Film Review: The Gorge (2025)

Movies like The Gorge often cannot escape similarities with one or more episodes of The Twilight Zone. In this case, the similarities are noticeable almost immediately when two distinctly different individuals - both of whom are professional snipers - get a job protecting a mysterious gorge on its opposing sides. Inside are incomprehensible horrors, but outside are many oddities and unknowns as well.

From that hook, the film's director Scott Derrickson, who recently made The Black Phone, does a Super-G-level of slalom, flipping through genres in no time at all. From a thriller to a drama, then to a romance, and finally to a horror science fiction, The Gorge covers broader genre setups than an average movie theatre does over a weekend. Here, the film would often be too loose and disconnected, if not for Anya Taylor-Joy. For the most part, she carries the film on her slender back, providing a character that is constantly evolving and growing, but does so without stealing the spotlight. The same makes The Gorge overall a fun experience, even when the premise and the plot struggle to keep the audience engaged and interested in what, ultimately, hides the weird fog of the gorge.

Hi How Are You? (2023) - Meditative Journey into the Heart of Love

Having a feature-length movie recorded on nothing but iPhones and doing so primarily in selfie mode might sound like a strange idea. However, the movie Hi How Are You shows that ultimately, like ever, the substance overcomes the format. In this romantic drama with a strong undercurrent of science fiction, two souls reconnect with each other when a hangover Lou, who is in Paris, decides to call Mani, a rock star from Iran who's in New York. At the same time, a celestial body called MX6292 apparently sets itself on a collision course with the Earth. 

Through conversations ranging from video calls between friends to amateur scientists calling into news channels, the unusual video format works well. The film includes many characters that slowly revolve around Lou and Mani, while at the same time, something much larger is taking place in the endless void above. Interestingly, the film also uses plenty of VFX and superimposed elements in its shots, like billboards and other details in external locations, which all work surprisingly harmoniously with each other.

The film was written and directed by Clemy Clarke, who is a French filmmaker living in Los Angeles. Clarke brought an interesting blend of sensibilities to the film, showing something hard to pinpoint geographically, both literally and metaphorically. However, the film's overall ambiance and sensitivity to a changing, interconnected world, which can still feel so lonely, is incredibly poignant.

Through many languages, covering English, French, and Farsi, Hi How Are You? tells a very natural story of relationships that forever change and evolve, but which still yearn for that essential connection and the love that lies behind it all. Because of that, the element of the mysterious celestial body works so well on focusing the otherwise very loosely threaded story. The film's tragic and powerful culmination, which is fully steeped in music, is, in the end, all about that human connection.

In a very shrewd manner, Clarke bridges so many of these surface ideas of what it is to be alive in this strange and modern world of ours. She then funnels them all towards the core of the film - which is a love story, told from such a strong, universally human, perspective. In the end, the tale of this touching film shows us that it really is all about - love.

Watch Hi How Are You? on Amazon Prime today!

Joy of Horses - Touching Tale of Growing Up and Overcoming Grief

Growing up is never easy, no matter where that process takes place or who it involves. But, sometimes, the life of a soon-to-be adult can become even more challenging, especially when that includes the loss of a loved one. Joy of Horses is a coming-of-age drama that deals with a story just like that and does it in a beautiful, emotional manner that will resonate with many. Here is how the film describes itself:

    After losing someone close, Joy's life is turned upside down. She seeks a fresh start and moves to a new state to live with her grandfather. In this unfamiliar place, she is forced to encounter new people and experiences, which is initially overwhelming. As she navigates her new life, Joy discovers a deep love and connection to horses, which brings her peace and joy. However, her journey takes a turn when she unexpectedly reunites with someone from her past. This reunion leads to a new challenge: finding herself in a complicated love triangle, again testing her resilience.

 

The connection that human beings and horses can establish has often been portrayed in art, but this film takes that approach and sets it in a very contemporary tale of a young person suddenly finding herself outside of her environment. But here, Joy is able to understand her life in a new perspective, but also, just as importantly, try to find a way to heal and overcome her terrible loss.

The film is perfectly shot, using most of the pastoral landscapes and the grace and beauty that horses bring. Through these, the shots in the film seem to radiate with light and unspoken hope. This fits ideally with the story and its main characters, showing, in a way, how all of them change and mature into adults, but also find meaningful connections through that process.

The film Joy of Horses is a must-watch for not only young people who might be struggling to find their bearing in life, but anyone ready for an honest and emotional tale of stepping into adulthood. If you'd like to watch the film, it is avalable on a range of online spots. That is why you can find and watch it right now on Roku, Tubi, Plex, Prime video, Amazon DVD, Fandango, Hoopla, and YouTube.

The Starter Marriage - Romantic Comedy with a Twist!

 

There are plenty of romantic comedies that deal with the topic of marriage in some shape or form. But, The Starter Marriage is a movie that takes this broad concept and gives it a very fun and engaging twist. The movie begins with a young man and a young woman, both in their 20s, deciding to get married but as a form of "starter" relationship. In this marriage, which is supposed to last only 12 months, they will both be free to make mistakes and catastrophic decisions that ruin marriages all of the time. This way, they would be ready for the real deal, later on, having experienced the worst of it all already. Check out the trailer for the film right here:

The Starter Marriage was directed by Arthur Muhammad and written by Matthew Tolbert. It comes with an interesting take on the issue of marriage, especially in the age when so many of these seem to end all around the world or fail at the very start. Its cast is well-chosen and clearly able to take on the whole weird marriage situation with both comedic effect and a level of groundedness.

However, there is also a nice and slowly building romantic note in all of it, which offers a glimpse into the true longing for love that both of these young main characters desire to find. All of this builds up into a fun viewing experience not just for couples but everyone who enjoys a solid rom-com. Find more about The Starter Marriage on its Facebook fan page and Instagram account, but also find where you can watch it right now on its official website!

Two-Paragraph Review: Yesterday (2019)

Danny Boyle has that special magic that he can give to his films, but not all of the time. Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise or The Beach have loads of it, while Trance on the other hand, has barely any. Yesterday is somewhere in between those two, but leaning heavily towards those films with not that much Boyle-magic to give. Of course, compared to other romantic comedies, Yesterday passes with flying colors.

But, compare it with Danny Boyle movies, and you get a C+ or B- film. Sure, it does have its incredible snippets, like the appearance of Robert Carlyle character. However, the story of a man who remembers The Beatles while everyone else forgot them after a freak global accident still somehow falls flat. Yes, it is an homage to the band and all of that, but it still fails to connect with our main character, in spite of all that he goes through. That crucial problem makes all about Yesterday seem a bit like yesterday's news - possibly relevant back then but quickly forgotten right now.

Indie Showcase: Art of Love (2019)

Art and love might seem like a natural pairing in numerous situations. After all, ever since the days of the ancient past, art did explore in so many shapes and forms the concept of love. Yet, while so many works of art try to approach the subject from a philosophical, grand, and even emotionally detached perspective, some try to observe love and art in the contemporary setting, through the eyes of regular people who work hard to survive and thrive in an often ruthless and uncaring world. Art of Love is a feature-length indie title that tries to do just this. Here is how the film describes its plot:

Indie Showcase: Dead Again (2018)

The world is becoming a more interconnected place all of the time. The globalization trend has been steamrolling across the plant for many decades now, but its results have often been one-sided. This is especially true for the arts and culture, where it can often seem that creative work from all over the world is trying to mimic the trends from a few mostly Western locations. However, the exact opposite applies for the Dead Again indie film which is about to start its festival rounds. Here’s how the film presents itself:

Dejected by love troubles and job upheaval, Thomas comes upon a mysterious diary and begins to read its haunting tale of love and loss. Besieged by strange occurrences and with no one to trust, Thomas embarks on a treacherous journey to unravel disturbing details about the diary’s author and even his own past.

The director, a graduate of University of California-Riverside's Creative Writing program called Dave Silberman wrote and directed several hilarious, suspenseful, and thought-provoking short films. While teaching English for five years in Korea, he won a top prize in the "Seoul, Our Movie" competition awarded by Park Chan Wook. He created DEAD AGAIN, his first feature film, with a modest budget, total commitment, a bit of basic Korean and a lot of body language.

Coming Soon: Fingerface

When it comes to low-budget films, it's possible that Andrew Dawson managed to break the mold. This filmmaker created a feature-length romantic comedy using only his own fingers and a whole lot of hours of creating scenery, filming and doing everything else a film needs. According to the Fingerface official site, the plot of the film goes like this:

After losing his job, Giles does the only logical thing. He gets very, very drunk. And in the haze of the bar he sees a girl. Not just any girl. Giles is sure that she’s the girl of his dream from the night before. Her name is Stephanie and it turns out that she’s a lot harder to impress in real life than in dreamland. To win Stephanie’s heart, Giles has to travel the world, turn his back on his friends and give up his other dreams of becoming a musician. But is she worth it? And is Giles really in love, or is it just good, old-fashioned lust?

Film Review: Spring (2014)

Copyright: XYZ Films

Spring movie will not work as a horror film, it dawned on me almost from the first moment the main character Evan enters a conversation with his friends in a bar and right after his mother dies.

Immediately, in a very self-aware and awkward way, the script is trying to convey the idea that it is very much in control of its inherent horror tropes and ideas. It will not cater to our expectation as a horror-loving audience, it body proclaims through witty dialogues and by sending its main character to a part exile, part road trip to Italy.

There, Evan meets a mysterious, but beautiful girl with whom he shares a love of being a smart-ass. But, in the distance of their growing relationship, something is amiss and it involves monsters, but also hurt puppy feelings. Here, the focus of the film is much more honest and relevant. As Even tries to get laid, but then not much later, tries to hold onto the woman of his life, the narrative structure of the film is solid.

Crowdfunding push: The Fastest, Most Romantic Love Yet

With the title like The Fastest, Most Romantic Love Yet there should be little doubt that this Kickstarter campaign is aiming high when it comes to the plot of the film it was designed to support. Regarding its core narrative, its official page explains the plot like this:

Film Review: Life after Beth

Copyright: A24

There is an emerging trend that offers a new incarnation of the horror comedy genre. Unlike its last versions from the late 80’s, where much focus was placed on slapstick and gore, the new films present a weird social enclosure in which the focus of the characters remains almost untouched by the events of the film, no matter how bloody or strange they become. These films present their own version of the reality where things like complex explanations of trivial occurrences or personal awkwardness remain relevant for the characters even while a horde of zombies bang on their door.

Summer of Blood is a perfect recent example of this notion, while some of it can be seen in films like This is the End and John Dies at the End. But Life after Beth is simply soaking in it, and thanks to it, the film provides a hilarious experience which only intensifies as the plot progresses.

In the film, a young man named Zach is devastated by the accidental death of his beloved girlfriend Beth. He tries to find some consolation with her laid back parents, until he notices that Beth is back at their home. He confronts all three; while Beth seems unaware of her resurrection; both her mother and father are bent on keeping this appearance of their daughter hidden, and demand that Zach plays along. He accepts, realizing that something much bigger and stranger is happening around them. Still, he remains oriented towards his relationship with the decomposing Beth.

Film Review: Don Jon

Copyright: Relativity Media

If you look at the façade of this movie, you might decide it’s about porn. Its main character is a New Jersey resident and a single bartender named Jon who loves only a few things in life: his friends, his car, his apartment, his muscles, his church, his one night stands with very attractive women he doesn’t know and his porn. He often has sex after he picks up girls in nightclubs, but admits to himself that only porn and masturbation in front of his laptop gives him the opportunity to lose himself.

The plot is simple as it sounds. Jon, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is satisfied with his life, but at the same time, perplexed why real sex with beautiful women (every one of them gets at least an eight on his ten-point-scale) doesn’t give him the same kick as porn does. Soon, he meets Barbara (played by Scarlett Johansson), a clear ten on his scale, who isn’t willing to become just another stranger Don welcomes to his apartment. Instead, she forces him to revise his way of life, and Don accepts. Yet still, porn prevails.

Film Review: Drinking Buddies

Copyright: Magnolia Pictures

To me it seems odd to call this film a comedy. Although it does contain many awkward social and romantic moments that are so intense that they are unpleasant to watch, I didn’t experience it as a work of art that tries to entertain in any humorous way. For me, Drinking Buddies is a drama about finding a way of living after the fun of the first third of life has ended. While the party mentality still lingers on, in the background obligations, responsibilities and other changes menacingly start to appear on the horizon.

A bunch of enthusiastic, relatively young people work in a microbrewery. One of them is Kate, who is an organizer, and the other is her best friend Luke, who works a blue collared job.  Both are in stable relationships, but both live a really easy-going lifestyle that includes almost constant beer drinking. They hang out during and after work, and seem like an unusual pairing for friends. After they meet each others better halves, the four of them decide to take a weekend trip to a beach house. The trip changes everything between them.