A Familiar Monster Thriller Isn’t Without Its Arachnophobic Charms
Any creature feature worth its salt will, predictably, generally follow a well-worn path and set of rules plucked from classics like “Jaws,” “Jurassic Park,” or any number of sequels to “Alien.” A similar structure exists within any memorable creature thriller…
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‘Scoop’ Review — Gillian Anderson Beefs With the Monarchy Again
The Big Picture Billie Piper, Gillian Anderson, and Rufus Sewell deliver powerful performances. The main interview is suspenseful and captivating. Scoop occasionally lacks some character depth, especially with the characters of Emily and Amanda. Royal scandals are nothing new and…
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Faithful Man Featured, Reviews Film Threat
NOW ON VOD! Tragedy is thwarted in the most righteous way in the feel-great rock doc, Lee Fields: Faithful Man, directed by Jessamyn Ansary and Joyce Mishaan. Lee Fields was a soul artist who started riding the R&B charts through…
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‘Ripley’ Review — Andrew Scott Dazzles in Netflix’s Gorgeous Noir Thriller
The Big Picture Netflix's Ripley boasts stunning cinematography inspired by classic cinema and Renaissance art. Andrew Scott gives one of his best performances ever. The series offers an expertly crafted narrative with a strong sense of suspense, although some plot…
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Concerto for Abigail Featured, Reviews Film Threat
It’s hard to imagine losing your hearing late into adult life. Though it is rare, this does happen. In fact, roughly 5 percent of adults over the age of 40 experience disabling hearing loss, and that number increases with older…
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A Cat’s Life Featured, Reviews Film Threat
NOW IN THEATERS! The Wonderful World of Disney early evening television show was a moment in most homes. I have fading memories of watching the original The Incredible Journey with my mom on that program. Waxing nostalgia can lead to rose-colored glasses, yet the…
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You Have No Idea Featured, Reviews Film Threat
Alexander Jeffery’s documentary You Have No Idea is the touching story of Beth James Burns and her autistic son, Evan James. As someone who has an autistic relative, I can relate to the title of the documentary since we (and…
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Old Man 2 Featured, Reviews Film Threat
You can’t keep an old man down in writer-director Mark Battle’s action short, Old Man 2. Having never seen Old Man, I assume it ends where this one picks up. Our hero, the elderly Buster (John Mason), is locked up at the…
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Becky Featured, Reviews Film Threat
Justin Milton’s thriller Becky begins with newly married Greg (Marvin Young) and Joy (Folusho Peters), a black couple who have arrived at their new home in a Texas suburb where they are launching their life together. In an oddly overly…
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Against All Enemies Featured, Reviews Film Threat
Charlie Sadoff’s film Against All Enemies, a documentary about service members joining right-wing organizations, has many parts where the narrative clouds over. The first is the solemn assertion that The Proud Boys are classified as terrorists in Canada. That is…
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Blind Innocence Featured, Reviews Film Threat
NOW ON TUBI! A young girl must fend for herself in Hugo André’s thriller short, Blind Innocence. Mary (Lucy Murray-Watson) and her father (Stuart Wolfe-Murray) live humble lives in their forest home. Every day, Father tends to the garden and…
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‘The People’s Joker’ Review — Vera Drew’s Smart Parody Gets the Last Laugh
The Big Picture The People's Joker is the powerful and personal story of Vera Drew's transition and comedy career told under the guise of DC characters. Drew expertly balances humor, emotion, and social commentary through her multifaceted performance as Joker…
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