WHISTLE - A New Sound of Terror | KNFOZ News

Last-Modified: Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:40:00 GMT Content-Type: application/rss+xml; charset=utf-8 Ain't It Cool News Feedhttp://www.aintitcool.com/The best in movie, TV, DVD and comic book news.en-usSun, 08 Feb 2026 19:40:00 +0000WHISTLE - A New Sound of Terrorhttps://www.aintitcool.com/whistle-interview-director-corin-hardy-83637/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsLast-Modified: Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:40:00 GMT Content-Type: application/rss+xml; charset=utf-8 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title>Ain't It Cool News Feed</title><link>http://www.aintitcool.com/</link><description>The best in movie, TV, DVD and comic book news.</description><atom:link href="http://www.aintitcool.com/node/feed/" rel="self"></atom:link><language>en-us</language><lastBuildDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:40:00 +0000</lastBuildDate><item><title>WHISTLE - A New Sound of Terror</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/whistle-interview-director-corin-hardy-83637/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Eric McClanahan interviews WHISTLE director Corin Hardy. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/whistle-interview-director-corin-hardy-83637/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Corin Hardy, the director of THE NUN, is back to the horror genre with his newest film WHISTLE. Centered around the discovery and misabuse of an ancient death whistle, the film follows several high schoolers as they run from their own deaths. Starring Dafne Keen (LOGAN, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE), Nick Frost (SHAUN OF THE DEAD), Sophie Nélisse (“Yellowjackets”), Percy Hynes White (“Wednesday”), Alissa Skovbye (“Firefly Lane”), Jhaliel Swaby (SHAZAM!), Sky Yang (REBEL MOON), and Michelle Fairley (“Game of Thrones”), the film is written by Owen Egerton (MERCY BLACK, FOLLOW). For fans of classic horror, this film hits all the high notes: an inescapable curse, a roster of disposably beautiful people, creative kills, a last-ditch effort, and a twist ending. Add to that gorgeously realized set pieces as well as classic settings like high school hallways and WHISTLE is positioned to be perfect horror snack food. Dafne Keen is morbidly robotic as Chrys, wallowing in her self-prescribed stupor for most of the film, acting as a pinball in a machine. The levers and coils and switches that propel her through the story are all aptly entertaining, particularly her supports, Ellie (Nélisse) and Rel (Yang), as well as outside antagonist Haggerty (Hynes White). The film opens on a cursed subject who sees apparitions of his death before finally succumbing to the haunting, leaping forward for us to meet the new crop of victims. Chrys is a convenient and relatable central lead for the audience experience as she is new to the town and school, <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/whistle-interview-director-corin-hardy-83637/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:40:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83637</guid></item><item><title>Jason Biggs Directorial Debut UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE Now Available!</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/jason-biggs-meaghan-rath-interview-uhir-83636/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Jason Biggs Directorial Debut UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE Now Available! Comedy/Thrillers stars Biggs and Meaghan Rath. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/jason-biggs-meaghan-rath-interview-uhir-83636/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Jason Biggs, aka Jim from AMERICAN PIE, is behind the camera this year with the comedy-thriller UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE. I’ve talked to plenty of actors-turned-directors and most of them dip their toes in with a smaller project before going into a full feature; a music video, an episode of television, a short film, etc. Not Biggs. He dove straight in. I admire that. Not veering too far from his wheelhouse, UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE is a thriller second and a comedy first. Biggs plays Kevin, a lovelorn loser you could easily mistake for Jim, who has been separated from his wife Suzie, played by Meaghan Rath, for a few weeks following an impasse. Eager to prove himself a manly man capable of protecting her through all of life’s foibles, he arranges a romantic getaway at her father’s summer rental cabin… with a twist. He’s convinced a buddy from his acting class to arrive at the home, “break in,” and threaten the couple so that Kevin can puff his chest out and chase the “assailant” away. As is typically the case with these sorts of schemes, things go awry, and soon bodies start dropping. UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE comes across as light and slapsticky, despite its fairly steep body count and frequent disregard for its victims. It’s genuinely funny at times while unnecessarily cruel at others, which creates a unique tone for the first-time director. Meaghan Rath is a welcome surprise as Suzie, a self-assured success with a lurking darkness within her <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/jason-biggs-meaghan-rath-interview-uhir-83636/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 19:26:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83636</guid></item><item><title>Holiday Gift Guide 2025</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/holiday-gift-guide-2025-83635/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=Unknown</link><description>Gift ideas for the hard-to-shop-for people in your life, even if that&#39;s you! <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/holiday-gift-guide-2025-83635/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=Unknown&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey everybody! It's December 2nd and wherever you are it's likely beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Time for you to put on your thinking caps and come up with something clever and original for those hard-to-shop-for friends... or yourself. As you know, I am inundated with emails from PR firms working with brands in every corner of entertainment, so I decided why not actually open some of those emails and pass the knowledge on to you? So here are some fun gift ideas for your 2025 shopping season. For the Batman Fan: I've already told you about Fanhome's fantastic Legends of Batman graphic novel collection, which seems to get better with each month, but what about that Batman fan/collector who wants something a bit more tangible and impressive. How about a 1:8 scale replica of Tim Burton's '89 Batmobile that measures over 2 feet when completed? Well, you're in luck. The best gifts are those that extend well beyond the initial unwrapping, and this expansive set offers over two years of deliveries as your Secret Santa recipient builds the legendary Batmobile while learning about the ins and outs of classic Batmobiles throughout the franchise history. You can learn more about the Batmobile subscription set from Fanhome here. If your Batman fan is a reader, you can keep the '89 Burton film theme and offer John Jackson Miller's latest novel, Batman: Revolution, the follow-up to last year's Batman: Resurrection. These non-canon novels extend Burton's '89 film lore as a bridge between Batman and Batman <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/holiday-gift-guide-2025-83635/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=Unknown&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:44:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83635</guid></item><item><title>A Conversation with RENTAL FAMILY Writer/Director HIKARI</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/rental-family-writer-director-hikari-interview-83634/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>McEric chats with RENTAL FAMILY writer/director HIKARI. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/rental-family-writer-director-hikari-interview-83634/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> HIKARI’s RENTAL FAMILY is the feel-good charmer that everyone needs around Thanksgiving, a gentle reminder that family is organic, genuine, and irreplaceable. Even when we sometimes wish we could rent an understudy to fill our place. RENTAL FAMILY stars Brendan Fraser as Phillip, an American actor living alone in Japan for the past seven years, struggling to find consistent work. Think LOST IN TRANSLATION, only don’t, because this film provides a much deeper portrait of Japan than Sofia Coppola’s Oscar-winner. LOST IN TRANSLATION, though a beautiful portrait of loneliness, uses Japan as a superficial location, giving us the eyes of a visitor through which to take in its beauty. RENTAL FAMILY has an expatriate at its center but Phillip has taken swimmingly to his new home. He’s fluent, versed in the customs, and permanent. One never gets the idea that Phillip is working towards returning “home” - he is home. With him as our anchor, we feel like we belong, seeing past the tourist attractions to find the core of community. Phillip is auditioning steadily, getting bit roles here and there, but he needs something with longevity. He stumbles into Rental Family, a service that sells “memories.” Mastermind Tada (Takehiro Hira) is introduced as a compassionate man with a fierce streak of pragmatism, which is aided by his right hand and lead actress Aiko (Mari Yamamoto). Brought on board as their “token white guy,” Phillip finds himself acting as a groom, a best friend, a karaoke champion, a journalist, and a long-lost <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/rental-family-writer-director-hikari-interview-83634/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 19:33:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83634</guid></item><item><title>Cynthia von Buhler Discusses MINKY WOODCOCK: THE GIRL CALLED CTHULHU</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-cynthia-von-buhler-minky-woodcock-83633/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics</link><description>Eric McClanahan chats with author/playwright/artist Cynthia von Buhler about her latest graphic novel collection, MINKY WOODCOCK: THE GIRL CALLED CTHULHU. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-cynthia-von-buhler-minky-woodcock-83633/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> “Do What Thou Wilt Shall be the Whole of the Law.” I look forward to New York Comic Con every year. As a steady worker who rarely finds time for vacation, this is often the closest I get to relaxing over the past several years. I’ve been leaning more into unconventional invitations over the past few years, like sneaking off to see the stage show ‘The Shark is Broken,’ interviewing Max Brooks about Minecraft books, or speaking with David Dastmalchian about his newest graphic novel. I delight when I get an invitation that piques my interest for a property that I’d never even heard of before, and I get a few each year. Cynthia Von Buhler’s MINKY WOODCOCK: THE GIRL CALLED CTHULHU is currently available from Hard Case Crime/Titan Comics. I was unfamiliar with the author, the title, and even the imprint when I got an invite to a NYCC afterparty aboard the Frying Pan Boat at Pier 66. An open bar, expansive food spread, and complementary black velvet capes? Of course I said yes. The boat is an actual relic reclaimed from the sea, dredged from the bottom of the ocean and restored into a floating nightclub. The capes had all been claimed by the time I arrived but I enjoyed the gathering all the same. I found Cynthia Von Buhler holding court at the head of the boat, her head bearing horns and her own luxurious cape billowing to the ground. She offered me a reading from a single tarot card. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-cynthia-von-buhler-minky-woodcock-83633/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 29 Oct 2025 22:43:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83633</guid></item><item><title>Troy Duffy Talks THE BOONDOCK SAINTS - Past, Present, and Future</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83632?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews</link><description>Writer/Director Troy Duffy (THE BOONDOCK SAINTS) discusses his new prequel novel BLOOD ORIGIN, the enduring fans of THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, and those rumors surrounding a possible new entry in the series. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83632?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> I’m sure I don’t need to offer an introduction to THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, but just in case, here it is: Back in the late 1900s, a bouncer at a bar in L.A. wrote a hard-boiled crime thriller that ignited a bidding war in Hollywood. The resultant film, THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, released in mid-1999, was a cultural milestone. Critics thrashed it and, honestly, they can’t be blamed. The film is misogynistic, racist, and glorifies violence. Actually, “glorifies” isn’t a strong enough word. THE BOONDOCK SAINTS treats violence like it’s the best thing since sliced arteries... er, bread. But the critics, ultimately, didn’t write the story of the film’s success; that was left to the fans. The film’s release was quiet, but word-of-mouth made the cacophony surrounding the film rise to deafening levels. (I, personally, might never have found the film if I hadn’t been working in a video store at the time, shelving the admittedly fetching VHS sleeve.) THE BOONDOCK SAINTS became a massive cult hit. Many identified with the film’s themes of fraternal bonds, justice, morality, loyalty, and vigilante revenge fantasy. It’s a perfect time capsule of the late-90’s crime caper movie: it’s funny, irreverent, brash, profane, stylish, bloody, and oddly uplifting. More than anything, though, it’s just fucking cool. The film centers around the MacManus Brothers, Connor (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus), working-class Irish immigrants in Boston who run afoul of the Russian and Italian Mafia. No shrinking wallflowers, these capable fighters with an iron-clad Irish Catholic code of morality <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83632?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2025 20:07:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83632</guid></item><item><title>Catch NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME Off-Broadway in NYC</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/not-ready-for-prime-time-theatrical-play-review-83631/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Catch NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME Off-Broadway in NYC Until November 30th at the Newman Mills Theater <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/not-ready-for-prime-time-theatrical-play-review-83631/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> I recently received an email asking me if I wanted to see a new play being mounted Off Broadway in NYC that tackles the tumultuous formative years of the legendary television program “Saturday Night Live.” With the recent shakeups and mass exodus at the show, it seemed a timely examination and to see it in a live format really helps to capture the immediacy of the program. I replied “of course” and yesterday at 2:30pm I sat down in the Newman Mills Theater along with a packed audience to see NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME: The Unauthorized, Unsanitized, and Slightly Unhinged Story of how a Small Group of Lunatics made Saturday Night Unmissable. Written by Erik J. Rodriguez & Charles A. Sothers and directed by Conor Bagley, this play is a thrilling and exhaustingly funny ride. The assembled cast oscillate between manic comic energy and quiet introspective humanity to craft a well-rounded intimate portrait of the people behind the cultural upheaval that has dominated the conversation of comedy for the past fifty years. Anchored by Ian Bouillon as a young ambitious Lorne Michaels, affecting his singular voice and frequent Canadian pronunciations. Lorne addresses the crowd directly throughout, eliminating the fourth wall and bringing us into his “live” energy. In his opening introduction, he makes it known that the story will be “absurd, young, and hip. And if you don’t like it get the fuck out of the way!” Lorne is presented as a man with a vision, a desire to make something <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/not-ready-for-prime-time-theatrical-play-review-83631/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2025 18:39:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83631</guid></item><item><title>NYCC 2025 Exclusive! David Dastmalchian Talks Mental Wellness and Pushing 'Through'</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/david-dastmalchian-interview-through-graphic-novel-83630/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics</link><description>Eric McClanahan sits down with multi-hyphenate creator David Dastmalchian at New York City Comic Con to discuss his new Graphic Novel &#39;Through&#39; and his forthcoming directorial debut. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/david-dastmalchian-interview-through-graphic-novel-83630/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Some interview opportunities aren't a hard sell at all. Such is the case when I was offered the opportunity to sit down with one of today's most prolific and impactful actors, David Dastmalchian. David exploded onto screens in 2008's THE DARK KNIGHT as a haunted paranoid schizophrenic in the employ of Heath Ledger's Joker. Thanks to his dangerous eyes and lean face, he's found steady work in television and film as villains, victims, and various tortured characters. He's worked in both the DC and Marvel Universes onscreen as well as extensive voicework. He was a welcome addition to this year's "Dexter: Resurrection" and will next be seen as Big Bad M. Bison in the newest live-action adaptation of the classic video game STREET FIGHTER. Even those who don't know (or can't pronounce) his name know his face from his extensive character work, but many may not know that he's also a gifted and prolific writer. His 'Count Crowley' series was a big hit for Dark Horse Comics and he's written acclaimed titles for Marvel, DC, and Image. His newest graphic novel, coming next year from Z2 comics, promises to be his most personal story to date: 'Through.' "From the mind of David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil, Suicide Squad), Alix is a young woman, orphaned as a child, and isolated by perfectionism as an adult, who falls into an enchanted realm. A secret place created to serve as her sanctuary. It's a realm under siege, transformed into a perilous land of <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/david-dastmalchian-interview-through-graphic-novel-83630/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 11 Oct 2025 06:09:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83630</guid></item><item><title>LONDON CALLING Interviews - Josh Duhamel & Jeremy Ray Taylor</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-josh-duhamel-jeremy-ray-taylor-83629/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>McEric interviews stars Josh Duhamel and Jeremy Ray Taylor as well as writer/director Allan Ungar for the new action-comedy LONDON CALLING. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-josh-duhamel-jeremy-ray-taylor-83629/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Josh Duhamel has reteamed with BANDIT director Allan Ungar for the new action-comedy LONDON CALLING. Ungar, retooling a script by Omer Levin Meneske and Quinn Wolfe, humanizes Duhamel’s character and finds comedy in the absurdity of violence and perceptions of masculinity. “After fleeing from a job gone wrong, a down-on-his-luck hit man must babysit the son of a crime boss and show him how to become a man.” Jeremy Ray Taylor of IT fame plays the son in question, Julian, whose father is played with acerbic and spiteful glee by Rick Hoffman. Rounding out the cast are big dogs Arnold Vosloo (THE MUMMY) and Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones”). LONDON CALLING pulls off the rare hat trick of offering an action comedy that’s actually funny. When we first meet Tommy Ward he is shrouded in mystery, stalking a decadent club like a knockoff John Wick. We see all the impressive cloak-and-dagger of a seedy underworld and we’re intrigued. Unfortunately the job goes awry and Tommy is forced to flee London, with little else than the briefest of goodbyes to his son, for his homeland of the United States of America. Los Angeles, to be precise, where he subsists on minor hit jobs for the despicable Benson (Hoffman). Benson reviles everyone around him, from his mail-order bride to his sensitive son, Julian (Taylor). Envious of Ward’s effortless cool and natural masculinity, Benson pairs Ward with Julian in an effort to help the boy become a man. This film really works for its two <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-josh-duhamel-jeremy-ray-taylor-83629/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:55:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83629</guid></item><item><title>TRAUMATIKA Interview with filmmakers Pierre Tsigaridis and Maxime Rancon</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/traumatika-pierre-tsigaridis-maxime-rancon-83628/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Eric McClanahan speaks with TRAUMATIKA filmmakers Pierre Tsigaridis and Maxime Rancon <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/traumatika-pierre-tsigaridis-maxime-rancon-83628/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Horror films are a mixed bag - some make an indelible mark on the landscape while others are here and gone before anyone has made an effort to notice. A good idea, great execution, and ambitious marketing allow many to rise above the din and grab audiences by the throat. Such is the case with TRAUMATIKA. Online trailers warn that “This is not a movie you see, it’s a movie you survive.” Having seen this film, I would agree to a certain extent. TRAUMATIKA does a lot of things right, but I have a few insignificant gripes with it, as well. Let’s start with its strengths. TRAUMATIKA builds tension by the inches. Slow POV camerawork, complete with blinking, puts the audience in the front seat of fear. The film is impeccably shot with long, sustained instances of hair-raising suspense and explosive scenes of violence and terror. It’s a visceral experience that will delight many hardcore horror fans and certainly marks the emergence of brash new voices in horror. My main grievance is with the scope of the film. It’s several stories crammed into one, and I got the idea that it might’ve worked better as an anthology than a single narrative. The film begins in 1910, then 2003, then a year prior, then 20 years later. So much horror and terror are unleashed throughout time but through such disparate antagonists that one is left to wonder which movie to refer to when honing in on a particular victory or loss. TRAUMATIKA comes to us <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/traumatika-pierre-tsigaridis-maxime-rancon-83628/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:55:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83628</guid></item><item><title>THE TOXIC AVENGER is Back! Writer/Director Macon Blair Interview</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/the-toxic-avenger-interview-macon-blair-83626/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>McEric chats with writer/director about the brand new THE TOXIC AVENGER film releasing this weekend as well as original Toxie creator Lloyd Kaufman <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/the-toxic-avenger-interview-macon-blair-83626/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Some films should never be remade - we’re all looking at you, THE PRINCESS BRIDE. When I first broke the news on this site that Legendary Pictures had acquired the rights to reboot THE TOXIC AVENGER, I pretty much felt that adage applied here, as well. The original TOXIC AVENGER is a singular film experience firmly rooted in its time and punk rock sensibilities. Created by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, THE TOXIC AVENGER of 1984 tells the story of Melvin Ferd, a sex-crazed nerd at a sports club who endures bullying at the hands of some truly repugnant scumbags. When one of their pranks goes too far and finds Melvin face down in a barrel of toxic waste, he emerges as a hulking monster. Through some hamfisted exposition we learn that he has been imbued with a barometer for evil that compels him to eradicate villains. The rest of the film is a blood-soaked tale of vengeance and violence that pushes the limits of good taste and good filmmaking. Troma Entertainment, the studio behind THE TOXIC AVENGER, specialized in B-movies that championed unorthodox stories, practical effects, nudity, profanity, and hyper-violence. Herz and Kaufman were pioneers in stateside films that echoed the influences of early Peter Jackson and Italian Giallo filmmaking. When news broke that a major American studio was remaking this wholly original time capsule of superhero schlock, many were concerned. None more than the original creator, Lloyd Kaufman. I got to chat with the GOAT a few weeks ago <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/the-toxic-avenger-interview-macon-blair-83626/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 20:17:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83626</guid></item><item><title>Harry loves FANTASTIC FOUR FIRST STEPS, but has notes...</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/harry-reviews-fantastic-four-first-steps-83625/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Great wonderful Marvel film <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/harry-reviews-fantastic-four-first-steps-83625/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey folks, Harry here... Been a while since I last was here. Life has been good, directed a version of Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS for stage successfully, and well... Took the family to check out the new FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. Now that was a spectacular film. We drove to Lawton, Oklahoma to check it out at the Patriot IMAX theater there. The Handicap seating was about 5 rows up from the bottom of the auditorium, which had us beholding an immense screen that filled our entire field of vision. Now, going into this flick, I understood a lot of what I'd be seeing. I knew it was taking place in the so-called Jack Kirby universe of 828, based upon Kirby's birthday. However, I also understood that what we were going to see was really a loving tribute to the 1960's and 70's Science Fiction universe. Having seen Matt Shankman say the words "Kubrick meets Kirby" KUBRICK MEETS KIRBY regarding a FANTASTIC FOUR movie is a bold glove to throw down. It makes one seriously contemplate Kubrick meets Kirby, which actually happened with Jack Kirby adapted 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY in a truly mind-blowing comic book adaptation. Seek it out! But while the film is an absolute blast, that I truly love... I wish it truly would've honored Jack Kirby by delving even deeper into his imagination wiht the FANTASTIC FOUR. I've had friends and my wife gripe to me about Sue Storm's over-powering of <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/harry-reviews-fantastic-four-first-steps-83625/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">headgeek</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:14:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83625</guid></item><item><title>Kris Collins, Celina Myers, and Jason-Christopher Mayer Talk HOUSE ON EDEN</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/kallmekris-celinaspookyboo-house-on-eden-interview-83624/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>McEric chats with Kris Collins (KallMeKris), Celina Myers (CelinaSpookyBoo), and Jason-Christopher Mayer about their new movie HOUSE ON EDEN in theaters July 25, 2025. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/kallmekris-celinaspookyboo-house-on-eden-interview-83624/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Found footage horror is a trope that is riddled with far more misses than hits. A few stand above the rest, but more often we get left with something like DEVON - an experiment in indulgence that leaves its viewers wondering what they might have done to deserve such a slap-in-the-face. As access to cameras and editing software has become more prevalent, more and more people are making content. Note I didn’t say “films.” Content creators are the new zeitgeist - a movement of User-Generated-Content that brings your friends and neighbors closer to your face while we all collapse deeper within ourselves. Some of these content creators are breaking the limitations of the phone screen and branching out to the cineplexes, to varying degrees of success. If you survived the Pandemic then you likely know who Kris Collins is. Perhaps not by name, but you’ve almost certainly seen one of her many characters come across your TikTok feed, YouTube Shorts, or Instagram Reels. Kris rose to fame through TikTok in 2020 with light comedy and relatability as KallMeKris. Like many content creators who rocketed to fame quickly, she began to mingle in creator-circles, forging a friendship with Celina Myers, aka CelinaSpookyBoo. Celina’s content began as dad jokes, evolving into all manner of relatable antics and occasional cringe comedy. These two joined forces with Spooky AF Productions, a legitimate ghost hunting channel along with creators Sam and Colby. Eventually the idea came to make a film based on these ghost hunting expeditions, mirroring the <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/kallmekris-celinaspookyboo-house-on-eden-interview-83624/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 26 Jul 2025 04:20:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83624</guid></item><item><title>SORRY BABY Thoughtfully Explores Trauma's Aftermath</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/sorrybaby2025review-83619/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>SORRY BABY Thoughtfully Explores Trauma&#39;s Aftermath <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/sorrybaby2025review-83619/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey friends. Barbarella here after being enthralled with Sorry, Baby, a thoughtfully told story about the enduring effects of trauma. In theaters now, Eva Victor’s film proves both sensitive and candid. Although violence lies at the center of everything, it avoids showing any potentially triggering sequences. During the pivotal event that takes place within a house, the camera remains outside holding a static shot on the domicile’s façade. The viewer could only imagine what occurs behind the door. The stillness of the scene provides a stark contrast to the savagery we envision happening within. This masterful decision makes the scene more powerful as we must sit with the knowledge and gravity of what we suspect occurs inside. This quiet restraint characterizes much of the film, distinguishing it from other cinematic explorations of trauma. Much of the film proves artfully still as Agnes (Eva Victor) grapples with her life in the aftermath of the aforementioned event. While the topic is serious, it’s not an unrelenting, heavy film. Rather, it’s injected with humor and care throughout. The tale reveals the deep impact a moment in time could have on a life’s trajectory, and it shows the resilience of survivors as they struggle to find meaning, humor, and connection in the aftermath. Sorry, Baby relies heavily on its brilliant cast who draw out the intricacies of each moment. Naomi Ackie and Eva Victor do most of the heavy lifting, carrying the emotional heart of the film, and I can’t get enough of either. Naomi imbues Lydie <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/sorrybaby2025review-83619/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Barbarella</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:15:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83619</guid></item><item><title>Krypto Currency!! Hercules Loves James Gunn’s SUPERMAN!!</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/herc-loves-superman-2025-83623/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews</link><description>Hercules loves Superman 2025 <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/herc-loves-superman-2025-83623/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Superman 2025 FAQ I am – Hercules!! What’s it called? “Superman.” Who’s responsible? James Gunn, writer and director of the wonderful “The Suicide Squad” (the one with Idris Elba and John Cena, not the one with Will Smith) and all three excellent “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. Is it any good? Like much of Gunn’s prior work, it’s funny and moving and exciting, and never boring. There’s plenty to nitpick, but you’d be a fool to miss this very entertaining entertainment. What says Warner Bros.? “Superman embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.” How does it start? As John Williams’ Superman theme plays, a lot of text catches us up: 300 years ago superhumans became public knowledge on Earth, 30 years ago an alien spacecraft crashed into Kansas, 3 years ago a new superhuman arrived in Metropolis, 3 weeks ago a superhuman interfered in a middle-eastern conflict, 3 hours ago another new superhuman, one billing himself as The Hammer of Borovia, arrived in Metropolis, and 3 minutes ago Superman lost a brawl for the first time ever.* Then we see what a lot of fans have already seen in that famous clip: a bloodied and beaten Superman crash-lands in a field of snow, then summons Krypto to take him home. (*It is NOT mentioned in this exposition dump that Lois and Clark became romantically involved 3 months ago. We learn this later.) <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/herc-loves-superman-2025-83623/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">hercules</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83623</guid></item><item><title>Barbarella Finds MATERIALISTS Pointless</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/materialistsreview2025-83618/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Barbarella Finds MATERIALISTS Pointless <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/materialistsreview2025-83618/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey friends, Barbarella here to tell you how completely disappointing Materialists is. How can a movie where Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans vie for the affections of a matchmaker fail so badly? Well, let me tell you. For starters, the chemistry between Dakota Johnson and either romantic rival doesn't quite feel like it's intense enough, so perhaps the casting has some impact, but I don't think that's the issue. I think the script deserves the blame. Don't get me wrong. The story includes lots of laughable moments around dating expectations and so forth. However, one expects characters to evolve throughout a story, to learn lessons, gain deeper understanding or just grow into better people through interactions with others or situations in which they find themselves. None of this happens. So much of the story just makes no sense. For instance, we are led to believe that Lucy, who’s been a top matchmaker for quite some time, never knew that people in real life are sometimes different than they appear on paper. She only learns this when an incident occurs with one of the couples she matches. I mean, anyone who’s ever been on a dating site or watched a True Crime story should know that people can portray themselves as something that they’re not. Technically, she apparently does already know people lie on the questionnaire because she comments about guys lying about their height. For her to apparently have this “revelation” that makes her reevaluate her priorities simply doesn’t track. While that bothers me <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/materialistsreview2025-83618/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Barbarella</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2025 15:18:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83618</guid></item><item><title>Barbarella Adores THE LIFE OF CHUCK</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/lifeofchuckreview2025-83617/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Barbarella Adores THE LIFE OF CHUCK <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/lifeofchuckreview2025-83617/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey friends, Barbarella here. Have I ever told you what a huge Stephen King fan I am? It started when a teenage me read Pet Sematary and became so enthralled with the author’s work that my mom’s Christmas shopping became immensely easier. She started gifting me Stephen King books for every Christmas and birthday thereafter, knowing I would eagerly devour every page. I did, with relish. Eventually, I began working my way through movies based on his works. Some ventured from the source material in ways I didn’t appreciate, but when I heard Mike Flanagan would be tackling one of King’s short stories, The Life of Chuck, I knew I’d love it. And I did. Mike Flanagan, who’s responsible for my favorite horror miniseries, The Haunting of Hill House, and who was the mastermind who brought Doctor Sleep to screens, remains incredibly faithful to the source material, including how it’s told in three acts using reverse chronology. It’s a film that offers a feast of reflection on life, but I suspect some will dig in more ravenously than others. This is a story about those magical moments in life, the influence others have on our lives, and the decisions we make day to day that steer us one way or another. Narrated by Nick Offerman, the film begins ominously enough, with the world seemingly coming to an end. Natural and unnatural disasters plague the planet, and as if that’s not bad enough, the internet also appears to be out, possibly for good this time. Uncertainty and fear weigh <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/lifeofchuckreview2025-83617/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Barbarella</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2025 13:27:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83617</guid></item><item><title>THE DAILY SHOW writer Daniel Radosh and editor Lauren Beckett Jackson Interview</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-the-daily-show-writer-editor-83616/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coaxial</link><description>McEric sits down with THE DAILY SHOW writer Daniel Radosh and editor Lauren Beckett Jackson for an interview <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-the-daily-show-writer-editor-83616/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coaxial&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” has been on-air for almost thirty years, garnering 26 PrimeTime Emmy Awards and several Peabody Awards for its writing and execution. Many are familiar with the show’s blend of current news commentary and informational journalism from comedians like Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carrell, John Oliver, Samatha Bee, Roy Wood, Jr, Rob Riggle, Jordan Klepper, Wyatt Cenac, Hasan Minhaj, Larry Whitmore, Lewis Black, Desi Lydic, Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta, and a bevy of others. “The Daily Show’s” audience has grown up alongside the show, with viewership now skewing in higher age demographics than the coveted 18-34 bracket it dominated during its inception. That maturity is reflected in the current iteration of the show, with Stewart hosting on Monday’s while the rest of “The Best F**king News Team” fill in the remainder of the week. “The Daily Show” is a bit of a misnomer as the show broadcasts nightly on Comedy Central (or Paramount+ for those living in the streaming age) from Monday to Thursday. I suppose “The Intermittent Show” just doesn’t have the same ring to it. “The Daily Show” is not unique in its position as a satirical news program, however it remains the definitive iteration of the format. Everyone knows about “The Daily Show,” love it or hate it. A foundational pillar of the show’s ubiquity and popularity is in the writing and execution of the show, which stands head and shoulders above its contemporaries. I was honored to speak with senior writer Daniel Radosh <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-the-daily-show-writer-editor-83616/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coaxial&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2025 16:57:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83616</guid></item><item><title>Scott Adkins Talks DIABLO</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/scott-adkins-interview-diablo-mceric-83615/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Scott Adkins talks with McEric about his new action film, DIABLO <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/scott-adkins-interview-diablo-mceric-83615/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> If you’re a fan of current action films then you likely know the name Scott Adkins. He’s either kicked the ass of or had his ass kicked by every action star of the last five decades: Dolph Lundgren, Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone, Jean Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, and even Keanu Reeves. That’s right - he was the big guy with the grill in JOHN WICK CHAPTER 4. Scott’s newest film is DIABLO, which hits theaters and on demand this Friday, June 13th. Conceived alongside action compatriot Marko Zaror, the film takes place in Colombia following Adkins as Kris, a former convict, who seeks to make good on a promise to a fallen friend, which runs him afoul of Zaror’s mercenary, El Corvo. This film isn’t just another straight-to-streaming no-budget piece of content - DIABLO delivers on every front. The fight scenes, choreographed by Zaror, are intense and deftly photographed, thanks to director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza. The gunplay is intense, the acting is top tier, and the film never lags. Marko Zaror steals his scenes as El Corvo, a mercenary with an iron fist, literally. The six-foot-two Chilean action star has a chilling villain introduction, followed by a massive action scene in a sketchy hideout that plays out like a scene from TERMINATOR. He mows through assailants and bystanders alike with no emotion, only showing a hint of fear when Adkins’s Kris shows up to give him a real fight. El Corvo is fucking terrifying. Their final confrontation is a throwback to <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/scott-adkins-interview-diablo-mceric-83615/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:48:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83615</guid></item><item><title>Barbarella Declares BRING HER BACK is an Intense Depiction of the Effects of Grief</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/bringherbackreview2025-83614/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Barbarella Declares BRING HER BACK is an Intense Depiction of the Effects of Grief <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/bringherbackreview2025-83614/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey, friends. Barbarella here still reeling from the incredibly intense Australian horror flick Bring Her Back, which comes out on May 30th. Not for the weak of heart, this follow-up from the minds behind Talk to Me grips one’s innards early on and doesn’t let go for the entire duration. While themes of grief and the different ways individuals cope with loss may not be uncommon in cinema, Bring Her Back approaches the concept in a truly unique fashion through the individuals involved and the manner in which their stories are told. Sora Wong debuts as the young Piper. Giving a powerhouse performance, she proves that a face doesn’t have to be recognizable to bring the awesomeness. While Piper may be the nucleus of the story, it’s not just her, but also those around her, who drive the points, like nails, into your soul. I’ll start with Sally Hawkins, whom you may recognize from The Shape of Water. Her portrayal of the adoptive parent is nothing short of exceptional. Nuanced when necessary, flat out psycho when required, she navigates the extremes and subtleties like a master. While I could ramble about Sally Hawkins more, let’s move on to Jonah Wren Phillips. He’s incredible as the creepy kid, but it’s in those moments where we glimpse his humanity that this young talent shines. I should warn you, though, if he’s onscreen, the odds of you feeling uncomfortable increase 85%. Owning the most disturbing scenes, he can be hard to watch at times. In fact, when <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/bringherbackreview2025-83614/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Barbarella</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2025 01:49:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83614</guid></item><item><title>Tribeca Film Festival 2025 Preview</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/tribeca-2025-curtain-raiser-eric-mcclanahan-83613/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=event</link><description>McEric takes a look at some of the films screening at this year&#39;s Tribeca Film Festival in NYC from June 4th - 15th. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/tribeca-2025-curtain-raiser-eric-mcclanahan-83613/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=event&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> The Tribeca Film Festival is set to descend once again upon New York City this June 4th through 15th. Begun in 2002 by Robert DeNiro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, the festival sought to revitalize Lower Manhattan after the 9/11 attacks and has since become one of the premiere film festivals of North America. This year, alone, the programmers narrowed down their selections from over 13,000 submissions. This year's line-up boasts 95 world premieres from filmmakers across 36 countries, collecting everything from feature films to shorts, episodic content, audio storytelling, interactive games, and more. I'll be on site for several days of the festival to screen films and speak with attending talent, so let's take a look at some of the selections that made my shortlist of interest: First off, the big trend this year is music documentaries - the festival has programmed at least fifteen music-based films, beginning with the opening night gala selection BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES. The festivities will likely be more of a eulogy than a celebration due to recent developments, but it's still nice to kick off a definitively New York festival with one of the City's own beloved sons as the subject of its inaugural film. Other documentaries that feature prominently are METALLICA SAVED MY LIFE, BILLY IDOL SHOULD BE DEAD, BOY GEORGE 7 CULTURE CLUB, DEPECHE MODE: M, I WAS BORN THIS WAY: CARL BEAN, MOVE YA BODY: THE BIRTH OF HOUSE, and THE SIXTH BOROUGH. This final film made my shortlist as <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/tribeca-2025-curtain-raiser-eric-mcclanahan-83613/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=event&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2025 20:59:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83613</guid></item><item><title>A BREED APART - Heavy on the Laughs, Light on the Scares</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83612?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>A BREED APART - Heavy on the Laughs, Light on the Scares - McEric reviews the new horror/comedy from the Furst Brothers starring Grace Caroline Currey and Page Kennedy. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83612?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hello all! McEric here with a review of the Furst Brothers' new horror/comedy A BREED APART, out now in theaters and on-demand. The film follows several Internet celebrities who are invited to an island overrun by rabid dogs to compete for a prize... survival. Check out the trailer: The film stars Grace Caroline Currey (SHAZAM: FURY OF THE GODS, FALL), Virginia Gardner (FALL, 2018's HALLOWEEN), Page Kennedy (THE MEG, THE MEG 2), Troy Gentile (ABC's "The Goldbergs"), Riele Downs (Nickelodeon's "Henry Danger"), Zak Steiner (Netflix's "Jessica Jones"),and Hayden Panittiere (NBC's "Heroes"). The film is directed by Griff Furst and brother Nathan Furst, whose previous collaboration as co-directors brought us NIGHTMARE SHARK. Solo, Griff Furst has directed such films as SWAMP SHARK, GHOST SHARK, and TRAILER PARK SHARK, so he clearly knows his way around a creature feature... even if he doesn't really want to. "Who is Louie Myman?" I asked when we spoke this past Friday. [Louie Myman is the credited director of Furst's films 100 MILLION BC and ALLIGATOR ALLEY.) "Oh, Louie Myman! Do you know Alan Smithee?" "Yes." "He's Alan Smithee's brother. Yeah, I mean, it's a tough thing. It's an interesting thing to explore. It's like when you do a creature feature and it rates well, and it does well, they just offer you more of them. And I love them, don't get me wrong. I grew up watching all these creature features - Mysterious Island and Jaws and Cujo. I love those movies, but I love ALL kinds of movies. The creature feature, itself, <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83612?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 20 May 2025 19:16:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83612</guid></item><item><title>Barbarella Says Tim Robinson Makes FRIENDSHIP Fantastic!</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/friendshipreview2025-83611/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews</link><description>Barbarella Says Tim Robinson Makes FRIENDSHIP Fantastic! <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/friendshipreview2025-83611/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey friends! Barbarella here back from hiatus, and I’m delighted to share my thoughts on A24’s newest release, Friendship, which is out NOW! Sometimes people watch trailers and think, “Oh this movie is like [insert movie about a similar topic].” If you’re thinking that about Friendship, it’s not. Genuinely funny without being cruel, Andrew DeYoung’s exploration of adult male friendship proves charming and elicits more than a few hearty laughs from me. In an era where seemingly fewer friendships exist in the real world than online, making new friends may be challenging, particularly for adult men. Keeping them may be nearly impossible. When Craig (Tim Robinson) receives a misdelivered package intended for cool new neighbor Austin (Paul Rudd), Craig walks it over to him. Upon meeting the charismatic and friendly guy, he quickly gets invited in and finds himself actually making friends. His expressions reveal his delight in this newly formed camaraderie with someone who is just so darned interesting. One can’t help but feel happy for his new accomplishment. Sadly, new friendships are fragile, and in a group setting, Craig doesn’t make the best impression on the guys. It doesn’t take long before Austin begins distancing himself from the awkward neighbor. In his desperation to rekindle the closeness they once shared, Craig makes some questionable decisions that lead to more awkward situations and laughs. On the surface, this is a quirky comedy that relies heavily on Tim Robinson’s performance. However, there is much more to this movie. Throughout, it addresses many common insecurities that men <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/friendshipreview2025-83611/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Barbarella</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 17 May 2025 14:41:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83611</guid></item><item><title>New (and Old) Releases This Week, with McEric!</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/renner-neighborhood-watch-mob-cops-young-werther-83610/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>McEric cleans up his inbox by dumping reviews for NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, RENNER, MOB COPS, and YOUNG WERTHER. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/renner-neighborhood-watch-mob-cops-young-werther-83610/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hello all! I've got some reviews of two films releasing this Friday, April 25th - but thought I'd also take this opportunity to highlight two other films that are already out there but I haven't yet found the time to cover. Hopefully there's something here for everyone, so let's get right to it: First up is NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, starring Jack Quaid (NOVOCAINE, THE COMPANION, "The Boys"), Jeffrey Dean Morgan ("The Boys," "The Walking Dead"), and Malin Ackerman (WATCHMEN, SLAYERS), directed by Duncan Skiles (THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER) and written by Sean Farley. The film features troubled young man Simon McNally (Quaid), who is trying to find his feet after spending a decade in a facility for mental health treatment, and his paranoid ex-security guard neighbor Ed Deerman. The two form an unlikely partnership when Simon believes he's seen a woman kidnapped but is deemed an unreliable witness by police due to his history and behavior. The two men take it upon themselves to investigate the crime and rescue the woman, revealing a deeper web of villainy in their quiet town. Quaid and Morgan have great chemistry, and Quaid, specifically, does some great work in this film. Whereas the majority of his characters have been able to rely and charm and humor, Simon is stripped of these tools due to the abuse he received at a young age, so the tricks that Quaid would normally utilize to endear himself to audiences are out of reach. Quaid does a great job of humanizing McNally as a <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/renner-neighborhood-watch-mob-cops-young-werther-83610/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2025 20:33:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83610</guid></item><item><title>Gina Gershon talks HIGH ROLLERS</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/gina-gershon-interview-killer-joe-showgirls-83609/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Actress Gina Gershon speaks with McEric about new film HIGH ROLLERS with John Travolta and cult classics SHOWGIRLS and KILLER JOE. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/gina-gershon-interview-killer-joe-showgirls-83609/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> When I received an email asking me if I wanted to watch a brand new independent film starring John Travolta, Gina Gershon, and Lukas Haas, my first instinct was to say no. When I was told I might be able to interview Gina Gershon, I said sure, and watched Ives’ HIGH ROLLERS. What follows was my experience: This film isn’t good, you guys, but I did watch the whole thing, not only because I had to. It’s a caper, and once I get into a caper, I can’t walk away. I’ve got to know if and how they’ll pull it off. I think that’s universal. That said, this is not a good caper. The film opens with Travolta as Mason with Gershon as Amy on a beautiful beach, looking out at the crystal blue water. They are gathered with their friends and team to watch two of their own tie the knot, but before they can both conclude their “I dos,” attack helicopters descend, accompanied by SUVS filled with masked mercenaries. They are held at gunpoint and Amy is taken. In a blink, the baddies are gone and the team is unharmed - you know, like mercenaries are wont to do. Next, Mason is giving chase in his muscle car in a poorly edited road piece, concluding in a crash that likely accounts for the film’s entire budget.This is followed by the team grouped around a table while Mason exposition dumps their accolades for the sake of the audience. They are contacted by <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/gina-gershon-interview-killer-joe-showgirls-83609/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 18 Mar 2025 19:24:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83609</guid></item><item><title>New Releases - RAGING MIDLIFE and AMERICAN DREAMER</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/reviews-raging-midlife-american-dreamer-83608/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>McEric reviews (new) releases RAGING MIDLIFE and AMERICAN DREAMER. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/reviews-raging-midlife-american-dreamer-83608/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hello all! McEric here with a quick review of two (new) releases hitting the market this St. Patrick's Day Weekend, both of which I actually enjoyed. RAGING MIDLIFE First was RAGING MIDLIFE, a movie that was pitched to me as starring Paula Abdul (I'm a massive fan), Eddie Griffin (DOUBLE TAKE), Walter Koenig (STAR TREK), and Motch O. Mann, the world's foremost Macho Man Randy Savage impersonator. Yeah, I hear it, too. Luckily, I didn't read any further. I saw Paula Abdul's name and shouted "I'm in!" Going in to this film blind is the best way to see it. As I'm furnishing you with a review, however, I must speak further to the film. If you want to skip down to AMERICAN DREAMER and go in blind, I do suggest it. Otherwise, here we go. The film, written by Nic Costa and Rob Taylor, and directed by the latter, follows childhood friends Alex and Mark, now in their midlives (see that?) who are chasing their dragon - a purple tanktop once worn by their favorite wrestler, Raging Abe. Raging Abe is a Macho Man Randy Savage-type character who wears a stove pipe hat and chin beard and lives by five "proclamations," all meant to help his young fans navigate life and walk as better people. The film opens with grainy footage of a talk show appearance (think Arsenio Hall) from Raging Abe and his handler, Mary Todd, played by Abdul. The action opens in the eighties with young Alex and Mark ringside <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/reviews-raging-midlife-american-dreamer-83608/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 15 Mar 2025 16:35:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83608</guid></item><item><title>Barbarella Chats with BLOAT actors Malcolm Fuller and Sawyer Jones</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/bloatinterviewmalcolmsawyer-83607/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews</link><description>Barbarella Chats with BLOAT actors Malcolm Fuller and Sawyer Jones <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/bloatinterviewmalcolmsawyer-83607/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey friends! Barbarella here to chat about feeling bloated. Wait that’s not right. I’m here to chat a bit about Bloat, which will be in Theaters, On Demand and On Digital March 7, 2025. It’s a new horror thriller in which Ben McKenzie (“Gotham,” “The O.C.”) plays Jack, a man stuck working while his family vacations in Japan. As if the FOMO isn’t bad enough, one of his sons starts behaving strangely after almost drowning, and his wife, played by Bojana Novakovic (Edge of Darkness, Drag Me to Hell), must grapple with everything essentially alone, while Jack grows increasingly frustrated with his inability to do anything more than bear witness and offer recommendations and theories. Bloat proves to be pretty fun, generating some tension from the fact that poor Jack is stuck in front of a screen in another country, balancing work and family drama from afar. His sense of powerlessness and the increasing frustration that develops as he video-chats with his family and hears increasingly more unsettling news makes him relatable and really heightens the unease I feel while watching. While the final act doesn't engage me as much as the setup leading up to it, I enjoy enough of the concepts within the story that overall, I like the movie. I got the opportunity to chat with the actors who play the two sons, Malcolm Fuller and Sawyer Jones. Check it out! Barbara: Would you guys tell me about the casting process. Did you get sent the script or did you have to audition? What was that like <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/bloatinterviewmalcolmsawyer-83607/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Barbarella</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:22:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83607</guid></item><item><title>Director Simon West and Star Lucy Liu Talk OLD GUY</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/simon-west-lucy-liu-interview-old-guy-mceric-83606/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Director Simon West and star Lucy Liu talk OLD GUY, starring Christoph Waltz, now streaming everywhere! <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/simon-west-lucy-liu-interview-old-guy-mceric-83606/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Director Simon West should be a household name; his first film was a little picture from 1997 called CON AIR. Perhaps you've heard of it? He went on to helm similar big budget action extravaganzas, such as 2001's LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER and 2012's THE EXPENDABLES 2. Eventually, however, time and changing tastes caught up with West, and now he's directing smaller budget flicks, from action to drama, that move at a slightly slower pace and appeal to a different audience. The same could be said for Danny Dolinski, the titular OLD GUY of West's latest feature, played by Academy-Award Winner Christoph Waltz (INGLORIOUS BASTERDS, THE GREEN HORNET). Danny's a wetworks expert in a field saturated with hot young assassins, desperately trying to prove he's still relevant, often to his detriment. After recovering from a wrist injury that found him relegated to a cleaner role at a local bakery, Danny is itching to get back in the field. When he's told the only role available is support for young assassing Wihlborg (Cooper Hoffman), he is understandably unenthused. He invites his longtime friend Anata (Lucy Liu) along for their job since it'll take them to some charming locations around Europe, and once underway, tries to take point on every hit. Things don't go as planned. As you can probably already divine, there are so many parallels between Waltz's OLD GUY and West's career. Danny was once the best, the biggest game in town, and his name still opens doors... but the game has <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/simon-west-lucy-liu-interview-old-guy-mceric-83606/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 26 Feb 2025 20:15:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83606</guid></item><item><title>Julianna Margulies and Gretchen Mol Talk MILLERS IN MARRIAGE</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-julianna-margulies-gretchen-mol-mceric-83605/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Julianna Margulies and Gretchen Mol Talk MILLERS IN MARRIAGE, Edward Burns&#39; latest with Eric McClanahan <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-julianna-margulies-gretchen-mol-mceric-83605/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Edward Burns made quite the impression after winning the Best Picture prize at the Sundance Film Festival with his 1995 masterpiece THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN, signifying the emergence of a new and singular voice. The plot synopsis for the film was "Three Irish Catholic brothers from Long Island struggle to deal with love, marriage, and infidelity." Now, thirty years later, Burns has returned with a new vision, MILLERS IN MARRIAGE, with the plot synopsis sounding vaguely familiar - "Three Irish Catholic siblings from New York struggle to deal with love, marriage, and infidelity." What can I say? Dude's got range. However, I'm not here to say that Edward Burns is a one-trick pony or that MILLERS IN MARRIAGE is recycled and tired. Truth is, I really liked this movie. The cast is impeccable and the narrative kept me interested, even when I thought some plot points were a bit contrived or predictable. Burns crafts characters that we want to care about, even if they're narcissistic, self-destructive, manipulative, or just plain wrong. Burns' gift of character and dialogue is that we are drawn into the maw of the devouring devils of his narratives. This film is no different. Following the Miller siblings, Andy (Burns), Maggie (Julianna Margulies), and Eve (Gretchen Mol), and their orbiting cadre of lovers. Andy is a painter, fresh off a separation from his wife Tina (Morena Baccarin) and now dating one of her former colleagues Renee (Minnie Driver). Maggie is an active novelist married to inert novelist Nick (Campbell Scott), <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-julianna-margulies-gretchen-mol-mceric-83605/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2025 01:43:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83605</guid></item><item><title>Spider One's New Flick LITTLE BITES Releases on Physical Media and SHUDDER This Week</title><link>https://www.aintitcool.com/little-bites-interviews-spider-one-krsy-fox-mceric-83604/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews</link><description>Writer/Director Spider One and star Krsy Fox speak with McEric about their new film LITTLE BITES, releasing on physical media Tuesday 2/18 and streaming on SHUDDER Friday 2/21. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/little-bites-interviews-spider-one-krsy-fox-mceric-83604/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Parenthood is sacrifice, and that is the message behind the latest horror film from filmmaker Michael Cummings, aka Spider One of Powerman 5000, aka Rob Zombie's brother. As he puts it in his director's statement: "In the film, Mindy’s relationship with her monster, Agyar, is clearly my allegory for parenthood. His bites are her pain. His words are her insecurities. His intentions are to prove Mindy’s failure as a parent. We are in solidarity with Mindy, even if, at times we are frustrated and baffled by her actions. And that is exactly the point. She doesn’t know what to do. None of us do. Framing this movie in horror was a natural choice." LITTLE BITES tells the story of Mindy Vogel (Krsy Fox, TERRIFIER 3), who is inexplicably saddled with a demon, Agyar (Jon Skarloff, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER) that demands to feast upon her daughter, Alice. Unwilling to acquiesce, Mindy sends Alice to stay with her mother (Bonnie Arons, THE NUN) while she placates the monster with bites of her own flesh, spinning a plan to rid of her the burden once and for all. I had the opportunity to speak with writer/director Spider One and lead actress Krsy Fox, neither of whom I felt comfortable addressing by name because I didn't feel entirely sure if Krsy was just pronounced "Krissy" and I couldn't rightly look a man in the face and call him "Spider". I really wanted to like this feature when I sat down to watch it, and a lot about it is quite <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/little-bites-interviews-spider-one-krsy-fox-mceric-83604/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> </description><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">McEric</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:34:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>83604</guid></item></channel></rss>McEricSun, 08 Feb 2026 19:40:00 +000083637Jason Biggs Directorial Debut UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE Now Available!https://www.aintitcool.com/jason-biggs-meaghan-rath-interview-uhir-83636/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsEric McClanahan interviews WHISTLE director Corin Hardy. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/whistle-interview-director-corin-hardy-83637/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Corin Hardy, the director of THE NUN, is back to the horror genre with his newest film WHISTLE. Centered around the discovery and misabuse of an ancient death whistle, the film follows several high schoolers as they run from their own deaths. Starring Dafne Keen (LOGAN, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE), Nick Frost (SHAUN OF THE DEAD), Sophie Nélisse (“Yellowjackets”), Percy Hynes White (“Wednesday”), Alissa Skovbye (“Firefly Lane”), Jhaliel Swaby (SHAZAM!), Sky Yang (REBEL MOON), and Michelle Fairley (“Game of Thrones”), the film is written by Owen Egerton (MERCY BLACK, FOLLOW). For fans of classic horror, this film hits all the high notes: an inescapable curse, a roster of disposably beautiful people, creative kills, a last-ditch effort, and a twist ending. Add to that gorgeously realized set pieces as well as classic settings like high school hallways and WHISTLE is positioned to be perfect horror snack food. Dafne Keen is morbidly robotic as Chrys, wallowing in her self-prescribed stupor for most of the film, acting as a pinball in a machine. The levers and coils and switches that propel her through the story are all aptly entertaining, particularly her supports, Ellie (Nélisse) and Rel (Yang), as well as outside antagonist Haggerty (Hynes White). The film opens on a cursed subject who sees apparitions of his death before finally succumbing to the haunting, leaping forward for us to meet the new crop of victims. Chrys is a convenient and relatable central lead for the audience experience as she is new to the town and school, <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/whistle-interview-director-corin-hardy-83637/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricSat, 07 Feb 2026 19:26:00 +000083636Holiday Gift Guide 2025https://www.aintitcool.com/holiday-gift-guide-2025-83635/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=UnknownJason Biggs Directorial Debut UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE Now Available! Comedy/Thrillers stars Biggs and Meaghan Rath. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/jason-biggs-meaghan-rath-interview-uhir-83636/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Jason Biggs, aka Jim from AMERICAN PIE, is behind the camera this year with the comedy-thriller UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE. I’ve talked to plenty of actors-turned-directors and most of them dip their toes in with a smaller project before going into a full feature; a music video, an episode of television, a short film, etc. Not Biggs. He dove straight in. I admire that. Not veering too far from his wheelhouse, UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE is a thriller second and a comedy first. Biggs plays Kevin, a lovelorn loser you could easily mistake for Jim, who has been separated from his wife Suzie, played by Meaghan Rath, for a few weeks following an impasse. Eager to prove himself a manly man capable of protecting her through all of life’s foibles, he arranges a romantic getaway at her father’s summer rental cabin… with a twist. He’s convinced a buddy from his acting class to arrive at the home, “break in,” and threaten the couple so that Kevin can puff his chest out and chase the “assailant” away. As is typically the case with these sorts of schemes, things go awry, and soon bodies start dropping. UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE comes across as light and slapsticky, despite its fairly steep body count and frequent disregard for its victims. It’s genuinely funny at times while unnecessarily cruel at others, which creates a unique tone for the first-time director. Meaghan Rath is a welcome surprise as Suzie, a self-assured success with a lurking darkness within her <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/jason-biggs-meaghan-rath-interview-uhir-83636/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricTue, 02 Dec 2025 20:44:00 +000083635A Conversation with RENTAL FAMILY Writer/Director HIKARIhttps://www.aintitcool.com/rental-family-writer-director-hikari-interview-83634/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsGift ideas for the hard-to-shop-for people in your life, even if that's you! <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/holiday-gift-guide-2025-83635/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=Unknown&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey everybody! It's December 2nd and wherever you are it's likely beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Time for you to put on your thinking caps and come up with something clever and original for those hard-to-shop-for friends... or yourself. As you know, I am inundated with emails from PR firms working with brands in every corner of entertainment, so I decided why not actually open some of those emails and pass the knowledge on to you? So here are some fun gift ideas for your 2025 shopping season. For the Batman Fan: I've already told you about Fanhome's fantastic Legends of Batman graphic novel collection, which seems to get better with each month, but what about that Batman fan/collector who wants something a bit more tangible and impressive. How about a 1:8 scale replica of Tim Burton's '89 Batmobile that measures over 2 feet when completed? Well, you're in luck. The best gifts are those that extend well beyond the initial unwrapping, and this expansive set offers over two years of deliveries as your Secret Santa recipient builds the legendary Batmobile while learning about the ins and outs of classic Batmobiles throughout the franchise history. You can learn more about the Batmobile subscription set from Fanhome here. If your Batman fan is a reader, you can keep the '89 Burton film theme and offer John Jackson Miller's latest novel, Batman: Revolution, the follow-up to last year's Batman: Resurrection. These non-canon novels extend Burton's '89 film lore as a bridge between Batman and Batman <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/holiday-gift-guide-2025-83635/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=Unknown&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricFri, 21 Nov 2025 19:33:00 +000083634Cynthia von Buhler Discusses MINKY WOODCOCK: THE GIRL CALLED CTHULHUhttps://www.aintitcool.com/interview-cynthia-von-buhler-minky-woodcock-83633/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comicsMcEric chats with RENTAL FAMILY writer/director HIKARI. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/rental-family-writer-director-hikari-interview-83634/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> HIKARI’s RENTAL FAMILY is the feel-good charmer that everyone needs around Thanksgiving, a gentle reminder that family is organic, genuine, and irreplaceable. Even when we sometimes wish we could rent an understudy to fill our place. RENTAL FAMILY stars Brendan Fraser as Phillip, an American actor living alone in Japan for the past seven years, struggling to find consistent work. Think LOST IN TRANSLATION, only don’t, because this film provides a much deeper portrait of Japan than Sofia Coppola’s Oscar-winner. LOST IN TRANSLATION, though a beautiful portrait of loneliness, uses Japan as a superficial location, giving us the eyes of a visitor through which to take in its beauty. RENTAL FAMILY has an expatriate at its center but Phillip has taken swimmingly to his new home. He’s fluent, versed in the customs, and permanent. One never gets the idea that Phillip is working towards returning “home” - he is home. With him as our anchor, we feel like we belong, seeing past the tourist attractions to find the core of community. Phillip is auditioning steadily, getting bit roles here and there, but he needs something with longevity. He stumbles into Rental Family, a service that sells “memories.” Mastermind Tada (Takehiro Hira) is introduced as a compassionate man with a fierce streak of pragmatism, which is aided by his right hand and lead actress Aiko (Mari Yamamoto). Brought on board as their “token white guy,” Phillip finds himself acting as a groom, a best friend, a karaoke champion, a journalist, and a long-lost <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/rental-family-writer-director-hikari-interview-83634/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricWed, 29 Oct 2025 22:43:00 +000083633Troy Duffy Talks THE BOONDOCK SAINTS - Past, Present, and Futurehttps://www.aintitcool.com/node/83632?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnewsEric McClanahan chats with author/playwright/artist Cynthia von Buhler about her latest graphic novel collection, MINKY WOODCOCK: THE GIRL CALLED CTHULHU. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-cynthia-von-buhler-minky-woodcock-83633/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> “Do What Thou Wilt Shall be the Whole of the Law.” I look forward to New York Comic Con every year. As a steady worker who rarely finds time for vacation, this is often the closest I get to relaxing over the past several years. I’ve been leaning more into unconventional invitations over the past few years, like sneaking off to see the stage show ‘The Shark is Broken,’ interviewing Max Brooks about Minecraft books, or speaking with David Dastmalchian about his newest graphic novel. I delight when I get an invitation that piques my interest for a property that I’d never even heard of before, and I get a few each year. Cynthia Von Buhler’s MINKY WOODCOCK: THE GIRL CALLED CTHULHU is currently available from Hard Case Crime/Titan Comics. I was unfamiliar with the author, the title, and even the imprint when I got an invite to a NYCC afterparty aboard the Frying Pan Boat at Pier 66. An open bar, expansive food spread, and complementary black velvet capes? Of course I said yes. The boat is an actual relic reclaimed from the sea, dredged from the bottom of the ocean and restored into a floating nightclub. The capes had all been claimed by the time I arrived but I enjoyed the gathering all the same. I found Cynthia Von Buhler holding court at the head of the boat, her head bearing horns and her own luxurious cape billowing to the ground. She offered me a reading from a single tarot card. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-cynthia-von-buhler-minky-woodcock-83633/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricWed, 22 Oct 2025 20:07:00 +000083632Catch NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME Off-Broadway in NYChttps://www.aintitcool.com/not-ready-for-prime-time-theatrical-play-review-83631/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsWriter/Director Troy Duffy (THE BOONDOCK SAINTS) discusses his new prequel novel BLOOD ORIGIN, the enduring fans of THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, and those rumors surrounding a possible new entry in the series. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83632?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> I’m sure I don’t need to offer an introduction to THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, but just in case, here it is: Back in the late 1900s, a bouncer at a bar in L.A. wrote a hard-boiled crime thriller that ignited a bidding war in Hollywood. The resultant film, THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, released in mid-1999, was a cultural milestone. Critics thrashed it and, honestly, they can’t be blamed. The film is misogynistic, racist, and glorifies violence. Actually, “glorifies” isn’t a strong enough word. THE BOONDOCK SAINTS treats violence like it’s the best thing since sliced arteries... er, bread. But the critics, ultimately, didn’t write the story of the film’s success; that was left to the fans. The film’s release was quiet, but word-of-mouth made the cacophony surrounding the film rise to deafening levels. (I, personally, might never have found the film if I hadn’t been working in a video store at the time, shelving the admittedly fetching VHS sleeve.) THE BOONDOCK SAINTS became a massive cult hit. Many identified with the film’s themes of fraternal bonds, justice, morality, loyalty, and vigilante revenge fantasy. It’s a perfect time capsule of the late-90’s crime caper movie: it’s funny, irreverent, brash, profane, stylish, bloody, and oddly uplifting. More than anything, though, it’s just fucking cool. The film centers around the MacManus Brothers, Connor (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus), working-class Irish immigrants in Boston who run afoul of the Russian and Italian Mafia. No shrinking wallflowers, these capable fighters with an iron-clad Irish Catholic code of morality <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83632?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricFri, 17 Oct 2025 18:39:00 +000083631NYCC 2025 Exclusive! David Dastmalchian Talks Mental Wellness and Pushing 'Through'https://www.aintitcool.com/david-dastmalchian-interview-through-graphic-novel-83630/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comicsCatch NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME Off-Broadway in NYC Until November 30th at the Newman Mills Theater <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/not-ready-for-prime-time-theatrical-play-review-83631/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> I recently received an email asking me if I wanted to see a new play being mounted Off Broadway in NYC that tackles the tumultuous formative years of the legendary television program “Saturday Night Live.” With the recent shakeups and mass exodus at the show, it seemed a timely examination and to see it in a live format really helps to capture the immediacy of the program. I replied “of course” and yesterday at 2:30pm I sat down in the Newman Mills Theater along with a packed audience to see NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME: The Unauthorized, Unsanitized, and Slightly Unhinged Story of how a Small Group of Lunatics made Saturday Night Unmissable. Written by Erik J. Rodriguez & Charles A. Sothers and directed by Conor Bagley, this play is a thrilling and exhaustingly funny ride. The assembled cast oscillate between manic comic energy and quiet introspective humanity to craft a well-rounded intimate portrait of the people behind the cultural upheaval that has dominated the conversation of comedy for the past fifty years. Anchored by Ian Bouillon as a young ambitious Lorne Michaels, affecting his singular voice and frequent Canadian pronunciations. Lorne addresses the crowd directly throughout, eliminating the fourth wall and bringing us into his “live” energy. In his opening introduction, he makes it known that the story will be “absurd, young, and hip. And if you don’t like it get the fuck out of the way!” Lorne is presented as a man with a vision, a desire to make something <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/not-ready-for-prime-time-theatrical-play-review-83631/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricSat, 11 Oct 2025 06:09:00 +000083630LONDON CALLING Interviews - Josh Duhamel & Jeremy Ray Taylorhttps://www.aintitcool.com/interview-josh-duhamel-jeremy-ray-taylor-83629/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsEric McClanahan sits down with multi-hyphenate creator David Dastmalchian at New York City Comic Con to discuss his new Graphic Novel 'Through' and his forthcoming directorial debut. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/david-dastmalchian-interview-through-graphic-novel-83630/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Some interview opportunities aren't a hard sell at all. Such is the case when I was offered the opportunity to sit down with one of today's most prolific and impactful actors, David Dastmalchian. David exploded onto screens in 2008's THE DARK KNIGHT as a haunted paranoid schizophrenic in the employ of Heath Ledger's Joker. Thanks to his dangerous eyes and lean face, he's found steady work in television and film as villains, victims, and various tortured characters. He's worked in both the DC and Marvel Universes onscreen as well as extensive voicework. He was a welcome addition to this year's "Dexter: Resurrection" and will next be seen as Big Bad M. Bison in the newest live-action adaptation of the classic video game STREET FIGHTER. Even those who don't know (or can't pronounce) his name know his face from his extensive character work, but many may not know that he's also a gifted and prolific writer. His 'Count Crowley' series was a big hit for Dark Horse Comics and he's written acclaimed titles for Marvel, DC, and Image. His newest graphic novel, coming next year from Z2 comics, promises to be his most personal story to date: 'Through.' "From the mind of David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil, Suicide Squad), Alix is a young woman, orphaned as a child, and isolated by perfectionism as an adult, who falls into an enchanted realm. A secret place created to serve as her sanctuary. It's a realm under siege, transformed into a perilous land of <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/david-dastmalchian-interview-through-graphic-novel-83630/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricTue, 16 Sep 2025 17:55:00 +000083629TRAUMATIKA Interview with filmmakers Pierre Tsigaridis and Maxime Ranconhttps://www.aintitcool.com/traumatika-pierre-tsigaridis-maxime-rancon-83628/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsMcEric interviews stars Josh Duhamel and Jeremy Ray Taylor as well as writer/director Allan Ungar for the new action-comedy LONDON CALLING. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-josh-duhamel-jeremy-ray-taylor-83629/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Josh Duhamel has reteamed with BANDIT director Allan Ungar for the new action-comedy LONDON CALLING. Ungar, retooling a script by Omer Levin Meneske and Quinn Wolfe, humanizes Duhamel’s character and finds comedy in the absurdity of violence and perceptions of masculinity. “After fleeing from a job gone wrong, a down-on-his-luck hit man must babysit the son of a crime boss and show him how to become a man.” Jeremy Ray Taylor of IT fame plays the son in question, Julian, whose father is played with acerbic and spiteful glee by Rick Hoffman. Rounding out the cast are big dogs Arnold Vosloo (THE MUMMY) and Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones”). LONDON CALLING pulls off the rare hat trick of offering an action comedy that’s actually funny. When we first meet Tommy Ward he is shrouded in mystery, stalking a decadent club like a knockoff John Wick. We see all the impressive cloak-and-dagger of a seedy underworld and we’re intrigued. Unfortunately the job goes awry and Tommy is forced to flee London, with little else than the briefest of goodbyes to his son, for his homeland of the United States of America. Los Angeles, to be precise, where he subsists on minor hit jobs for the despicable Benson (Hoffman). Benson reviles everyone around him, from his mail-order bride to his sensitive son, Julian (Taylor). Envious of Ward’s effortless cool and natural masculinity, Benson pairs Ward with Julian in an effort to help the boy become a man. This film really works for its two <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-josh-duhamel-jeremy-ray-taylor-83629/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricTue, 09 Sep 2025 16:55:00 +000083628THE TOXIC AVENGER is Back! Writer/Director Macon Blair Interviewhttps://www.aintitcool.com/the-toxic-avenger-interview-macon-blair-83626/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsEric McClanahan speaks with TRAUMATIKA filmmakers Pierre Tsigaridis and Maxime Rancon <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/traumatika-pierre-tsigaridis-maxime-rancon-83628/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Horror films are a mixed bag - some make an indelible mark on the landscape while others are here and gone before anyone has made an effort to notice. A good idea, great execution, and ambitious marketing allow many to rise above the din and grab audiences by the throat. Such is the case with TRAUMATIKA. Online trailers warn that “This is not a movie you see, it’s a movie you survive.” Having seen this film, I would agree to a certain extent. TRAUMATIKA does a lot of things right, but I have a few insignificant gripes with it, as well. Let’s start with its strengths. TRAUMATIKA builds tension by the inches. Slow POV camerawork, complete with blinking, puts the audience in the front seat of fear. The film is impeccably shot with long, sustained instances of hair-raising suspense and explosive scenes of violence and terror. It’s a visceral experience that will delight many hardcore horror fans and certainly marks the emergence of brash new voices in horror. My main grievance is with the scope of the film. It’s several stories crammed into one, and I got the idea that it might’ve worked better as an anthology than a single narrative. The film begins in 1910, then 2003, then a year prior, then 20 years later. So much horror and terror are unleashed throughout time but through such disparate antagonists that one is left to wonder which movie to refer to when honing in on a particular victory or loss. TRAUMATIKA comes to us <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/traumatika-pierre-tsigaridis-maxime-rancon-83628/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricThu, 28 Aug 2025 20:17:00 +000083626Harry loves FANTASTIC FOUR FIRST STEPS, but has notes...https://www.aintitcool.com/harry-reviews-fantastic-four-first-steps-83625/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsMcEric chats with writer/director about the brand new THE TOXIC AVENGER film releasing this weekend as well as original Toxie creator Lloyd Kaufman <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/the-toxic-avenger-interview-macon-blair-83626/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Some films should never be remade - we’re all looking at you, THE PRINCESS BRIDE. When I first broke the news on this site that Legendary Pictures had acquired the rights to reboot THE TOXIC AVENGER, I pretty much felt that adage applied here, as well. The original TOXIC AVENGER is a singular film experience firmly rooted in its time and punk rock sensibilities. Created by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, THE TOXIC AVENGER of 1984 tells the story of Melvin Ferd, a sex-crazed nerd at a sports club who endures bullying at the hands of some truly repugnant scumbags. When one of their pranks goes too far and finds Melvin face down in a barrel of toxic waste, he emerges as a hulking monster. Through some hamfisted exposition we learn that he has been imbued with a barometer for evil that compels him to eradicate villains. The rest of the film is a blood-soaked tale of vengeance and violence that pushes the limits of good taste and good filmmaking. Troma Entertainment, the studio behind THE TOXIC AVENGER, specialized in B-movies that championed unorthodox stories, practical effects, nudity, profanity, and hyper-violence. Herz and Kaufman were pioneers in stateside films that echoed the influences of early Peter Jackson and Italian Giallo filmmaking. When news broke that a major American studio was remaking this wholly original time capsule of superhero schlock, many were concerned. None more than the original creator, Lloyd Kaufman. I got to chat with the GOAT a few weeks ago <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/the-toxic-avenger-interview-macon-blair-83626/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> headgeekMon, 28 Jul 2025 19:14:00 +000083625Kris Collins, Celina Myers, and Jason-Christopher Mayer Talk HOUSE ON EDENhttps://www.aintitcool.com/kallmekris-celinaspookyboo-house-on-eden-interview-83624/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsGreat wonderful Marvel film <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/harry-reviews-fantastic-four-first-steps-83625/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey folks, Harry here... Been a while since I last was here. Life has been good, directed a version of Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS for stage successfully, and well... Took the family to check out the new FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. Now that was a spectacular film. We drove to Lawton, Oklahoma to check it out at the Patriot IMAX theater there. The Handicap seating was about 5 rows up from the bottom of the auditorium, which had us beholding an immense screen that filled our entire field of vision. Now, going into this flick, I understood a lot of what I'd be seeing. I knew it was taking place in the so-called Jack Kirby universe of 828, based upon Kirby's birthday. However, I also understood that what we were going to see was really a loving tribute to the 1960's and 70's Science Fiction universe. Having seen Matt Shankman say the words "Kubrick meets Kirby" KUBRICK MEETS KIRBY regarding a FANTASTIC FOUR movie is a bold glove to throw down. It makes one seriously contemplate Kubrick meets Kirby, which actually happened with Jack Kirby adapted 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY in a truly mind-blowing comic book adaptation. Seek it out! But while the film is an absolute blast, that I truly love... I wish it truly would've honored Jack Kirby by delving even deeper into his imagination wiht the FANTASTIC FOUR. I've had friends and my wife gripe to me about Sue Storm's over-powering of <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/harry-reviews-fantastic-four-first-steps-83625/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricSat, 26 Jul 2025 04:20:00 +000083624SORRY BABY Thoughtfully Explores Trauma's Aftermathhttps://www.aintitcool.com/sorrybaby2025review-83619/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsMcEric chats with Kris Collins (KallMeKris), Celina Myers (CelinaSpookyBoo), and Jason-Christopher Mayer about their new movie HOUSE ON EDEN in theaters July 25, 2025. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/kallmekris-celinaspookyboo-house-on-eden-interview-83624/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Found footage horror is a trope that is riddled with far more misses than hits. A few stand above the rest, but more often we get left with something like DEVON - an experiment in indulgence that leaves its viewers wondering what they might have done to deserve such a slap-in-the-face. As access to cameras and editing software has become more prevalent, more and more people are making content. Note I didn’t say “films.” Content creators are the new zeitgeist - a movement of User-Generated-Content that brings your friends and neighbors closer to your face while we all collapse deeper within ourselves. Some of these content creators are breaking the limitations of the phone screen and branching out to the cineplexes, to varying degrees of success. If you survived the Pandemic then you likely know who Kris Collins is. Perhaps not by name, but you’ve almost certainly seen one of her many characters come across your TikTok feed, YouTube Shorts, or Instagram Reels. Kris rose to fame through TikTok in 2020 with light comedy and relatability as KallMeKris. Like many content creators who rocketed to fame quickly, she began to mingle in creator-circles, forging a friendship with Celina Myers, aka CelinaSpookyBoo. Celina’s content began as dad jokes, evolving into all manner of relatable antics and occasional cringe comedy. These two joined forces with Spooky AF Productions, a legitimate ghost hunting channel along with creators Sam and Colby. Eventually the idea came to make a film based on these ghost hunting expeditions, mirroring the <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/kallmekris-celinaspookyboo-house-on-eden-interview-83624/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> BarbarellaFri, 11 Jul 2025 13:15:00 +000083619Krypto Currency!! Hercules Loves James Gunn’s SUPERMAN!!https://www.aintitcool.com/herc-loves-superman-2025-83623/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnewsSORRY BABY Thoughtfully Explores Trauma's Aftermath <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/sorrybaby2025review-83619/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey friends. Barbarella here after being enthralled with Sorry, Baby, a thoughtfully told story about the enduring effects of trauma. In theaters now, Eva Victor’s film proves both sensitive and candid. Although violence lies at the center of everything, it avoids showing any potentially triggering sequences. During the pivotal event that takes place within a house, the camera remains outside holding a static shot on the domicile’s façade. The viewer could only imagine what occurs behind the door. The stillness of the scene provides a stark contrast to the savagery we envision happening within. This masterful decision makes the scene more powerful as we must sit with the knowledge and gravity of what we suspect occurs inside. This quiet restraint characterizes much of the film, distinguishing it from other cinematic explorations of trauma. Much of the film proves artfully still as Agnes (Eva Victor) grapples with her life in the aftermath of the aforementioned event. While the topic is serious, it’s not an unrelenting, heavy film. Rather, it’s injected with humor and care throughout. The tale reveals the deep impact a moment in time could have on a life’s trajectory, and it shows the resilience of survivors as they struggle to find meaning, humor, and connection in the aftermath. Sorry, Baby relies heavily on its brilliant cast who draw out the intricacies of each moment. Naomi Ackie and Eva Victor do most of the heavy lifting, carrying the emotional heart of the film, and I can’t get enough of either. Naomi imbues Lydie <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/sorrybaby2025review-83619/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> herculesTue, 08 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +000083623Barbarella Finds MATERIALISTS Pointlesshttps://www.aintitcool.com/materialistsreview2025-83618/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsHercules loves Superman 2025 <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/herc-loves-superman-2025-83623/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Superman 2025 FAQ I am – Hercules!! What’s it called? “Superman.” Who’s responsible? James Gunn, writer and director of the wonderful “The Suicide Squad” (the one with Idris Elba and John Cena, not the one with Will Smith) and all three excellent “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. Is it any good? Like much of Gunn’s prior work, it’s funny and moving and exciting, and never boring. There’s plenty to nitpick, but you’d be a fool to miss this very entertaining entertainment. What says Warner Bros.? “Superman embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.” How does it start? As John Williams’ Superman theme plays, a lot of text catches us up: 300 years ago superhumans became public knowledge on Earth, 30 years ago an alien spacecraft crashed into Kansas, 3 years ago a new superhuman arrived in Metropolis, 3 weeks ago a superhuman interfered in a middle-eastern conflict, 3 hours ago another new superhuman, one billing himself as The Hammer of Borovia, arrived in Metropolis, and 3 minutes ago Superman lost a brawl for the first time ever.* Then we see what a lot of fans have already seen in that famous clip: a bloodied and beaten Superman crash-lands in a field of snow, then summons Krypto to take him home. (*It is NOT mentioned in this exposition dump that Lois and Clark became romantically involved 3 months ago. We learn this later.) <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/herc-loves-superman-2025-83623/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> BarbarellaSat, 21 Jun 2025 15:18:00 +000083618Barbarella Adores THE LIFE OF CHUCKhttps://www.aintitcool.com/lifeofchuckreview2025-83617/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsBarbarella Finds MATERIALISTS Pointless <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/materialistsreview2025-83618/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey friends, Barbarella here to tell you how completely disappointing Materialists is. How can a movie where Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans vie for the affections of a matchmaker fail so badly? Well, let me tell you. For starters, the chemistry between Dakota Johnson and either romantic rival doesn't quite feel like it's intense enough, so perhaps the casting has some impact, but I don't think that's the issue. I think the script deserves the blame. Don't get me wrong. The story includes lots of laughable moments around dating expectations and so forth. However, one expects characters to evolve throughout a story, to learn lessons, gain deeper understanding or just grow into better people through interactions with others or situations in which they find themselves. None of this happens. So much of the story just makes no sense. For instance, we are led to believe that Lucy, who’s been a top matchmaker for quite some time, never knew that people in real life are sometimes different than they appear on paper. She only learns this when an incident occurs with one of the couples she matches. I mean, anyone who’s ever been on a dating site or watched a True Crime story should know that people can portray themselves as something that they’re not. Technically, she apparently does already know people lie on the questionnaire because she comments about guys lying about their height. For her to apparently have this “revelation” that makes her reevaluate her priorities simply doesn’t track. While that bothers me <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/materialistsreview2025-83618/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> BarbarellaSat, 21 Jun 2025 13:27:00 +000083617THE DAILY SHOW writer Daniel Radosh and editor Lauren Beckett Jackson Interviewhttps://www.aintitcool.com/interview-the-daily-show-writer-editor-83616/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coaxialBarbarella Adores THE LIFE OF CHUCK <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/lifeofchuckreview2025-83617/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey friends, Barbarella here. Have I ever told you what a huge Stephen King fan I am? It started when a teenage me read Pet Sematary and became so enthralled with the author’s work that my mom’s Christmas shopping became immensely easier. She started gifting me Stephen King books for every Christmas and birthday thereafter, knowing I would eagerly devour every page. I did, with relish. Eventually, I began working my way through movies based on his works. Some ventured from the source material in ways I didn’t appreciate, but when I heard Mike Flanagan would be tackling one of King’s short stories, The Life of Chuck, I knew I’d love it. And I did. Mike Flanagan, who’s responsible for my favorite horror miniseries, The Haunting of Hill House, and who was the mastermind who brought Doctor Sleep to screens, remains incredibly faithful to the source material, including how it’s told in three acts using reverse chronology. It’s a film that offers a feast of reflection on life, but I suspect some will dig in more ravenously than others. This is a story about those magical moments in life, the influence others have on our lives, and the decisions we make day to day that steer us one way or another. Narrated by Nick Offerman, the film begins ominously enough, with the world seemingly coming to an end. Natural and unnatural disasters plague the planet, and as if that’s not bad enough, the internet also appears to be out, possibly for good this time. Uncertainty and fear weigh <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/lifeofchuckreview2025-83617/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricFri, 13 Jun 2025 16:57:00 +000083616Scott Adkins Talks DIABLOhttps://www.aintitcool.com/scott-adkins-interview-diablo-mceric-83615/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsMcEric sits down with THE DAILY SHOW writer Daniel Radosh and editor Lauren Beckett Jackson for an interview <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-the-daily-show-writer-editor-83616/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coaxial&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” has been on-air for almost thirty years, garnering 26 PrimeTime Emmy Awards and several Peabody Awards for its writing and execution. Many are familiar with the show’s blend of current news commentary and informational journalism from comedians like Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carrell, John Oliver, Samatha Bee, Roy Wood, Jr, Rob Riggle, Jordan Klepper, Wyatt Cenac, Hasan Minhaj, Larry Whitmore, Lewis Black, Desi Lydic, Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta, and a bevy of others. “The Daily Show’s” audience has grown up alongside the show, with viewership now skewing in higher age demographics than the coveted 18-34 bracket it dominated during its inception. That maturity is reflected in the current iteration of the show, with Stewart hosting on Monday’s while the rest of “The Best F**king News Team” fill in the remainder of the week. “The Daily Show” is a bit of a misnomer as the show broadcasts nightly on Comedy Central (or Paramount+ for those living in the streaming age) from Monday to Thursday. I suppose “The Intermittent Show” just doesn’t have the same ring to it. “The Daily Show” is not unique in its position as a satirical news program, however it remains the definitive iteration of the format. Everyone knows about “The Daily Show,” love it or hate it. A foundational pillar of the show’s ubiquity and popularity is in the writing and execution of the show, which stands head and shoulders above its contemporaries. I was honored to speak with senior writer Daniel Radosh <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-the-daily-show-writer-editor-83616/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coaxial&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricWed, 11 Jun 2025 05:48:00 +000083615Barbarella Declares BRING HER BACK is an Intense Depiction of the Effects of Griefhttps://www.aintitcool.com/bringherbackreview2025-83614/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsScott Adkins talks with McEric about his new action film, DIABLO <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/scott-adkins-interview-diablo-mceric-83615/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> If you’re a fan of current action films then you likely know the name Scott Adkins. He’s either kicked the ass of or had his ass kicked by every action star of the last five decades: Dolph Lundgren, Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone, Jean Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, and even Keanu Reeves. That’s right - he was the big guy with the grill in JOHN WICK CHAPTER 4. Scott’s newest film is DIABLO, which hits theaters and on demand this Friday, June 13th. Conceived alongside action compatriot Marko Zaror, the film takes place in Colombia following Adkins as Kris, a former convict, who seeks to make good on a promise to a fallen friend, which runs him afoul of Zaror’s mercenary, El Corvo. This film isn’t just another straight-to-streaming no-budget piece of content - DIABLO delivers on every front. The fight scenes, choreographed by Zaror, are intense and deftly photographed, thanks to director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza. The gunplay is intense, the acting is top tier, and the film never lags. Marko Zaror steals his scenes as El Corvo, a mercenary with an iron fist, literally. The six-foot-two Chilean action star has a chilling villain introduction, followed by a massive action scene in a sketchy hideout that plays out like a scene from TERMINATOR. He mows through assailants and bystanders alike with no emotion, only showing a hint of fear when Adkins’s Kris shows up to give him a real fight. El Corvo is fucking terrifying. Their final confrontation is a throwback to <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/scott-adkins-interview-diablo-mceric-83615/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> BarbarellaFri, 30 May 2025 01:49:00 +000083614Tribeca Film Festival 2025 Previewhttps://www.aintitcool.com/tribeca-2025-curtain-raiser-eric-mcclanahan-83613/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=eventBarbarella Declares BRING HER BACK is an Intense Depiction of the Effects of Grief <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/bringherbackreview2025-83614/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey, friends. Barbarella here still reeling from the incredibly intense Australian horror flick Bring Her Back, which comes out on May 30th. Not for the weak of heart, this follow-up from the minds behind Talk to Me grips one’s innards early on and doesn’t let go for the entire duration. While themes of grief and the different ways individuals cope with loss may not be uncommon in cinema, Bring Her Back approaches the concept in a truly unique fashion through the individuals involved and the manner in which their stories are told. Sora Wong debuts as the young Piper. Giving a powerhouse performance, she proves that a face doesn’t have to be recognizable to bring the awesomeness. While Piper may be the nucleus of the story, it’s not just her, but also those around her, who drive the points, like nails, into your soul. I’ll start with Sally Hawkins, whom you may recognize from The Shape of Water. Her portrayal of the adoptive parent is nothing short of exceptional. Nuanced when necessary, flat out psycho when required, she navigates the extremes and subtleties like a master. While I could ramble about Sally Hawkins more, let’s move on to Jonah Wren Phillips. He’s incredible as the creepy kid, but it’s in those moments where we glimpse his humanity that this young talent shines. I should warn you, though, if he’s onscreen, the odds of you feeling uncomfortable increase 85%. Owning the most disturbing scenes, he can be hard to watch at times. In fact, when <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/bringherbackreview2025-83614/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricWed, 28 May 2025 20:59:00 +000083613A BREED APART - Heavy on the Laughs, Light on the Scareshttps://www.aintitcool.com/node/83612?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsMcEric takes a look at some of the films screening at this year's Tribeca Film Festival in NYC from June 4th - 15th. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/tribeca-2025-curtain-raiser-eric-mcclanahan-83613/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=event&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> The Tribeca Film Festival is set to descend once again upon New York City this June 4th through 15th. Begun in 2002 by Robert DeNiro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, the festival sought to revitalize Lower Manhattan after the 9/11 attacks and has since become one of the premiere film festivals of North America. This year, alone, the programmers narrowed down their selections from over 13,000 submissions. This year's line-up boasts 95 world premieres from filmmakers across 36 countries, collecting everything from feature films to shorts, episodic content, audio storytelling, interactive games, and more. I'll be on site for several days of the festival to screen films and speak with attending talent, so let's take a look at some of the selections that made my shortlist of interest: First off, the big trend this year is music documentaries - the festival has programmed at least fifteen music-based films, beginning with the opening night gala selection BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES. The festivities will likely be more of a eulogy than a celebration due to recent developments, but it's still nice to kick off a definitively New York festival with one of the City's own beloved sons as the subject of its inaugural film. Other documentaries that feature prominently are METALLICA SAVED MY LIFE, BILLY IDOL SHOULD BE DEAD, BOY GEORGE 7 CULTURE CLUB, DEPECHE MODE: M, I WAS BORN THIS WAY: CARL BEAN, MOVE YA BODY: THE BIRTH OF HOUSE, and THE SIXTH BOROUGH. This final film made my shortlist as <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/tribeca-2025-curtain-raiser-eric-mcclanahan-83613/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=event&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricTue, 20 May 2025 19:16:00 +000083612Barbarella Says Tim Robinson Makes FRIENDSHIP Fantastic!https://www.aintitcool.com/friendshipreview2025-83611/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnewsA BREED APART - Heavy on the Laughs, Light on the Scares - McEric reviews the new horror/comedy from the Furst Brothers starring Grace Caroline Currey and Page Kennedy. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83612?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hello all! McEric here with a review of the Furst Brothers' new horror/comedy A BREED APART, out now in theaters and on-demand. The film follows several Internet celebrities who are invited to an island overrun by rabid dogs to compete for a prize... survival. Check out the trailer: The film stars Grace Caroline Currey (SHAZAM: FURY OF THE GODS, FALL), Virginia Gardner (FALL, 2018's HALLOWEEN), Page Kennedy (THE MEG, THE MEG 2), Troy Gentile (ABC's "The Goldbergs"), Riele Downs (Nickelodeon's "Henry Danger"), Zak Steiner (Netflix's "Jessica Jones"),and Hayden Panittiere (NBC's "Heroes"). The film is directed by Griff Furst and brother Nathan Furst, whose previous collaboration as co-directors brought us NIGHTMARE SHARK. Solo, Griff Furst has directed such films as SWAMP SHARK, GHOST SHARK, and TRAILER PARK SHARK, so he clearly knows his way around a creature feature... even if he doesn't really want to. "Who is Louie Myman?" I asked when we spoke this past Friday. [Louie Myman is the credited director of Furst's films 100 MILLION BC and ALLIGATOR ALLEY.) "Oh, Louie Myman! Do you know Alan Smithee?" "Yes." "He's Alan Smithee's brother. Yeah, I mean, it's a tough thing. It's an interesting thing to explore. It's like when you do a creature feature and it rates well, and it does well, they just offer you more of them. And I love them, don't get me wrong. I grew up watching all these creature features - Mysterious Island and Jaws and Cujo. I love those movies, but I love ALL kinds of movies. The creature feature, itself, <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83612?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> BarbarellaSat, 17 May 2025 14:41:00 +000083611New (and Old) Releases This Week, with McEric!https://www.aintitcool.com/renner-neighborhood-watch-mob-cops-young-werther-83610/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsBarbarella Says Tim Robinson Makes FRIENDSHIP Fantastic! <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/friendshipreview2025-83611/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey friends! Barbarella here back from hiatus, and I’m delighted to share my thoughts on A24’s newest release, Friendship, which is out NOW! Sometimes people watch trailers and think, “Oh this movie is like [insert movie about a similar topic].” If you’re thinking that about Friendship, it’s not. Genuinely funny without being cruel, Andrew DeYoung’s exploration of adult male friendship proves charming and elicits more than a few hearty laughs from me. In an era where seemingly fewer friendships exist in the real world than online, making new friends may be challenging, particularly for adult men. Keeping them may be nearly impossible. When Craig (Tim Robinson) receives a misdelivered package intended for cool new neighbor Austin (Paul Rudd), Craig walks it over to him. Upon meeting the charismatic and friendly guy, he quickly gets invited in and finds himself actually making friends. His expressions reveal his delight in this newly formed camaraderie with someone who is just so darned interesting. One can’t help but feel happy for his new accomplishment. Sadly, new friendships are fragile, and in a group setting, Craig doesn’t make the best impression on the guys. It doesn’t take long before Austin begins distancing himself from the awkward neighbor. In his desperation to rekindle the closeness they once shared, Craig makes some questionable decisions that lead to more awkward situations and laughs. On the surface, this is a quirky comedy that relies heavily on Tim Robinson’s performance. However, there is much more to this movie. Throughout, it addresses many common insecurities that men <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/friendshipreview2025-83611/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricThu, 24 Apr 2025 20:33:00 +000083610Gina Gershon talks HIGH ROLLERShttps://www.aintitcool.com/gina-gershon-interview-killer-joe-showgirls-83609/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsMcEric cleans up his inbox by dumping reviews for NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, RENNER, MOB COPS, and YOUNG WERTHER. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/renner-neighborhood-watch-mob-cops-young-werther-83610/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hello all! I've got some reviews of two films releasing this Friday, April 25th - but thought I'd also take this opportunity to highlight two other films that are already out there but I haven't yet found the time to cover. Hopefully there's something here for everyone, so let's get right to it: First up is NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, starring Jack Quaid (NOVOCAINE, THE COMPANION, "The Boys"), Jeffrey Dean Morgan ("The Boys," "The Walking Dead"), and Malin Ackerman (WATCHMEN, SLAYERS), directed by Duncan Skiles (THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER) and written by Sean Farley. The film features troubled young man Simon McNally (Quaid), who is trying to find his feet after spending a decade in a facility for mental health treatment, and his paranoid ex-security guard neighbor Ed Deerman. The two form an unlikely partnership when Simon believes he's seen a woman kidnapped but is deemed an unreliable witness by police due to his history and behavior. The two men take it upon themselves to investigate the crime and rescue the woman, revealing a deeper web of villainy in their quiet town. Quaid and Morgan have great chemistry, and Quaid, specifically, does some great work in this film. Whereas the majority of his characters have been able to rely and charm and humor, Simon is stripped of these tools due to the abuse he received at a young age, so the tricks that Quaid would normally utilize to endear himself to audiences are out of reach. Quaid does a great job of humanizing McNally as a <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/renner-neighborhood-watch-mob-cops-young-werther-83610/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricTue, 18 Mar 2025 19:24:00 +000083609New Releases - RAGING MIDLIFE and AMERICAN DREAMERhttps://www.aintitcool.com/reviews-raging-midlife-american-dreamer-83608/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsActress Gina Gershon speaks with McEric about new film HIGH ROLLERS with John Travolta and cult classics SHOWGIRLS and KILLER JOE. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/gina-gershon-interview-killer-joe-showgirls-83609/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> When I received an email asking me if I wanted to watch a brand new independent film starring John Travolta, Gina Gershon, and Lukas Haas, my first instinct was to say no. When I was told I might be able to interview Gina Gershon, I said sure, and watched Ives’ HIGH ROLLERS. What follows was my experience: This film isn’t good, you guys, but I did watch the whole thing, not only because I had to. It’s a caper, and once I get into a caper, I can’t walk away. I’ve got to know if and how they’ll pull it off. I think that’s universal. That said, this is not a good caper. The film opens with Travolta as Mason with Gershon as Amy on a beautiful beach, looking out at the crystal blue water. They are gathered with their friends and team to watch two of their own tie the knot, but before they can both conclude their “I dos,” attack helicopters descend, accompanied by SUVS filled with masked mercenaries. They are held at gunpoint and Amy is taken. In a blink, the baddies are gone and the team is unharmed - you know, like mercenaries are wont to do. Next, Mason is giving chase in his muscle car in a poorly edited road piece, concluding in a crash that likely accounts for the film’s entire budget.This is followed by the team grouped around a table while Mason exposition dumps their accolades for the sake of the audience. They are contacted by <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/gina-gershon-interview-killer-joe-showgirls-83609/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricSat, 15 Mar 2025 16:35:00 +000083608Barbarella Chats with BLOAT actors Malcolm Fuller and Sawyer Joneshttps://www.aintitcool.com/bloatinterviewmalcolmsawyer-83607/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnewsMcEric reviews (new) releases RAGING MIDLIFE and AMERICAN DREAMER. <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/reviews-raging-midlife-american-dreamer-83608/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hello all! McEric here with a quick review of two (new) releases hitting the market this St. Patrick's Day Weekend, both of which I actually enjoyed. RAGING MIDLIFE First was RAGING MIDLIFE, a movie that was pitched to me as starring Paula Abdul (I'm a massive fan), Eddie Griffin (DOUBLE TAKE), Walter Koenig (STAR TREK), and Motch O. Mann, the world's foremost Macho Man Randy Savage impersonator. Yeah, I hear it, too. Luckily, I didn't read any further. I saw Paula Abdul's name and shouted "I'm in!" Going in to this film blind is the best way to see it. As I'm furnishing you with a review, however, I must speak further to the film. If you want to skip down to AMERICAN DREAMER and go in blind, I do suggest it. Otherwise, here we go. The film, written by Nic Costa and Rob Taylor, and directed by the latter, follows childhood friends Alex and Mark, now in their midlives (see that?) who are chasing their dragon - a purple tanktop once worn by their favorite wrestler, Raging Abe. Raging Abe is a Macho Man Randy Savage-type character who wears a stove pipe hat and chin beard and lives by five "proclamations," all meant to help his young fans navigate life and walk as better people. The film opens with grainy footage of a talk show appearance (think Arsenio Hall) from Raging Abe and his handler, Mary Todd, played by Abdul. The action opens in the eighties with young Alex and Mark ringside <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/reviews-raging-midlife-american-dreamer-83608/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> BarbarellaFri, 07 Mar 2025 16:22:00 +000083607Director Simon West and Star Lucy Liu Talk OLD GUYhttps://www.aintitcool.com/simon-west-lucy-liu-interview-old-guy-mceric-83606/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsBarbarella Chats with BLOAT actors Malcolm Fuller and Sawyer Jones <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/bloatinterviewmalcolmsawyer-83607/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Hey friends! Barbarella here to chat about feeling bloated. Wait that’s not right. I’m here to chat a bit about Bloat, which will be in Theaters, On Demand and On Digital March 7, 2025. It’s a new horror thriller in which Ben McKenzie (“Gotham,” “The O.C.”) plays Jack, a man stuck working while his family vacations in Japan. As if the FOMO isn’t bad enough, one of his sons starts behaving strangely after almost drowning, and his wife, played by Bojana Novakovic (Edge of Darkness, Drag Me to Hell), must grapple with everything essentially alone, while Jack grows increasingly frustrated with his inability to do anything more than bear witness and offer recommendations and theories. Bloat proves to be pretty fun, generating some tension from the fact that poor Jack is stuck in front of a screen in another country, balancing work and family drama from afar. His sense of powerlessness and the increasing frustration that develops as he video-chats with his family and hears increasingly more unsettling news makes him relatable and really heightens the unease I feel while watching. While the final act doesn't engage me as much as the setup leading up to it, I enjoy enough of the concepts within the story that overall, I like the movie. I got the opportunity to chat with the actors who play the two sons, Malcolm Fuller and Sawyer Jones. Check it out! Barbara: Would you guys tell me about the casting process. Did you get sent the script or did you have to audition? What was that like <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/bloatinterviewmalcolmsawyer-83607/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricWed, 26 Feb 2025 20:15:00 +000083606Julianna Margulies and Gretchen Mol Talk MILLERS IN MARRIAGEhttps://www.aintitcool.com/interview-julianna-margulies-gretchen-mol-mceric-83605/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsDirector Simon West and star Lucy Liu talk OLD GUY, starring Christoph Waltz, now streaming everywhere! <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/simon-west-lucy-liu-interview-old-guy-mceric-83606/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Director Simon West should be a household name; his first film was a little picture from 1997 called CON AIR. Perhaps you've heard of it? He went on to helm similar big budget action extravaganzas, such as 2001's LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER and 2012's THE EXPENDABLES 2. Eventually, however, time and changing tastes caught up with West, and now he's directing smaller budget flicks, from action to drama, that move at a slightly slower pace and appeal to a different audience. The same could be said for Danny Dolinski, the titular OLD GUY of West's latest feature, played by Academy-Award Winner Christoph Waltz (INGLORIOUS BASTERDS, THE GREEN HORNET). Danny's a wetworks expert in a field saturated with hot young assassins, desperately trying to prove he's still relevant, often to his detriment. After recovering from a wrist injury that found him relegated to a cleaner role at a local bakery, Danny is itching to get back in the field. When he's told the only role available is support for young assassing Wihlborg (Cooper Hoffman), he is understandably unenthused. He invites his longtime friend Anata (Lucy Liu) along for their job since it'll take them to some charming locations around Europe, and once underway, tries to take point on every hit. Things don't go as planned. As you can probably already divine, there are so many parallels between Waltz's OLD GUY and West's career. Danny was once the best, the biggest game in town, and his name still opens doors... but the game has <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/simon-west-lucy-liu-interview-old-guy-mceric-83606/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricTue, 25 Feb 2025 01:43:00 +000083605Spider One's New Flick LITTLE BITES Releases on Physical Media and SHUDDER This Weekhttps://www.aintitcool.com/little-bites-interviews-spider-one-krsy-fox-mceric-83604/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviewsJulianna Margulies and Gretchen Mol Talk MILLERS IN MARRIAGE, Edward Burns' latest with Eric McClanahan <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-julianna-margulies-gretchen-mol-mceric-83605/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Read the full article on AICN</a> Edward Burns made quite the impression after winning the Best Picture prize at the Sundance Film Festival with his 1995 masterpiece THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN, signifying the emergence of a new and singular voice. The plot synopsis for the film was "Three Irish Catholic brothers from Long Island struggle to deal with love, marriage, and infidelity." Now, thirty years later, Burns has returned with a new vision, MILLERS IN MARRIAGE, with the plot synopsis sounding vaguely familiar - "Three Irish Catholic siblings from New York struggle to deal with love, marriage, and infidelity." What can I say? Dude's got range. However, I'm not here to say that Edward Burns is a one-trick pony or that MILLERS IN MARRIAGE is recycled and tired. Truth is, I really liked this movie. The cast is impeccable and the narrative kept me interested, even when I thought some plot points were a bit contrived or predictable. Burns crafts characters that we want to care about, even if they're narcissistic, self-destructive, manipulative, or just plain wrong. Burns' gift of character and dialogue is that we are drawn into the maw of the devouring devils of his narratives. This film is no different. Following the Miller siblings, Andy (Burns), Maggie (Julianna Margulies), and Eve (Gretchen Mol), and their orbiting cadre of lovers. Andy is a painter, fresh off a separation from his wife Tina (Morena Baccarin) and now dating one of her former colleagues Renee (Minnie Driver). Maggie is an active novelist married to inert novelist Nick (Campbell Scott), <a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-julianna-margulies-gretchen-mol-mceric-83605/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS">Finish the article on AICN</a> McEricTue, 18 Feb 2025 08:34:00 +000083604

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