film review

A collection of 367 posts

Film

Gretel & Hansel Review (Film, 2020)

Gretel & Hansel is an incredibly stylized and thoughtful horror adaptation of “Hansel and Gretel.” It’s effectiveness comes down to your appreciation for a more experimental approach to horror driven by tone and color.

Film

Not Alone in Here Review (Short Film, 2020)

“Not Alone in Here” is the newest short film from David F. Sandberg and Lotte Losten, the creative team behind the viral horror short “Lights Out.” A woman is convinced someone else has entered her apartment because a door is suddenly unlocked that she knows she locked before.

Film

Bliss Review (Film, 2019)

An artist struggling to complete her new painting turns back to hallucinatory drugs to find inspiration. She feels like she has no choice. Her agent dropped her and her gallery dealer can’t sell her work anymore. After three months of sobriety, she returns to her dealer who gives her a new drug call

Film

The Outer Limits: S1E01 "The Galaxy Being"

Today is the debut of the new series at The Avocado. We’re going to review the entirety of The Outer Limits, episode by episode. I’m excited to take this one on. I’m more familiar with the 90s reboot of the series than the original, and any excuse to go in on dark sci-fi is a good excuse for me. Up

Film

Tigers Are Not Afraid Review (Film, 2019)

In Tigers Are Not Afraid, Estrella uses three wishes granted to her by her school teacher to fight back against the horrors of the drug trafficking gangs taking over her hometown.

Film

The Best Masters of Horror and Fear Itself Episodes

Now that I’ve officially reached the end of my Masters of Horror [https://the-avocado.org/tag/masters-of-horror/] and Fear Itself [https://the-avocado.org/tag/fear-itself/] recap/review series at The Avocado, I want to dig a little further into the series as a whole. I don’t mean the drama surroundi

Film

Fear Itself: S1E13 "The Circle"

After 39 episodes and 39 weeks, we’ve reached the end of our Masters of Horror and Fear Itself series at The Avocado. It’s a bittersweet feeling to let go of this show, as that original season of Masters of Horror really felt like it could have run for years like The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limit

Film

Promising Young Woman Review (Film, 2020)

Promising Young Woman is the story of Cassandra. She goes to different bars and clubs each week, seeing if any man will try to take her home. She’s not looking for a date, but revenge. Cassandra gets men to take her to their homes, where she makes sure they can no longer take advantage of any other

Film

Canvas Review (Short Film, 2020)

In “Canvas,” a grieving artist is no longer painting. He watches his granddaughter everyday and sees her joy in drawing, but cannot bring himself to pick up his own brushes again. She is just happy to spend time with him and draw pictures of her family just like he used to.

Film

Fear Itself: S1E12 "Echoes"

We’re almost at the end of the Masters of Horror/Fear Itself review series at The Avocado. Today’s focus is the penultimate episode “Echoes” from director Rupert Wainwright and screenwriter Sean Hood. Would it shock you to find out that I really liked a time-skipping horror story with similar storyt

Film

Incarnate Review (Film, 2016)

Incarnate is a by-the-numbers possession film with a sci-fi twist. Dr. Ember’s methods include medication and monitoring cables. He enters their unconscious mind, their dream state brought on by the possession, and helps guide them out.

Film

Catcalls Review (Short Film, 2020)

In “Catcalls,” a man drives around, looking for his next target to sexually harass. He picked the wrong young women to go after.

Film

Fear Itself: S1E11 "The Spirit Box"

The new Fear Itself review is up at The Avocado. This week’s topic is Rob Schmidt’s The Spirit Box. This paranormal thriller is Schmidt’s second entry in the series after the Masters of Horror episode Right to Die. Two teenage girls accidentally uncover a murder while holding a séance on Halloween n

Film

Spookier Times Episode 8: Best Genre Films of 2020

In this special episode of Spookier Times, we look back at the best fantasy, sci-fi, and horror films of 2020.

Film

Fear Itself: S1E10 "Chance"

The new Fear Itself review is up at The Avocado. This week, we’re looking at John Dahl’s thriller episode Chance. A man named Chance accidentally releases his identical but opposite doppelganger into the world after a deal at an antiques store goes wrong. Read the full review at The Avocado [https:/

Film

Soul Review (Film, 2020)

Pixar’s Soul is their most mature film to date, telling an animated story filled with a diverse cast of BIPOC characters about life, death, and finding your purpose in the world.

Film

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Review (Film, 2020)

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is one of the greatest stage to screen adaptations of all time, brought to life with impeccable tone and style by George C. Wolfe.

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Fear Itself: S1E09 "Something With Bite"

The new Fear Itself review is up at The Avocado. This week, we’re looking at Ernest Dickerson’s second go at the franchise: Something with Bite. This over the top werewolf transformation comedy is a bright spot in the series. You can read the full review at The Avocado.

Film

Fear Itself: S1E09 "Skin & Bones"

Up next on our Fear Itself review series at The Avocado is Skin & Bones. Multi-hyphenate filmmaker Larry Fessenden’s body horror is the last episode of the show to air on TV; the rest of the series got dumped on the backend of NBC’s website. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to celebrate one of

Film

The Prom Review (Film, 2020)

Ryan Murphy’s all-star adaptation of the Broadway musical The Prom is now available to watch on Netflix. At least more people than ever can see the story of Emma.

Film

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Review (Film, 2014) The Archives

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For pretty much picks up like there wasn’t a nine year gap between the two entries in the Sin City series. Robert Rodriguez teams up with graphic novel creator Frank Miller to bring the gritty noir of Sin City to life in glorious black and white. Once again, three intertwine

Film

Fear Itself: S1E07 "Community"

Our Fear Itself series continues over at The Avocado with Mary Harron’s Community. This is the kind of horror I’m really drawn to. I like deep dive psychological horror with style and great performances. It also gives me the chance to discuss gender bias in horror filmmaking. Not so fun fact: this i

Film

Spookier Times Episode 6: Cube, Game Horror, and Ableism in Genre Media

The new episode of Spookier Times is up and I went all in on the Cube series. Enjoy a deep dive on the entire trilogy: Cube, Cube 2: Hypercube, and Cube Zero. Topics include the appeal of the series, its portrayal of disabled characters, and its influence on contemporary horror. I also include an or

Film

A Shoggoth on the Roof: The Investigation Review (Short Film, 2000) The Archives

In the 1980s, the HP Lovecraft Historical Society received a mysterious handwritten libretto for a parody musical called A Shoggoth on the Roof. That would be a Lovecraftian spin on A Fiddler on the Roof if you didn’t catch it. It turns out, the manuscript wasn’t just the creation of an off-kilter L

Film

If Anything Happens I Love You Review (Short Film, 2020)

A couple is not getting along. They sit silently at the dinner table while their memories and thoughts argue with each other in black silhouette against the white walls. They leave without speaking to each other to further grapple with their thoughts. A few moments later, it is revealed that they ar