Category Archives: Film Reviews

Originally published December 31, 2020 for Moviejawn.com When we think about World War Two and the narratives that typically surround that time, we do not always think about the narratives and stories that soldiers would tell to explain away some of the real life horrors they were facing. When one thinks of “Gremlins”, the termContinueContinue reading “Shadow in The Cloud”

Originally published December 23, 2020 at Cinema76.com Content Warning: Discussions of rape and sexual assault. Depictions of  PTSD and trauma. In 2020 I have been grappling with my love/hate relationship with the subgenre of Rape Revenge and Rape Revenge-adjacent stories. Some storytellers use it as an unnecessary plot detail but others use it to turnContinueContinue reading “Promising Young Woman makes its point violently clear”

Originally published October 2, 2020 at Cinema76.com With the major push back of films these days I lost most hope in getting to see some of the bigger films on my watch list this year. So I was beyond delighted when one of my most anticipated releases, Possessor, became available. The film has been receivingContinueContinue reading “Possessor is a deeply layered look at late-stage capitalism”

Originally published August 6, 2020 at Cinema76.com La Llorona is a figure in Hispanic folklore, and translated it means “the weeping woman.” The tale is usually about the ghost of a woman whose children were murdered; either by her doing or someone else’s. Her soul is meant to go on searching for the souls ofContinueContinue reading “La Llorona merges a horrifying past with present day terrors”

Originally Published July 10, 2020 at Cinema76.com One of my favorite deities in neopagan/wiccan beliefs, is the Triple Goddess. The Triple Goddess is a goddess archetype that is supposed to represent the three stages of womanhood; the maiden, the mother, the crone. The maiden represents youth, new beginnings, and enthusiasm. The mother represents  fulfillment, stability,ContinueContinue reading “Relic blends family drama and ancestral horror”

Originally posted June 19, 2020 at Cinema76.com As a former teenager I know I did not do my parents many favors. But they laid down the law and did what they could to make sure I would turn out into a fairly decent human being. But how do you parent a teenager who will neverContinueContinue reading “Babyteeth creates complexity and beauty out of a familiar premise”

Originally Published June 5, 2020 at Cinema76.com In my 5th grade english class, unprompted, my teacher put on a short film adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery.” When it ended, I remember the unexplainable wave of emotion that ran over me, having never seen something so chilling in my young life. As anContinueContinue reading “Shirley is a masterful biopic that emulates its subject”

Originally Published April 1, 2020 at Cinema76.com As a horror fan, I feel like the past few years have been an exciting time. Most of the horror I have seen in the latter half of the 2010s were pretty amazing and have ended up as some of my favorite films. Within this my favorite subgenreContinueContinue reading “The Wretched is not the next great witch horror movie”

Originally published April 3, 2020 at Cinema76.com My professional/educational background is mostly history-based. Specifically focusing on the stories and voices that are too often overlooked. Within the film world, the history of horror is littered with exploitation of women, people of color, and the queer community. It’s hard for a horror fan to grapple with,ContinueContinue reading “Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street is a moving documentary of trauma and reclamation”

Originally Published February 28, 2020 When adapting a piece that has been done several times over, like the story of The Invisible Man, it is always interesting to see how they plan to modernize the source material. At its roots, the story is about a mad scientist who learns how to become invisible and wantsContinueContinue reading “Invisible Man is the perfect update to this classic horror”