Beneath the sweltering Spanish sun, Hot Milk simmers with desire, resentment, and the restless search for autonomy. Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s adaptation of Deborah Levy’s novel bathes in sun-drenched sensuality while unraveling the tangled web of a mother-daughter dynamic fraught with need and neglect.
And sometimes we see someone who strikes us as someone truly special. Someone we cannot look away from. Mesmerizing. Beautiful. And we have the urge to call them all mine. That is the overall atmosphere I can describe when thinking back to luca guadagninos queer.
you might have seen some of his films. might definitely have heard his name this year during discussions in this year – now he’s announced to lead the 75th berlinale in 2025.
Todd Haynes to lead the international jury at the 75th Berlin film festival Read More »
Zoë Kravitz’ directorial debut starts off as a promising psycho-thriller, taking us on a vacation to the private island of former tech-CEO and billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) through the eyes of his guest and the movies’ protagonist, the waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie). Although Blink Twice does quite a lot of things right, it does not succeed in leaving a lasting impression, taking a unique or below-surface-level stance on its themes or provoking anything resembling a thought. As you may easily guess, Frida is not being invited to the island out of sheer generosity, but rather to be part of a deeply sinister scheme going on there. Channing Tatum is highly present in most of the movie’s promotional media, his character however, who is obviously very important to the story and the progression of the plot, feels severely underused and almost bland due to his near stoic mannerisms and put on charm when compared to the two heroines, Frida and Sarah (Adrua Arjona). The display of rage, despair and utter disbelief in the unfolding events coming from Frida and Sarah is what ultimately convinced me to bring this watch across the finish line. One thing Blink Twice definitely managed to do is take its time. Things are getting serious about 45 minutes in, which is notably far too long. Up to this point we get to see rich people drink excessively, consume various drugs and behave like teenagers/college students at a party. While this is of course just the base for what’s going to come in the next 60 minutes, the way of getting there is more tedious than it needs to be. Pretty much the biggest let down for me and the main reason why I did not like this as much as I hoped to, was the semi-permanent deja vu I experienced. Rich pricks on an island? Glass Onion. Trying to escape from your predatory suppressors? Get Out. Men manipulating women and trapping them against their will? Don’t Worry Darling. It’s all been there and it’s all been done. If only Kravitz managed to put a unique spin into this (or at least one that made some damn sense), it may have stood out more and not have felt like a big reference to the three aforementioned movies. I got to admit, me not being a fan of the three didn’t make this any easier. Blink Twice is a semi-successful attempt at a mystery-thriller that has left way too many opportunities to really be good on the road. There will be a time, where I will have completely forgotten about watching this or even the fact that it exists- and honestly, that time is closer than I’d like to admit.
review: blink twice Read More »
Close to You is an intimate, raw exploration of identity and family, led by Elliot Page in a deeply personal performance. As Sam, a trans man returning home after years away, Page navigates emotional complexities and unresolved traumas with quiet strength. Director Dominic Savage’s improvisational style adds authenticity, while the film’s portrayal of trans experiences—normalizing top surgery scars and centering trans narratives—is groundbreaking.
review: close to you Read More »
The 90s. Owen (Justice Smith) doesn’t have many friends but once he meets Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) at school he gets drawn into the world of the Pink Opaque, a melodramatic fantasy show that Maddy is obsessed with. The two friends start to meet up more regularly to watch the Pink Opaque together. Over the years they become more anymore obsessed with it until the line between reality and fiction slowly starts to fade.
In desperate need of a Pink Opaque adaptation – Review: I Saw the TV Glow Read More »
The things we’d do for love. Separate the egg yolk from the white. Clean after her. Make sure she feels good and loved. Scrub off your brother in law’s blood from the walls. Cover up a murder for her? After making its debut at Sundance Film Festival, ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ made an additional appearance at the Berlinale. Rose Glass is no stranger to the Berlinale. Seven years ago, she participated in the Berlinale Talents summit as a writer and director. This time her new film is part of the Panorama section at the film festival. The film unfolds the story of Jackie (Katy O’Brian), an aspiring bodybuilder en route to a Las Vegas competition. Before she can compete, she stumbles upon a small town in New Mexico and falls in love with Lou (Kristen Stewart), the manager of a local gym. What sounds like the beginning of a love story quickly turns into a violent tale of passion, crime, and unforeseen consequences. The film thrives in its unpredictable narrative: From gory scenes in living rooms to Kristen Stewart dragging a body down her apartment’s porch in broad daylight. The film hits you with one element after the other without it getting too much to handle.There was not one moment of boredom in Rose Glass’ beautifully queer noir thriller. In its center is a story of love. The aspect of gore and the crimes themselves seem incredibly secondary. The audience is so hooked on the couple ever since they laid eyes on one another. “Love Lies Bleeding” offers a mesmerizing Sound Design by Paul Davies. It’s being used as a motif to direct the narrative seamlessly throughout the entire movie. Loud Gunshots, the cracking of bones or the eerie spurts of muscle growth serve as transitions to pull the audience right from one scene into the other. In the age of streaming, it’s easy to wait for the VOD to be released, but this film’s sound was created for an intense and breathtaking theatrical experience, so unless you’re particularly jumpy, we recommend watching this one on the big screen to get the full effect. The chemistry between Kristen Stewart’s Lou and Katy O’Brien’s Jacky ignites the screen with palpable intensity, particularly during the film’s steamy romantic encounters. The sex scenes are sizzling. Their love blossoms amongst chaos. Stewart has effortless charisma and coolness. Demonstrating her expansive rage in acting while O’Brien seems radiating every time she is seen on screen. Making these two characters fully their own. ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ is a nostalgic, thrilling ride from start to finish, offering an intoxicating mix of dark humor, revenge-fantasies and desire, packed into a rich, pulpy story filled with countless unexpected twists and surreal-esque elements. Love Lies Bleeding is set to hit US theaters on March 8 and UK theaters on April 19 (courtesy of Lionsgate). Image credits: Anna Kooris & A24
Rose Glass presents a beautifully queer noir thriller in ‘Love Lies Bleeding’: A Review Read More »
