Category Archives: Film Reviews

Originally published April 30, 2021 for Moviejawn.com The novelty of pandemic cinema has more than likely worn off for many of us who have been keeping up with it. While some pieces are used the opportunity to create some interesting stories others have simply reminded us of the situation that we are currently in, aContinueContinue reading “IN THE EARTH explores pandemic trauma via folk horror”

Originally published April 16, 2021 for Moviejawn.com Why do you always think in terms of what other people want? This particular quote from Jakob’s Wife hit me like a ton of bricks. As a woman, it has been a lifelong struggle to speak my truth and say what I want for myself. I assume manyContinueContinue reading “JAKOB’S WIFE frames vampiric transformation as liberation”

Originally Published March 26, 2021 for Moviejawn.com Content Warning: Violence against women, violence against animals First off, it is worth mentioning that Nina Wu is a hard film to watch. It was only made harder due to the shootings that happened in Atlanta on March 16th 2021. For that reason, it also felt like anContinueContinue reading “NINA WU paints a complex portrait”

Originally Published March 14, 2021 for Moviejawn.com If you are interested in a film that highlights Indigenous stories and actors while exploring folklore and Brazilian tribal culture be on the lookout for The Fever. A Febre (The Fever) is about a man named Justino (Regis Myrupu) from the Desana tribe of Brazil. Like many IndigenousContinueContinue reading “THE FEVER captivates as it explores Indigenous stories”

Originally published March 4, 2021 for Moviejawn.com The film opens with Laura (Andi Matichak) running away from a cult that she grew up in, in order to save the child she is pregnant with. It jumps to several years later where she works as a teacher and is raising her son, David (Luke David Blumm),ContinueContinue reading “SON doesn’t manage to move beyond familiar territory”

Originally posted March 10, 2021 for Moviejawn.com Content Warning: Rape, Trauma, Difficult discussions around assault Test Pattern is a film that is beautiful, heartbreaking, and incredibly triggering. It is also incredibly important. Few films that deal with rape have been directed and written by women, let alone black women. Writer and director Shatara Michelle FordContinueContinue reading “TEST PATTERN shines a light on the impact of sexual assault”

Originally published February 10, 2021 for Moviejawn.com One of the stand-out features of this year’s Final Girls Berlin Film Fest is the Italian film Darkness–or in its native language Buio–from director Emanuela Rossi who co-wrote the film with Claudio Corbucci. As far as atmospheric feminist tales go, this is one of the best coming outContinueContinue reading “Final Girls Berlin 2021: DARKNESS creates a rich but insular world”

Originally published February 9, 2021 for Moviejawn.com One aspect of the Final Girls Berlin Film Festival that is so amazing is the diverse amount of films available from all around the world. Having access to these international films, especially those of the horror genre is such an interesting way to learn about cultural struggles, history,ContinueContinue reading “Final Girls Berlin 2021: LOS QUE VUELVEN is a potent mix of supernatural and colonial horrors”

Originally published February 3, 2021 for Moviejawn.com ‘Knowing that I would be reviewing this film I decided to start reading the 1818 version of Frankenstein as I have read and seen adaptations of the story but never read it myself. That version has a beautifully written introduction by Charlotte Gordon, giving a brief summary ofContinueContinue reading “A NIGHTMARE WAKES loses the heart of its own story”

Originally published January 11, 2021 for Moviejawn.com Most people can relate to the moment that a relationship hits its expiration mark. However, that can be more complicated when the person you are with turned you into a vampire in the hopes of spending eternity together. This story is at the heart of Blood from StoneContinueContinue reading “Blood From Stone”