New Releases
Bonjour Tristesse
"Sometimes I confuse feeling bored with feeling hurt. Both can cause you to get carried away."
Austin Noto-Moniz
Pop Culture Maniacs
The Shrouds
"How dark are you willing to go?"
New Releases
Sinners
"Seven years ain't 'nuff to forget us."
Pop Culture Maniacs
The Amateur
"Overestimate your chances to build confidence."
New Releases
Death of a Unicorn
Let me tell you, the villains are sure to use all parts of the unicorn. ALL parts.
Pop Culture Maniacs
Hell of a Summer
At first, the offer of Hell of a Summer is very recognizable. An unknown and unseen killer slowly picks off a bunch of kids at a summer camp while their friends obliviously go about activities nearby. There are campfires, tall tales, tiny cabins, lame ice breakers, and awkward hook-ups. There&
New Releases
Freaky Tales
"Oakland in ’87 was hella wild."
Festivals
Boston Underground Film Festival 2025 Wrap-Up
My second year attending the Boston Underground Film Festival (BUFF) has solidified my intention to return as long as I'm in the area. Although its single-stream nature means I don't get to choose what to watch, there are some distinct benefits. It requires less pre-festival effort:
Pop Culture Maniacs
Ash
There's a certain type of low-budget sci-fi I will always show up for. They lack the money to pull off a grand epic. They feature limited action, although a clever director can disguise that with filmmaking tricks and careful planning. They never feature current stars, although rising actors
Pop Culture Maniacs
The Rule of Jenny Pen
My whole life I've been bored. I look back and see an empty bin.
New Releases
Black Bag
"When it's so easy to lie about everything, how do you tell the truth about anything?"
New Releases
Warfare
How do you review a dramatic re-enactment? Accuracy isn't an option, as the story being told is based on co-director Ray Mendoza's experience as a Navy SEAL during the Iraq War. I've no reason to doubt his recollection, but I can't comment