Lock your doors and hide in the bathroom: The Strangers are coming home. More specifically, the first installment in Renny Harlin's new horror reboot trilogy, "The Strangers: Chapter 1," is now available to rent and buy digitally, with a home media release hopefully to follow.
In case you're not up to date on your "Strangers" lore, here's a quick recap: the original horror movie "The Strangers" rattled viewers to their core when it was released in 2008, scaring the bejesus out of spooky movie fans thanks to its tension-building, bad-guys-in-the-background slow burn, and a home invasion plot with no rhyme or reason. Director Bryan Bertino co-penned an unrelated sequel, the underrated mobile home park slasher "The Strangers: Prey At Night," in 2018, with Ben Katai co-writing the script and Johannes Roberts directing. The first "Strangers" film is polarizing but widely considered one of the freakiest movies of the aughts, while the...
In case you're not up to date on your "Strangers" lore, here's a quick recap: the original horror movie "The Strangers" rattled viewers to their core when it was released in 2008, scaring the bejesus out of spooky movie fans thanks to its tension-building, bad-guys-in-the-background slow burn, and a home invasion plot with no rhyme or reason. Director Bryan Bertino co-penned an unrelated sequel, the underrated mobile home park slasher "The Strangers: Prey At Night," in 2018, with Ben Katai co-writing the script and Johannes Roberts directing. The first "Strangers" film is polarizing but widely considered one of the freakiest movies of the aughts, while the...
- 6/7/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Breaking news: The greatest threat to this industry isn't the death of movie theaters, the rise of artificial intelligence, or Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's reign of terror. It is, in fact, writer/director Rian Johnson's ceaseless efforts to cast the entirety of Hollywood in his "Knives Out" movies.
Since today's a day that ends in "Y," that quest continues unabated yet again. After only just hearing word that the third film in this murder-mystery series, titled "Wake Up Dead Man," has added actors Josh O'Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, and Glenn Close to its roster of stars, we've now received word that yet another high-profile name is close to signing on the dotted line. None other than Marvel Cinematic Universe veteran, current "Mayor of Kingston" lead, and former mastermind behind the Renner App (which sadly flew too close to the sun and never took...
Since today's a day that ends in "Y," that quest continues unabated yet again. After only just hearing word that the third film in this murder-mystery series, titled "Wake Up Dead Man," has added actors Josh O'Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, and Glenn Close to its roster of stars, we've now received word that yet another high-profile name is close to signing on the dotted line. None other than Marvel Cinematic Universe veteran, current "Mayor of Kingston" lead, and former mastermind behind the Renner App (which sadly flew too close to the sun and never took...
- 5/30/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
After nearly a decade, director George Miller has returned to the Wasteland with "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga." The film serves as a prequel to 2015's Oscar-winning, dangerous epic "Mad Max: Fury Road," which has garnered a reputation as one of the greatest action films ever made. Miller enlisted Anya Taylor-Joy ("The Queen's Gambit") and Chris Hemsworth ("Thor") to tell the tale of Furiosa years before we met her in "Fury Road." With the film hitting theaters this week, critics have weighed in, and while many are praising Miller's latest, others have vocally disliked it. So, what are critics saying about the long-awaited film?
The latest entry in the "Mad Max" franchise centers on a young Furiosa (Anya-Taylor Joy) who is snatched from the Green Place and winds up in the hands of the warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). As he goes to war with the Immortan Joe for control of the Wasteland,...
The latest entry in the "Mad Max" franchise centers on a young Furiosa (Anya-Taylor Joy) who is snatched from the Green Place and winds up in the hands of the warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). As he goes to war with the Immortan Joe for control of the Wasteland,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Not to sound like a broken record but it was yet another brutal weekend at the box office as May rolls right along. Director John Krasinski's big-budget, family-friendly flick "If" topped the charts with a worse-than-expected opening. Theaters are desperate for a breakout hit given the relatively lackluster performances of other films like "The Fall Guy" in the early going. But, as has been the case so many times in the pandemic era, horror came to the rescue — sort of. Lionsgate's "The Strangers: Chapter 1" had a solid debut, but not so much that it can make up for what was lacking elsewhere. It was also an iffy start for a film that is launching an entire trilogy.
Director Renny Harlin's new take on "The Strangers" (the first part of it anyway) opened to an estimated $12 million domestically, placing at number three on the charts behind "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes...
Director Renny Harlin's new take on "The Strangers" (the first part of it anyway) opened to an estimated $12 million domestically, placing at number three on the charts behind "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes...
- 5/20/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Nine years ago, director George Miller came kind of out of nowhere to deliver one of the greatest action movies of all time with "Mad Max: Fury Road." Miller revived the long-dead franchise with a film so universally beloved the only shocking thing is that it took nine years to get another "Mad Max" movie made. Well, here we are, staring down the barrel of the release of "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," which tells the origin story of Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron in "Fury Road"). The question is, can this prequel build on the audience that has come to adore "Fury Road" in the years since its release? Warner Bros. will need that to be the case for the film to be an outright hit at the box office.
"Furisa" hits theaters next weekend and will be opening directly against "The Garfield Movie." Admittedly, these films are both playing for radically different audiences.
"Furisa" hits theaters next weekend and will be opening directly against "The Garfield Movie." Admittedly, these films are both playing for radically different audiences.
- 5/17/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
This article contains major spoilers for "The Strangers: Chapter 1."
The horror genre is no stranger (pun intended) to creatures returning from the dead. After "The Bride of Frankenstein" brought back the Monster in 1935, no major cinematic horror character has lain dormant for too long, with even the unlikeliest of beasties or killers coming back for at least a second go-round or more.
The villains of 2008's "The Strangers" count as one of those unlikely killers, though not because they're difficult to sequelize. On the contrary, the very ethos of the Strangers — that being they kill "because you were home" — is incredibly open-ended and ripe for exploration and expansion in further films. Yet therein lies the rub, as they say, for a large part of what makes "The Strangers" so terrifying is that it's a home invasion movie where absolutely no rationale is given for the tragic fates suffered by the...
The horror genre is no stranger (pun intended) to creatures returning from the dead. After "The Bride of Frankenstein" brought back the Monster in 1935, no major cinematic horror character has lain dormant for too long, with even the unlikeliest of beasties or killers coming back for at least a second go-round or more.
The villains of 2008's "The Strangers" count as one of those unlikely killers, though not because they're difficult to sequelize. On the contrary, the very ethos of the Strangers — that being they kill "because you were home" — is incredibly open-ended and ripe for exploration and expansion in further films. Yet therein lies the rub, as they say, for a large part of what makes "The Strangers" so terrifying is that it's a home invasion movie where absolutely no rationale is given for the tragic fates suffered by the...
- 5/17/2024
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
The post contains major spoilers for "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes."
After a seven-year break, the "Planet of the Apes" franchise has finally returned with a new installment, one that takes us much further than seven years into the future. Director Wes Ball's "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" takes place centuries after the Caesar trilogy in the overall timeline, with apes now firmly the dominant species on the planet. So yes, there is a new ape villain at the center of the proceedings in the form of Proximus Caesar (played by Kevin Durand). However, the film's real villain was hidden pretty well in the marketing -- even though right there the whole time.
The film sees Noa (Owen Teague) seeking out the sect of apes led by Proximus, who annihilated his home, killed his father, and kidnapped Noa's clan. Along the way, he and his...
After a seven-year break, the "Planet of the Apes" franchise has finally returned with a new installment, one that takes us much further than seven years into the future. Director Wes Ball's "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" takes place centuries after the Caesar trilogy in the overall timeline, with apes now firmly the dominant species on the planet. So yes, there is a new ape villain at the center of the proceedings in the form of Proximus Caesar (played by Kevin Durand). However, the film's real villain was hidden pretty well in the marketing -- even though right there the whole time.
The film sees Noa (Owen Teague) seeking out the sect of apes led by Proximus, who annihilated his home, killed his father, and kidnapped Noa's clan. Along the way, he and his...
- 5/10/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
It looks like Snake Plissken will be trapped in New York a bit longer: a planned reboot of the John Carpenter classic "Escape From New York" has lost its directors again, according to ComicBook.com. "Scream" legacy sequel directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, who are better known as Radio Silence (the name of their production group), were attached to the project as of 2022, but say they're no longer officially on board.
"We are not [developing it], unfortunately," Gillett told the outlet in a new interview, explaining, "I think titles like that bounce around for a while and I think they've tried to get that out of the blocks a few times. I think it's just ultimately a tricky rights issue thing." It sounds like it's not that Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin aren't interested in pursuing the project, but that they weren't able to make it within a set window of time before the...
"We are not [developing it], unfortunately," Gillett told the outlet in a new interview, explaining, "I think titles like that bounce around for a while and I think they've tried to get that out of the blocks a few times. I think it's just ultimately a tricky rights issue thing." It sounds like it's not that Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin aren't interested in pursuing the project, but that they weren't able to make it within a set window of time before the...
- 5/9/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
George Miller is about to return to the wasteland with "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," but it might surprise some people to know that his biggest box office hit to date remains the technological marvel that is "Happy Feet."
Though you wouldn't think of "Happy Feet" as being connected to "Mad Max: Fury Road," they have some things in common — particularly their stunning visuals and how they approach VFX. Despite what some fans would like to believe, "Fury Road" is full of CGI. As Miller himself told Vulture in 2022, "There was not one shot in that movie that wasn't CGI in one way or another." The film works because it blends digital and practical effects, using CGI to enhance scenes, delete wirework, and otherwise make what is already real feel larger-than-life. This is the approach that the best movies take -- the ones that understand CGI is a tool and not a shortcut.
Though you wouldn't think of "Happy Feet" as being connected to "Mad Max: Fury Road," they have some things in common — particularly their stunning visuals and how they approach VFX. Despite what some fans would like to believe, "Fury Road" is full of CGI. As Miller himself told Vulture in 2022, "There was not one shot in that movie that wasn't CGI in one way or another." The film works because it blends digital and practical effects, using CGI to enhance scenes, delete wirework, and otherwise make what is already real feel larger-than-life. This is the approach that the best movies take -- the ones that understand CGI is a tool and not a shortcut.
- 5/9/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Australian director George Miller made his first feature film, "Mad Max," in 1979. It was a very low-budget affair costing about $200,000. The film takes place in the near future when the Earth is running low on oil and civilization is just beginning to crumble. "Mad" Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) is a road cop tasked with reigning in the chaos. "Mad Max" was decidedly low-fi, but it struck a chord with audiences, ultimately earning almost $100 million worldwide. It remains one of the most profitable movies of all time, comparable only to "The Blair Witch Project," "Paranormal Activity," and "Deep Throat." Miller would go on to make several sequels to "Mad Max" in 1981, 1985, and 2015. The fifth film in the series, "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," is hitting theaters this month, with a potential sixth entry, "Mad Max: The Wasteland," in the early planning stages.
Miller recently participated in a "Furiosa" screening and Q&a event,...
Miller recently participated in a "Furiosa" screening and Q&a event,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys. Unfortunately, that comes at the expense of the main group of kidnappers/mercenaries who have absolutely no idea what they just got themselves into. The directing duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (also known as Radio Silence) unleashed a hellish feast for the senses earlier this year thanks to their horror flick with a twist, "Abigail." Because of the wonders of marketing, of course, we found out long before our doomed lead characters that the innocent-looking child they've chosen to hold for ransom is actually a bloodthirsty vampire (Alisha Weir). And in no time at all, the full weight of their predicament dawns on them as they realize that the hunters have now become the hunted in a horrific cat-and-mouse game set at a decrepit old mansion over the course of one endless day.
After debuting to rave reviews but inflicting...
After debuting to rave reviews but inflicting...
- 5/6/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Despite the widely despised series finale of "Game of Thrones" -- which, for the record, we at /Film didn't hate nearly as much as the rest of the world seemed to at the time -- the show was an immense cultural juggernaut for HBO, and in the risk-averse television landscape, it's only natural that other channels and streamers saw that show's success and wanted to replicate it for themselves. Prime Video spend ungodly amounts of money on the rights to a TV show set in "The Lord of the Rings" universe, Netflix dumped a bunch of money into the forgotten "Marco Polo," and even History got into the mix with "Vikings."
FX, meanwhile, decided to greenlight "Shogun," a tremendously expensive-looking adaptation of James Clavell's 1975 novel (which was previously adapted into an ultra-popular miniseries in the '80s). After enduring production delays due to the pandemic and finally premiering this February,...
FX, meanwhile, decided to greenlight "Shogun," a tremendously expensive-looking adaptation of James Clavell's 1975 novel (which was previously adapted into an ultra-popular miniseries in the '80s). After enduring production delays due to the pandemic and finally premiering this February,...
- 5/1/2024
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
It's safe to say first-time feature screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes came out of the gate hot with his first produced screenplay. "Challengers," the erotic tennis thriller starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor, was one of /Film's most anticipated films of 2024, and the movie lived up to our sky-high expectations by being a mesmerizing drama about three people locked in a deep and unconventional relationship.
But interestingly, one of the film's most important scenes was not in its first draft. I spoke to Kuritzkes this week in advance of the film's release, and he told me about how a story idea from director Luca Guadagnino eventually evolved into one of the movie's most famous moments:
"One of the first conversations we had was that Luca said, 'In a love triangle, all the corners should touch.' I heard that, and I thought, 'Yeah, all these people's lives are so deeply intwined,...
But interestingly, one of the film's most important scenes was not in its first draft. I spoke to Kuritzkes this week in advance of the film's release, and he told me about how a story idea from director Luca Guadagnino eventually evolved into one of the movie's most famous moments:
"One of the first conversations we had was that Luca said, 'In a love triangle, all the corners should touch.' I heard that, and I thought, 'Yeah, all these people's lives are so deeply intwined,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
A fiercely capable woman with ice water in her veins finds herself in a creepy-looking mansion, where she has to survive a supernatural threat over the course of one endless night and eventually ends up covered in gore and viscera? If I had a nickel for every time a horror movie directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (aka Radio Silence) came out in the last five years with that exact same premise, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but you know how the rest of the meme goes. If this past weekend's "Abigail" triggered a nagging feeling of déjà vu, well, that's probably because the vampire movie packing a nasty bite (you can read /Film's review by Bj Colangelo here) shares quite a bit of DNA with the directing duo's previous movie, 2019's "Ready or Not."
Apparently, the creative team decided to lean into those similarities even more.
Apparently, the creative team decided to lean into those similarities even more.
- 4/25/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Horror has been a real anchor for the box office in the pandemic era, with franchises like "Halloween" and originals like "M3GAN" managing to break through in a meaningful way. Now, Universal Pictures is looking to strike with something original while also playing in familiar territory with "Abigail." The upcoming horror film deals with vampires, something Universal has done dating back to the original "Dracula" more than 90 years ago. But this one comes with a pretty unique spin on the tried-and-true genre. The question is, will it be enough to motivate moviegoers to turn up for a vampire movie? Or will this be another unfortunate misfire for the studio?
Radio Silence, the team that includes Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, directed the film. They've got a very good track record and Universal is hoping that they can work their magic once again. As it stands, things look pretty good. "Abigail...
Radio Silence, the team that includes Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, directed the film. They've got a very good track record and Universal is hoping that they can work their magic once again. As it stands, things look pretty good. "Abigail...
- 4/12/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Richard Donner's "The Omen" is one of the most revered horror classics of all time. Now, Disney's 20th Century Studios is bridging the franchise back from the dead for a prequel in the form of "The First Omen." Horror has been on an incredible hot streak at the box office over the last couple of years, and Disney is the best in the business at milking franchises for all they're worth. So, will this R-rated franchise revival scare up enough to make it a hit when it opens next weekend?
Director Arkasha Stevenson's horror prequel is currently expected to pull in between $8 and $13 million on its opening weekend, per Box Office Pro. It will be opening directly against Dev Patel's action flick "Monkey Man," which has its sights set on a debut between $16 and $25 million. Both movies will also be contending with "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" on its second weekend,...
Director Arkasha Stevenson's horror prequel is currently expected to pull in between $8 and $13 million on its opening weekend, per Box Office Pro. It will be opening directly against Dev Patel's action flick "Monkey Man," which has its sights set on a debut between $16 and $25 million. Both movies will also be contending with "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" on its second weekend,...
- 3/30/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Hollywood isn't investing nearly as much in straight-up comedies as they used to. While 2023 saw many of the best comedies of the year come from the indie and arthouse world. "Barbie" was a big winner last year, but that's a blockbuster doing a lot more heavy-lifting than just bringing laughs, with an adventure fueled by one of the most recognizable intellectual properties of all time. "No Hard Feelings" and "Anyone But You" brought some raunchy, romantic laughs to the proceedings, and we were certainly grateful that Jennifer Lawrence and Sydney Sweeney took risks as producers on R-rated studio comedies like that. Otherwise, most of the laughs come from cross-genre comedy hybrids that have bigger box office potential because of a high-concept story that just so happens to bring some hilarity, such as "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" or "Cocaine Bear."
So how is comedy shaping up in 2024? Unfortunately, with some worrisome box office potential,...
So how is comedy shaping up in 2024? Unfortunately, with some worrisome box office potential,...
- 3/29/2024
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Last year was a standout year for animation, and 2024 is already shaping up to be another banger. While a majority of the high-profile animation releases are due out later this summer, the first quarter of 2024 has already been promising. We at /Film are constantly singing the praises of animation as a medium, and doing our best to course-correct the ignorant idea that animation is only for children. Admittedly, this list is going to look mighty small for the time being, but it will be updated throughout the year as more films become available. As we noted last year, animation is one of the only mediums where global cinema is given an equal footing to studio-produced films in America, with the artistic visuals serving as a universal language that we can all enjoy. Meaning, this list is not limited to Hollywood animation releases ... and that's a good thing. As for now,...
- 3/27/2024
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
We love horror here at /Film, which gives us an excuse to highlight some of the best horror movies of 2024. The year is still young — it's not quite April yet — but there are already a slew of creepy, spooky, and scary titles to pick through and celebrate. We can only hope and assume this list will grow considerably as 2024 continues on, but for now, let's look back at what's already arrived and highlight some titles that might've completely slipped through the cracks for some of you. We've avoided spoilers to keep these films fresh for you. You're welcome. And now, here are the best horror movies of 2024 so far.
Read more: The 50 Scariest Horror Movie Monsters Ranked
Blackout
Larry Fessenden, indie horror auteur, is back — with a werewolf movie. But "Blackout" isn't your typical lycanthrope flick. This is more like a quirky indie character drama that also happens to be about a werewolf.
Read more: The 50 Scariest Horror Movie Monsters Ranked
Blackout
Larry Fessenden, indie horror auteur, is back — with a werewolf movie. But "Blackout" isn't your typical lycanthrope flick. This is more like a quirky indie character drama that also happens to be about a werewolf.
- 3/25/2024
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Your scent. It's like a drug to me. You're like my own personal brand of heroin. Or perhaps it's just that Lionsgate simply refuses to let sleeping dogs (shape-shifters?) lie, even now that we're more than a decade removed from the peak of "Twilight" fever. The studio has already revealed its intention to reboot Stephenie Meyer's YA fantasy romance phenomenon for the small screen as a TV series, which begs the question: how exactly does it plan to go about trying to rebottle the "stupid lightning in a stupid bottle" that was the original movie adaptations of Meyer's books, to quote /Film's Bj Colangelo? We now have part of the answer and, incredibly enough, it's not at all a bad idea.
Speaking during a Q&a at this week's Morgan Stanley media conference (as reported on by Variety), Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns casually dropped the bombshell that...
Speaking during a Q&a at this week's Morgan Stanley media conference (as reported on by Variety), Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns casually dropped the bombshell that...
- 3/6/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
If only Mary Shelley could've lived to see a Frankenstein story with a twist quite like this one. Horror fans have been waiting quite some time for writer Diablo Cody to get another kick at the horror can after 2009's "Jennifer's Body," the Megan Fox-starring flick that's taken on the air of a genuine cult classic after initially bombing among critics and audiences alike. For Millennials of a certain age, time has been kind to the unabashedly feminist story of a demon possessing a high school student and developing a taste for male flesh (as one does), and now the time has come for everyone to offer up a long-overdue mea culpa. Luckily, this year's release of the hilariously offbeat "Lisa Frankenstein" feels like the perfect opportunity to do just that.
The intersection between genuine horror/comedies and movies made for teens feels like remarkably unexplored territory in recent years,...
The intersection between genuine horror/comedies and movies made for teens feels like remarkably unexplored territory in recent years,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Oof, "Madame Web." Critics have savaged the latest Spider-Manless Spider-Man spin-off from Sony Pictures (read /Film's review here). Unlike the Sydney Sweeney picture I'm actually looking forward to this year, "Madame Web" is not "Immaculate." It's a hackneyed joke that in bad movies of this sort, the best part is when the credits hit. In "Madame Web," that's doubly true because you'll get to hear some nice music: "Dreams" by The Cranberries.
Released in 1992, "Dreams" is the Irish band's debut single, part of their first album "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" Dolores O'Riordan, The Cranberries' late singer, and guitarist Noal Hogan wrote the song about the experience of love. O'Riordan's whimsical brogue becomes a melody played against the soft rock instrumentals from her bandmates. It's not just a great love song, but a song about how it feels to be in love: the floating excitement, how...
Released in 1992, "Dreams" is the Irish band's debut single, part of their first album "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" Dolores O'Riordan, The Cranberries' late singer, and guitarist Noal Hogan wrote the song about the experience of love. O'Riordan's whimsical brogue becomes a melody played against the soft rock instrumentals from her bandmates. It's not just a great love song, but a song about how it feels to be in love: the floating excitement, how...
- 2/18/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
The horror-comedy "Lisa Frankenstein" is now in theaters, and while reviews have been somewhat mixed, we here at /Film are fans. As Bj Colangelo wrote in her positive review:
I'm desperately trying not to sound like a cliche here, but the existence of "Lisa Frankenstein" feels like a miracle. It's as if Diablo Cody and Zelda Williams took Sprouse's "I'm a weirdo" speech from "Riverdale" and turned it into an entire movie to prove the point. For all of its fantastical elements of undead boyfriends and tanning bed magic, there's a genuine message about how ungodly difficult it is to be a teenage girl in all of its forms, but that gallows humor is one of the strongest coping mechanisms to employ. "Lisa Frankenstein" is the manic, impulsive, neon-soaked little sister of Lucky McKee's "May," and the long overdue, raunchy, coming-of-rage film Gen Z has been missing.
Interestingly enough,...
I'm desperately trying not to sound like a cliche here, but the existence of "Lisa Frankenstein" feels like a miracle. It's as if Diablo Cody and Zelda Williams took Sprouse's "I'm a weirdo" speech from "Riverdale" and turned it into an entire movie to prove the point. For all of its fantastical elements of undead boyfriends and tanning bed magic, there's a genuine message about how ungodly difficult it is to be a teenage girl in all of its forms, but that gallows humor is one of the strongest coping mechanisms to employ. "Lisa Frankenstein" is the manic, impulsive, neon-soaked little sister of Lucky McKee's "May," and the long overdue, raunchy, coming-of-rage film Gen Z has been missing.
Interestingly enough,...
- 2/9/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Much like a certain devious scientist reanimates a corpse in Mary Shelley's landmark 1818 sci-fi horror novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," those who grew up loving "Jennifer's Body" transformed the 2009 film from a box office bomb into a cult classic. Now, 15 years after her initial venture into the sub-genre, "Jennifer's Body" scribe Diablo Cody has finally returned to the horror-comedy pool for "Lisa Frankenstein," an original '80s-set flick inspired by Shelley's literary classic.
There's no missing the parallels between "Jennifer's Body" and "Lisa Frankenstein," both of which are coming-of-age stories examining the hellish experience of being a girl in high school with plenty of laughs and gore to spare. In fact, Cody has gone ahead and proclaimed that the pair even share the same continuity. "I am just declaring that this movie takes place in the same universe [as 'Jennifer's Body']," she informed Deadline, speaking at the "Lisa Frankenstein" premiere.
There's no missing the parallels between "Jennifer's Body" and "Lisa Frankenstein," both of which are coming-of-age stories examining the hellish experience of being a girl in high school with plenty of laughs and gore to spare. In fact, Cody has gone ahead and proclaimed that the pair even share the same continuity. "I am just declaring that this movie takes place in the same universe [as 'Jennifer's Body']," she informed Deadline, speaking at the "Lisa Frankenstein" premiere.
- 2/6/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
"I've never given much thought to how I would die, but dying in the place of someone I love seems like a good way to go." Now that's how you start a franchise!
Since 2008, the "Twilight" films have been a cultural mainstay for better and for worse. A film so beloved that cosmetics companies are selling out of "Twilight"-inspired collections in under 10 minutes 15 years later, and so hated that it inspired the $20 million studio-produced parody film "Vampires Suck." Few multi-billion dollar franchises are quite this polarizing, and even fewer have had as powerful of a cultural reclamation years later. Love them or hate them, the "Twilight" films are one of the most important products of the late 2000s and 2010s, and no amount of whining about vampires sparkling or commenting "still a better love story than 'Twilight'" is going to change that.
There has been talk that...
Since 2008, the "Twilight" films have been a cultural mainstay for better and for worse. A film so beloved that cosmetics companies are selling out of "Twilight"-inspired collections in under 10 minutes 15 years later, and so hated that it inspired the $20 million studio-produced parody film "Vampires Suck." Few multi-billion dollar franchises are quite this polarizing, and even fewer have had as powerful of a cultural reclamation years later. Love them or hate them, the "Twilight" films are one of the most important products of the late 2000s and 2010s, and no amount of whining about vampires sparkling or commenting "still a better love story than 'Twilight'" is going to change that.
There has been talk that...
- 1/24/2024
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
It's difficult to argue too much with the Academy's nominees for Best Director at the 96th Academy Awards (you can read the full list of nominations here). Justine Triet ("Anatomy of a Fall"), Martin Scorsese ("Killers of the Flower Moon"), Christopher Nolan ("Oppenheimer"), Yorgos Lanthimos ("Poor Things"), and Jonathan Glazer ("The Zone of Interest") all made impeccably crafted films, each with their own distinctive style and something meaningful to say about the times we live in. And yet, there's a glaringly obvious absence from the lineup -- the woman who gave us the other half of "Barbenheimer," Greta Gerwig.
Gerwig herself is an Academy favorite, having previously racked up a trio of Oscar nods -- including one for Best Director -- for her first two solo directorial efforts on "Lady Bird" and "Little Women." She also snagged a nomination for her and Noah Baumbach's "Barbie" script, so it's not...
Gerwig herself is an Academy favorite, having previously racked up a trio of Oscar nods -- including one for Best Director -- for her first two solo directorial efforts on "Lady Bird" and "Little Women." She also snagged a nomination for her and Noah Baumbach's "Barbie" script, so it's not...
- 1/23/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Movie musicals are not only back, they're back with a surprising vengeance. Between Paul King's "Wonka" prequel singing and dancing its way to the top of the box office over the winter holidays, Blitz Bazawule's film version of the "Color Purple" Broadway adaptation enjoying a massive opening on Christmas Day, and now Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.'s "Mean Girls" movie musical making fetch happen for real, it's fair to say the musical genre has emerged as an unexpected savior for theaters at a time when we're really starting to feel the effects of the AMPTP having dragged out the two-pronged WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023.
If you've been waiting to get your musical theater on at home (no judgment from us -- you do you), you're in luck! While you'll have to wait a while still for "Wonka" and "Mean Girls" to hit the home market,...
If you've been waiting to get your musical theater on at home (no judgment from us -- you do you), you're in luck! While you'll have to wait a while still for "Wonka" and "Mean Girls" to hit the home market,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
If you've heard about "Night Swim" and its haunted swimming pool concept, your first reaction might have been to wonder whether something had gone horribly awry over at Blumhouse and Atomic Monster. Producers James Wan and Jason Blum are horror juggernauts, after all, and a film about an evil swimming pool initially seems to have a lot more in common with retro low-budget horror schlock like "Amityville Death Toilet" or "Death Bed."
But even minimal research into this upcoming horror effort from first-time director Bryce McGuire reveals something altogether more serious. Based on the filmmaker's 2014 short film of the same name, "Night Swim" follows an increasingly successful formula of transforming horror shorts into fully-fledged features. 2022's surprise hit "Smile," for instance, was based on the short "Laura Hasn't Slept," while the best horror movie of the last decade, "Skinamarink," started life as a 28-minute, criminally underseen YouTube video entitled "Heck.
But even minimal research into this upcoming horror effort from first-time director Bryce McGuire reveals something altogether more serious. Based on the filmmaker's 2014 short film of the same name, "Night Swim" follows an increasingly successful formula of transforming horror shorts into fully-fledged features. 2022's surprise hit "Smile," for instance, was based on the short "Laura Hasn't Slept," while the best horror movie of the last decade, "Skinamarink," started life as a 28-minute, criminally underseen YouTube video entitled "Heck.
- 1/7/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
This article contains mild spoilers for "Night Swim."
When you're an actor making a movie entitled "Night Swim," it's a given that you'll be called upon to at least get into the shallow end of the pool. Chances are pretty likely that you'll have to wade into the deep end, too, and although most people would say they're pretty comfortable being in the water, the realities of movie making — multiple takes, long hours, having to deliver a good performance — means that you're not comfortably wading around for a few minutes and then jumping back out. If you're not careful, you could wear yourself out at best and put yourself in deadly jeopardy at worst.
Those concerns were certainly on star Wyatt Russell's mind while making the new Blumhouse horror film. Especially because his character of Ray Waller doesn't just get his feet wet; when Ray moves his family into...
When you're an actor making a movie entitled "Night Swim," it's a given that you'll be called upon to at least get into the shallow end of the pool. Chances are pretty likely that you'll have to wade into the deep end, too, and although most people would say they're pretty comfortable being in the water, the realities of movie making — multiple takes, long hours, having to deliver a good performance — means that you're not comfortably wading around for a few minutes and then jumping back out. If you're not careful, you could wear yourself out at best and put yourself in deadly jeopardy at worst.
Those concerns were certainly on star Wyatt Russell's mind while making the new Blumhouse horror film. Especially because his character of Ray Waller doesn't just get his feet wet; when Ray moves his family into...
- 1/6/2024
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Actors beloved for a long-running television role carry a funny kind of baggage with them. It didn't matter where Andy Griffth showed up in TV or film, the shadow of amiable Sheriff Andrew Jackson "Andy" Taylor and, during the actor's twilight years, the irascible defense attorney Ben Matlock always hung heavily over his head. Likewise, for all of Angela Lansbury's many, many accomplishments performing on the stage and screen, certain people could only ever look at her and see their favorite cardigan-loving author-sleuth, Jessica Fletcher.
Lucille Désirée Ball was firmly cognizant of just how strongly the masses identified her with her incorrigible onscreen counterpart, Lucille Esmeralda "Lucy" McGillicuddy Ricardo, from "I Love Lucy," having played the iconic trouble-maker across the series' 180 episodes in the 1950s. This was also the main factor that led to her passing on another classic sitcom, "Cheers," decades later.
Despite the show garnering near-catastrophic ratings...
Lucille Désirée Ball was firmly cognizant of just how strongly the masses identified her with her incorrigible onscreen counterpart, Lucille Esmeralda "Lucy" McGillicuddy Ricardo, from "I Love Lucy," having played the iconic trouble-maker across the series' 180 episodes in the 1950s. This was also the main factor that led to her passing on another classic sitcom, "Cheers," decades later.
Despite the show garnering near-catastrophic ratings...
- 12/28/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
The year that was 2023 is almost over, and it was a good year for movies. By extension, it was also a good year to write about movies. We here at /Film strive to bring you reviews of every major release, and then some — but what is the role of a movie review? Some folks think a movie review exists merely to tell the reader if a film is good or bad, and nothing more. It's a guide to whether or not you should plop down your hard-earned cash at the box office. But that shouldn't be a movie review's primary goal.
A movie review should also engage with the work; to examine it, study it, and try to figure out what makes it tick. And in the end, the final choice should be yours. Often, when I file a negative review of a film, it will be met with a reply from someone stating,...
A movie review should also engage with the work; to examine it, study it, and try to figure out what makes it tick. And in the end, the final choice should be yours. Often, when I file a negative review of a film, it will be met with a reply from someone stating,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Forget the Academy Awards. The /Film Movie Awards are here to pick the real winners in cinema from 2023.
As we wind down a tremendous year for good movies (even if it was shaky one for the larger film industry in terms of box office and a very necessary strike or two), the editorial and writing teams at /Film decided it was time to hand out our own golden statuettes. Even if they're purely of the metaphorical variety. We brainstormed the categories. We debated the nominees. We cast the final votes in some agonizingly close showdowns ... and a few total blowouts. The result is a list of winners that runs the gamut from major blockbusters everyone saw to tiny independent films that need some cheerleading. Animation made a strong showing outside of the expected categories, a few "disappointments" proudly kicked through the noise to win a few categories, and we even...
As we wind down a tremendous year for good movies (even if it was shaky one for the larger film industry in terms of box office and a very necessary strike or two), the editorial and writing teams at /Film decided it was time to hand out our own golden statuettes. Even if they're purely of the metaphorical variety. We brainstormed the categories. We debated the nominees. We cast the final votes in some agonizingly close showdowns ... and a few total blowouts. The result is a list of winners that runs the gamut from major blockbusters everyone saw to tiny independent films that need some cheerleading. Animation made a strong showing outside of the expected categories, a few "disappointments" proudly kicked through the noise to win a few categories, and we even...
- 12/21/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Yesterday, news hit that Netflix is developing a spin-off of "Wednesday," the streamer's mega-successful series starring Jenna Ortega. Makes sense, right? "Wednesday" is an undeniable hit -- one of the few original shows where Netflix doesn't need to obfuscate its data because it became a genuine cultural phenomenon. According to Bloomberg, Netflix is "eager to establish a pipeline of 'Addams Family' programs to build off the success of 'Wednesday.'" The spin-off is going to center on the Uncle Fester character, as played by Fred Armisen.
To be clear, Armisen is hilarious. For my money, he's one of the funniest actors working today. He's a master of making weird little faces (see: his memorable appearance in HBO's "Barry"), and there's an inherent goofiness to him that makes him lovable and easy to watch. But is Netflix sure the reason a vast amount of audiences tuned into "Wednesday...
To be clear, Armisen is hilarious. For my money, he's one of the funniest actors working today. He's a master of making weird little faces (see: his memorable appearance in HBO's "Barry"), and there's an inherent goofiness to him that makes him lovable and easy to watch. But is Netflix sure the reason a vast amount of audiences tuned into "Wednesday...
- 12/19/2023
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
Let's make something very clear right up front: Tom Cruise is a more important, and better, movie star than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Period. Full stop. But a piece of film news was announced this week that genuinely shocked me, and it has me thinking about what Cruise could learn from Johnson right now.
Word came out that Dwayne Johnson is set to play Mma fighter Mark Kerr in a biopic called "The Smashing Machine." On the surface, that may not seem like that big of a stretch: Johnson, of course, transitioned from the world of professional wrestling into becoming an actor, so the notion of him playing a professional athlete may not raise any eyebrows. The surprising part is the creative team: Benny Safdie, one half of the brother duo behind films like "Good Time" and "Uncut Gems," is directing for A24, one of the most interesting companies in the film industry right now.
Word came out that Dwayne Johnson is set to play Mma fighter Mark Kerr in a biopic called "The Smashing Machine." On the surface, that may not seem like that big of a stretch: Johnson, of course, transitioned from the world of professional wrestling into becoming an actor, so the notion of him playing a professional athlete may not raise any eyebrows. The surprising part is the creative team: Benny Safdie, one half of the brother duo behind films like "Good Time" and "Uncut Gems," is directing for A24, one of the most interesting companies in the film industry right now.
- 12/15/2023
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
Horror remains as vital as ever. While other films flounder at the box office, horror almost always reigns supreme. Audiences simply cannot get enough. We inherently love to be scared; to be disturbed; to be frightened. To sit in the dark and let something scary take hold of us. The horror films of 2023 were an eclectic bunch — weird, wonderful, both fresh and familiar. Slasher throwbacks, modernist takes on classic tropes, and bold new voices in the genre all presented themselves to us, giving us the creeps in the process.
As is always the case when making a list like this, it's important to recognize the titles that didn't make the cut. So while we're proud of our ranked list of the top 10 horror movies of 2023, we also want to highlight several titles not on the list — "Knock at the Cabin," "The Sacrifice Game," "Haunted Mansion," "The Conference," "The Outwaters," "The Passenger,...
As is always the case when making a list like this, it's important to recognize the titles that didn't make the cut. So while we're proud of our ranked list of the top 10 horror movies of 2023, we also want to highlight several titles not on the list — "Knock at the Cabin," "The Sacrifice Game," "Haunted Mansion," "The Conference," "The Outwaters," "The Passenger,...
- 12/13/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Netflix has irreversibly changed the landscape of how audiences consume media, and in recent years, has proven that its direct-to-streaming model isn't the only threat to the studio status quo. The streaming juggernaut's library of original programming has always thrived with binge-worthy series, but recent years have more than proved that Netflix is a certifiable source of original films. Multiple films that we named as some of the best of Netflix's original film releases in 2022 took home Oscar gold, and if this year's list is any indicator, history very well may strike twice. Animated treasures, acclaimed international projects, and buzzworthy Hollywood favorites are all featured below, as well as some hidden gems you may have missed (but definitely need to add to your watch list). Here are our top 12 Netflix original movies, ranked.
Read more: Movies That Were Canceled For Ridiculous Reasons
Khufiya
There's plenty to critique about Netflix, but...
Read more: Movies That Were Canceled For Ridiculous Reasons
Khufiya
There's plenty to critique about Netflix, but...
- 12/12/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Netflix is undergoing cuts and changes to its animation department yet again, but thankfully good work is not going unrewarded. One of the most celebrated Netflix animated shows of the year, "Blue Eye Samurai," is getting a second season. The show is essentially an animated riff on "Lady Snowblood" that was created by Amber Noizumi and Michael Green and directed by Jane Wu.
The adult animated series is a tale of revenge and blood, following a young biracial woman born out of sexual violence in early Edo period Japan who embarks on a journey of vengeance to find out which of the four remaining white men in Japan is her father. As our own Bj Colangelo wrote, "With only eight episodes, 'Blue Eye Samurai' is an easily digestible watch, but with an addictive story that you'll have to fight yourself from binging."
The show has been praised by animators,...
The adult animated series is a tale of revenge and blood, following a young biracial woman born out of sexual violence in early Edo period Japan who embarks on a journey of vengeance to find out which of the four remaining white men in Japan is her father. As our own Bj Colangelo wrote, "With only eight episodes, 'Blue Eye Samurai' is an easily digestible watch, but with an addictive story that you'll have to fight yourself from binging."
The show has been praised by animators,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
"The Purge" and its four sequels represent perhaps the greatest Trojan horse in modern horror cinema.
It starts with that indelible high concept premise: a near-future America run by a totalitarian regime that has seemingly eliminated crime by allowing crimes to be legal for one night a year. Purge Night. A chance for interested folks to work out ... everything they need to work out. But the thinly veiled subtext of the first film — that the Purge exists to allow the wealthy, powerful, and often complacent to systemically wipe out the poor, the disenfranchised, and the non-white — becomes the literal text going forward. Casual horror fans lulled in by a thrilling elevator pitch found themselves watching the angriest, most progressive, and yes, most blatantly political movie franchise of the past decade-plus. Come for the scary masks, stay for the ... civics lesson? Naturally, some fans still insist these movies are just big...
It starts with that indelible high concept premise: a near-future America run by a totalitarian regime that has seemingly eliminated crime by allowing crimes to be legal for one night a year. Purge Night. A chance for interested folks to work out ... everything they need to work out. But the thinly veiled subtext of the first film — that the Purge exists to allow the wealthy, powerful, and often complacent to systemically wipe out the poor, the disenfranchised, and the non-white — becomes the literal text going forward. Casual horror fans lulled in by a thrilling elevator pitch found themselves watching the angriest, most progressive, and yes, most blatantly political movie franchise of the past decade-plus. Come for the scary masks, stay for the ... civics lesson? Naturally, some fans still insist these movies are just big...
- 12/9/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Among other reasons to bemoan the decline of traditional animation in the 21st century is the subsequent rise of the notion that the goal of animation should be to imitate real life as closely as possible. We saw this attitude manifest itself in mainstream computer animation throughout the 2000s and 2010s, which emphasized photorealism over stylization. But while the results were undeniably gorgeous at times, this mindset was inherently limiting. Why restrict yourself to reality when your imagination need not know any boundaries in animation?
Thank goodness for "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." The 2018 superhero blockbuster not only mixed and matched animation techniques to create a heightened universe that could've come straight from the pages of an actual comic book, it also proved there was an audience hungry for animated films that eschewed the typical look popularized by Disney, Pixar, and the like. With the sequel "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," the...
Thank goodness for "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." The 2018 superhero blockbuster not only mixed and matched animation techniques to create a heightened universe that could've come straight from the pages of an actual comic book, it also proved there was an audience hungry for animated films that eschewed the typical look popularized by Disney, Pixar, and the like. With the sequel "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," the...
- 12/2/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
For years, Bob Iger has been seen as one of the most level-headed and respected studio chiefs in Hollywood. The two-time Walt Disney Company CEO has been widely praised for his shrewd deal-making, and he also had a reputation as an executive who actually respected the creative community. But lately, it feels like Iger has started to slip in some pretty big ways.
Iger became a temporary villain of this year's WGA strike when he said the writers were being "not realistic" about their needs, and called them "disruptive" for striking. And yesterday, Iger made another gaffe when he appeared at the New York Times' DealBook Summit and made an extremely condescending remark toward Nia DaCosta, who directed "The Marvels" for Marvel Studios.
"'The Marvels' was shot during Covid," Iger said. "There wasn't as much supervision on the set, so to speak, where we have executives there really looking over...
Iger became a temporary villain of this year's WGA strike when he said the writers were being "not realistic" about their needs, and called them "disruptive" for striking. And yesterday, Iger made another gaffe when he appeared at the New York Times' DealBook Summit and made an extremely condescending remark toward Nia DaCosta, who directed "The Marvels" for Marvel Studios.
"'The Marvels' was shot during Covid," Iger said. "There wasn't as much supervision on the set, so to speak, where we have executives there really looking over...
- 12/1/2023
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
We take our rankings very seriously here at /Film, especially when we're dealing with material that can be best described as "sacred." And the Indiana Jones series, even with its ups and downs, is sacred stuff. Arguably one of the most famous fictional characters to emerge from 20th century popular culture, Harrison Ford's quick-witted, indefatigable archaeologist, adventurer, and professional Nazi-puncher is one of cinema's greatest gifts. A two-fisted pulp hero. A charming, debonair sex symbol. A source of surprisingly reliable goofball comedy. And perhaps most importantly, a protagonist defined by his inability to stay down whenever the villain knocks him on his ass. In Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr., Ford, director Steven Spielberg, and producer George Lucas created an icon who has persisted for over 40 decades, and one who will enthrall folks for years to come. Even the "bad" movies in the series contain noteworthy sparks and brilliant moments.
So...
So...
- 11/25/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Did you think we were done giving you ideas for your holiday shopping list? Well, strap in, because we're just getting started. This is Part 4 of the 2023 SlashFilm Holiday Gift Guide, featuring all the best clothing, accessories, cosmetics, shoes, and home gifts centered on all of your favorite films and TV shows. If you're looking for an affordable T-shirt, we've got you. If you're looking for something a bit more high fashion, we've got you too. Subtle garments? Yup. Totally obvious iconography? You betcha.
But if the last thing in the world you need is yet another piece of geek-related clothing, we've got you covered with housewares. Relive the glory days of pizza places in the '90s with a "Five Nights at Freddy's" red acrylic cup, or purchase a candle that smells like the Millennium Falcon. We've even got recommendations for enamel pins and laser-cut jewelry if that's more your thing.
But if the last thing in the world you need is yet another piece of geek-related clothing, we've got you covered with housewares. Relive the glory days of pizza places in the '90s with a "Five Nights at Freddy's" red acrylic cup, or purchase a candle that smells like the Millennium Falcon. We've even got recommendations for enamel pins and laser-cut jewelry if that's more your thing.
- 11/23/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Everyone here at /Film loves watching movies and TV shows. But every now and then, you need a break from the screens. However, that doesn't mean you can't still bask in the glory of moving pictures. There's an endless array of books out there about your favorite movies and TV shows. Whether it's the story of the two most famous film critics ever, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, a chronicle of the making of movies like Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" or the screwball comedy spoof "Airplane!," memoirs from your favorite stars like Patrick Stewart and Barbra Streisand, an exhausting timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or a cookbook with recipes straight from the "Star Wars" universe, we've got a huge collection of books for the film and TV lover in your life.
So let's dig into Part 2 of the 2023 /Film Holiday Gift Guide now!
Everyone here at /Film loves watching movies and TV shows. But every now and then, you need a break from the screens. However, that doesn't mean you can't still bask in the glory of moving pictures. There's an endless array of books out there about your favorite movies and TV shows. Whether it's the story of the two most famous film critics ever, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, a chronicle of the making of movies like Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" or the screwball comedy spoof "Airplane!," memoirs from your favorite stars like Patrick Stewart and Barbra Streisand, an exhausting timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or a cookbook with recipes straight from the "Star Wars" universe, we've got a huge collection of books for the film and TV lover in your life.
So let's dig into Part 2 of the 2023 /Film Holiday Gift Guide now!
- 11/21/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
It's the most wonderful time of the year! The /Film Holiday Gift Guide is back for another year of draining your wallet with things you absolutely need. For the 2023 edition, we've got endless movies and TV shows and anything and everything inspired by your favorite titles from the big and small screens.
To kick things off, we're digging into tons of movies and TV shows that are available on physical media. That's right, we're still championing physical media, and in case you haven't heard, having movies and TV shows on discs may be having a bit of a comeback. The Hollywood Reporter recently ran a story about how rising streaming costs and dwindling licensed titles could find the Blu-ray and DVD market enjoying a comeback, just like we've seen with CDs and vinyl.
Below, we've got an assembly of the biggest movies of the year,...
It's the most wonderful time of the year! The /Film Holiday Gift Guide is back for another year of draining your wallet with things you absolutely need. For the 2023 edition, we've got endless movies and TV shows and anything and everything inspired by your favorite titles from the big and small screens.
To kick things off, we're digging into tons of movies and TV shows that are available on physical media. That's right, we're still championing physical media, and in case you haven't heard, having movies and TV shows on discs may be having a bit of a comeback. The Hollywood Reporter recently ran a story about how rising streaming costs and dwindling licensed titles could find the Blu-ray and DVD market enjoying a comeback, just like we've seen with CDs and vinyl.
Below, we've got an assembly of the biggest movies of the year,...
- 11/20/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
It's been 15 years to the week since "Twilight" hit theaters and the world has never been the same. But how to best commemorate this momentous occasion? Tragically, a real-life game of vampire baseball is not on the menu. So how about instead watching "The Twilight Saga" at home and experiencing all its swooning supernatural, frequently campy, and often problematic yet always amusing romance in high-definition with a bevy of fresh behind-the-scenes features on the side?
That's right, /Film has joined forces with Lionsgate to give away copies of "The Twilight Saga" 15th Anniversary SteelBook Collection 4K Ultra HD to our readers. Oh sure, you could always just catch the movies on digital, but why risk some greedy studio swooping in like the Volturi and snatching it away when physical copies are forever ... just like Bella and Edward's love?
With your hard copy eternally by your side, you can revisit everything...
That's right, /Film has joined forces with Lionsgate to give away copies of "The Twilight Saga" 15th Anniversary SteelBook Collection 4K Ultra HD to our readers. Oh sure, you could always just catch the movies on digital, but why risk some greedy studio swooping in like the Volturi and snatching it away when physical copies are forever ... just like Bella and Edward's love?
With your hard copy eternally by your side, you can revisit everything...
- 11/15/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
What a difference five years can make. This time back in 2018, Marvel Studios was on a red hot streak and was gearing up for the release of "Captain Marvel," another sure-to-be box office gem to add to its figurative Infinity Gauntlet. It's easy to forget just how much awful people on the internet had it out for the House of Ideas' first solo woman-led Marvel Cinematic Universe film, especially when star Brie Larson dared to use her platform to highlight the staggering lack of inclusivity among the ranks of the press. But despite the chorus of clowns online chanting "Go woke, go broke," the film handily became a member of the coveted billion-dollar club.
("Captain Marvel" isn't even that "woke," for the record, though that's another discussion.)
Now, the "Captain Marvel" sequel, "The Marvels", has set a new franchise low for MCU box office domestic opening weekends. Coupled with the film's middling reviews,...
("Captain Marvel" isn't even that "woke," for the record, though that's another discussion.)
Now, the "Captain Marvel" sequel, "The Marvels", has set a new franchise low for MCU box office domestic opening weekends. Coupled with the film's middling reviews,...
- 11/13/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Another year of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is drawing to a close and, folks, it's been a pretty turbulent flight. The hope was that co-writer/director Nia DaCosta's "The Marvels" would, at the least, bring things in for a smoother landing, seeing as it assembles a squad of superheroes from some of the better MCU entries in recent years. Leading the way, of course, is Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), who made a splash in 2019 with her solo film, "Captain Marvel," on her way to socking Thanos in the jaw (somewhat literally) in "Avengers: Endgame." But far from being alone, "The Marvels" sees Carol joining forces with her late bestie Maria's daughter Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) -- who's fresh off gaining some shiny super-powers of her own in the acclaimed series "WandaVision" -- and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a rambunctious teen and Captain Marvel fangirl who stole everyone's collective hearts...
- 11/10/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
There are definitely some benefits to watching horror movies at home. For one thing, it's easy to hide under the covers when jump scares get overwhelming, or to pause for popcorn if you need to break the tension (or just really want some popcorn). In the case of the self-referential and foreshadowing-heavy Conjuring Universe, though, catching the latest movie on digital and home media also comes with one extra added benefit: the potential for frame-by-frame Easter egg hunting.
There are Easter eggs aplenty hidden throughout the interconnected franchise that began with "The Conjuring" in 2013, and apparently "The Nun II" is no exception. /Film's Bj Colangelo recently spoke with the director of the latest Conjuring-verse chiller, Michael Chaves, to get the scoop on some of the movie's most rewarding hidden references. Fair warning if you haven't seen "The Nun II" yet: Chaves talks about some of these hidden references in detail,...
There are Easter eggs aplenty hidden throughout the interconnected franchise that began with "The Conjuring" in 2013, and apparently "The Nun II" is no exception. /Film's Bj Colangelo recently spoke with the director of the latest Conjuring-verse chiller, Michael Chaves, to get the scoop on some of the movie's most rewarding hidden references. Fair warning if you haven't seen "The Nun II" yet: Chaves talks about some of these hidden references in detail,...
- 11/4/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
How the heck do you rank the "Evil Dead" movies?
No horror franchise has taken bigger swings, with entries ranging from brutal, unrelenting horror to straight-up goofball slapstick. No horror franchise has proven more consistent in its inconsistency, with each entry showcasing an anarchic streak a mile wide. If an "Evil Dead" movie isn't trying to startle you out of your skin with transgressive intensity, it's trying to make you giggle like a loon. And sometimes, it tries to make you giggle like a loon using that transgressive intensity. Director Sam Raimi made it clear with his original three movies that there are no hard and fast rules in this universe -- and other filmmakers have gleefully stepped in and followed suit. The only thing that truly defines an "Evil Dead" movie is that it needs to be extreme in one way or another.
When the /Film braintrust sat down...
No horror franchise has taken bigger swings, with entries ranging from brutal, unrelenting horror to straight-up goofball slapstick. No horror franchise has proven more consistent in its inconsistency, with each entry showcasing an anarchic streak a mile wide. If an "Evil Dead" movie isn't trying to startle you out of your skin with transgressive intensity, it's trying to make you giggle like a loon. And sometimes, it tries to make you giggle like a loon using that transgressive intensity. Director Sam Raimi made it clear with his original three movies that there are no hard and fast rules in this universe -- and other filmmakers have gleefully stepped in and followed suit. The only thing that truly defines an "Evil Dead" movie is that it needs to be extreme in one way or another.
When the /Film braintrust sat down...
- 11/4/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for "Five Nights at Freddy's."
Matthew Lillard is a horror legend and we don't say it enough. We know him and we love him from films like "She's All That," "Slc Punk," "Without a Paddle" ... any "Love's Labour's Lost" fans out there? But the man got his start in horror and his irrepressible comic spirit and fearless willingness to switch to pitch-black menace on a dime have made him an extremely effective and underrated horror star, as you can see in films like "Scream," "Scooby Doo," and "Thirteen Ghosts."
Lillard has just added another glinting badge to his vest in the form of "Five Nights at Freddy's." We meet him as Steve Raglan, the career counselor that our hero, Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson), is sent to after he beats up a dad in front of his son while on the job. Mike is a man of few words,...
Matthew Lillard is a horror legend and we don't say it enough. We know him and we love him from films like "She's All That," "Slc Punk," "Without a Paddle" ... any "Love's Labour's Lost" fans out there? But the man got his start in horror and his irrepressible comic spirit and fearless willingness to switch to pitch-black menace on a dime have made him an extremely effective and underrated horror star, as you can see in films like "Scream," "Scooby Doo," and "Thirteen Ghosts."
Lillard has just added another glinting badge to his vest in the form of "Five Nights at Freddy's." We meet him as Steve Raglan, the career counselor that our hero, Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson), is sent to after he beats up a dad in front of his son while on the job. Mike is a man of few words,...
- 10/29/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
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