Welcome to a new episode of The Film Stage Show! Brian Roan and Robyn Bahr discuss Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow with special guest Katie Rife.
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Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. All new Patreon supporters receive a free 4K Uhd or Blu-ray upon joining.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service showcasing exceptional films from around the globe. Every day, Mubi premieres a new film. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a cult favorite, or an acclaimed masterpiece — it’s guaranteed to be either a movie you’ve been dying to see or one you’ve never heard of before and there will always be something new to discover. Try it for free for 30 days at mubi.com/filmstage.
- 5/15/2024
- by Brian Roan
- The Film Stage
What happens when a horror movie doesn't know it's a horror movie? You get "Passengers," the 2016 sci-fi film starring Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. Directed by Morten Tyldum and written by Jon Spaihts, the movie takes place aboard a spaceship transporting thousands of people to a distant planet in the aftermath of Earth's ecological collapse. When a malfunction causes one of the passengers, Jim (Pratt), to awaken from hypersleep 30 years into the vessel's 120-year journey, he's left with a dilemma: Should he live out the rest of his days on the ship alone, end his life prematurely, or wake up Aurora (Lawrence), the hot lady he's crushing on, and lie about what happened for as long as possible? I'm betting you've guessed what he does.
Jim's decision was meant to be a surprise. However, much like what happened with Matthew Vaughn's "Argylle," the film's "twist" was spoiled in reports long before its release.
Jim's decision was meant to be a surprise. However, much like what happened with Matthew Vaughn's "Argylle," the film's "twist" was spoiled in reports long before its release.
- 5/13/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Clockwise from left: Atlas (Netflix), My Oni Girl (Netflix), Unfrosted (Netflix)Image: The A.V. Club
Netflix offers a few high-profile originals this May as the summer movie season gets ready to kick off in theaters. Jerry Seinfeld makes his feature directorial debut and acts in Unfrosted, a comedy about the...
Netflix offers a few high-profile originals this May as the summer movie season gets ready to kick off in theaters. Jerry Seinfeld makes his feature directorial debut and acts in Unfrosted, a comedy about the...
- 5/3/2024
- by Robert DeSalvo
- avclub.com
Clockwise from top left: Eileen (Neon), Sympathy For The Devil (Rlje Films), The Promised Land (Magnolia Pictures), Ferrari (Neon)Image: The A.V. Club
As the summer movie season gets ready to kick off in theaters, Hulu highlights some A-list stars in indie films for its May calendar. In Eileen, Anne Hathaway...
As the summer movie season gets ready to kick off in theaters, Hulu highlights some A-list stars in indie films for its May calendar. In Eileen, Anne Hathaway...
- 5/2/2024
- by Robert DeSalvo
- avclub.com
Front: I Saw The TV Glow (A24); Back: Unfrosted (John P. Johnson/Netflix)Graphic: The A.V. Club
Films releases have been, let’s say, uneven in 2024: we’re finally seeing premieres for movies delayed by Covid, the writers’ strike, and the actors’ strike, in addition to whatever else the...
Films releases have been, let’s say, uneven in 2024: we’re finally seeing premieres for movies delayed by Covid, the writers’ strike, and the actors’ strike, in addition to whatever else the...
- 4/29/2024
- by Jen Lennon, Jacob Oller, Saloni Gajjar, Mary Kate Carr, Emma Keates, Matt Schimkowitz, Cindy White, and Drew Gillis
- avclub.com
Debating the horror genre’s artistic value is tacky. Measuring its success by the box office can be just as boring. But I’d bet you a head-start in a chase sequence that those metrics still steer how Hollywood talks about its longest-surviving obsession at many prestige events.
Not so at The Overlook Film Festival: a community-minded summit that fundamentally reinforced my belief in scary movies and the types of people who make, critique, promote, and protect them.
Co-founded by Landon Zakheim and Michael Lerman in 2013, the annual event started out of Colorado as The Stanley Film Festival, honoring Kubrick before expanding to encompass the horror genre more generally. After a brief stint in Oregon The Overlook Film Festival made its permanent home in New Orleans, Louisiana. That’s “the most haunted city in America” if you ask event organizers, but only the third most haunted if you’re going...
Not so at The Overlook Film Festival: a community-minded summit that fundamentally reinforced my belief in scary movies and the types of people who make, critique, promote, and protect them.
Co-founded by Landon Zakheim and Michael Lerman in 2013, the annual event started out of Colorado as The Stanley Film Festival, honoring Kubrick before expanding to encompass the horror genre more generally. After a brief stint in Oregon The Overlook Film Festival made its permanent home in New Orleans, Louisiana. That’s “the most haunted city in America” if you ask event organizers, but only the third most haunted if you’re going...
- 4/27/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
“True Detective” is back with a bang thanks to an electric fourth entry in the franchise from Issa López, who injects the crime series with darkness, humanity, and intrigue. This fourth edition of the HBO hit follows Jodie Foster as a police chief in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska. She leads an investigation into the disappearance of eight men from a research station. Seasons two and three of “True Detective” weren’t received as rapturously as the first season, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, but numerous critics have proclaimed that this fourth entry is as good if not better than season one.
Katie Rife (IGN) opined: “‘True Detective: Night Country’ is the best season of the series since the original. The horror sequences are especially good, and creator Issa López thoughtfully engages with the Alaska location without sacrificing the intrigue of a good detective story.”
Brian Tallerico (Roger Ebert...
Katie Rife (IGN) opined: “‘True Detective: Night Country’ is the best season of the series since the original. The horror sequences are especially good, and creator Issa López thoughtfully engages with the Alaska location without sacrificing the intrigue of a good detective story.”
Brian Tallerico (Roger Ebert...
- 3/27/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
David Leitch’s upcoming blockbuster “The Fall Guy” marks a Barbenheimer reunion of sorts, pitting “Barbie” Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling alongside “Oppenheimer” star Emily Blunt in a story about a stunt performer trying to solve a mystery and save his ex-wife’s film. And according to Blunt, the biggest Hollywood phenomenon of 2023 might make its presence felt in other ways as well.
In a new interview with Total Film, Blunt talked about looking to her Hollywood peers for inspiration as she crafted the character of Jody, a director who receives a big break directing a studio blockbuster that quickly flies off the rails. She cited “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig as an example of the positive filmmaking traits she tried to emulate.
“With the warmth and the charm, I guess there’s a little Greta in there,” Blunt said of the character. “She was a mix of a few other people...
In a new interview with Total Film, Blunt talked about looking to her Hollywood peers for inspiration as she crafted the character of Jody, a director who receives a big break directing a studio blockbuster that quickly flies off the rails. She cited “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig as an example of the positive filmmaking traits she tried to emulate.
“With the warmth and the charm, I guess there’s a little Greta in there,” Blunt said of the character. “She was a mix of a few other people...
- 3/23/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Reviews are out for “Civil War,” the controversial thriller from Oscar-nominated writer-director Alex Garland. Critics who saw the film’s premiere at South by Southwest are mostly impressed by the politically charged A24 film. It has an 81% “Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes and a “generally favorable” score of 72 on Metacritic. While the trailer drew some derision for U.K. native Garland’s apparent misunderstanding of American politics for suggesting a separatist alliance between California and Texas, critics say that the film itself is much more “politically astute and plausible” than reactions for the trailer gave it credit for. And they emphasize that the film, which follows four journalists as they travel across America during a rapidly escalating civil war in the near future, is something very different than what it appears to be on the surface.
In a rave review, Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com calls “Civil War” “a...
In a rave review, Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com calls “Civil War” “a...
- 3/15/2024
- by Liam Mathews
- Gold Derby
What’s so civil about war anyway? Well, nothing, but if we’re talking about Alex Garland’s new movie, Civil War, there is a lot of common ground to be found, as social media’s first reactions out of its SXSW premiere have heaped a ton of praise on the film, citing the sheer tensity, timely themes and a final act that isn’t to be missed.
Check out some of the reactions to Civil War below:
I swear when I tell you I was on the edge of my seat for the last quarter of this film. Insanely tense stuff. A cautionary tale? Sure. Lots to discuss & debate, but the film doesn’t have an agenda except to remind us that when it all falls apart, the journalists will be there to… pic.twitter.com/x79nwcUS6M
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) March 15, 2024
Alex Garland’s Civil War is a masterpiece.
Check out some of the reactions to Civil War below:
I swear when I tell you I was on the edge of my seat for the last quarter of this film. Insanely tense stuff. A cautionary tale? Sure. Lots to discuss & debate, but the film doesn’t have an agenda except to remind us that when it all falls apart, the journalists will be there to… pic.twitter.com/x79nwcUS6M
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) March 15, 2024
Alex Garland’s Civil War is a masterpiece.
- 3/15/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
The Overlook Film Festival, which takes place from April 4 to April 7 in New Orleans, La. at the Prytania Theatres, has announced its initial 2024 lineup. The horror festival will open with Neon’s “Cuckoo” and close with the world premiere of Universal Pictures’ “Abigail.”
The lineup includes 45 films — 22 features and 23 shorts — in addition to four live presentations and five immersive experiences.
“We are finally able to see the fruits of post-pandemic productions and it’s a sight to behold,” Michael Lerman, co-founder and director of film programming of Overlook Film Festival, said in a statement. “This year’s lineup is full of bigger, scarier, more personal, more bombastic fever dreams that are sure to haunt you for the rest of 2024.”
As the opening night film, “Cuckoo” will kick off the week. The film stars Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens and Jessica Henwick. Directed by Tilman Singer, “Cuckoo” follows a 17-year-old who moves...
The lineup includes 45 films — 22 features and 23 shorts — in addition to four live presentations and five immersive experiences.
“We are finally able to see the fruits of post-pandemic productions and it’s a sight to behold,” Michael Lerman, co-founder and director of film programming of Overlook Film Festival, said in a statement. “This year’s lineup is full of bigger, scarier, more personal, more bombastic fever dreams that are sure to haunt you for the rest of 2024.”
As the opening night film, “Cuckoo” will kick off the week. The film stars Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens and Jessica Henwick. Directed by Tilman Singer, “Cuckoo” follows a 17-year-old who moves...
- 3/6/2024
- by Caroline Brew
- Variety Film + TV
The Overlook Film Festival, billed as “the annual celebration of all things horror,” announced today the initial lineup for its 2024 edition.
Taking place April 4 through 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Prytania Theatres, the horror fest is ready to bring audiences back to “America’s most haunted city” with a selection of both new and classic films, including 2024 releases like Sundance smash hit “I Saw the TV Glow” from director Jane Schoenbrun, Tilman Singer’s opening night pick “Cuckoo,” closing night offering “Abigail” from the Radio Silence team, plus offscreen offerings including interactive events, live performances, immersive programming, special guests and much, much more.
“We are finally able to see the fruits of post-pandemic productions and it’s a sight to behold,” said Michael Lerman, co-founder and director of film programming of the Overlook Film Festival, in an officials statement. “This year’s lineup is full of bigger, scarier, more personal,...
Taking place April 4 through 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Prytania Theatres, the horror fest is ready to bring audiences back to “America’s most haunted city” with a selection of both new and classic films, including 2024 releases like Sundance smash hit “I Saw the TV Glow” from director Jane Schoenbrun, Tilman Singer’s opening night pick “Cuckoo,” closing night offering “Abigail” from the Radio Silence team, plus offscreen offerings including interactive events, live performances, immersive programming, special guests and much, much more.
“We are finally able to see the fruits of post-pandemic productions and it’s a sight to behold,” said Michael Lerman, co-founder and director of film programming of the Overlook Film Festival, in an officials statement. “This year’s lineup is full of bigger, scarier, more personal,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Mark L. Lester's ultra-violent 1985 actioner "Commando" is entertainingly ridiculous and ridiculously entertaining. Few films of the era reflect on the ultra-violent military fantasies of Reagan's America better than "Commando," an irony to be sure, as it stars a massive Austrian actor. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a former Special Forces Colonel named John Matrix who is attempting to live a quiet life with his sweet daughter Jenny (Alyssa Milano). When Jenny is kidnapped by a vengeful villain played by Dan Hedaya, it gives John the moral license to murder about a thousand people in a violent quest to rescue her. John Matrix shoots, explodes, cuts, stabs, and buzzsaw-frisbees his way through Hedaya's minions without a scratch, a military superman with untouchable skill and an unslaked bloodlust.
The violence in "Commando" is horrifying and spectacular. Looking over the film's parental advisory on IMDb may sell the film better than any conventional advertisement.
The violence in "Commando" is horrifying and spectacular. Looking over the film's parental advisory on IMDb may sell the film better than any conventional advertisement.
- 2/9/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
L-r, from top: You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah; Blazing Saddles; School Of Rock; The Mitchells Vs. The Machines; Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga; Forgetting Sarah MarshallScreenshot: Netflix/Rotten Tomatoes Trailers/YouTube
Netflix’s film library is positively gargantuan, so how is a couch...
Netflix’s film library is positively gargantuan, so how is a couch...
- 1/31/2024
- by The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
Clockwise from bottom left: Beetlejuice (Warner Bros.), Palm Springs (Hulu), The Guilt Trip (Paramount), Frank (Magnolia) Graphic: AVClub
Hulu is a great resource for viewers seeking laughs, as this round-up of the platform’s best available comedy movies can attest. The A.V. Club’s list particularly proves that Hulu...
Hulu is a great resource for viewers seeking laughs, as this round-up of the platform’s best available comedy movies can attest. The A.V. Club’s list particularly proves that Hulu...
- 1/20/2024
- by The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
Godzilla Minus One, the 37th film in Japan’s long-running giant monster movie franchise, marches into U.S. theaters on Friday — and the early reaction from critics is ecstatic.
“Godzilla Minus One isn’t just a good Godzilla movie,” writes ReelViews critic James Berardinelli in a characteristic take. “It’s an excellent Godzilla movie – arguably among the best ever to grace the screen.”
Written and directed by acclaimed CG animator and VFX artist Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus One is a period film that takes the giant Kaiju back to his roots, showing the creature emerging just as Japan is struggling to recover from the ravages of World War 2. It stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, and Kuranosuke Sasaki.
U.S. critics have unanimously praised the film for the remarkable visual mileage Yamazaki got out of the project’s relatively small budget, as well...
“Godzilla Minus One isn’t just a good Godzilla movie,” writes ReelViews critic James Berardinelli in a characteristic take. “It’s an excellent Godzilla movie – arguably among the best ever to grace the screen.”
Written and directed by acclaimed CG animator and VFX artist Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus One is a period film that takes the giant Kaiju back to his roots, showing the creature emerging just as Japan is struggling to recover from the ravages of World War 2. It stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, and Kuranosuke Sasaki.
U.S. critics have unanimously praised the film for the remarkable visual mileage Yamazaki got out of the project’s relatively small budget, as well...
- 12/1/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Clockwise from top left: It Lives Inside (Neon), Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Sony Pictures Releasing), The Matrix Resurrections (Warner Bros. Pictures)Image: The A.V. Club
For the holiday season, Hulu is adding some genre favorites and promising new movies to its library. The streaming platform in December welcomes...
For the holiday season, Hulu is adding some genre favorites and promising new movies to its library. The streaming platform in December welcomes...
- 11/30/2023
- by Robert DeSalvo
- avclub.com
From left: The Hateful Eight (The Weinstein Company), The Killer (Netflix), I Care A Lot (Seacia Pavao/Netflix), Uncut Gems (A24)Graphic: The A.V. Club
In the film genre pecking order, thrillers often get short shrift. They sometimes overlap with the far flashier horror genre, and seldom make the...
In the film genre pecking order, thrillers often get short shrift. They sometimes overlap with the far flashier horror genre, and seldom make the...
- 11/11/2023
- by The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
Clockwise from top left: Prey (20th Century Studios), Hellraiser (Spyglass Media Group), Titane (Neon), Parasite (Neon) Graphic: AVClub
Thrills and chills await movie buffs on Hulu, the streaming service that’s making its case to be synonymous with the horror genre. That’s especially this Huluween month, which has brought sadomasochists everywhere with Hellraiser 2022,...
Thrills and chills await movie buffs on Hulu, the streaming service that’s making its case to be synonymous with the horror genre. That’s especially this Huluween month, which has brought sadomasochists everywhere with Hellraiser 2022,...
- 10/13/2023
- by The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
Believe the hype – It Follows – leads the way as a genuinely scary, modern horror classic and now this nightmare inducing freakout fest, from award-winning director David Robert Mitchell, is about to creep up and shock you with an immense new Limited Edition 4K Uhd / Blu-ray dual release from Second Sight Films.
Lauded by critics and audiences alike, It Follows has been described by The Independent as ‘Ingenious…… gets under the skin’ and by Little White Lies as ‘Petrifying and refreshingly original… unremittingly pursues the two greatest themes in both art and life’ and now Second Sight Films has relentlessly chased down the best special features, contributors and design for a stellar must-have release of this seminal film.
Care-free high school student Jay Height (Maika Monroe – Independence Day: Resurgence) has just started dating a ‘nice’ guy – Hugh (Jake Weary – Zombeavers), but they have sex, everything changes and life will never be the same again…...
Lauded by critics and audiences alike, It Follows has been described by The Independent as ‘Ingenious…… gets under the skin’ and by Little White Lies as ‘Petrifying and refreshingly original… unremittingly pursues the two greatest themes in both art and life’ and now Second Sight Films has relentlessly chased down the best special features, contributors and design for a stellar must-have release of this seminal film.
Care-free high school student Jay Height (Maika Monroe – Independence Day: Resurgence) has just started dating a ‘nice’ guy – Hugh (Jake Weary – Zombeavers), but they have sex, everything changes and life will never be the same again…...
- 10/13/2023
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Clockwise from top left: Polite Society (Focus Features), Totally Killer (Amazon), The Burial (Amazon), Surrounded (MGM)Image: The A.V. Club
Amazon Prime Video has a diverse selection of originals, indies, and recent theatrical releases this October. Tommy Lee Jones plays a funeral home owner and Jamie Foxx is his attorney in The Burial,...
Amazon Prime Video has a diverse selection of originals, indies, and recent theatrical releases this October. Tommy Lee Jones plays a funeral home owner and Jamie Foxx is his attorney in The Burial,...
- 9/28/2023
- by Robert DeSalvo
- avclub.com
Whether or not you agree with Quentin Tarantino’s unsparing assertion that “’80s cinema is, along with the ’50s, the worst era in Hollywood history,” there’s a curiously undeniable truth to his follow-up statement: “Matched only by now! Matched only by the current era.” Revisiting the defining movies of the ’80s from our current perspective at the height of Barbenheimer summer, two things become abundantly clear.
The first is that modern Hollywood would probably need a Barbenheimer every month in order to equal the creative output of a studio system that used to be capable of releasing “Blade Runner” and “The Thing” on the same night as if it were just another Friday. The second is that, in a wide variety of different ways both negative and not, the ’80s provide a perfect match for the movies of our current moment — if not the current moment itself.
Perhaps that...
The first is that modern Hollywood would probably need a Barbenheimer every month in order to equal the creative output of a studio system that used to be capable of releasing “Blade Runner” and “The Thing” on the same night as if it were just another Friday. The second is that, in a wide variety of different ways both negative and not, the ’80s provide a perfect match for the movies of our current moment — if not the current moment itself.
Perhaps that...
- 8/14/2023
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
Clockwise from top left: The Craft (Columbia Pictures), Malignant (Warner Bros. Pictures), Enys Men (British Film Institute), How To Blow Up A Pipeline (Neon)Photo: The A.V. Club
It’s the last full month of summer and Hulu is here to help you escape the heat with some refreshing new titles and genre favorites.
It’s the last full month of summer and Hulu is here to help you escape the heat with some refreshing new titles and genre favorites.
- 7/31/2023
- by Robert DeSalvo
- avclub.com
This post contains spoilers for "Barbie."
During the emotional climax to "Barbie," Billie Eilish's breathy, dreamlike voice sings "What Was I Made For?" over grainy recordings of brides, mothers, grandmothers, families, and friends sharing tender moments. It's one of the best movie sequences of the year, with Eilish's haunting song capturing Barbie's confusion about her purpose and future.
Vulture's Katie Rife has argued this scene links Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) to an "intergenerational heritage that she couldn't access as a fictional construct." This collage of close-knit relationships is overwhelming for Barbie, who experiences human feelings for the first time -- particularly a mix of painful and cathartic sadness. Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman), the inventor of Barbie, tells the iconic doll to close her eyes and let the turbulent emotions wash over her.
According to Time magazine, the family images are not random but actual home videos submitted...
During the emotional climax to "Barbie," Billie Eilish's breathy, dreamlike voice sings "What Was I Made For?" over grainy recordings of brides, mothers, grandmothers, families, and friends sharing tender moments. It's one of the best movie sequences of the year, with Eilish's haunting song capturing Barbie's confusion about her purpose and future.
Vulture's Katie Rife has argued this scene links Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) to an "intergenerational heritage that she couldn't access as a fictional construct." This collage of close-knit relationships is overwhelming for Barbie, who experiences human feelings for the first time -- particularly a mix of painful and cathartic sadness. Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman), the inventor of Barbie, tells the iconic doll to close her eyes and let the turbulent emotions wash over her.
According to Time magazine, the family images are not random but actual home videos submitted...
- 7/24/2023
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
Awkwafina is… searching for her first Emmy nomination. The multi-hyphenate star has seen her status as a performer and creative rise rapidly within the last few years but she has yet to receive the recognition a comedian of her talents might well deserve from the Emmys.
With “Awkwafina is Nora From Queens,” however, that could change. Created by Awkwafina and “Family Guy” and “American Dad” writer/producer Teresa Hsiao, this Comedy Central hit is a vehicle for Awkwafina’s star power. It follows Awkwafina as Nora, a fictionalized version of herself, who is a 20-year-old-something woman living in Queens, New York who longs for something better than she currently has. She finds herself in various situations, ranging from the aggravating to the bizarre, and has to deal with her family, too, led by her dad (Bd Wong) and grandma (Lori Tan Chinn). The show demonstrates Awkwafina’s unique comedy stylings...
With “Awkwafina is Nora From Queens,” however, that could change. Created by Awkwafina and “Family Guy” and “American Dad” writer/producer Teresa Hsiao, this Comedy Central hit is a vehicle for Awkwafina’s star power. It follows Awkwafina as Nora, a fictionalized version of herself, who is a 20-year-old-something woman living in Queens, New York who longs for something better than she currently has. She finds herself in various situations, ranging from the aggravating to the bizarre, and has to deal with her family, too, led by her dad (Bd Wong) and grandma (Lori Tan Chinn). The show demonstrates Awkwafina’s unique comedy stylings...
- 6/22/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
On April 21, Warner Bros. released “Evil Dead Rise,” the fifth installment of the supernatural horror franchise. The film written and directed by Lee Cronin currently holds a freshness rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, scaring up rave reviews from critics. The consensus reads, “Offering just about everything longtime fans could hope for while still managing to carry the franchise forward, Evil Dead Rise is all kinds of groovy.”
The film stars Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols and Nell Fisher in a twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable. Read our review round-up below.
See 24 most anticipated movies for April include ‘Air,’ ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie,’ ‘Evil Dead Rise’ … [Photos]
John Fink of The Film Stage notes, “Like the latest ‘Scream’ installment,...
The film stars Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols and Nell Fisher in a twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable. Read our review round-up below.
See 24 most anticipated movies for April include ‘Air,’ ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie,’ ‘Evil Dead Rise’ … [Photos]
John Fink of The Film Stage notes, “Like the latest ‘Scream’ installment,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
The Overlook Film Festival has unveiled the full lineup for its 2023 edition, taking place in New Orleans from March 30-April 2, naming the world premiering Universal horror-comedy Renfield as its opening night film, and Warner Bros’ Evil Dead Rise as its closer.
The former title starring Nicholas Hoult (The Menu) as the tortured henchman of Dracula (Nicolas Cage) will be showcased via a live Q&a with Cage and director Chris McKay, as well as an Opening Night Vampire Ball, ahead of its April 14 theatrical release.
The latter, marking the latest in the storied horror franchise from Sam Raimi, comes to the renowned horror festival after world premiering at SXSW. Lee Cronin directed from his script, with Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols and Nell Fisher amongst the ensemble.
This year’s Overlook lineup consists of 26 features and 24 shorts from 12 countries, along with interactive events, live performances, immersive programming and more.
The former title starring Nicholas Hoult (The Menu) as the tortured henchman of Dracula (Nicolas Cage) will be showcased via a live Q&a with Cage and director Chris McKay, as well as an Opening Night Vampire Ball, ahead of its April 14 theatrical release.
The latter, marking the latest in the storied horror franchise from Sam Raimi, comes to the renowned horror festival after world premiering at SXSW. Lee Cronin directed from his script, with Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols and Nell Fisher amongst the ensemble.
This year’s Overlook lineup consists of 26 features and 24 shorts from 12 countries, along with interactive events, live performances, immersive programming and more.
- 2/28/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Just when you think you’re out, the Oscars inevitably pull you back in.
This year’s biggest night in movies is set for March 12 at 8 p.m. Et, and will be televised on ABC per tradition (and a lucrative broadcast deal for the Academy). Cinema’s highest accolades have been broadcast for at-home viewers since 1953, when Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Greatest Show on Earth” took home Best Picture.
The 95th Academy Awards ceremony has as many analysts focused on the success of the show itself as the winners in each category. With Hollywood vying for audience attention, exactly which people tune into the Oscars — and the more opaque question of why — stands to cast a shadow over not just the future of how we honor film artistry, but the brass tax of business at the box office.
“Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” stand out...
This year’s biggest night in movies is set for March 12 at 8 p.m. Et, and will be televised on ABC per tradition (and a lucrative broadcast deal for the Academy). Cinema’s highest accolades have been broadcast for at-home viewers since 1953, when Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Greatest Show on Earth” took home Best Picture.
The 95th Academy Awards ceremony has as many analysts focused on the success of the show itself as the winners in each category. With Hollywood vying for audience attention, exactly which people tune into the Oscars — and the more opaque question of why — stands to cast a shadow over not just the future of how we honor film artistry, but the brass tax of business at the box office.
“Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” stand out...
- 2/7/2023
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Focus Features’ tearjerker “Spoiler Alert” is now open nationwide, and audiences everywhere are driving Kleenex stock through the roof. Based on TVLine founder Michael Ausiello‘s 2017 memoir “Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies,” the film is directed by Michael Showalter and it may or may not be the latest installment in the “Smurfs” movie series (you’ll have to watch it and decide for yourself). In all seriousness, “Spoiler Alert” details the ups and downs of Ausiello’s relationship with Kit Cowan, which tragically ends after Cowan passes away from neuroendocrine cancer.
“Spoiler Alert” reviews are pouring in at Rotten Tomatoes, where it currently has an 82 critics score and a 96 audience score. The acting duo of Jim Parsons and Ben Aldridge are receiving unanimous praise for their roles as Ausiello and Cowan, respectively, with Odie Henderson (Boston Globe) raving that the two male leads “have fantastic chemistry together.” Parsons is a...
“Spoiler Alert” reviews are pouring in at Rotten Tomatoes, where it currently has an 82 critics score and a 96 audience score. The acting duo of Jim Parsons and Ben Aldridge are receiving unanimous praise for their roles as Ausiello and Cowan, respectively, with Odie Henderson (Boston Globe) raving that the two male leads “have fantastic chemistry together.” Parsons is a...
- 12/16/2022
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Maybe Netflix saved the best of its festival debuts for last. After receiving mixed responses to “Bardo” and “White Noise” at Venice, the streamer was blessed with some of the most effusive reactions of the year so far for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.” The Rian Johnson mystery-comedy debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday night.
“Yes, ‘Glass Onion’ is as good as ‘Knives Out,’ if not better – another very funny, supremely well-written murder-mystery w/ twists & turns galore. I could watch Daniel Craig play Benoit Blanc forever. Also Big shout out to Janelle Monáe, the film’s all-star without a doubt,” Fandango’s Erik Davis wrote.
“‘Glass Onion’ is even better than the original ‘Knives Out.’ Can [Rian Johnson] slow down and give everyone else a chance??!” wrote Vanity Fair’s Michael Hogan.
“Glass Onion’: No one else has said this yet, but it’s better than the first one,...
“Yes, ‘Glass Onion’ is as good as ‘Knives Out,’ if not better – another very funny, supremely well-written murder-mystery w/ twists & turns galore. I could watch Daniel Craig play Benoit Blanc forever. Also Big shout out to Janelle Monáe, the film’s all-star without a doubt,” Fandango’s Erik Davis wrote.
“‘Glass Onion’ is even better than the original ‘Knives Out.’ Can [Rian Johnson] slow down and give everyone else a chance??!” wrote Vanity Fair’s Michael Hogan.
“Glass Onion’: No one else has said this yet, but it’s better than the first one,...
- 9/11/2022
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
As if. While the ‘90s may still be linked with a wide variety of dubious holdovers — including curious slang, questionable fashion choices, and sinister political agendas — many of the decade’s cultural contributions have cast an outsized shadow on the first stretch of the 21st century. Nowhere is that phenomenon more obvious or explicable than it is at the movies.
The ’90s began with a revolt against the kind of bland Hollywood product that people might kill to see in theaters today, creaking open a small window of time in which a more commercially viable American independent cinema began seeping into mainstream fare. Young and exciting directors, many of whom are now major auteurs and perennial IndieWire favorites, were given the resources to make multiple films — some of them on massive scales. Meanwhile, the industry establishment responded to the sudden influx of new talent by entrusting its biggest tentpoles to...
The ’90s began with a revolt against the kind of bland Hollywood product that people might kill to see in theaters today, creaking open a small window of time in which a more commercially viable American independent cinema began seeping into mainstream fare. Young and exciting directors, many of whom are now major auteurs and perennial IndieWire favorites, were given the resources to make multiple films — some of them on massive scales. Meanwhile, the industry establishment responded to the sudden influx of new talent by entrusting its biggest tentpoles to...
- 8/15/2022
- by David Ehrlich, Kate Erbland and Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSDavid Warner in The Wars of the Roses.David Warner, who died earlier this week, is warmly paid tribute to by artist and filmmaker Tacita Dean in the Guardian. In the piece, Dean talks about her admiration for the actor's performance in Alain Resnais' Providence and how she convinced him to star in her own film of the same name.Mary Alice also passed away this week, aged 85. A Tony- and Emmy-winning actor, Alice was known for her roles in Charles Burnett’s To Sleep With Anger, Brian De Palma’s The Bonfire of the Vanities, and Penny Marshall's Awakenings, among many other performances on both stage and screen.As part of a series of events investigating "the new languages of the contemporary," the Locarno Film Festival will host a 24-hour-long talk titled "The Future of Attention,...
- 8/3/2022
- MUBI
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSThe official poster for the the 54th Directors' Fortnight is by multidisciplinary artist Cecilia Paredes. In a statement, the festival points out that Paredes' photo-performance is "both visible and invisible, the artist blends into the image she creates, much like filmmakers do in their films." Following the release of Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth, Ethan Coen is setting out to make his own solo directorial debut with a still-untitled "lesbian road trip project that Coen and [his wife, Tricia Cooke] initially wrote in the mid-2000s." Gus Van Sant is set to direct the second season of Ryan Murphy's anthology series Feud, which will be based on Laurence Leamer's book Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era. Playing one such woman will be Naomi Watts,...
- 4/6/2022
- MUBI
Last week was 2001 Week at The A.V. Club, and as part of this multi-day retrospective of the pop-culture of two decades ago, we voted on the best movies from the second year of the new century. On a brand new episode of Film Club, critics A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife continue that discussion of the bygone year in cinema,…...
- 12/10/2021
- by A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife
- avclub.com
Our four-part series on the films of Paul Thomas Anderson continues this week on Film Club, as A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife look back on what can be succinctly described as the second half of the first half of Anderson’s career. After the success of Boogie Nights, Anderson got a blank check for his next feature, the…...
- 11/12/2021
- by Katie Rife and A.A. Dowd
- avclub.com
It’s a scary time to be alive, and to go to the movies. But have the movies themselves been scary? With Halloween coming this weekend, critics A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife discuss the year in horror movies—the state of the genre in these uncertain times, the trends that defined these past few months of fright fare, and…...
- 10/29/2021
- by A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife
- avclub.com
Following up on her 2016 feature debut, Raw, which chronicled a veterinary-cum-vegetarian student’s pivot to cannibalism, Julia Ducournau pushes her fascination for the pliability of human flesh to even further extremes with Titane. The film, awarded the Palme d’Or in Cannes earlier this year—only the second time the top prize is given to a woman director—kicks off with a near-fatal car accident, after which Alexia is left with a titanium plate fixed to her skull and a seemingly insatiable appetite for the vehicular. Next we see her, she’s turned into a serial killer and a car show dancer. In one outrageous early sequence, she’s impregnated by a Cadillac. Following a killing spree that sends her on the lam, she disfigures herself to pass as a boy gone missing years prior, Adrien, and finds an unlikely refuge in Vincent (Vincent Lindon), a middle-aged firefighter who welcomes her back as his son,...
- 10/27/2021
- MUBI
The fall movie season is in full swing, and that means we’re getting a look at some of the most buzzed-about movies of the rest of 2021. On this week’s episode of Film Club, critics A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife review three of October’s major auteur works: Denis Villeneuve’s enormous adaptation of the sci-fi novel Dune, …...
- 10/22/2021
- by A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife
- avclub.com
Following two successful horror efforts for Netflix (“The Haunting of Hill House” and “The Haunting of Bly Manor“), Mike Flanagan is back with another limited series for the fall spooky season. “Midnight Mass” takes place in a small, struggling town where a new priest (Hamish Linklater) awakens a new religious fervor. But how does this original tale compare to Flanagan’s two previous literary adaptations? Let’s consider some of the “Midnight Mass” reviews.
SEEBest movies and TV shows coming to Netflix in October 2021
As of this writing the series has a MetaCritic score of 74 based on 19 reviews counted thus far: 14 positive and five mixed, but none outright negative. Rotten Tomatoes, which classifies reviews as positive or negative without Mc’s nuanced sliding scale, gives the show a 93% freshness rating based on 45 reviews, only three of which are counted as rotten. The Rt critics’ consensus says, “An ambitious meditation on...
SEEBest movies and TV shows coming to Netflix in October 2021
As of this writing the series has a MetaCritic score of 74 based on 19 reviews counted thus far: 14 positive and five mixed, but none outright negative. Rotten Tomatoes, which classifies reviews as positive or negative without Mc’s nuanced sliding scale, gives the show a 93% freshness rating based on 45 reviews, only three of which are counted as rotten. The Rt critics’ consensus says, “An ambitious meditation on...
- 9/28/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
This year’s Academy Awards are still a few weeks off. Leading up to Hollywood’s biggest night, Film Club is taking a close look at each of the major Oscar categories to determine what will win and what should win. On the second installment of their four-week series, critics A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife dive into the…...
- 4/9/2021
- by A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife on Film, shared by A.A. Dowd to The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
The Criterion Collection is set to release a new box set collecting seven films by the celebrated Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar Wai on March 23. And considering that he’s on both of their short lists for their favorite director of all time, A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife jumped at the chance to talk in depth about Wong’s…...
- 3/12/2021
- by Katie Rife and A.A. Dowd on Film, shared by Katie Rife to The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
Chloé Zhao’s third feature, Nomadland, is a tale of restlessness and rootlessness set in the American West. It stars Frances McDormand as Fern, a sixty-something widow who’s lost her husband to cancer and her house to the recession, and now roams the country aboard an Rv, working all kinds of seasonal, menial odd-jobs to scrape together a living. Written by Zhao and based on Jessica Bruder’s non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, it’s a richly textured account of life on America’s fringes, and an eye-opening portrait of the many modern nomads who, as per Slant’s Chris Barsanti, try “to carve out a place for [themselves] in a society that doesn’t leave space for people not defined by steady careers or well-rooted homes.”The citizens of Nomadland are no strangers to pain and sorrows, but as Stephanie Zacharek argues over at Time,...
- 2/24/2021
- MUBI
Last week, The A.V. Club put out a call for questions from you, readers of the site and loyal listeners of our weekly podcast, Film Club. This week, critics A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife are answering a selection of them on a very special Ama episode. Press play below to hear their thoughts on the future of movie releases,…...
- 2/19/2021
- by A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife on Film, shared by A.A. Dowd to The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
It seems that the Academy Awards are still happening next year, just a little later than usual. What that means is that an abnormally long awards season is upon us! On this week’s episode of Film Club, critics A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife discuss two high-profile Netflix releases vying for a spot in the race: David…...
- 11/20/2020
- by A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife on Film, shared by A.A. Dowd to The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
This week’s Push The Envelope isn’t all Horrors Week-themed (we’ve got our Random Roles interview with Mark Strong for you to enjoy), but we wanted to get into the spirit by having our resident horror experts Katie Rife and Alex McLevy stop by the podcast to share their favorite genre films of the year from the…...
- 10/29/2020
- by Patrick Gomez on Film, shared by Patrick Gomez to The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
We're back with another installment of Horror Highlights! Mandy is heading to drive-in theaters, John Waters returns to Salem Horror Fest, the I Spit On Your Grave franchise is getting a new Blu-ray release, and a clip has been released for Murder Bury Win!
Mandy is Coming to Drive-In Theaters: "Mandy is coming to drive-ins nationwide! Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company, is celebrating the anniversary of their psychedelic horror flick, Mandy starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Panos Cosmatos with special screenings at drive-ins and select theaters around the country, plus new product straight out of the Mandy cosmos.
The cult-hit film has spawned a devoted following around the world from cinephiles to horror fans and countless others in between.
Now, Legion M is bringing Mandy back to theaters and drive-ins. Check out the new teaser trailer here!
Screenings will begin on October 29th and audiences...
Mandy is Coming to Drive-In Theaters: "Mandy is coming to drive-ins nationwide! Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company, is celebrating the anniversary of their psychedelic horror flick, Mandy starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Panos Cosmatos with special screenings at drive-ins and select theaters around the country, plus new product straight out of the Mandy cosmos.
The cult-hit film has spawned a devoted following around the world from cinephiles to horror fans and countless others in between.
Now, Legion M is bringing Mandy back to theaters and drive-ins. Check out the new teaser trailer here!
Screenings will begin on October 29th and audiences...
- 10/21/2020
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
With a little more than a week until Salem Horror Fest kicks off their virtual festival, they have officially announced their list of special guests that include John Waters, Joe Dante, multiple retrospectives and reunions, and more!
[Salem Ma * September 21, 2020 ] - Salem Horror Fest has announced a star studded lineup of celebrity guests that include legendary directors Joe Dante and John Waters along with reunions and retrospectives of films such as Gremlins 2: The New Batch, The Howling, Friday the 13th VI: Jason Lives, Stephen King’s It, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Ginger Snaps and Cecil B. Demented.
Dee Wallace, Zach Galligan, and Robert Picardo join Joe Dante for reunions of Gremlins 2: The New Batch and The Howling with Academy Award winning screenwriter John Sayles and producer Michael Finnell. The panels are part of a festival tribute to Dante’s filmography supported by original artwork from...
[Salem Ma * September 21, 2020 ] - Salem Horror Fest has announced a star studded lineup of celebrity guests that include legendary directors Joe Dante and John Waters along with reunions and retrospectives of films such as Gremlins 2: The New Batch, The Howling, Friday the 13th VI: Jason Lives, Stephen King’s It, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Ginger Snaps and Cecil B. Demented.
Dee Wallace, Zach Galligan, and Robert Picardo join Joe Dante for reunions of Gremlins 2: The New Batch and The Howling with Academy Award winning screenwriter John Sayles and producer Michael Finnell. The panels are part of a festival tribute to Dante’s filmography supported by original artwork from...
- 9/22/2020
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
It’s been almost 30 years since Bill S. Preston Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan rocked out in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, but Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves are back in this summer’s Bill & Ted Face the Music as the iconic duo, spurred to action once more when a visitor from the future tells them one of their songs can save the world and bring harmony to the universe.
Was it worth the wait? Here’s what critics are saying about the long-awaited comedy threequel, as it’s finally released in the U.S. today…
Katie Rife – Av Club
“While the high stakes couldn’t be higher, the film simply takes too long to find its focus. It’s not the most excellent of outcomes, but not a total bummer, either.”
John DeFore – THR
“Imagining the return of the time-traveling Messrs. Preston and Logan, Dean Parisot’s Bill & Ted...
Was it worth the wait? Here’s what critics are saying about the long-awaited comedy threequel, as it’s finally released in the U.S. today…
Katie Rife – Av Club
“While the high stakes couldn’t be higher, the film simply takes too long to find its focus. It’s not the most excellent of outcomes, but not a total bummer, either.”
John DeFore – THR
“Imagining the return of the time-traveling Messrs. Preston and Logan, Dean Parisot’s Bill & Ted...
- 8/28/2020
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Welcome, one and all, to the latest episode of The Film Stage Show! Today, Brian Roan, Michael Snydel, and Bill Graham are joined by Katie Rife to discuss Amy Seimetz’s She Dies Tomorrow, which is now available digitally.
Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. For a limited time, all new Patreon supporters will receive a free Blu-ray/DVD. After becoming a contributor, e-mail podcast@thefilmstage.com for an up-to-date list of available films.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service showcasing exceptional films from around the globe. Every day, Mubi premieres a new film. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a cult favorite, or an acclaimed masterpiece — it’s guaranteed to be either a movie you’ve been dying to see or...
Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. For a limited time, all new Patreon supporters will receive a free Blu-ray/DVD. After becoming a contributor, e-mail podcast@thefilmstage.com for an up-to-date list of available films.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service showcasing exceptional films from around the globe. Every day, Mubi premieres a new film. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a cult favorite, or an acclaimed masterpiece — it’s guaranteed to be either a movie you’ve been dying to see or...
- 8/13/2020
- by Brian Roan
- The Film Stage
Welcome back to Film Club, The A.V. Club’s weekly movie discussion series. This week, A.A. Dowd and Katie Rife get back to basics again with an extended discussion of two new releases. First, they dig into True History Of The Kelly Gang, a western film inspired by the true stories of Australian bushranger Ned Kelly…...
- 4/24/2020
- by Katie Rife and A.A. Dowd on Film, shared by Katie Rife to The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
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