Hell Hath No Fury: How Women Dominated Horror in 2018
“The future of horror isn’t female, it’s the present. And it’s about bloody time.”
Netflix’s ‘Close’ Succeeds in Crafting Authentic Female Characters
“The vibrant and explosive opening credits sequence sets the tone for an action-packed story that truly feels real and allows women to feel empowered.”
Choose Your Own Bleak Adventure in ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’
“To use a gaming term, it’s got replay value, but it might leave those looking for a cohesive, more-traditional narrative choosing a different path.”
Why ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ Is More Than the Sum of Its Parts
“In a way, the Coens complete the arc of the film, tying it together cohesively, by suggesting that the arc is random, sometimes cruel, and sometimes meaningless.”
Interview with ‘Cam’ Filmmakers Isa Mazzei and Daniel Goldhaber
Zach Vasquez Interviews ‘Cam’ Filmmakers Isa Mazzei and Daniel Goldhaber
Interview With Director Don Coscarelli, Author of ‘True Indie: Life and Death in Filmmaking’
Zach Vasquez Interviews Filmmaker Don Coscarelli
VV Shudder Selects: ‘Heathers’ Is Timelier Than Ever Before
“Times have changed — Time’s Up, in fact — so why try to redo, or outdo, something that still resonates a whopping 30 years after its release, something that still feels timely and relevant? Jughead can keep the coat. ‘Heathers’ lives on.”
You Gotta Act: The Extreme Sincerity of Meredith Hagner
“Here’s to hoping that Meredith Hagner will continue to make us laugh while taking her ludicrous characters seriously for many more years, just like Marilyn Monroe did before her.”
Netflix’s ‘The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter’ Plays It Safe for Maximum Viewership
“‘The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter’ lacks ‘true grit.’ It’s designed to feel relatable, yet Brolin’s impassioned performance can only do so much to override the stock dialogue and the narrative’s lack of originality.”
You Gotta Act: It’s Paul Rudd’s Time
“The sentiment that Hollywood doesn’t respect comedy persists, but Rudd is living proof that laughter is the secret to eternal youth.”
Review: Claire Scanlon’s ‘Set It Up’
“As a showcase for two actors who more than deserve their moment to shine, ‘Set It Up’ is hugely satisfying. As a modern romantic comedy, it’s glorious.”
Vague Visages Writers’ Room: Weekend Vibes 5.11.18
Weekend Vibes is a Friday column about streaming recommendations, new release hype and entertainment events.
Review: Robert Smigel’s ‘The Week Of’
“Like an aging fighter that steps into the ring on short notice, Robert Smigel’s ‘The Week Of’ is overweight, unfocused and hungry for a paycheck.”
Review: Paco Plaza’s ‘Verónica’
“The shrieking masses are right on the money for once. Plaza’s tale of teen possession is powerfully scary.”
Vague Visages Writers’ Room: Weekend Vibes 2.23.18
Weekend Vibes is a Friday column about streaming recommendations, new release hype and entertainment events.
In Conversation: Cillian Murphy from ‘Kitten’ Braden to Tommy Shelby
Leslie Hatton and Ciara Wardlow Discuss Cillian Murphy’s Career
Vague Visages Is FilmStruck: Marshall Shaffer on Paul Robeson
“As both a man and an artist, Paul Robeson deserves more recognition in 2018 and beyond.”
Critics in Conversation: Talking about Filmmakers and Talking with Them
Manuela Lazic and Adam Nayman on Conducting Interviews and Writing about Directors
CIFF After Dark Review: Patrick Brice’s ‘Creep 2’
“Horror fans may need to adjust their expectations if they’re looking for more frights than laughs.”
London Film Festival Review: Dee Rees’ ‘Mudbound’
“‘Mudbound’ plays the game and begins with a white man, but, throughout the course of an epic tale, it arrives at a moving destination.”