Review: Emily Branham’s ‘Being BeBe’
“‘Being BeBe’ is full of heart, soul and wit — much like the subject herself — and provides a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain for fans and curious newcomers alike; a joy-filled, life-affirming must-watch.”
Joey Keogh
Review: Adrian Shergold’s ‘Cordelia’
“‘Cordelia’ is generally easier to appreciate for what it’s trying to do rather than what the film actually achieves.”
Review: Maxwell McCabe-Lokos’ ‘Stanleyville’
“An ambitious failure is often more interesting than a safe success, and what ‘Stanleyville’ lacks in narrative propulsion it makes up for with sheer audacity.”
He’s Not Even from ‘Round Here: ‘Hot Fuzz’ at 15
“‘Hot Fuzz’ has remained a key part of the zeitgeist thanks to its specificity, but also because the movie celebrates doing the right thing, working together and being a good person above all else.”
Review: Mattie Do’s ‘The Long Walk’
“‘The Long Walk,’ the latest from Mattie Do — Laos’ first and, so far, only female director — understands that for time travel to make sense, all one has to do is present it as is. For Do, it’s a feeling more than a fact.”
Review: Richard Bates Jr.’s ‘King Knight’
“‘King Knight’ isn’t terribly substantial overall, with much of the central premise built on being weird for weird’s sake.”
Review: Edoardo Vitaletti’s ‘The Last Thing Mary Saw’
“Considering that religious fundamentalists continue to persecute gay people, it’s shortsighted to present a story like ‘The Last Thing Mary Saw’ with such little concern for the current real-life ramifications of being queer.”
Review: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Scream’
“‘Scream’ conjures up a fast-moving, razor-sharp, viciously violent and sufficiently surprising modern slasher of which Craven himself would be proud.”
Hey, Don’t Write Yourself Off Yet: ‘Orange County’ At 20
“‘Orange County’ is inarguably a product of its time, but the movie is also timeless in its exploration of how writing requires us to look inward as well as outward — and be just as merciless in the process.”
Interview with ‘Clerk’ Director Malcolm Ingram
Vague Visages’ Joey Keogh and filmmaker Malcolm Ingram discuss the 2021 Kevin Smith documentary ‘Clerk.’
Review: Malcolm Ingram’s ‘Clerk’
“The biggest takeaway from ‘Clerk,’ aside from the fact that the terrific Joey Lauren Adams should’ve had a bigger career, is that nobody is more surprised by Smith’s success than the man himself.”
Embracing the New Normal: ‘The Addams Family’ Is Timeless at 30
“‘The Addams Family’ is a beacon of hope for weird kids everywhere, since Wednesday and Pugsley are never forced to change who they are to fit in, nor do they care what anyone thinks.”
Review: Casey Tebo’s ‘Black Friday’
“Tebo’s low-stakes take on holiday horror is a lot like Christmas candy; ‘Black Friday’ hits the spot, but you might be left craving something slightly more substantial soon afterwards.”
A Star Is Torn: ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ at 10
“‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ opines that it’s sometimes better to give up trying to fix somebody, rather than forcing them into a breakdown, particularly in instances when the source of their trauma isn’t completely clear.”
Review: David Gordon Green’s ‘Halloween Kills’
“‘Halloween Kills’ may not be to everybody’s tastes, but there’s a reason for that ‘kills’ in the title, beyond attention-grabbing marketing. The word refers not just to Michael himself but the rot at the core of Haddonfield…”
Fear God: Kevin Smith’s ‘Red State’ Hits Even Harder at 10
“‘Red State’ boasts a starry cast, but Smith’s story is ruthlessly contained, captured with a grainy texture, and presented like a true no-budget indie horror, with bursts of shocking violence punctuating the tense atmosphere.”
Review: Scott B. Hansen and Desiree Connell’s ‘Bad Candy’
“At 100 minutes, ‘Bad Candy’ should be the ideal length for an anthology, but it feels equally overlong and rushed. The tone is also disconcertingly serious for such lowbrow material.”
The Two Most Dangerous Men in America: ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’ at 20
“‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’ is joyful and silly, colorful and wacky, with a surprisingly sweet core — broken down to its basest form, this is a film about friendship and, at a push, the importance of owning your IP.”
Review: Billie Piper’s ‘Rare Beasts’
“Between ‘Rare Beasts’ and Alice Lowe’s brilliant ‘Prevenge,’ there might be a burgeoning market for pregnancy-themed horror movies.”
Interview with ‘Lucky’ Director Natasha Kermani
Joey Keogh Interviews ‘Lucky’ Director Natasha Kermani