Caitlin Kennedy
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Articles by Caitlin Kennedy
[Nightmarish Detour Review] THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER
[Nightmarish Detour Review] THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER These are dark times we’re living in. On an individual level, we are coping with the current moment in a variety of ways. Some of us are raging against the systems and ready to dismantle any and every institution that stands in our way. Others are withdrawing into personally curated nests of comfort and safety and anything that we can cling to, to keep the fall of society at bay.
Q&A with THE RIGHTEOUS Director / Writer / Actor Mark O’Brien
Mark O’Brien makes an impressive filmmaking debut as writer, director and star of The Righteous (alongside Henry Czerny and Mimi Kuzyk), heading to ARROW on June 10th. As the subject of our latest Q&A, O'Brien talks about the film's black and white cinematography, its influences, and what's next! The Righteous is a gorgeous film and one of its most striking elements is the use of black and white cinematography. What was the purpose behind the bold aesthetic?
[Nightmarish Detour Review] DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS
DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS enters the MCU at a moment of seemingly endless potential. If Marvel fans have learned anything from the previous films and the Disney+ shows, it’s that Marvel’s horizons are boundless and each new foray only pushes the envelope further. Doctor Strange is a perfectly suited hero to adventure deeper into these new frontiers… and to confront their darkness.
[Series Review] Marvel Studios' MOON KNIGHT
Courtesy Marvel Studios Steven Grant is not what typically comes to mind when one thinks of a hero. A meek, awkward gift-shop employee Steven does his best to move quietly through the world while pining for the chance to prove himself. It doesn’t help that Steven is plagued by blackouts, bizarre dreams, and a sleep disorder that often results in him waking up far from home and with no memory of where he has been.
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.
[Nightmarish Detour Review] BIG GOLD BRICK
Courtesy Samuel Goldwyn Films Fledgling writer Samuel Liston’s life is changed forever when Floyd Deveraux hits him with his Cadillac, one dark night. BIG GOLD BRICK follows Samuel through his bizarre experiences with Floyd and the rest of the Deveraux family, as Samuel pens Floyd’s biography. Chaos ensues and there are no coincidences and only cosmic questions, from Floyd and Samuel’s first meeting through every twist and turn of Floyd’s strange life.
[Nightmarish Detour Review] DEATH ON THE NILE
Courtesy 20th Century StudiosIn DEATH ON THE NILE, murder and mystery never take a vacation as famed detective Hercule Poirot finds his Egyptian getaway disrupted by sinister plots and violent murder. Trapped aboard a luxury yacht, cruising the river Nile, Poirot is at the center of a less-than-blissful wedding party. An heiress and her new groom are surrounded by not-so-well wishers, jilted former lovers, and jealous relatives, with danger lurking around every corner. Poirot is on the case.
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.
[Movie Review] SCREAM
Courtesy Dolby When the first Scream released in 1996, the film was instantly iconic among horror fans for its ability to deftly tread the line between homage and parody as it spoke to the rise of slashers. The Scream franchise henceforth has been the final word in speaking the language of the genre, resting on a foundation of legitimately effective horror and inside nods to the most devoted and bloodthirsty fans.
'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.
[Nightmarish Detour Review] RED NOTICE
Courtesy NetflixIn some ways, a film is like a date. It doesn’t matter how badly you want it to work or how good it looks on paper, if there’s no passion or spark there is nothing. RED NOTICE is very much a film that looks good on paper… almost too good. From its stars to its plot and CGI-saturated effects, RED NOTICE feels like what you would get if you asked a computer program to generate a hit film. As separate ingredients – talent, action set pieces, etc. – it should be a delightful ride.
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.
[Nightmarish Detour Review] ETERNALS
Courtesy Marvel StudiosWith over twenty films currently making up the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel finds itself at a pivotal moment in its development as a franchise. The studio has access to a rich back catalogue of exciting heroes and stories and an audience that is willing to follow them anywhere. ETERNALS emerges as an ambassador for the next generation of Marvel, boldly endeavoring to move the fan base beyond its comfort zone and pull us into new adventures.
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.
[Series Review] YOU SEASON 3
Courtesy NetflixAt the outset of YOU’s third season, it appears that Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) has finally met his match. Joe and his new bride, Love (Victoria Pedretti), have settled into suburban life in picturesque Madre Linda with a brand-new baby and a promise of no more bloodshed or lies. Joe is committed to his role as a husband and father, but is fearful of Love’s deadly impulses and bored of the bland day-to-day of suburban living.
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.
[Movie Review] LADY OF THE MANOR
Courtesy LionsgateIn LADY OF THE MANOR, Hannah is at rock bottom. A stoner, a slacker, and depressingly single, when Hannah is dumped by her boyfriend and in need of a job she stumbles upon a strange opportunity. Her new gig is as a tour guide of the historic Wadsworth Manor, portraying the Manor’s famous former owner Lady Wadsworth.
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.
[TIFF 2021 Review] A BANQUET
Courtesy of IFC MidnightIn A BANQUET, widowed mother Holly (Sienna Guillory) becomes concerned when her eldest daughter Betsey (Jessica Alexander) refuses to eat. Anxieties over a potential eating disorder become all the more disturbing when Betsey reveals that her body has become a vessel for a higher power and that she no longer will accept food into her body.
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.
Fantasia 2021 Review: THE RIGHTEOUS is a Slow-Burn of the Soul
The Righteous tells the story of a peculiar stranger that visits the home of a former priest and his wife. The priest had left the church in the hopes of starting a family, only to have tragedy strike when his young daughter is killed. The lonely couple are content but plagued with the grief of what was lost. When a young stranger arrives, the man and woman give him shelter.
Fantasia 2021 Review: GLASSHOUSE is a Lilting Pandemic Horror Film
In total isolation, as a pandemic turns the world upside down, a house of glass rises mysteriously out of the mist and forest. Inside, a small family lives in lonely confinement, tending the plants growing within the greenhouse that protect them from the toxic air. Outside the safety of their airtight glasshouse, an airborne neurochemical shreds the memories of its victims. Mother teaches her children the simple laws of their sanctuary and how to preserve precious memories through rituals.
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.
Fantasia 2021 Review: The Surreal and All-Too-Real Horror of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DICKS
Venla is fed up. Fed up with harassment, fed up with sexism, and especially fed up with unsolicited dick pics. After a particularly frustrating evening of mansplaining (and other horrors), Venla stumbles upon a pair of glasses that reveal a horrifying truth. She can now see that the men around her are horrific dick monsters. What’s worse, the monsters know they have been discovered! Night of the Living Dicks is written and directed by Ilja Rautsi (Helsinki Mansplaining Massacre).
Fantasia 2021 Review: THE LAST THING MARY SAW is Highly Effective Horror That Haunts a Familiar Narrative
In a film landscape that is oversaturated with a lot of the “same ole, same ole,� it’s easy to be dismayed or overly critical of films that walk a well-worn path. Features like The Last Thing Mary Saw serve as a needed reminder that tropes are used often for a reason and that even familiar stories can have fresh perspectives. It’s all about the quality of the work and, in that respect, The Last Thing Mary Saw delivers.
[Fantasia 2021 Review] LAST NIGHT AT THE STRIP CLUB
Courtesy of Fantasia When the COVID-19 pandemic struck Toronto, Andrea Werhun – a local stripper – was ousted from her club when it was shuttered in the pandemic lockdown. In the documentary, LAST NIGHT AT THE STRIP CLUB, by Nicole Bazuin that professional loss becomes a narrative of hope, empowerment, and Werhun’s own resilience and creativity.
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?
[Series Review] Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?
Courtesy of Marvel Studios & Disney+What Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe have managed to do is incredible. Decades of famous comic book stories and heroes have all been brought together to inspire and captivate the audience on the big screen and at home. The appeal of Marvel superheroes is the magic of the impossible possible – worlds and battles beyond our imagination, led by characters that ground us. WHAT IF…?
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?
[Fantasia 2021 Review] THE SEXY SHORTS OF FANTASIA FEST 2021
Courtesy of FantasiaAs one of the top genre film festivals in the world, Fantasia International Film Festival has a reputation for introducing audiences to the innovative, the insightful, and even the indecent! This year’s crop of short films invites festival attendees to step out of their comfort zone and take in a parade of sexy shorts. Driven by desire, the sexy shorts of Fantasia 2021 depict sexuality, attraction, and love in all of its glory.
[Nightmarish Detour Review] FREE GUY
Courtesy of 20th Century Studios 2021 has been a bleak year for “IP grab” films (Space Jam, anyone?) and the odds were looking equally as bad for FREE GUY. After a significant delay in its release, due to COVID-19, there were concerns going in that the film would have lost its momentum or suffered from the bad luck that seems to plague so many video game films.
Fantasia 2021 Review: AGNES is Not the Movie You Think It Is
In Agnes, a cynical priest and young novice approaching his vows are called to investigate rumors of demonic possession within a convent. What occurs within those walls will call forward temptations, doubt, and a true test of faith. Agnes is written and directed by Mickey Reece and stars Ben Hall (Climate of the Hunter), Jake Horowitz (The Vast of Night), and Hayley McFarland.
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.
[Movie Review] THE GREEN KNIGHT
Courtesy of A24The ancient world and its stories carry a peculiar weight. When we interact with an old text, stand on ancient ground, or listen to a timeworn proverb, there is a tangible heaviness that adds significance and authority to it. The tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is such a story, weighty with the wisdom that comes from holding centuries of secrets.
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.
[Series Review] MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: REVELATION
CHRIS WOOD as HE-MAN l NetflixRemakes, reboots, and reimaginings litter the entertainment landscape. Met with equal parts nostalgic thrill and fandom scorn, each undertaking is tasked with finding the perfect balance between preserving a beloved source material and injecting new blood into an old property.
Review: PIG is a Perfectly Presented, Sumptuous Dish
The premise of Michael Sarnoski’s Pig is deceptively straightforward. A truffle hunter, played by none other than Nicolas Cage, lives in isolation in the Oregonian wilderness. His only companion is his beloved foraging pig. When his pig is snatched by poachers, the man makes a desperate return to society and his complex past to search for her. This story of an unlikely friendship is just the surface of all that Pig has to offer.
Review: GREAT WHITE is a Guppy within its Subgenre
Of the creature feature subgenre, shark movies represent a unique sect capable of encompassing a range that spans from Jaws to Sharknado. Shark films can be truly exceptional pieces of film and they can be so off-the-wall and ridiculous that they achieve a whole other form of greatness. From the frightening to the ludicrous, shark movies are easy to love and offer a simple blueprint for filmmakers to follow. Which is why it’s almost impressive how much Great White manages to miss the mark.
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.
[Nightmarish Detour Review] THE TOMORROW WAR
Courtesy of Amazon StudiosNothing goes better with summer than a massive, action-packed summer blockbuster. Well… maybe watermelon or tequila. THE TOMORROW WAR is exactly the sort of sci-fi adventure that begs to be breathlessly enjoyed with an extra-large bowl of popcorn.
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.
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