>
Norman Gidney
Tomatometer-approved critic
Norman J. Gidney is a Los Angeles-based film critic and writer. Founder of HorrorBuzz and writer for Film Threat, Norman grew up in Southern California learning to read by scouring the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times and is an avid film fan with a special love for horror and genre films. His goal is to champion horror, queer cinema, and the independent filmmakers who sacrifice everything to tell their stories.
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tokyo Cowboy (2023) |
A breezy character piece about self-discovery in the Wild West that is undeniably disarming. - MUSE TV
Read More
| Posted Nov 27, 2023
|
|
|
|
Your Lucky Day (2023) |
A pulpy thriller that works more than not to deliver a gritty story of greed born from moments of desperation. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Nov 06, 2023
|
|
|
|
Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) |
While the movie looks great, it never reaches the levels of suspense, much less horror hoped for. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Oct 26, 2023
|
|
|
|
Fuzzy Head (2023) |
McColm has constructed a masterful narrative through the crumbling mind of a trauma survivor. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Oct 23, 2023
|
|
|
|
The Man in the White Van (2023) |
An engrossing thriller that holds a tight grip on the audience.
- HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Oct 23, 2023
|
|
|
|
Founders Day (2023) |
The Bloomquists know exactly what they are doing and they play with the audience mercilessly, practically torturing fans of the genre. It’s so much fun. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Oct 22, 2023
|
|
|
|
The Exorcist: Believer (2023) |
A paranormal thriller that is ultimately focused on entertaining as opposed to challenging the audience. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Oct 04, 2023
|
|
|
|
The Woman Under the Stage (2023) |
The Woman Under the Stage really works when it pays homage to the theatre. The sacrifices that are made, the ghosts that are born, and the space that they inhabit. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Sep 19, 2023
|
|
|
|
Death of a Whistleblower (2023) |
A very good, longer-than-necessary film, that leaves you hungry for more. - MUSE TV
Read More
| Posted Sep 18, 2023
|
|
|
|
Good Boy (2022) |
A fiendish flick about relationships and power dynamics that leaves the viewer chilled to the bone.
- HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Sep 12, 2023
|
|
|
|
Haunting of the Queen Mary (2023) |
When it works it really works. When it doesn’t, it becomes a muddled mess. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Aug 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
LOLA (2022) |
A cerebral, sci-fi thriller that works. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Aug 27, 2023
|
|
|
|
Pencils vs. Pixels (2023) |
Essential viewing for any fan of animation. I would even say that film buffs would do well to take this one in. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Aug 20, 2023
|
|
|
|
Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat (2023) |
Gary Matoso and Cameron Zohoori tell a story of nationwide scope and intimate detail that reminds us there might still be good in the world. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Aug 20, 2023
|
|
|
|
Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire (2022) |
A full-throttle edu-doc that presents facts, problems, and solutions along with lightly capturing the pathos of avoidable tragedy. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Aug 20, 2023
|
|
|
|
August at Twenty-Two (2023) |
Why we love Indie films. It is lo-fi, unpredictable, and insightful. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Aug 18, 2023
|
|
|
|
Peter Case: A Million Miles Away (2022) |
An outstanding piece of work. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Aug 14, 2023
|
|
|
|
Heir of the Witch (2023) |
An admirable effort whose spell doesn’t quite work. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Aug 10, 2023
|
|
|
|
The Blackening (2022) |
This is crowd-pleasing, cheer-inducing, gut-busting horror comedy that finds the right mix of scary, funny, and self-awareness. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jun 15, 2023
|
|
|
|
The Other Side of Darkness (2022) |
A film that is true in its desire to entertain but in attempting to over-deliver, it fumbles. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Apr 18, 2023
|
|
|
|
Beau Is Afraid (2023) |
A kaleidoscope of genres, BEAU IS AFRAID quite the journey. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Apr 16, 2023
|
|
|
|
Capsules (2022) |
While it doesn’t fully succeed it what it is trying to do, [B]CAPSULES[B] entertains enough to make it worth exploring. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Apr 11, 2023
|
|
|
|
Malum (2023) |
Few films this year will offer you the glorious sense of dread that [B]MALUM[B] does. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Mar 28, 2023
|
|
|
|
Brooklyn 45 (2023) |
Writer, director Ted Geoghegan serves up a structurally sound ensemble ghost story that is perpetually perplexing and consistently entertaining if perhaps a bit contained. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Mar 13, 2023
|
|
|
|
Irreversible: Straight Cut (2020) |
While this new chronological edit is a capably crafted piece, it robs one of the ferocious disorientation of the original. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Feb 27, 2023
|
|
|
|
Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023) |
A fun if forgettable actioner that delivers exactly what any fan of the genre would rightfully expect. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Feb 27, 2023
|
|
|
|
Cassandro (2023) |
A worthy celebration of a gay icon and pioneer, Cassandro plays it safe but still tells an inspiring story.
- MUSE TV
Read More
| Posted Jan 25, 2023
|
|
|
|
Animalia (2023) |
One of the most beautifully crafted films in recent memory, [B]Animalia[/B] stays grounded in reality while delving into ponderous philosophies.
- HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jan 25, 2023
|
|
|
|
Infinity Pool (2023) |
Provocative, visceral cinema that dares you to look away, knowing that you won’t. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jan 24, 2023
|
|
|
|
Mad Cats (2023) |
Written and directed with whimsy by Reiki Tsuno this supremely silly film works hard to be nothing short of goofy effervescent fun - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jan 23, 2023
|
|
|
|
Run Rabbit Run (2023) |
Defies cynical expectations as another slow-burn horror movie in that it pays off. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jan 21, 2023
|
|
|
|
Night of the Bastard (2022) |
A simple us vs. them story choc full of everything you would expect to see here both good and bad. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jan 15, 2023
|
|
|
|
Cryptid (2022) |
A well-crafted movie that served horror, drama, and creature all on the same plate. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jan 14, 2023
|
|
|
|
Human Resources (2021) |
Not a good film, but a very worthy effort. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jan 13, 2023
|
|
|
|
Skinamarink (2022) |
Mercilessly drags viewers through the opaque lens of childhood fears. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jan 12, 2023
|
|
|
|
Kids vs. Aliens (2022) |
Think Independence Day meets The Goonies and you have an idea of what to expect. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jan 12, 2023
|
|
|
|
M3GAN (2022) |
Laced with a nasty wit and passive cynicism, M3GAN is a surprisingly fun thriller. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Jan 04, 2023
|
|
|
|
Scare Package II: Rad Chad's Revenge (2022) |
A sharp, affectionate parody of horror sequels. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
Get Out (2017) |
Get Out is a razor-sharp horror movie with a wicked sense of humor and an adroit perspective. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Dec 12, 2022
|
|
|
|
Amigo (2019) |
An entertaining thriller with a nasty sense of humor. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Dec 06, 2022
|
|
|
|
Violent Night (2022) |
A goofy, gory, fattened Christmas goose of a movie offering brute cynicism mixed with unadulterated Christmas cheer. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Dec 02, 2022
|
|
|
|
Don't Look at the Demon (2022) |
Like an off-brand installment of The Conjuring series and I mean that as a sincere compliment. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Nov 23, 2022
|
|
|
|
8 Found Dead (2022) |
The shining stars here are writer Jonathan Buchanan and director Travis Greene who construct a complicated collection of parallel narratives that render a savagely entertaining movie. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Nov 22, 2022
|
|
|
|
The Menu (2022) |
A sumptuously crafted thriller that sports a great cast, sharp writing, and a fun story if you have the appetite for it. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Nov 18, 2022
|
|
|
|
Extramundane (2022) |
Sowden‘s script is a well-crafted piece of horror and mystery. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Nov 08, 2022
|
|
|
|
The Lair (2022) |
Seems to be Neil Marshall’s answer to Michael Bay. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Nov 06, 2022
|
|
|
|
Nocebo (2022) |
This is a horror film that fully gets the utility of horror as a means of catharsis. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Nov 05, 2022
|
|
|
|
The Retaliators (2021) |
Aims to be ‘SE7EN’ meets ‘Death Wish’ with a dash of Tarantino and it doesn’t always succeed. It’s still an entertaining if uneven, revenge picture. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Nov 05, 2022
|
|
|
|
Bugs: A Trilogy (2018) |
Enough works to make this an engrossing horror trilogy. - HorrorBuzz
Read More
| Posted Nov 04, 2022
|
|
|
|
100 Years of Men in Love: The Accidental Collection (2022) |
An unparalleled archive of gay culture in America, not to mention a swooning ode to romance. - Film Threat
Read More
| Posted Oct 24, 2022
|