Christmas is widely regarded as the most wonderful time of the year, a season filled with warmth, family gatherings, twinkling lights and festive music. It can therefore feel jarring—almost perversely entertaining—when movie makers set violent or terrifying stories against this backdrop of seasonal cheer. Yet Christmas-themed horror has become a recurring and enduring subgenre. What … Read more

What Jack Built (2015) Director: Matthew Mahler Screenwriters: Ross Mahler, Matthew Mahler Starring: Timothy J. Cox What Jack Built attempts an economical, experimental approach to minimalist genre filmmaking but ultimately struggles to deliver a cohesive narrative or emotional connection. Running just 11 minutes, the film leans heavily on mood and repetition, yet it does not … Read more

Here Lies Joe (2016) Director: Mark Battle Screenwriter: Mark Battle & Pamela Conway Starring: Dean Temple, Andi Morrow, Timothy J Cox, Mary Hronicek, J P Valenti, Kristie Stumpf Rork Poignant and thoughtfully observed, Here Lies Joe confronts a pressing public issue—suicide and mental health—in a direct, unvarnished way that feels both brave and sensitive. The … Read more

Toni Erdmann (2016/17) Director: Maren Ade Screenwriter: Maren Ade Starring: Sandra Hüller, Peter Simonischek Maren Ade’s Toni Erdmann is a multilingual character drama infused with sharp comedic beats. The film won widespread acclaim across Europe, earning major recognition at the European Film Awards in 2016 and becoming Germany’s celebrated entry in the 2017 Foreign Language … Read more

Annie Waits (2017) Director: Marnie Paxton Screenwriter: Chris Anastasi Starring: April Kelley, Sam Gittins, Sarah Huxley, Alex Jordan, Andrew Simpson, Sam Swainsbury. Marnie Paxton’s short film Annie Waits is a sharp, observant portrait of twenty-somethings navigating intimacy and identity. Running under nine minutes, the film uses wit and plainspoken honesty to examine modern dating, the … Read more

Director: Sean Meehan Screenwriter: Sean Meehan Starring: Tory Berner, Steven Conroy Plot: Cori is an actress, but her main job is unusual: she works for a company that hires performers to play the other person in difficult real-life conversations. Clients can rehearse a breakup, a firing, or an awkward confession with a live, breathing “sparring … Read more

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) Director: James Gunn Screenwriter: James Gunn Starring: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, Zoe Saldana, Elizabeth Debicki, Sean Gunn, Pom Klementieff, Kurt Russell, Sylvester Stallone Star-Lord and his ragtag crew return in a sequel many fans eagerly awaited. With new cast members, … Read more

Warning! Spoilers Ahead! M. Night Shyamalan has confirmed that a long-awaited sequel to his surprise 2017 hit Split is scheduled for release in 2019. Titled Glass, the film will bring together characters and storylines from both Split and Shyamalan’s 2000 film Unbreakable, forming a definitive continuation of the director’s unconventional superhero universe. Glass reunites key … Read more

TriStar Pictures is in negotiations to distribute an upcoming biographical film about Vince McMahon, the long-time chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The film, titled Pandemonium, aims to explore McMahon’s complicated and influential role in transforming professional wrestling from a regional attraction into a global entertainment phenomenon. Image: WWE Pandemonium was written by Craig … Read more

I have been promising the third installment of this religious and spiritual film series for some time, but these pieces take a long time to write. With Easter approaching, though, I’ve been revisiting faith-related films and found the inspiration to publish a short appetiser: part 2.5 of “Movies I’ve Had a Religious/Spiritual Experience With.” Readers … Read more