Category Archives: Reviews

The 1960s brought one of the largest film productions for Polish cinema. Pharaoh (Faraon, 1966), masterfully directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz, revolves around the figure of young Ramses XIII (portrayed by Jerzy Zelnik), who is prepared for and eventually succeeds his … Continue reading →

A recurring criticism for the films of Nicolas Winding Refn is that they elevate style over substance. It is resoundingly clear from their neon-drenched aesthetic, minimal dialogue, and meticulously calculated staging that he is a scrupulous perfectionist, sparing nothing in … Continue reading →

  “Open up and let the Devil in,” says an antagonist unaware of the fact that he just summed up his own story in one brooding line… Upon the lukewarm tides of Ben Wheatley’s recent outing, High-Rise (2015), let’s return … Continue reading →

The Witch is not so much horrifying in its visual content as it is in its evocative ability to convincingly bring forth a historic space in which the ideology of the American frontier percolates so violently with the Western concept … Continue reading →

Can a man face a plethora of hardships both personally and professionally to pursue a bit of happiness, especially when the only happiness he knows of is the word “happyness” written on a wall? The answer would be this movie, … Continue reading →

There’s no avoiding schmaltz and melodrama; they’ve been a part of our filmgoing experience since Griffith. But careful consideration of melodramatic stories can help us distinguish what is an honest expression of a strongly felt emotion from maudlin exploitation. When … Continue reading →

Leaving the theater where I saw László Nemes’s brilliant, relentlessly brutal Holocaust drama, Son of Saul (2015), I mentioned to a woman how difficult I thought the film was to watch. She replied, “Yes, but…” and gave a sad look … Continue reading →

As a film scholar, it is no easy task to take on researching a culturally and institutionally enriching topic that has been largely overlooked by other academics. Author Silvio Carta, however, proves he is up to the challenge with his … Continue reading →

Video games, as an increasingly beloved form of entertainment and social connection for our culture, provide players with interactive outlets to express themselves while navigating new and fantastical worlds. With the millions of console and computer games available today, and … Continue reading →

Annabelle (2014) — the highly anticipated prequel to James Wann’s The Conjuring (2013) — graced the big screen on October 3 and arguably met the high expectations set by its predecessor. The film is based on true events that occurred early in the controversial career … Continue reading →