Don’t Leave the Kids Alone
| B | Fantastic Fest 2025 | This is not an over-the-top horror movie—half of the “horror” is the two kids terrorizing each other the way young brothers do. But…
Marama
| C | Fantastic Fest 2025 | This was billed as a gothic horror film. The emphasis was on the gothic part (i.e., low key, slow build), and on history.…
Penance
| C | Fantastic Fest 2025 | This film was made by a stuntman and a bunch of his stunt-friends he pulled together. For $7,000. Yes, that few zeros. I…
Luger
| B | Fantastic Fest 2025 | Good crime thriller about two lower-rung thugs for hire who get into a situation that is over their heads. They can’t just fight…
Obsession
| A- | Fantastic Fest 2025 | This was a very affecting film… I’m sure some of my reaction was that innate male fear of a crazy girlfriend. Not that…
Chocolate
| B | Fantastic Fest 2025 | For a movie made in 2008 it had a very 70s feel. I assume that was intentional by the director. Much of it…
The Holy Boy
| A | Fantastic Fest 2025 | I am stunned by the vision of this director/co-writer. The script was fascinating. It kept “unfolding,” revealing layer after layer. It kept shifting…
Haunted Heist
| B | Fantastic Fest 2025 | Not a scary comedy, but a very funny horror movie. As you might expect from Lil Rel Howery. Even though he did not…
Appofeniacs
| B | Fantastic Fest 2025 | The first half of the movie almost ruined it for me. That’s mostly my fault. From the description, I expected a nuanced, maybe…
The Forbidden City
| B+ | Fantastic Fest 2025 | There was a lot going on in this movie. Martial arts, both Italian and Chinese crime families, romance—all going on in the multi-cultural…