Author: Mark Salcido

Ari Aster has been changing the way we think about horror since the release of his feature film, Hereditary (2018). The filmmaker has become one of the key figures in the elevated horror genre (sorry to those that don’t like that label) with splices of dark humor. Although Hereditary’s theme centers on grief, and Midsommar (2019) explores toxic relationships, both movies still contain some comedic moments. 2023’s Beau Is Afraid took Aster’s flavor of dark comedy to the forefront of his storytelling, and the director revisits this approach with his latest film, Eddington (2025). The premise of the contemporary Western…

The legacy of Superman on the big screen has been a part of cinema for decades. Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve made us believe that a man could fly, which tapped into something in all of us. Several of those films instilled hope in humanity, but slowly changed with Zack Snyder’s direction. Hope was gradually giving way to cynicism, as the audience was not entirely on board. Now, filmmaker James Gunn has decided to take Superman back to what he’s known for, with his unique storytelling style. What resulted from 2025’s Superman film is a showcase of what the audience…

It’s been ten years since audiences were reintroduced to the world of dinosaurs with the release of 2015’s Jurassic World. Yeah, I feel like that Matt Damon aging gif too. The legacy sequels to 1993’s Jurassic Park gave us three movies, whose entertaining quality dropped like a pterosaur nose-diving into the ocean. However, the trilogy generated enough of a box office return that Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment gave it another try with Jurassic World: Rebirth. Rebirth is set to be another step in continuing to build the franchise by giving us what we love about dinosaurs in the modern…

The idea of using a doll as a homicidal horror antagonist in film had been done to death for some time. Chucky has pretty much cornered that market for decades, but Blumhouse Productions and creator Akela Cooper decided to come for the king. Cooper’s creation, M3GAN, was a massive hit released in 2022 and warranted the return of an AI doll. M3GAN 2.0 promised to step from the horror element into more of an action thriller and succeeds in some parts. The movie goes hard in the “silly” factor, yet the new direction almost makes it forgettable. New Zealand director…

The Predator franchise has had its ups and downs over the decades. The first movie was the embodiment of 80s action films that still hold in high regard for film fans—snobby or not. Recently, the story of humans versus the perfect hunter has experienced a resurgence, thanks to Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey. The director is knee-deep in production on his highly anticipated next installment in the Predator series. Still, he decided to take a little detour with the animated movie Predator: Killer of Killers. Thankfully, Trachtenberg continues to prove that he understands what works for these blood-soaked movies and even opens…

Much like the films’ main character, the John Wick franchise won’t die. That’s not necessarily a bad idea for anyone who enjoys action set pieces that feature gun fights, realistic hand-to-hand combat, and even the thinnest of plots. John Wick 4 showcased the completed arc of Keanu Reeves’s character to a somewhat satisfying degree. However, the series created by Derek Kolstad brought us a short-lived TV show, and now Ballernia, starring Ana de Armas. The hope is that Armas will carry the franchise and that the movie will open the door for other stories to be told. What’s presented is…

Few horror films make a cultural impact like the classic ones. Everyone knows the serial killer of nightmares, the hockey mask-wearing zombie, the guy with pins in his head, and the dude with the William Shatner face. Yet, newer ones have affected horror, such as Candyman, Art the Clown, and Ghostface. Although the Final Destination franchise has no physical figure that stalks its victims, the kills have been legendary. Thankfully, that continues with Final Destination: Bloodlines as Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein bring the series back to life. Final Destination: Bloodlines, directed by Lipovsky and Stein, brings back Death…

Lorcan Finnegan is an intriguing director, to say the least. The filmmaker uses surreal storytelling to convey levels of tragedy, self-discovery, and just plain f**ked situations. Yet, the man knows how to make what’s on-screen visually pleasing without dropping LSD. Finnegan decided to continue his trademark style and combine it with the wildcard acting of Nicolas Cage for his recent movie, The Surfer. For the most part, the film works and can be a serious mind trip; however, that doesn’t completely cover up the movie’s faults. The Surfer, directed by Finnegan, follows The Surfer, which Cage plays. Written by Thomas…

Ben Affleck has proven himself to be a competent action star. 2016’s The Accountant was just another flex for the actor/director/writer who answered a hypothetical question: “What if Bruce Wayne was autistic and raised in a middle-class home?” The film was entertaining enough to warrant a sequel, though it took 9 years, with the aroma of trying to build a franchise. Whatever the good intentions were from the studio or the creative team, the result of The Accountant 2 is a reminder that some sequels don’t need to be made, and this one should’ve been taken out back and shot.…

Andor arrived on Disney+ at an interesting time in the Star Wars franchise. The finale of the Skywalker saga ended with an embarrassing splat, but the IP was showing some promise with The Mandalorian. The success of Andor presented that Star Wars could step away from Jedi, Sith, The Force, and lightsabers to exhibit there was so much more in a galaxy far, far away. The success of Andor warranted a second season, and thankfully, the series sticks the landing and should instill in us that Star Wars still has life in it. Andor season two sees the return of…