movies
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.
The New DVD Bargain Bin
A major studio is apparently treating YouTube as a place to drop some of its archive films that have lost their cinematic luster. My mind is admittedly blown.
███████ Alert
The history of everyone’s favorite attempt to keep the suspense going for just a little bit longer, the spoiler alert. People who spoil things are obviously evil. Obviously.
Mechanical Marine Mammals
Ever think about what it takes to make an animatronic whale? No? Well, we have, and soon, so will you.
When Movies Get Canned
In the wake of the cancellation of the nearly complete Batgirl, a list of films that are generally thought to have been complete but never saw release for some reason.
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.
You Never Know What You’re Gonna Get
An inside look at one of the strangest restaurant chains in recent history in honor of the 25th anniversary of the movie that inspired its existence.
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.
The Sound and the Fury
How sound design—such as the iconic Indiana Jones whip noise—has come to define the film industry almost as much as all the on-screen effects.
The Same Name Game
It’s not every day you watch a movie in which you share the same name as the lead character. I did, and it was a supremely dissonant experience.
Tommy’s Back
A review of the first part of “Best F(r)iends” from a big fan of “The Room.” Long story short: It’s a solid addition to the Tommy Wiseau catalog.
The Lazies
Is the great icon of bad film awards missing the boat in the modern era? Some thoughts on the overly broad, overly obvious Razzie nominations.
Shelf This Elf
Why Elf Bowling, the animated holiday film, doesn’t live up to Elf Bowling, the not-a-virus computer game. The biggest problem, simply, is the animation.
When Copyright Goes Copywrong
The rigid nature of copyright law during the early years of the film industry created a surprisingly robust cottage industry around public domain films.
Get Yourself A Treat
How movie theaters nudged film-goers out of their seats with short clips designed around the hard sell.
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?
Streaming Before Netflix
In 1998, a Hong Kong telecom firm spent $1.5 billion trying to make video-on-demand happen. iTV was so ahead of its time that it beat Netflix's DVD service.
Let’s Destroy the White House … Again
The film Independence Day is known for an epic scene in which the White House is turned into small chunks of America. How did they do that?
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.