificent Australian Western Touches on Universal Themes
SWEET COUNTRY: Magnificent Australian Western Touches On Universal Themes

With poignancy, grit, and proficiency, Sweet Country gazes out at the vast Australian outback while also deeply examining the darkness of humanity within.

THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT: Knocks A Bit Louder The Second Time Around
THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT: Knocks A Bit Louder The Second Time Around

With sophisticated cinematography and aesthetics, The Strangers: Prey at Night and its moody semblance of survival preserves dread just enough to deserve its place in slasher cinema.

SXSW Review: MOST LIKELY TO MURDER: A Noir Comedy For The Holidays
SXSW Review: MOST LIKELY TO MURDER: A Noir Comedy For The Holidays

Most Likely to Murder may not reinvent the wheel of holiday films, but its subversion of the genre, especially its willingness to fully indict and satirize its own protagonist, gives us ample reason to invest interest in the future of director Dan Gregor’s filmography.

TERRIFIER: Elements of Horror, but missing Depth and a Point
TERRIFIER: Missing Depth & A Point

Director Damien Leone’s horror introduces us to the terrifying Art the Clown – it’s just a shame the rest of the movie doesn’t live up to the terrifying promise of its central big bad.

I KILL GIANTS Interview: Anders Walter, Director

We spoke with Anders Walter about the making of I Kill Giants, what draws him to the intersection of fantasy and death in storytelling, directing a phenomenal, female-led cast, and what he’s looking forward to in his career.

MIDNIGHTERS: A Perfectly Watchable Midnight Thriller
MIDNIGHTERS: A Perfectly Watchable Midnight Thriller

Midnighters doesn’t ask too much from the audience. Respectfully, it knows what it is: a popcorn thriller with style and a bit of substance, enjoyable for anyone who likes a thriller in the Hitchc*ckian vein.

AGAINST THE NIGHT: A Thoroughly Dull Horror Effort
AGAINST THE NIGHT: A Thoroughly Dull Horror Effort

Even though it promises a scary journey, Against the Night fails on all levels. The poorness of its plot, direction, and performances make this already short film more unbearable than it ought to be.

THE FORGIVEN: Whitaker & Bana At Their Respective Bests
THE FORGIVEN: Whitaker & Bana At Their Respective Bests

With potent acting by Whitaker and Bana, relevant social commentary, adept writing and direction, The Forgiven succeeds as a biopic, albeit not Joffé’s finest effort.

RED SPARROW: A Sultry, Seductive Star Vehicle In Which Jennifer Lawrence Soars
RED SPARROW: A Sultry, Seductive Star Vehicle

Red Sparrow is solidly engaging, a blistering and intense film with Jennifer Lawrence’s skill and Francis Lawrence’s well-crafted atmosphere.

THOROUGHBREDS: Nothing New, But It’s Still Snarky Fun

Watching Thoroughbreds, one is fully aware of the debt it owes to the similar films that came before it. But that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to watch. Female friendship has never looked so deliciously dangerous.

ALLURE: A Disturbing Story But An Impressive Debut
ALLURE: A Disturbing Story But An Impressive Debut

Lead by a powerhouse cast and brilliant directorial debut, Allure challenges and leaves a significant trail of destruction in its wake.

DARK CRIMES: This Murder Mystery Falls Flat
DARK CRIMES: This Murder Mystery Falls Flat

Despite a hopeful change of pace for Jim Carrey, Dark Crimes doesn’t deliver, suffering from choppy editing, a lack of dynamic characters, and a generic murder mystery story.