story elements Archives - Page 2 of 4

Clone Cops Spins Comedy into the Death Game Genre

Death games have long been a captivating theme in cinema, exploring humanity’s darkest impulses and the thrill of survival. Films like The Running Man (1987), based on a Stephen King novella, brought this concept to the forefront, depicting a dystopian… Continue Reading →

Me, Myself & the Void Offers a Glimpse Into the Tragedy of Comedians

I’ve always been struck by the tragic irony that some of the funniest people to ever grace the stage or screen — people like Robin Williams, John Belushi and Chris Farley — were also the ones hiding the deepest pain…. Continue Reading →

September 20, 2024

A Quiet Place: Day One Brings Lupita Nyong’o’s Best Performance Yet

In a movie landscape where the horror genre often relies on overt scares and relentless gore, A Quiet Place emerged as a refreshing film that was both suspenseful and minimalistic. Directed by John Krasinski, the original film captivated audiences with… Continue Reading →

July 12, 2024

Film Masters Gets a Hankering for Some Hicksploitation

What’s a couple of black-and-white stories involving a Lolita-style romance, a lustful farmhand, a vengeful farmer, a bayou moonshiner, a shady policeman, a small-town floozie and a gold-digging stripper all have in common? They’re the latest feature films included in… Continue Reading →

June 22, 2024

On Top of the World with the Emotions of Inside Out 2

The 2015 film, Inside Out, painted a vivid picture of the human experience while focusing on the emotions of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. It resonated deeply with my own life as a 46-year-old single dad caring for my… Continue Reading →

June 17, 2024

C. Thomas Howell Takes a Slow Ride

As a father, certain movies resonate deeply, often pulling me into their stories as I imagine myself in the scenes — especially ones that deal with kids and cancer. I can’t help but think about what I would do if… Continue Reading →

June 14, 2024

Star Wars Anoints a New Era with The Acolyte

Family bonds run tight throughout the Star Wars Universe, beginning with the Skywalkers within the Original Trilogy, later stretching into the prequel trilogy and the Solos and the Palpatines wrapping up the Sequel Trilogy. Those ties continue, possibly even stronger,… Continue Reading →

June 4, 2024

Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever is the Sequel No One Asked For

A bad movie simply doesn’t deserve a sequel. When a film fails to captivate its audience with a compelling story, engaging characters or even basic entertainment value, the idea of continuing its narrative feels more like a punishment than a… Continue Reading →

May 31, 2024

Robot Dreams Speaks a Universal Language in Silence

As a film critic, I occasionally get the chance to explore movies created beyond the borders of the United States. While some prove excellent enough for me to want to share with friends, I often have a recurring inquiry: Is… Continue Reading →

January 24, 2024

Cassandro Wrestles with Gender Identity

Currently, professional wrestling is garnering significant attention, particularly with the recent collaboration between the leading force in sports entertainment, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and the MMA trailblazers, the UFC, resulting in the formation of TKO, a publicly traded combat sports… Continue Reading →

December 1, 2023

Geek Culture, Zombies... and Other Monsters

Tag story elements

Me, Myself & the Void Offers a Glimpse Into the Tragedy of Comedians

C. Thomas Howell Takes a Slow Ride

Star Wars Anoints a New Era with The Acolyte

Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever is the Sequel No One Asked For

Robot Dreams Speaks a Universal Language in Silence