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Joe Lipsett
Tomatometer-approved critic
Toronto, ON, Canada
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Thanksgiving (2023) |
The structure and killer reveal are a little wonky, and at times it feels like Roth and Jeff Rendell are trying to shoe horn in elements from the faux trailer, but the kills are solid and the vibe is very fun - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Dec 05, 2023
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When Evil Lurks (2023) |
Easily one of the most nihilistic horror films of the year, When Evil Lurks features two exquisitely awful/amazing child deaths. Great gore and a new take on possession films? I'm sold - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Dec 05, 2023
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You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023) |
It's a little too Mean Girls and leaves out the book's best character (justice for Arthur), but the Sandler clan have great chemistry and Cohen knows how to direct a breezy, fun YA comedy. - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Dec 05, 2023
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The Shamer's Daughter (2015) |
The film is less memorable than the book: it is a little too grey and happy to forego politics for explosions, but at least it keeps the book's dark ending. - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Dec 05, 2023
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Don't Worry Darling (2022) |
Despite great chemistry between Pine and Pugh and amazing production & costume design, the obvious and nonsensical plot and Harry Styles' unconvincing performance ultimately sinks the film. Also: Why is this 2 hours long?! - Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
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| Posted Nov 23, 2023
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Hard Candy (2005) |
David Slade's directorial feature is low key a secret rape/revenge film that features powerhouse performances from Elliot Page and Patrick Wilson and plenty of uncomfortable moments. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Nov 23, 2023
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The Amityville Moon (2021) |
As an Amityville film, this entry in the “franchise” is pretty insignificant. As a low budget werewolf movie, however, it’s pretty enjoyable. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Nov 23, 2023
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Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor (2023) |
The fourth film is the best in the franchise as Cognetti strikes a good balance between jump scares, mythology, and character development. The computer stalking bit with Rebecca and Chase's final video are masterful scare sequences. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Nov 21, 2023
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The Dead Zone (1983) |
The Dead Zone is a better Stephen King film than a David Cronenberg film. There's some great imagery here, but the best storylines (the murders) are speedily wrapped up to get to the hastily developed battle between Johnny and Stilson - Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
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| Posted Nov 21, 2023
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The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) |
Praise Davis, Schafer and Schwartzman, who understand the film they're in and embrace it. Blyth is afraid to let Snow be a villain so the romance between him and Zegler only works during the games. Overall, this is fine, but too long, especially Part 3 - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Nov 21, 2023
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The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 (2015) |
Lawrence's extremely ugly film loses itself in the back half when it stops focusing on how community supports Katniss and simply becomes another arena film. The adaptation couldn't escape Collins' bad source material, but why did it have to be ~2.5 hrs? - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Nov 14, 2023
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Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) |
The film struggles to balance its disparate tones and subject matter (fun animatronics with child murder) while barely containing enough scares and violence to act as a gateway horror flick for pre-teens. At least Matthew Lillard is having fun. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Nov 14, 2023
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birth/rebirth (2023) |
While the narrative occasionally gets a little wobbly, birth/rebirth is anchored by two rock solid performances by Ireland and Reyes. Bonus points for including Breeda Wool (a fave!) - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Nov 10, 2023
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The Killer (2023) |
The film is a lean, often brutal globe-trotting adventure with a solid performance by Fassbender and stand-out sound design. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted Nov 10, 2023
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Child's Play (1988) |
The original Chucky title features a variety of slasher set pieces, an iconic vocal performance by Brad Dourif, and surprisingly great character work by Catherine Hicks and Alex Vincent as mother and son. This film more than holds up. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Nov 09, 2023
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The Marvels (2023) |
Clocking in at a brief hundred minutes and change, The Marvels is quick, breezy, and often quite fun. All three actresses have played these roles before, and there’s a lived-in quality to the performances even when they’re coming from different worlds. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted Nov 09, 2023
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Deadgirl (2008) |
An extremely challenging film about toxic masculinity that is well made, but simultaneously unpalatable for most audiences. Begs the question: who is this for and how successful is it? - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Nov 08, 2023
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Amityville Poltergeist (2020) |
Partner [a predictable plot] with underwhelming scary sequences and a reliance on replaying the same scenarios over and over again, and the film feels like a slog somewhere around the halfway point. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Nov 07, 2023
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Funny Games (1997) |
Haneke's audacious home invasion film is as confronting as it is effective. This is a masterclass. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Nov 03, 2023
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Priscilla (2023) |
Priscilla is a gorgeous, albeit emotionally inert film, which isn’t something you expect to say about a Sofia Coppola picture - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted Nov 02, 2023
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Fair Play (2023) |
Regardless of how you feel about stock market films, this exceptionally well-acted relationship thriller is guaranteed to entertain, even if it will ruin Alden Ehrenreich for you (because he's so hissably awful) - Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
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| Posted Oct 26, 2023
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The Amityville Harvest (2020) |
The most disappointing thing about The Amityville Harvest is how stuffed it is...Churchill just needed to edit his ideas because any of these would have made for a solid film. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Oct 25, 2023
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Halloween II (2009) |
Halloween 2 has its problems, but the all-star cast is doing great work, and the film has a surprisingly nuanced consideration of Final Girl PTSD. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Oct 25, 2023
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Goosebumps (2015) |
An amusing, if overstuffed adaptation of classic R.L. Stine tales. As the children's author, Black is solid and so is the FX, though the shrieking best friend performance by Ryan Lee quickly becomes grating and Hannah's resolution is wonky at best. - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Oct 24, 2023
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Totally Killer (2023) |
Color me surprised because despite a terrible trailer, this Kiernan Shipka vehicle totally delivers. The comedy totally works, the kills are totally good, and the 80s nostalgia totally isn't overdone! - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Oct 24, 2023
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Founders Day (2023) |
Overall Founders Day is a mixed bag: the cynical political elements are novel and the killer’s mask is visually distinct, but the film is held back by its performances and some bumpy plot mechanics. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Oct 23, 2023
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Herd (2023) |
Herd subverts standard zombie tropes in favor of a more human-focused story, led by two solid performances from Ellen Adair and Mitzi Akaha. There's a few pacing issues, but overall this is a solid entry into the queer horror canon. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Oct 23, 2023
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Late Night With the Devil (2023) |
A pitch perfect combination of gore and laughs...one of the best genre films of the year. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted Oct 19, 2023
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Apt Pupil (1998) |
It's become impossible to separate the art from the artist when it comes to alleged rapist Bryan Singer and this film. From the assaults that purportedly took place during filming to the framing of Brad Renfro's underage body, this is a hard watch - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Oct 19, 2023
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The Exorcist: Believer (2023) |
This is a lazy cash-grab that relies too much on goodwill from its 50 year old predecessor and has way too many characters. Most annoying is how Believer doesn't have anything new to say about religion; it certainly isn't transgressive or audacious. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Oct 17, 2023
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Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) |
Attempts to replicate Gammell's iconic visuals mostly work, but the Vietnam backstory is undercooked, villain Tommy is dispatched too early and most of the set pieces are too brief. What worked in Schwartz's campfire tales doesn't translate to screen - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Oct 17, 2023
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Friday the 13th, Part 2 (1981) |
Easily one of (if not THE) best Friday the 13th film, Part 2 introduces iconic Final Girl Ginny, features mean kills (RIP Mark) and has one of the best chases in slasher history. Plus: those jump scares and Manfredini's go-for-broke score! - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Oct 13, 2023
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Amityville Witches (2020) |
This is a totally fine, inoffensive film, albeit one that is a little too familiar and even a little boring. If you like seeing women of a certain age hovering over a pot or talking about repressed memories from another life, this is probably your jam. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Oct 10, 2023
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Love and Monsters (2020) |
Love and Monsters features plenty of comedy and heart, courtesy of O'Brien's voice over and a script from Robinson and Duffield. I'm a big fan of Dog, the way the film handles Joel's relationship with Aimee, and the Oscar-nominated realism of the CGI. - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Oct 10, 2023
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Saw X (2023) |
Saw X proves that there's still plenty of life left in the franchise with a prequel focusing on John Kramer's relationship with Amanda. As gory as the traps are, it's Synnøve Macody Lund who steals the show; what a fantastic villain! - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Oct 10, 2023
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Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023) |
Simultaneously overstuffed and completely hollow, the prequel's hot actors and welcome indigenous content can't save it from poor character development, bad editing, and a reliance on cheap jump scares. Give me this story with Manny and Donna as leads. - Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
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| Posted Oct 09, 2023
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No One Will Save You (2023) |
A nearly wordless alien invasion film that doesn't pull punches? Yes, Brian Duffield and Kaitlyn Dever have accomplished just that. It's incredible. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Oct 06, 2023
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Faithfully Yours (2022) |
Faithfully Yours isn’t revolutionizing the subgenre, but solid direction, a strong lead performance, and a refreshing representation of society’s changing sexual norms makes this an entertaining and worthwhile take on the “woman in danger” film. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Oct 05, 2023
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It Lives Inside (2023) |
Despite pulling some narrative punches with the deaths, It Lives Inside features a great lead performance by Megan Suri and a fantastic creature design for the Pishach. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Oct 03, 2023
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The House With a Clock in Its Walls (2018) |
While the film is more focused on men than women (like the book), Jack Black and Cate Blanchett make a surprisingly compelling comedic team. While some of the jokes are pretty juvenile, the flights of fancy make this a spooky good time. - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Oct 03, 2023
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Saw II (2005) |
Easily one of the best Saw sequels. More focus on Shawnee Smith's Amanda, more Dina Meyer and a nice little ACAB message against Wahlberg's garbage cop. Plus: the needle pit is great! - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Sep 29, 2023
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Vermin (2023) |
Despite the wobbly ending, the combination of suspense, scares and solid character development easily makes Infested one of the best creature features in recent memory. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted Sep 27, 2023
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Stranger by the Lake (2013) |
An essential queer horror text that tackles cruising, sex and death, voyeurism, body image, gay microcosms, STIs, toxic relationship, homophobia, and gay friendships. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Sep 27, 2023
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A Haunting in Venice (2023) |
Branagh's take on the material improves with each successive Poirot film. The A-list cast is great, although only Fey and Yeoh get opportunities to shine. It's Branagh's direction that takes center stage, helping to create actual scares and tension. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Sep 26, 2023
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Mean Girls (2004) |
While the whiteness of the text is glaring 20 years later, Tina Fey's razor sharp comedy (and significantly improved adaptation) remains a delight. The cast is firing on all cylinders and the jokes still land. Fetch did indeed happen. - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Sep 26, 2023
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The Strangler (1970) |
The intriguing queer undercurrent helps make The Strangler a worthwhile watch. This is a restoration worth seeking out for the purposes of (re)discovery and (re)appraisal. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted Sep 25, 2023
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The Coffee Table (2022) |
An uncomfortably intimate experience that will have audiences oscillating back and forth between wanting to die from the anxiety, laughing at pitch black moments, and praying for the film to end already. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted Sep 24, 2023
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My Animal (2023) |
A familiar story is elevated by Castel's sumptuous visual eye and Bobbi Salvör Menuez's lead performance, though the film's runtime and muted payoff are a bit unfortunate. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Sep 22, 2023
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Bound (1996) |
Easily one of the sexiest films ever made, Bound has undergone a significant reappraisal from queers in the wake of the Wachowski sisters coming out. This neo-noir is stylish, impeccably produced, and features all-time performances from Tilly & Gershon - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Sep 20, 2023
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First Daughter (2004) |
Sam isn't a character, which doesn't leave Katie Holmes much to do. The romance with Blucas' secret service agent isn't interesting and the narrative seems stuck on repeat. Plus: there's some weird sexual chemistry between the President and First Daughter - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Sep 19, 2023
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