Movies

Upon first hearing about Barbarian, directed by Zach Cregger and featuring a cast of rising talent including Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and the ever-charismatic Justin Long, my expectations were tinged with both skepticism and curiosity. Advertised as a horror thriller that cleverly plays with audience perceptions, I delved into it with the hope that it would be a fresh take on a genre I hold dear. As its premise unfolds—the story of a woman whose Airbnb is double-booked by a stranger—I wondered how deep its themes would cut and whether it could provide more than just frights in narrow corridors.

Founders Day, a slasher film directed by Erik Bloomquist, attempts to redefine the holiday-themed horror genre with a concept rooted in a nebulous celebration that varies across diverse locales. Positioning itself as a dark, festive parody within the slasher subgenre, the film centers around a masked assailant targeting participants of a town’s anniversary political campaign. Despite its intriguing premise—combining elements of political intrigue, holiday revelry, and horror—Founders Day ultimately presents as a mediocre effort that falters amid predictable storytelling and inconsistent production quality.

Directed by Osgood Perkins and based on Stephen King's absurdly hilarious short story, The Monkey could initially seem like a total trainwreck—until you realize the carriages are filled with comedy gold and a heaping dose of gore. This black comedy horror film stars Theo James as the hapless twins Hal and Bill, and boasts a supporting cast that includes Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery, and even a cameo by Adam Scott that lasts just long enough for a chuckle. Buckle up as we dive into the delightfully deranged world of laughter and lunacy.

Popeye's Revenge, the cinematic event of 2025 that nobody asked for but apparently someone thought we needed. This British slasher horror debut, directed by William Stead and written by Harry Boxley—who, let’s be honest, seemed to have one foot in the cereal aisle while brainstorming—takes the beloved spinach-loving sailor and drags him into a realm far more grotesque than the one fans of E.C. Segar could ever imagine. What promises to be a dark transformation of the iconic character ends up traversing dangerous waters, rarely surfacing from the murky depths of absurdity.

Prepare yourself for a cinematic experience that challenges the boundaries of traditional storytelling... by completely smashing them to pieces. "Troll 2," available wherever VHS tapes and ironic cult classics are cherished, is a film that sets itself fiercely apart—not through adept filmmaking but by diving headfirst into the abyss of hilariously misguided intentions.

In the realm of cinematic horror, few tales have managed to captivate audiences as profoundly as that of the vampire. Among these, "Nosferatu" stands out as a masterpiece that has been reimagined for modern times, retaining the essence of the original yet infused with fresh perspectives and interpretations.

In the realm of psychological horror and apocalyptic dread, M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin, finds itself at a crossroads, unfortunately veering towards the forgettable rather than the frightful.

As I embarked on the eerie journey through Nosferatu, directed by F.W. Murnau and featuring the haunting performance of Max Schreck as Count Orlok, my expectations were steeped in a rich blend of history and horror. This silent film, released in the midst of the 1920s cinematic revolution, has gained a legendary status over the decades, often regarded as one of the earliest examples of expressionist horror.

Night of Horror (1981)—the cinematic equivalent of finding out your favorite ice cream has been replaced with broccoli-flavored sorbet. After I ranted on Discord about how Armor was the worst film of 2024, a mod challenged me to watch this so-bad-it's-comical flick, insisting it would make Armor look like an Oscar contender.

As I settled in to watch "Heretic," I was filled with anticipation, not just for the film’s engaging premise, but also to witness Hugh Grant’s intriguing transformation from a beloved romantic lead to a masterful villain. It’s akin to watching your charming neighbor become the most sinister character in a psychological horror story.