In the ruins of a burned-out church, a defeated and depressed musician debates existence with two irreverent puppet companions, while reliving the betrayal, artistic rejection, and failed romance that pushed him toward nihilism.
Score: 4/10
Director / Writer:Walter Santucci
Starring:Jack Grisham, Evelyn Vazquez, Tony Nittoli
Genre:experimental, short, indie, alternative
Runtime:66
Release:2026
Excerpt
I’m not sure that the viewer is supposed to see it as a metaphor of how depression can mess with memory and perspective. If I’m supposed to acknowledge the blinders Human has put around the situation, or am I supposed to believe him completely and be on his side. For a film so multilayered and unique production-wise, it feels like the same amount of care wasn’t paid to the story – if that’s what this actually is.
I Hate Myself and Want To Die
Human waxes
Puppeteering multihyphenate Walter Sanducci’s new film I’d Rather Be Turned Into Cat Food (2026) vacillates wildly between performance art, biopic, fever dream, therapy session and propaganda film. It’s unequal parts pleasure and pain wherein the pleasure of the film is the amazing soundtrack composed by Santucci, and artful editing, and the pain is… well first, let’s define pain. Sometimes sharp, sometimes dull, sometimes quick and other times lingering, pain is a universal feeling whose intensity and tolerance lies in the body of the beholder. This film is full of pain only it’s mistaken for self-awareness and introspection and the film may suffer because of it.
After receiving a devastating diagnosis, a severely depressed veteran who hides his pain through self-isolation and alcohol must accept the help of his famous cousin or risk becoming just another statistic.
Score: 6.5/10
Director / Writer:Ammie Masterson, Kevin Machate, Todd Rodgers
Starring:Kevin Machate, Beth Shea, Ammie Masterson, Barry Corbin, Gayland Williams
Genre:drama
Runtime:23
Release:2026
Excerpt
In a world plagued by social injustice, medical inequity and community initiatives that are less and less about actual community, movie watchers are learning towards escapism. So why is that Kevin Machate’s moody drama Worst Enemy (2026) works so well in a moment that’s made to resist it?
I’m a Hazard to Myself
Kevin Machate as “Shane” in Worst Enemy
In a world plagued by social injustice, medical inequity and community initiatives that are less and less about actual community, movie watchers are learning towards escapism. Many would rather ignore the harsh truths of life to settle into the blessed freedom of fantasy. So why is that Kevin Machate’s moody drama Worst Enemy (2026) works so well in a moment that’s made to resist it?
There are several possible reasons, but I’m inclined to believe it’s because at the end of the day, a story of truth and passion will always rise to the top. In Worst Enemy we follow Shane (Kevin Machate). There was a time when his maladies would have seemed excessive; his sweet dog has died, he’s broken up with his partner, his parents were abusive and his father still is, he lives in Waco, he’s an alcoholic war vet and he’s just been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. The only bright spot is his cousin Ashley (Beth Shea), a successful Hollywood actress who he adores.
It’s… a lot. But sadly it’s no longer a possibility. When it rains it pours and it seems like every time Shane has found his bottom, the floor falls just a little deeper. He has the promise of a new job on the horizon and that’s the only thing getting him through. He has a confidant in Ashley, but as willing as Ashley is, she’s got call times and her own family to consider. When Shane reaches Ashley, she’s always ready with a kind and inspiring word, but most times when he reaches out he gets her voicemail.
Shane’s caseworker Dr. Tucker (played by director Ammie Masterson) tries to validate Shane’s experiences, but because of her association with the VA (and his growing drinking problem) he’s reluctant to confide in her. It’s just another way vices can stunt development. When Shane joins his dad Jim (Barry Corbin) and step-mother Gloria (Gayland Williams) for dinner, things go from tense to very bad.
Don’t Let Me Get Me
Gayland Williams as “Gloria”, Barry Corbin as “Jim” and Kevin Machate as “Shane” in Worst Enemy
The encounter only adds fuel to the fire of Shane’s depression and the hope at the entrance of the pit he’s stuck in gets further and further away. Worst Enemy feels like a reference to Pink’s song. “I’m a hazard to myself, don’t let me get me. I am my own worst enemy.” and it’s something that Machate displays beautifully in Shane. You can see the stress, the sadness, the reluctance in his eyes. Even when he’s trying to bask in the few moments of happiness, he carries a sadness that surrounds him like an aura.
Situations like this make you want to find an enemy, but when something is everyone else’s fault – all of the people who failed you and shaped you into this shell of your own potential – then you really have no one to blame but yourself. At least that’s how depression can make it seem and the script shows this in a succinct yet hard-hitting way.
Worst Enemy makes you wonder not only about the people in your life who could use more support, but also about yourself. In a 23 minute film, Machate and Masterson were able to craft a film that spoke volumes, but directly. Shane’s story is not so obscene that it couldn’t happen to us or someone we love.
Technically, it’s a great effort for an indie film. The cinematography and sound are top notch and it was fun seeing an uncredited cameo of Keegan Michael Key as a member of Ashley’s acting project. Though the script is heavy there are a couple of tension relieving moments of humor and they work well and don’t distract from the film.
Overall I applaud Masterson and Machate on this film and would certainly recommend it.
When Patricia approaches Ashley with a tailor-made project and is rejected, she gets a gun. Patricia breaks into Ashley’s home and takes her hostage. What ensues is a psychological cat-and-mouse game that culminates in a surprising and bloody climax.
Score: 7.5/10
Director / Writer:Ryan Moore
Starring:Cheyenne Perez, Grace Kaufman, Emily Hall, David Lengel
Genre:indie, psychological thriller
Runtime:84
Release:2023
Excerpt
At one point Ashley says, "You can’t just put a gun to someone’s head and force them to give up social media!" and while I laughed, I found myself feeling genuine concern. Her posting schedule is going to be really behind!
Why Don’t You Love Me?
“Grace Kaufman stars as Ashley in Ryan Moore’s Influence“
It’s unusual to have Béla Tarr’s 7.5 hour Criterion Collection epic Sátántangó feature as a set piece in an abduction thriller, but Ryan Moore’s Influence (2023) said, hold my beer! It’s a bold move from the young director, and one that has interesting dividends.
We follow writer/director Patricia (Cheyenne Perez) as she tries to sell her script in Hollywood. She’s hit with lovely rejection letters and promises of nothing. By day she edits footage for her boss – a jaded wellness ambassador named Melissa (Emily Hall), and by night she doom scrolls wellness influencers on Instagram. It’s a vicious cycle of faux inspiration and toxic positivity that sends Ashley even further into a depressive spiral.
One influencer catches her eye. A young woman named Ashley (Grace Kaufman) who has 4M dollars and what seems to be a more measured view on depression . She’s all about embracing the bad feelings and taking time to sit with yourself. This resonates with Patricia, particularly when they run into each other in a chance encounter.
The interaction between them sets the stage for the film. Patricia starts following Ashley around town trying to initiate meet-cutes. She’s trying to entice Ashley to work with her, she gets a gun, she holds Ashley hostage. As one does. As a thinly veiled metaphor for how creatives and companies butt heads, Influence is smartly done. Instead of waving away or dismissing the more extraordinary parts of the plot, the viewer simply files Patricia’s actions (and Ashley’s acquiescence) under “It’s Possible!”.
When I Make Me
“Cheyenne Perez stars as Patricia in Ryan Moore’s Influence, but now she’s got a piece.”
In a world where discussion of mental health is rampant, it can be seen as okay to root for a person who eschews social graces (like, not holding someone in their own home) in favor of self determination. At the end of the day who is the real villain? The person lying on social media to sell $40 lip balms and $120 face masks, or the person who abducts them until they agree to live in their truth?
It’s the abductor, they’re the villain. But since this is also our protagonist, Moore creates an atmosphere where we try to understand Patricia’s motivations. And the wild part is that we do. Any audience can understand the pressure Patricia is under to make her mark in a fast-paced industry. Every person in LA understands that the rent must be paid. It’s easy to understand why, when powerless, Patricia wants a gun. When filled with self-doubt she decides to accomplish her goals regardless of the consequences. It’s all perfectly understandable with the key difference being… but we don’t do it.
Patricia asks out loud if she’s crazy and I believe the fact she’s planted on the reality side of the fantasy line points to yes. Even Patricia’s search for truth is done from a commode. There exists an artifice that if Patricia could really see it, it may change the trajectory of her life.
Each minute of the film becomes more and more rife with delusion. And it all climaxes in an enjoyably predictable way. The seriousness of the situation is often undercut by something that would only make sense in Los Angeles. At one point Ashley says, “You can’t just put a gun to someone’s head and force them to give up social media!” and while I laughed, I found myself feeling genuine concern. Her posting schedule is going to be really behind!
So Easy to Love
“Cheyenne Perez stars as Patricia in Ryan Moore’s Influence“
Perez is a wonderful actor who you may recognize from her stint as Jo in HBO’s The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021). She’s well matched with Kaufman whose longest stint was as Kate Burns in Matt LeBlanc’s Man with a Plan (2016). Both actresses have appeared in many roles since then, and always have time for an indie film. Despite the lower budget, both women give their all delivering tense and thrilling performances.
Another notable mention goes to Emily Hall whose vapid, outtouch influencer (and also Patricia’s sleep paralysis demon) manages to play someone truly awful yet completely recognizable. Again, it makes sense when Patricia is coaxed into this world of bad because it seems as though the bad people are rewarded. The difference is that Melissa knows she’s terrible. She accepts her own selfishness which removes the blinders blocking her consequences. Patricia on the other hand, tries to imbue morality in a situation that is anything but, and in crafting that lie, expends the energy needed to see the truth.
The role of Taylor (KT Kent) – Ashley’s manager- is especially important as it’s only on the phone but Kent’s performance makes Nicole a huge part of the narrative. She’s also not beholden to morality. And while she acknowledges her selfishness, she’s also great at her job, and that job is caring about Ashley.
There are lots of thought pieces presented in the film in a way where it’s clear they are for introspection later. The film doesn’t leave loose ends necessarily, it simply draws this “day in the life” bon mot to its logical conclusion. Indie films are getting more and more creative with the look of their films and director Moore along with cinematographer Alice Miller deserve all of the recognition. The film looks great, it’s shot and acted well and leaves the audience with plenty to sit with as the credits roll.
A cultured woman living in an isolated home hires a housemaid to live with her and tend to the house. Their days begin with politeness and casual conversation, but as time passes, their differences begin to drive them to conflict.
Score: 5.5/10
Director / Writer:Albert Goya
Starring:Lucia Goya-Betts
Genre:psychological thriller, indie
Runtime:94 minutes
Release:2026
Excerpt
Artist is a fresh faced, put together young woman with voluminous blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Conversely, Karen has a haggard aura that’s accentuated by old lady makeup lines, an ogre-like attitude and way too much energy for her age.
Noblestone (2026) is the second indie feature by British-Spanish director Albert Goya. The film was made with zero budget and took two years to complete. It’s a two-hander deftly handled by Goya’s sister, Lucia Goya-Betts. It’s a surreal and visceral story that is part Fight Club (1999), part The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and part What About Buck? (1991). If that sounds like a heady combination, rest assured that it is. But somehow this elevated piece of “crack treated seriously” works.
Noblestone is director Albert Goya’s second feature following The Lady Governess (2023). The film was produced under Goya’s stage name “Tito Wiley”. Goya created The Lady Governess at 16 and completed Noblestone at 19. The young artist wrote, directed, edited and composed the film. It’s a valiant effort that shows a lot of promise for his unique style of storytelling. Noblestone follows the path of The Lady Governess in fundamental ways. We have our unnamed main character – a self-absorbed artist in Noblestone – and Karen (Lucia Goya-Betts). Karen is a force of nature who is both entirely herself and completely inscrutable.
In The Lady Governess, our main character is a lonely widow who hires Karen to keep house and keep her company. Noblestone serves as kind of a spiritual sequel to Goya’s first work and this is an important motif to keep in mind while watching. Both of our lead women have no name, but are defined and stricken by loneliness.
Kyle and his friends hack for fun, pranking online scammers. Seeking a bigger thrill, they target billionaire Don Heard through his daughter Lindsey's social media, stealing his cryptocurrency. – "INDb"
Score: 6.5/10
Director / Writer:Ronan Corrigan
Starring:Georgie Farmer, Yasmin Finney, Roman Heck-Green, James Scholz
Genre:tech thriller, heist film, screenlife
Runtime:92 minutes
Release:2025
Excerpt
"LifeHACK seems to have avoided [screenlife] pitfalls, creating a sleek, innovative Robin Hood for the modern day-style thriller that will keep you invested throughout. "
What Are We Getting Into?
If you were subjected to Prime’s War of the Worlds then first off, sorry, and secondly, congratulations, you were part of the great experiment. Found footage is a trend that gained popularity with the found footage hit The Blair Witch Project (1999), and the process of displaying that footage became “screenlife” a challenge to filmmakers to create a feature where every shot is shown through a computer, tablet or smartphone screen. It may have been spurred on by the ubiquity of cell phones and and other mobile devices and bolstered by the pandemic when having crews in the same place was a liability.
Whether it be the creative but clunky Unfriended (2014), or the confusing and often motion-sickness inducing Missing (2023), or even the well honed but unlauded Searching (2018), it’s a maneuver that can make or break your project depending on the outcome. Thankfully LifeHACK seems to have avoided these pitfalls, creating a sleek, innovative Robin Hood for the modern day-style thriller that will keep you invested throughout.
It’s Pride season and while you’re out there celebrating living out loud, make sure your scent is just as signature as you are! Celebrity parfumier and chemist Vincenzo Spinnato (who also designed the anniversary Hollywood scents!) teamed up with the Garland estate (including Judy’s children: Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft) to formulate a fragrance that not only screams “Judy!” but emulates one the icon used to wear herself!
This Juneteenth weekend from June 21st – June 23rd plan to be at the legendary Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles to watch ‘A Rose Called Candace‘ by Candace Nicholas-Lippman! The show is on another run, returning to Los Angeles after 4 years! It was a working hiatus where Candace embodied roles in “Blindspotting” on Starz, and “Good Trouble” on Freeform. However her show was never far from her heart.
I got to speak with her a bit about the show and her process:
Celebrity chemist and perfumer Vincenzo Spinnato has done it agin! Known as the “Couture Chemist”. the author of My Pursuit of Beauty has created a bevy of signature scents not just fo iconic legends of stage and screen, but sometimes for landmarks!
If you live in Hollywood, you probably know the split personality that is Melrose Avenue. East of Fairfax are the trendy, skater, streetwear brands, or the hipster trader outpost. These seem to be mostly inspired by the de facto performing arts highschool on the corner of Fairfax on Melrose that boasts a huge Flea Market just about every weekend.
From Fairfax to La Cienega, the age and income brackets start to rise as you pass more skin care brands, galleries, the famous Glossier building and the infamous Pink wall. The eats become more trendy and the “LA” of it all begins to kick in. Whether it’s arguing about getting tar-tar at Catch Steak or trying to get a table at EP&LP, there’s no turning back, you are decidedly in the thick of it.
Perhaps best known for playing Davia on Freeform’s Good Trouble, Emma Hunton is a fan favorite and inspiration for girls across the country. So it’s no surprise to learn the actress is a triple threat, an actor, singer and dancer! And writer and producer! This woman can do it all and brings her unique point of view to every project.
