SXSW Movie Review: Beware The Slenderman
Published on March 20th, 2016 in: Current Faves, Documentaries, Film Festivals, Movie Reviews, SXSW, True Crime |
Beware The Slenderman is one of the most intense, chilling, and scary documentaries ever to exist.
If anyone has surfed any Internet forums, then they most likely they know about Slenderman. What started as a Photoshopped picture on SomethingAwful spawned a urban legend that has made its way into stories, video games, and even movies. Slenderman has only existed for a little over a decade, but it didn’t really get popular until videos started appearing on the Internet.
In Case You Missed It: March 13 – 19, 2016–SXSW Reviews & Music News
Published on March 19th, 2016 in: Comedy, Film Festivals, Gaming, Horror, ICYMI, LGBTQ, Movie Reviews, Movies, Music, Music Reviews, Netflix Reviews, Reviews, TV, TV Reviews |
Let Haircut 100 make you happy.
Our tireless SXSW Film Festival correspondent Brad Henderson has returned to bring you reviews of all the genre films playing at this year’s SXSW. First up, is The Greasy Strangler, which is as gross and weird as its title suggests. Look for more SXSW movie reviews next week on Popshifter!
Everyone has been talking about 10 Cloverfield Lane and Jeffery braved the multiplex to bring you this non-spoilery yet mega-praiseworthy review.
Both Jeffery and I loved Baskin, the Turkish horror flick from Can Evrenol that opens in theaters and VOD on Friday, March 25. Hopefully you will love our (also non-spoilery) reviews.
Stepping outside of the horror genre for a moment, Jeffery also checked out the unexpected delights of the new Pee-wee Herman movie called Pee-wee’s Big Holiday. Joe Manganiello obviously needs to take on more comedy roles.
Another premiere on Netflix this week is the much-anticipated second season of Marvel’s Daredevil. I’ve got the scoop on the first seven episodes of the season over at Biff Bam Pop.
In some exciting and unexpected TV casting news, Andy Burns at Rue Morgue reports that Canadian punk rock and acting legend Hugh Dillon is going to be on the new season of Twin Peaks next year. Yet another reason to tune in, as if you needed any.
Sachin has two Lucha Underground recaps this week because last week’s episode, “Death Comes In Threes,” threw him for a loop, and not necessarily in an enjoyable way. The good news is that the show has recovered quickly with the excellent “Life After Death.”
Another show that had a stellar episode was Outsiders, which as Laury reports, finally got some serious character development and plot momentum with “Weapons.” And on The Walking Dead, we’re still in “The Same Boat” in terms of zombies, people dying, and not actually seeing Negan’s face.
So much music this week! Melissa has reviews of three of this week’s best releases: a spectacular album from Grant-Lee Phillips, the crazy Americana compilation Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music from Numero Group, and a brilliant reissue of the already-brilliant and woefully underappreciated Pelican West by Haircut 100. And from S. Elizabeth at Dirge Magazine, a gorgeous analysis of the equally-gorgeous Full Circle from HÆLOS.
More music news comes from Unicorn Booty’s NOW HEAR THIS! where you can find out about Michelle Obama’s new single (WHA?!), The Pet Shop Boys, and Malcolm McLaren’s annoying son.
Look for reviews of new releases from Dirty Sidewalks, Iggy Pop, and Lust For Youth soon on Popshifter.
In gaming news, you might be interested in this report about how one of the reps for Oculus Rift is a straight(-up) douchebag.
Fannibals got a hint of this in Hannibal’s second season (Achilles + Patrocles 4 LYFE), here’s more evidence that Greek mythology is way gayer than you thought.
What happened this week on Today In Pop Culture? Speaking of Greek mythology, we discuss Caligula, in addition to the Ides of March, St. Patrick, Wings, and Perry Como.
SXSW Movie Review: The Greasy Strangler
Published on March 18th, 2016 in: Film Festivals, Horror, Movie Reviews, Movies, Reviews |
If Tim and Eric made an R-rated Napoleon Dynamite-esque movie, that’s exactly what The Greasy Strangler would be.
Sometimes it feels that The Greasy Strangler isn’t even a movie, but an overall test of what one person can endure. It also feels like this would be a good social experiment to show your friends and see if they remain friends with you afterwards. That said, The Greasy Strangler is hilarious, sleazy, slimy, and just a fucking weird comedy that actually exists in this world and it’s perfect.
Astron-6’s Divorced Dad Teaser Thrills and Confounds!
Published on March 8th, 2016 in: Canadian Content, Comedy, Film Festivals, Horror, In Development, Media, Streaming, Trailers, TV, Underground/Cult, Upcoming Releases |
At 2008’s After Dark Film Festival, I was part of an audience that went completely wild for a trailer for a nonexistent full-length feature from the demented minds of Adam Brooks, Steven Kostanski, Jeremy Gillespie, Matthew Brooks, and Conor Sweeney–collectively known as Astron-6. That film was called Lazer Ghosts 2: Return To Laser Cove and ever since then, asking people at these events about their favorite Astron movie is a bit like a secret handshake. If you already have a favorite, and especially if you share mine (it’s 2014’s The Editor), we’re probably going to be friends whether you like it or not.
Five Freaky German Films
Published on October 22nd, 2015 in: Film Festivals, Horror, Listicles, Movies, Science Fiction, Top Five Lists |
Der Nachtmahr
I was a big fan of Der Nachtmahr, which screened at this year’s TIFF. German director AKIZ has said that the film is “New German Fantastic Cinema” with roots in the Expressionist films of the 1920s. Here are a few more freaky German films from the country’s rich cinematic tradition.
Retro Review: Here Comes The Devil
Published on October 20th, 2015 in: Film Festivals, Horror, Movie Reviews, Movies, Retrovirus, Reviews |
If you’re familiar with Mexican horror films and are expecting something Gothic, spooky, and languorous from Adrián García Bogliano, you’re in for a surprise. Here Comes The Devil is going to scorch your eyeballs and bathe them in blood.
Movie Review: Men & Chicken
Published on September 30th, 2015 in: Culture Shock, Current Faves, Film Festivals, Movie Reviews, Movies, Reviews |
In Men & Chicken, Elias (Mads Mikkelsen) and Gabriel (David Dencik) are brothers whose father has just passed away. He’s left them a videocassette revealing that not only is he not their biological father, but the woman they knew as their mother wasn’t their biological mother. He also reveals that the name of their father is Evelio Thanatos.
Top Five: TIFF 2015 Picks From Brendan Ross
Published on September 11th, 2015 in: Film Festivals, Listicles, Movies, Top Five Lists |By Brendan Ross
Green Room
As much as I enjoy watching Willem Dafoe movies and crazy 1980s music videos on YouTube, sometimes I need to break out of my comfort zone. Here are my fave choices from this year’s TIFF lineup. P.S. I may or may not have a man-crush on Ben Wheatley.
GREEN ROOM:
Patrick Stewart as the leader of a white supremacist gang. Do you really need to hear more?
THE LOBSTER:
Dogtooth director Yorgos Lanthimos is back with a film that looks set to satisfy all my existential surrealism AND John C. Reilly needs.
ANOMALISA:
It’s an animated Charlie Kaufman movie for Christ’s sake!
YAKUZA APOCALYPSE:
Because I really want to know what goes on in a Yakuza knitting circle
HIGH-RISE:
Anybody have an extra ticket?
Top Five: TIFF 2015 Picks From Less Lee Moore
Published on September 11th, 2015 in: Film Festivals, Listicles, Movies, Top Five Lists |
Men & Chicken
I tried to pick movies that I didn’t think I’d get a chance to see in the multiplexes. Also, I’m a sucker for the Vanguard and Midnight Madness programmes at TIFF.
MEN & CHICKEN:
Writer/director Anders Thomas Jensen hasn’t let me down yet, and neither has Mads Mikkelsen. As great as he is as Hannibal Lecter, he’s equally great in Jensen’s twisted black comedies.
DER NACHTMAHR:
A young woman is haunted by a deformed creature that no one else can see? Sign me up.
THE MIND’S EYE:
Joe Begos’s Almost Human was the movie that 1982’s Xtro should have been, so I know his latest will be a wild ride.
THE GIRL IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS:
Great cast, including Katherine Isabelle and Mitch Pileggi, in a film about serial killers and starfuckers that’s lensed by Dean Cundey. That’s like catnip to a horror junkie.
THE DEVIL’S CANDY:
Satanic possession movies are kind of my thing and Sean Byrne is the kind of director genre fans kill for (but not literally, OK?).
The Five Movies I Would See If I Were Actually Going to TIFF (Which I’m Not)
Published on September 11th, 2015 in: Film Festivals, Listicles, Movies, Top Five Lists |
Baskin
If you’re looking around town and noticing a lack of Beautiful People, don’t be alarmed. This week, they’re all in Canada for the Toronto International Film Festival. They’re hobbing their nobs, going to movies, shaking hands at fancy parties and sleeping in theatre lobbies to make sure they don’t miss an anticipated showing. Obviously, I’m not there. I’m not beautiful enough. I’m sitting on my couch watching wrestling matches from the mid-nineties. But man, if I were there at TIFF, with all of those pretty folks, these are the five movies I would punch Stephen Harper in the balls to see.
BASKIN:
This Turkish movie about police officers who stumble upon a Satanic cult looks dark, unsettling and bloody. The hope is that this one gets truly weird, and early buzz is good.
THE WITCH:
Early American rural homesteaders fall prey to religious frenzy and grimy evil befalls them. The preview plays out like a mud-covered sequel to The Village.
HELLIONS:
A pregnant teen is the victim of a home assault led by creepy trick or treaters. It looks like a great combination of the French movie Ils and living in Detroit.
PORTAL TO HELL!!!
In his final film role, my personal hero, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper fights Cthulhu. If that doesn’t sell you on the movie, nothing else I could possible say will.
THE DEVIL’S CANDY:
An artist moves his family to Texas and gets possessed by Satan. I imagine that’s what happens when you move to Texas, anyway.
Someday, I’ll get to go Toronto and walk around with filmmakers and movie stars, and that will be amazing. In the meantime, oh, look! It’s a ladder match! Time to start drinking.