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By: Myriam Akbar The Watchers is a 2024 film that I would label as dark fantasy. It’s written and directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan, based on the novel of the same name. The plot follows Mina (played by Dakota Fanning), who finds herself trapped in a bunker with a couple of other people. One of them is a woman named Madeline, who from the beginning stands out. It’s clear that she has more intel than the others and comes off as the leader of the group. She warns Mina of the dangers in the forest, creatures behind the mirrored window that watch them. As you can imagine, the story involves the mystery behind what exactly the creatures are and how the group will find safety. I will admit that although I enjoyed the film, it was not well received among the cinema community. The most common negative critique that I came across was that the climax was ineffective, due to the “plot twist” providing very little impact or surprise. While that’s completely valid, I believe one of the causes is ...

By: Myriam Akbar The Devil Conspiracy is a 2022 sci-fi horror film, written and produced by Ed Alan and directed by Nathan Frankowski. Despite it being generally overlooked and criticized, I had a blast watching it. To summarize without spoiling, the plot takes place in the near future where cloning technology has reached its highest success. A group of scientists use this tech to bring back prominent people from history, including religious figures.  There’s several stories that connect throughout the course of the film. Part is similar to Rosemary’s Baby and The Omen, while the other part is action-packed with angels and demons battling. Because there’s so much going on, the script organization and pacing is distracting. The acting wasn’t exceptional but decent, likewise the dialogue. I imagine the main issue viewers had with the film is the religious imagery and themes, although I viewed them as almost satirical.  Overall, I find The Devil Conspiracy to be a unique additio...

By: Myriam Akbar About two years ago I realized that movie trailers often give away too much, so I began only watching them every now and then. Because of this, I had little-to-no information about 2024's Strange Darling prior to watching in theaters. I saw less than a minute of a non-spoiler review the day after its release. The creator said it was one of his favorites of the year but “You have to go in blind.” So, I closed the app and bought a ticket. I didn’t want to hear another word or start to analyze the poster in the green screen background. I recognized a face, though. Will Fitzgerald from MTV: Scream the TV Series ! I’ve been a big fan of hers since that show and think her performance in this film solidified her as a horror scream queen. I was genuinely impressed by this film, particularly structural choices in the script. It’s rightfully celebrated and I believe for me, “going in blind” contributed to its eminence.  Divided in chapters, the story kept me eagerly hooked ...

By: Myriam Akbar      I knew nothing more than a poster and tiny teaser of Demi Moore in a mirror. I learned from my experience with Strange Darling how effective “going in blind” can be. The fierce look in her eyes wiping off lipstick, stretching and smearing it across her face. I immediately bought my ticket and headed to the Theater.       The Substance is a 2024 body horror film about a woman who is struggling with the fading of her celebrity career. She uses a black market drug to obtain a more youthful appearance. It works but it’s not what she expected and there’s some ridiculously wild side effects.      There’s something so special about going in with no expectations and leaving with all of your non-expectations met. Exceeded, even. Some films are just that good. Three words: symbolic, sexy, and sickening. The Substance tackles various themes: womanhood, the difficult aspects of aging, the entertainment industry’s unrealistic e...