“Bros” – a modern day fairy tale that’ll get to you with a wink and a smile

Posted on September 29, 2022 by Denise

“Hey. What’s up.”

Story: Bobby is a guy who’s big dream is getting NYC’s LGBTQ+ Museum off the ground, but his personal life is a train wreck. Aaron is a guy who’s lawyering his way through life, but his personal life is a train wreck. Can these two extremely commitment-phobic fellas figure out that they’re made for each other? (It’s a rom-com, hon. Guess.)

Genre I’d put it in: Opposites Attract But This Time GAAAAAY
Release Date: 2022
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Harks back to rom-coms of the 90s and early aughts, but is a fresh take on tropes in this well-worn genre.

Gotta say: I am pre-disposed to absolutely love rom-coms. It’s something to do with the happily-ever-after (HEA) I think. Something that rarely seems to happen in real life, but always does in this genre. So, naturally, I enjoyed the ever-lovin’ hell outta Bros. From its in-your-face self aware cheekiness to the actual “shut up, you’re crying” moments, to the inevitable (and super adorable) HEA, Bros is a film that earns a place in this genre. Even though it’s always slyly letting you know that they’re in on the fun, and hey isn’t this a blast? Yes, Bros. Yes it is.

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “Bros”!

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Denise

Ready for some laughs? ME TOO. Synopsis!

This fall, Universal Pictures proudly presents the first romantic comedy from a major studio about two gay men maybe, possibly, probably, stumbling towards love. Maybe. They’re both very busy.



From the ferocious comic mind of Billy Eichner (Billy on the Street, 2019’s The Lion King, Difficult People, Impeachment: American Crime Story) and the hitmaking brilliance of filmmakers Nicholas Stoller (the Neighbors films, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Judd Apatow (The King of Staten Island, Trainwreck, The Big Sick), comes Bros, a smart, swoony and heartfelt comedy about how hard it is to find another tolerable human being to go through life with.

Ready? Let’s go!

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In Horror – “The Haunting of the Murder House”

Posted on September 20, 2022 by Denise

“See you guys at six.” [OR WILL HE]

Story: The “infamous house on Lockwood Lane” is a place where serial killer Lester Morgan – aka The Clown Killer – performed his gruesome deeds. But Morgan claims voices told him to kill…just another murderer looking for a psych verdict? Well, Our Gang over at The Otherside decide to look into that, by locking themselves into the house overnight. After a little light B&E, Dylan, Kai, and Harper settle in, with Kel directing them from their van/headquarters. Hey, anyone see that clown-y shadow in the mirror over there? No? Oh, I’m sure that’s nothing. Let’s start the live stream – grab that Ouija board and let’s do this!

Subgenre: WHY ARE YOU GOING IN THERE Supernatural House Horror
Release Date: 2022
FX: Excellent blood FX and use of lighting/reflections
Some Clichés/Tropes: House With A Past, Oops Possessed Maybe, Unbelievers Faking Fakery, Faulty Tech, Social Media Shenanigans
Where I Watched: Screener (but available through Amazon Prime, and free to watch on Tubi)

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VIRTUAL Screening Pass-palooza – “My Best Friend’s Exorcism”!

Posted on September 20, 2022 by Denise

I absolutely love everything Grady Hendrix has written. So when I found out that this book was getting an onscreen adaptation? I was stoked. And it’s almost here! (It’ll be officially on Amazon Prime on the 30th…) Synopsis!

In 1988 best friends Abby and Gretchen navigate boys, pop culture and a paranormal force clinging to Gretchen. With help from a mall exorcist, Abby is determined to compel the demon back to the pits of hell — if it doesn’t kill Gretchen first.

Ready? Let’s go!

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “Smile”!

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Denise

Ooh – it’s almost Spoopy Season! Can you taste the fear? You will if you’re in for this screening! Synopsis!

After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.

Ready? Let’s go!

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In Queue Review – “Moonfall”

Posted on September 10, 2022 by Denise

“What the hell is that?” [Dude, I feel you.]

Genre: Space Wrecks
Release Date: 2022
Where I Watched: HBOMAX

Gist: There’s the moon, right? And moon has astronauts that visit, ya with me? But what if – hear me out – the moon is hollow, and there’s A ALIEN inside, throwing the orbit off, which could wreck our planet? Why alien do this thing now? Why not? Pass me that popcorn, my friend.

Talky talk: Moonfall feels like Roland Emmerich got wasted on Mad Dog, then immediately produced his “wouldn’t it be hilarious if” moonage fever dream. The screenplay feels like a first year film student’s Wattpad fic that was used, unedited. Tapping into every cheesy dialogue trope and exposition dump extravaganza, Emmerich bath-salts his way through it all, tossing everything possible at the screen, making sure that the run time goes past two hours for maximum crazy. AND IT IS MARVELOUS.

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “The Woman King”!

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Denise

Wanna see a film based on the Agojie, aka the REAL LIFE Dora Milaje? Yes, so do I. I knew you were cool. Synopsis!

Set in the 19th century in the African kingdom of Dahomey, The Woman King follows the all-female group of warriors, the Agojie, who protect the kingdom. The group’s general Nanisca trains a new generation of warriors to fight against an enemy who wants to destroy their way of life.

Ready? Let’s go!

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“The Invitation” requests you enjoy its campy fun

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Denise

“Don’t fuck this up for all of us, dear.”

Story: Evie is a talented pottery ceramics artist, but she’s barely scraping by after her mother’s death several months ago. So when her friend nabs her a free DNA test swag bag from their latest catering gig? Evie figures why not give it a whirl. Bingo – a second cousin, pops up almost immediately. They meet, as he’s in NYC, and before you know it, Evie is headed to an all-expenses paid vacay in the English countryside. Seems there’s an ultra-posh wedding this weekend, and what better time to meet the whole fam? But things start feeling creepy, and it’s not just the super-Gothic décor ’round the place. At least “call me Walt”, the owner of the FREAKING CASTLE the wedding is to be held, is smoking hot, and seems to be really into Evie. So that’s a plus, right? Right?

Genre I’d put it in: 21st Century Spins On Classics
Release Date: 2022
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on the characters from Dracula, by Bram Stoker. With a little bit of Ready or Not and Rebecca, for good measure.

Gotta say: Don’t listen to the haters. Invitation is an absolute blast, as long as you keep your expectations where they should be. And where they should be is firmly in the “over-the-top horror goodness” camp. Because oh honey, this film is campy, and the whole cast and crew knows it. So buckle up buttercup, and enjoy the fun.

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In Horror – “Allegoria”

Posted on August 28, 2022 by Denise

“What’s wrong, sweetheart – too much for you? Prefer the Meisner technique?”

Story: An obnoxious drama teacher. A self-satisfied artist. An egocentric author. A sculptor way too into her art. And a band looking for that perfect series of notes. What do they have in common besides being pretentious as hell? Well, the last word in that previous sentence will give you a hint.

Subgenre: Anthology Horror
Release Date: 2022
FX: Fantastic monster makeup, gruesomely fun gore
Some Clichés/Tropes: Obnoxious Instructors, Pretentious Creators Way Into Their Art, Staring Deeply Into Mirrors, The Scare Of Jump
Where I Watched: Shudder

Spooky or Nah?: I absolutely love a good horror anthology. Hell, I’ll even stare transfixed at a half-assed one. Allegoria takes an interesting premise – art in all it’s various forms – and delivers an interesting batch of stories that are loosely connected, but could easily stand on their own as short films. Unsurprising, as this is the first time writer/director Spider One helmed a feature film, having worked on shorts and music videos prior to this outing. While this film has lofty goals and often reaches for greatness? It comes up shy thanks to messy connections within the stories, and smash cuts that feel more WTF than OOH YEAH.

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In Horror – “From the Depths”

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Denise


“Hallucinations have no logic.”

Story: A year ago, Liz survived a brutal shark attack that claimed the lives of her fiancé Seth and her sister Payton. Liz has been suffering from extreme survivor’s guilt ever since; barely sleeping, seeing visions of huge sharks coming for her, even having visions of Seth and Payton. But will her new love Roberta be able to finally turn Liz’s sleepy frown upside-down?

Subgenre: Sharkey Shark With Ghosts And Stuff
Release Date: 2020
FX: Cheesy CGI, but fun makeup
Some Clichés/Tropes: Ghosts Gonna Haunt’cha Til You Do What You’re Told, Dream Sequences, Sharkey Shark
Where I Watched: Amazon Prime

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