InThe Ugly MonsterbyCian McGrath20 Year Retrospective: ‘The Beat That My Heart Skipped’ Is a Tense and Gritty Slice-of-Life DramaJacques Audiard’s 2005 film is a hopeful yet world-weary look at a character caught between his aspirations and environment11h ago5011h ago50
InThe Ugly MonsterbyDaley W.Is Star Trek Really a Socialist Utopia?“In the 24th century there will be no hunger, there will be no greed, and all the children will know how to read.” — Gene Roddenberry1d ago16831d ago1683
InThe Ugly MonsterbyDark AetherDark Aether’s Top “Ten” Anime of 2024From elusive samurai and paranormal lovers to professionals too good at their jobs, 2024 was a treasure trove of strange anime gems3d ago10113d ago1011
InThe Ugly MonsterbyCian McGrath‘Nickel Boys’ Flits Between Fleeting Beauty and Pretentious GimmicksThough its truly original filmmaking deserves acclaim, this film’s distracting camerawork often does its characters and story an injustice4d ago19164d ago1916
InThe Ugly MonsterbyLady Horatia‘The Brutalist’ and the Nature of Beauty‘The Brutalist’ shows us how beauty and morality aren’t the same thing.4d ago36544d ago3654
InThe Ugly MonsterbyAllison Wonchoba‘The Substance’ Might Be 2025’s Most Unforgettable Best Picture Nominee‘The Substance’ presents fading beauty in aging women as an identity crisis5d ago13725d ago1372
InCounter ArtsbyScreen ContrarianClassic vs. Contemporary: ‘The Fly’ and ‘The Substance’Love, obsession, mutation, and the prices we pay…Jan 2947412Jan 2947412
Lucifer EveryloveLucy’s Letter: A New Chess System, or the Empress FianchettoFirst, break all the rules. Abandon the center. Allow your opponent to advance without attack. Delay castling until the last moment. This…May 2, 202157May 2, 202157
InThe Ugly MonsterbyCian McGrath‘Anora’ is a Mild Comedy-Drama Without a PurposeSean Baker’s latest film is a surprising letdown from the earnest, sex worker-obsessed filmmakerMar 350121Mar 350121
InThe Ugly MonsterbyMichelle KwanHow Atlus Writes Good VillainsA personal take on Persona’s well-written bad guysMar 2100Mar 2100
InThe Ugly MonsterbyCian McGrath‘A Different Man’ is a Thrilling Dissection of IdentityIt’s just a shame that this comedy-drama descends into surrealism to prove its points, dulling its narrative potentialMar 23545Mar 23545
InThe Ugly MonsterbyOscarLo! Thy Dread Empire: Capitalism Will Work You To Deathand then resurrect your corpse to finish your shiftFeb 284756Feb 284756
Allison WonchobaMy Official Thoughts on ‘The Brutalist’ — Doesn’t Feel It’s Gargantuan LengthNote: SPOILERS for The Brutalist.Feb 2751Feb 2751
InThe Ugly MonsterbyHeather VeleyThe Princess Bride: A Beautifully Different Fairy Tale‘The Princess Bride’ is a bit of an odd duckFeb 27791Feb 27791
InThe Ugly MonsterbyLady HoratiaThe Ultra-Nationalism of ‘Shin Godzilla’What is the function of a nation?Feb 251551Feb 251551
Dr. Jay | Pixel JurneeThe Hidden Heartbreak of DementiaHow Firewatch’s story hides a devastating realityFeb 2550Feb 2550
InThe Ugly MonsterbySyed ZainBefore Sunrise: 30 Years OnLove, Loss, and the Ghosts of TimeFeb 2450Feb 2450
InThe Ugly MonsterbyAsadullah Khan‘Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc’ is a Fine Build-Up with an Explosive FinishThe penultimate season takes its time to put everything in order for the climactic confrontation between Demons and their SlayersFeb 211291Feb 211291
InThe Ugly MonsterbyHafsa Hashmey‘Megamind’ and Being Pushed into a BoxWhat is a superhero?Feb 212337Feb 212337
InThe Ugly MonsterbyBen CopelandA Look Back on H.P LovecraftDo the works of this horror icon still hold up?Feb 202272Feb 202272
