The Black Phone

The Black Phone; Creepy, moody and disturbing tale based on pre-internet childhood fears of the neighbourhood “grabber”. Great performances all around give it a realistic intensity, even while horror elements offer unexplainable aspects. Genre fare elevated by its talents; B+

Slash/Back

Slash/Back; Arctic setting and authentic casting adds intriguing elements to this classic horror story. Though some scenes suffer from amateur acting, the characters are true to who they are and the film is better for it. Cultural themes offer a welcome layer to genre fare; B-

Minions: The Rise of Gru

Minions: The Rise of Gru; Knows its lane and delivers a fun soundtrack, animated gags, clever nods and silly jokes, all within 90mins. The cast is great, especially the newcomers and the animation continues to be inspired even if it’s no longer fresh. Franchise is fully milked; B

The Worst Person in the World

The Worst Person in the World; A fascinating portrait of a woman’s life journey, that’s never typical, sentimental or overly contrived. The storytelling and acting is raw, emotional and complex but equally funny, unsettling and uplifting. Very honest, realistic filmmaking; A-

Pinocchio

Pinocchio; Expertly crafted and filled with wonder and charm, an update or remake of a film oddly out of time. Hanks’ acting comes across hammy and ridiculous but the other cast members make the most of their roles. Many segments look good but not a wish we needed to (re)make; B