by Tyler Smith One of the key elements of film noir is a downbeat ending that is so cynical, it turns its story into an oddly entertaining exercise in fatalism. It seems counter intuitive that the audience would enjoy such a dark end for its protagonists, but, somehow, the inevitability of failure in these films … Read More “Scarlet Street” »
Author: Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith When we think of romantic movies, our mind will drift immediately to stories about a new, budding relationship. The excitement that comes with discovery and bonding, along with the complications and misunderstandings that go with it, naturally lends itself to conventional story structure. There are some films, however, that find romance in familiarity; … Read More “The Thin Man Review” »
by Tyler Smith They say that good artists copy and great artists steal. While there may not seem to be much of a difference in these ideas, artistically, the distinction is vital. One describes mimicry while the other describes absorption. There have been many films that have tried to capture the stylistic elements of certain … Read More “Rebel Moon Is A Shameless Patchwork…” »
By Tyler Smith When looking at a list of the most popular Christmas movies, it may come as a surprise – though perhaps it shouldn’t – that many of them contain an element of magic. From time traveling ghosts to living snowmen to basically everything associated with Santa Claus, the supernatural has always played a … Read More “A Christmas Story” »
By Tyler Smith As the song says, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. For some, however, it is exactly the opposite. It is a time of increased stress, resentment, and depression. A time of year that was previously associated with ideas like ‘peace on earth and good will toward men’ has very … Read More “A Charlie Brown Christmas Review” »
With Thanksgiving now over, the Christmas season has officially begun. We all know what this means: trees, lights, presents, carols, and all the other holiday trappings that emerge every December. All of us have different Christmas traditions like parties, dinners, and games. There is one thing, however, that seems to grow a little bit with … Read More “What Makes A Good Christmas Movie?” »
In film critic terminology, the word “genre” has a very specific meaning. While for many people the word is synonymous with “category”, for film fans it has a very deliberate purpose. It is a way to classify films based on how they look and what they are about. Any commonality between films could mean that … Read More “Niorvember: A Retrospective on film by Tyler Smith” »
by Tyler Smith Few things are more frustrating for a film critic than having to review a movie that is “for the fans.” While many films made with a built-in fan base try to be accessible enough to bring in a wider audience, some of these films have no such ambition. They are content to appeal … Read More “Five Nights At Freddy’s Review” »
by Tyler Smith Most Horror Movies that feature an outlandish story contain heavily-stylized worlds and characters, meant to elicit terror and dread from the audience. Many of the best films in the genre are so drenched in atmosphere that, while undeniably frightening, they clearly don’t take place in a recognizable world. This stylization is so … Read More “The Exorcist Review” »
by Tyler Smith Few things are more heartbreaking for film fans than when a bold, exciting director starts to phone it in, at which point their once-innovative work loses its novelty and becomes “by-the-numbers”. A prime example of this is Tim Burton, whose early film can only be described as visionary but eventually became perfunctory. … Read More “Beetlejuice Retrospective” »