Author: Sydney Hayes

  • ‘Mortal Kombat’ Won’t Win Any Awards, but it’s a Bloody Good Time

    ‘Mortal Kombat’ Won’t Win Any Awards, but it’s a Bloody Good Time

    In addition to the cast being delightfully diverse this time around, the film was just loosely-plotted and action-packed enough to keep a casual fan like myself entertained. While I do agree that the writing of Cole left much to be desired for an original character thrust into a preconceived universe, none of the characters seemed…

  • New Movie Releases: April 2021

    New Movie Releases: April 2021

    With the start of the new season we’re excited for all of the April new movie releases, some of which our writers here will cover in individual reviews throughout the month.

  • ‘Promising Young Woman’: Revenge Flick or Cautionary Tale?

    ‘Promising Young Woman’: Revenge Flick or Cautionary Tale?

    This review will contain MAJOR spoilers. Content is highly triggering. TW/CW for rape, drug usage, sexual harrassment, death. You can view full movie warnings here. “I said, ‘what are you doing?’” The delivery of this line during one of the first scenes of the film immediately set the overarching tone for this thriller/dark comedy. However,…

  • Staff Picks: Inauguration Edition 2021

    Staff Picks: Inauguration Edition 2021

    It’s almost the end of the first month of 2021, and just over a week since the U.S. saw a new president take office. In light of the occasion, some of us highlighted our favorite political films below! Bombshell (2019) If you haven’t seen this film, TW’s for sexual assault, sexual harassment, and strong themes…

  • Review: ‘Dashing in December’ Exceeds Admittedly Low Expectations

    Review: ‘Dashing in December’ Exceeds Admittedly Low Expectations

    Let’s face it: when you think Christmas movies, you don’t expect complex plots or expensive sets or even good acting. Most of the time, it’s optimistic to expect the story to make sense, much less follow a cohesive timeline or employ a pair of actors that actually possess a modicum of chemistry. I won’t pretend…

  • Review: ‘Sylvie’s Love’ is Beautiful in its Simplicity

    Review: ‘Sylvie’s Love’ is Beautiful in its Simplicity

    Originally posted January 6, 2021 In a year full of fear, uncertainty, and tragedy, romantics have had little to celebrate, and so the timeless love story depicted in Sylvie’s Love, (released December 23) rounded out the year with a hopefulness 2020 rarely delivered. Minor spoilers ahead! The year is 1957, and newly-engaged Sylvie (Tessa Thompson) is…

  • Staff Picks: Christmas 2020 Edition

    Staff Picks: Christmas 2020 Edition

    Originally posted December 24, 2020 Every year- and especially in times like these- we rely on three main things to really get us into the holiday spirit: family, music, and film. This year, in light of the pandemic and the inability to gather with our loved ones, a few of our staff members reviewed their…

  • A Lesson in Self-Fulfillment: An Incluvie Film Festival Review of ‘My Only Wish’

    A Lesson in Self-Fulfillment: An Incluvie Film Festival Review of ‘My Only Wish’

    Originally posted December 14, 2020 Complex relationships between mothers and daughters are far from a new concept, whether the strain comes from abandonment, beliefs, or trauma. In My Only Wish, an Incluvie Film Festival submission, Brenda Gutierrez’s take on her character’s maternal divide comes in the form of abandonment. Young Ashley (Giselle Gutierrez) appears to have been…