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Always Been in Meat - Maddwolf
Chain Reactions by Hope Madden Not everyone believes Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a masterpiece of American filmmaking. I find those people suspicious. Luckily, those are not the people filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe (Memory: The Origins of Alien, 78/52) talks to for his latest documentary, Chain Reactions. The film is a celebration … Continue reading Always Been in Meat →
Machinations of the Gods - Maddwolf
Deathstalker by Hope Madden From the Saturday morning lunacy of Psycho Goreman to the puppet chaos of Frankie Freako, Steven Kostanski has mastered the art of recreating the most ridiculous entertainments of Eighties youngsters. He wasn’t always this way. His 2016 film The Void was an outright, non-satirical horror, and it was great, kind of … Continue reading Machinations of the Gods →
Windflower - Maddwolf
Anemone by Hope Madden As a young filmmaker, would having arguably the most revered actor of his generation—perhaps of all time—as a father be a blessing or a curse? For Ronan Day-Lewis, directing his first feature with co-writer and lead actor (and dad) Daniel Day-Lewis, it seems to be working out. Anemone is a tale … Continue reading Windflower →
Tall Tales and Fiction - Maddwolf
Killing Faith by Hope Madden A raucous opening sequence eventually settles into a classic old Western vibe that keeps you guessing in Ned Crowley’s latest, Killing Faith. Like Mary Bee Cuddy in The Homesman and Joanna in News of the World, Sarah (DeWanda Wise) is in need of a traveling companion. Her daughter (Emily Ford) … Continue reading Tall Tales and Fiction →
Slippery - Maddwolf
The Ice Tower by George Wolf Fifteen-year-old Jeanne doesn’t want to build a snowman. What she wants is an escape, but finds plenty more than she expected in The Ice Tower, Lucile Emina Hadzihalilovic’s dreamlike re-imaging of “The Snow Queen.” In 1970s France, Jeanne (a wonderful feature debut for Clara Pacini) is among the oldest … Continue reading Slippery →
Poison Pen - Maddwolf
A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant by George Wolf “If Pat Oliphant couldn’t draw, he’d be an assassin.” That quote gets your attention, even if you don’t know the name Pat Oliphant. Either way, you’ve probably seen some of his work, and A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat … Continue reading Poison Pen →
No Wake Zone - Maddwolf
Bone Lake by George Wolf Not long after we meet Sage and Diego, they’re talking about his idea for a novel, debating about what qualifies as “gratuitous” and lamenting that cancel culture has neutered artistic expression. Okay, intriguing. And then you remember that one poster for Bone Lake features the strategically large “R” rating positioned … Continue reading No Wake Zone →
Bite Size Frights - Maddwolf
V/H/S/Halloween by Hope Madden “Hey, aren’t you a little old for trick or treating?” If you’re looking for bite sized horror to match your fun size Butterfinger, the long running found footage franchise delivers a grab bag of options with V/H/S/Halloween. The anthology of shorts focuses on tales of Halloween. Expect costumes, pranks, chocolate, and … Continue reading Bite Size Frights →
Slim, Sick and Sorry Looking - Maddwolf
Coyotes by Hope Madden Colin Minihan’s a fun filmmaker. Not everything hits, but nothing ever entirely misses. His latest, the horror comedy with heart Coyotes, is one of his more pleasant, less memorable efforts. Justin Long is a comic book writing dad living in the Hollywood Hills. His wife (real life wife Kate Bosworth), daughter … Continue reading Slim, Sick and Sorry Looking →
We Rate Dogs - Maddwolf
Good Boy by Hope Madden I have a theory that the best way to make a horror film terrifying is to put children in peril. How better to ensure viewers are compelled, hearts in their throats, desperate for the heroes to prevail? Co-writer/director Ben Leonberg may have discovered a more sure-fire way. Meet Indy, a … Continue reading We Rate Dogs →
Viva la Revolution - Maddwolf
One Battle After Another by Hope Madden Paul Thomas Anderson, still batting 1000. This f’ing guy! He spends four or five years directing obscure music videos, hits us with a masterpiece of modern cinema, then back to the tunes. The Phantom Thread, The Master, Boogie Nights, Punch Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, Hard Eight, Inherent Vice, … Continue reading Viva la Revolution →
Everyday People - Maddwolf
The Lost Bus by George Wolf Paul Greengrass loves him a true survival story. And with Captain Phillips, United 93, Bloody Sunday and more, he’s shown great instincts for bringing those stories to the screen. That craftsmanship is on display again in The Lost Bus, a harrowing retelling of a heroic rescue from Northern California’s … Continue reading Everyday People →
Everyday People - Maddwolf
The Lost Bus by George Wolf Paul Greengrass loves him a true survival story. And with Captain Phillips, United 93, Bloody Sunday and more, he’s shown great instincts for bringing those stories to the screen. That craftsmanship is on display again in The Lost Bus, a harrowing retelling of a heroic rescue from Northern California’s … Continue reading Everyday People →
She's Investigatin'...Darn Tootin! - Maddwolf
Dead of Winter by Hope Madden Emma Thompson and Judy Greer go head-to-head in a kidnaping thriller set in a forsaken Northern Minnesota snowstorm? Dude, I am so in! With Dead of Winter, Brian Kirk relies on nuanced character work, gorgeously isolating cinematography, and the desperation of human nature to keep you guessing. Thompson, who … Continue reading She’s Investigatin’…Darn Tootin! →
Ain't Got No Swing - Maddwolf
London Calling by Rachel Willis Charming isn’t usually the first word to spring to mind when describing a movie about a down-on-his-luck hitman. However, that’s the word that comes up when thinking about director Allan Ungar’s film, London Calling. Tommy Ward (Josh Duhamel) flees London for sunny Los Angeles after a hit goes terribly wrong. … Continue reading Ain’t Got No Swing →
Living Deliciously - Maddwolf
Him by Hope Madden The goat is an apt image to anchor a sports film. The Greatest Of All Time. Every athlete’s dream. If you’ve ever watched horror, goats are also excellent avatars for evil. In the case of Him, co-writer/director Justin Tipping’s feature from Jordan Peele’s Monkey Paw Productions, it’s a bit of both. … Continue reading Living Deliciously →
My Mind on Mega and Mega on My Mind - Maddwolf
Megadoc by George Wolf I saw Megalopolis when it debuted last year. I liked it, didn’t love it. It was a big, messy cinematic swing from Francis Ford Coppola, and even those who hated it – there were plenty – had to admire FFC’s commitment to a project that he started over thirty years prior. … Continue reading My Mind on Mega and Mega on My Mind →
The Long Goodbye - Maddwolf
Another End by Adam Barney “Grief is the price we pay for love” – Queen Elizabeth II. It’s probably the cynic in me, but it’s not hard for me to believe that companies will find a way to monetize our grief processing in the near future. It feels like it is practically upon us that … Continue reading The Long Goodbye →
One Step Up, Two Steps Back - Maddwolf
Waltzing with Brando by Hope Madden Just about one year ago, images surfaced of Billy Zane on set as Marlon Brando for the film Waltzing with Brando. Zane’s an underappreciated talent relegated for decades to mostly B-movie hell. Brando is, naturally, a fascinating topic for a biopic. And Zane looked remarkably like him. Hello, cautious … Continue reading One Step Up, Two Steps Back →
Scrolling in the Deep - Maddwolf
Swiped by George Wolf 2012, what a time to be young and upwardly mobile. Barack Obama was re-elected, “Gangnam Style” seemed to burst from every speaker, and Facebook’s IPO made social media technology the new capitalist battleground. But when we first meet a young Whitney Wolfe – the future founder of Bumble – she’s a … Continue reading Scrolling in the Deep →
In and Out - Maddwolf
Just Breathe by Brooklyn Ewing Given the chance to see actor Kyle Gallner in a movie, I will always flock to it. Gallner’s ability to make someone fall in and out of love with a character is something special. In Just Breathe, he brings his A game. Directed by newcomer Paul Pompa III, Just Breathe … Continue reading In and Out →
Fright Club: Feminist High School Horror - Maddwolf
High school can be a tough time. What the youth of today need are role models. Soul eaters. Werewolves. Witches. Girls who know their way around a power drill. There’s so much the teens in these films can teach us! 5. Slumber Party Massacre (1982) There is a wild juxtaposition at work beneath what could … Continue reading Fright Club: Feminist High School Horror →
Again Tonight They're Gonna Rock You Tonight - Maddwolf
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues by George Wolf In the 41 years since the iconic This Is Spinal Tap, the “mockumentary” approach has become so prevalent that even Christopher Guest (Best in Show, For Your Consideration, A Mighty Wind, etc.) admitted he doesn’t see much point in returning to the form he’s executed so … Continue reading Again Tonight They’re Gonna Rock You Tonight →
Walk This Way - Maddwolf
The Long Walk by Hope Madden How fitting that Stephen King’s capitalist dystopian nightmare The Long Walk has finally been brought to the screen by director Francis Lawrence. Having helmed four Hunger Games films, including the most recent prequel, The Hunger Games: Ballad of Sonbirds & Snakes, he knows his way around these battles for … Continue reading Walk This Way →
Soft Shells in Baltimore - Maddwolf
The Baltimorons by Hope Madden A love letter to Baltimore and a beautiful showcase of talent, The Baltimorons is the yes-and of romcoms. Jay Duplass directs a script co-written with Michael Strassner, who plays Cliff. Lovable, endearing, excruciatingly earnest, Cliff is headed with girlfriend Brittany (Olivia Luccardi) to spend Christmas Eve with her family. He … Continue reading Soft Shells in Baltimore →
The Cost of Doing Business - Maddwolf
The Man in My Basement by George Wolf You see Willem Dafoe is starring in a film called The Man in My Basement, and you suspect things could get freaky – in ways both hilarious and perverse. But if you’re at all familiar with Walter Mosley’s source novel, you know this basement business will deal … Continue reading The Cost of Doing Business →
Fright Club: Evil Uncles in Horror Movies - Maddwolf
Did Shakespeare start it all with Uncle Claudius? Maybe, but horror movies have really dug in. Yes, there are some excellent uncles, like drunky Uncle Red from Silver Bullet. That guy was the best! But that’s not what we’re after, and author Eric Miller, writer of the new novel Whatever Happened to Uncle Ed? knows … Continue reading Fright Club: Evil Uncles in Horror Movies →
Candy Colored Clown - Maddwolf
Somnium by Hope Madden Hollywood is one big nightmare. That’s essentially the plot of writer/director Rachel Cain’s feature debut, a dreamscape where you’re never certain what Gemma (Chloë Levin) is experiencing and what she’s imagining. Levine’s cinematic presence, no matter the film, is wholly natural, utterly authentic. There’s nothing uncanny about her. Her humanity and … Continue reading Candy Colored Clown →
Don't Waste It Living Someone Else's Life - Maddwolf
Everything to Me by Rachel Willis For a young woman growing up in Silicon Valley during Apple’s heyday, the role model for her coming-of-age journey is none other than Steve Jobs. Writer/director Kayci Lacob has a new take on the perils of growing up in her film, Everything to Me. The film opens on an … Continue reading Don’t Waste It Living Someone Else’s Life →
Why Can't We Be Friends? - Maddwolf
Love, Brooklyn by Matt Weiner The early 2000s and its attendant malaise were fertile ground for the Judd Apatow manchild, romcom fixtures who enjoyed their blithe aimlessness between 9/11 and the Great Recession. Now as more films grapple with Covid—directly or, more often, by conspicuously dancing around the lacunas left behind in cities—Rachael Abigail Holder’s … Continue reading Why Can’t We Be Friends? →
Every Breath You Take - Maddwolf
Lurker by Hope Madden Like 2021’s Poser, Noah Dixon and Ori Segev’s thriller of fandom gone feral, writer/director Alex Russell’s Lurker hangs on the cringey relatability of its awestruck lead. Who hasn’t dreamed of being taken into their hero’s inner circle? Théodore Pellerin is Matthew. Working in a hip LA clothier, Matthew meets rising pop … Continue reading Every Breath You Take →
War Rooms - Maddwolf
The Roses by George Wolf If you’re anything like me, you’d pay to see Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch do anything from cranking up polka music to telling a story about a rucksack full of coke and a sword. Well, good news for both of us. They do all that and plenty more in The … Continue reading War Rooms →
Baseball Metaphors and Drug Money - Maddwolf
Caught Stealing by Hope Madden Watching the trailer for the new Austin Butler actioner Caught Stealing, it’s easy to forget it’s a Darren Aronofsky film. Yes, the guy who swung from Requiem for a Dream to Noah has an interest in varied material, but a zany, sexy, urban action romp? None of those words feel … Continue reading Baseball Metaphors and Drug Money →
Say Yes to This - Maddwolf
Hamilton by George Wolf Five years after Hamilton hit streaming, who ever could have predicted its lesson of resisting a dictator would feel even more urgent? I know, plenty of people. Still, after all the sold out performances, the Tony awards, the historical debates and a Pulitzer, the worldwide phenomenon that is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton … Continue reading Say Yes to This →
Scenes from the Opioid Epidemic - Maddwolf
What We Hide by Hope Madden At 19, Mckenna Grace has racked up 71 TV and film acting credits, with 11 more movies currently in post-production. That’s insane. Naturally not every project was a winner. But from her earliest film work, like Marc Webb’s 2017 drama Gifted, Grace’s control and authenticity make her memorable, even … Continue reading Scenes from the Opioid Epidemic →
Some Dude with a Mop - Maddwolf
The Toxic Avenger by Hope Madden My friend has photographed Lloyd Kaufman’s testicles. That means that in a game of Six Degrees of Lloyd Kaufman’s Testicles, I would win. In other news, a bunch of talented, funny humans have rebooted Kaufman’s iconic 1984 Troma classic, The Toxic Avenger. There are few films I have more … Continue reading Some Dude with a Mop →
Role Reversal - Maddwolf
Honey Don’t! by Hope Madden An entertaining if slight thriller of the old school, hard-boiled detective sort, Honey Don’t! is director Ethan Coen’s follow up to 2024’s Drive-Away Dolls. The second in a lesbian B-movie trilogy, the film sees Margaret Qualley as Honey O’Donahue, a modern day (if landline and analogue) private detective in sun … Continue reading Role Reversal →
Viva la Revolution - Maddwolf
Sudan, Remember Us by Rachel Willis “Each time one revolutionary falls a thousand others stand up!” Sudan has appeared in the news off-and-on for years. The region has been plagued by coups, civil war, terrorism, genocide, and oppression of anyone who dared resist the regimes in power. It’s poignant for Hind Meddeb to name her … Continue reading Viva la Revolution →