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Irish Writer/Director Kate Dolan has had a successful career with her shorts films starting in 2014 with, Little Doll, followed by her second short, Catcalls, which won the Best Short Film at the Young Director Awards Ireland in 2018. Now, she’s back again but this time with her feature film debut, YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER, which premiered at the TIFF Midnight Madness on September 12, 2021.

In YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER, we follow teenager Char (Hazel Doupe) as something strange has happened to her mom, Angela (Carolyn Bracken), after returning home from an inexplicable absence. Char begins to notice subtle changes in her posture, personality, and appetite, but as her mom’s behavior grows increasingly wayward, Char’s scrutiny quickly turns to dread as a disturbing and titular possibility emerges.

For the World Premiere of YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER, Nightmarish Conjurings’ Shannon McGrew had the chance to speak with writer/director Kate Dolan where they discussed everything from Irish pagan history, setting the film during Halloween, and more.

Hi Kate! Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today. To kick things off, can you talk about the genesis of how YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER came to be? 

Kate Dolan: It’s kind of an amalgamation of a couple of things. In our Irish folklore. There’s a lot of dark stories about people getting taken or swapped and brought somewhere where they never returned from. Also, a lot of knock-ons from those folklore tales are real stories about people in Ireland who put their relatives in a fire because they thought that they were changing. [T]he stories were believed so much that then it became part of the psyche, which is even darker. So, that was definitely something that always intrigued me. They’re such rich myths and folklore and pagan history in Ireland and I guess I wanted to depict that in the film. I felt like Irish folklore or also other kinds of folklore were often in a rural setting – people come and they anger the thing in the woods or whatever, so it was definitely something that I hadn’t seen set in an urban setting. I’m from just outside of Dublin City in the suburbs of Dublin and even growing up, those stories were still a massive part of us growing up. I wanted a story that was in that setting. And then, finally, it’s about coming-of-age and having to deal with a parent who’s mentally unwell and how to navigate that as a young person, and then how does that affect you and how do you overcome the matter? How do you take that on? Those kinds of inherited traumas in family and how they come up again for next generations that are growing up.

That leads right into my next question. The film showcases three generations of women, so how was the process of forming those layers for these characters?

Kate Dolan: In paganism, there’s this idea of three women: the young woman and then a middle woman – I’m drawing a blank on the name – and then the crone, which is the old woman. So, that was kind of a visual idea that I had. Also, I grew up with my mom in my granny’s house and I had these two very strong-minded matriarchs, grandmothers, that were a big part of my life growing up, and then my mom as well, and my aunties and stuff. So, I was around a lot of women who were kind of witchy. That’s my experience of growing up so I think that was always going to be part of it.

I loved that the film is set during Halloween. Was that always part of the story?

Kate Dolan: There were a couple of reasons. In pagan history in Ireland, Samhain is big. I obviously love Halloween and have been obsessed with it since I was a little kid. When I was writing the first draft initially it wasn’t set in Halloween, but basically in Ireland on Halloween night communities will still light big bonfires in their areas and people go and watch and set off fireworks and stuff. [I]t’s a big part of the Irish culture so that just made sense to work in with the ending of the film. And then obviously, it’s such a huge part of pagan Irish history that it just made sense. It’s my debut feature film and I’m like, of course, I’m going to set it in Halloween. I can make that decision and it’ll be fun [Laughs].

Your film has such striking visuals especially with the use of red lights and the mom’s transformation. Speaking on that, how was it executing those scenes with the mom? Was it mostly practical? 

Kate Dolan: I’m a big believer in practical effects. I think they just always look better and they feel more tangible and they’re more fun to do on set as well as opposed to like a green screen or something. We tried to do a lot of it as practically as possible, and it was important to me that her makeup felt very tangible and real to make it more visceral. We had a very tight budget, so we were lucky that we had heads of departments, like Narayan Van Maele, who shot the film, and Madonna Bambino, who did the makeup. They were just so skilled that it turned out really well for us.

I can’t wrap up the interview without asking about Hazel Doupe. The film really falls upon her shoulders as we follow her through her terrifying journey. How did you know she was the right actress for the role of Char? 

Kate Dolan: I had seen Hazel in a couple of things and you could tell she’s a very special kind of actor. I think she has very great things ahead of her. I think she’s very smart and she’s very thoughtful and mature. And she was 18 when we started shooting, she turned 19 in the middle of the shoot. Anytime we talked in prep or during the shoot, she just was really dedicated and thought about every detail in a way that I hadn’t really experienced before. I kind of got that sense of her from watching her work before, but then as soon as we started talking, it was very apparent that she was just the right person completely. And she had a great love of Wicca and paganism and that kind of stuff. So, she really bought into the whole story we were telling as well, which was really fun. It was the perfect fit.

YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER had its World Premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The post [TIFF 2021 Interview] Kate Dolan for YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER appeared first on Nightmarish Conjurings.

Travel to a giant post-apocalyptic metropolis that withstood the tests of nuclear obliteration and social collapse. Atom RPG: Trudograd has just left the development stage and is now available on GOG.COM as a full-fledged title.

Now you can have even more fun with this title! 2 of its DLCs – Atom RPG: Trudograd - Supporter Pack and Atom RPG: Trudograd - War Supply Pack – are available on GOG.COM 20% off until 20th September 2021, 5 PM UTC.

Share our love for games? Subscribe to our newsletter for news, releases, and exclusive discounts. Visit the “Privacy & settings” section of your GOG account to join now!

Wrath of the Righteous is obviously the biggest release of September and Encased seems to have found an audience on our forum as well. Like those two games, ATOM RPG: Trudograd is from Russia, but it's the only one of them that is truly a Russian RPG. As you probably know, it's a standalone expansion and direct sequel to 2018's well-received ATOM RPG, the game that made it clear that something good was happening out there in the East. Hopefully Trudograd will find its audience as well. Here's its release trailer and an excerpt from the accompanying announcement:

IMDB Rating: 6.2/10
Genre: Action / Adventure / Crime
Size: 1.5 GB
Runtime: 1hr 36 min

Jack Mason (Ice-T), who lives on the streets, wants to cease his life when on the same day his two best friends die: his dog and an older man with whom he shared his food and roof. Just in time, Walter Cole (Charles S. Dutton), from a charity organization, can prevent his suicide and also offers him a quite well-paid job as servant for a hunting party in the Rocky Mountains. Mason accepts the job and flies with them to a hut in the wilderness where they prepare everything for the four rich businessmen who want to hunt something special. Mason does not yet know that he is the victim of their sport that should lead to the basic insticts of man, but they did not count on his cleverness. —Volker Boehm

by Cláudio Alves

Last week, in the Almost There series, I took a look at Shirley MacLaine's Volpi Cup-winning turn in Madame Sousatzka. This week, it's on to another Venice Film Festival champion who got some Oscar buzz but failed to make it to the Academy's lineup. From a Best Actress winner to a Best Actor victor, from one elderly Oscar-winner to another, from The Apartment's leading lady to its leading man. In 1992, Jack Lemmon won two prizes at Venice, both for his performance in James Foley's screen adaptation of David Mamet's most famous play, Glengarry Glen Ross. The movie is iconic, full of memorable dialogue and oft-quoted one-liners, a treasure trove of vociferous acting, bursting at the seams with tired testosterone. Still, amid such a powerhouse cast of characters and acclaimed thespians, Lemmon shines brightest…

Netflix is jam packed with anime, but this is one of the best.

One of the rare child stars who became just as successful as an adult, Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the best actors working today. Gyllenhaal had a leg up getting his career started thanks to his Hollywood parents, director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner, but established himself as a talented performer in his own right with a series of acclaimed performances throughout the '90s.

Gyllenhaal continues to deliver interesting turns in beloved films, earning his first Academy Award nomination for "Brokeback Mountain." After video game adaptation "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" became a box office bomb and earned Gyllenhaal criticism for whitewashing the character Prince Dastan, the actor apologized for taking the part. Gyllenhaal rebounded from that failure by taking on smaller projects from some of the industry's best directors. Although he likes the freedom of independent films, Gyllenhaal returned to tentpoles with a performance as the Marvel villain Mysterio in "Spider-Man: Far from Home." Next, he will star in Michael Bay's action-thriller "Ambulance" and the adaptation of Robert Kirkman's graphic novel "Oblivion Song."

Narrowing down Gyllenhaal's best work is a challenge, as he gives wildly different performances across many genres. Here are the 15 greatest Jake Gyllenhaal movies, ranked.

The Sisters Brothers

"The Sisters Brothers" is a realistic western that examines male sensitivity through four troubled men who form a hasty alliance. The titular outlaw brothers Eli (John C. Reilly) and Charlie (Joaquin Phoenix) hunt for an inventor named Hermann (Riz Ahmed), who created a device that can locate treasure and plans to build a utopia. Hermann is also pursued by Gyllenhaal's character, Detective John Morris, who befriends the warm-hearted man and decides to assist him.

Gyllenhaal captures a softness in Morris, who despite his expertise, is kinder than most lawman of the time. It's fascinating to see Gyllenhaal re-teaming with his "Nightcrawler" co-star Ahmed for a much more pleasant relationship; the two men respect each other's ambitions and plan to create a society outside that will let them escape their harsh reality. While the story ultimately goes in a darker direction, watching Morris and Hermann team up with the Eli and Charlie and share their collective experience is delightful.

Nocturnal Animals

Gyllenhaal took on an interesting dual role in "Nocturnal Animals." The arthouse thriller follows reclusive novelist Edward (Gyllenhaal) as he briefly reunites with his estranged ex-wife Susan (Amy Adams), giving her a copy of his latest novel. Although "Nocturnal Animals" centers Susan's perspective, she's moved by his twisted book and discovers that many events in Edward's story mirror those from their actual marriage. Gyllenhaal, Adams, and the other people in the "real" world also play the characters in the book.

Edward's stand-in character is troubled father Tony, whose wife and daughter are kidnapped by a vile criminal (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). As Edward turns to a brutal local sheriff (Michael Shannon) for help, his soft personality becomes corrupted as they uncover a web of crime. Gyllenhaal subtly hints at Edward's pent-up anger towards Susan through the story, and expertly builds parallels between the movie's facts and its fiction.

Demolition

"Demolition" is a bold film that succeeds thanks to the committed performance by Gyllenhaal. He stars as perpetually nervous investment banker Davis Mitchell, whose wife Julia (Heather Lind) is killed in a sudden car accident. Davis has a strained relationship with Julia's father Phil (Chris Cooper), who is also his boss. Phil bullies Davis on a daily basis, taking out his anger and his grief on his son-in-law. Not sure how to cope, Davis strikes up an unusual romance with a friendly customer service representative, Karen (Naomi Watts).

Davis is a quirky character, and Gyllenhaal makes the less-than-subtle metaphor of him physically deconstructing his home feel sincere. While Davis' neurotic fixation on strange details and unusual observations risk being irritating, Gyllenhaal makes them endearing. Davis' development is well-handled as he finds ways to honor Julia's memory by aiding Karen's son and building an honorary memorial for his wife.

Brothers

"Brothers" features an unusually dark central performance from Tobey Maguire, who sheds his "boy next door" persona for a tortured performance as Afghanistan veteran Captain Sam Cahill. Gyllenhaal co-stars as his irresponsible brother Tommy, who is forced to take on added responsibility when Sam is presumed killed in action. Tommy feels like he needs to honor his brother's legacy by caring for his wife Grace (Natalie Portman) and her young children. Both Tommy and Grace are conflicted when romance blossoms, but they soon discover that, as friends, they're able to cope with Tommy's absence together.

The situation grows complex more when Tommy ends up alive; Gyllenhaal shows both Sam's relief and his shock at his brother's post-traumatic stress disorder. Gyllenhaal captures the anxiety of a changed man who isn't sure how to help, and he's tormented by Sam's fixation on Grace's infidelity. The complex process of healing is explored as Sam patiently allows Tommy to recount his experiences.

Jarhead

"Jarhead" is an unusual war film, as it is both satirical and realistic. The film adapts the biographical account of Lance Corporal Anthony Swofford's tenure in the Gulf War, with Gyllenhaal starring as the lead character and narrator. Gyllenhaal makes the voiceover feel personal, as Swofford's perspective on his military service and the conflict itself change over time. Swofford's father is a Vietnam veteran and he wants to honor his family legacy, but he is instantly uncomfortable with the laid-back attitude of his corporal, Alan Troy (Peter Sarsgaard).

Swofford gradually realizes that the men are at war without a purpose, and they're left to pass time in the middle of the desert. Gyllenhaal shows how Swofford slowly begins to adopt the eccentric, wild behavior of his squad as they descend into madness. Gyllenhaal also explores Swofford's regrets and trauma when he returns home, not sure if his service was worth anything.

End Of Watch

"End of Watch" is not your standard buddy cop movie. Shot by writer-director David Ayer as a documentary-style account by Gyllenhaal's character, officer Bryan Taylor, and his partner Miguel Zavala (Michael Pena), the film explores the everyday responsibilities that the two cops face on the job. The film is full of banter, and Gyllenhaal and Pena have terrific chemistry. They're believable as longtime partners who've grown accustomed to each other's quirks, and their playful arguments are the heart of the film.

Although he likes to lampoon Miguel for his eccentric family, Bryan begins to desire the life that his partner enjoys, and discusses his romantic encounters with Miguel. However, their responsibilities as police officers strain their relationships outside of the force. "End of Watch" never shies away from showing the danger of the job, and its gripping climax is emotional thanks largely to Gyllenhaal's nuanced performances.

Enemy

"Enemy" is already one of the most complex films ever made, and playing the dual lead roles presented Gyllenhaal with a unique challenge. He stars in the film as Adam Bell, a reclusive college professor who discovers that he has a doppelgänger in local actor Anthony Claire. After Adam tracks Anthony down, the two twins become obsessed with learning about each other's lives, each one yearning for what the other has. Gyllenhaal shares many scenes with himself as Adam and Anthony converse, argue, and eventually brawl.

Many have interpreted "Enemy" as the story of one man at odds with himself. In this reading, Adam and Anthony are the same person, a man struggling with his secret infidelities and exploits. He starts hiding things from his wife (Melanie Laurent), but he's also lying to himself and has become delusional as a result. Gyllenhaal subtly plays up this interpretation throughout the film -- both Adam and Anthony realize they're denying their own reality.

Wildlife

"Wildlife" is an understated character drama that shows a crumbling marriage through the eyes of a child. Based on the classic novel by Robert Ford, "Wildlife" is the directorial debut of actor Paul Dano, who clearly understands how to get intimate performances out of his cast. Set in the Great Falls of Montana in the '60s, "Wildlife" follows a soft-hearted teenager named Joe (Ed Oxenbould) as he watches his parents Jerry (Gyllenhaal) and Jeanette (Carey Mulligan) grow apart over many years.

Jerry is a proud man who is embarrassed when he's fired from his job, and refuses to let his family down. Gyllenhaal captures Jerry's old-fashioned pride without making him haughty, and he's sensitive when interacting with his impressionable son. As Joe spends more and more time with his mother while his father is away looking for work, Gyllenhaal appears less frequently -- but, like his character, he makes the most of his visits. It's heartbreaking to watch Gyllenhaal show affection for a son who has grown up in his absence.

Source Code

In "Source Code," Gyllenhaal brought emotional earnestness to a complex science fiction premise. The film's high concept is only successful if its characters are as compelling as its twists, and Gyllenhaal serves as a great gateway through which the audience can explore this time-travel story. "Source Code" opens with U.S. Captain Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) waking up on a train with only fleeting memories of surviving a mission to Afghanistan. Stevens is shocked to learn that he's in another man's body -- that of school teacher Sean Fentress. Fentress' girlfriend Christina (Michelle Monaghan) can't see the difference, and talks to Steven about a life he didn't lead.

Stevens realizes that he's in a virtual reality simulator designed to show what happened to a train in the minutes before a bomb blows it up. Stevens' body was lost, but his consciousness remains; in a twist on the "Groundhog Day" formula, Stevens experiences the events on a loop while he tries to piece together clues and find the culprit.

Gyllenhaal shows how Stevens is conflicted about his various responsibilities. He doesn't want to upset Christina by changing Sean's personality, yet he also wants to find the bomber so the police can stop future crimes. Stevens also has things from his own life he wants to address -- in an emotional phone call to his father, Stevens poses as a fellow soldier, ultimately reconciling with his estranged parent.

Stronger

"Stronger" depicts the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing with graceful nuance, following a survivor as he struggles to cope with lasting trauma. Jeff Bauman (Gyllenhaal) had shown up at the race to support his ex-girlfriend Erin (Tatiana Maslany) and lost both of his legs in the explosion; not only must he learn to walk with prosthetic legs, but he talks to other survivors as he struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Stronger" excels by depicting Jeff as a well-intentioned but irresponsible character. While he's charming and entertaining, Jeff's relationship with Erin was in shambles before the tragic event took place. He's instantly sympathetic, but Jeff's debilitating injuries combined with his own initial refusal to improve put stress on both Erin and his family. Gyllenhaal shows Jeff's growth; he learns that he must put in the work to get better, and that he must take responsibility for the things he can control. His awareness grows as he meets other victims and learns that his story is just one of many.

"Stronger" shows the complexity of heroism. Jeff doesn't view himself as a hero, but he realizes how his recovery can be an inspiration to others who are struggling. In the film's most powerful scene, Gyllenhaal attends an emotional Boston Red Socks game and is overwhelmed when he sees how many lives his story has touched.

Nightcrawler

With "Nightcrawler," Gyllenhaal created one of his most memorable characters: idiosyncratic ambulance chaser Lou Bloom. Bloom is both darkly funny and absolutely terrifying. Dan Gilroy's directorial debut relies on having an adaptable star who can capture Bloom's dynamic personality, and Gyllenhaal delivered, turning in one of his bravest performances.

Bloom is a mischievous Los Angeles-based thief who is convinced that he can talk himself out of any situation. He has developed a talent for digging through seedy environments, and is fascinated with crime. Although Lou tries to put on a warm front, Lou doesn't feel normal emotions, and finds that stringing together news footage of crimes in action may be his ideal career. Even if he doesn't feel empathy, Lou is intensely competitive and aims to best local stringer Joe Loder (Bill Paxton) by getting a recurring gig working for a television news station. Lou only imagines that television audiences have the same aptitude for brutality that he does.

Gyllenhaal only occasionally shows the extent of Lou's rage, teasing the extremes he will go to find depraved situations. When Lou recruits his assistant Rick (Riz Ahmed), he grows scarier as it becomes clear that Rick's life is in danger. Gyllenhaal and Ahmed have an awkward dynamic that begins with humor, yet ends in gripping tragedy.

Prisoners

"Prisoners" is both a tightly wound investigative mystery and a thought-provoking morality tale. The film questions the lengths taken to rescue kidnapped children by both their families and law enforcement, and explores how the emotional stakes and responsibilities vary across different parties. Despite its 153-minute runtime, director Denis Villenueve keeps the tension high as the danger to the young lives grows more severe.

While celebrating Thanksgiving, an austere woodsman Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) and his loving wife Grace (Maria Dover) are shocked when their daughter and her friend go missing. Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) becomes involved in the case after finding a potential suspect, and eventually begins talking to both families. Loki is put in a challenging situation, and Gyllenhaal revels in the strain felt by the talented detective. Loki knows that the families are in indescribable pain, but he can't express empathy without violating his professionalism.

But Loki is a good detective, and Gyllenhaal captures Loki's expertise as well as his growing emotional investment in the case. He's both angry about and terrified of what Keller is capable of, and fears the consequences he will face if he takes the law into his own hands.

Brokeback Mountain

Gyllenhaal's lone Oscar win was for a deserving role. "Brokeback Mountain" bravely shatters stereotypes surrounding western masculinity with a touching love story featuring two cowboys. While the film never shies away from the hardships these men face as they endure bigotry and struggle to keep their romance secret, director Ang Lee seems most interested in the beauty of their love.

"Brokeback Mountain" wouldn't have had the same impact if it wasn't for the two towering performances at its center. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Gyllenhaal) are assigned to work for an entire summer on a sheepherding task, and Gyllenhaal and Ledger show how the intimate nature of the job blossoms into attraction. Twist is the first to express his feelings, and Gyllenhaal's openness makes Ennis feel conflicted -- he knows that their romance can't leave the isolated mountain.

Even when they don't share the screen together, Gyllenhaal and Ledger play up the painstaking trauma of the men's separation. Ennis only gradually learns about Jack's difficult home life and the discrimination he faces from his parents, making Gyllenhaal's pursuit of love even braver. Both men are shackled by the restrictive gender stereotypes they're expected to abide by, but Gyllenhaal still shows Twist's softer, charismatic side.

Zodiac

"Zodiac" is no standard serial killer film. The famously unsolved case of the Zodiac Killer haunted San Francisco Bay for decades, but rather than focusing on the depravity of the murders, director David Fincher chooses to track the obsessions of the men pursuing the criminal. Political cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal) initially spars with veteran crime reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), but they ultimately begin working together to unravel the enigmatic messages that the killer sends to their newspaper. Graysmith's aptitude for solving puzzles sparks the interest of Inspector Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo), who suspects that an untraditional investigation may be the only way to track down the killer's identity.

As time passes, Graysmith's relationship with the case changes. He's not a crime reporter, but unsolved mysteries fascinate him. Gyllenhaal shows how Graysmith's good-natured curiosity transforms into obsession.

A heartfelt romance between Graysmith and Melanie (Chloe Sevigny) develops; Gyllenhaal and Sevigny have great chemistry as two earnest puzzle solvers, but the charming relationship is shattered as Graysmith refuses to set aside his fixations. It's heartbreaking to watch Graysmith slip into madness, but he's relatable enough that the climax, during which he's trapped with the presumed killer, is still a nail-biter.

Donnie Darko

Richard Kelly's landmark science fiction thriller "Donnie Darko" is one of the most impressive directorial debuts of all time. Kelly weaves an intricate time travel narrative through the eyes of a lonely teenager who is visited by a masked figure known only as "Frank." The film requires serious attention from audiences, but its satire of suburban communities and its relatable central character make "Donnie Darko" totally unique.

Gyllenhaal's performance is essential to the film's success, and a major reason why it persists as a favorite. The film needs an engaging character to guide viewers as they unravel the mystery at the film's core. With his dismissive attitude, Donnie could've been unlikable, but Gyllenhaal captures his isolation in a way that makes him sympathetic, not annoying. As the suspense builds, Gyllenhaal does an excellent job portraying Donnie's increasing paranoia.

"Donnie Darko" is also hilarious, thanks largely to Donnie's odd philosophical ramblings and his observations about the strange inhabitants of his home town. Gyllenhaal creates an amusing character, but he also sells the emotional weight of Donnie's key decisions, ensuring that the climax of "Donnie Darko" is one you'll never forget.

Read this next: The Guilty Review: Jake Gyllenhaal Is Terrific In An Otherwise Lackluster Remake [TIFF 2021]

The post The 15 best Jake Gyllenhaal movies ranked appeared first on /Film.

(Welcome to Where to Watch, which provides a clear and simple answer to the question, "Hey, where can I watch this thing?" In this edition: "Yellowstone.")

"Yellowstone," a television drama series starring Kevin Costner as the head of the Duttons, a family that owns the largest cattle ranch in the U.S., is popular enough that it's getting a fourth season on November 7, 2021.

The show focuses on the travails of the Dutton family as they try to keep their legacy secure while facing threats from land developers, Indian reservations, and other foes. If you're already a fan of the show or want to see what it's all about, here's where you can stream or buy the first three seasons.

Where You Can Stream Yellowstone

"Yellowstone" is a Paramount Network show, which means that new episodes will require a cable subscription to watch. The good news for streaming folks, however, is that it will also be available on certain streaming platforms. The potential bad news, however, is that the streaming platforms that carry them aren't the ones you're probably already a subscriber of.

You may think that because "Yellowstone" is a Paramount Network show that it would stream on Paramount+. Well, you'd be wrong! For whatever reason, you can't watch "Yellowstone" on Paramount+ right now, though the spinoff prequel series, "1883," will be a Paramount+ exclusive. Go figure.

The first three seasons of "Yellowstone," however, are all available on Philo. What's Philo, you ask? It's a platform that offers 60+ channels that you can watch live or on-demand (AKA streaming shows). The Paramount Network is one of those channels, so for $25 a month you can watch all three seasons now and also see season 4 when it starts airing in November.

The Paramount Network is also part of FuboTV, a platform that focuses on live sports events. A FuboTV subscription starts at $64.99 a month, however, so isn't the best choice if you're only interested in getting that sweet "Yellowstone" content.

Where You Can Buy The First Three Seasons Of Yellowstone

If you don't want to become a Fubo or Philo subscriber, you can also just buy "Yellowstone" via digital on-demand. On Apple, each episode is $2.99 and you can buy each season, which are 10 episodes each, for $19.99. On Amazon Prime, episodes are $1.99 for SD and $2.99 for HD and $14.99 or $19.99 respectively for a season.

If you want a DVD version, each season is going for about $18 to $20 on Amazon with Blu-ray versions going for about $30 each. Whatever your medium of choice, it looks like you'll have to shell out some money to watch older seasons before season 4 premieres in a few short months.

Read this next: 'Yellowstone' Trailer: A TV Series From The Writer Of 'Hell Or High Water'

The post Here's Where You Can Stream or Buy Every Season of Yellowstone appeared first on /Film.

The upcoming Disney+ "Hawkeye" series sees the return of Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye, which is cool I guess, but not the coolest news of the day. More exciting is the introduction of Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, the next Hawkeye, and Alaqua Cox as Echo, the MCU's first Native American and deaf hero. But the best news of all comes in the form of the fluffy golden retriever that the entire world will soon fall in love with, Lucky the Pizza Dog. 

The MCU might be full of action and have an ever growing roster of badass heroes, but you know what the series severely lacks? Pets! How's a hero suppose to get anything down without a canine sidekick? Luckily, the truest hero of them all has arrived! If you're not familiar with Hawkeye's comic book companion, Lucky, then prepare for your life to get a little brighter — here's a guide to the heartwarming story behind the MCU's new good boy.

Who Is Lucky The Pizza Dog, The Goodest Boy In The MCU?

The Hawkeye series was announced to a lukewarm response, but there were rumblings of excitement as fans realized the possibility of seeing the 2015 Matt Fraction and David Aja "Hawkeye" run adapted to screen. One of the most popular comics of the 2010s, the series was praised by fans and critics alive for its witty dialogue, minimalist art style, and much more grounded nature. It told the very human adventures of Hawkeye, his protege Kate Bishop, and their beloved companion Lucky.

Unlike other superhero companions, Lucky doesn't have any wild abilities — other than being intensely loyal and good at biting bad guys. When he first comes into the archer's life, he's named Arrow and serves as a guard dog for the Tracksuit Mafia. This takes place at the beginning of issue #1, but the mobster group goes on to become a major obstacle for Clint and Kate throughout the series.

Clint earns Arrow's loyalty without even realizing, showing the dog kindness and offering a slice of pizza with lots of good head pats. In turn, Arrow earned Clint's loyalty by defending him in battle. He jumps into a fight with the mafia men, attacking a mobster for attempting to shoot Clint. Sadly, he pays for his heroism when he's thrown into oncoming traffic by the evilest men to ever walk the earth. Clint gets Arrow to a veterinary hospital just in time to save his life. After multiple surgeries, he recovers, but notably loses the use of his left eye. Clint gladly takes ownership of the pup, bring him home and renaming him "Lucky."

Bestest boy Lucky sticks around for the long run, becoming a welcome part of the team. In fact, he becomes the star of one of the most popular comic issues in the series, issue #11. Told entirely from Lucky's point of view, the issue lets the breakout character take the lead and solve a crime to help save the team. This is also the issue where fans discover that Lucky thinks of himself as "Pizza Dog" because of his favorite food.

The Story Behind Lucky The PIzza Dog

Part of what makes Lucky so great is his simplicity. It's all in the name after all — Lucky the Pizza Dog is a dog who loves pizza. He's an adorable golden retriever who's loyal to his arrow-wielding pals and loves the classic combo of mozzarella and tomato sauce. But that doesn't mean he's without any emotional depth. He's a crucial part of Clint's life and in the comics, a much-needed comfort from the chaos of fighting crime.

Lucky also has particularly emotional origins for writer Matt Fraction, who talked about Lucky being based on his own golden retriever, Captain Applejack. Sadly, Fraction's dog was put down shortly before he began work on the series. At the time, emotions were already running high because he feared his comic book career was taking a turn for the worst. But sometimes the best art comes from pain. Thinking of Captain Applejack, Fraction decided to give Hawkeye a dog. From there, the rest of the comic came into view. Speaking to Live Wire! Radio podcast, Fraction said that once he realized Clint needed a dog, he was able to write the first issue in a single day. He added, "It was a very bad, very sad day, but I wrote it in a day."

Telling the story of his inspiration, Fraction said:

"When Captain Applejack was a puppy I found him under a car. And he was so sick and so little and so mangy I didn't know if he was very young and very sick or very old and about to die. He was wrinkly. So I gave him to Hawkeye. I gave him this beat up mutt who was neglected and ignored. And as I started to kind of write and give him this kind of emotional thing he was connected to, like, the character's anima appeared. That was it, it wasn't a hawk. It was a dog. And then I got the book. I understood what the book was. I knew what happens. I knew what it was about. And if I couldn't save Captain Applejack, Hawkeye could save Lucky."

Lucky The Pizza Dog In Hawkeye

The presence of Lucky was one of our first signs that the Hawkeye series would take inspiration from Fraction and Aja's comic run. His presence was a promise for a more grounded story: rather than fighting alien super villains, Clint will take on mafia men. It's a nice change of pace for the MCU, especially because the Disney+ series are such a good opportunity to size down the scale of their storytelling. While that's been true to an extent, the series thus far have still been pretty sweeping — "Wandavision delved into the cosmic horrors of Wanda's abilities, while "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" found a way to introduce more characters than the show could maintain, all while traveling the globe in single episodes.

But nothing is more grounding than a dog! Lucky is a promise of something more domestic: Clint's gonna have to slow down to get Lucky his daily dose of pepperoni, and if he doesn't there will surely be hell to pay.

Read this next: Hawkeye Trailer Breakdown: Christmas Comes With A Bow And Arrow

The post Hawkeye Trailer Introduces Pizza Dog, the Most Important Character in the MCU appeared first on /Film.

"Knives Out 2," the sequel to Rian Johnson's delightful murder mystery, has just wrapped up filming. Johnson is understandably excited about that, but he's also excited about other cinematic things not of his own making.

Knives Out 2 Is Done And Annette Is Good (According To Johnson)

"Knives Out" was an unambiguous hit when it came out in 2019. The feature was a murder mystery with a stellar cast, including Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, an inspector with the oddest Southern accent. The story was a whodunit tracking the death of a wealthy author, played by Christopher Plummer. It was Blanc's job to figure out how he died, and had a slew of suspects to choose from, including characters played by Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, and Ana de Armas.

The movie was incredibly popular — no small feat these days for a film not based on existing IP. It was so popular, in fact, that Netflix forked over $400 million to secure the exclusive rights to "Knives Out 2" and "Knives Out 3."

After some Covid delays, production on the sequel kicked off in Greece in June 2021, and Johnson just shared today that filming is finally over. "We just wrapped production on the next Benoit Blanc mystery," Johnson tweeted.

Johnson goes on in the tweet to share that he just watched "Annette," and quite enjoyed it. "I finally watched Annette and holy sh*t it's amazing," he continued. "Sending so much love and gratitude to our INCREDIBLE crew and cast and Leos Carax!"

Not everyone might agree with Johnson's take on Leos Carax's "Annette" (see our review here), since it's an undoubtedly interesting film that swings big but arguably misses. Almost everyone, however, should be excited that "Knives Out 2" is one step closer to making its way to the screen.

The ensemble sequel also has an extensive cast full of A-list talent. Craig is back reprising his role as Benoit Blanc, of course, and he's joined by Jessica Henwick, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Ethan Hawke, Edward Norton, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe, and Madelyn Cline. We don't yet know who exactly this smorgasbord of actors are playing, but given the structure of the films, chances are that one of them is a murderer!

Who gets murdered and the identity of the murderer will sadly remain a mystery until we can watch the movie. The good news is that, while we don't have an official release date yet, we'll likely see it on Netflix sometime in 2022.

Read this next: 'Annette' Ending Explained: A Closer Look At That Final Scene

The post Knives Out 2 Just Finished Filming (But Rian Johnson Really Wants You To Watch Annette) appeared first on /Film.

As seen from the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe, we are a culture obsessed with superheroes. Humans with incredible powers, whether used for good or bad, are a fantastical and entertaining spectacle that delivers a dose of escapism in movie theaters and the comfort of our homes. While Western superheroes have dominated the zeitgeist, there's a show that captures the thrill of super humans through a more positive, wholesome lens: "My Hero Academia."

"My Hero Academia" is an anime series centered on Izuku Midoriya, a young boy who lives in a world where most of the population has a "quirk," or some kind of superpower. Midoriya doesn't have a quirk, but that doesn't stop him from wanting to join the esteemed UA High School, where teenagers train to save the world, and become the world's number one hero. Under extraordinary circumstances, Midoriya inherits the abilities of his favorite hero, All Might, and begins his training. Along the way, he learns about the power of teamwork, develops a series of incredible friendships, and begins to understand the true weight of responsibility that comes with being a hero.

Fans of "My Hero Academia" are attracted to the show's gorgeous style, its huge cast of characters, and its altruistic perspective on the world of superheroes. The 14 other shows on this list all tap into those elements in some way, particularly regarding the power of genuine connection and teamwork. Some are full to the brim with fantastic circumstances. Others are more grounded in reality. Regardless, all of these shows are exactly what any avid watcher of "My Hero Academia" is looking for.

Fire Force

In "Fire Force," firefighters are supernatural heroes with pyrokinetic powers who fight creatures called infernals. Shinra Kusakabe is a third-generation pyrokinetic who can create fire from the bottoms of his feet. He has recently graduated from the Special Fire Force Training Academy and has joined the Special Fire Force Company 8 as a fire soldier. With his new teammates, Kusakabe begins to uncover a massive religious and governmental conspiracy that will lead to the end of society. 

Kusakabe and Midoriya are cut from similar cloth. They are both underdogs; while Kusakabe has always had his powers, he is thought of as a devil due to a tragedy that happened earlier in his life. But the opinions of others don't extinguish Kusakabe's passion or his drive to be the best he can possibly be. Kusakabe delivers plenty of impassioned speeches about how he is a hero, not a devil, and will do anything to prove himself as such. In addition, the fire-filled battles that rage through the streets of Tokyo will quench the thirst of any "My Hero Academia" fans who crave epic fights between heroes and villains.

Haikyu!!

A sports anime about volleyball may seem like the complete opposite of "My Hero Academia," but "Haikyu!!" has an incredible amount of heart, as well as a focus on the power of teamwork and friendship. In "Haikyu!!," Shōyō Hinata wants to be an amazing volleyball player despite his below-average height. But, just like Midoriya doesn't let his lack of powers deter him from his goals, Shōyō refuses to let his stature determine what he's able to accomplish. As he embarks on his journey towards greatness, he joins his high school volleyball club and re-builds the team from the ground up, never losing sight of his goal. 

Hinata may not have a quirk, but his passion rouses excitement and support from others. "Haikyu!!" has lower stakes than "My Hero Academia," but still asks for the same amount of emotional investment. It's impossible not to fall in love with every character.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba

Midoriya and "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" lead Tanjiro Kamado are tied for the title of anime's sweetest boy. Tanjiro is a young boy who recently lost his entire family after they were slaughtered by demons. The only survivor is his sister, Nezuko, who was turned into a demon. He vows to take revenge on the creature who destroyed his family and begins training to be a demon hunter. As Tanjiro embarks on this journey, he meets an eclectic group of young demon hunters like himself who, despite their wildly different personalities, become allies and close friends in their battle against demons. 

Like Midoriya, Tanjiro will stop at nothing to achieve his goal and save as many people as possible. He is exceptionally selfless and caring, but don't let that fool you: Tanjiro will unleash fury upon those who stand in his path. The battle sequences in "Demon Slayer" are elevated by gorgeous and kinetic animation full of bright colors that, despite the fact that the characters wield swords, seem as if they are being generated from the demon slayers' bodies themselves.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Yuji Itadori is your average high school student who loves to study the occult after school. But a ritual goes awry and a curse threatens the lives of his friends, Yuji swallows a cursed finger to protect them. As a result, Yuji is possessed by a powerful demon, but is still able to control his body. Instead of being exorcised and ultimately killed, Yuji is taken to the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School to train to be a jujutsu, or sorcerer, to help kill the creature inside of him. 

While "Jujutsu Kaisen" starts off like any other kid-in-high-school drama, it morphs into something much more complex, with horrifyingly high stakes. It is a much darker take on a heroes-in-training anime, bringing in horror elements to create something much spookier than "My Hero Academia." Even with that edge, though, "Jujutsu Kaisen" still captures the mix of engaging spectacle, fantastic circumstances, and genuine connection between characters that makes "My Hero Academia" so endearing.

Little Witch Academia

The word "academia" isn't the only similarity between "Little Witch Academia" and "My Hero Academia." Both shows also revolve around young kids without powers who aspire to help the world however they can, magic or quirks be damned. In "Little Witch Academia," Akko is 16 years old and, despite not possessing any magic herself, is determined to enroll in Luna Nova Magical Academy to learn how to save the world. Like Midoriya, Akko even has an ultra-powerful role model. In "Little Witch Academia," Akko looks up to a famous witch named Shiny Chariot who inspires Akko to follow her dreams. 

As she takes her magical journey, Akko meets a score of fellow witches, some of whom become her close friends, and some of whom become enemies. In "Little Witch Academia," the larger stakes and big conflicts are often balanced out by more a more grounded look at life inside of the school. "Little Witch Academia" isn't just about action. It's about the characters' everyday lives, too. "Little Witch Academia" is perhaps the most similar show on this list to "My Hero Academia," as both follow determined children who don't let their lack of power stop them.

Blue Exorcist

Like "My Hero Academia," "Blue Exorcist" takes place at a specialized high school, but one with a slightly different twist: Instead of learning how to be superheroes, all of the students are training to be exorcists so they can fight Satan and his legion of demons. Main character Rin Okumura discovers he and his twin brother are sons of Satan. After the murder of their guardian, Rin vows to defeat Satan using the powers he inherited from the devil himself. He enrolls in an elite exorcism school, True Cross Academy, where his power grows, and where he makes some friends along the way.

"My Hero Academia" fans will dig "Blue Exorcist" because this is not a show just about Rin, but also the other students, all of whom grow as exorcists. While there is a main character, "Blue Exorcist" is really about the entire group's progress, following their adventures as their strength builds.

Black Clover

Both Midoriya and Asta from "Black Clover" have huge ambitions, despite not having any powers in a world where everyone seems to have special abilities. In the Clover Kingdom, almost everyone is able to derive magical powers from mana — everyone, that is, except for Asta. But that doesn't keep Asta from dreaming of being the Wizard King, the second-most powerful being in the kingdom. Nothing can squash Asta's dream, and he begins to train to achieve his ultimate goal, even facing off against his close friend Yuno, who is a magic prodigy. 

The relationship between Asta and Yno mirrors that of Midoriya and fellow classmate Katsuki Bakugo. Both grew up together, and are now fighting for the top spot. Asta and Midoriya's dreams run parallel to one another, too, which is why "Black Clover" is the perfect choice for any "My Hero Academia" fans. Swap out superheroes for a fantasy world full of magic, and the similarities should be clear.

Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

While "Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood" takes place in a world of mystical powers, its strongest similarity with "My Hero Academia" is its emphasis on brotherhood and friendship in the face of impending doom. Edward and Alphonse Elric are brothers whose worlds have been ripped apart -- literally and figuratively -- by the power of alchemy. They must use those same powers to fight off evil and gain access to the Philosopher's Stone. 

With each conflict, Edward, Alphonse, and their group of allies grow as people as they experience the horrors of war and conflict. Despite their young age, they are no strangers to tragedy; like Midoriya and his classmates, the Elrics are forced to reckon with scenarios well beyond their maturity levels. Edward and Midoriya are also similar characters who, even in the face of the impossible, never lose their resolve to do the right thing. They overcome obstacles using self-confidence, putting their lives on the line whenever necessary.

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

Similar to "Haikyu!!," "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!" is a slice-of-life anime that doesn't involve superpowers or special schools. Instead, it is a show about three friends working together to create their own manga, with dreams of becoming successful manga artists. Midori Asakusa is an anime lover who daydreams about amazing worlds every day. Her friend Sayaka Kanamori, despite not having that love of anime, sees her friend's passion. So, with the help of new student (and aspiring animator) Tsubame Mizusaki, the girls embark on a journey to create their own work of art. 

What makes this similar to "My Hero Academia" is the love and friendship between the trio of young girls who are trying to make their dreams come true. Each character has a very distinct personality; like "My Hero Academia," everyone must learn how to work with one another to achieve their goals. It's not always easy, but "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!" is full of positivity, supported by beautiful artwork that makes a simple anime about three high school students feel just as epic as any action anime.

Assassination Classroom

In "Assassination Classroom," it isn't the students that are extraordinary. It's the teacher. A strange octopus alien with a comical smiley face arrives on Earth and decides to teach a classroom of students how to be assassins. Now, these students are no Midoriyas and Bakugos. They're normal kids just trying to make it through the day. But even without powers of any kind, they learn how to fight in increasingly creative ways. 

Their lessons aren't always so straightforward, though. In "Assassination Classroom," the teacher is more empathetic than the typical anime villain. This aligns with the villains on "My Hero Academia"; while some are downright evil, others have much more complex motivations. Both "My Hero Academia" and "Assassination Classroom" examine the grey areas of the heroes-versus-villain narrative, and show how justice is not always black and white while also providing a visual feast during intense action sequences.

Hunter X Hunter

Hunters may not be heroes like All Might, but they still have to go through rigorous testing to get their respective licenses. In "Hunter x Hunter," young Gon Freaks aspires to be one of these Hunters, who travel the world looking for mysterious creatures, strange treasures, and anything else unknown, in hopes of finding his missing father. As Gon signs up and takes the Hunter Exam, he makes a group of friends who also dream of becoming Hunters. 

Again, like many shows on this list, "Hunter x Hunter" isn't about just one protagonist, but rather focuses on a network of friends and mentors who all grow together. Like the characters in "My Hero Academia," every member of the "Hunter x Hunter" supporting cast has their own personal motivations and backstories. They are much more than side characters, and play integral parts in the events that unfold. By giving the viewer every character's background and personal history, "Hunter x Hunter" makes us more emotionally invested in their successes and failures. We cheer everyone on, not just Gon. 

Tiger & Bunny

While "My Hero Academia" offers a positive perspective on the world of heroes, "Tiger & Bunny" shows what happens when superheroes have to compete for money. In the world of "Tiger & Bunny," heroes, called NEXT, fight villains to earn points on a reality TV show called "Hero TV" while wearing company ads on their suits; they aren't just fighting for good, but for profit. The NEXT with the most points is crowned King of Heroes, and acquires more sponsorship deals. 

Aging hero Wild Tiger pairs up with up-comer Barnaby to gain back his lost popularity forming the first hero duo in the process. Like Midoriya and Bakugo, Wild Tiger and Barnaby begrudgingly work together, but their personalities often clash. However, that tumultuous relationship makes their victories all the sweeter. While "My Hero Academia" dips its toes into the darker side of being a hero, "Tiger & Bunny" dives in head first, examining what it means to be on hero-dom's lower rungs.

Charlotte

In the world of "Charlotte," powers are not rare, but they are not incredibly common, either. Select kids manifest their powers at puberty and attend special schools to learn how to control their gifts and use them responsibly. Main character Yuu Otosaka is one of these children, but instead of being thrilled to have powers like Midoriya, he wants to hide his powers so he can live a normal life. However, Yuu can't keep the secret for long, and is forced to attend one of these schools and befriend other gifted students like himself. 

Instead of trying to hone and increase their power, these students would rather learn how to control and conceal their abilities as much as possible. It's an interesting inversion to "My Hero Academia," as "Charlotte" depicts powers as a burden rather than a gift. In that way, Yuu is a foil to Midoriya: a young man who doesn't aspire to greatness, but instead craves normalcy.

Soul Eater

At the Death Meister Academy, students train in duos. One member of the pair is a weapons expert, known as a "meister." The other is a "demon weapon," or a human-weapon hybrid who can change forms. Their goal? To make the demon weapon into a "death scythe" by harvesting the souls of 99 evil humans and one witch, thereby gaining ultimate power. 

While "Soul Eater" has a horror angle, the Death Meister Academy and UA High School are surprisingly similar environments. Students don't just fight, but also attend classes with eccentric teachers. "Soul Eater" isn't just about the action. The actual education that comes with training to be a hero or death meister also plays a huge role. Similar to "My Hero Academia," "Soul Eater" is not interested solely in one character, either, but rather focuses on the connections between the three student groups who train while trying to save the world. Finally, "Soul Eater" is also animated by the same company that does "My Hero Academia," which means the shows share some visual similarities, including unique character designs that keep your eyes glued to the screen.

Read this next: Why 'Sailor Moon' And The Magical Girl Anime Still Matter Today

The post 14 Anime Shows To Watch If You Love My Hero Academia appeared first on /Film.

The sudden and forced migration of staff from office working to home working caused by the COVID pandemic is often touted as a success. This is true. It was a logistical success. But the cybersecurity ramifications are only just unfolding; and they need to be tackled.

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A team of researchers has identified what appears to be a new method that malicious actors could use to trick users into connecting to their wireless access points (APs).

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(The Morning Watch is a recurring feature that highlights a handful of noteworthy videos from around the web. They could be video essays, fan-made productions, featurettes, short films, hilarious sketches, or just anything that has to do with our favorite movies and TV shows.)

In this edition, take a closer look at the trailer for "The Matrix Resurrections" with a video breaking down some Easter eggs, hidden details, and more. Plus, go behind the scenes of the modern retelling of the classic fairytale "Cinderella" starring Camilla Cabello. And finally, check out a new episode of the "What We Do in the Shadows" after show with a couple cast members joining co-star Harvey Guillen.

The Matrix Resurrections Trailer Easter Eggs

First up, the internet was abuzz last week after the debut of the first trailer for "The Matrix Resurrections," the new sequel digging back into the hit sci-fi action franchise that seemed to wrap up nearly 20 years ago. ScreenCrush has taken a deep dive into all the footage within the first trailer to point out some Easter eggs, callbacks, and other hidden details you might have missed. So take the red pill, and welcome to the real world all over again.

Behind The Seams Of Cinderella

Next, Amazon recently debuted a new version of "Cinderella" directed by Kay Cannon, who was at the helm of the high school sex comedy "Blockers" and the writer of the a capella comedy sensation "Pitch Perfect." In this featurette, see how Cannon infused the well-known classic fairytale with some modern energy and a catchy soundtrack with the help of star Camilla Cabello.

After The Shadows - Episode 2

Finally, a new episode of "After the Shadows" has arrived, focusing on the third episode of the third season of "What We Do in the Shadows." After a rivalry kickball game with the werewolves, star Kayvan Novak and guest star Aida Turturro sat down with cast member Harvey Guillen to talk about the roller coaster of emotions between their two characters. Find out some fun details from production of the show and more before a new episode of "What We Do in the Shadows" arrives later this week.

Read this next: The Morning Watch: The Band Of Brothers Podcast Has Arrived, The True Story Behind Netflix's Worth & More

The post The Morning Watch: The Matrix Resurrections Trailer Easter Eggs, Behind the Scenes of Cinderella & More appeared first on /Film.

David Fincher's "Fight Club" is a film with a troubled legacy, perhaps because it has been misunderstood or because the film itself makes the unglamorous glamorous. An early darling of the DVD market, once likened to "The Graduate" of its generation, Fincher's 1999 adaptation of the eponymous Chuck Palahniuk novel was never not controversial. In recent years, however, it feels like the film has borne the brunt of more criticism, as cultural attitudes have shifted and singled it out as a problematic, premillennial bastion of toxic masculinity.

It's an easy target for commentary, the kind of cult favorite that trends on Twitter over two decades later for being an ostensible "red flag movie." The film's 20th anniversary happened to come the same year as the Joaquin Phoenix-led "Joker," and it was often a point of comparison, with The New Yorker, for instance, running pieces about "The Men Who Still Love Fight Club."

Guys — some of them, anyway — want to be Brad Pitt. More specifically, they want to look like Pitt's character, Tyler Durden, the walking id of Edward Norton's nameless narrator, AKA "Jack."

Durden is a dangerous puma of a man (or figment of one) with cannonball shoulders, low body fat, and no compunctions about beating a bleached-blonde Jared Leto silly. He's the kind of imaginary friend, or extension of self, who walks into an underground fight club and commands attention, laying out the rules for his followers.

The first and second rules of "Fight Club" are, "You do not talk about Fight Club." But we're about to break those rules and talk about how Pitt prepared for the role of Durden.

How Brad Pitt Prepared For The Role Of Tyler Durden

Pitt took drastic measures to achieve his chiseled look and bring the Tyler Durden character to life. Film Facts gives a brief rundown, explaining that he "had pieces of his front teeth chipped off" and "took soap-making classes, boxing, taekwondo, and grappling lessons with Edward Norton to prepare for the role."

Way back in 1998, while "Fight Club" was in production, Entertainment Weekly told teeny-boppers to brace themselves for the report that Pitt was having his teeth chipped — on purpose — for Fincher's film. He did it the smart way, at least, by visiting the dentist, rather than taking a hammer to them. His publicist, Cindy Guagenti, said, "Brad's willing to go to great lengths for a character," and she stressed that he was planning to get his teeth restored soon after.

As for the soap-making, well, c'mon, a pink soap bar, made out of human body fat (purloined from liposuction clinics), is the movie-poster symbol of "Fight Club." You can't really blame Pitt and Norton for wanting to get some hands-on experience with soap-making.

Men's Health devoted an entire article to Pitt's workout regimen, which has a whole day devoted to shoulder exercises (thus, the cannonballs) and separate days devoted to the chest, the back, the biceps and triceps, and cardio. Learning boxing and Taekwondo came in handy for when Durden was going all Bruce Lee on the Jack side of himself, beating up Norton's character in a parking garage.

Just remember: if you want to hit the gym and try and sculpt your pecs to look more like those of Tyler Durden, that's okay. Emulating the worst of his Project Mayhem behavior, however, is not generally advised.

Read this next: Wild And Unsettling Comics You Should Read After Revisiting 'Fight Club'

The post The extreme lengths Brad Pitt went to for his Fight Club role appeared first on /Film.

Move over, "Die Hard." Fans have been looking forward to Marvel's "Hawkeye" series with great anticipation upon learning it would be loosely inspired by the exceedingly well-received Matt Fraction and David Aja comic storyline, but this morning's trailer for the series definitively answers a much different, though equally important question: whether the MCU would ever set a story around the holiday season ever again. That's right, "Hawkeye" is officially a Christmas show and we're already in a festive mood about it. Check out the first trailer and poster for the Disney+ superhero series below.

Hawkeye Trailer

Maybe it's just the fact that the winter holidays really are the most wonderful time of the year for me, but this "Hawkeye" trailer has utterly charmed the cold, dead embers of my heart. Everything here looks shockingly delightful -- from the laid-back, comedic tone to Hailee Steinfeld and Jeremy Renner's easygoing rapport. As has become something of a trend in the post-"Avengers: Endgame" MCU, Steinfeld's Kate Bishop looks to be the next young hero to step and claim the mantle of Hawkeye from Renner's arrow-shooting stalwart, who will be reprising the role after, ah, going a bit off the deep end in the early parts of "Endgame." Thankfully, his awful haircut is gone and he's reunited with his family again ... until, that is, some ghosts from his past appear to interrupt the holidays and drive him back into action again.

Marvel describes the show as "...a new series set in post-blip New York City. Former Avenger Clint Barton has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. Possible? Maybe with the help of Kate Bishop, a 22-year-old archer with dreams of becoming a Super Hero. The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton's past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit." Renner and Steinfeld will be joined by Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Zahn McClarnon, Brian d'Arcy James and newcomer Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez.

Though I've found the previous Disney+ efforts to be rather hit or miss, I am absolutely here for this seemingly low-stakes approach to the "Hawkeye" series. For once, the conflict should be small-scale enough that the focus on character doesn't go completely awry, but grounding it all amid the question of a retired superhero just trying to get back home for Christmas is surprisingly effective. Who isn't immediately invested in a scenario like that, especially considering how sneakily well the MCU has built up Hawkeye's relationship with his family? As really the only hero with genuine family ties outside of Ant-Man, this was probably a no-brainer of a premise for the "Hawkeye" series.

Marvel has also released a new poster for the show, which you can see below. "Hawkeye" premieres on Disney+ just in time for the holidays, on November 24, 2021.

Read this next: Every MCU Post-Credits Sequence Ranked From Worst To Best

The post Hawkeye Trailer: The Least Mighty Avenger Gets His Own Disney+ Series appeared first on /Film.

Everything we've seen from "The Matrix Resurrections" so far, as little as it is, has me completely ready for whatever filmmaker Lana Wachowski is set to throw our way. This sequel looks to be nothing like what fans could've ever expected or predicted from a legacy sequel to the original "The Matrix," which is exactly how a fourth film in this franchise should be. That includes bringing back Keanu Reeves' Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss' Trinity who, if you remember from "Revolutions," both sacrificed their lives during the final fight against the Machines. Lana Wachowski doesn't give away any spoilers here for how she's apparently brought them back from the dead, but her creative reasons for doing so are as heartfelt as it gets.

Resurrections

Getting a fourth "Matrix" film was never a sure thing in the first place, with Lilly Wachowski (who isn't returning for "Resurrections") once going so far to call the prospects of another sequel as a "particularly repelling idea in these times." Lilly has recently opened up in even further detail on why going "backwards" with "Resurrections" was never all that appealing to her, understandably evoking the loss of the sisters' parents as one of many reasons why. Meanwhile, Lana has forged ahead with "Resurrections" to the delight of countless fans. Her reasons for doing so are just as personal and inarguable as Lilly's motivations for staying away, though it's healthy to be reminded that different people -- even siblings! -- can process grief in completely different ways.

That brings us to why Neo and Trinity are back in action, aside from the obvious reason that the two characters are as synonymous with "The Matrix" as the Wachowskis themselves. In a screenwriting panel for the International Literature Festival Berlin (via Screen Rant), Lana gave a thorough and intimate explanation as to how the loss of her parents influenced her decision to bring back Neo and Trinity for "Resurrections."

"My dad died, then this friend died, then my mom died. I didn't really know how to process that kind of grief. I hadn't experienced it that closely ... You know their lives are going to end and yet it was still really hard. My brain has always reached into my imagination and one night, I was crying and I couldn't sleep, and my brain exploded this whole story. And I couldn't have my mom and dad, yet suddenly I had Neo and Trinity, arguably the two most important characters in my life. It was immediately comforting to have these two characters alive again, and it's super simple. You can look at it and say: 'ok, these two people die and ok, bring these two people back to life and oh, doesn't that feel good.' Yeah, it did! It's simple, and this is what art does and that's what stories do, they comfort us."

While I naturally tend to be skeptical about indulgent and pandering instincts in art, this feels like something else altogether. The way she explains it, Lana Wachowski appears to have used the blank canvas of another "Matrix" sequel to help come to terms with the significant personal loss she has experienced in recent years. Whenever snobby people like myself rail against impersonal and emotionally distant blockbusters, this is the type of filmmaking I have in mind as a counterexample. With more and more people coming around to the idea that "The Matrix" serves as a deeply personal statement for both Wachowski sisters, it couldn't feel more fitting that "Resurrections" would continue that theme.

"The Matrix Resurrections" arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on December 22, 2021.

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Marvel Studios released the first trailer for the upcoming "Hawkeye" series on Disney+ this morning, and it's clear we'll be getting festive with Clint Barton. Unfortunately, it appears spending the holidays with his family may be harder than anticipated when he suddenly has to help out a young archer named Kate Bishop, who has gotten herself in a bit of trouble after posing as Hawkeye's deadly alter ego, Ronin. Find out about all that and more in our extensive "Hawkeye" trailer breakdown below.

Christmas In New York City

When Hawkeye debuts on Disney+ in November, it will be just before Thanksgiving on November 24. So there's no time better to give us a Marvel Studios show that takes place around the holidays. Clearly it will be Christmastime with the Empire State Building lit up in green and red with the candy cane-striped tower. Then there's all the snow falling, and it will just be a magical time. Well, unless you're part of the Barton family.

Barton Family Dinner

Hawkeye and his children are enjoying a nice family dinner at a Chinese restaurant. As his daughter jokes, it's the first Christmas they've had together in years, and that's because Clint's entire family was dusted away when Thanos snapped half of the universe out of existence. However, we're wondering why Clint's wife Laura (Linda Cardellini) isn't there for dinner. Has the couple had a falling out in the aftermath of The Blip? It would be rather cruel to have Hawkeye go through all that hell and mental anguish just to get separated from his wife. 

Rogers: The Musical

In addition to family dinner, Clint takes the kids out some interesting entertainment. It looks like the life of Steve Rogers as Captain America has been turned into a Broadway show called "Rogers: The Musical." Don't get too excited though, because it looks pretty terrible, but we'll get to that later.

I'll Be Home For Christmas

When someone posing as Clint's alter ego Ronin is spotted on the evening news, he takes it up himself to figure out who this person is and what they're up to. Clint's daughter asks if they should be worried, but he reassures her that it's not a big deal and he'll still be home for Christmas. That would seem to imply that things are okay in the Barton family, but that doesn't explain why Laura wasn't at dinner with the rest of the family.

There's another interesting detail to note here as well. If you look in Clint's ear, you'll see what appears to be a hearing aid. This would seem to hint at the inclusion of a detail from Marvel Comics where Hawkeye starts to lose his hearing. Then again, there's also the chance that this is just a tactical earpiece, though we're not sure who he would be communicating with on the other end, so we're thinking it's the hearing loss storyline being incorporated into the series. It would also give Clint a good reason to get out of the game once and for all, giving another archer an opportunity to step up.

Phony Ronin

Speaking of another archer, that's exactly who has been masquerading on the streets as Ronin, the deadly vigilante identity taken on by Clint Barton when he was at his darkest and lowest point following the events of "Avengers: Infinity War." It appears the phony Ronin has been caught by some unsavory characters in a van. Thankfully, Hawkeye shows up and dispatches with them quickly, much to the shock of the fake Ronin in question, who is none other than Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop.

The World's Greatest Archer

Kate Bishop comes straight from Marvel Comics, where she's essentially an apprentice for Hawkeye. She says that some have referred to her as the world's greatest archer, but that might just be Kate trying to build herself up to her hero. We're not entire sure what she's doing with that tennis ball arrow, but it brings down a bell tower in a destructive fashion. If that's what she was trying to do, then mission accomplished, I guess.

Tracksuit Draculas

Fans have been wondering who the villain in the Hawkeye series will be, and now we have at least some idea of who will be giving Hawkeye and Kate Bishop trouble. In Marvel Comics, there's a criminal organization known as the "Tracksuit Mafia," which Clint also refers to as the "Tracksuit Draculas." They're not vampires or anything, but it's just a name Clint gives them, maybe because of their Russian accents reminding him of Dracula's signature Transylvanian dialect. But wouldn't it be cool if they turned out to be vampires as a way of leading into Marvel's new "Blade" movie? Anyway, they're criminals, and they're wearing tracksuits, and they're pissed at Kate Bishop, likely for messing up some of their nefarious activities.

Fall Into 30 Rock

This shot shows Hawkeye trying to ride a zip line from one of the skyscrapers in the Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, but falling into the giant Christmas tree in the center of the area. As we'll see later, it looks like there's a big confrontation that will be unfolding in this festive part of NYC. Anyone else getting "Die Hard" vibes with sequences like this?

Nice Ice Packs

Clint Barton certainly seems to be getting too old for this sh*t. On top of potentially losing his hearing, Clint is seen icing down his body with frozen margaritas in bags. It would appear all of his joints are aching, and that just gives us another sign that Hawkeye might be ready to call it quits when all is said and done.

Mother Knows Best

Here's our first look at Vera Farmiga in "Hawkeye." The actress from "The Conjuring" franchise is playing Kate Bishop's mother Eleanor. Surely, I'm not the only one who thinks that this character looks like she'll be revealed as a villain in the series. It would make for a familiar comic book twist by having a new hero's parent revealed as the main villain. Plus, there have been rumblings about the Marvel Comics villain Madame Masque being involved in the series, and Farmiga's look her certain fits that character's style in the comics. Perhaps she could even have ties to Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). After all, she's the one who sent Natasha Romanoff's adoptive sister Yelena Bolova after Hawkeye in the post-credits scene of "Black Widow."

Rogers: The Musical (Reprise)

Here's another look at "Rogers: The Musical," which looks cheesy and cheap as hell. Hulk is created with face paint and a green hoodie. Wow! Those Chitauri costumes look pretty terrible too. We can't wait to hear how awful the music is going to be in this faux musical. Maybe Marvel Studios can fully produce it as a Disney+ special.

Pizza Dog! Good Boy!

Look at that good boy! That's Pizza Dog. Originally belonging to the Tracksuit Mafia, the dog is injured and discarded by the criminal organization after he attacks one of their men in an effort to repay kindness shown to him by Clint. In the comics, he's left without his left eye, and the series has carried over that tragic but adorable little detail here. Clint takes in the dog and renames him Lucky in the comics, but we'll see if that name sticks in the series. Oh, and he loves pizza.

Ronin And The Renaissance Fair

Ronin appears to be taking a break from brutal murders of crime bosses to hang out with some people at a renaissance fair. He's welcomed with cheers in the crowd, but we're betting that's not Clint suited up as Ronin. More than likely, it's Kate Bishop, and these are her people. What better place to show off her archery skills then at this gathering of geeks?

Hawkeye Plays Around

Another reason that we think Clint isn't in his Ronin gear is because of this shot immediately after that shows him renaissance fair gear, play-fighting with some of the other faux warriors. My guess is that Clint accompanies Kate to the renaissance fair and has a bit of fun with the attendees. That should be a very enjoyable sequence.

Echo Is Here

Here's another glimpse at a new character. Alaqua Cox is playing Maya Lopez, AKA Echo. In Marvel Comics, Echo is the adoptive daughter of Kingpin, who took her under his arm when she was a young girl, after killing her father, a Cheyenne gangster. There have been rumblings that Vincent D'Onofrio might make his proper MCU debut as Kingpin in this series, reprising the role from Netflix's "Daredevil" show, but we're not sure if that's just wishful thinking. Seeing Echo in this shot would seem to indicate that she might be an adversary in "Hawkeye." But since she's supposed to get her own series on Disney+, that might not last for long.

On Thin Ince

In this shot, Hawkeye and Kate Bishop appear to be on the ice rink in the middle of Rockefeller Plaza. It seems like there will be a big action sequence playing out here involving the Tracksuit Mafia. The only question we have is who is pulling the strings of this band of criminals? Is it Kingpin, or will there be a new dangerous villain introduced?

Dangerous Arrows

A chase sequence features Hawkeye driving while Kate Bishop tries to dispatch with a Trust a Bro Moving Company van chasing them. This is likely a front for the Tracksuit Mafia. In Marvel Comics, the gang is constantly referring to each other as "bro," so much that Hawkeye starts referring to them as "Bros." It looks like they'll be missing one of their vans after Kate blows it up with one of Hawkeye's dangerous arrows, and it's not even the most deadly one he has in his quill.

This may only be our first look at "Hawkeye," but it's a promising one. The festive feeling makes it stand out from the rest of Marvel's fare, and we can't wait to see how this ties into what's going on in the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

"Hawkeye" debuts on Disney+ starting on November 24, 2021.

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James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad" introduced us to John Cena's Peacemaker, an overly zealous patriot who will happily burn America to the ground in order to "save" it. Gunn enjoyed writing the character so much that he decided in post-production of "The Suicide Squad" to give Peacemaker his own show. We now have a first-look at the HBO Max series, which Gunn describes as "a really f**ked up version" of the 1970s "Captain America" TV movie he loved as a kid.

Peacemaker First Look

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly that includes the first look image above, Gunn admits that he committed one of his pet peeves when creating the "Peacemaker" series. 

(Warning! Major spoilers for "The Suicide Squad" below, so stop reading if you haven't seen and care about that sort of thing.)

In "The Suicide Squad," Gunn kills off Peacemaker at the end of the film. Gunn gets annoyed when killed-off characters come back from the dead, but he was so excited to create a "Peacemaker" spin-off that he tacked on an end credits scene where Economos (Steve Agee) and Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) check in on an unconscious-but-alive Peacemaker in the hospital. "I did exactly the thing I hate when other filmmakers do [it]," Gunn told EW. "But I did it! I'll have to live with the repercussions, which is the most incredible TV show people will ever see."

The eight-episode series will star John Cena as a very-much-not-dead Peacemaker, as well as Agee and Holland as their respective "The Suicide Squad" characters. The image above also reveals what the new members to his black ops team will look like. Chukwudi Iwuji plays Murn, a mercenary who works for Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) and the leader of Peacemaker's new team. Freddie Stroma is playing Vigilante, a character who, wait for it, is a vigilante. And Danielle Brooks rounds out the team as Adebayo. "She isn't always treated the best by the people around her," Gunn said, "but despite her differences with Peacemaker, they form a bond."

Gunn wrote the entire series and directed five of the episodes. And while he'll be busy shooting "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3" for awhile, he also said he'd be more than willing to do a second season of the HBO Max show. "I would like to do a season 2," he said. "They just have to tell me that they want to do it."

"Peacemaker" will premiere on HBO Max in January 2022.

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James Wan, the mind behind "Saw," "Insidious," "The Conjuring" and, more recently, "Aquaman," made his glorious return to the world of horror over the weekend with "Malignant." The director hadn't made a horror movie since 2016's "The Conjuring 2," so this was no small thing. After all, it's pretty fair to say Wan may well be our most prominent modern master of horror. That being said, he did not make another friendly franchise play here. As those who have witnessed "Malignant" know, this thing is absolutely bananas -- and the third act is one of the most memorable from a mainstream movie in recent memory. As such, there is much to discuss. So, let's dig in, shall we?

Warning: major spoilers for "Malignant" follow. Proceed with caution.

Malignant, Before Going Off The Rails

Save for that wild-ass opening sequence in the hospital where we first meet Dr. Florence Weaver (Jacqueline McKenzie) and, most importantly, Gabriel (we'll get into that shortly), "Malignant" starts out as a seemingly ordinary supernatural horror flick. Madison (Annabelle Wallis) is pregnant and in an abusive relationship. One particularly bad night, her dickbag boyfriend shoves her against a wall, smashing her head. Mr. Dickhead is ever so sorry, but he is locked out of their bedroom by Madison. And boy, does that go badly for him.

Sleeping on the couch that night, a dark and spooky entity enters their home and dispatches this abusive sack of garbage. It's hard to feel sorry for the guy, but he is murdered super hard. This is not standard murder. This is spine-twisting, no-doubt-about-it murder. Madison also has a run-in with this entity and lands herself in the hospital. Tragically, her unborn baby does not survive the encounter. This is particularly heartbreaking as she's had several miscarriages recently ... something her sister Sydney (Maddie Hasson) was not aware of.

Following the murder, a pair of detectives, Kekoa Shaw (George Young) and Regina Moss (Michole Briana White) are assigned to the case. Madison has a troubled past. There was no sign of forced entry. An abusive boyfriend. Things look fishy from the jump. But Madison isn't booked into custody and eventually makes her way home. Out of (perfectly understandable) paranoia, she locks down the house as if a zombie invasion were imminent. From here, things get a little crazy. But not nearly as crazy as they're going to get.

Madison begins seeing visions (or so we think) of horribly violent murders as they are occurring. As it turns out, these are the very same people from the hospital sequence at the beginning of the movie. Naturally, when Madison and her sister bring this to the cops, it seems suspicious. But when Shaw gets a look at the killer for himself, it all changes. He knows, or at least believes, Madison couldn't possibly be capable of the wild things this mysterious coat-cloaked killer is capable of.

It's around this time that things begin to approach bananas territory. Madison's adopted mother reveals that she used to refer to her "imaginary" friend as Gabriel, the alleged name of the specter behind these murders. Twist number one! But that's truly just the beginning.

Twins, Baby! Twins!

The first two acts of the movie are kinda slow (ish) and seem relatively standard, stylish though they may be. Madison has a second personality, which explains Gabriel. But after Madison is put in jail when the evidence is stacked against her (AKA her birth mother being tied up in her attic), things go fully off-the-rails in a way few mainstream movies ever have. Buckle the f*** up.

Sydney uncovers a great deal of information at the institution Madison lived at before being adopted. This is where we learn who Gabriel really is. It turns out that our dear Madison had some sort of half-absorbed, conjoined, parasitic twin living on her back. Yep! This isn't merely a multiple personality issue. It's a horrific monstrosity, and perhaps the most complicated sibling relationship ever put to screen. In true James Wan fashion, this thing is gnarly. The staff at this institution studied the entity, as it shared a brain with Madison, making the whole situation rather ... unique, to put it mildly. But the violence and unpredictability become too much, so they cut out as much of Gabriel as they can through an equally gnarly and painstaking operation. However, a percentage of him had couldn't be removed. So, they just tucked the lil guy right into Maddie's skull.

When Mr. Dickhead smashed Madison against the well, it freed Gabriel after years of dormancy. Madison managed to subdue him after Sydney was born, despite some creepy incidents in her youth. But after years of being pushed to the side, Gabriel is out for blood. This turns out to be rather unfortunate for Madison's fellow inmates in her holding cell. Perhaps the most insane scene in the whole movie is Gabriel tearing through the utterly nonsensical collection of lawbreakers (seriously, look at those outfits!) in ultraviolent fashion. Upon breaking out, she/hey/they proceed to murder an entire battalion of police officers in an astonishingly violent action scene.

The conclusion sees Gabriel/Madison head to the hospital where her birth mother is being held. Sydney is there. The source of the abandonment issues is there. It's the perfect place for a final showdown. Even though it appears as though Gabriel is going to get what he wants, as we see him violently dispatch the remaining members of his family, we learn that Madison has actually learned to flip the script on her, uh, brother? It's complicated. She manages to control the situation and provide him with a vision, much like he has done to her throughout the film. And, in the end, she locks him inside a psychic mind prison, possibly setting the stage for a potential sequel.

Madison saves Sydney. It's (mostly) a happy ending. Though the little light flicker at the end signifies that Gabriel isn't entirely gone, again hinting at a follow-up. Though, to that point, the whole "Gabriel can control lights and talk through the radio" thing is never fully explained. It only adds to the bonkers nature of the whole thing. The slasher killer has super-powers and no one even addresses it! But that's because "Malignant" has other priorities and this is only the fifth or sixth craziest thing going on.

James Wan Was In Complete Control Of Malignant's Ending

It is tough to capture tone in a recap, but much of "Malignant" is truly silly. The Gabriel reveal is truly beyond what anyone could have possibly guessed. The violence and action in the third act is way beyond what one might have suspected. It is, to put it mildly, a lot.

One might be able to look at this and say it kinda got away from James Wan. Simply looking over the reactions on Twitter, it's obvious this is a divisive movie. But let's be perfectly clear: Wan was in complete control the entire time. He knew exactly what he was doing. Plain and simple. This unhinged mindf*** of a movie was precisely what he wanted to make. He made Warner Bros. a ridiculous amount of money with "Aquaman." He is the engine that drives the "Conjuring" universe. So, it's easy to imagine they probably gave him carte blanche, and a blank check (within reason) to do whatever he wanted to do before diving under the sea once again with Jason Momoa for "Aquaman 2."

Is "Malignant" silly? You bet. But it seems to be an intentional ode to a bygone era of horror. The type of horror you took off the shelf at a video store simply because the box art is cool. James Wan is smart enough to know this wasn't going to be taken too seriously. Is "Malignant" kind of a mess? Well, yeah. It's an avalanche of crazy ideas stapled to a stylish, but seemingly familiar, house of the devil tale. But it's by design. There is too much expert filmmaking at play here, between the top-notch camera work, inventive action sequences, and memorable effects, for this to be an accident.

Say what you will about "Malignant," but James Wan just made the riskiest movie of his career just after making the highest-grossing DC movie in history. Like it or don't like it, but it's unfair to say Wan didn't know what he was doing. He made an intentionally ridiculous movie for one of the biggest studios in Hollywood because he could. Hard not to respect it.

Gabriel, Malignant's Not-So-Subtle Metaphor

To put a button on this, we should talk a bit about the movie's meaning. Or my perception of it anyhow. Despite writing about movies for a living, I'm still a popcorn-eating rube. I don't dig deep. I value entertainment. It's just what I do. That being said, "Malignant," despite its craziness, seems to have something to say about trauma and conquering said trauma.

Madison suffered a great deal in her youth. Abandonment. A torturous ordeal at a weird hospital. The whole evil conjoined twin business. It was a lot to overcome. And it's no secret that many people who suffer such trauma just bury it deep down and don't address it properly. Gabriel is a not-so-subtle metaphor for that repression of trauma. Ultimately, Madison is able to conquer that trauma. Conquering trauma is never easy, and in this case, it was exceptionally messy. But it is worth noting that, right alongside the parade of crazy that is "Malignant," there is a meaningful message to be extracted.

Though, if we're being honest, "Malignant" is still primarily just a messed-up rollercoaster ride of an experience. And that's okay.

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"A Quiet Place: Part II" is a terrifying, post-apocalyptic creature-feature that centers on family, resilience, and love. Starring the first movie's core cast -- including Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, and Millicent Simmonds -- while expanding the scope of its world and characters, Part II wisely replicates what worked so well the first time while doubling down on the series' core conceit: To stay alive, its characters must remain silent. In the world of "A Quiet Place: Part II," silence equals survival.

The move is a thrilling, heartfelt ode to horror and sci-fi's past, depicting a world where the innate goodness of others is enough to triumph over an otherworldly race of monsters. It also signals a shift in representation in genre films, with deaf star Millicent Simmonds taking the lead for the second go-round, ably matching her adult peers with resounding emotion and certified grit. Released in May 2021, and now available to stream on Paramount+, "A Quiet Place: Part II" is an unqualified success. Meaner, leaner, and more emotionally gripping than the first, it's the rare horror sequel that surpasses the original.

A third movie in the series is on the way, with Jeff Nichols taking over as director from John Krasinski, but it won't be out for a while. While you wait, here are 12 more movies to watch if you loved "A Quiet Place: Part II."

Jaws

"Jaws" is perhaps John Krasinski's preeminent inspiration for "A Quiet Place: Part II." In an interview with Den of Geek, director John Krasinski noted "I think 'Jaws' is a perfect film, and I think that, storytelling-wise, what I learned from it was simplicity, the strength that comes from simplicity." That simplicity is apparent in "A Quiet Place Part II" from the get-go, with Kransinski, not unlike Steven Spielberg himself, using technical flourishes and genuine pathos to elevate a pretty simple tale of man versus beast.

The opening prelude to "A Quiet Place: Part II" is similar to Spielberg's opening to "Jaws": A placid small town enjoys a tranquil summer right before an unseen menace descends. The tension is gripping, the unpredictability sensational, and the fear palpable. Where "Jaws" made audiences afraid of going into the water, "A Quiet Place: Part II" made them afraid to make a sound.

Alien

Director Ridley Scott's "Alien" is a classic operatic science-fiction horror hybrid that is perhaps best conceptualized as a haunted house movie set in space. Starring a then-unknown Sigourney Weaver, "Alien" follows a group of outer space contractors who, after responding to an unknown distress beacon, find themselves trapped with an alien lifeform on their ship. It's terrifying stuff, rendered all the more distressing on by Scott's stripped-down simplicity and austere posturing.

John Kransinski says he watched "Alien" to prepare for his duties on "A Quiet Place: Part II." The thematic link is especially clear in how "Part II" handles Millicent Simmonds' character, who serves as a contemporary parallel for Weaver's Ellen Ripley, the perennial horror heroine. Simmonds' Regan Abbott is resourceful, determined, and worth rooting for, not unlike Ripley. "Alien" is worth checking out, especially for fans eager to see an early model of what "A Quiet Place: Part II" would emulate.

Us

Jordan Peele's "Us" was a sensation when it was released, grossing over $255 million worldwide against a modest $20 million budget. Riding the wave of director Peele's Oscar-winning horror hybrid "Get Out," "Us" set the world aflame with an incendiary and terrifying home invasion spectacle that repeatedly subverted the audience's expectations. 

It also, like "A Quiet Place: Part II" is a modest though deeply-felt effort to further diversity in the genre, and to center protagonists that look quite unlike what audiences are used to. Where "Us" starred an awards-worthy Lupita Nyong'o in dual roles, "A Quiet Place: Part II" has Millicent Simmonds. As Kenyan and deaf actresses respectively, the actresses serve as the lynchpins in smart restructurings of familiar frameworks. Both "A Quiet Place: Part II" and "Us" take old scares and make them feel new again.

Similarly, both films feature strong, cohesive family units at their centers and are told from the perspectives of families endeavoring to survive a burgeoning apocalypse. Where "A Quiet Place: Part II" has extraterrestrial monsters, "Us" has an army of underground doppelgängers who act, think, and feel just like, well, us. Director John Krasinski even remarked that, among his horror peers, "Us" was one of the movies that inspired his work on the "Quiet Place" sequel.

The Descent

Neil Marshall's "The Descent" is one of the scariest movies released this century. A riff on Ridley Scott's "Alien," though with considerably more blood and guts, it follows an all-female group of spelunkers who, after being led into an uncharted cave system, find themselves battling an ancient species of cave-dwelling humanoids. What makes these humanoids distinct -- and renders the "A Quiet Place: Part II" connection all too clear -- is that, on account of their underground habitat, they're blind. Instead of sight, these creatures rely on their finely-tuned hearing to monitor, track, and ultimately hunt down their prey.

The all-female angle is echoed in "A Quiet Place Part II" with Emily Blunt's Evelyn Abbott, a fierce maternal stalwart willing to do whatever it takes to keep her family safe. Indeed, Marshall's "The Descent," starring an inimitable Shauna Macdonald, looks like an early template for some of Krasinski's most effective "don't make a sound" set pieces. At one point, two of the divers (MyAnna Burning and Saskia Mulder) are trapped below a crawling humanoid, which is staring them right in the face. They hold their breaths and stifle all movement. Just when they think they're safe, Sam's watch alarm goes off. It's gloriously thrilling to watch as the duo scramble to remove the device before the creature returns. If you liked "A Quiet Place: Part II" but wished it was just a little more violent and unforgiving, this one's for you.

Train To Busan

Yeon Sang-ho's "Train to Busan" was an instant hit when it debuted on Netflix in 2016, so much so that a sequel "Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula" was released four years later. "Train to Busan" stars Gong Yoo as Seo Seok-woo, a fund manager estranged from his daughter, Seo Su-an (Kim Su-an). On Seo Su-an's birthday, the two decide to take (you guessed it) a train to Busan to see the girl's mother. En route, an infected woman boards the train, killing most all of the passengers, aside from a ragtag ensemble that includes an elderly couple, a baseball team, and a homeless stowaway.

Much like both "The Descent" and "A Quiet Place: Part II," these zombies are limited in their ability to see. Instead, they hunt by sound. It's a terrifying subversion of conventional undead tropes, one that allows for several quick chases and tense, slow crawls though armies of the undead. One wrong move and it's over. It's a wildly influential approach to zombie movies, and one that director Zack Snyder aped in his recent "Army of the Dead" for Netflix. High-octane, deeply-human, and even a bit of a tearjerker, "Train to Busan" is one not to miss.

28 Weeks Later

The world of genre filmmaking is vast and interconnected. With just a little effort, every movie can be traced to something that came out earlier. Such is the case with Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's "28 Weeks Later." The monsters in Fresnadillo's sequel, modeled after those first introduced in the original "28 Days Later," are frenzied and fast. They're also not conventional zombies. Instead, they're people who have been infected with a "rage virus" that, for all intents and purposes, makes them a lot more like the more traditional horror movie villains, only quicker and more vicious.

The family unification thread that guides both of John Krasinski's "A Quiet Place" movies is evident here, too, as Tammy (Imogen Poots) and Andy (Mackintosh Muggleton) are reunited with their father in quarantined London just as a new virus breaks out. The scares come fast and hard, as do the bonafide emotions, with familial sacrifices that hit as hard as Krasinski's in the first "A Quiet Place." Moreover, "28 Weeks Later" is a clear inspiration for Yeon Sang-ho's "Train to Busan," on account of the energized undead and the scenic, apocalyptic detours. "28 Weeks Later" might have been one of the first of its kind, but it certainly won't be one of the last.

10 Cloverfield Lane

On the other end of the spectrum is Dan Trachtenberg's "10 Cloverfield Lane." Starring genre stalwart Mary Elizabeth Winstead, an exceptionally sinister John Goodman, and the always amicable John Gallagher Jr., "10 Cloverfield Lane" is a chamber-piece, something like a peripheral "A Quiet Place: Part II" micro-narrative (despite, of course, the movie's connection to the ever-expanding "Cloverfield" cinematic universe). Shot under-the-radar with its larger franchise connections concealed until release, "10 Cloverfield Lane" still works as a standalone hybrid of sci-fi and horror that relishes in the unknown.

Winstead's Michelle is taken in by Goodman's Howard following a traumatic auto accident. Howard, however, refuses to let Michelle leave his bunker, maintaining that there has been a massive attack and that the world outside is unsafe. Michelle simultaneously believes Howard's claims while remaining incredulous, especially as Howard himself becomes increasingly threatening. Michelle must decide whether the known threat inside or the unknown one outside is worse.

"10 Cloverfield Lane," like "A Quiet Place: Part II" asks big questions about the end of the world. Rather than simply accepting survival as the ultimate goal, both movies question the efficacy of staying alive as an end in itself. What good is a world without humanity, love, and compassion? If those are sacrificed, has anyone really survived? It's heady stuff, and like "A Quiet Place: Part II," sufficiently terrifying. Just as "Part II" will have you gripping the armrests until your knuckles bleed, "10 Cloverfield Lane" is a thrill ride that doesn't let up until its glorious, wholly unexpected finale.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers

Philip Kaufman's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is just one incarnation of Jack Finney's seminal 1955 novel, "The Body Snatchers." The first adaptation, directed by Don Siegel, was released in 1956, followed by Kaufman's interpretation, then Abel Ferrara's "The Body Snatchers" in 1993, Robert Rodriguez's "'Scream' but with aliens" version, "The Faculty," in 1997, the Nicole Kidman vehicle "The Invasion" in 2007, and the teeny-bopper rendition, "Assimilate," in 2019. That's a lot of body snatching.

Kaufman's remake, starring Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams, is the best of the bunch. Similar to Finney's book, in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" a race of extraterrestrial beings flee their dying planet and land in San Francisco, taking over the planet's natural ecosystem and cultivating a legion of pods that replicate organic matter, chiefly human beings. These pods slowly yet surely replace the citizens of San Francisco with austere mimics. 

The notion of an alien species colonizing our planet and stripping us of our bodily autonomy is terrifying stuff, though like with "A Quiet Place: Part II," it also provides ample opportunity for tense set pieces. Just as the ensemble of "A Quiet Place: Part II" must remain quiet to survive, the ensemble of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" must adapt to a new world order, eschewing conventional human emotions, to avoid detection by the alien race. What good is survival, though, when something so fundamental is sacrificed?

Annihilation

Alex Garland's "Annihilation," based on the first novel in Jeff VanderMeer's "Southern Reach" trilogy, was 2018's best horror movie that no one really saw. Constrained by an unconventional release strategy that saw Paramount handle the American, Canadian, and Chinese releases while Netflix streamed the film in other territories, "Annihilation" seemed dead on arrival.

And, in a financial sense, it was. Executives worried the film was "too intellectual" (per The Hollywood Reporter), though director Alex Garland had been fortunate enough to retain final cut privilege. Thus, the "Annihilation" that audiences saw was the "Annihilation" Garland wanted them to see. Ostensibly about a team of female scientists (with Natalie Portman leading the pack) led into an anomalous zone known as the "Shimmer," "Annihilation" is heady, dense sci-fi with tinges of creature-feature horror action. There are mutated bears, albino gators, and extraterrestrial species. The temporal laws of the "Shimmer" are unconventional, and audiences will watch in awe as their filmic expectations are subverted at every turn.

"Annihilation" is quite unlike the other movies listed here. Yet, for a distinct take on the core premise of "A Quiet Place: Part II" -- aliens invade earth -- it's worth a watch. It's mysterious, terrifying, and recurrently baffling, but it's something special. Garland delivered a beast of a movie here, and while it won't resonate with everyone, it's worth watching, if only for the majesty of Garland's distinct vision.

Wind Chill

"A Quiet Place: Part II" is not Emily Blunt's first foray into horror. That distinction belongs to Gregory Jacobs' "Wind Chill," which Bloody Disgusting calls a "Christmastime ghost story that makes the blood run cold." A young Emily Blunt stars as "the girl," a young college student who accepts a holiday ride home from her classmate, "the guy" (Ashton Holmes) Ostensibly innocuous, things grow increasingly unnerving. "Guy" knows more about "girl" than he should, and she soon begins to suspect that his intentions are anything but pure.

The car soon crashes, and "Wind Chill" becomes a chilly (forgive me) foray into the deepest recesses of a disturbed mind, one that keeps the audience guessing. Is it a serial-killer thriller? A ghost story? Something else entirely? It's not clear until the end, yet "Wind Chill" remains consistently satisfying. 

Moreover, Emily Blunt's performance is an early augur for her turn in "A Quiet Place: Part II." Her work here is a testament to how a talented performer can elevate even the most thinly-sketched character. Evelyn Abbott, much like "Girl," isn't all that developed -- she's a mother who loves her children, that's all -- but Blunt's work is so engaging, so deeply-felt, and so fierce that it doesn't matter. For audiences eager to see Blunt's early genre work, "Wind Chill" is a trip worth taking.

#Alive

"#Alive" is a recent Netflix original hailing from South Korea. Directed by Cho Il-hyung and starring Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-hye, it follows Oh Joon-woo (Yoo Ah-in), a gamer and streamer who finds himself quarantined in his apartment after a zombie apocalypse breaks out. Disconnected from everyone he knows -- including his family, who went out earlier in the day -- his only source of hope is Kim Yoo-bin (Park Shin-hye), the mysterious woman who lives in an apartment across the quad. Together, they must learn to communicate and formulate a plan for escape before the entire complex is overrun.

"#Alive," like "A Quiet Place: Part II," features a burgeoning apocalypse and explores the lengths people will go to in order to remain not only alive, but, more importantly, connected. The undead carnage is violent and well-choreographed, but "#Alive" is just as eager to remain patient where it counts most. Entire days pass by without incident, title cards detail just how long Oh Joon-woo has been on his own, and alongside both "A Quiet Place" and "A Quiet Place: Part II," it might just be the most life-affirming apocalypse there is. For all the bloodshed and horror, people remain good, desperate to connect with others and preserve their humanity. If you want a few tears alongside your zombie mayhem, "#Alive" delivers.

Krampus

"Krampus" is the long-awaited follow-up to director Michael Dougherty's Halloween horrorfest "Trick R Treat." An all-star cast, including Toni Collette and Adam Scott, are menaced by horrific, folkloric creatures after their tyke, Max (Emjay Anthony), inadvertently summons Krampus after losing his Christmas spirit. It's a wholly unique post-apocalyptic scenario, and one that treads similar ground as "A Quiet Place: Part II," only with considerably more laughs and high jinks.

The practical effects work in "Krampus" is unmatched, including a thoroughly terrifying, monstrous jack-in-the-box, and the acting is so-well balanced as it oscillates between fear and humor that it's hard not to be swept up in the family's holiday chaos. "Krampus" is unconventional Christmas fare, but it has heart and reminds audiences that the holidays are about family more than anything. It's scary when it counts most, though, and "Krampus" is liable to be a holiday no one will forget any time soon.

Read this next: The 15 Scariest Horror Movies On Hulu Right Now

The post Movies to watch if you loved A Quiet Place: Part II appeared first on /Film.

You only live thrice I tried to go into Deathloop as blind as possible, only glancing at trailers in the...

The post Review: Deathloop appeared first on Destructoid.

Perfectly timed with the release of the first three episodes, the opening scene of "Y: The Last Man" is now available on YouTube. The scene sets the table for the season to follow, introducing the characters' post-apocalyptic world in all its chaos, and letting loose Yorick Brown (Ben Schnetzer), the last biological man left on earth. At Yorick's side is the character already primed to steal the show, his pet monkey, Ampersand. 

Check out this exciting first look at "Y: The Last Man."

The Opening Scene Of Y: The Last Man

Not gonna lie, a world without men sounds pretty tempting... Just kidding, of course — especially because in "Y: The Last Man," it comes at a pretty hefty cost. In the series, a mysterious cataclysmic event has wiped out every mammal with a Y chromosome, except for Yorick and Ampersand. It results in numerous disasters, the loss of millions and infrastructural collapse so devastating that society essentially crumbles and devolves into chaos.

While no one else is seen in this first clip, the series will follow a set of characters doing their best to hold humanity together. However hard they try, extinction looms on the horizon and the remaining people are struggling with the complete loss of normalcy. To make matters worse, rival factions have their own ideas about reconstructing the world — some a tad more violently than others.

The opening scene doesn't delve too deeply into any of this though, it's all about showing off the post-apocalypse staples: a big city turned ghost town, car pile ups, blood smears and more dead bodies than the eye can see. And in much lighter news, we get to see Yorick work some magic for Ampersand. But however adorable their dynamic is, we're quickly reminded of the world's violence when a helicopter falls, threatening their lives. It's safe to assume this will match the show's tone pretty well — moments of levity with heavy reminders of what's at stake.

Along with Schnetzer, the series also stars Diane Lane, Ashley Romans, Olivia Thirlby, Juliana Canfield, Elliot Fletcher, Marin Ireland, Amber Tamblyn, and Diana Bang.

Here's the official synopsis for the show.

Based on DC Comics' acclaimed series by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra, Y: The Last Man traverses a post-apocalyptic world in which a cataclysmic event decimates every mammal with a Y chromosome but for one cisgender man and his pet monkey. The series follows the survivors in this new world as they struggle with their efforts to restore what was lost and the opportunity to build something better.

The Long Wait Is (Mostly) Over

Fans of the comic have been waiting a very long time for this adaptation to finally arrive. Or any adaptation, for that matter. 

Years ago, there were big plans for a "Y: The Last Man" movie, which director D.J Caruso envisioned as a trilogy. The project proved too ambitious for Lionsgate, who wanted to trim it down to a standalone film. However the creative team agreed that Yorick's story — which spans 60 issues —could not be so drastically condensed. Eventually, came time for this FX series, announced years ago in 2015. After numerous setbacks and even more after that, long-suffering fans can finally rejoice. For the most part, anyway.

Hulu is really drawing out the wait: the first three episodes are now available on the streamer but the rest of the season comes to FX on Hulu slowly, with weekly releases expected through October.

The first three episodes of "Y: The Last Man" are streaming now on Hulu.

Read this next: 'Y: The Last Man' Showrunner Explains How The Show Will Address The Transgender Community

The post Watch the Apocalyptic Opening Scene of Y: The Last Man appeared first on /Film.

William Blake once wrote: "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, and Eternity in an hour." Shut up, Blake. This is Deathloop. It is a full-blown action-comedy with a double jump. You get a sideways dash and a gun that splits to become two, smaller guns. If I see anyone trying to be too smart about this game, in which a time-looping assassin tries to break free of hilarious eternity by murdering many people who deserve it, I will look at them with hollow eyes and say: "In Deathloop you regularly snap necks by 270 degrees." Turn away, poets and stealth likers. This is not your daddy's Dishonored.

Read more

While Ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS shipped one year ago as the last planned point release to the "Bionic Beaver", an emergency issue is leading to Ubuntu 18.04.6 now being prepared...

The Deathloop release time is just a matter of hours away now, with the action-adventure game arriving later today if you're on Pacific Time or early tomorrow if you're on Eastern or based here in Europe. Ahead of then, the reviews are now flooding in, so we can get a good idea of what Arkane Studios' newest release will bring - and, oh boy, is it proving a hit.

First up, this orange site right here's take. Our own Ian Boudreau has scored it among the best of the best with a sparkling ten-out-of-ten - PCGamesN's first in nearly two years - in his Deathloop PC review, calling it a "true tour de force from Arkane that is bound to be one of the year's best and most important games". He also notes that the game "borrows great ideas from across gaming to produce a worthy heir to Dishonored" - so, a bit of a must-play, then.

It's a similar story across the board, too, with some other perfect scores handed out and average scores currently sitting at 88 on aggregate sites Metacritic and Opencritic.

RELATED LINKS: Deathloop review, Pre-order Deathloop, The best FPS games on PC

Hawkeye, Marvel's least notable on-screen hero, has a starring vehicle of his own!

It would appear Hawkeye, who seems as reluctant to be in this movie, gets a plucky sidekick.

The as-yet-unnamed but likely obvious to fans of the print comics sidekick looks interesting. — Read the rest

Your current phone might get security patches for several years to come, at least if Germany has its way. C'treports the German federal government is pushing the European Union to require seven years of security updates and spare parts for smartphones as part of negotiations with the European Commission. That's two years longer than a recent Commission proposal, and would effectively give phones a more computer-like support cycle.

Both proposals are unsurprisingly facing pushback from manufacturers. The industry advocacy group DigitalEurope (which counts Apple, Google and Samsung as some of its members) wants a requirement for just three years of security updates, and wants to limit spare parts to screens and batteries rather than cameras, speakers and other components that are supposedly more reliable.

DigitalEurope is effectively arguing for the status quo, in other words. While Apple typically delivers five years of regular feature and security updates, many Android vendors stop at three or less. Samsung only committed to four years of security fixes in 2021. Some of this has been dictated by Qualcomm's update policy, but it's clear the brands themselves are sometimes reluctant to change.

This extended support might become crucial. The EU's proposal, potentially in effect by 2023, is meant to help the environment by letting you keep phones for longer. They'd stay protected and functional for roughly twice the 2.5 to 3.5 years you see today.

However, this could also be vital for bolstering mobile security as a whole. Just over 40 percent of Android users are running 9.0 Pie or earlier, according to StatCounter's August 2021 usage share data — a large portion of mobile users have devices that either stopped receiving security updates or are close to losing them. Longer support periods could prevent attackers from targeting old phones that, at present, have been left permanently vulnerable to exploits patched in newer software.

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If I am honest, KAREN was a lot less “crazy” than I was expecting it to be. It’s a film that takes a “ripped from the headlines” approach. It’s based on the Karen meme where white women decide to start leveling charges at innocent black people because they are racists who can’t stand the thought of black people even existing in what they consider their space. It’s a fictional version of a lot of videos that we’ve seen in the last few years: Amy Cooper in Central Park, Lisa Alexander in San Francisco, and “Kroger Karen” in Detroit. Maybe it’s less “crazy” to me because actual Karens are pretty out there to start with. In the movie, you see versions of this kind of conduct where these women weaponize their supposed frailty. It’s a bit sobering, really. It cuts a little too close to real-life while still being slightly exaggerated.

KAREN is directed by Coke Daniels (His, Hers, & The Truth) and starring Cory Hardrict (Warm Bodies) as Malik, Jasmine Burke (Angrily Ever After) as Imani, Gregory Allen Williams (Brightburn) as Charles Wright, Mary Christina Brown (Paydirt) as Jan, Brandon Skelnar (Mapplethorpe) as Officer Hill, Roger Dorman (Wander) as Officer Mike Wind, and Taryn Manning (Orange Is The New Black) as Karen.

KAREN is the story of a young Black couple who move into a suburban subdivision to have a family and are instantly targeted by their neighbor and HOA president Karen Drexler. Every time they are outside their home, Karen is right there: asking questions, making requests, and implying things with a big smile on her face. Malik and Imani try to be neighborly, but Karen is never satisfied and they come to the conclusion that not all is well with their neighbor.

The film’s protagonists are the young couple Malik and Imani, but just like Dennis Quaid in The Intruder before her, Taryn Manning really makes a meal of her role as Karen. She’s quite close to Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction level and that’s not a bad thing, but her ace is her honeyed acid tongue. She’s the best, aka the worst, when she’s trying to pretend she’s nice. It totally puts your sympathies with the couple and their friends. Cory Hardict and Jasmine Burke do a good job of being the put upon neighbors who are confused by what is happening. They are believable as a couple. Burke is especially strong in her role, and at the finale, an equal force to match Karen’s. Brandon Skelnar is good as the rookie cop, you knew there was going to be one, and worthy of a mention.

It’s not a long movie and the set-up of the various examples of Karen Karen-ing the innocent characters in the film and her repeated attempts to control her neighbors could have used more substance, script, and story-wise. The examples are pretty textbook and they make the point of what people like Karen do in real life, but I can’t help but feel like the film could have done more with the concept. It’s a perfectly serviceable film and it does hit the target, but I think there were a few too many coincidences and maybe that time could have been spent with the protagonists, or the explanation of how Karen became Karen could have been shown rather than told.

My main problem with the film is that it does give this particular Karen an out to explain why she is like this. It comes a little too close to making her sympathetic oddly and I didn’t care for it. Not everyone needs a tragic backstory. On the plus side, the film and Manning’s performance really make the point that KAREN behavior has a lot to do with control issues. KAREN has a dedicated performance by Taryn Manning and sympathetic leads in Jasmine Burke and Cory Hardrict. She’s got the Karen look and energy.

The production value isn’t bad, it’s about basic cable level – nothing inspired, but nothing too shabby either. I think there was a missed opportunity to give it some depth but that’s not really the kind of movie that this is. It does illustrate what a Karen is and some of the usual crimes they commit because what they do is criminal and unethical, and brings in the collusion of the police in oppressing Black people. I am on board with how the “bad cops” are portrayed in this and how it is boldly stated that there is a protection network within the police ranks. It’s not called what it normally is called, but the Thin Blue Line does exist.

While I have some quibbles and wish that the film was more substantive, I do feel that KAREN is actually a decent effort and a decent example of what a KAREN is, which I think is useful to the world. It’s kind of trashy, but fun in the exploitation film kind of way. Do I have to remind people that the majority of John Water’s career was spent making low-budget and deliberately trashy films? KAREN definitely is not Get Out, but it’s a decent film about how another type of racism works, and for that, I can’t condemn it. You can have fun watching it and it will make you remember some of these real-life incidents. I don’t have a problem with that kind of reminder. As a matter of fact, I think some people need them.

KAREN is now in theaters and VOD from Quiver Distribution.

The post [Movie Review] KAREN appeared first on Nightmarish Conjurings.