Robert Sodmak
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Review: Are we all going to say, “Sink Your Teeth into Renfield?”

Using classic horror genres to explore the deeper issues with our current state of being is nothing new. Ginger Snaps was a great example from 2000 that used the classic werewolf tale to explore the pain and awkwardness of teen women entering new stages of puberty. Dawn of the Dead took a look into our…

Review: “Air”, Documenting the Start of a Revolution

Though it’s not a new phenomenon, Sneakerheads and the culture of collecting and selling sneakers is currently at its height. Here in NYC, if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, you can accidentally be trampled by a crowd of fanatics rushing across the street to line up for their chance at a…

Review: The Fun but Flawed Adventure into “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”

Dungeons & Dragons might be at its height of popularity right now. The game, once ridiculed by those who thought they were too cool for such activities, is now unstoppable. It’s the backdrop for the massively loved Stranger Things, big name Hollywood stars have their own game nights, and web series like Critical Role have…

Review: “Tetris” Has Some Trouble Clearing its Lines

To this day I can remember sitting at the school lunch table days after my birthday in 1989. It was just a few months after the launch of the Nintendo Gameboy, and I was lucky enough to get one as my big birthday present. Talking to my friends as we ate our nutritious pizza squares…

Review: “John Wick: Chapter 4” Keeps the Bodies Dropping

It’s been nine years since the first John Wick film broke audiences brain’s and helped kick-start a new trend in action films (I’ll still argue it started with The Raid: Redemption). Even though almost a decade has passed and we’re on the 4th installment of the series, it feels like people are still reacting to…

Review: There are Varying Temperatures in the “Infinity Pool”

There’s no denying the connective tissue of filmmaking between heralded auteur David Cronenberg and his son Brandon. In the grand scheme though, while David’s use of body horror is used to convey his life long theme of humanities evolutions; Brandon’s path leads down a slightly more conventional road. While not mainstream pieces of fluff, his…

New York Film Festival / Review: Seeing Past the “White Noise”

Many directors throughout film history have a well defined signature. They’re always associated with a specific type of film. Even though Martin Scorsese has made many films outside the crime/suspense genre, the majority of moviegoers will think only of his gangster pics. Noah Baumbach on the other hand, has almost exclusively delivered personal, dramatic tales…

Film Review: Don’t be Scared of a Little “Smile”

Genre films have always lent themselves as an avenue to explore deep, human issues. The powers that be might always shove them to the back of the pack when it comes to considering the merit of a well devised horror film. More and more though, people are realizing just how cathartically powerful the themes horror…

Film Review: It Might be Worth Looking for “Samaritan”

Upon first seeing the teasers for Sylvester Stallone’s new film, Samaritan, one thought ran through my mind; “this is pretty much the same thing as Archenemy.” There are automatic differences straight from the get-go, but this is entering into Dante’s Peak/Volcano territory. Is this just a surface level comparison? Are these two wildly different films…

Review: Is “Prey” The Predator Follow Up You’ve Been Waiting For?

The original Predator is an undeniable classic. It holds court with a handful of genre films that when broken down, are the blueprints for great film making. Robocop, Child’s Play, and Predator are all great examples. Even if you’ve seen them hundreds of times and know the twists and turns, they are so brilliantly put…

Review: The Duller Edge of “Both Sides of the Blade”

Since bursting onto the scene with her debut feature, Chocolat (1988), Claire Denis has largely been exploring the ins and outs of close knit relationships. Teaming up with Juliette Binoche for their third consecutive production together, Denis this time around delves into the complications of a relationship in the world of Covid-19. The events that…