Had a really fun time with Dave Boyle's NEVER AFTER DARK out of SXSW. asynchronousmedia.com/film-reviews...
14.03.2026 13:36
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Had a really fun time with Dave Boyle's NEVER AFTER DARK out of SXSW. asynchronousmedia.com/film-reviews...
In the process of catching up with Slamdance reviews while also writing SXSW reviews, so expect coverage from both, starting with a Slamdance review of THE BULLDOGS.
asynchronousmedia.com/film-reviews...
It's Oscar catch-up weekend, which for me is mostly just the shorts and a couple features that slipped through the cracks.
I needed something lighter as a palette cleanser before I dove into heavier books, and there's probably nothing better for that than Matt Dinniman's DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL. It took some time for me to appreciate it, but the shades of revolution colouring a new violent reality got me in the end.
Decided to read Andy Weir's PROJECT HAIL MARY before the movie. Loved it! Speculative sci fi that reminds what is capable when faced with insurmountable odds. The struggle for survival birthing ingenuity and opening the door to a world of discovery. Science is so cool.
Switched from hard sci-fi to science fiction horror with S.A. Barnes' GHOST STATION. A creeping dread moves stealthily throughout until everything locks firmly into place and the pace becomes unrelenting. Fans of ALIEN and THE THING will love this, but it also evokes games like DEAD SPACE and PREY.
Finally wrapped up a book I started a while ago that made me invested in a universe once seemingly beyond me. Dan Abnett's XENOS is well-written pulp, imbued with incredibly visceral imagery, all grafted onto detailed worldbuilding that transports readers without losing them in the process.
The book that both my wife and I enjoyed immensely and have discussed ad nauseam came from @anthonyjeselnik.bsky.social, as well. Vincenzo Latronico's PERFECTION fully realizes the specific unease felt by my generation. A book that I want to share with everyone I ever meet, even if it's depressing.
DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP by Satoshi Yagisawa was the right kind of cozy novel to start 2026. It's a quick read and very light. However, it's also a bit uneven when it strays from the bookshop and tries to flesh out its other characters, especially in the second half. Quaint but unremarkable.
When I heard M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks were working on a project together, it felt like two worlds colliding just for me. Anyways, I found REMAIN's central romance to be lacklustre, though its supernatural elements were clever enough at times to make me excited for the film.
That shifted into my first foray into the writings of Yukio Mishima with THE SOUND OF WAVES. Cultural and patriarchal values complicate a romance in an isolated Japanese village. Took some time to get into the rhythm of it, but found myself engrossed by the end.
Started with a recommendation from @anthonyjeselnik.bsky.social's book reviews he started last year and has now turned into a book club. THE SAVAGE, NOBLE DEATH OF BABS DIONNE by Ron Currie is a page-turner about the loss of cultural identity and the desperate struggle to keep it alive.
I have been slacking on reading, so I've been trying to make up for that since November. I'm now in a good flow and have a solid list of books I'm excited to dive into from my local library and Libby. Always looking for recommendations, though, so will post a thread of what I've read since November:
Began RESIDENT EVIL: REQUIEM last night. Here's a dirty urinal as proof.
That being said, MONSTERS, INC. has held up incredibly well, even when its on for the fourth or fifth time within 24 hours.
A week of plumbers and trying to reschedule flights really took it out of me, but last weekend my son finally paid attention to a movie that wasn't CARS or MONSTERS, INC. Very happy it was E.T. and yes, I got overly emotional.
Poster for Mexico Noir featuring 1950s actors
I've curated the Mexico Noir film series for
@viffest.bsky.social featuring 15 movies, most of them screening in new restorations from March 26 to April 8. Join me in Vancouver this spring for a showcase of classic noir. Tickets are available via viff.org/series/mexic...
It has been all movies and few games over the past few months, but I pre-ordered RESIDENT EVIL: REQUIEM so we'll see if that helps get me back into gaming for a bit. Reviews pushed me over the edge.
The fear of what Bloober Team would do to SILENT HILL 2 with a remake (and thankfully avoided) was realized in cinema form from Christophe Gans.
Wasn't going to write about 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE when I went into it, but came out with too many ideas rattling around and a deep appreciation for what DaCosta's film conveyed.
Clint Bentley's TRAIN DREAMS made me immediately plan a day trip of hiking. Felt blessed to live in the Pacific Northwest, and all the gorgeous photography got me wondering why I'm not out in the woods this instant. A cozy blanket of a movie.
Very big fan of Dan Trachtenberg's PREDATOR: BADLANDS, where he gets to play with every toy in the Predator sandbox. Also, shout out to the Dad whose child made it 5 minutes into the movie before they had to leave and never returned. PG-13 does not mean things won't get gruesome.
Well, well, well...look who's returning to TIFF
Coverage of the New York Asian Film Festival (@nyaff.bsky.social) begins today at Asynchronous Media. Will have reviews dropping throughout the festival, but first is a review of the new Shinobu Yaguchi film, DOLLHOUSE. asynchronousmedia.com/film-reviews...
MOVIE #5 - DYNAMITE DON-DON (1978) Dream Movie: What if the director of SWORD OF DOOM made a comedic Yakuza meets Baseball movie?
Now that people will be seeing the movie this weekend, here's my review again of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING (which is also doing really well, so thank you for reading if you have)
I ranked these films over on Instagram for Asynchronous Media, but I'll post here too:
8. 3
7. 2
6. Dead Reckoning
5. Final Reckoning
4. Ghost Protocol
3. 1
2. Rogue Nation
1. Fallout
I like Ghost less and less every rewatch, so there could be a future where Final Reckoning overtakes it. Maybe.
I get at it in my review, but that first act really is a pain because it just feels unnecessary, given that an entire film before this treaded the same waters. However, I kind of get why they double down on it. It just starts sucking the air out of the film before it can properly Mission.
My full review of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING is now up. I was worried during the first act as the film harps on doomsday rhetoric and focuses (too much) on raising the stakes to a fever pitch, but once it shifts, it's a staggering achievement. asynchronousmedia.com/film-reviews...
