In Review
Welcome to In Review! Check out the latest reviews across film, TV, theatre and so much more…
Film Review - Smile 2
Smile 2 is a worthy sequel that, while not quite as groundbreaking as its predecessor, still offers plenty of great elements.
MIFF 2024 Film Review - Cuckoo
With complex, figurative ideas, eccentric leading performances, and a tense atmosphere, Cuckoo leads with promise.
Film Review - MaXXXine
If you’re an avid fan of horror films and especially love slashers, this is the film for you; if I’m not describing you, but you’re willing to give it a shot, you’ll find a fun ride of a movie with a few laughs and thrills along the way!
Film Review - The Watchers
There are whispers of a great movie in The Watchers, with Ishana’s directorial eye occasionally shining through the film’s middling aspects, however at present her directing style feels imitatively beholden to superficial notions of M. Night’s storytelling sensibilities, and I’d love for her to find her footing amidst the depths of the forest.
Film Review - Monster
Monster confronts viewers with an ambiguous ending, leaving us to decipher the truth of who really is the eponymous monster, but perhaps the objective truth is there are monsters in each and every one of us.
Fantastic Film Fest 2024 Review - Mars Express
Behind the flashing neon lights, Mars Express’ messy and complicated core is a delight to unpack and crucially, is without the comfort of easy answers. While it’s not exactly reinventing the wheel, its entangled approach to familiar concepts positions it uniquely, and is well worth the price of admission.
Feature - Fantastic Film Festival Australia 2024 Program Launch/Immaculate
Fans of bizarre, esoteric and extreme films, who live around Melbourne and Sydney can rejoice, because it's that time of year - Fantastic Film Festival Australia is back once again.
Film Review - Imaginary
Imaginary is a confounding experience, with absolutely none of the first draft wrinkles of the script ironed out.
Film Review - The Rooster
Just two bros sitting around a campfire. Five feet apart. Because they can’t face reality.
Film Review - Anatomy of a Fall
Painting a portrait of a marriage in decline, a child irrevocably changed, and a woman in freefall, Anatomy vivisects the ripple effect of its victim’s demise, familial wounds spilling open to reveal grisly entrails for all to see.
Film Review - The Crime is Mine
If you like the French, the death of sex offenders, black-and-white throwback scenes, and subtle manipulation then Mon Crime is the film for you.
Film Review - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
While Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is not the most audience (or even fan) friendly experience around, it's a devastating look at a life cut short.
Film Review - Retribution
Few things in cinema are as certain as the Liam Neeson action movies released at least once or twice a year for the past decade and a half.
Film Review - It Lives Inside
Overall, It Lives Inside illustrates itself to be a unique conceptual endeavour which struggles under the weight of its own potential. Although somewhat competent in facets of its execution, it ultimately sabotages its potency and settles upon a derivatively restrained final product which unfortunately struggles to leave a lasting impression.
Film Review - A Haunting in Venice
Kenneth Branagh has given audiences a mixed bag with A Haunting in Venice. The film offers nothing new in terms of mystery or thrills, and wastes it’s strong ensemble cast, which is the real disappointment.
Film Review - The Nun II
While The Nun II isn't exactly breathing new life into the genre, horror fans should find themselves satisfied, offering a course correction after the first entry underwhelmed.
Film Review - Marlowe
You’d be hard-pressed to say that its intended audience of older, weekday-matinee filmgoers won’t be satisfied by watching a canonised movie star like Neeson doing his thing as a 1930’s detective. Just don’t expect to be wowed by its stunning execution or originality.
Film Review - The Pope’s Exorcist
While The Pope's Exorcist won't be everyone's cup of tea, for horror fans willing to drop their guard a little bit and embrace a film that's more silly than scary, it's just good, dumb fun.
Film Review - Missing
As the feature debut from directors Nicholas D. Johnson and Will Merrick - the editors of Searching, the film goes to town on inventive editing techniques and uses all the comforts of technology that we take for granted, twisting them into complete discomfort for a layer of tension that stays through almost the whole film.
Film Review - See How They Run
Like any great whodunnit, See How They Run is about the investigation rather than the reveal. And with two loveable investigators, a bunch of effortless jokes, and some engaging visual storytelling, it makes for a killer night at the theatre.