It’s fairly remarkable that there has yet to be a film made that addresses the topic of open relationships — or any of the myriad configurations found under the umbrella of ethical non-monogamy — in a way that isn’t reductive or otherwise grossly conservative…
Rarely has horror felt as inert as it does in the tedious Censor. The opening credits to the new horror film Censor feature a montage of gory and violent scenes courtesy of what the British once referred to as “video nasties,” low-budget horror and…
Death on the Streets is a rather sensationalist title for what’s ultimately a low-key slab of miserablism served up by Danish director Johan Carlsen. A one-note affair that mistakes topicality for depth, the film bends over backwards to present a “naturalistic” portrait of Midwest…
Bad Tales certainly tries hard but comes off mostly like an artfully-directed after-school special. The stink of desperation wafts heavily from Damiano and Fabio D’Innocenzo’s Italian never-coming-of-age drama Bad Tales. An unholy hybrid of the dreamy lyricism of The Virgin Suicides and the stomach-churning…
Kala azar is an obvious, stultifying, and facile lecture masquerading as art cinema. Kala-azar is the Indian name for Black Fever, a potentially fatal parasitic disease, and according to the official synopsis for the new Greco-Dutch co-production Kala azar, the feature debut of writer-director Janis…
Plan B has its heart and messaging in the right place, but frequently undercuts its intent with one-step-forward-two-steps-back developments. At first glance, director Natalie Morales’s Plan B appears to follow the beaten track trod by so many coming-of-age films before it, as two hormone-addled best…
Given its gimmicky genesis, Dementia Part II surprises as a bit of legitimate, over-the-top fun. At only 66 minutes — and that includes the opening credits being repeated at film’s end — the horror sequel Dementia Part II barely qualifies as a feature-length movie. The…
Benny Loves You is nothing if not a passion project, but one likely to be loved only by its creator. Murderous toys are nothing new to the big screen, and, in fact, have had a bit of resurgence of late thanks to the wildly popular…
The best way to understand the character of Euros Lyn’s Dream Horse is as the type of film your mother describes as “sweet” and insists you watch at your earliest convenience. Theater owners need only schedule 10:30 a.m. showings daily to earn maximum profit;…
Episode Description: This week, we take on 1984’s Streets of Fire, directed by Walter Hill, a film that opens by helpfully describing itself as a “A Rock & Roll Fable.” Without the guidance, it would be hard to know the most appropriate way to…
