In the Earth
In the Earth is the first truly effective COVID-era horror/thriller. Mostly because it doesn’t call attention to the virus, and rather uses its inflections throughout this terrific biological (and supernatural) chiller.
Elevation Pictures
The Father
The Father is a really interesting Oscar contender, and not just within this year’s nominees – it would be a stand-out during any year.
Minari
In Minari, a Korean family travels from California to build a new homestead in Arkansas; in hopes that they’ll be able to create a farm and make a decent living selling their culture’s food to local markets. This premise, however, is merely a clothesline for writer/director Lee Isaac Chung to hang up different moments in this family’s life that will, eventually, piece together their memories and future.
The Mauritanian
By: Jolie Featherstone Based on Mohamedou Ould Slahi’s best-selling memoir “Guantánamo Diary,” The Mauritanian details the harrowing true story of Slahi’s fight for freedom after being imprisoned without charge – or any solid evidence – by the US government in the wake of September 11.
Saint Maud
Rose Glass’ long-awaited feature-length debut Saint Maud has been billed as a horror, but it’s more of a melancholic character piece that analyzes the psychological turmoil a devout follower could experience….that works way too hard to be textbook horror.
Stardust
Stardust has a really good idea for a movie: the rise of an insecure musician who strives for fame but, at the same time, is scared of how his lack of identity will ruin him. If the movie was about an ambiguous celebrity, director Gabriel Range (Death of a President) could’ve had a lot of room to explore the anxieties of fame. Unfortunately, he’s desperate to crowbar these dilemmas into an unqualified and unauthorized biopic…
Songbird
For a movie to be inspired by or use a real-life tragedy as a primary factor in its story, the filmmakers have to justify their utilization well. Not only does Songbird fail to do this, a film using an ever-evolving case of COVID-19 as its crux, but Adam Mason’s movie proves that there shouldn’t be a film centring around this pandemic (or something like it) for a very, very long time. Educational tools (Totally Under…
Totally Under Control
This month, let alone this year, seems to be really early to release a documentary about the current COVID-19 global pandemic. This film, Totally Under Control, concludes by stating that one day after wrapping President Donald Trump tested positive for the virus, which is an indication as to how wet the paint still is on this project. The release could be because, as we close in on this year’s presidential election, the documentary wants to serve…
Possessor Uncut
Possessor Uncut is a surprisingly undercooked psychological horror from Brandon Cronenberg. It’s filled with provocative qualities, but they’ve been assembled in a way that doesn’t come together and, instead, work as standalone strengths.
The Broken Hearts Gallery
In a romantic movie, a relationship’s break-up is simply used as a story device – a stepping stone towards the rising action. But, writer/director Natalie Krinsky uses this turning point as the main focus in her rom-com The Broken Hearts Gallery, a conventional film with a few good laughs and character-driven surprises along the way.