Welcome to the Blumhouse: Black as Night Review

Year: 2021 Runtime: 87 minutes Director: Maritte Lee Go Writer: Sherman Payne Actors: Asjha Cooper, Fabrizio Guido, Mason Beauchamp, Abbie Gayle, Keith David By Tom Moore The second part to Amazon and Blumhouse’s collaborative effort, “Welcome to the Blumhouse”, features Maritte Lee Go’s feature directorial debut telling a New Orleans vampire story with “Black as Night” (2021). The film takes viewers into a post-Hurricane Katrina … Continue reading Welcome to the Blumhouse: Black as Night Review

Encounter: TIFF 2021 Review

Year: 2021 Runtime: 108 Minutes Director: Michael Pearce Writer(s): Michael Pearce, Joe Barton Stars: Riz Ahmed, Octavia Spencer, Lucian-River Chauhan, Janina Gavankar Director Michael Pearce’s sophomore effort, “Encounter” (2021), creates an initially engaging sci-fi story that eventually takes a more personal turn that showcases lasting scars of trauma. The film follows a pair of young brothers who end up going on a journey with their … Continue reading Encounter: TIFF 2021 Review

Film Review: Nocturne

There’s one daunting line from the film that sums up both the driving force of the film itself as well as the life of a creative as a whole: “Music is a bloodsport.” Creative environments are often the most competitive as many try seeking acknowledgement and attention to give them wide acclaim and recognition – after all, the spotlight usually only has room for one. In some ways, this has always been the connective and cathartic part of these struggling artist stories and Quirke perfectly captures this with how she introduces and characterizes the film’s characters. Continue reading Film Review: Nocturne

Film Review: The Lie

Being stuck on the shelf since it debuted at Toronto Film Festival back in 2018, Blumhouse has finally decided to let the latest film from writer/director Veena Sud, “The Lie”, loose through a multi-film deal with Amazon. The film, a remake of the German film “We Monsters”, follows parents Jay (Peter Sarsgaard) and Rebecca (Mireille Enos) as their love for their daughter Kayla (Joey King) after she makes a lethal mistake. “The Lie” is essentially the same kind of story we’ve seen in stuff like “Defending Jacob” – a teenager is suspected of doing something wrong, usually murder, and the parents are forced to do everything in their power to prove their innocence and keep them safe. It’s a test of how far parents are willing to go to protect their kids when they’re suspected of something that could put their entire life in jeopardy. Continue reading Film Review: The Lie

Film Review: Get Duked!

Three unruly delinquents Dean, Duncan and DJ Beatroot (Rian Gordon, Lewis Gribben and Viraj Juneja) led by teacher Mr. Carlyle (Jonathan Aris) are brought to the Scottish Highlands to redeem themselves after a lifetime of shenanigans and sabotage. They are to go on the Duke of Edinburgh Trek alongside Ian (Samuel Bottomley), a sincere overachiever to learn teamwork, leadership and orientation. Little do the four know is that the elements of the environment are not the only things that will stand in their way. Continue reading Film Review: Get Duked!

Prime Viewing: Part 1

Are you climbing up the walls yet? Being in self-isolation is tough, but completely necessary (we can’t emphasis that enough). No fear, we’re here to help make things a little more bearable with some recommendations on films you can catch on Amazon Prime that just so happen to be from a female filmmaker. Hopefully, these films will keep you entertained and we hope there are some featured on here that you aren’t aware of. Let us know some of your recommendations in the comments below. Keep safe, stay indoors and use this time wisely…to catch up on some movies! Continue reading Prime Viewing: Part 1

Review: “National Theatre Live: Fleabag”

Before “Fleabag” was a television show, it was a one-woman stage play.  Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and directed by Vicky Jones, the stage play gives us the first moments of Fleabag and her messy life and family.

Filmed by Tony Grech-Smith, the recorded live performance immerses you in Waller-Bridge’s story and characters.  Some characters are merely pre-recorded voices. The feminist lecturer and the bank manager are ominious voices played overhead.  Meanwhile, all the other characters brought to life by various actors in the show are portrayed by Waller-Bridge herself. Continue reading Review: “National Theatre Live: Fleabag”