film
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Nia DaCosta, 2026)⭐⭐⭐⭐
The first part of the intended 28 Days Later sequel trilogy, directed by Danny Boyle, ended on an almighty WTF of a cliffhanger with young survivor Spike being rescued from a horde of infected by... a team of ninja Jimmy Savile cosplayers? Nia DaCosta picks up the reins to let you know that, no, in fact you really did see that and you were not hallucinating. In so doing, she has crafted, with series writer Alex Garland, arguably the best and most moving entry yet.
The Wrecking Crew (Ángel Manuel Soto,2025)⭐
This is an absolutely by the number buddy action movie that is only slightly elevated by the presence of Dave Bautista and Jason Mamoa, both of whom are far better than this material. Bautista in particular seems to have gotten all the 'I am an acTOR, actually' stuff out of his system with his excellent work in Blade Runner 2049 and Knock on the Cabin Door and realised he can make bank by just doing... well, this.
Dust Bunny (Brian Fuller, 2025)⭐⭐⭐⭐
Anyone hoping for a retread or continuation of Hannibal - Brian Fuller's previous collaboration with Mads Mikkelsen - will be disappointed at the dearth of artfully-flayed corpses and Turner Prize-baiting murder scenes, but Dust Bunny does share Fuller's distinctive eye for a captivating image and the subject matter is, on the face if it, quite grim.
Point, Shoot, and Forget
Before Instagram, the disposable camera helped pave the way for digital photography. But the basic idea was a century old by the time it went mainstream.
The Hissing of Vintage Tapes
The ongoing fight against tape hiss has proven a useful creative tension for the music industry—even if you’re not into lo-fi music recorded on a four-track.
Box Office No-Go
Why the conflict over the movie industry’s embrace of video on demand reflects a century-long symbiotic relationship gone sour. AMC is just Trollin’.
Now You See It …
A brief history of invisibility on screen, one of the most effective special effects ever created in film.
The Lazarus Libraries
What happens when “lost” films and television shows become found once again—and what that does to the work’s cultural legacy.
Keep Your Composure
What’s it like to be a film composer, anyway? An expert on the subject pads our knowledge of film composition, what might be cinema’s most subtle art form.
No Comment
The audio commentary track, a staple of films on optical media, may not last into the age of streaming. Is it a victim of indifference by Netflix?
Between the Bars
A fateful decision by the movie industry six decades ago created a long-term compatibility problem between film and television. The solution? Letterboxing.