Tag: Indie Film
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“Obsession” Review: Curry Barker’s Monkey’s Paw Horror Is One of 2026’s Best Films
Curry Barker’s Obsession is deceptively simple in premise and relentless in execution — a supernatural horror film rooted in male entitlement, romantic cowardice, and the very real anxieties of modern dating. Anchored by a career-defining performance from Inde Navarrette and a sharp, darkly comedic screenplay, Barker’s feature debut is one of 2026’s best films and…
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Omaha Review: John Magaro Delivers a Career-Best Performance in Cole Webley’s Quietly Devastating Feature Debut
Director Cole Webley’s feature debut, Omaha, follows a widowed father (John Magaro) and his two young children on a cross-country road trip set against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis and housing collapse — a premise as quietly devastating as it is urgently relevant. Anchored by career-best work from Magaro and a revelation of…
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Blue Heron (2026) Review: Sophy Romvari’s Debut Is a Quietly Devastating Portrait of Family and Memory
In her feature debut, Blue Heron, director Sophy Romvari draws from her own childhood to craft an intimate, semi-autobiographical portrait of family, memory, and the quiet devastation of losing someone who was never fully yours to keep. Through a lived-in visual language, restrained performances, and a narrative that blurs the line between memory and reality,…
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Parallel Tales: How “The Drama” and “Our Hero, Balthazar” Use Dark Comedy to Confront America’s Gun Violence Crisis
In the same season, two films independently chose America’s gun violence epidemic as their narrative catalyst — one a dark romantic comedy starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, the other a debut feature about performative activism and male loneliness. “The Drama” and “Our Hero, Balthazar” couldn’t be more different in tone and approach, yet together they…
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5 Film Reviews: From Indie Drama to Horror Chaos and Blockbuster Spectacle
A quick catch-up on five recent films spanning indie drama, documentary storytelling, horror spectacle, and blockbuster franchise filmmaking. From intimate character studies to chaotic genre thrills and nostalgic IP-driven entertainment, this roundup explores the range of tones and styles shaping today’s cinematic landscape.
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undertone Review: A24’s Debut Horror Is a Masterclass in Sound, Dread, and Guilt
Podcasts, paranoia, and a demon drawn from ancient folklore — Ian Tuason’s undertone is a masterfully controlled debut that uses sound, silence, and negative space to excavate grief, guilt, and the fear of becoming your mother. A24 knew exactly what they were acquiring. Here’s the full review.
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Heel Review: Jan Komasa’s Twisted Psychological Thriller Explores Control, Generational Chaos, and the Cost of Forced Rehabilitation
Formerly titled Good Boy, Heel sees director Jan Komasa crafting a psychologically unsettling examination of control, morality, and generational conflict. When a reckless 19-year-old influencer obsessed with online “clout” wakes up chained in the basement of a seemingly respectable family, what begins as a disturbing kidnapping evolves into something far more complex: a warped attempt…
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His House (2020) Review: A Black History Month Spotlight on South Sudan, Survival, and the Horror of Displacement
In celebration of Black History Month, this review revisits His House (2020), Remi Weekes’ haunting exploration of displacement, survivor’s guilt, and the refugee experience. Anchored by powerful performances from Wunmi Mosaku and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, the film follows a South Sudanese couple fleeing civil war only to confront both bureaucratic hostility and supernatural terror in Britain.…
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Redux Redux Review: A Multiverse Thriller About Grief, Revenge, and the Illusion of Control
In Redux Redux, directors Kevin and Matthew McManus strip the multiverse thriller down to its emotional core. What begins as a time-travel revenge story quickly transforms into an unflinching character study about grief, obsession, and the illusion of control. Michaela McManus delivers a gripping lead performance as Irene Kelly, a mother who uses a mysterious…
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Nirvanna the Band – the Show – the Movie Review: A Time-Traveling Cult Comedy About Friendship, Failure, and Creative Ambition
Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol bring their long-running cult comedy to the big screen with Nirvanna the Band – The Show – The Movie, an inventive time-travel mockumentary that blends archival footage, absurd humor, and a surprisingly heartfelt exploration of friendship, ambition, and creative stagnation.