Originally slated to debut at SXSW in March before the festival was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, She Dies Tomorrow is finally seeing its U.S. release July 31st at select drive-ins and August 6th on VOD. Writer and director Amy Seimetz, with her third feature film, conjures a gorgeous and affecting nightmare with a weight of timeliness that can’t be ignored. Experimental, surreal, and mesmerizing, She Dies Tomorrow is one of the best films of the year. Minor spoilers ahead…

A horror film that takes place in the dark recesses of a fracturing mind, Natalie Erika James’ Relic is an all-too-real examination of mortality, the ones we leave behind, and the ones we let go. Grounded by a trio of affecting performances and a hint of tenderness, Relic is terror worth experiencing. Minor spoilers ahead…

Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball, Beyond the Lights) switches up genres with a blockbuster adaptation of Greg Rucka’s comic book, The Old Guard. A tale of immortal warriors inducting a new member into their ranks, Netflix’s The Old Guard suffers from a thin plot and a largely forgettable villain, but the film’s quieter moments shine, tied together with great performances from Charlize Theron and Kiki Layne. Minor spoilers ahead…

As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, let the movies be an example in the fight against coronavirus. It’s time to look past politics and get a firm grip on reality. Wearing a mask has proven to be an easy and important way to stem the spread of this deadly virus, yet many people still aren’t doing it. This has nothing to do with the left or the right, pride or ego - this is just pure scientific fact. Protect yourselves and others. Wear a mask.

Profoundly letting go of all subtleties, Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods acts as an urgent and vital exploration of the legacy of war and its impact on Black soldiers. Utilizing its ensemble cast and an arsenal of directorial bravura, Lee creates a powerful parallel to our dystopian times and raises an incisive commentary on racism through the lens of the Vietnam War. Minor spoilers ahead…

After a brief dabble in documentaries, director Judd Apatow returns to the world of narrative features with The King of Staten Island, his first since 2015’s Trainwreck. Closely following the Apatow playbook, the film looks to imbue yet another funnyperson with a dose of heart through ribald humor. A loosely autobiographical vehicle for its star Pete Davidson, The King of Staten Island has a surprising charm to it, but its uneven pacing and bloated running time hobble its good intentions. Minor spoilers ahead…

The directorial sci-fi debut of filmmaker Andrew Patterson transcends its genre trappings and micro-budget to deliver a gripping investigative yarn. Bolstered by two magnetic lead performances and a refreshing directorial prowess, The Vast of Night is a lo-fi narrative driven by dialogue and chemistry. Its bare-bones story is ultimately a deflated endeavor, but its human element is so charming that its thin plot can easily be overlooked. Minor spoilers ahead…

Heavy on gall and style, light on substance, Josh Trank’s Al Capone biopic attempts to shake free from genre convention, but comes up short. Focused on the last days of a fading gangster, Capone acts as a bizarre fever dream bolstered by a particularly unhinged performance from Tom Hardy, but it never quite rises above its tonal inconsistencies nor its veneer of theatricality. Minor spoilers below…

A one-way road trip to atmospheric terror, Veronica Franz and Severin Fiala’s The Lodge is a timely exploration of isolation, guilt, and trauma. Anchored by a powerful and nerve-fraying performance by Riley Keough, the film serves up a wintry mix of slow-burn cult horror. While light on true scares, The Lodge more than makes up for it with its searing imagery and shocking acts of violence, even if its rushed third act deflates the film’s carefully constructed narrative. Minor spoilers…

I watch a lot of TV and movies, but my obsession with writing in-depth reviews and articles often gets in the way of wider and more frequent coverage. This new column will be a way to remedy that, allowing me to write shorter and more digestible reviews, reserved primarily for when I don’t have a full review’s worth of thoughts to share about a particular film. On this week’s Capsule Reviews, we’re taking a look at Extraction, Deerskin, The Wretched, and Blood Quantum…

Last month, I was lucky enough to catch I Will Make You Mine, Lynn Chen’s directorial debut that was supposed to premiere at SXSW in March, a film festival that has since been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. A rhythmic and bittersweet end-cap to a low-key film trilogy, I Will Make You Mine is a confident debut that not only adds texture to the saga of the Surrogate Valentine films before it, but also stands alone as an indie gem, applying a refreshing lens to existing characters. Minor spoilers ahead…

Introducing a new Strange Harbors column: Capsule Reviews. I watch a lot of TV and movies, but my obsession with writing in-depth reviews and articles often gets in the way of wider and more frequent coverage. This new column will be a way to remedy that, allowing me to write shorter and more digestible reviews, reserved primarily for when I don’t have a full review’s worth of thoughts to share about a particular film. Here’s what I’ve been watching lately…

As we practice social distancing and quarantine during this new age of COVID-19, there’s only so much to do when stuck at home. Luckily, for all the cinephiles and TV buffs out there protecting themselves from coronavirus, we have our streaming services to keep us company. Today, at Strange Harbors, I’ll be recommending some of my personal favorites across all platforms that you can stream while self-isolating. Without further ado, here’s the official Strange Harbors quarantine streaming guide…

Timely, relevant, and genuinely terrifying, Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man recontextualizes a classic Universal monster into a modern examination of abuse, toxicity, and gaslighting. With impeccable spatial awareness, gripping soundscapes, and an unforgettable performance from Elisabeth Moss, The Invisible Man isn’t just one of 2020’s best horror movies, it’s one of its best films, period. Minor spoilers ahead…

Baffling title drama aside, Birds of Prey is a boisterous and colorful addition to the DCEU. More “DC” than “EU,” director Cathy Yan assembles a squad of DC Comics heroines in a rollicking, stand-alone adventure. While there’s not much substance to its story, Birds of Prey’s narrative shortcomings are outweighed by its confidence and bombastic action, including a pitch-perfect performance from Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Minor spoilers ahead…

A breathtaking technical marvel, Sam Mendes’ 1917 is a single-shot journey through the horrors of World War I. Aided by the sweeping camerawork of cinematographer Roger Deakins, the film is an astonishing piece of storytelling, if a little emotionally frigid. But even with its remoteness, George Mackay and Dean-Charles Chapman put forth tremendous physical performances that make the film a sight to behold. Minor spoilers ahead…

Introducing The Strange Harbors Podcast, a weekly discussion of film and television. With the future of HBO’s Watchmen in a state of uncertainty, we’ve decided to pivot to a more general discussion of cinema and pop culture. Join me, Derek Wong, and new host Amir Touray every week as we dive deep into big blockbusters, indie favorites, and under-seen hidden gems. Hopefully, the same insight and analysis we brought to Watchmen will translate over to your favorite films and television shows.

2019 was an embarrassment of riches when it came to cinema. While it’s true that most years require at least some thoughtful contemplation when it comes to whittling down a top ten, 2019 was especially difficult in curating a “best of” list. In the final year of the 2010s, we had tender space odysseys, biting showdowns between the haves and have-nots, treatises on loves won and lost, and deeply personal stories mined from the past - just to name a few. The movies were a hell of a place to be last year. So, let’s pour one out for the decade as it sails into history by celebrating some of my favorite films of 2019.