J.G. Clarke’s directorial and writing debut, Numbered Lives, is an impressive indie thriller that combines high production values with an engaging premise. The film follows Noah, a young man who, after a botched robbery, finds himself imprisoned under dubious circumstances. His story takes a dark and mysterious turn when he awakes in a sinister facility controlled by shadowy forces.
Read MoreBlind Escape (2024)
Chris Kinzie’s Blind Escape is a striking debut feature that captures the grit and moral ambiguity of a world in decay. Streaming later this month through FilmHub with worldwide distribution, this independently produced crime thriller manages to punch above its weight, despite the challenges of working with a young, unknown cast and limited resources. Ambitious in its storytelling and bold in its stylistic choices, Blind Escape is an indie gem worth discovering.
Read MoreThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon - Season 1 & 2 Box Set (2024)
Christmas comes early for fans of The Walking Dead franchise with the release of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – Season 1 & 2 Box Set. This Blu-ray and DVD collection, arriving December 16, 2024, courtesy of Acorn Media International, is a perfect gift for fans of the long-running series, offering a compelling new take on the apocalypse with Norman Reedus at its heart. The spin-off takes audiences on a thrilling journey as Daryl finds himself in post-apocalyptic France, where the zombie outbreak began. Season one introduces viewers to the rugged beauty and danger of this unfamiliar landscape, as Daryl takes on the role of protector for Laurent, a boy believed to be humanity's savior.
Read MoreMeSseD Comics (2024)
I first came across comics self-published by Jay B. Kalagayan at a small con around the corner from my house a few years before the pandemic. A vet of the Cincinnati theater and comics scenes, he was branching out into the Columbus area and would soon make a splash by being named the executive director of our burgeoning comics festival, Cartoon Crossroads Columbus. Though he stepped down after the ’23 show, it was during that time that I got better acquainted with the relentless self-starter.
Read MoreNosferatu (2024)
For my money, Robert Eggers is one of the best filmmakers working today. The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman are all masterpieces. When it was announced that his next film would be a reimagining of F.W. Murnau’s iconic silent Expressionist Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror from 1922, I was instantly intrigued, despite my general distaste for remakes.
Read MoreThe Damnation (2024)
Christopher Darton’s The Damnation is a remarkable debut into narrative feature filmmaking, blending social consciousness with atmospheric horror in an 80-minute story that lingers long after the credits roll. Made on a modest budget of $32,000, this film is as much about tenacity as it is about storytelling. The challenges of a three-year production—halted and reimagined midway—are reflected in the film’s layered narrative and its richly textured world.
Read MoreMassacre at Femur Creek (2024)
Oh, look! Another low-budget slasher that purports itself to be a love letter to 80s slashers - along with bro culture, marriage, relationships, and those questionable life choices. Imagine The Hangover if Jason Voorhees showed up halfway through and started roasting marshmallows along with human carnage.
Read MoreGhosts (2024)
Ghosts, directed by the talented Oriana Mejer, is a mesmerizing piece of experimental cinema that defies categorization. Part poem, part visual journey, part cathartic exploration of grief, this film leaves a lasting impression. Drawing from Vauhini Vara's essay on loss and its uncanny AI-generated poetry, Mejer crafts a story that is equally visually inspiring and emotionally resonant.
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