‘Piercing’ review — A twisted homage to 70s horror
Piercing is a twisted watch that will completely satisfy genre fans and polarize mainstream audiences — but that's why it works (mostly). Piercing — based on Japanese novelist Ryū Murakami's book of the same name — feels so familiar. It has story elements of American Psycho and tinge of Phantom Thread while boasting stylistic flourishes reminiscent of 70s horror movies like Carrie and Suspiria—…
‘Under the Silver Lake’ mini-review — To live and trip in L.A.
Under the Silver Lake follows an aimless slacker as he unravels a mystery following the disappearance of his neighbor. 90-second review: Under the Silver Lake alternates between being incredibly compelling and frustratingly confused. It misses the assuredness of director David Robert Mitchell's masterpiece film debut It Follows, because he has to spend so much time…
‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ review — One of the best superhero movie in years
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a bright and bold loving critique of the superhero genre and a much needed hard reset. 30-second review: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is so keenly aware of what it wants to be even though what it wants to be has never existed before. It's a bright and bold loving critique of the…
‘John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum’ movie review
John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum finds John in his most precarious situation yet — and that's bad news for anyone that gets in his way. 30-second review: The reason the unlikely John Wick franchise works is because it understands its audience and, more importantly, trusts them. John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum mercifully leaves…
‘Annabelle Comes Home’ movie review — Ghost adventures in babysitting
Annabelle Comes Home is Adventures in Babysitting by way of an evil possessed doll that wants to steal your soul. Groovy. One sentence review: Annabelle Comes Home uses all the tricks in The Conjuring playbook to be one of the scariest and most entertaining movies in the franchise. The movie succeeds by going back to basics. Like…
‘Pet Sematary’ review — Kill it, bury it, and don’t let it come back
Pet Sematary, a remake of the 1989 film, follows a young family struck by disaster and the lengths they'll go to undo it 30-second review: Pet Sematary is appropriately creepy and tense, but with a weak screenplay and direction to match, this horror movie remake is dead on arrival. There are moments in where you can appreciate…
‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ movie review
Spider-Man: Far From Home finds Peter Parker at a crossroads following the fallout of Avengers: Endgame 30-second review: Spider-Man: Far From Home has the same quirkiness that made Homecoming so successful, but a predictable plot and poor pacing keep it from reaching its predecessor's heights. However, it also gives us the best interpretation of the "with great power…
‘Dark Phoenix’ movie review — The X-Men civil war
Dark Phoenix finds the X-Men fighting each other as they try to save Jean Grey — and the world — from herself 30-second review: There’s something off about nearly every element of Dark Phoenix. The dialogue is overly-written to the point that you can predict a line before it’s said, the performances are unmotivated, the story…
‘Us’ movie review — Jordan Peele avoids the sophomore slump
Us, Jordan Peele's follow up to his Oscar-winning debut Get Out, follows a family being hunted down by their terrifying doppelgängers. 30-second review: Lupita. N'yongo. While Us is successful in many ways — especially in its horror set pieces surrounding a horrifying home invasion — the central performance by the Oscar winner is the main reason the…
‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ review — A nostalgic 60s neo-noir
Bad Times at the El Royale is a thrilling, character-driven neo-noir homage that will keep you guessing from beginning to end. Don't let the flashy trailers, catchy title, or A-list stars fool you. Bad Times at the El Royale is not your typical popcorn thriller. Written and directed by Drew Goddard, who had a lot to live up…