minimalist storytelling Archives

Rod Blackhurst and Max the Impaler Bring Dolly to Life

Sometimes, fairy tales can bring the pain. Dolly depicts the demented fairy tale of a menacing, masked monster that kidnaps and kills its victims, who are otherwise collected as toys at an isolated cabin in the woods. Brought to life… Continue Reading →

With His Eye to the Sky, Gentry Lee is the Starman

I tend to lean heavily toward the science fact portion of science-fiction stories. A good space opera will definitely grab my attention, but it’s the real-world mechanics that really pique my interest on the big screen. Will humanity ever have… Continue Reading →

February 2, 2026

Chalamet, Paltrow and A’zion Shine in Marty Supreme

I have lived my entire life under the foolish assumption that only the Big Sports are allowed to be ruthless. Football. Boxing. Hockey. The ones where teeth are lost, careers end on stretchers, and someone’s uncle still insists the game… Continue Reading →

December 22, 2025

28 Years Later: Expectations, Reality and a Very Different Movie

I went into 28 Years Later expecting water. Clean, familiar, maybe a little stale from sitting out too long, but ultimately recognizable. I expected the cinematic equivalent of rehydration, something that would remind me why this series mattered, hit the… Continue Reading →

December 21, 2025

Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story That Needs More Bite

I have always had a soft spot for stories that take something familiar and twist it just enough to make it feel new again. Give me a reimagined fairy tale, a sideways sequel, a villain-centric prequel and I am all… Continue Reading →

November 19, 2025

V/H/S/Halloween: A Candy-Coated Nightmare

I have a deep love for anthology horror films. They remind me of digging into a trick-or-treat bag at the end of Halloween night: You dump it all out on the floor, not knowing what you are going to find…. Continue Reading →

October 24, 2025

Peacock Struts as the Nashville Film Festival Wraps

Imposter syndrome takes new twists in Bernhard Wenger’s Peacock, a satirical tragicomedy that made its Southeastern premiere at the 56th Nashville Film Festival.

September 26, 2025

Mini Horrors: Graveyard Shorts Shine at the 56th Nashville Film Festival

Like last year, the 2025 Nashville Film Festival once again proved itself as the premier film event in Middle Tennessee, drawing in cinephiles, industry insiders and first-time festival goers alike. The sheer range of films on display — from intimate… Continue Reading →

September 24, 2025

CreatiVets: Where Silence Becomes Art

My dad was a World War II veteran, but like so many of his generation, he rarely spoke about his service. The only story he ever shared was that he flew over Germany with Ed Koch — yes, the future… Continue Reading →

September 24, 2025

No Experience Necessary: Seniors Craft a Horror Movie in Silver Screamers

I can picture it now. My mom, almost 80 and dealing with dementia, rolling through the halls of her assisted living center with a mischievous grin plastered across her face. She’d be the one hiding rubber bats in the cafeteria,… Continue Reading →

September 22, 2025

Geek Culture, Zombies... and Other Monsters

Tag minimalist storytelling

Rod Blackhurst and Max the Impaler Bring Dolly to Life

Chalamet, Paltrow and A’zion Shine in Marty Supreme

CreatiVets: Where Silence Becomes Art

No Experience Necessary: Seniors Craft a Horror Movie in Silver Screamers