Category: Reviews

Writer-Director Nina Juliano’s Little Sicily is what you can expect to happen in any Italian household – lots of passionate arguing, intense drama and deep bonds of familial love. That she has succeeded to translate it to on-screen squarely falls on two things, the brilliant costume and set design is another matter. Set in the… Continue reading Little Sicily: A Slice Of An Italian Family Drama

Sleep paralysis, if one were to Google it, is a temporary inability to move or speak when trying to sleep or when asleep or upon waking up. The protagonist of Jeff Kapp’s Still suffers from sleep paralysis which is shown to be the primary antagonist in a desperate attempt. But the real villain of this… Continue reading Still: Playing Up The Horror Of Sleep Paralysis

Director/Writer Magalie De Genova’s Endgame, developed from R.D. OvenFriend’s story is of parental sermons that turns eerily vindictive. For an 11:38 minutes long film, it manages to not only punch in the right amount of drama but also holds true to its signature horror without going overboard. A story within a story, that’s Endgame for… Continue reading Endgame: An Admonitory Tale On Why Listening To Your Parents Is Important

Director Chris K. Daniels’s Adrian needs help. His self-styled conspiracy theory spells trouble, like all other conspiracy theories. In his head, he is under threat – from an evil trio simply known as the ‘The Dark Triad’. We don’t know their backstory or Adrian’s. But what’s unique about Squeeze Toy is its narration style. Opting… Continue reading Squeeze Toy: Graphic Telling Of Someone’s Crumbling World

Sina Sultani’s Refuge is fast-moving and immediate. At only 4 minutes long, it is made in one continuous shot, following a couple on the run during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan that ultimately resulted in the deaths of nearly 1 million civilians.  The single-take gives it the feeling of immediacy and lyrical flow. The film… Continue reading Refuge: One-Shot Look At A Gruesome Invasion

Jim is on his best behaviour. A date night at a restaurant well recommended and in the company of a woman who is clearly impressed with him. What could possibly go wrong? Not much, one might think, except that our character manages to put not only his foot into his mouth but also make a… Continue reading Nice Guy: A Lesson For All Singletons Out There

Mark Owen’s Rueful Warrior is almost all action. An action-drama about an alien soldier’s quest for water tells its entire story with an ongoing fight throughout. The premise is accessible and intriguing. And for the most part, the film holds up. Michelle Fahrenheim plays Yalalia, the protagonist and only soldier that we meet of the… Continue reading Rueful Warrior: The Price Of Water

It’s his birthday. After 40 years of military service, John is returned to his village and from the looks of it, will be spending his birthday alone. Dan Hammersley’s Radio focuses on John, his friend Jim, and his unwelcome companion: an ample dose of PTSD.  Right off the bat, the screenplay makes it clear that… Continue reading Radio: Lots Of Thrill And Bits Of Comedy In This Friendship Drama

New Year’s Eve is brimming with unspoken turmoil. Hao Zheng’s (co-written with Leqi Vanessa Kong) drama sees a son desperately searching for approval from his mother, who, amidst chronic poverty and low status on the familial hierarchy of importance, clearly wanted something else for her son instead of the Kung Fu school he decided to… Continue reading New Year’s Eve: A Richly Textured Drama Exploring A Mother-Son Relationship

Cinematographer Rita Noriega’s lens offers the stillness of what can only be an idyllic village. The moth playfully settling down before its next flight, the fully bloomed flower glistening in the sunlight as the crickets chirp in the background – such tranquillity, untouched by the chaos outside meant to be enjoyed only by the most… Continue reading Piggy: The Dichotomy of The Bully & The Bullied