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4/5
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Bound
(1996)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
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
Posted Sep 20, 2023
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3.5/5
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Underworld
(2003)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
One wishes that Kate Beckinsale got to have a little more fun as Selene and Kraven is a terrible villain, but the blue-filtered Matrix-rip off (action, costume, gun play) is very welcome. Plus: Nighy is having the absolute best time chewing the scenery.
Posted Sep 19, 2023
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3/5
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The Latent Image
(2022)
|
Trace Thurman
|
A few too many dream sequence fake-outs makes The Latent Image feel like a short stretched to feature length (which it is), but some inventive camerawork and sexually charged performances from Tonks and Clift elevate the lackluster screenplay.
Posted Sep 18, 2023
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4.5/5
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A Simple Favor
(2018)
|
Trace Thurman
|
A devilishly fun time from Paul Feig, thanks in large part to Blake Lively's sinister performance.
Posted Sep 18, 2023
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3/5
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The Nun II
(2023)
|
Trace Thurman
|
A step up (however slight) from the first film, The Nun II is still a mess, but it's an entertaining mess.
Posted Sep 18, 2023
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3.5/5
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The Latent Image
(2022)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
The feature adaptation of Birrell's short is stylish (we love a split diopter shot!) and sexy (the murder role play scenario), though the screenplay is occasionally too reliant on dream sequences/hallucinations.
Posted Sep 18, 2023
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4/5
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A Simple Favor
(2018)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
Paul Feig's super stylish and fun suburban noir features Anna Kendrick in a solid, albeit very familiar Kendrick role. It's Lively, however, who steals the show with hera sexy, confident, multi-faceted performance
Posted Sep 13, 2023
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1/5
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The Nun II
(2023)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
A narratively bland sequel that grants star Taissa Farmiga a bit more agency (while wasting Storm Reid), The Nun II proves that while there's plenty of box office in The Conjuring Universe, the storytelling techniques are phoning it in.
Posted Sep 12, 2023
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4/5
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Dressed to Kill
(1980)
|
Trace Thurman
|
De Palma at the top of his game, with some masterfully edited and scored sequences that still hold up by modern standards.
Posted Sep 11, 2023
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4/5
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Dressed to Kill
(1980)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
Exquisitely directed by DePalma and bearing the key signifiers of a prototypical Erotic Thriller, Dressed to Kill does contribute to the problematic depiction of trans women as killers, though it's not as influential as Psycho or The Silence of The Lambs
Posted Sep 06, 2023
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3/5
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The Voyeurs
(2021)
|
Trace Thurman
|
Lags a bit in the second act, but there's enough twists and turns as the film heads towards its climax that mostly make up for it.
Posted Sep 05, 2023
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3.5/5
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Stoker
(2013)
|
Trace Thurman
|
A case of style over substance, but the style we have is exceptional.
Posted Sep 05, 2023
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3.5/5
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The Voyeurs
(2021)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
This messy, campy slice of Erotic Thriller is a blast. Sure, it's too long and the twists are utterly ridiculous, but that's more than half of the fun. But seriously: where is the male nudity?!
Posted Sep 05, 2023
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4/5
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Stoker
(2013)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
Stunningly gorgeous and more than a little subversive, the technical prowess of Chan-wook's craft elevates Wentworth Miller's Baby Dexter premise into glossy, decadent art. If only there were more Kidman!
Posted Aug 30, 2023
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3/5
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Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers
(1988)
|
Trace Thurman
|
A very in-on-the-joke low budget horror comedy with a delightful turn from Pamela Springsteen.
Posted Aug 29, 2023
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2.5/5
|
The Last Voyage of the Demeter
(2023)
|
Trace Thurman
|
I'm not quite sure how you make a vampire slasher on a boat boring and yet here we are.
Posted Aug 29, 2023
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3.5/5
|
Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers
(1988)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
While the film needs more short shorts, the switch to outright comedy/horror suits the material. Pamela Springsteen's performance is pitch perfect, though the film does have too many characters and lacks the practical FX of the first film.
Posted Aug 23, 2023
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2.5/5
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The Last Voyage of the Demeter
(2023)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
André Øvredal should be a great choice to bring tension and scares, but he's on autopilot and his great cast has nothing to do. Cobweb's Woody Norman fares best, in part because his character has the best sequence.
Posted Aug 22, 2023
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4.5/5
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Shiva Baby
(2020)
|
Trace Thurman
|
One of the most anxiety-inducing non-horror films you're ever going to see. It's brilliant.
Posted Aug 21, 2023
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3/5
|
Meg 2: The Trench
(2023)
|
Trace Thurman
|
May not be everything I wanted The Meg to be, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.
Posted Aug 21, 2023
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4/5
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The Others
(2001)
|
Trace Thurman
|
Amenábar has crafted a moody ghost story that, once you know the twist, morphs into a somber character study.
Posted Aug 21, 2023
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4/5
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Shiva Baby
(2020)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
A hilarious, anxiety-fuelled consideration of how family and friends can be simultaneously suffocating and supportive. A cultural comedy that is imminently relatable to everyone, even if you don't understand all of the Jewish customs.
Posted Aug 16, 2023
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Meg 2: The Trench
(2023)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
While the sequel partially embraces its absurdness, there are still far too many annoying human characters and poorly developed plot points. While the action-filled climax is a delight, too much of the first two acts doesn't work.
Posted Aug 15, 2023
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4.5/5
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The Others
(2001)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
A criticism of Franco's fascist regime masquerading as a classic British ghost story. Anchored by two powerhouse female performances, plus gorgeous production design, creepy set pieces, and a nuanced consideration of hypocrisy, religion and the afterlife
Posted Aug 11, 2023
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3/5
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Talk to Me
(2023)
|
Trace Thurman
|
A legitimately thrilling first act sets the stage for a movie we will never get, making for a resolution that nails all the technical aspects, albeit with a frustratingly predictable narrative.
Posted Aug 08, 2023
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3/5
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Eyes of Laura Mars
(1978)
|
Trace Thurman
|
An intriguing premise and some solid work from Dunaway earn Eyes of Laura Mars a recommendation, but one can't help but feel like the film is pulling its punches, building to a rather unsatisfying climax.
Posted Aug 08, 2023
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3.5/5
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Talk to Me
(2023)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
The direction, acting, editing and especially sound design are all flawless. Alas the narrative - which feels fresh in the front half - becomes too pedestrian and familiar in the back half with its focus on Mia's grief.
Posted Aug 08, 2023
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4/5
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All About Evil
(2010)
|
Trace Thurman
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Joshua Grannell's campy ode to gore films is a wildly entertaining ride.
Posted Aug 01, 2023
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3.5/5
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Cobweb
(2023)
|
Trace Thurman
|
A delectable little slice of gateway horror.
Posted Aug 01, 2023
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|
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All About Evil
(2010)
|
Joe Lipsett
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This camp classic features a plethora of queer performers and acts as a love letter to movie theatres, B movies and the entrepreneurial spirit. It's a delight
Posted Jul 26, 2023
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3/5
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Cobweb
(2023)
|
Joe Lipsett
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Anchored by an ethereal performance by Lizzy Caplan and featuring out of time production design, Cobweb is perplexing: too short to fully satisfy, but subversive in delivering genre expectations. A bonkers third act just needs a bit more gore to satisfy
Posted Jul 25, 2023
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5/5
|
Psycho
(1960)
|
Trace Thurman
|
What else can be said about Hitch's masterpiece? It's a masterpiece!
Posted Jul 24, 2023
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3/5
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Bird Box Barcelona
(2023)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
While it falls back on many of the same narrative tropes from the first film, the change in locale and the exploration of the Seer mythology does enough to justify this new film's existence.
Posted Jul 19, 2023
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4.5/5
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Psycho
(1960)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
Certainly Psycho has a problematic queer legacy, but Hitchcock's classic is technically masterful, features iconic sequences and boasts two stellar lead performances in Perkins and Leigh.
Posted Jul 19, 2023
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3/5
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Bird Box Barcelona
(2023)
|
Trace Thurman
|
Does just enough differently to justify its existence but not enough differently to prevent it from feeling like a rehash of the original.
Posted Jul 18, 2023
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3.5/5
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Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
(2021)
|
Trace Thurman
|
More confident (and fun!) than the first film, but go with the Extended Cut over the Theatrical Cut, as it offers a more satisfying viewing experience.
Posted Jul 18, 2023
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3/5
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Insidious: The Red Door
(2023)
|
Trace Thurman
|
Patrick Wilson' solid directorial debut offers a touching conclusion to the Lambert family saga, but he's let down by a scattershot script.
Posted Jul 18, 2023
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3/5
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Bird Box
(2018)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
There's a lot to like about Bier's direction, though some of screenwriter Heisserer's adaptation choices don't always work. Thankfully Bullock and the mass death sequence are great, even if the film essentially has to do a soft reboot afterwards.
Posted Jul 14, 2023
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2.5/5
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Insidious: The Red Door
(2023)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
Wilson's direction is solid, but Teems' script is lacklustre and feels inconsequential. If this is the end of the Lamberts' story, there were ample opportunities to incorporate Lorraine and Renai more or achieve a better balance between Josh and Dalton.
Posted Jul 11, 2023
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3/5
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Insidious: Chapter 2
(2013)
|
Trace Thurman
|
Feels more like an extended fourth act to the first film that its own beast, but Insidious: Chapter 2 still manages to generate some genuine scares.
Posted Jul 10, 2023
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3.5/5
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The Hitcher
(1986)
|
Trace Thurman
|
An exhausting (in a good way) ride of a film.
Posted Jul 07, 2023
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3.5/5
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The Hitcher
(1986)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
As much action film as horror film, this sexy, sweaty homoerotic thriller features a great, unnerving performance by Hauer and an extremely twinky Howell. A classic gay panic film of the 80s!
Posted Jul 05, 2023
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2/5
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Insidious: Chapter 2
(2013)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
A direct sequel to the first Insidious, albeit with far less impact and few new innovations. Whanell's perplexing choice of villain backstory is galling in 2013 and has aged even worse. Is this the worst Insidious film in the franchise?
Posted Jul 05, 2023
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2.5/5
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Bad Girl Boogey
(2022)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
We need more time with these characters (and maybe a longer runtime overall), as well as a stronger killer reveal, but the film's musicality, its DIY aesthetic, and the fact that Mackay has made an unapologetically queer film is worth celebrating.
Posted Jul 04, 2023
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3.5/5
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The Blackening
(2022)
|
Trace Thurman
|
Works best when it's commenting on Blackness instead of horror tropes, but if seen with the right crowd: The Blackening is a hilariously good time at the movies.
Posted Jun 26, 2023
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2.5/5
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Bad Hair
(2020)
|
Trace Thurman
|
Simien's intentions are noble, but he tries to cram too much into Bad Hair, making for an ultimately confounding end result.
Posted Jun 26, 2023
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2.5/5
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Jagged Mind
(2023)
|
Trace Thurman
|
There's not enough material here to justify its admittedly brief 80-minute runtime, but Richardson-Sellers and Woodward make the journey worth it.
Posted Jun 19, 2023
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3/5
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Jagged Mind
(2023)
|
Joe Lipsett
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While the plot is (obviously) repetitive and the logistics of the magic doesn’t entirely make sense, the performances by Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward sell the film and the nonchalant queer representation is refreshing and welcome.
Posted Jun 16, 2023
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4/5
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Jaws 2
(1978)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
An aquatic slasher film that takes the time to explore Sheriff Brody's PTSD from the first film, Jaws 2 had no need being this good. While most of the teens are indistinguishable, Marge's death is horrifying and their fear is real and palpable.
Posted Jun 16, 2023
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5/5
|
Hereditary
(2018)
|
Joe Lipsett
|
Toni Collette gives an all-time performance in this family melodrama that endlessly rewards repeat viewings. Aster has delivered one of the best contemporary horror films with only his first feature.
Posted Jun 14, 2023
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