Elevated horror. A term coined in the mid-2010s that has since polarised cinephiles. Its existence implies a two-tier approach to the horror genre, where psychologically driven, socially conscious, and metaphorically rich plots are superior to traditional genre fare, comprising slashers, exploitation and creature features. But modern studios didn’t invent this …
Up to this point, the new DCU has a perfect record with me. I’ve liked or loved every film and every show it has released so far, so Clayface had a streak to protect before I even sat down. The noise around its release didn’t make things calmer, though. A …
Gustavo Vinagre and Gurcius Gewdner are a duo of filmmakers who, despite their young age, are already veterans in the Brazilian cinema. Vinagre focuses more on queer stories, ranging from his work in films like Três Tigres Tristes, A Rosa Azul de Novalis, and Deus tem AIDS. Meanwhile, Gewdner leans …
It is so depressing to watch a movie that should have been fun, but isn’t. The Spiral is worse than a prank gone wrong. It’s even worse than telling someone on their way home from a funeral to smile. When a movie should have been a camp delight and is …
Tom Kennedy and his son Jake aren’t doing well. After the death of Tom’s wife, Jake’s mother, a few months ago, Tom feels like there’s a gulf between them that he just can’t cross. Hoping that a new home in a new town will help bring them closer, Tom lets …
Arguably, the most terrifying horror stories involve children. Whether it’s as the spook or the victim, it’s just scarier when there’s a child involved. I think it has to do with the innocence and vulnerability of children. We don’t want anything bad to happen to such little guys. But as …
Life for Carrie has been rough. She’s a severely abused teenage girl who’s been the butt of every joke at school for her whole life. Usually, she just takes it, and at this point, even expects it. But something has changed. After a very traumatic first period, it’s like blood …
Jierz lost everything when a monster killed everyone in her village except for her and her friend Halesz. But then she lost him too when she found out that he wasn’t human either. Jierz vowed to kill the monster who ruined her life, so she joined up with some monster …
Some will debate the pertinence of a movie starting with a quote, but I found myself particularly amused by how Rob Savage’s Other Mommy begins with a line attributed to Aynar of Erebus, stating, “A chance to be human, the miracle that we mistake for the ordinary, is coveted by …
The camera never stops moving in Joko Anwar’s thrilling Ghost in the Cell. It moves and moves and moves and moves until it hits us with a sequence of gore so extreme, so visceral, that it will likely put off viewers who thought this genre offering would be more sophisticated. …
Movie revisionism runs on a very simple premise: give a flop enough time, and somebody will eventually decide it was misunderstood. The bombs of yesteryear will be embraced as bold pieces that were ahead of their time. There are many avenues through which revisionism takes place: a key anniversary that …
One of the most culturally talked-about moments of 2026 was the Super Bowl Halftime Show performed by Bad Bunny. Despite the political opposition from the far-right groups, who considered his choice as non-American (even if Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States), the fifteen-minute show was a success. …
The Difficult Bride is rare on two counts: it is a Bangladeshi film, and its director, Rubaiyat Hossain, is a woman. It is rarer still for being both incredibly supportive and furiously critical of its heroine, who is also both a traditional woman (getting married very young) and a modern …
Resident Evil is back again. After the Milla Jovovich-led action flicks, a forgettable trip to Raccoon City in 2021, and the disastrous Netflix series, the video game adaptation returns for a more somber and straight-laced outing. The franchise, which spawned over 30 games, follows survivors of a zombie outbreak triggered …
The director Nikias Chryssos presents in his Bloody Tennis a tale of competitive sports. Sophie (Sandra Guldberg Kampp), an American tennis player, is offered the opportunity to attend a camp in Europe. It is a highly exclusive club, where six players practice at a high level. Mary (Elina Löwensohn) is …
The 1980s in Southern California were a completely different world. Left to themselves by neglectful parents, drugs, sex, and rock and roll ruled Bret Ellis and his friends’ world. And in the summer of 1981, a new playmate appears who threatens to destroy their social world. What’s more, a serial …
I’m so excited! My favorite time of year is almost here. That time when the days get a little colder, the nights start a little sooner, and the shadows seem a little more sinister. I’m talking about SPOOKY TIME! I love to sit down with some hot cocoa, light a …
Jessica’s life is falling apart around her. Her son has decided he’s a nonbinary, vegetarian, hedge witch who goes by They/Them. Jessica tries to be supportive, but she isn’t sure she understands any of it. Meanwhile, her husband spends more time at the office than with her. And at 46, …
Jordan Peele’s third feature film, Nope, was kept a mystery in its marketing and has been slotted into various categories since its release: supernatural horror, science fiction, modern Western, creature feature, and sardonic look at a society obsessed with getting the perfect money-making shot. Nope is all of these in …
When Moth was a little girl, she encountered in the woods what her mother called “the winter folk”. Years later, they found her again and offered her a job. Three months’ service for whatever she wished for. For three years, Moth returned to Deerhaven and worked for the winter folk. …