thriller

GRETA: A Delightfully Divisive Thrill Ride
GRETA: A Delightfully Divisive Thrill Ride

Greta is an acquired taste that will frustrate some viewers while others will revel in its campy absurdities.

WOMAN AT WAR: A Strikingly Original Take On The Hero’s Journey

A movie mirror-image to last year’s First Reformed, Woman at War is a strikingly beautiful story of one woman’s desire to do good.

THE CHANGEOVER: A Creepy and Surprisingly Effective Young Adult Supernatural Film
THE CHANGEOVER: A Creepy & Surprisingly Effective Young Adult Supernatural Film

A mature, eerie, and effective coming-of-age story, The Changeover is a definite standout when it comes to young adult films.

THE PRODIGY: Prodigious Ambition, Lackluster Results
THE PRODIGY: Prodigious Ambition, Lackluster Results

If you looked past the gaping plot holes and equally detestable jump-scares, there is a scare or two to be had in The Prodigy.

HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U: Genre-Bending Sequel Goes Off The Rails
HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U: Genre-Bending Sequel Goes Off The Rails

Happy Death Day 2U is like watching a million ideas hit the screen at the same time, progressively moving itself to shakier ground before losing any sense of narrative necessity.

MISS BALA: Fashion Without Statement

Many will enjoy watching Gina Rodriguez in a silky red dress armed with an AR-15 – she hits what she is aiming at, but Miss Bala misses its mark.

COLD PURSUIT: You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter
COLD PURSUIT: You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter

Cold Pursuit is a rare English-language remake that actually works; a solid genre entry that knows what it wants to do, and does it damn well.

BRAID: A Repugnant Psychedelic Horror Show
BRAID: A Repugnant Psychedelic Horror Show

Although the film ultimately posits that there is far more going on than meets the eye, Braid has more than outworn its welcome.

POLAR: A Joyless & Idealess Barren Tundra
POLAR: A Joyless & Idealess Barren Tundra

Polar is as by-the-book as an action film can be, and that book isn’t even a very interesting one.

VELVET BUZZSAW: Final Destination transported to the world of art
VELVET BUZZSAW: Final Destination Transported To The World of Art

Dan Gilroy has stepped out of his comfort zone with satirical horror Velvet Buzzsaw – and the results are mixed, to say the least.

PIERCING: More Style Than Substance, But Still Wickedly Enjoyable

Piercing is an absolutely weird, kinky, stylish film that might not be to everyone’s taste; it is guaranteed to thrill some filmgoers and offend some others.

Sundance Film Festival 2019 Report 4: VELVET BUZZSAW, THE REPORT, & THE WOLF HOUR
Sundance Film Festival 2019 Report 4: VELVET BUZZSAW, THE REPORT, & THE WOLF HOUR

My next report from Sundance 2019 finds the festival really hitting its stride. An artsy…

SERENITY: Baffling, Outrageous, But Excitingly Original Nonetheless
SERENITY: Baffling, Outrageous, But Excitingly Original Nonetheless

Serenity is a little bit genius, a little bit of a mess, but at the very least it is something interesting, and it commits to itself and its choices.

I AM THE NIGHT: The Insane Story Of Fauna Hodel Comes To Life
I AM THE NIGHT: The Insane Story Of Fauna Hodel Comes To Life

I Am the Night is a thrill ride that not only tells Fauna Hodel’s incredible story, but also pays homage to the LA noirs of the past.

THE VANISHING: A Slow, Occasionally Tense Exercise on Atmosphere
THE VANISHING: A Slow, Occasionally Tense Exercise On Atmosphere

Despite its eclectic performances, The Vanishing is a snail-paced buildup to real action and suspense that doesn’t have enough substance to give the narrative some weight.