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Articles by Charlie Hickman
Senior Column | An experience impossible to sum up
I joined the DI on a whim and it fundamentally changed who I am. May 12, 2026 I can’t remember why I scanned a QR code on the first floor of the Adler Journalism Building to join The Daily Iowan arts section in March 2023, but it feels like something I was always meant to do in retrospect. Before I started working at the DI, I was an antisocial first-year who preferred catching a movie at FilmScene to going out and felt unfulfilled socially and professionally.
Every movie you need to see during the 2026 summer movie season
From epic blockbusters to indie comedies, there is a wide variety of exciting films releasing in the coming months. May 7, 2026 The last three summers I’ve worked at The Daily Iowan, I compiled a list of the most exciting, accessible, and worthwhile movies releasing in the months between school years. I’ve loved the summer movie season since I was a kid, as it’s usually when studios drop their biggest blockbusters. This year is no different. Here are the movies you gotta keep an eye on this summer.
Review | ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 is forgettable fun
A tonally and politically confused second season of the “Daredevil” revival is still a good time. May 6, 2026 Against all odds, the second season of “Daredevil: Born Again” is pretty cool, if not tonally confused and thematically empty.
Overcoming the silver screen slump with community-facing programming
After years of financial uncertainty, the movie theater industry is bouncing back by embracing its status as a community hub. April 28, 2026 Across Iowa, movie theaters serve a larger role than simply projecting entertainment. From FilmScene in Iowa City to The Last Picture House in Davenport, independent and boutique cinemas are using movies to facilitate community engagement.
Review | Remake of iconic horror film “Faces of Death” feels like the beginning of a new era
Horror movies come in waves, and with Daniel Goldhaber’s “Faces of Death,” we may have entered the internet horror wave. April 21, 2026 Horror movies have always been the most attuned to the cultural environment of any film genre. As much as jump scares are entertaining, fear can also tap into the anxieties at the root of our society. From the religious horror boom in the ‘70s, the slasher craze in the ‘80s, and the family trauma trend in the 2010s, topics come in waves in horror movies.
Review | ‘The Pitt’ Season 2 proves it has longevity
This year, everyone on “The Pitt” is depressed and angry, which is sad for the characters, but boy, does it make for good television. April 20, 2026 I was a huge fan of the first season of “The Pitt,” HBO Max’s in-real-time medical drama starring Noah Wyle. The spectacle of the medical crisis at the end of the season, the endearing characters, and incredible central performance from Wyle made it appointment viewing for me.
Review | Annemarie Jacir’s ‘Palestine 36’ is an anticolonial miracle
The new film follows the lives of a handful of characters affected by the 1936 revolt against British occupation in Palestine. April 16, 2026 “Half a loaf is better than no bread at all,” sounds the voice of the colonizer through the radio on the night the people of Palestine are told their land is going to be partitioned by the British Empire. This quote exemplifies what makes Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir’s “Palestine 36 ” profoundly effective.
Dead Level Set discuss their origins in the Iowa City rock scene
Dead Level Set is an Iowa City based indie rock band that got its start in late 2025 and has only played a handful of shows. Despite their relatively recent arrival in the Iowa City music scene, they've already become well known at music venues like Gabe's and Trumpet Blossom Cafe. Clayton Schuneman, the bass player, Jon Hansen, the lead guitarist and vocalist, and Anthony Capozzi, the trio that makes up Dead Level Set, performed in The Daily Iowan's Headliners concert series.
Dead Level Set prove Iowa City's rock scene is as alive as ever
The echo of stomping feet down wooden basement stairs rang out through the concrete basement practice space Dead Level Set used to prepare for upcoming shows. Acoustically, the room is ideal for the thumping, fast-paced sound the band deploys; even a footstep sounds good in the space. Adorned floor-to-ceiling in beautiful tapestries and dotted with multicolored skulls atop the band's amps, the space feels fitting to the showy, electrifying performance style Dead Level Set emanates when playing.
The Oscars are in the middle of an identity crisis
As a lifelong film nerd, I've always enjoyed the Academy Awards. Growing up, it felt like a second Super Bowl in my house. My parents don't watch nearly as many movies as I do - few people should, it's frankly too much - but they always watched the Best Picture nominees. While they weren't the most invested in the film world, they enjoyed the comedy bits, red carpet glamour, and celebrity interactions. For most casual audiences, I'd say this is the general appeal of the Oscars ceremony.
Headliners
The Daily Iowan newsroom hosted its third Headliners in Iowa City on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2026, with live performances from Spirit Awake, Dead Level Set, and Lipstick Homicide. Check out the links below to see the bands’ sets and exclusive interviews with the members.
A freewheelin' evening with Bob Dylan at Hancher
Walking into Hancher Auditorium on the evening of March 25 gave me chills. Just entering into Hancher's sprawling space I could feel the anticipation among Bob Dylan fans. Dylan's "Rough and Rowdy Ways" tour has been running since 2021, as the artist has continued extending dates out of compulsion to meet demand. There was indeed demand in Iowa City Wednesday night as a sold out crowd hummed with excitement as Dylan's bandmates warmed up on stage once 8 p.m. hit.
'Resident Evil: Requiem' is a rip-roaring horror game that honors the legendary series
I have been a "Resident Evil" fan for most of my life. Some of my earliest video game memories include shakily passing a PlayStation 3 controller between friends as we anxiously crawled through the opening moments of the original game before getting too scared and turning the console off. When I loaded up "Resident Evil: Requiem," the ninth mainline game in the series, on its release day, Feb. 27, I had the same scared little kid chill down my spine as I did at those sleepovers.
HBO's 'Industry' Season 4 is a totemic deconstruction of the social and political moment
What makes "Industry" such an addictive show is its versatility. Since the first season debuted in 2020, the series has always been about young people in finance grappling with their place in their field and ultimately the world. Now, it's a paranoid thriller about the rise of technofascism and heroic investigative journalism - essentially the kind of thing made in a lab for me to absolutely love.
I spent a weekend at Missouri's True/False Documentary Film Festival
COLUMBIA, Missouri - Over a drab, cloudy weekend in Columbia, Missouri, the True/False Documentary Film Festival injected color across the downtown area as flocks of lanyard-wearing filmgoers booked it from theater to theater to catch the latest in international nonfiction filmmaking. Now in its 23rd year, the festival truly transforms downtown Columbia. Seemingly every street featured hanging flags with the festival's logo, banners, stickers in business windows, and even a statue.
'Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie' is a hysterically touching ode to friendship
At least a dozen times throughout "Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie," I could not believe what I was seeing. The legacy sequel to the cult web series and subsequent Canadian television show has a convoluted title but delivers one of the most purely funny and endearing buddy comedies in years.
Which "Game of Thrones" show is the best?
If you aren't tapped into HBO's latest installment in the ever-growing "Game of Thrones" universe, you are severely missing out. I'm not the biggest fan of the original show; I've seen it, sure, but could hardly recount most of what happens. Every moment of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has had me compelled. I find it easy to get bogged down in the lore and history of these big epic fantasy stories; it's not really my genre. But the premise here is so simple, I love it.
Defending against fascism happens in your community, not on your phone
We all have that friend who loves to post their politics. The type of person who, no matter what time of day it is, is constantly adding to their Instagram story to the point you have to tap the side of your screen upwards of 20 times to scroll through everything. Maybe you're that friend; I know I certainly have been.
'Send Help' is a laugh-out-loud funny taut thriller with a helping of grotesque horror
I've been a fan of Sam Raimi's cartoonish, mean-spirited, and endlessly creative filmmaking since I was a kid, so watching "Send Help," his newest film, when it debuted in theaters on Jan. 30 was a delight. When I was little, I'd obsessively rewatch "Spider-Man 2" and "Army of Darkness," two of Raimi's more kid-friendly offerings.
Bookmobile bridges Iowa City Public Library’s resources and the broader Johnson County community
On a frigid Monday afternoon, down the streets of the Peninsula neighborhood in Iowa City, a boxy blue bus filled wall to wall with stacks of books sat parked against a curb. As biting winds tore through Emma J Harvat Square Park, the Iowa City Public Library’s Bookmobile quietly hummed with warmth and the promise of a lucky reader’s new favorite book. Jeri Hobart, an Iowa City resident, braved the frigid temperature as she made her way to the Bookmobile’s stop.
'Wonder Man' is a refreshing, binge-worthy comic book show so good it feels like Marvel made it on accident
When I sat down to watch "Wonder Man" with my friends, I was fully expecting to have a muted reaction. I haven't enjoyed a single new entry in the long-running Marvel Cinematic Universe, be it television or film, in several years. But I thought "Wonder Man" was excellent. The highest praise I can give "Wonder Man" is that it feels like a real tv show.
'The Testament of Ann Lee' is a stirring, strange historical epic
"The Testament of Ann Lee" is unlike anything I've seen before. Starring Amanda Seyfried and Lewis Pullman , the film is at once a historical epic full of spectacle and astounding imagery, an unwavering portrait of a controversial religious figure in 1600s New England, and a grisly depiction of violent religious persecution. It is also a musical. I was knocked out by this movie.
Johannes Roberts' absurd gore fest 'Primate' and the value of trashy cinema
I've been seeing trailers for Johannes Roberts' new animal horror film, "Primate," for what feels like forever at this point. During the NFL Wild Card games, the Golden Globes, and between Instagram scrolls, I felt like every ad I saw featured Ben, the rabies-infected chimp at the center of the film. The problem with the ubiquity of Ben's presence is that many people, myself included, thought the movie looked terrible.
Best movies of 2025 you need to watch
Every year, I do my best to see as many new-release movies as possible to track the state of the art form in my head, develop ideas about what themes are most driving contemporary artists in a given year, and prepare to be a well-informed award-show watcher come Oscar season. In 2025, I've seen 88 new movies and have a few dozen on my watchlist still to catch up on. I don't get a lot of sleep.
The worst movies of 2025
Good movies are released every year. There is almost always something playing in theaters worth turning over two hours to experience. But in our current era of sloppy franchise films, so-called elevated horror flicks, and dreadful irony infected comedies, there are plenty of bad movies too. Celebrating the best of what movies have to offer is important, but shaming the worst is necessary too - and it's pretty fun. Ok, don't get mad.
'The Chair Company' is a hilariously strange odyssey of obsession and midlife crisis
Tim Robinson has been a cult favorite comedian since his days writing for "Saturday Night Live" from 2012 to 2016. But with his smash hit 2019 Netflix sketch show "I Think You Should Leave," Robinson has cemented himself as one of the most successful comedic actors working today. His newest show, "The Chair Company," takes Robinson's signature cringe humor to new heights and closer to the realm of horror. Debuting on HBO on Oct.
Movie theater etiquette needs to change
Movies are a beautiful art, and the best way to experience them is in a large dark room, on a big screen at loud volumes, and surrounded by a crowd of complete strangers. But in recent years, I've noticed an increase in bad manners at theaters. At a time when streaming services are threatening to put the entire movie exhibition industry at risk, every movie theater attendee needs to put in the work to keep these cinema monuments a destination for film fans.
'Bugonia' is a disappointing outing from one of the most interesting filmmakers working today
Yorgos Lanthimos' third film in three years, "Bugonia," is about what you would expect from the director at this point. For fans of the filmmaker's signature darkly comic, bleak sensibility, it's sure to deliver. I was left wanting more. "Bugonia" is a remake of the 2003 South Korean film "Save the Green Planet!" but updates the satirical material to send up contemporary corporate culture and environmental dread.
Jafar Panahi's 'It Was Just an Accident' is a brave filmmaking feat and breathlessly entertaining thriller
In 2010, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was arrested by his government and accused of making propaganda films critiquing the regime. In prison, Panahi wrote letters detailing mistreatment and abuse, but courts continued to uphold his detainment. Finally, in 2011, he was released under house arrest and banned from making films for 20 years. Despite the ban, Panahi has made several documentaries under heavy restrictions from house arrest.
Spending a weekend at Refocus Film Festival 2025
As a fourth-year University of Iowa student, I've attended FilmScene's Refocus Film Festival every year since it was revived in 2022. Each year, I've attended more and more events until this weekend, when I stacked my schedule with films and conversations until I felt comfortable writing a listicle-length article.
Refocus Film Festival kicks off with the life-affirming 'Train Dreams'
Clint Bentley 's "Train Dreams" accomplishes what any literary adaptation should: a novelistic atmosphere. Perhaps it's the nature of the lifetime spanning story or the language within the soothing, hearth-like narration by Will Patton , which draws verbatim from the novella by Denis Johnson . It feels novelistic in its aim to condense a man's life into 100 minutes and in the way the edit flows from scene to scene, year to year, interaction to interaction.
'One Battle After Another' delivers intense action spectacle while telling an all-too-real story about the chaos of modern political life
"One Battle After Another" is a singular movie-going experience. It contains the sort of immersive, large-scale, emotionally, and intellectually involved blockbuster filmmaking legendary movies are made of. I'm not sure if I'm ready to call "One Battle After Another" a legendary movie yet, but director Paul Thomas Anderson's 10th film is certainly among the best of this decade so far.
Riverside reconstructs an American classic during rehearsals for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Adapting a canonical work of theater is difficult for any company, let alone one tucked away in Iowa City's bustling Pedestrian Mall, detached from the ample resources of Broadway. Yet Riverside Theatre will open its 2025 season with Edward Albee's classic play, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" "It's one of those plays every theater nerd reads in high school and thinks, 'I wish I was doing this play right now,'" Adam Knight, director of the show, said.
Five summer movies you need to catch up on
The 2025 summer movie season saw a healthy balance of horror, franchise blockbusters, and interesting indies. While boring remakes and sequels like "Lilo and Stitch" and "Jurassic World: Rebirth" still dominated the conversation, this list of five films will highlight a handful of the best movies from this summer that you should catch up on in order of how I think you should prioritize watching them.
Zach Cregger's buzzy horror movie 'Weapons' is a suspenseful story that builds to a riotous punchline
At 2:17 a.m. one morning, an entire classroom of elementary school students got out of bed, walked out of their homes, and into the darkness. A month later, the town of Maybrook is angry and desperate for answers as the police, concerned parents, and enterprising local teens fail to solve the grisly mystery of the children's whereabouts.
Combatting the brain rot era with physical media
Many avid TV and film fans share this experience when browsing streaming services: finding an interesting title and throwing it on the watchlist only to find it's disappeared to another service the next time the app updates. If this has ever ruined movie night, physical media may be the solution. As the media we consume has shifted further online, purchasing physical copies of music and films has become a way to ensure access. "People are longing for something anti-digital.
Is 'Sinners' another cliche horror film or does it earn classic status?
In retrospect, I think I should have been able to tell from the very first scene that "Sinners" would be a mixed bag. The film begins with a trope, perhaps one of the oldest in storytelling: voiceover exposition. As we're presented with a series of occasionally frightening images, we're informed that our world hosts rare individuals who play music so "true" they can transcend, well, pretty much everything. Through this ability, they can summon all kinds of spirits - some good and some bad.
Filmmakers around Iowa City utilize the uniquely supportive community
Iowa may not have nearly the same level of glitz and glamor as the Hollywood Hills, but the state's filmmaking network is strong. Thanks to filmmaker communities like the one present in Iowa City, the state is becoming more of a destination for film productions every year. Film festivals like FilmScene's Refocus, the University of Iowa's Iowa City Documentary Film Festival, and Des Moines' Interrobang Film Festival have cultivated a dedicated crowd of independent filmmakers.
'Daredevil: Born Again' should have stayed dead
I love the character of Daredevil. His comic books were my favorite to read when I was a kid. I was there on the #SaveDaredevil message boards when the original Netflix show was canceled in 2018. That said, I was profoundly disappointed with "Daredevil: Born Again." Netflix canceled its hit Marvel show "Daredevil" after the third season premiered. While there were plans for further seasons, the story mostly wrapped up in the third.
'The Pitt' is a visceral medical masterpiece
For the past 14 weeks, I've lived out the "bro think he on the team " meme by tuning into "The Pitt" and watching half of an episode with my hands over my eyes. Max's new medical drama is immediately enthralling, and it is by far the best thing I've seen on TV in a while. Season one consists of 15 episodes, each set in real time throughout a 15-hour shift in a Pittsburgh emergency room, which the attending doctor Robby Robinovich calls The Pitt.
Eephus is a hilarious love letter to baseball with a charming emotional core
Early in Carson Lund's indie comedy "Eephus," a grey-bearded, bitter amateur baseball player watches a group of kids playing soccer on a pristine field. Looking down, he is reminded of the degraded outfield in Soldiers Field, where his team, the River Dogs, has played community-organized games for years.
The Daily Iowan's 2025 Mission Creek Festival highlights
This weekend, Mission Creek Festival returned to venues across Iowa City. For 20 years, Mission Creek has welcomed eclectic artists from around the world to share their talents with the city's music fans. Across the span of three days, arts reporters from The Daily Iowan attended a variety of shows to provide tastes of the wildly different performances on display. These snippets from extended coverage will catch you up on the most talked-about shows at Mission Creek this weekend. 1.
The organizations turning Iowa City into a safer, more accessible destination for bicyclists
As winter rolls into spring, so do the spokes on bicycle wheels around Iowa City. Cyclists have been out in larger and larger numbers as the weather improves, but with increased numbers of bikes on the road come safety concerns. Over the past few years, community members have been working with Iowa City government to improve infrastructure for people who ride bikes.
Ways to spend time outside in Iowa City
The weather is getting nicer, and trails are getting more crowded, which can only mean one thing: Spring is upon us. If you, like me, are itching to get outside and spend your leisure time on activities you haven't tried before, this list is your guide. Whether you've hiked Hickory Hill Park so many times and know the path by the back of your hand or just don't know where to look, I'm here to remind you that Iowa City is not lacking unique outdoor fun.
Former Sonic Youth bandmember Kim Gordon to headline Mission Creek 2025
Announced in an Instagram post at 12 p.m. Friday, Kim Gordon and her band will take the stage as Mission Creek Festival's headliner at 8:45 p.m. on April 3. The new act comes after Tuesday's announcement that Julien Baker and TORRES needed to remove themselves from the spot due to illness. Gordon was once a member of iconic 90s band Sonic Youth. Nominated for Grammys in her solo career, Gordon's alt-rock music will set the tone for Mission Creek's 20th anniversary.
A guide to Mission Creek Festival 2025
The 2025 Mission Creek Festival is almost upon us, featuring a host of exciting acts to commemorate the long-running dynamic arts celebration. Spanning several venues around Iowa City, it can be hard to track where the festival's most blockbuster acts will be staged. Worry not, reader. This list will point you where you want to go when the festival begins on April 3. Whether you're looking for literature, rock and roll jams, or something more experimental, there is an event for you.
2025 Mission Creek headliners Julien Baker & TORRES drop out of festival due to 'medical situation'
Around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Hancher Auditorium and the Mission Creek Festival broke the news that Julien Baker & TORRES have cancelled their headlining performance at this year's festival.
The Oscars set a new tone for the 97th annual awards ceremony
As a psycho who spends far too much time reading about and engaging with contemporary film culture, I sure hope they do. This year's 97th Academy Awards finally offered evidence to support my hope for the importance of the show, thanks to a record-breaking statistic. Every winner in the main acting awards - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Animated, and Best International Feature - was an independently financed film made outside of the Hollywood studio system.
The meme culture that is making us go grey
The first thing students like Justis Walker do when they wake up is open Instagram and start scrolling through Reels.
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