All is Lost might be the sparsest of the recent glut of survival dramas in the past few weeks, the sparsest of the bunch by far, but also boasts great set pieces and an incredible leading performance from Robert Redford, who hasn’t had a role this good since Out of Africa in 1985.
The Machine Two computer programmers fall in love creating the first ever piece of self-aware artificial intelligence, designed to help humanity. But things go wrong when the MoD (the U.K. equivalent of the CIA who have been funding their research), decide to alter their breakthrough and teach it to become a robotic weapon. The Machine […]
Cheap Thrills Dark, twisted, and emotionally disturbed in ways almost too delightful and clever to spoil, the coal black comedy Cheap Thrills certainly lives up to its name and then some thanks to clever writing and solid performances. Struggling writer and married father Craig (Pat Healy) has just lost his oil changing gig and finds […]
In the documentary Griot, trumpeter Volker Goetze takes a look at his collaborations with musician Ablaye Cissoko, a man who keeps the historical and cultural traditions of music alive in his home country of Senegal.
Odd Thomas In what almost felt like the launch of a new TV series, Odd Thomas works as a quirky supernatural crime procedural that’s somewhat of a departure for director Stephen Sommers (The Mummy). In a small California desert town, a short-order cook named Odd (Anton Yelchin) has the unique ability to see the work […]
Found A shy and bullied 12 year old, Marty (Shane Brown), find his refuge in horror films to escape the pain of his day to day life. Unfortunately for him, his life turns into a real life horror story when he discovers that his older brother Steve (Ethan Philbeck) is keeping severed heads in his […]
We Are What We Are Recently widowed father Frank Parker (Bill Sage) and his two teenage daughters try to keep their time-honored family tradition a secret from their increasingly suspicious small town neighbours in the wake of a torrential downpour. But as the evidence starts building, daughters Iris (Ambyr Childers) and Rose (Julia Garner) are […]
Simogo, creators of Year Walk, have quickened the pace with the surreal text-based adventure Device 6, one of the most unique storytelling experiences of the year.
Septic Man A rare example of a slow-burning gross out flick, Septic Man might spend a bit too much time wallowing somewhat dully in the predicament of its main character instead of the literal pile of shit he finds himself in. Thankfully, there are still some elements that float above the sometimes messy narrative. From […]
Motivational Growth Much of the best cinema can be called “weird.” The stuff that pushes boundaries of what the audience either expects or has the stomach for. But “weird” can be a crutch, and the bizarre can be confused for thoughtful absurdity. Motivational Growth falls into this latter camp. It’s a dark comedy, which morphs […]
The Battery One of the sparsest and most realistic feeling zombie films ever crafted, writer-director-star Jeremy Gardner’s American indie film The Battery puts a touching and poignantly gracious face on the standards of the perilous horror sub-genre. A pair of minor league baseballers from Pittsfield, Masschusetts are making their ways across the backroads, smaller suburbs, […]
Eega An unequivocal delight from start to finish, the absolutely bonkers Indian film Eega is unlike anything you’ve ever seen or likely to see ever again. It’s almost unfathomable that anyone could have even come up with this concept to begin with, but it’s incredibly heartening that someone took a chance on such a unique, […]
Stalled While clearly referring that the films main protagonist spends most of his time trapped in a washroom stall trying not to get eaten by zombies, it also explains the tone of the movie from the outset perfectly. Incredibly laboured, staggeringly unfunny, ludicrously implausible, and with the film’s few speaking roles given to inherently terribly […]
And now for something a little different: A video review! Dork Shelf's own Brandon Bastaldo takes a look at Steve McQueen's slavery drama 12 Years a Slave starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender.
One third of the Sylvester Stallone/Arnold Schwarzenegger team up Escape Plan is a decent popcorn action flick. The other two thirds are fairly abysmal. Fortunately, the good section is the middle hour of the film, meaning it’s a perfect film to watch on TV right after you missed the opening 30 minutes and right before you have to take off to be somewhere.
