non-illustrated

Sometimes, even low-hanging fruit can still manage to be tasty, if not the pick of the tree. Thus it is with MURDER MYSTERY 2, the new Netflix sequel to the surprise smash MURDER MYSTERY [...]

There’s an old adage in the theater that those acting in a comedy must never know that they’re in one. It’s true, for if any actor would betray such knowledge to the audience, the ‘drama’ of the [...]

In many ways, the new Hulu movie BOSTON STRANGLER could be a companion piece to last year’s SHE SAID. Both were dramatic evocations of true events where two female newspaper reporters worked [...]

The novelty of the SCREAM franchise has faded significantly, even with its reboot in 2022. By now, even the casual horror fan is well aware of the premise of “Ghost Face,” an unseen killer, or [...]

It’s that time of year again when the film awards season comes to an end with the Academy Awards ceremony. In the last few years, my track record has been up and down as it’s often hard to know [...]

Last night my critics’ group, the Chicago Indie Critics, handed out our Windie film awards for 2022. It was a fun evening at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, our first awards gathering in person [...]

During the first half hour of the new psychological thriller ALICE, DARLING, I wondered why Anna Kendrick’s character would ever put up with such bullying from her boyfriend. Alice seems to be [...]

Horror comedies don’t come much more entertaining than M3GAN. What could have been just an anti-tech downer or dispiriting kill fest about an advanced A.I. doll taking her role as [...]

Sometimes, an American movie adaptation from a foreign film doesn’t convert particularly well. More than a language gap, it often has to do with a tonal chasm. I found that to be the issue with [...]

I saw three great animated films this year: GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO, MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON, and the holiday release PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH. I loved the feline character when [...]