Bulgarian queer artist and songwriter Ivo Dimchev transforms personal and social hardship into provocative public and intimate spectacles, boldly exploring sexuality, identity, faith, and activism in a liberating celebration of queer visibility.
Score: 7.5/10
Director / Writer:Kristina Nikolova
Starring:Ivo Dimchev
Genre:documentary, queer film
Runtime:78
Release:2025
Excerpt
Ivo isn’t trying to find a place for himself, he’s creating and taking space wherever he goes. As the star of "In Hell with Ivo", Ivo takes up even more space, this time on the international stage.
“Love should be unconditional” – Ivo
The opening line in Kristina Nikolova’s new documentary is uttered by the subject himself. Bulgarian artist Ivo Dimchev smirks into the audience and says, “This is a question along the lines of To be or not to be? – Coming in the *ss or coming in the mouth?” He jokes there’s no way Nikolova will use that in the documentary, but Ivo gives the impression that what he wants, he gets?
It can be jarring to see someone who is fully themselves in a place that doesn’t fully appreciate who they are. Especially when those people are equal parts strong independence and sincere vulnerability. It can be difficult to see someone operating in their truth, especially when the community around you rejects that truth. Ivo (pronounced “EYE-voh” which he prefers because the other way makes it sound like “evil”) isn’t trying to find a place for himself, he’s creating and taking space wherever he goes. As the star of In Hell with Ivo, Ivo takes up even more space, this time on the international stage.
Follows Raymund Gunn, the last human private detective, in a futuristic world inhabited by humans and aliens.
In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder, and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.
Score: 7.5/10
Director / Writer:Brad Bird
Starring:Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Waits, Alan Tudyk, Bobby Cannavale
Genre:animation
Runtime:119 min
Release:10/10/2026
Excerpt
Production-wise, the film is a marvel, though Bird is no stranger for his robust worlds. The fashion of Ray Gunn is impeccable; the music is perfection and the character design is fluid and compelling. The mix of retro ‘40s /‘50s style mixed with technology so modern it’s called “alien” is a really cool way to show how growth can be stunted without sharing knowledge.
When thinking about private investigators many times images of philandering spouses and hours long stakeouts come to mind. But what if you were an old school private eye in a universe that’s part The Fifth Element (1997), part The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) and involved aliens and corrupt corporations? Well, you’d have pretty much the same images only they would look amazing and the drama would be out of this world! Brad Bird’s foray into the world of adult animation has gifted us one of the best animated features of the year. Ray Gunn (2026) is on the case and he’s going to get the job done!
Of course Bird’s iconic run of animated films has made him a reliable source of inventive entertainment. From the retro-futurism of The Incredibles (2004) to the Parisian charm of Ratatouille (2007), Brad Bird has a unique style all of his own and he’s able to weave it in new and exciting ways. Ray Gunn follows private gumshoe Ray (Sam Rockwell who starred in another unlikely animated hit, The Bad Guys (2025)) and his assistant Eye-Ra Kadok (Tom Waits) who just happens to be an alien with impressive snooping skills and bioimaging (the ability to take photos using his body).
Private detecting is a dying art in this world where information is made available readily. Whether to be sold (with or without the owner’s permission), or to be leveraged for even greater gain, it’s harder than ever to keep a secret in Metropia. Ray is as down on his luck as it can get, having his personal possessions repossessed as many at a time as the movers can get away with. He’s got one last ditch effort – the idyllic cabin his parents left him – and he’ll do anything to not have to resort to selling it.
After a job gone wrong almost costs him everything, nightclub owner Arnold Dom (Bobby Cannavale) approaches him. Arnold also has the distinction of being Mr. Venus Nova. Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson) the volatile singing diva whose personality is almost as big as her fame. She’s managed by Barry Vogel (Alan Tudyk) who hires Ray to look after Venus after an attempt on her life. Throughout the job we run into Francis Xavier aka Slugsy (Matthew Berry) a former thug turned club financier whose relationship to Venus is anyone’s guess. And we round out the main cast with Levity Love (Kether Donohue) who acts as Venus’s stand-in.
The film fires on all cylinders from the opening frame. The attention to world building is impeccable as we wiz by flying cars and rental jet packs. The dialogue is fresh and snappy and keeps the viewer interested throughout the runtime. In fact, the runtime is the only flaw which can often happen with animation over an hour and a half and Ray Gunn clocks in at 1:59. There are twists and turns but if you know anything of the genre, it’s pretty easy to figure it out early. When the audience knows the plot before the characters on screen, then the characters on screen need to make their discovery as interesting as possible. I think Ray Gunn succeeded in that with a myriad of fun chase and fight sequences. After a while though, we were just racing to the end waiting for the film to deliver on the final point. It’s a small gripe, and really didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the film.
A Film Full of Character(s)
Slugsy and his cronies: l-r Gunser (Brad Bird), Xavier (Matt Berry), and Musker (Brad Bird) for Ray Gunn
Rockwell imbues Ray with a world weary sense of optimism. He knows things will work out because they have to. He accepts the world for what it is and tries to find his happiness within that. He cares for his friends yet he understands that if the world doesn’t, that just means he has to care more. Waits gives Eye-ra a lot of personality and makes him likable while giving him a hard scrabbled edge. Johansson gives a great performance though I admit to chuckling as she clearly does her own singing for the film. Some of you may remember when she hinted at a music career by releasing a cover of Tom Wait’s “Falling Down”. The reception was mixed, but soon after I started hearing less and less about her musically. She gives a great performance and her voice fits Venus Nova and many moods very well. Cannavale, Berry and Tudyk are all pitch perfect in their roles and it’s easy to get lost in their characters without the big names overshadowing the performances.
Production-wise, the film is a marvel, though Bird is no stranger for his robust worlds. The fashion of Ray Gunn is impeccable, especially the hats! The music is perfection and the character design is fluid and compelling. The mix of retro ‘40s and ‘50s style mixed with technology so modern it’s called “alien” is a really cool way to show how growth can be stunted without sharing knowledge.
Something to Say
Ray Gunn has a lot to say and it does it in a way that cleverly doesn’t draw too much focus from the main plot. In a planet inhabited by “aliens” (in this case, actual offworlders), the xenophobia is strong in many areas. There are hospitals that won’t cater to aliens and certain clubs aliens can’t breach. In the beginning one of the aliens comments about how they suppressed their other arms to only have two because it looks “more respectable, more human!” It’s not so subtle shade to the systems in control that force immigrants to assimilate with the undelivered promise of acceptance.
There’s also some very clever anti-AI commentary which is always a joy to see. One character chides, “you want art, without the artist!” and it’s a line that could be added to many modern situations. I mentioned Ray Gunn being an animated movie that’s made for adults. It even has a curse word! But it’s more that the themes are meant to make you think and be awed by the beautiful animation.
Overall, Ray Gunn is a fast-paced who-dunnit that will keep you engaged from start to finish. I highly recommend it.
Score: 7.5/10
Ray Gunn will premiere Sunday, 10/10 at the London Film Festival, then select theaters December 4th. It will stream on Netflix, December 18th.
In 1892 California, a woman contemplating adultery is forced to take refuge from a storm at the home of her first husband and his unstable wife, who claims to be haunted by their dead child.
A mark of a great film vs. a good film can be whether or not the people in your film are characters or caricatures. There are some roles where period pieces are played with tongue firmly in cheek. Each actor truly put in the work from sentence structure and cadence to understanding the relationship dynamics of the day. Kerr sought out to deliver a thriller and she worked hard to that goal and I think she succeeded.
Patriarchy is Projecting
Vivian Kerr, Jilon VanOver, Scottie Thompson, Connor Paolo for “Seance”
There’s a quote that says, “Patriarchy is projecting” and it’s the perfect description of Vivian Kerr’s Seance. The idea of men experiencing some facet of life that doesn’t fit into the hyper masculine boxes they’ve designed for themselves, so they blame women – specifically the influence of women – while eschewing any responsibility. It’s wildly interesting to me the horrors that have been lain on the backs of women to absorb and endure. There are long held myths about witches who lived in the woods in hemlock covered cottages, brewing demonic potions meant to bring malady to the general public. Come to find out, it was just lovely ladies running apothecaries trying to care for their loved ones. Is a witch truly the devil’s mistress or is she just an enthusiastic gardener?
Misfit high‑schooler Carrie White (Summer H. Howell) has spent her life hidden away inside the walls of her home with her fiercely protective mother, Margaret (Samantha Sloyan). After her father’s sudden, untimely death thrusts her into the unforgiving ecosystem of public high school, Carrie is forced to navigate a viral bullying scandal that tears through her community, the relentless pressure and casual cruelty of the social‑media age, and the awakening of mysterious telekinetic powers that rise alongside her adolescence.
Score: 8.5/10
Director / Writer:Mike Flanagan
Starring:Summer Howell, Alison Thornton, Amber MidThunder, Matthew Lilliard, Josie Totah
Genre:horror, tv series
Runtime:8 Episodes
Release:10/06/2026
Excerpt
I have equally high hopes for the reception of Carrie. Performances are strong and passionate and the story boasts multiple narratives that never lack coherency even when shrouded in mystery.
Enter the Flanaganverse
As a bonafide fan of the MFU – the Mike Flanagan Universe – I’ve been excited for his reimagining of the Stephen King classic novel. It’s been adapted 3 times into films – the 1976 originator starring Cissy Spacek, the 2002 TV film, and the 2013 film starring Chloe Moretz and Julianne Moore. What Flanagan adds in series form is more than an adaptation and instead is more of an evolution. And it works!
We all know the story of Carrie – a socially stunted girl is forced to go to high school where she gets bullied for just existing. The violence and trauma seem to activate Carrie’s underlying secret – a telekinetic power fueled by her rage. Throughout every version we have Carrie’s overbearing mother Margaret, the kind cool girl – Sue, and the bully couple of Chrissy and Billy. Flanagan takes these parts and weaves his special form of magic that intertwines grief, social issues and current affairs. Carrie turns from a story of a girl being bullied and reacting murderously and detrimentally to a story about grief, bullying and finding your true self in the midst of endless roadblocks.
It’s a well done series that appears to double as a proof-of-concept for something I’m sure Flanagan has been interested in for a while. I don’t recall hearing whether Carrie is a bonafide limited series, or if it’s something more seasons can be added on to. If and when it does well, Carrie has the opportunity to act as a sort of redemption for the lackluster reception to The Midnight Club (2022), but more on that in a minute.
When two rival spies are ordered to eliminate the enigmatic operative they both once loved, a dangerous mission forces them to confront buried betrayals, unresolved desire, and a shared past that threatens to blur the line between duty and the heart.
Genre:espionage thriller, thriller, indie, black film
Runtime:77
Release:11/2026
Excerpt
In a world of two-screening – the act of dumbing down scripts with repetitions and exposition because it’s assumed the viewer will also be on their phones while watching – it’s nice to have a film that believes in the role of the audience again. Make the audience question, make them put pieces of the puzzle together and then let them know they were right.
Secret Agent Man (and Women)
Vivian “Oshun” Evergreen (Shannyn Stallworth) & LaShay “Poison Pen” O’Neal (LaToya-Patrice Suber) for Feel the Burn
As exciting as independent film is, it can be a crapshoot when it comes to quality. Having to sift through trust fund passion projects and ego-ridden propaganda films can overshadow the gems. And let it be known, Frank Long’s Feel the Burn is a gem! Made for $20,000 over 7 days, Feel the Burn is an espionage thriller, assassination film and love triangle romance all in one. The story is layered and dense, but the twists and turns to get to the ending all pay off.
We open on two incredibly elegant lady spies as they go to the agency to learn about their new job. Vivian Evergreen – code name “Oshun” after the African goddess (Shannyn Stallworth) – arrives in a souped up Mercedes and impeccable couture. Then we meet LaShay O’Neal – code name “Poison Pen” (LaToya-Patrice Suber) – who is an expert markswoman with a blond asymmetrical bob. The two go to see Jade (Ciel Noir) who gives them the assignment of a lifetime.
"Where Leviticus could have been an undeniable hit, it serves instead as a stepping stone. That’s not a bad thing, it’s a show of faith in Chiarella’s vision."
Recently I watched Dan Levy’s Big Mistakes (2026) and noticed it seemed to turn a growing trope on its head. When characters in these special projects make wild decisions or don’t do something that falls under the basic rubric of “common sense” it can be frustrating to the audience. While the characters in Big Mistakes were in larger than life situations, it didn’t stop them from trying to figure out what was going on. They asked questions, and when they didn’t, the reasons were believable and kept the twisting plot surprisingly grounded.
In Adrian Chiarella’s feature debut Leviticus (2026), we’re treated to a slick queer thriller romance that doesn’t ask or answer nearly enough questions to be cohesive. The main character is Naim played by Joe Bird of 2022’s Talk To Me (also an Australian horror). Naim is friends with Ryan (Stacy Clausen in what appears to be his feature debut), and on the precipice of discovering they are actually more than friends. This leads to the boys forming an unbreakable bond until Naim sees something he shouldn’t and makes a decision that changes the course of his life, Ryan’s and others as collateral damage.
Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, joins forces with an unlikely companion on an interstellar journey of vengeance and justice when an unexpected adversary strikes too close to home. -IMDB.com
Score: 6.5/10
Director / Writer:Craig Gillespie / Ana Nogueira
Starring:Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, David Corenswet, Eve Ridley
Genre:Superhero, Action
Runtime:108 minutes
Release:06/26/2026
Excerpt
"If we’re going to connect to Kara as an audience, we need to know who she is. Kara may not fully know who she is, but the audience should – especially as our hero."
Stepping Out of Superman’s Shadow
Sure, it’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’sSuperman (2025), but what of Kara? She’s probably watching her cousin’s hero shenanigans from the comfort of her local bar on whatever planet she happens to be in at that moment. She’s likely got snacks, cold beer, a hyperactive dog and a healthy dose of trauma. Kara Zor-El is a hero in her own right though without that pesky “people pleasing” gene Kal-El seems to have. When a threat hits too close to home, Supergirl decides to jump in and goes on a journey to self-discovery and finding a place called home. Craig Gillespie directs the second James Gunn DCU film, and the first film for DC, Supergirl (2026) and it’s thrilling, hilarious and inspires the heroes – willing and reluctant – in all of us.
It’s rare to get a sequel that finds a balance between blatant fan-service and engaging storytelling, but The Devil Wears Prada 2 has found the perfect fit. When we last left our Runway crew, it was being helmed by Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) with Stanley Tucci’s Nigel in tow and Emily Blunt as “Head Emily” Emily Charlton. Andie (Anne Hathaway) was off to more journalistic pursuits and for 20 years, the wheels turned at the magazine. Time flies when you’re having fun and with it comes the future comes gifts (or curses depending on who you ask) of change, technological innovation and challenge.
Led by returning screenplay writer Aline Brosh McKenna (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) and director David Frankel (Jerry & Marge Go Large), The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a fun mix of humor and nostalgia, with optimistic views of the issues of today thrown in to keep things current. While there is an indictment about those who should have retired years ago and are grasping to the last vestiges of relevance, it’s handled in a way that invokes empathy. Miranda is 76 in this film and upset about the idea of once again possibly losing control. It brings up a very interesting conundrum about staying even when you know it’s time to bow out, and trying to make room for new and upcoming faces.
Andy is a journalist in a world where TikTok has shortened attention spans and listicles have taken the place of multipage articles. She receives a prestigious award and learns her paper has folded the same day and she no longer has a job. After a passionate and well-received impromptu take about the state of Journalism, Andy returns home to a less than luxurious life. She lives in a tiny New York apartment where the water runs brown and the view is nonexistent. Then.one day, Andy receives a call from an unexpected ally – Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman), head of the Elias-Clarke publishing house which owns Runway..
Miranda has been resistant to today’s new, more socially conscious world, and lands herself in hot water after a scandal is exposed involving one of her “Speed Fashion” pursuits. She pretends to be unbothered until word spreads that one of their largest advertising clients is upset with the negative news surrounding Miranda and the magazine. Concurrently, Andy has been asked to write a defensive piece for Miranda and is able to waylay that into a more secure (and better paying) position. She goes with Miranda and Nigel to the sponsor who just so happens to be Dior and happens to be run by the original Emily!
Initially, Emily doesn’t return the excitement that Andy has when they reunite, but we’ve learned a lot of time has passed and there’s mystery surrounding why Emily left Miranda and Runway. Although Andy’s “Miranda Mea Culpa” is lauded by inner industry types, it’s seen by far less than were impacted by the initial scandal. After some criticism from Miranda, Andy works to prove herself and ends up landing an important feature highlighting Sasha Barnes (Lucy Lui). This also introduces Benji Barnes played by a nearly unrecognizable Justin Theroux.
When it comes to things that have changed in the production, I must say, I love the addition of the tangled threads that get woven throughout this world. In the world of interpersonal relationships, if “Los Angeles is big, but Hollywood is small”, then “New York is huge, but fashion runs on cannibalistic nepotism”. Everyone knows everyone, everyone is connected and currency includes favors and borrowing high end couture. It’s a world with its own pace and it’s given equal parts reverence and a satirical poke in the film.
Meryl Streep and Simone Ashley for The Devil Wears Prada 2
Andy, Nigel and Miranda are characters that feel lived in and Brosh-McKenna and Frankel use the leeway to introduce several new characters. It makes sense that Andy would have new friends while hanging on to a choice few from her past. It also makes sense that the staff at Run would be an ever revolving door of young, hungry talent searching for new opportunities. Given the number of characters and the small amount of time allotted, it’s no wonder that some of the additions are great, but underused. While I absolutely adored Tracie Thoms’ cameo, the addition of Rachel Bloom presented an unresolved plot point. It was fun, and I’m always happy to see Bloom pop up, but it was ultimately a bit unnecessary. I almost wonder if her scenes were part of a conflict that was then cut from the film. Caleb Herndon is reserved and charming as Charlie and Helen J. Shen is adorable as Andy’s assistant, Jin, but unfortunately, both are pretty one-note. While we did see a lot more of Simone Ashley as Amari, it could also be said they just hired her to look fantastic in haute couture and I’m not mad about it.
It’s just that one of the reasons Emily was such a great character is because we got to understand who she is and why she loves fashion and Miranda. Amari is capable, competent, confident and absolutely stunning, but we don’t really know anything about her outside of that. It makes sense, because it’s not really her story, but this is a trap I’ve seen a lot of remakes and reboots fall into. The addition of these characters are supposed to get you invested in the world so you can feel the change and passage of time once our known characters return. The new characters have potential and if there was a 3 in the mix, I’d love to see them again, only this time as family members and not just catering waiters at the family reunion.
Emily Blunt for The Devil Wears Prada 2
However, the updates we receive about our main cast are insightful. Miranda is now dating composer and violinist Eric (Kenneth Braughnagh) while Andy flirts with a new possible love interest in Peter (Patrick Brammall). We learn that Emily has an ex-husband and 2 kids, but still no word on Nigel or any of our newbies. It remains a good sign of a project that I wanted more and the skilled hand and focus that crafted the film makes it so this is a very small gripe and didn’t lessen my enjoyment.
Miranda is still methodical and calculating, Emily is still desperate to please and Andy still hasn’t found someone else’s business that she couldn’t mind. Themes in the film talk about the war between AI and artistry, the monopolization of small businesses that help our economy thrive and the slow death of traditional journalism. With heady topics like these, you’d think it would be hard for the humor to shine through, but it’s not.
Even the times I was annoyed at Andy for sometimes cloying naivety and optimism, or at Miranda for hiding her true intentions unnecessarily, the smile never left my face. There are a lot of easter eggs and fashion cameos. I highly suggest rewatching The Devil Wears Prada (2006) before to get the full experience. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a love letter to fashion, print media and the idea of preserving humanity in the face of technological takeover. And the movie tie-in popcorn bucket is the cutest one yet!
The Devil Wears Prada 2 will open exclusively in theaters May 1.
Season 3 of Ted Lasso proves in the first four episodes that it’s worthy of the premier league. A show that has gotten better season by season keeps finding new ways to be relevant while endearing you to its key ensemble of characters.
By Stacey Yvonne Originally published on BlackGirlNerds Jan, 23, 2023
While watching Teen Wolf: The Movie, I found myself asking the question: Who is this for?
I was watching characters that I mostly knew, in a setting I knew all too well, fighting a demon that was instantly familiar, and yet I felt out of place. The plot holes were nonsense and the timeline was wildly inaccurate. So if this movie wasn’t for me, then who was it for?
![“Seance” Raises Some Important Questions [REVIEW]](https://i0.wp.com/syvonnecreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Seance_-Sunset-Beach-Film-Poster.png?resize=672%2C372&ssl=1)
