“Strange Darling,” directed by JT Mollner, presents viewers with a disorienting tableau of terror and intensity, layered with unexpected emotions that challenge conventional genre frameworks. The film’s opening scene quickly immerses its audience in a tense cat-and-mouse chase, introducing two enigmatic characters: The Lady and The Demon. This dynamic not only captures our attention but
Events
Buddy Cooper and John S. Douglass’ film, originally titled *Fall Break*, debuted in January 1984 in North Carolina, a region that also served as its primary setting and filming location. The film was later retitled *The Mutilator*, which coincided with the MPAA’s insistence that Cooper modify the original content to obtain the R-rating necessary for
“Members Club” cleverly intertwines elements of horror and comedy, delivering a unique commentary on masculinity, sexuality, and the passage of time. The film opens with a chilling scene that immediately sets the tone—middle-aged Geoff, played by David Schall, gives in to base impulses despite a clear warning sign prohibiting such behavior. This absurd contradiction foreshadows
André Øvredal’s film, “The Last Voyage of the Demeter,” is an adaptation of a brief but pivotal section from Bram Stoker’s classic novel, “Dracula.” While Stoker’s narrative primarily serves to establish a gothic atmosphere through the voyage of a doomed ship, Øvredal’s adaptation dissects this framework, infusing it with fresh characters and thematic complexity. By
The documentary “Christopher Lee: The Man of a Thousand Roles,” directed by Jon Spira, offers an enthralling glimpse into the life and career of one of cinema’s most enigmatic figures. Christopher Lee, distinguished for his roles in both horror films and epic fantasies, navigated a world defined by stark contrasts: he was revered, yet often
The struggle for female empowerment within a patriarchal society has been a focal point for many artists and filmmakers. In her insightful references, Angela Carter’s “The Sadeian Woman” and Leslie Fielder’s “Love and Death in the American Novel” remind us how historical portrayals of women often serve to limit their freedom and identity. This critical
“Cursed in Baja” is a film that intricately weaves together themes of redemption, cyclical violence, and the haunting nature of the past through a non-linear narrative structure. The story begins with Hugo Armstrong’s compelling portrayal of a prison guard leading the main character, Pirelli, played by Jeff Daniel Phillips, to what appears to be his
In the film *Saint Clare*, we are introduced to Clare Bleecker, portrayed by Bella Thorne, who embodies a modern-day reimagining of the intense conviction seen in historical figures like Joan of Arc. Clare begins her journey with a striking affirmation: “Everything I have said and done has been in the hands of God. I was
In a rapidly urbanizing world, the theme of loneliness resurfaces time and again in cinema, capturing the essence of the human experience amid vast metropolises. In “7 Keys,” writer and director Joy Wilkinson delivers a poignant narrative that follows single mother Lena, portrayed by Emma McDonald, as she grapples with her own isolation and the
“Broken Bird,” directed by Joanne Mitchell, invites audiences on a haunting exploration of grief through the eyes of its eccentric protagonist, Sybil Chamberlain, portrayed brilliantly by Rebecca Calder. The film opens strikingly with the morbid image of a dead bird, which becomes a potent symbol for the themes of death and decay that permeate the