The Black Phone

Dead Line

The year is 1978, and a spate of child disappearances have rocked a suburban Ohio town.  The culprit is an unidentified figure (Ethan Hawke) nicknamed “the Grabber” by locals.  13-year-old Finney Shaw (Mason Thames) and his younger sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) are aware of the kidnappings, but have more pressing concerns in the form of vicious bullies and an abusive father (Jeremy Davies). 

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Velvet Buzzsaw

velvet buzzsaw

This Just Won’t Cut It

Velvet Buzzsaw is a movie I wanted to like – to love, even.  The last time Dan Gilroy and Jake Gyllenhaal teamed up we got 2014’s excellent Nightcrawler, and given the gonzo premise of their new collaboration, I thought I was in for a good time.  But the Netflix movie curse spares few; even up-and-coming directors and A-list actors cannot escape its grasp.  The streaming service’s marketing would have you believe Velvet Buzzsaw is first and foremost a horror film, but the truth is the horror is an afterthought.  So is everything else in the movie. Continue reading

The Nun

the nun

The Nun has been enjoying a robust showing at the box office, and it’s easy to see why.  It’s backed by the sizable support of the ever-expanding The Conjuring franchise, and it was released with a savvy sense of timing; late enough into September to whet the seasonal appetite for horror, but early enough to get ahead of the incoming torrents of competitors.  But if the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that good marketing is not a substitute for quality, especially in a series as inconsistent as this one. Continue reading