Essays

‘Braveheart’ and Creating the Battle of Stirling

By Kieran Fisher 

Learn all about how the legendary battle scene in Mel Gibson’s historical war epic was brought to life. No animals were hurt.

‘Skyfall’ and the Origin of the World’s Most Famous Spy

By Max Covill 

‘Skyfall’ gives audiences a James Bond they’ve never seen before. It’s an exciting origin story for one of the world’s most famous spies.

The Wide-Eyed Fan Love of ‘Almost Famous’

By Valerie Ettenhofer 

Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical film is a love letter to the starry-eyed among us.

The Moral Ambiguity of ‘Sicario’

By Kieran Fisher 

Can you condone evil acts if they’re carried out in the name of the greater good? That’s the question Denis Villeneuve’s poses to the viewer.

‘Paperbacks from Hell’ Go To The Movies!

By Jacob Trussell 

A selection of our favorite adaptations from the goldmine that is paperback horror.

Fantastic Fest 2019 Brings Taika Waititi, Takashi Miike, and More With Its First Wave Announcement

By Rob Hunter 

One of our favorite genre fests returns this September, and Fantastic Fest’s first wave of announced titles has us ready for summer to end.

The Raging Heroism of ‘Django Unchained’

By Brad Gullickson 

Quentin Tarantino’s epic vengeance quest secures its thrills through righteous anger.

Rutger Hauer: The Gentle Badass of ‘Blind Fury’

By Brad Gullickson 

Hauer made his mark in numerous iconic performances, but his spin on Zatoichi should not be ignored.

Behind the Revisionist History of ‘Inglourious Basterds’ is a Real Story of Women in Film

By Anna Swanson 

The movie that just might be Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece asks us to consider the events that never were and whose stories have been lost as a result.