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Put On a Happy Face - Maddwolf
Faceless After Dark by Hope Madden Back in 2016, Jenna Kanell made a horror movie, a low budget affair, the unofficial sequel to a very minor indie nearly no one saw. By that point in her career, Kanell had made half dozen or more low budget indie features, done loads of TV, shorts, and a … Continue reading Put On a Happy Face →
Torch Song Tragedy - Maddwolf
Back to Black by George Wolf Since Walk Hard gave the music biopic genre a well-deserved skewering nearly 20 years ago, new entries have scored with ambitious fantasy (Rocketman), pandered with crowd-pleasing safety (Bohemian Rhapsody) and curiously turned a superstar into a one note supporting player (Elvis). Back to Black‘s biggest drawback is a failure … Continue reading Torch Song Tragedy →
Nature Boy - Maddwolf
Evil Does Not Exist by George Wolf Two years ago, the magnificent Drive My Car became the first Japanese film to garner a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and earned Ryûsuke Hamaguchi well-earned noms for writing and directing. Now, writer/director Hamaguchi rewards his wider audience with Evil Does Not Exist (Aku wa sonzai shinai), another thoughtful, … Continue reading Nature Boy →
Graveyard Shift - Maddwolf
Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever by Hope Madden Thirty years ago, Danish writer/director Ole Bornedal made a taut thriller about the night watchman in a medical facility who stumbles into a lurid crime spree. Three years later, he made Nightwatch again, this time in English. And now, fully three decades hence, he hits those of us … Continue reading Graveyard Shift →
Fright Club: Best Nicolas Cage Horror Movies - Maddwolf
We love him. You love him. Once considered one of the greatest actors of his generation, later deemed a nut job with unusual spending habits who would take any role, Nicolas Cage has finally set the debate to rest. He is obviously both. Whether his masterpiece performances—Raising Arizona, Moonstruck, Wild at Heart, Leaving Las Vegas, … Continue reading Fright Club: Best Nicolas Cage Horror Movies →
Unfortunate Son - Maddwolf
Adam the First by Rachel Willis A father (David Duchovny) takes his son into the woods to reveal that he is not the boy’s real father in writer/director Irving Franco’s film, Adam the First. Jumping ahead in time, Adam (Oakes Fegley) still lives with the man who’s not his father and a woman whom he … Continue reading Unfortunate Son →
Angst on a Shoestring - Maddwolf
The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something has Passed by Hope Madden no one told you when to run you missed the starting gun Pink Floyd sang of a particular worrisome anxiety. Joanna Arnow perfectly articulates the emotion, or lack of, right from the title of her feature, The Feeling That the Time for … Continue reading Angst on a Shoestring →
Leaving Yuma Is Never Easy - Maddwolf
The Last Stop in Yuma County by Hope Madden Writer/director Francis Galluppi was chosen to helm the next Evil Dead film. Don’t know him? Wondering what the visceral spew gods Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell see in him? The Last Stop in Yuma County may be your best chance to find out. The filmmaker’s first … Continue reading Leaving Yuma Is Never Easy →
Four's a Crowd - Maddwolf
Lazareth by Rachel Willis After a deadly virus strikes, a trio of women turn their home into a sanctuary, cut off from the outside and safe in director Alec Tibaldi’s film, Lazareth. As years pass in this virus-plagued world, we watch Lee (Ashley Judd) and her nieces Maeve (Sarah Pidgeon) and Imogen (Katie Douglas) carve … Continue reading Four’s a Crowd →
What Would Caesar Do? - Maddwolf
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes by Hope Madden and George Wolf Seven years after Matt Reeves wrapped up the solid Planet of the Apes trilogy with a thrilling, full-on war movie, director Wes Ball takes the reins for a new chapter with a relevant conscience. “You take his name, but twist his words.” … Continue reading What Would Caesar Do? →
Through the Woods Busily - Maddwolf
Force of Nature: The Dry 2 by George Wolf For a film called The Dry 2, Force of Nature is often soaking wet. And that’s pretty indicative of a movie that seems intent on working against itself. Writer/director Robert Connolly and star Eric Bana return from 2020’s The Dry, again adapting a Jane Harper source … Continue reading Through the Woods Busily →
Eastern European Capitalist Blues - Maddwolf
Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World by Matt Weiner An overworked production assistant driving all over Bucharest to collect footage for a workplace safety video doesn’t sound like the most likely candidate for an era-defining film that best captures the current political and social moment. Yet with Do Not Expect … Continue reading Eastern European Capitalist Blues →
Sci-Fi Silliness - Maddwolf
Foil by Christie Robb When high school buddies Dexter (writer/director Zach Green) and Rex (writer Devin O’Rourke) meet up again on the eve of their ten-year reunion weekend, they decide to make the catch up more exclusive and head out West—into the sunset. Or, in this case…East. They’re taking the road from Bakersfield, CA into … Continue reading Sci-Fi Silliness →
Endure What Cannot Be Cured - Maddwolf
Mind Body Spirit by Hope Madden There is something clever underlying directors Alex Henes and Matthew Merenda’s first feature, Mind Body Spirit. Anya (Sarah J. Bartholomew) is sharing videos of her journey to wellness. She’s just moved cross country into the home her departed grandmother Verasha left her. She never knew her grandmother, but she … Continue reading Endure What Cannot Be Cured →
Desperate and Dateless - Maddwolf
Prom Dates by Hope Madden Back in 2019, Olivia Wilde debuted Booksmart, a “smart, funny, raunchy yet quite loving tale of two besties.” It was maybe the best high school buddy comedy since Superbad, and held onto that coveted top spot until last year’s Bottoms. Prom Dates, Kim O. Nguyen’s first feature after years of … Continue reading Desperate and Dateless →
Battle In Battle Creek - Maddwolf
Unfrosted by George Wolf Boy, Jerry Seinfeld knows how to get clicks before a new movie drop, doesn’t he? In case you missed his recent impression of Grandpa Simpson yelling at a cloud, Seinfeld has taken his talents from the stifling confines of sitcoms to Netflix for Unfrosted, his debut as a feature director. Also … Continue reading Battle In Battle Creek →
Man On Fire - Maddwolf
The Fall Guy by Hope Madden From the first notes of the Kiss classic playing behind a montage of stunt moments across cinema’s recent history, The Fall Guy defines itself as a love story. This movie loves stunt performers. And why not? It’s pretty clever in getting audiences on board by casting maybe the most … Continue reading Man On Fire →
Reinvention - Maddwolf
New Life by Rachel Willis From the first moments of director John Rosman’s film, New Life, you know you’re in for a tense thriller. The film opens with the sounds of a woman in distress. Soon, the woman (Hayley Erin) is revealed, covered in blood and trying walk to quickly but nonchalantly down a quiet … Continue reading Reinvention →
Lords of the Ring - Maddwolf
In the Company of Kings by George Wolf Resting somewhere between personal memoir and an episode of ESPN’s 30 for 30, In the Company of Kings is buoyed by undeniable layers of passion and gratitude. In a brisk 70 minutes, director Steve Read and producer/narrator Robert Douglas reveal the inspiration they have taken from legends … Continue reading Lords of the Ring →
Fright Club: Art & Artists in Horror - Maddwolf
Muse and madness, art and commerce duke it out in a slew of films that mine the depths of the artistic nature. We welcome author LCW Allingham, whose dark novella Muse looks at the darker side of art, to join us as we use a little fuzzy math to share our favorite horror movies about … Continue reading Fright Club: Art & Artists in Horror →
Thinning the Herd - Maddwolf
Humane by Hope Madden When Brandon Cronenberg decided to be a filmmaker—one keenly interested in corporeal horror—it felt both natural and brave. Natural because his father David is perhaps the all-time master of body horror. Brave for the same reason. It turns out, Brandon Cronenberg is a natural. (If you haven’t, you should definitely see … Continue reading Thinning the Herd →
Triple Fault - Maddwolf
Challengers by George Wolf “This is about winning the points that matter.” Honestly, the relationship triangle at work in Challengers could probably work outside of a tennis court, but director Luca Guadagnino does wonders with the sports angle for a completely engrossing drama of intimate competition. Anchored around a three-set challenge match between Art Donaldson … Continue reading Triple Fault →
Somewhere in Time - Maddwolf
The Beast by Hope Madden “Fulfillment lies in the lack of passion.” Filmmaker Bertrand Bonello reconsiders the Henry James novella The Beast in the Jungle, blending the fear of intimacy with a larger scale societal pressure to minimize our unruly natures. Bonello, writing with Guillaume Bréaud and Benjamin Charbit, crosses three timelines to expand and … Continue reading Somewhere in Time →
It's a Brawl World After All - Maddwolf
Boy Kills World by George Wolf Boy Kills World feels like a film the gamers are going to love. For the rest of us, it offers a hyper stylized, uber-violent riff on The Hunger Games by way of Kill Bill while it harbors Deadpool aspirations and a coy surprise waiting in act three. But while … Continue reading It’s a Brawl World After All →
Arachnophobia - Maddwolf
Infested by Hope Madden Remember Quarantine (or Rec, for that matter)? Remember that moment when you realize you’re locked inside an apartment building, trapped with the ravenous undead? OK, so that but spiders. Nice, right?! Sébastien Vanicek’s Infested (co-written with Florent Bernard) doesn’t steal from other movies as much as it mines the primal fears … Continue reading Arachnophobia →
Dress for the Job You Want - Maddwolf
Villains, Inc. by Rachel Willis When their super villain leader dies, three henchmen are left adrift in director Jeremy Warner’s comedy Villains, Inc. It’s an interesting concept told with the kind of mundanity that speaks to real life. Though most of these villains have superpowers and special abilities, they need jobs – just like the … Continue reading Dress for the Job You Want →
Dancing in the Dark - Maddwolf
Abigail by Hope Madden Back in 2019, directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett had a blast locking a group of evildoers and one innocent inside a luxurious mansion for about 90 minutes of head exploding, weapon wielding, visceral mayhem. The fun they had with Ready or Not was contagious. So catchy that you can certainly … Continue reading Dancing in the Dark →
Pretty When She Smiles - Maddwolf
The People’s Joker by Hope Madden When Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, Warner Bros. and their lawyers promptly shut it down. How in keeping with the spirit of the film, an autobiographical glimpse into the filmmaker’s transition that skewers homogenized corporate-controlled art. A multimedia collage of sorts, … Continue reading Pretty When She Smiles →
Caution: Low Flying Poo - Maddwolf
Sasquatch Sunset by George Wolf After the completely enchanting Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter in 2014 and the whimsical Western Damsel four years later, you might not expect writer/director David Zellner to next film a year in the life of a Sasquatch family. And Yeti did. Sorry, but that joke is just silly enough to fit … Continue reading Caution: Low Flying Poo →
Fright Club: Malls in Horror Movies - Maddwolf
Once upon a time, there was nothing cooler than a mall. There was no place you would rather be. It was an oasis, a microcosm, and an excellent location for horror. In honor of the 45th anniversary of George Romero’s pinnacle of consumerist horror, we decided to pull together a list of the five most … Continue reading Fright Club: Malls in Horror Movies →
Is This Your Homework, LaRoy? - Maddwolf
LaRoy, Texas by Christie Robb When small-town pushover Ray (John Magaro, Past Lives) finds himself caught up in a blackmail/murder-for-hire scheme, he teams up with high school-acquaintance/bumbling private investigator Skip (Steve Zahn) to get to the bottom of things. This neo-noir crime-comedy is writer/director Shane Atkinson’s first feature (he wrote the screenplay for the 2019 … Continue reading Is This Your Homework, LaRoy? →
Night Crawlers - Maddwolf
Acadian by George Wolf Nicolas Cage has become such a mythic figure in film culture that each new outing tends to bring questions. Is this the unhinged “rage in the Cage?” Arthouse Cage? Mass appeal or self effacing Cage? You can file Arcadian under “understated Cage leading a YA leaning creature feature.” He stars as … Continue reading Night Crawlers →
Divisible - Maddwolf
Civil War by George Wolf Writer/director Alex Garland gets to the point quickly in Civil War, via battle-weary photographer Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst). “Every time I’ve survived a war zone, I thought I was sending a warning home: don’t do this.” “But here we are.” Smith and her colleague Joel (Wagner Moura) are preparing for … Continue reading Divisible →
Back for Seconds - Maddwolf
Food Inc. 2 by Rachel Willis I’ll admit I didn’t watch 2008’s Food, Inc., but the first film is not a prerequisite for watching Food, Inc. 2—an updated, critical look at the system that feeds us. What director Robert Kenner addressed in the first film is, in part, revisited—this time with co-director Melissa Robledo. Has … Continue reading Back for Seconds →
No Place Like Home - Maddwolf
Invader by Hope Madden Lean, mean and affecting, Mickey Keating’s take on the home invasion film wastes no time. In a wordless—though not soundless—opening, the filmmaker introduces an unhinged presence. Cut to Ana (Vero Maynez). She’s sleepy, it’s late, the bus is empty except for the driver hustling her off, his voice constant, annoyed, and … Continue reading No Place Like Home →
Queen of Pain - Maddwolf
Sting by Hope Madden Is there a more reliable source of terror than the spider? Well, maybe clowns, but spiders are a close second. Australian filmmaker Kiah Roache-Turner is giddy to elicit shivers and gasps with his delightfully horrifying arachnid adventure, Sting. Roache-Turner’s love for sci-fi horror bursts gleefully from the dollhouse-set opening credits, a … Continue reading Queen of Pain →
One Small Ember - Maddwolf
Monkey Man by George Wolf A new hero has arrived. And with him, an exciting new filmmaker. After directing just two short films, Dev Patel moves to features with Monkey Man, an assured and thrillingly violent story of heritage and revenge. Patel (who also gets a story credit) is charismatic and commanding as “Bobby,” an … Continue reading One Small Ember →
Sister Act Too - Maddwolf
The First Omen by Hope Madden Just two short weeks ago, producer/star Sydney Sweeney’s Immaculate turned the threadbare “innocent nun bringing about the apocalypse” horror (it’s actually an incredibly common trope) into a potent and startling instrument of female rage. Thanks, by the way. But if all that remarkable sacrilege was a little too much … Continue reading Sister Act Too →
Sleeping with the Enemy - Maddwolf
Femme by Matt Weiner “Revenge thriller with a twist” doesn’t do justice to Femme, the tight feature debut from writers and directors Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping. Based on their 2021 short film, Femme kicks off with a brutal and unflinching gay-bashing when Jules (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) stands up for himself after being mocked … Continue reading Sleeping with the Enemy →
Crooked Line - Maddwolf
Glitter & Doom by Rachel Willis Being unfamiliar with all but one Indigo Girls song, I was still impressed with how well their music is worked into the romantic musical, Glitter & Doom. Director Tom Gustafson weaves the tunes into the budding summer romance of Doom (Alan Cammish), an aspiring musician, and Glitter (Alex Diaz), … Continue reading Crooked Line →