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Halloween Kills
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Halloween Kills some time & the viewer’s patience

David Gordon Green’s follow-up to the 2018 reboot offers an astonishing body count, but little else worthwhile.

justbeyond
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Just Beyond does just enough to become a diverting Halloween treat

Though often too generic for its own good, Just Beyond is a solid TV show rooted in the world of R.L. Stine. 

Diana
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Diana: the Musical takes a big ol’ dump on a tragic icon

At last, a Broadway show that dares to ask “What if the People’s Princess was a hopeless twit?”

Harry Gregson-Williams, The Last Duel
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Harry Gregson-Williams on the shifting musical perspectives of The Last Duel

The composer talks about his longtime collaboration with Ridley Scott and the anachronistic challenges of his score for the medieval drama.

The Velvet Underground
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The Velvet Underground gets the trippy, immersive treatment it deserves

Todd Haynes directs a dazzling documentary about the seminal 60s art-rock band.

Iké Boys (Fantastic Fest)
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Iké Boys mixes its sentai charms with a heaping helping of sincerity

Eric McEver’s scrappy ode to tokusatsu and kaiju pictures wears its heart on its magically-armored sleeve. I’m a proud member of the Power Rangers Generation,..

MOVIES

Halloween KillsH
Main Category
Gena Radcliffe

Halloween Kills some time & the viewer’s patience

David Gordon Green’s follow-up to the 2018 reboot offers an astonishing body count, but little else worthwhile.
DianaD
Main Category
Gena Radcliffe

Diana: the Musical takes a big ol’ dump on a tragic icon

At last, a Broadway show that dares to ask “What if the People’s Princess was a hopeless twit?”
The Velvet UndergroundT
Main Category
Gena Radcliffe

The Velvet Underground gets the trippy, immersive treatment it deserves

Todd Haynes directs a dazzling documentary about the seminal 60s art-rock band.
Iké Boys (Fantastic Fest)I
Main Category
Clint Worthington

Iké Boys mixes its sentai charms with a heaping helping of sincerity

Eric McEver’s scrappy ode to tokusatsu and kaiju pictures wears its heart on its magically-armored sleeve. I’m a proud member of the Power Rangers Generation,..
Dune (Warner Bros. Pictures)D
Main Category
Beau North

Dune may not hold your hand, but it might blow your mind

Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of (the first half of) Frank Herbert's novel is as ambitious in scope as it is difficult to unpack.
Ahed's KneeN
Main Category
Jonah Koslofsky

NYFF: Ahed’s Knee has style and righteous anger to spare

Ahed's Knee, director Nadav Lapid's latest film, cannot match his best work, but it's far from a failure. It has style and anger to spare.

RIGHT ON CUE

Harry Gregson-Williams, The Last DuelH
Main Category
October 15, 2021

Harry Gregson-Williams on the shifting musical perspectives of The Last Duel

The composer talks about his longtime collaboration with Ridley Scott and the anachronistic challenges of his score for the medieval drama.
LISTEN

FEATURES

Scream, Pretty PeggyK
October 10, 2021
B.L. Panther

KinoKultur: recycled thrillers—Scream, Pretty Peggy and The Screaming Woman

Two thrillers—Scream, Pretty Peggy and The Screaming Woman are striking examples of star/premise recycling in Made-for-TV films.
CIFF 2021 Most AnticipatedO
October 10, 2021
The Spool Staff

Our 10 most anticipated films from the 2021 Chicago International Film Festival

We break down the movies we're looking forward to seeing most out of this year's hybrid festival in Chicago.
Criterion Mona Lisa Throw Down Love & BasketballC
October 8, 2021
Clint Worthington

Criterion Corner: Mona Lisa, Love & Basketball, Throw Down

Neil Jordan's Mona Lisa, Johnnie To's judo drama, and Gina Prince-Bythewood's ode to Black love pepper Criterion's September releases.
Midnight MassA
September 30, 2021
Gena Radcliffe

And to dust we shall return: Midnight Mass, God, death & me

Mike Flanagan’s Netflix miniseries may scare some & bore others, but for a few it offers unexpected peace and comfort.
The American Astronaut (2001)B
September 24, 2021
Sarah Gorr

Boosting the signal of 2001’s cult space Western musical The American Astronaut

Twenty years on, Cory McAbee's singular cult film is nearly as impossible to find as it is to look away from.

TV

justbeyondJ
Main Category
Douglas Laman

Just Beyond does just enough to become a diverting Halloween treat

Though often too generic for its own good, Just Beyond is a solid TV show rooted in the world of R.L. Stine. 
Dopesick Featured Kaitlyn DeverD
Main Category
Tim Stevens

Dopesick is a painful, important deep dive into the opioid crisis

Hulu's limited series comes close to greatness with an excellent ensemble, but pacing, some odd performances, undermine the effort.
I Know What You Did Last Summer FeaturedI
Main Category
Marshall Estes

I Know What You Did Last Summer is–fittingly, frustratingly–haunted by its past

Amazon's new I Know What You Did Last Summer adaptation blazes its own trail but risks losing viewers in the bargain.
You Season3Y
Main Category
Megan Sunday

You moves its sinister lead to the suburbs in season 3

The Netflix dark comedy is as watchable as ever, while still struggling with what it wants the audience to think about its protagonist.
The Great British Baking ShowT
Main Category
Ashley Lara

The Great British Baking Show rises to bread’s challenges in episode 3

The Great British Baking Show's third episode has nary a Breadman to be seen. But it DOES have a Bread Baby.
Ted Lasso Season 2 Finale Featured ImageT
Main Category
Tim Stevens

Ted Lasso “Inverting the Pyramid of Success” Recap: Season 2 Finale (mostly) nails it

Ted Lasso's Season 2 Finale choices for Roy and Keeley still baffle, but everything else comes together in this strong closer.

FILMMAKER OF THE MONTH

&
April 30, 2021
Cian Tsang

“Twixt” runs red with the blood of Coppola’s messy ambitions

Francis Ford Coppola's final film to date may not be his best (or even good), but it encapsulates his yearning for creative freedom.
TetroT
April 29, 2021
Michael Guarnieri

The underrated “Tetro” reflects Coppola’s empathetic side

Though pretentious at times, the 2009 drama comes from a fresh new perspective of the filmmaker.
Youth Without YouthI
April 28, 2021
B.L. Panther

In “Youth Without Youth”, Coppola delves into mystic linguistics

Time has largely been kind to the great director's fascinating and flawed modern fable.
The RainmakerI
April 28, 2021
Beau North

In “The Rainmaker”, Coppola directs young Damon masterfully

Coppola brings noir style and gorgeously grody design to his John Grisham adaptation.
The Outsiders&
April 26, 2021
Priyanka Bose

“The Outsiders” is a loving portrayal of young male vulnerability

One of Coppola's most beloved films is a gentle look at teenage boys struggling in a world that has it out for them.
JackT
April 26, 2021
David Rollison

The meant-to-be heartwarming “Jack” is a grotesque misfire

Perhaps the lowest point in Coppola's filmography doesn't get any better upon rewatch decades later.