The Unearned Absurdity of James Wan’s Malignant
Malignant suffers through genre tropes to get to its meaty creativity. The question isn’t whether it has any but whether it’s worth the wait.
Horror
Visions of a Vision in Knock at the Cabin
M. Night Shyamalan continues his winning streak with a well-acted high-concept thriller about the end-times. It’s more smoke than fire though.
Illusions of Relevance in The Invisible Man (2020)
Whannell drenches the action of his remake in expository relevance to cover for a lack of basic thriller rationale in the screenplay.
Dramatic Gaps and Tech Obsessions in The Shining
The unassailable influence of Stanley Kubrick’s horror staple hides its dramatic shortcomings behind an illusion of prestige.
The Crisis of Believability in A Quiet Place Part II
A Quiet Place Part II tries to squeeze more sequence out of a great concept. It succeeds despite straining for believability amid conflicting rules.
The Munsters is a Candy Corn Car Crash
Rob Zombie makes a twisted costume contest nightmare out of an idea of The Munsters that never overcomes its lack of inspiration or its cast’s shortcomings.
The Horror Dysfunction of Halloween III: Season of the Witch
The infamously misunderstood Halloween III is still little more than an unrefined pseudo-thriller on its own merits, unworthy of seasonal contention.
Why Halloween Ends is Exactly What the Series Needed
Halloween Ends has the power to finish its cluttered horror series meaningfully, even if this isn’t what some of the series’ fans were hoping for.
Werewolf by Night – The Middling Macabre
Werewolf by Night struggles for clarity within the constraints of an homage, sequel, origin story, and TV special in one. But it’s fun to watch it try.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) – Imposter Horror
Invasion of the Body Snatchers remakes a great B-movie with intellectual terror. It knows that irony makes it even scarier. This is pure horror joy.
Prometheus: Creator’s Angst
The much-maligned Prometheus hides an epic sci-fi fable despite failing to satisfy its own ambitions. Fassbender is genre-defining.
Let Me In: Warm Leftovers
Let Me In is an arousing remake that makes a cautionary tale more streamlined, romantic, and cathartic, three things it probably never intended to be.
Exorcist II: The Heretic – Horror as Anti-Horror
Despite its meandering awkwardness, one of the most hated horror films of all time features a compelling creative vision and the visuals of an epic.
Why Army of the Dead Should Not Be the Oscars Fan Favorite
Army of the Dead’s ruthless devotion to plagiarization is its most passionate aspect. Less effort was never spent on a film so casually praised.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022): Glossy Legacy
The new Texas Chainsaw Massacre film is exactly what you would expect from rebooting this dirty series into the glossed-up legacy sequel model.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) – Schlock and Awe
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake is far more willing to recreate its original than to understand it. The result is vile. And not in a good way.
Saint Maud: Timid Prophet
Saint Maud is a confident debut from a promising filmmaker, but its self-imposed genre tropes become limitations that hold it back from greatness.
The White Reindeer: A Myth of Innocence
The White Reindeer is equal parts history, horror, and fairytale – a myth of innocence, in a landscape of snow and terror.
Midsommar: The Director’s Cut – Empowerment Horror
Ari Aster’s Midsommar shows the dark side of empowerment, which is its main success. That so many consider it a self-help film is its main curiosity.
Alien: The Love of Sex Monsters
The horror in Alien is as disquietingly personal as any sci-fi epic ever made. This is the genre’s ultimate masterclass in turning style into story.
Sleepy Hollow: High Homage
Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is an underappreciated throwback horror gem. Chilly, cheesy, and sometimes completely beautiful.
The Happening: Hitchcockian Plodder
The Happening was supposed to be Shyamalan’s take on Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The only thing that got snatched was more of his own appeal.
The Insignificance of Language in It (2017)
It is a movie with no individual voice and, appropriately enough, it treats language as an impediment to be renounced.