Fantasia 2019: 8 Review
Atmospheric and unsettling, 8 utilizes moody visuals and excellent sound design to deliver a satisfying folk-horror story that, while inconsistent, is well worth a look.
Posted by: Adam Patterson
Fantasia 2019: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WKND Review
While the concept is sound, the film does little to breathe new life into the time-loop mechanic and instead opts to simply curse the most uninteresting person possible.
Posted by: Adam Patterson
Fantasia 2019: BLACK MAGIC FOR WHITE BOYS Review
Those who are fans of Tukel’s previous efforts will find themselves in familiar territory here and will likely enjoy what they see.
Posted by: Adam Patterson
Fantasia 2019: THE GANGSTER, THE COP, THE DEVIL Review
These days you can’t swing a stick without hitting several top-notch South Korean crime thrillers, but The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil is one that sits near the top of the heap in an already impressive batch of contemporaries.
Posted by: Adam Patterson
Fantasia 2019: DREADOUT Review
Dreadout isn’t without its charms, but the grating, surface-level characters and uninteresting narrative make it a horror title that has some fun set pieces but offers little in the way of lasting power or memorability.
Posted by: Adam Patterson
THE CHILL FACTOR Arrow Blu-ray Review
It may have a dreadful script, a soft-core porn soundtrack, rough performances and an aesthetic that looks a decade too old, but all these elements add to the cheesy fun.
Posted by: Adam Patterson
Fantasia 2019: CRITTERS ATTACK! Review
Critters Attack! is an ’80s throwback that should have been left in the past.
Posted by: Adam Patterson
NYAFF 2019: WINTER AFTER WINTER
Winter After Winter has substance but not enough activity makes it a mostly tepid watch.
Posted by: Raul de Leon
NYAFF 2019: MAGGIE Review
Maggie is a puzzling oddity whose creative aimlessness endears itself to its head-scratching audience.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
UNSUNG INDIES: Terry Chiu’s MANGOSHAKE
With the overabundant DIY nature of the project, Chiu and friends have illustrated the power of art as community.
Posted by: Kevin Rakestraw
Fantasia 2019: SADAKO Review
Sadako begins tempting enough, with a decent setup and a few effective scares, but as the runtime progresses, it slowly derails into a slog that makes Sadako vs. Kayako look like the most logical movie in existence.
Posted by: Adam Patterson
Fantasia 2019: THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE Review
With its surprisingly dark turn and impeccable script, The Art of Self-Defense is a wonderfully crafted and memorable comedy that will no doubt stay with you long after you leave the theater.
Posted by: Adam Patterson
NYAFF 2019: 5 MILLION DOLLAR LIFE Review
#NYAFF Review: Deftly tapping into a common Millennial anxiety, 5 MILLION DOLLAR LIFE is a sardonic, existential exploration of one's value in society.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
NYAFF 2019: FURIE Review
Like some kind of badass Vietnamese version of Taken, Le-Van Kiet’s Furie brings fast, fluid action with a heavy dose of style to make it a martial arts bonanza that’s not one to be missed.
Posted by: Adam Patterson
NYAFF 2019: THE ODD FAMILY: ZOMBIE FOR SALE
A fresh take on the tired zombie formula, played with enjoyable farcicality by a standout cast, makes The Odd Family: Zombie for Sale an absurdist delight.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
NYAFF 2019: JAM Review
By exploring the small overlaps between, and coincidences among, the stories of complete strangers, Jam fails to become as good as the sum of its parts.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
