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By: Myriam Akbar Faces of Death is a 1978 mockumentary horror film known for its graphic depictions of death. It’s written and directed by John Alan Schwartz, who also worked on some of the sequels. The film combines real footage with fabricated scenes, resulting in it being banned in several countries. It received negative reviews from critics but was a box-office hit. Despite the gruesome nature of the content, the film gained a cult following. It was falsely marketed as being banned in 46 countries, adding to its controversial reputation.  In April, a sort of reimagining of the Faces of Death was released, directed by Daniel Goldhaber. Prior to its announcement, I had never heard of the original. I avoid films that are rumored to be excessively graphic or disturbing, so it only took one google search for me to decide I have zero interest in watching it. However, I was willing to give this new film a chance because the premise is impressively clever. The plot follows Margot, a c...

By: Myriam Akbar Slanted is a 2025 multi-genre film that comes from the mind of Amy Wang, who wrote and directed it. It blends body horror, comedy, sci-fi, and coming-of-age drama. The plot follows Joan, a Chinese-American teen who yearns to be prom queen. However, there’s a problem: the school’s previous winners don’t look like her. In an effort to secure the crown, she undergoes racial transformation surgery. The film’s reception was generally positive, receiving 5.8/10 on IMDb and 68% on Rotten Tomatoes. It explores themes of racism, identity, self-hatred, and assimilation. It’s an intentional, committed, and impactful film. It’s also shocking, humorous, and emotionally charged. There are passionate acting performances and a deliberate pace that kept me interested from start to finish. Its conceptual familiarity and tentative ending were my only negative criticisms, making this a largely successful project from Wang. It feels like a mashup of Mean Girls (2004) , Get Out (2017) , an...