Movie reviews of Alex Brannan

Here’s the bottom line: No Way Home is fun. You can see every string if you squint even a little. You can point out every inconsistency, the logic behind every emotional moment. These seams did bother me while I was watching, making it difficult for me to fully buy in and enjoy the experience. Review

Eternals, by comparison, feels like a film throwing a bunch of things at the wall to see what sticks. Most of it doesn’t work, but the fact that it is trying for something different within this formula is mildly exciting. Review

From a filmmaking perspective, it was hard for me not to think that this was just doing a serviceable job of what many wuxia films have done better. Review

Viewing the film without the larger continuity in mind, though, there are some competently-directed sequences. Review

The set pieces are fun, but their superfluousness to the larger mythology renders them largely unimportant. Review

Cecilia Milocco is astonishing in this film. Knocking can’t work without this performance. Hers is easily one of the best performances of the fest, mirroring anxiety, confusion, and dread effectively from start to finish. Review

Thematic tension regarding having the capacity to take the necessary action despite its ugliness is a motif, but this only manages to be a tepid examination of fragile masculinities. Review

With a bevy of recognizable names in found footage filmmaking interviewed, it seems marketed at the horror fan. But that audience is also the most likely to already be familiar with the information being put forth. Review

Whether you compare it to its source material or not (or the zanier second film, for that matter), Slumber Party Massacre 2021 is a clunky film whose awkward attempts at humor struggle to land. Review

If anything in this film is going to get a crowd going, it’s Tjanjanto’s work. It is a cyberpunk body horror masterclass. Review

Through its first two acts, Housebound is a rather effective mood piece. There isn’t anything particularly flashy about its design or aesthetic, but the increasing tension among its characters held my attention. Review

Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest is a feel-good doc with a lot of heart. Review

The film’s parts complement its whole, with the editing, shot choices, and soundtrack contributing to the light tone. It is a well-shot film with plenty of effective gags. The main issue is that the script loses steam (and some of its charms) through its final act. Review

I was bored, I’ll admit it, and while I watched I struggled to find a more sound opinion than that. Review

Glasshouse ponders this situation while keeping the tension high. And while the film ends pretty much exactly in the place you would not want it to, it is still compelling for its quiet thrills and complex character dynamics. Review

Glenn Chan’s film is a strange balance of the supernatural and gritty realism, and I don’t think that it works. Review

The script does its best trying to capture this story with nuance and to go beyond mere shock and discomfort, but it struggles at crucial moments. Review

Joint is a compelling film despite its use of one of the oldest cliches in the crime genre. To see a fresh take on the formula of an ex-con wanting out of the crime game is a welcome surprise. And the density of the plot welcomes repeat viewings. Review

Sinkhole is an entertaining and humorous disaster film. Review

Either are acceptable on their own, but they are somewhat redundant together, effectively slowing the pacing down as a result. Review

A Leg struggles to transcend its offbeat premise and deliver on the emotional story it is aiming for. Review

Hotel Poseidon is weirdness for its own sake, eluding tangible meaning with its closed off cast of characters. Sometimes this formula can work. I don’t think Poseidon makes it across that tightrope. Review

Not Quite Dead Yet is a charming film with its fair share of indelible humor. But it is also a bit too cutesy for my blood. Review

Some may take issue with the tone of Agnes, but I found it the most fascinating part. There are genuinely funny moments in this, but there is also a serious undercurrent regarding the complicated connections (spiritual and otherwise) which challenge us. Review