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Articles by Cait Kennedy
'Witch Hat Atelier' Anime Review: An Enchanting World That Enfolds Audiences in Magic
WITCH HAT ATELIER isn't just a story to get lost in, it invites the viewer to cozy up in the enchantment. At long last the highly anticipated anime adaptation of Kamome Shirahama's Eisner-winning manga, Witch Hat Atelier, has arrived! After experiencing a short delay in its Crunchyroll release - citing the creator’s desire to assure the highest quality - the fantasy favorite has reached almost mythic levels of hype and anticipation.
A Film That Is Every Ounce A Labor of Love
The arrival of Shelby Oaks carries with it a heavy sigh of relief. And fatigue. The feeling of “finally.” Starting as a horror sketch for his YouTube channel, debut director Chris Stuckmann (alongside his wife and co-writer, Samantha Elizabeth) launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2022 in the hopes of fully realizing their concept as a feature film. Shelby Oaks stars Camille Sullivan, Sarah Durn, Michael Beach, and Brandon Sexton III.
A Film That Is Every Ounce A Labor of Love
The arrival of Shelby Oaks carries with it a heavy sigh of relief. And fatigue. The feeling of “finally.” Starting as a horror sketch for his YouTube channel, debut director Chris Stuckmann (alongside his wife and co-writer, Samantha Elizabeth) launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2022 in the hopes of fully realizing their concept as a feature film. Shelby Oaks stars Camille Sullivan, Sarah Durn, Michael Beach, and Brandon Sexton III.
Out of Darkness' Andrew Cumming On His Directorial Debut
Fantastic Fest is known for bringing together the films that challenge us, that dare to explore new ground, and showcase rising top talent. In Out Of Darkness, you’ll find all of the above. We spoke with director Andrew Cumming, making his feature debut in the brave (old) world of Paleolithic horror. He shares his influences, his fascination with how history repeats itself, and what he hopes audiences can gain by looking back.
Lloyd Kaufman Talks The Toxic Avanger
Lloyd Kaufman creator of the iconic Toxic Avenger joins us at Fantastic Fest 2023 to usher in Macon Blair’s reimagining. We take a moment to discuss the power of fans, after all these years, and what projects he’s most excited about. This interview has been edited for length.
The Toxic Avenger With Director Macon Blair
It’s hard to imagine a more perfect opening night film for Fantastic Fest 2023 than the reimagined, reinvigorated The Toxic Avenger. The film sits on the perfect intersection of resurrecting an 80s cult classic, with plenty of slime and heart for a rabid Fantastic Fest crowd. We spoke with The Toxic Avenger director Macon Blair about the ooey-gooey center of the film, its place as a bold new entry in the superhero genre, and what audiences can expect from the film.
Fantastic Fest 2023 Goes Old School
What’s fantastic about Fantastic Fest 2023? Sure, it’s the exciting collection of new releases, genre films to be discovered, and general Austin weirdness that brings together the best and most bizarre of films and film lovers. It’s also the chance to see incredible retro films, hand-selected for genre lovers and presented at their very best. Fantastic Fest 2023 has rummaged around in the archives and put on offer an exciting array of retro films for audiences to discover.
Exploring Two Movies 20 Years Apart
Disney’s Haunted Mansion continues the exciting tradition of adapting the magic of nostalgic Disney rides into films that can be enjoyed any time, from the comfort of home. Of course, many Disney fans will recall that it was not all that long ago that we first visited the haunted halls of Gracey Manor on the big screen. Twenty years ago, to be exact. It was in 2003 that we first peeked behind the foreboding gates of The Haunted Mansion in a supernatural horror family comedy.
Love & Death Review
Reading Time: 2 minutes HBO Max’s riveting miniseries Love & Death revisits the shocking true story of the axe slaying of Betty Gore by her neighbor Candy Montgomery. This Texas true-crime story carries all the sensational elements of a gripping drama – adultery, violent death, and psychological break. The small-town setting of Wylie, Texas, and the supposed safety of church congregations and tight communities only add to the unease.
Tracy Droz Tragos Discusses Her Documentary Plan C
Reading Time: 5 minutes The documentary film Plan C held its Texas Premiere on March 12, 2023 at the 2023 SXSW Film and Television Festival in Austin, TX. As Texas prepares rule on a lawsuit seeking to revoke FDA approval for the commonly used drug mifepristone, Plan C finds itself on the frontlines of the abortion access battle upon its debut deep in the heart of Texas.
You Were My First Boyfriend Review
Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s an instantly recognizable feeling to look back on your teenage years and wince. Maybe your fashion choices leave you cringing. Maybe awkward memories of crushes and school dances make you blush. Maybe your time as a teen was pockmarked by insecurity and incidents that haunt you. They’re called our formative years for a reason. These are the moments that will shape us and linger.
Pay Or Die Review
Reading Time: 3 minutes Harrowing reality is worse than dystopian fiction in Pay or Die. The SXSW 2023 documentary feature dares to search for hope in the bleak circumstances of individuals that carry the burden of accessing an unaffordable, but vital medicine. But is there any hope to be found? Directed by Rachael Dyer and Scott Alexander Ruderman, Pay or Die follows three families that have been devastatingly impacted by the American insulin affordability crisis.
Bridgerton Season 2 Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 3 minutes Bridgerton’s first season came roaring onto Netflix to the cheers of romance fans worldwide. Inspired by Julia Quinn’s best-selling novels, the series promised smoldering seasons to come of the romantic adventures of the Bridgerton family. Brdigerton Season 2 was queued up for success with sexy, sideburned Anthony Bridgerton already being a hit among viewers of the first season. Unfortunately, this critic’s hopes were dashed upon her return to the Ton.
Human Resources Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 3 minutes From the (filthy) minds that brought us Netflix’s Big Mouth comes Human Resources. This spin-off series takes the action out of the familiar every day and into the fantastic world of the remarkable creatures that walk alongside humans on their life journies. There are the familiar faces of Hormone Monsters, Shame Wizards, and Love Bugs/Hate Worms alongside exciting new embodiments of everything from basic human needs to logic, empathy, and more.
Pam & Tommy Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 3 minutes Based on the shocking true story of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s (in)famous sex tape, Pam & Tommy thrusts audiences into the middle of a tale of passion and betrayal at the birth of the last lawless frontier…the Internet. Pamela Anderson is a bombshell actress on the rise. Tommy Lee is an established rockstar. Their love burns hot, moves fast, and is fueled by sex, sex, and more sex.
'The King's Man' is Noble to a Fault – But Why Tho?
Reading Time: 3 minutes A prequel to the two previous films in the Kingsman franchise, The King’s Man, reveals the heroic origins of the very first independent intelligence and espionage agency. In the shadow of the first World War, a philanthropic pacifist Orlando Oxford and his son Conrad uncover a sinister plot. A who’s who of dark European powers and mysterious villains are conspiring to wipe out millions and destroy the world through the ravages of war.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Review – But Why Tho?
Reading Time: 3 minutes As Don Draper famously quoted, “Nostalgia – it’s delicate, but potent.” In the realm of popular IP and the drive to squeeze every drop of productivity out of it, nostalgia walks a tightrope of joyful homage above the ever-present threat of heavy-handed fan service. Ghostbusters: Afterlife strides boldly into the choppy waters of Ghostbusters fandom – introducing a new generation of heroes without straying too far from the beloved blueprint of the original.
Big Mouth Season 5 Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 4 minutes In every season Netflix’s Big Mouth sets out to prove that, yes, it’s a bawdy comedy about children masturbating… but it’s so much more than just a bawdy comedy about children masturbating. From its deceptively simple and crass first season to its most current fifth installment, the show has – much like its characters – taken the necessary time to mature. It’s a messy process, but the mess is necessary.
Big Mouth Season 5 Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 4 minutes In every season Netflix’s Big Mouth sets out to prove that, yes, it’s a bawdy comedy about children masturbating… but it’s so much more than just a bawdy comedy about children masturbating. From its deceptively simple and crass first season to its most current fifth installment, the show has – much like its characters – taken the necessary time to mature. It’s a messy process, but the mess is necessary.
After Blue (Dirty Paradise) Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 2 minutes In the distant future of After Blue (Dirty Paradise), humankind has abandoned Earth and found sanctuary on an untamed and bizarre planet. Men are not suited to the harsh new environment, leaving behind women as the planet’s masters and survivors. The women of After Blue lead brutal and unforgiving lives, in their pseudo-Wild West society. After Blue tells the story of a lonely teenager named Roxy and her mother Zora.
The Mad Women's Ball Review – Toronto International Film Festival
Reading Time: 2 minutes In the strange spirituality of The Mad Women’s Ball, a merciless medical system, and the systemic abuses that women have historically suffered at the hands of men in power come together in chilling dance. In her film, writer-director-actor Mélanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds and Breathe) casts a cold glance on how the fields of medicine and psychiatry have used women as the scapegoats and lab rats of progress, without the essential foundation of care and understanding.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye Review – Toronto International Film Festival
Reading Time: 4 minutes Tammy Faye Bakker (later Messner) is one of the great camp icons of the last sixty years. Her version of model Christian femininity took the form of big hair, bigger lashes, and a bigger still personality, and a love of performing. Tammy Faye was notably the wife of the prominent televangelist, Jim Bakker, who infamously made the connection between the congregation collection pot and his lining his own pocket.
Julia (2021) Review – Toronto International Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 2 minutes Julia Child is a figure that needs no introduction, but that doesn’t stop Julia from taking viewers through a delicious menu of highlights of the icon’s extraordinary life. Julia endeavors to showcase Julia Child not just as a pioneer for women in business and as a legendary figure in food culture, but as a woman ahead of her time and with an unflappable zest for life. As far as portraits go, Julia is a delight.
Lakewood Review – Toronto International Film Festival 2019
Reading Time: 3 minutes A normal morning takes a turn for the horrific in Lakewood. For mother of two Amy, the day starts like any other — she wakes her kids for school and goes on a morning run along some remote trails. Her security is shattered when a friend calls with terrible news: her teenage son’s school has gone on lockdown and an active shooter is still at large on campus. Miles from home and her child, Amy is driven by the singular goal of getting to her son as soon as possible.
Scenes from a Marriage Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 3 minutes Adapted from the Ingmar Bergman Swedish miniseries by the same name, Scenes from a Marriage is written and directed by Hagai Levi (Our Boys, The Affair) and stars Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) and Oscar Isaac (Ex-Machina, Inside Llewyn Davis). This contemporary take on the iconic series injects a refreshed perspective into its exploration of love and resentment, devotion and betrayal, and desire and marriage.
All The Moons Review – Fantasia International Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes The vampire subgenre has been popular long enough that even the “off the beaten path” takes are well worn. This does not deter the fantastical exploration of All The Moons, for the film manages to take all that’s known about vampires on film and add a deeper level of sophistication. It does not reinvent the elements but the tone, resulting in an utterly gorgeous film.
Only Murders In the Building Review – But Why Tho?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Murder. It brings people together. At least, that’s the case for three strangers in Only Murders in the Building. When a grisly homicide takes place in their Upper West Side apartment building, three tenants bond over their shared true-crime obsession and become consumed with the crime unfolding close to home.
Woodlands Dark Review – Fantasia International Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes In their behemoth documentary, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror, writer and director Keir-La Janisse guides viewers through a comprehensive overview of the films that created, defined, and refined our ideas of folk horror. No stone is left unturned as Woodlands Dark explores folk horror through its most prominent eras, locales, and cultural moments.
Hellbender Review – Fantasia International Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes In Hellbender a young girl named Izzy finds herself on the precipice of womanhood and, like so many teenage girls, finds herself at odds with her own desire to grow and the wants of her overly protective mother. Of course, this isn’t any normal story of growing up. Izzy and her mother live in total isolation, cloistered in the mountains as dedicated vegetarians that must forage off the land.
Ghosting Gloria Review – Fantasia International Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 2 minutes The French call the orgasm “la petite mort,” meaning “the little death.” Though we don’t like to think about it, death and life are two concepts that walk side by side rather than existing on opposing spectrums. Would life have meaning if death was not waiting for all of us in the end? What about love?
Nine Perfect Strangers Review – More Nah than Namaste
Reading Time: 3 minutes In Nine Perfect Strangers, a group of skeptics and lost souls find themselves at the threshold of Tranquillum House, a secluded wellness retreat. Each of the nine participants is running from something – inner demons and external struggles – and throws themselves at the mercy of Masha, the mysterious wellness guru, and her secretive methods. With each passing day, layers of secrets and inhibitions are stripped away – but the healing can hurt. How far is too far?
Jungle Cruise Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 4 minutes While the Jungle Cruise attraction has been a staple of Disney parks since its Disneyland opening in 1955, the meandering boat ride through the jungle has very much been taken for granted. Though the ride has undergone many changes – from a serious nature tour to the now famous (infamous, depending on who you ask) pun-filled cruise – the Jungle Cruise ride is probably most well-known now for giving tired Disney parks visitors a much-needed rest.
OLD (2021) Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 3 minutes I’ll cut right to the chase. Old is classic M. Night Shyamalan. Classic in that it boasts utterly bizarre dialogue, weird science and natural phenomena, and an easily diagnosable case of the film’s premise being much better than the execution. When Old is hitting its highs it’s a fascinating film, when it’s hitting its lows it’s cringe-inducing. We’re not getting any younger here, so let’s dive right into Old. Old is written and directed by M.
Horror As a Point of Reentry After Lockdown- But Why Tho?
Reading Time: 5 minutes It has been over a year since the world shut down. When the coronavirus pandemic made its first sweep around the globe, jokes about zombie outbreaks and the film Contagion dotted social media feeds. After a while, the jokes died down as the global body count climbed up. Now, in the spring of 2021, the world is collectively peeking out of our self-created foxholes to take a look around and see what’s left.
America: The Motion Picture Review – Total F***ing Star-Spangled Chaos
Reading Time: 3 minutes When was the last time you really stopped to think about the story of America? More pointedly when was the last time you considered that the American experiment, when you really lay it all out, looks like something that came out of a mad scientist’s laboratory?
Werewolves Within Review – Tribeca Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes The scene: A remote mountain town locked down by deep, unforgiving snow. The players: A community divided by a proposed pipeline, the friendly new forest ranger, and the murderer hiding in plain sight. As the body count grows and secrets are revealed, forest ranger Finn and postal worker Cecily don’t know who to trust — or how much time they have left to solve the mystery.
A Remarkably Restrained and Arresting Effort
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Netflix limited series Halston follows the ascension of the legendary fashion designer and the moments in his life that make – and break – him an icon of his time. Wrapped up within the well-known drama of Halston’s attempt to reclaim his name from the control of his investors and their lawyers, is the more intimate exploration of Halston’s attempt to reclaim control of his very self.
Dream Horse Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 2 minutes A little optimism goes a long way and it’s something that we all need right now. What better place to add a little light and joy into your day than with a cozy, feel-good watch? Dream Horse is refreshingly simple, relentlessly optimistic, and a pleasant ride that any viewer can sit back and enjoy. Dream Horse is based on the incredible true story of the Welsh racehorse, Dream Alliance.
When I'm Her Review – Cleveland International Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 2 minutes Michael Cusumano first forayed into the world of professional ballet as a child prodigy, fixated on perfection and with the ambition to join the ranks of the most competitive ballet dancers in the world. While he would achieve this goal, as the youngest male dancer to ever join the American Ballet Theatre, his drive would come at a steep price.
Meditations on Aging with Good Ole Blood and Gore
Reading Time: 3 minutes Who doesn’t love a good vampire movie? With a winning recipe of buckets of blood, horrific creatures, and perfectly haunting Gothic-inspired settings, the vampire branch of horror offers so much to the bloodthirsty viewer. Moreover, vampire films often dare to explore the fine line between man and monster that we’re all so familiar with. The best vampire films allow us to dance with our inner demons.
I Care A Lot Review: A Film That Cuts Like a Knife – But Why Tho?
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s typical for films, when injecting female leads into traditionally male genres, to fall into a few narrative pitfalls. There’s the temptation to qualify a female character’s presence by centering her story on the idea of “keeping up with the boys,” or extra care is put into making the character as likable as possible. After all, we wouldn’t want audiences to think of this exciting female lead as a bitch, would we?
John and the Hole Review – But Why Tho? A Geek Community
Reading Time: 3 minutes John and the Hole is an unsettling and confusing debut from director Pascual Sisto. The film stars Charlie Shotwell, Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Ehle, and Taissa Farmiga. The film, adapted from a short story, is an enigmatic psychological exercise made all the more compelling by the powerful performances in this intimately small cast. John is thirteen and fascinated with the concept of adulthood.
The World To Come Review – Sundance Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes Set in the harsh, but stunning landscape of upstate New York in the eighteenth century, The World To Come is a romance built on hope, our human need to connect and console, and longing. Abigail is a dutiful wife, but reeling from the loss of her child and resigned to the drudgery of her rural life. When another couple moves to the area, Abigail meets Tallie and suddenly she feels the first breath of hope in years. The pair form a bond that quickly blossoms into an affair.
Eight For Silver Review – Sundance Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes A good horror film will revisit all the best tropes, when it comes to sending a shiver up the spine, and deliver a terrifying and terrific monster. A great horror film will use every shot to unsettle the soul, reinvent what it is that scares us, and dare to introduce us to our inner-monster. Eight For Silver reaches for that greatness.
Ruined by Faux Feminism and the Male Gaze
Reading Time: 4 minutes Witches, figures of legend, and the witch trials, an especially dark shadow on our shared human history, are popular source material for a reason. The mystique of witches, women holding ultimate or unholy power, and the shocking truth that hundreds of thousands of women were sacrificed to eras of ignorance and rigid patriarchal control are rich soil to the creative mind.
Land (2021) Review – Sundance Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 2 minutes Films like Land are earmarked for festival participation and awards consideration at birth. It’s the classic formula of “Well Liked Star Makes Directorial Debut with Introspective Adaptation.” Land is nothing if not loyal to its own stereotype. Don’t get me wrong, I love a tragic journey of self-discovery as much as the next critic and I’m partial to a feel-good ending. Land is a solid, but not terribly original version of these types of stories.
Cusp (2021) Review – Sundance Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes Content Warning: This review contains frank discussion of sexual assault. Documentary filmmakers Parker Hill and Isabel Bethencourt chronicle the pains of adolescence and the, sometimes unwilling, transition from girlhood to womanhood in Cusp.
Cryptozoo (2021) Review – Sundance Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes The feature films showcased at the Sundance Film Festival push the boundaries of filmmaking. These entries are genre-defying examples of totally unique cinema, spanning fiction and non-fiction. Cryptozoo certainly fits in with the other films in its category as an innovative, envelope-pushing example of animation. Yet, while the film is certainly a looker it lacks the clarity required to elevate it as a piece of storytelling.
Playing With Sharks Review – Sundance Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Sundance Film Festival takes courage and artistry in film to the max with its showcase of international documentary features. Documentary films have the special power of harnessing the beauty of our world to capture the imagination. When it comes to stories of courage and exploring our fantastical world, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better film than Playing With Sharks.
Doublespeak Review – Sundance Film Festival 2021
Reading Time: 2 minutes Content Warning: This review touches on the subject of workplace sexual harassment The Sundance Film Festival is a champion of innovative and experimental cinema. The Sundance Shorts Program, in particular, is a space where new and original filmmakers are showcased. Small runtimes don’t make the films any less grand and Doublespeak is a perfect example of how large storytelling comes in small packages.
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