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?
A musician on a tropical vacation with his family meets an ancient mythical creature who falls in love with him and demands his love in return, or else he faces deadly consequences.
Score: 4/10
Director / Writer:Frank Merle
Starring:Jamie Kennedy, Ash Tsai, Jason Markoff
Genre:horror, indie
Runtime:92 min
Release:2026
Excerpt
I’m not against a movie being made to facilitate a vacation, but the final story should justify the trip. Frank Merle’s Namaka (2026) is a thriller with a lot of potential but sometimes loses track of its own plot.
Namaka’s Siren Song
Ash Tsai as Namaka
I’m not against a movie being made to facilitate a vacation, but the final story should justify the trip. Frank Merle’s Namaka (2026) is a thriller with a lot of potential but sometimes loses track of its own plot. Set on one of the picturesque Hawaiian islands, Namaka serves as a cautionary tale though the underlying message is a bit unclear.
On your wedding day, the vows are promises you make to each other. Normally they’re of the “love and hold and cherish until death do we part” variety, but some couples like to get even more personal. That’s the case with our two lovebirds Chance (Chris Chalk) and Grace (K.D. Chalk). We open on the happy couple getting married and then fast forward a year later as they head to a friend’s country house to celebrate their anniversary and also say goodbye as they plan to move across the country.
There are certain actors that when you see their name you know exactly what to expect. When I see Toni Collette listed I know things are about to get real messed up. When I see Jonathan Majors I know the intensity is sure to ramp up a few notches. And when I see Noomi Rapace, I know that I’ll be treated to a warped version of some mythic fairy tale that will scar me for life. You Won’t Be Alone does not disappoint.
Horror films have always terrified and thrilled us, but for some audience members there has been something lacking when it comes to representation on screen. The horror genre has long been dominated by white men with mainly white women playing limited roles of the femme fatale or the helpless victim.
If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all. This was a parental trope that I’m sure most are familiar with, but Sissy proves it’s more than just an old wives’ tale. Starring Aisha Dee and co-written and co-directed by Kane Senes and Hannah Barlow, Sissy is a horror film that will have you questioning your alliances to excellently flawed characters.
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