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Kiss of the Spider Woman Review

Many films have seen musical adaptations, and then had those musicals adapted into their own films. Some of these musical remakes have worked as thoughtful updates to the story — like The Producers and The Color Purple — while others, such as Mean Girls and Matilda , have failed to justify their existence on the big screen, offering little new to the material. Kiss of the Spider Woman may feature the same characters and premise, but it feels completely fresh, thematically powerful, and in many ways surpasses the original. The film’s unique approach follows two political prisoners in 1983 Argentina connecting over the memory of an old Hollywood movie, which they recount as a musical — providing both an escape from and a reflection of their harsh reality. Tonatiuh delivers an incredible performance as Molina, offering a completely new interpretation from William Hurt’s portrayal in the 1985 film. Molina longs to belong to a world that has rejected ...
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Frankenstein Review

This retelling of one of the most famous novels in history feels like Guillermo del Toro's ultimate passion project, with a sweeping scale and breathtaking cinematography. The production design is perhaps some of the greatest of all time, with the attention to detail and color schemes serving as the source of much of the film's beauty. Oscar Isaac is great as the titular scientist whose ambition becomes his own undoing, while Jacob Elordi is incredible, disappearing into the Creature but delivering much soul beneath the towering makeup work. The supporting cast stand out too, including Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and Charles Dance — it feels like everyone is honored to have been given the chance to work with the master of gothic fantasy. Though its ambition is spellbinding, Frankenstein 's first half suffers from pacing issues — some scenes feel drawn out, as if del Toro showed us the extended version of his masterpiece before trimming the fat...
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Frankenstein Review

“Only monsters play god.” Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a literary work that explores humanity in its darkest form. Through the immorality of reconstructing a creature from bodily remains to cheat death, there’s a grounding level of humanity. Unfortunately, death is inevitable. Witnessing it at a young age can shape one’s perception of the world. Shelley’s novel focuses on finding beauty in the unknown and in the memory of those who have passed on. Shelley had faced immense hardship as a woman, as well as a fascination with how the human body functions. The loss of her children altered how she perceived life and death, and her grief informed much of her work. She incorporated themes of abandonment, loss, guilt, and grief in her writing, but Frankenstein challenges those ideas the most. Dr. Frankenstein and the Creature can be seen as embodying a father-son dynamic — a parent unable to understand their child, or fearful of failing them by bringing them into the world....
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Motor City Review

In 1970s Detroit, Miller (Alan Ritchson) falls for a local gangster’s girlfriend. After emerging from prison, he vows to seek vengeance against the crime boss who tore his life apart. Both Ben Foster and Alan Ritchson deliver career-best performances as two men bound by vengeance and love for the same woman, Sophia (Shailene Woodley). Ritchson, long underrated in Hollywood, finally proves he has the gravitas of a leading man. With minimal dialogue, the film relies heavily on facial expression, music, and silence — elements that together hold the audience in a hypnotic grip. For a film to truly stand out, it needs to excel beyond its surface — and Motor City does exactly that. With so few words spoken, the visuals must carry the story, and they absolutely do. The action sequences are electrifying, with one standout set piece ranking among the goriest and most memorable in recent action cinema. Motor City isn’t a reinventi...
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Good Boy Review

A horror film told from the perspective of man’s best friend, Good Boy could have easily fallen victim to the novelty of its premise. Instead, it has enough bark and bite to sustain its unique hook. Todd and his dog Indy move to an old family home in the countryside, where ominous events begin to unfold. Framing the story through Indy’s eyes brings a fresh spin to a familiar haunted-house setup. Dogs are perceptive and emotional, but they don’t grasp danger the way humans do. Indy’s confusion makes the film more unsettling and, at times, heartbreaking. It’s not especially scary, but the anxiety of watching Indy navigate what’s happening to him and Todd can be powerful. As a concept piece, it mostly works. The film runs a lean 73 minutes and gets into the story quickly. Plot is light; mood and emotion do the heavy lifting, and that approach is effective even if the film occasionally struggles to sustain momentum. The exposition can be a little on the...
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Black Rabbit Review

Fans of Ozark rejoice! Not only does Black Rabbit also star Jason Bateman, but it replicates the tension, humour and messy family dynamics that made Ozark one of Netflix’s biggest hits. This 8 part limited series struggles slightly with momentum at times, but it’s certainly gripping enough to be your next binge watch. Jake (Jude Law) and Vince (Jason Bateman) are brothers with a turbulent history in the restaurant industry. Their brotherly bond is rocky, but it’s clear they genuinely care about each other. Jake runs an upscale, critically acclaimed restaurant and bar, with lofty dreams of expanding the business. When Vince comes back into the picture after years of absence, he brings his troubled past with him. This really does feel a lot like Ozark in tone and spirit. It builds a growing sense of anxiety surrounding these brothers, which sweeps into the lives of everyone around them. There’s levity - mostly from Bateman’s iconic witty delivery, but this is a most...
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Alien: Earth | Review by: Gal Balaban

  Noah Hawley’s small-screen dive into one of the most iconic film franchises lacks the urgency, terror, and fascination of the best Alien films. The production design of this franchise always stands out and is the highlight of this show. However, the story is so dull and loses the essence of what makes Alien so great. Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, and Essie Davis are all giving competent performances, but their material lacks thematic urgency, down to the dialogue they’re given to work with, and many supporting characters are irritating. The look of the Xenomorph also feels… off here. One of the reasons the series didn’t work for me is that I feel Alien is inherently not built for a small screen long form of storytelling… or weird rock-n-roll needle drops. The slow build of the lore here doesn’t compare to the simplicity of human beings with almost nothing to protect them and the vast void of space facing off against the most terrifying killing machine in the un...
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