Meg Shields

Based in the Pacific North West, Meg enjoys long scrambles on cliff faces and cozying up with a good piece of 1960s eurotrash. As a senior contributor at FSR, Meg's objective is to spread the good word about the best of sleaze, genre, and practical effects.
Mr Vampire

How to Make a Family-Friendly Horror Film That’s Still Gory

By Meg Shields 

Here’s a video essay about how the Hong Kong action-horror classic ‘Mr Vampire’ manages to stay family-friendly without sacrificing its scares.

Extraction, Jb Nef

When is a Long Take Just a Gimmick?

By Meg Shields 

We know that a Long Take is always a treat, but if it doesn’t serve the story, it can feel like a gimmick. A new video essay explores why.

Bonnie And Clyde

How ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ Changed Hollywood

By Meg Shields 

What we’re watching: a video essay about how ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ changed the makeup of American cinema forever. 

Ponyo

The Power of Sound: Why a Hayao Miyazaki Film Feels Alive

By Meg Shields 

Here’s a video essay explaining how Miyazaki films use sound to bring animation to life.

Parasite Sunset Boulevard Comparison

How ‘Parasite’ and ‘Sunset Boulevard’ Script Disillusionment

By Meg Shields 

What we’re watching: a video essay comparing the disillusionment arcs of ‘Parasite’ and ‘Sunset Boulevard.’

Maxresdefault

Substance with Style: The Incomparable Career of Saul Bass

By Meg Shields 

Saul Bass may very well be one of the most influential film artists to only have directed a single film himself. Here’s a montage celebrating his incomparable body of work.

Robocop

How To Read ‘RoboCop’ as an Exploitation Film

By Meg Shields 

What we’re watching: a video essay that suggests an alternative reading of ‘RoboCop’ as an exploitation revenge film

In A Nutshell

The History of Humanity Condensed: The Manic Montage of ‘In A Nutshell’

By Meg Shields 

Here’s a short animated film that presents the history of the world…in a nutshell.

Avatar The Last Airbender

Deconstructing the Best Episode of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’

By Meg Shields 

Here’s a video essay that unpacks why “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” is not only the best episode of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender,’ but the key to the whole series.