We’re closing out our coverage of an excellent Fantastic Fest this year with a trio of very different films, all worth seeing when they find their way to your area in theaters or on streaming. The best of the three is Mercedes Bryce Morgan’s wonderfully twisted “Bone Lake,” a film that feels like a European … Read more
Restorations are a notable portion of the Fantastic Fest program, giving movie lovers a chance to see a handful of films on the big screen for the first time in years, or ever. This year’s restoration titles were a remarkable bunch of flicks that really speak to the array of offerings at this event. It’s … Read more
All of our coverage of the 2024 Fantastic Fest. “Apartment 7A“ “House of Spoils“ “MadS“ “Memoir of a Snail“ “Never Let Go“ “Planet B“ “The Rule of Jenny Pen“ “U Are the Universe“ “V/H/S/Beyond“
At my first Fantastic Fest, I’ve been struck by the quality of the programming. Where else can you see the Palme d’Or winner (“Anora,” which I finally caught up with and think might be the best film of the year), a future animated hit like “The Wild Robot,” and dozens of indie genre flicks from … Read more
Beyond Fest 2024, the genre film festival based in the United States is returning for its 12th presentation with an 82-feature lineup for 15 days of cinematic spectacle! This year’s celebration includes a killer roster of firsts, special screenings, anticipated reunions, and more fan-favorite filmmakers than most cinephiles could handle for one momentous event! This … Read more
Universal Studios Hollywood is launching a new event from the creators of its popular Halloween Horror Nights — this one devoted to a variety of fandoms. According to a press release, “Universal Fan Fest Nights will be a limited-time, after-hours experience, exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood that will showcase a dynamic line-up of captivating, immersive in-world … Read more
As the rain drummed on the concrete, the Red Line train buzzed by, and the smell of popcorn filled the streets, I began my two-day journey at the Music Box Theatre, a beloved local venue renowned for its passion for indie films and filmmakers. I was there to witness the MUBI Podcast Live with Thrill … Read more
The “old” Fantastic Fest was lawless, sometimes in a good, fun way and sometimes in a bad, predatory one. And attempts to recapture it through stunts just don’t play the same in the new era. Which is fine—from experience, I can testify that it’s a Sisyphean task to try to live up to people’s nostalgic … Read more
Ryosuke Hamaguchi’s provocatively titled “Evil Does Not Exist” (102 minutes) taught me a word I’d never heard before: glamping. I don’t know if the term really exists in present-day Japan or if Hamaguchi made it up for his film, but it’s a contraction of “glamorous camping,” a practice whereby wealthy urbanites go to the country … Read more
This year’s meta-festival drama came in the form of the simultaneous WGA and SAG strikes and American labor union actions that are having a massive effect on almost every facet of the Canadian industry, even though we have our own guilds operating under different structures. Such is the weight of these writers and stars that … Read more