http://www.aintitcool.com/The best in movie, TV, DVD and comic book news.en-usTue, 17 Mar 2026 17:34:00 +0000https://www.aintitcool.com/ediearnoldisalosersxswinterview2026-83645/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews<p>Barbarella Chats With Cool Peeps from EDIE ARNOLD IS A LOSER</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/ediearnoldisalosersxswinterview2026-83645/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>Hey friends. Barbarella here, coming at you from deep in the heart of Texas. That’s right. It’s spring, and I’ve been SXSWing hard this year. One of the films making a splash here is EDIE ARNOLD IS A LOSER. This high energy comedy about Catholic school girls who form a punk band only has one more screening at this fest. <br> <br> I took a break from the movies, music, and mayhem to sit down with the the film’s directors Kade Atwood and Megan Rico (who also wrote it) and actors Adi Madden Cabrera (Edie) and McKenna Tuckett (Francis). Check out our conversation! <br> Barbara: I’m going to start with the Catholic school question, because when I was a kid, my dad was in the military, and we moved around a lot. We lived in El Paso for a couple years, and he didn’t want us in public schools there so they sent us to Catholic school. We’re not Catholic, so it was a weird thing because we were not allowed to do the religious stuff. We were really outcast. It was a very uncomfortable, bizarre experience. I would like to know, what is your experience with Catholic schools?<br> Megan: I went to an all-girls Catholic school in Miami, Florida so a lot of stuff from the script is pulled pretty directly from that experience. It is a weird experience. I feel like as an outsider, you probably noticed it even more. It’s a lot of arbitrary rigidity. It was like, why are we putting so much emphasis</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/ediearnoldisalosersxswinterview2026-83645/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> BarbarellaTue, 17 Mar 2026 17:34:00 +000083645https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-josh-duhamel-michael-socha-preschool-83644/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>We interview Josh Duhamel (pulling double duty as actor and director) and Michael Socha about their new comedy, PRESCHOOL.</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-josh-duhamel-michael-socha-preschool-83644/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>Parenting is Hell, and when we look to our children to absolve our sins or try to live vicariously through them, it’s even worse. That’s the premise behind PRESCHOOL, the new PG-13 comedy from writer Richard D’Ovidio (HYPNOTIC, THIR13EEN GHOSTS) and director Josh Duhamel (BUDDY GAMES). <br> <br> Duhamel (TRANSFORMERS, SHOTGUN WEDDING) stars as Alan, an American expatriate who’s married into affluence while Michael Socha (“Being Human,” THIS IS ENGLAND) plays Brian, a bootstrapping entrepreneur who’s built his fortune through determination and risk. The film opens with each father greeting their newborns in separate hospitals, promising them the best that life has to offer and swearing their fealty to the next generation. Brian seems the more pragmatic of the two, laying out the blueprint for success to a minutes-old empty vessel that hasn’t the agency to accept while Alan encourages his growing progeny to be an astronaut (likely in a throwback to American superiority in that field).<br> When both fathers end up at the prestigious Puggsley Academy (a name I’m sure is meant to illustrate the folly of antiquity) and learn there is only one open slot left, their oaths to their children ignite the competitiveness within them and the war commences. Through dinners, sporting outings, and a little light stalking, the men learn each other’s weaknesses and plot to exploit them to achieve their ends. <br> <br> The film constantly toys with the audience’s allegiance to either father, painting each in hues of sincerity and villainy. Brian seems to be the more sincere of the two</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-josh-duhamel-michael-socha-preschool-83644/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricMon, 16 Mar 2026 18:08:00 +000083644https://www.aintitcool.com/undertonereview2026-83643/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>UNDERTONE: The “Scariest Film You’ll Ever Hear” Doesn’t Quite Hit the Right Note</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/undertonereview2026-83643/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>Hey friends! Barbarella here to say that my expectations are high going into the “scariest film you’ll ever hear,” Undertone, in theaters March 13. It promises a chilling experience driven by sound but doesn’t quite live up to that promise.  <br> The film follows the story of a skeptical cohost on a paranormal podcast who finds her world upended after she encounters a series of audio recordings that prove fairly creepy. Adding to the creepiness factor, she lives alone in a big house with an incapacitated mother who is on death’s doorstep.<br> Nina Kiri proves fantastic in the lead role, carrying the film with a measured and authentic performance. Since she’s on screen the majority of the time, the filmmakers rely on her, and she proves to be the best element of Undertone. Her portrayal brings depth and credibility while some of the filming decisions detract from that.<br> I love a good slow pan when something creepy could be lurking around the corner, but when the pan ends up back where it started without actually panning 360 degrees, it distracts. Sure, done once, that might have been an effective way to get viewers to feel slightly off-balance, but it’s done frequently throughout the film, which then turns it into more of an annoyance. <br> Undertone struggles with an overreliance on familiar horror mechanisms. While some of these techniques are effective at eliciting scares, I find myself laughing instead of being scared at times because they are so easily expected. That said, the film does have legitimate scary moments in</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/undertonereview2026-83643/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> BarbarellaThu, 12 Mar 2026 15:37:00 +000083643https://www.aintitcool.com/theugly2026-83642/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>THE UGLY Finds Beauty Through Artful Storytelling</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/theugly2026-83642/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>Hey friends, Barbarella here. Have I ever told you how much I love Korean cinema? Of course I have. The Ugly is yet another example of how beautifully a story can be told without relying on the voice-over narration that so many films coming out these days are apt to do. Well Go USA released the award-nominated film digitally Tuesday, March 10, and it’s worth a watch if you enjoy good storytelling. It will land on BluRay and DVD exclusively through Amazon on May 26.<br> When Dong-hwan‘s mother’s remains are discovered after she’s been missing for forty years, he goes on a mission to find out what happened to her. Determined to uncover the truth of her disappearance, he embarks on a twisted odyssey through his family’s traumatic past, uncovering dark secrets along the way. He is joined by the documentary filmmaker who’d been doing a story on his blind father’s nearly miraculous ability to make incredibly beautiful stamps, but she may have her own motives for accompanying him. <br> Broken into “interviews,” the story takes its turns through the past, all while exposing family secrets, bad employers, and those special kinds of relatives that might make you laugh or maybe just cringe. <br> <br> Everything is assembled so beautifully. The cinematography, the editing, the choices made to mask the mom’s face in scenes where she appears all elevate the film’s intrigue. Even though it’s not a fast-paced film, it proves riveting. Despite the fact that Dong-hwan is accompanied by a documentary crew, the film is not shot</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/theugly2026-83642/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> BarbarellaThu, 12 Mar 2026 14:40:00 +000083642https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-doug-jones-mikey-k-operation-taco-garys-83641/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>We interviewed Doug Jones, Dustin Milligan, and writer/director Mikey K for OPERATION TACO GARY&#39;S, a hilarious new late-night comedy that proves laughs never go out of style.</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-doug-jones-mikey-k-operation-taco-garys-83641/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>Now more than ever we need to laugh. Despite all the catastrophizing about wokeness kneecapping raunchy comedy, I'm happy to report that the rumors are patently untrue. Look no further than Mikey K's new film OPERATION TACO GARY'S, a hilarious late-night sci-fi comedy caper that pulls no punches and bars no holds.<br> <br> The synopsis reads "Two brothers embark on a cross country road trip that quickly devolves when they become involved in a global conspiracy." While that barely scratches the surface of this absurdly deep comedy film, it does feature some of its core hooks: brothers, a road trip, and a conspiracy. The brothers are relatively estranged thanks to Danny's (Simon Rex, SCARY MOVIE 3-5) unhinged behavior, which runs counter to Luke's (Dustin Milligan, HOT FROSTY) penchant for a quieter life. When Danny arrives on Luke's doorstep just as the latter is preparing to move for a new job, the two combine their journey, which is quickly revealed to be all per Danny's machinations as he tries to smuggle a MacGuffin across the country. Their bond is tested as they encounter comrades and enemies along the way, culminating in a third act that is as hilarious as it is earned by Mikey K's brilliant script.<br> <br> I had the opportunity to talk to Doug Jones, the legendary contortionist and creature actor behind most of Guillermo del Toro's most memorable monsters. Whether you know him as Abe Sapien from HELLBOY or the Silver Surfer from FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER or billy</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-doug-jones-mikey-k-operation-taco-garys-83641/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricTue, 03 Mar 2026 00:15:00 +000083641https://www.aintitcool.com/goodluckhavefundontdie-83640/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON&#39;T DIE Proves Bonkers!</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/goodluckhavefundontdie-83640/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>Hey friends! Barbarella here. If you’re looking for a film that delivers energy, wit, and a whole lot of crazy, look no further than GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE! It takes viewers on a wacky journey through the follies of modern society, wrapping its social commentary in humor and action. In theaters Friday, February 13, this movie starts strong as it introduces its ensemble of motley characters. When a man (Sam Rockwell) comes back from the future to recruit a band of misfits to help save the world, he heads straight to Norm’s, a diner in Los Angeles.<br> <br> From the moment he enters, Sam Rockwell commands the screen with an opening exposition that could easily have felt weighty if it weren’t for his entertaining and animated way of presenting the information. Keeping the scene dynamic despite the extensive dialogue proves one of the many smart choices director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Ring, Rango) makes throughout the film. The director taped out the entire diner in a rehearsal space where he worked extensively with Sam Rockwell on the path he would take and where people and things needed to be for him to hit the marks and keep everything flowing. He then sent the layout to the production designer to build the set to fit the specifics of the performance. <br> Written by Matthew Robinson, this film doesn’t just want you to know its characters through a series of backstories, but it insists you examine (while laughing at) the world they</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/goodluckhavefundontdie-83640/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> BarbarellaFri, 13 Feb 2026 21:13:00 +000083640https://www.aintitcool.com/pillion2026review-83639/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>PILLION Beautifully Blends Humor, Poignancy, and Biker Butts</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/pillion2026review-83639/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>Hey friends, Barbarella here. Step aside predictable rom-coms, there’s a new game in town: the dom-com. It’s awkward and joyful, sensual and somewhat cruel, offering a variety of experiences for a viewer. PILLION proves to be my first experience with a dom-com, and I love it! Is that love due to the storyline, the depth of the characters, the family relationships, or was it just how incredibly titillating Alexander Skarsgård is as Ray, the gay biker who finds a devoted partner in Harry Melling’s Colin? I can’t say for certain, but the latter definitely factors into the equation. There may not be as much poignancy as bare biker butts in Harry Lighton’s film, but to my pleasant surprise, there’s plenty. <br> The film artfully portrays the way an awkward a cappella singer so quickly falls under a dominant biker’s spell. One thing I so love about this movie is that even though there isn’t a ton of time delving into the characters’ psyches, the audience can still glean plenty from what’s not said or explored on screen. Both actors dive into the roles with abandon, making it clear that in this case, hiring straight actors to play gay roles completely makes sense. I can’t think of another actor, straight or gay, who could be so convincing in the role of Ray as Alexander Skarsgård proves to be. His looks combined with his soft-spoken, commanding demeanor make it 100% believable that Colin would continue to stick around, despite wanting something more than what</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/pillion2026review-83639/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> BarbarellaFri, 13 Feb 2026 17:07:00 +000083639https://www.aintitcool.com/twisted-lauren-lavera-darren-lynn-bousman-intervie-83638/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>Darren Lynn Bousman &amp; Lauren LaVera discuss TWISTED, available now on digital.</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/twisted-lauren-lavera-darren-lynn-bousman-intervie-83638/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>Horror fans are eating well this month. While SEND HELP and IRON LUNG are going head-to-head at the box office, the view-at-home market is alive, as well, with plenty of options for those who seek a little inner chill to augment the frigid weather.<br>  <br> The newest offering comes from Darren Lynn Bousman, director of SAW II, III, IV, REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL, and SPIRAL. You might recall we talked to him back in 2016, 2019, and 2020, so he’s an old friend of the site. Joining him on this outing is the most exciting scream queen working today Lauren LaVera, who has celebrated massive success with TERRIFIER 2 & 3, as well as the upcoming fourth installment in the splatterfest from director Damien Leone. We got to catch up with her back in 2024 before TERRIFIER 3 hit theaters, so this interview was a bit of a homecoming for all of us.<br>  <br> TWISTED began its life as a script called “Monster” from Jonathan Bernstein and James Greer, the duo who brought us Steven Soderbergh’s UNSANE back in 2018. Bousman was attracted to the script as it plays out as a strong two-hander between the characters of Robert Kezian, a brilliant and dedicated brain surgeon, and Paloma Jones, a crafty grifter. LaVera was the obvious choice for Paloma and, in a stroke of brilliance, Djimon Hounsou (AMISTAD, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) was brought aboard to play Kezian. The cast was then rounded out with Neal McDonough (“Arrow,” GAME OVER MAN!)</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/twisted-lauren-lavera-darren-lynn-bousman-intervie-83638/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricMon, 09 Feb 2026 19:20:00 +000083638https://www.aintitcool.com/whistle-interview-director-corin-hardy-83637/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>Eric McClanahan interviews WHISTLE director Corin Hardy.</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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. <br> <br> 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.<br>  <br> 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,</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricSun, 08 Feb 2026 19:40:00 +000083637https://www.aintitcool.com/jason-biggs-meaghan-rath-interview-uhir-83636/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>Jason Biggs Directorial Debut UNTITLED HOME INVASION ROMANCE Now Available! Comedy/Thrillers stars Biggs and Meaghan Rath.</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br>  <br> 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.<br>  <br> <br>  <br> 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</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricSat, 07 Feb 2026 19:26:00 +000083636https://www.aintitcool.com/holiday-gift-guide-2025-83635/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=Unknown<p>Gift ideas for the hard-to-shop-for people in your life, even if that&#39;s you!</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br> 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.<br> For the Batman Fan:<br> 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.<br> <br> 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.<br> 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</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricTue, 02 Dec 2025 20:44:00 +000083635https://www.aintitcool.com/rental-family-writer-director-hikari-interview-83634/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>McEric chats with RENTAL FAMILY writer/director HIKARI.</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br>  <br> 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.<br> <br> 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</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricFri, 21 Nov 2025 19:33:00 +000083634https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-cynthia-von-buhler-minky-woodcock-83633/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics<p>Eric McClanahan chats with author/playwright/artist Cynthia von Buhler about her latest graphic novel collection, MINKY WOODCOCK: THE GIRL CALLED CTHULHU.</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>“Do What Thou Wilt Shall be the Whole of the Law.”<br>  <br> 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. <br>  <br> 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.<br>  <br> 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.</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricWed, 29 Oct 2025 22:43:00 +000083633https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83632?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews<p>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.</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83632?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>I’m sure I don’t need to offer an introduction to THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, but just in case, here it is:<br>  <br> 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. <br> <br> 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.<br>  <br> 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</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83632?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricWed, 22 Oct 2025 20:07:00 +000083632https://www.aintitcool.com/not-ready-for-prime-time-theatrical-play-review-83631/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>Catch NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME Off-Broadway in NYC Until November 30th at the Newman Mills Theater</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br>  <br> 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.<br> <br> 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</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricFri, 17 Oct 2025 18:39:00 +000083631https://www.aintitcool.com/david-dastmalchian-interview-through-graphic-novel-83630/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=comics<p>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.</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br> <br> 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.'<br> "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</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricSat, 11 Oct 2025 06:09:00 +000083630https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-josh-duhamel-jeremy-ray-taylor-83629/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>McEric interviews stars Josh Duhamel and Jeremy Ray Taylor as well as writer/director Allan Ungar for the new action-comedy LONDON CALLING.</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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”).<br>  <br> <br>  <br> 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.<br> <br> This film really works for its two</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricTue, 16 Sep 2025 17:55:00 +000083629https://www.aintitcool.com/traumatika-pierre-tsigaridis-maxime-rancon-83628/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>Eric McClanahan speaks with TRAUMATIKA filmmakers Pierre Tsigaridis and Maxime Rancon</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br> <br> 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.<br>  <br> 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.<br>  <br> 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.<br>  <br> TRAUMATIKA comes to us</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricTue, 09 Sep 2025 16:55:00 +000083628https://www.aintitcool.com/the-toxic-avenger-interview-macon-blair-83626/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>McEric chats with writer/director about the brand new THE TOXIC AVENGER film releasing this weekend as well as original Toxie creator Lloyd Kaufman</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br>  <br> 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</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricThu, 28 Aug 2025 20:17:00 +000083626https://www.aintitcool.com/harry-reviews-fantastic-four-first-steps-83625/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>Great wonderful Marvel film</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br> 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"<br> 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.<br> I've had friends and my wife gripe to me about Sue Storm's over-powering of</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> headgeekMon, 28 Jul 2025 19:14:00 +000083625https://www.aintitcool.com/kallmekris-celinaspookyboo-house-on-eden-interview-83624/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>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.</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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. <br>  <br> 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.<br>  <br> 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. <br>  <br> Eventually the idea came to make a film based on these ghost hunting expeditions, mirroring the</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricSat, 26 Jul 2025 04:20:00 +000083624https://www.aintitcool.com/sorrybaby2025review-83619/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>SORRY BABY Thoughtfully Explores Trauma&#39;s Aftermath</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/sorrybaby2025review-83619/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br> 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.  <br> 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</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/sorrybaby2025review-83619/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> BarbarellaFri, 11 Jul 2025 13:15:00 +000083619https://www.aintitcool.com/herc-loves-superman-2025-83623/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews<p>Hercules loves Superman 2025</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>Superman 2025 FAQ<br> I am – Hercules!!<br> What’s it called? “Superman.”<br> 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.<br> 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.<br> What says Warner Bros.? “Superman embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.”<br> How does it start? As John Williams’ Superman theme plays, a lot of text catches us up:<br> 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.*<br> 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.<br> (*It is NOT mentioned in this exposition dump that Lois and Clark became romantically involved 3 months ago. We learn this later.)<br> </p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> herculesTue, 08 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +000083623https://www.aintitcool.com/materialistsreview2025-83618/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>Barbarella Finds MATERIALISTS Pointless</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/materialistsreview2025-83618/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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. <br> 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.  <br> 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. <br> For her to apparently have this “revelation” that makes her reevaluate her priorities simply doesn’t track. While that bothers me</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/materialistsreview2025-83618/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> BarbarellaSat, 21 Jun 2025 15:18:00 +000083618https://www.aintitcool.com/lifeofchuckreview2025-83617/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>Barbarella Adores THE LIFE OF CHUCK</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/lifeofchuckreview2025-83617/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br> 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. <br> 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</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/lifeofchuckreview2025-83617/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> BarbarellaSat, 21 Jun 2025 13:27:00 +000083617https://www.aintitcool.com/interview-the-daily-show-writer-editor-83616/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coaxial<p>McEric sits down with THE DAILY SHOW writer Daniel Radosh and editor Lauren Beckett Jackson for an interview</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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.<br> <br> “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.<br>  <br> I was honored to speak with senior writer Daniel Radosh</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricFri, 13 Jun 2025 16:57:00 +000083616https://www.aintitcool.com/scott-adkins-interview-diablo-mceric-83615/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>Scott Adkins talks with McEric about his new action film, DIABLO</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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. <br> <br> 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. <br>  <br> 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</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricWed, 11 Jun 2025 05:48:00 +000083615https://www.aintitcool.com/bringherbackreview2025-83614/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>Barbarella Declares BRING HER BACK is an Intense Depiction of the Effects of Grief</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/bringherbackreview2025-83614/?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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. <br> 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. <br> 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. <br> 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. <br> 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</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/bringherbackreview2025-83614/?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> BarbarellaFri, 30 May 2025 01:49:00 +000083614https://www.aintitcool.com/tribeca-2025-curtain-raiser-eric-mcclanahan-83613/?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=event<p>McEric takes a look at some of the films screening at this year&#39;s Tribeca Film Festival in NYC from June 4th - 15th.</p> <p><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"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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. <br> 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:<br> 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</p> <p><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"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricWed, 28 May 2025 20:59:00 +000083613https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83612?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews<p>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.</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83612?utm_source=inside-top&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Read the full article on AICN</b></a></p> <p>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:<br> <br> 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.<br> "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.)<br> "Oh, Louie Myman! Do you know Alan Smithee?"<br> "Yes."<br> "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,</p> <p><a href="https://www.aintitcool.com/node/83612?utm_source=inside-bottom&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=reviews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS"><b>Finish the article on AICN</b></a></p> McEricTue, 20 May 2025 19:16:00 +000083612