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Note: This review was originally published as part of our 2024 Fantasia coverage. The Code opens in theaters on May 9.

Ahead of its world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival, The Code announced itself with several red flags. Set during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2021 with a synopsis throwing around terms like “cancel culture,” it stars Dasha Nekrasova and Peter Vack, filmmakers and divisive personalities who some might describe as reactionary trolls. This combination of hot-button issues with two leads known for pushing buttons could signal no more than empty provocation. Would The Code amount to a middle finger jabbed repeatedly in viewers’ eyes? Surprisingly, and thankfully, no. This is, first and foremost, a film by Eugene Kotlyarenko, and the choice to cast two controversial actors ties into his goals of engaging headfirst with the internet’s dominance and reshaping of culture over the past several years. While its attempts aren’t always successful,...

Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival unveiled the first wave of its upcoming 29th edition on Thursday, a boisterous roster that brings new work from Hwang Wook,the Adams Family, Steve Pink, Julie Pacino, and Brock Bodell.

One year after debuting Mash Ville at Fantasia, South Korea’s Hwang returns with The Woman, a psychological thriller starring Han Hye-ji in which a girl pursues a mysterious stranger after an innocent act results in her friend’s suspicious suicide.

The first wave includesMother Of Fliesfrom John and Zelda Adams and Toby Poser, about a woman who seeks dark magic from a...

Here. We. Go. The first wave of titles from this year's Fantasia International Film Festival have just been announced. Steve Pink has a new film, Terrestrial, starring Jermaine Fowler. Kurtis David Harder follows up their 2022 film Influencer, with the return of CW in Influencers. There is Mexico's first ever stop motion feature film, I Am Frankelda. And Fantasia would not be Fantasia if the Adams Family did not have a new film to screen at the festival. They return with a new flick, Mother of Flies. Everything else, including news about the festival's major new sponser, follows. Fantasia Unveils Vivid First Wave Of Titles For Its 29th Edition Steve Pink’s Terrestrial, Kenichi Ugana’s I Fell In Love With A Z-grade Director, Julie...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

How Bela Lugosi inspired one of Disney’s darkest creations, and how Universal is reclaiming his legacy this summer.

If you’ve ever thought Disney’s Chernabog from Fantasia looked a little familiar—especially to horror fans—you’re not imagining things. The resemblance between Disney’s winged demon and Universal’s classic Dracula isn’t just a coincidence. It’s cinematic ancestry.

In fact, Bela Lugosi, the man who made Dracula a pop culture icon in 1931, briefly served as a model for Chernabog during Fantasia’s early production. While Disney eventually scrapped his footage, the influence remained—visible in every ominous gesture and elegant flourish of the demon atop Bald Mountain.

Bela Lugosi’s Shadow Over Disney

Back in the late 1930s, when Disney animators were bringing “Night on Bald Mountain” to life for Fantasia, they sought theatrical inspiration for their towering, terrifying villain. Lugosi—already a horror legend...

Fan-fave singers John Foster and Jamal Roberts have both advanced to the Top 7 of American Idol, joining Slater Nalley, Thunderstorm Artis, Gabby Samone, Breanna Nix, and Mattie Pruitt. This is undoubtedly one of the strongest lineups in the show's 23-season history.

The contestants performed Monday night during the "Judge’s Song Contest" episode in which Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie picked the tunes. After all was said and done, host Ryan Seacrest announced that John, Jamal, Slater, Thunderstorm, Gabby, and Breanna had made it into America's Top 6, and that Josh King and Mattie were the Bottom 2.

As co-winners of the contest, Luke and Lionel chose to save Mattie, making Josh the latest person eliminated from ABC's reality TV show. Ironically, Josh's last performance on the show was "Home," about a person's desire to return home — he got his wish.

John Foster performed "I Cross My Heart" by George Strait...

Exclusive: American Idol kicked off the Season 23 live shows on a high note.

Things began to heat up on Sunday, which featured guest mentor James Taylor and the unveiling of this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees. The episode rocked the 8 to 10 p.m. window with 5.31M average viewers, per live + same-day data from Nielsen, up 18% from the week prior to deliver a season high audience in that time period.

That also marks the show’s largest overall audience since its post-Oscars debut in March, when it had an incredibly strong lead-in. Sunday’s episode scored a 0.53 rating among adults 18-49, ranking as the top entertainment program across broadcast and cable in the two-hour time slot.

The energy carried over into Monday, delivering 4.6M viewers for the second episode of the week, which featured special guests Jelly Roll and Chayce Beckham, as well as former winners Fantasia and Abi Carter.

Note: This interview was originally published as part of our Fantasia coverage. Vulcanizadora opens in theaters on May 2.

Five years after his surrealist comedy Relaxer, and over a decade since his breakout Buzzard, Joel Potrykus is back with Vulcanizadora. For those familiar with Potrykus’ work, his fifth feature continues the singular, rebellious style he and his film band Sob Noisse established since his feature debut Ape. Shot on a low budget, the film stars frequent collaborator Joshua Burge and Potrykus himself as two friends venturing into the woods after an incident has one of them on the run. They have a destination in mind, and over time it’s revealed that they have a disturbing plan involving a homemade contraption that could easily fit in a Saw film. Once they arrive at their endpoint, their plan goes sideways, and the film deals with the fallout of their actions once they return home.

The 23rd season of American Idol is moving along quickly and we’re already down to the Top 10 contestants.

For the live episode on Monday night (April 28), the Top 12 performed songs that were made iconic by previous Idol contestants and they were mentored by former winner Fantasia Barrino.

The episode aired live coast-to-coast to allow fans throughout the entire country to vote live throughout the night. At the end of the episode, America’s votes were counted and two contestants were sent home.

The Top 10 will be celebrating the iconic women of music for Idol‘s Ladies’ Night on Sunday.

Browse through the slideshow to see the 2 contestants sent home and the 10 artists advancing to the next round…...

Tonight on American Idol, the Top 12 recreate iconic moments from the singing competition's past as Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino mentors the contestants. Artist-in-residence Jelly Roll joins the audience as judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan provide feedback.

After the Top 12 perform, two will be eliminated when host Ryan Seacrest announces the Top 10.

Fantasia created her own iconic moment when she sang "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess while competing in Season 3. The classic performance took place on April 15, 2004, when the Top 8 took on songs from movie soundtracks. Long before standing ovations were the norm after each Idol performance, original judge Randy Jackson rose to his feet and declared it "the single best Idol performance of any season." Paula Abdul called it "Oscar-winning" and the hard-to-impress Simon Cowell said, "You prove the point, with that performance tonight, why we are critical of people who just sing well. There was something...

There was a double elimination on the latest episode of American Idol!

It was “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” night on Sunday (April 27), where the top 14 contestants received guidance from guest mentor James Taylor and took on iconic songs from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legends.

During the episode, the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees were also announced.

On Monday (April 28), the top 12 will then perform unforgettable songs inspired by iconic American Idol moments, with season three Fantasia returning and Jelly Roll joining the audience.

Browse through the slideshow to see the 6 contestants sent home and the 14 artists advancing to the next round…...

A night shift turns into a descent into madness in Self Driver, the award-winning horror thriller making its US digital debut on May 8 via Cinephobia Releasing. Directed by Michael Pierro in his feature debut, the film has already carved a name for itself across the international festival circuit, picking up multiple accolades and unsettling audiences with its stripped-back style and deeply unnerving premise.

Nathanael Chadwick stars as a cab driver buckling under the weight of personal debt and mounting economic pressure. With few options left, he signs up to a mysterious ride-share app that promises easy money and complete freedom. What begins as a lifeline quickly spirals into something far darker. Each fare brings him closer to a reckoning with society’s shadow side, and his own capacity for moral compromise.

As the night unfolds, his passengers range from unpredictable to disturbing, pushing him to his psychological limits. The further he drives,...

Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. This week, Lana Del Rey marks her return with a sad, cowgirl ballad, Bon Iver lets the light in on a brilliant new LP, and Shaboozey taps Myles Smith for a good ole, stomping country song. Plus, new music from Rema, Marina, and Green Day.

Lana Del Rey, “Henry, Come On” (YouTube)

Bon Iver, “There’s a Rhythmn,” (YouTube)

Shaboozey, Myles Smith, “Blink Twice” (YouTube)

Rema, “Bout U” (YouTube)

Marina,...

I Don't Understand You: "Dom (Nick Kroll) and Cole (Andrew Rannells), a couple on the verge of adopting a baby, embark on an Italian vacation — the perfect opportunity to reconnect before the new addition arrives. Everything is picture-perfect, the epitome of a European babymoon, when things begin to spiral out of control. Lost on the way to dinner, their car gets stuck in a ditch, leaving them stranded in rural nowhere during a torrential downpour. These two Americans, who are used to being catered to, are now in a foreign land with no cell service, zero comprehension of the Italian language, and, as fear takes over, escalating turmoil that could explode at any moment."

Co-Written and Co-Directed by Brian Crano and David Joseph Craig Produced by Joel Edgerton, Nash Edgerton, Kara Durrett, Jessamine Burgum, Jonathan Glickman Executive Producers Toby Nalbandian, Gregory Schmidt, Will Greenfield, Ben Shafer, Giovanni Pompili, Lara Costa Calzado,...

Disney+ is set to release a documentary about the making of A Goofy Movie in honor of the film's 30th anniversary. A Goofy Movie, which featured Goofy (Bill Farmer) and his son Max (Jason Marsden) going on a road trip to spend more time together, was a moderate box office hit but, in the years since, has become a cult classic, particularly as the young audience who saw it as kids have grown up. Now, fans are getting a comprehensive retrospective of the film in the Disney+ documentary Not Just a Goof.

Disney has officially released the official trailer for Not Just a Goof, the documentary that chronicles the making of The Goofy Movie. The film will take a look at the behind-the-scenes making of the 1995 animated film, its initial response and the larger cultural impact it has had in the 30 years since its release. Not Just a Goof will...

There's always something fascinating about the phenomenon of late-stage sequels. Filmmakers will sometimes wait decades after a film is released to make a follow-up, which only proves that the original has either retained its cultural clout or somehow gained more traction in the mass consciousness over time. It's easy to see why, in 1985, Walter Murch decided to make a sequel to 1939's "The Wizard of Oz" called "Return to Oz." It had been about 46 years since the original had been released, but "The Wizard of Oz" had — and has — remained one of the most famous movies of all time. A sequel would merely tap into the perpetual affection American audiences have for the film.

And, of course, some long-in-the-tooth sequels are merely a matter of timing, interest, and commitment. Why were there over ten years between "Toy Story 2" (1999) and "Toy Story 3" (2010)? No other reason than that the studio was working on other things.

When you click play, stark images of trees, water bodies, spring-laden countryside, and a scattered coloring stump appear as a girl sings a prayer. While colors often signify happiness and joy, Carol Morley has other plans. Like leaves that fall from tree branches as spring approaches, The Falling gets darker with every angel that falls prey to an unanswered question. It’s staggering how she manages to showcase a wide range of emotions, all surrounded by one truly chaotic entity—based mostly on lies, or maybe not?

There are films that make you feel happy—this isn’t one of those. There are films that make you sad—this isn’t one of those either. And there are films that connect with you—this isn’t that kind of film. And yet, it feels essential. Carol Morley’s The Falling has cemented a fact in my head: “I’m going...

Roa is singing to a queen he’d like to keep. On Tuesday, the rising Puerto Rican star released his yearning Latin trap single, “Reina.”

“Queen, I don’t know if you’re the right one/But with you, everything feels bigger,” sings the Puerto Rican star on the chorus in Spanish. “Don’t tell me about this bitch/No one comes close to you, ma, you’re perfect.”

Ahead of the song’s release, the star shared a screengrab of his Notes app with the single playing. “My favorite song is out today,...

[The following post contains Major spoilers for the Tuesday, April 1, episode of Jeopardy!] Bryce Wargin, from Kansas City, Missouri, returned for his second game of Jeopardy! after defeating six-day champion Josh Weikert. He faced two new competitors, one of whom did not qualify for Final Jeopardy. Wargin had a one-day total of $15,400. The post-market surveillance coordinator played against Conner Huey from Bremerton, Washington, and Kristen Ramsey from Storrs, Connecticut, on Tuesday (April 1) night. The first round didn’t start out too well for the newbies. Wargin was the only one on the plus side after 15 clues — Wargin had $6,200, Huey had -$800, and Ramsey had -$400. Huey, a student, incorrectly answered the first Daily Double, causing him to go into the negatives. The clue read, “An animated short set to this piece by composer Paul Dukas eventually grew into the film Fantasia.” He didn’t know the answer and lost $600, giving him a total of -$600. The correct answer was The ...

Quick LinksBambi II Did the UnexpectedFantasia 2000 Accomplished a Dream Walt Disney Never Lived To SeeMulan 2 Is Unpleasant and UnexcitingThe Fox and The Hound 2 Feels Completely MeaninglessMufasa: The Lion King Tarnished the Lore Established by the Oringal Animated FilmCars 2 Was the Opposite of Everything People Loved About the FirstThe Santa Clause 3 Marked the End of a Trilogy That Shouldn't Have BeenBeverly Hills Chihuahua 2 Is a Forgettable Sequel to a Film That's Equally ForgettableBrother Bear 2 Left Fans Wondering Why it Was MadeKronk's New Groove Failed To Hit the Comedic Heights of Its Predecessor

For over a century, Disney has changed that art form of filmmaking in more ways than one, enchanting audiences worldwide with a wide array of films that have been praised for the strength of their storytelling and creativity. While a financially and critically successful film would easily convince any other studio to move ahead on a sequel, regardless of how much sense it makes,...

Brighton Festival, which takes place from 3-26 May, is the largest and most established annual curated multi-arts festival in England. Taking place over three weeks in May, the Festival is a celebration of music, theatre, dance, art, film, literature, debate, outdoor and community events in venues and locations across Brighton, Hove and Sussex.

Brighton Festival 2025 Guest Director Anoushka Shankar has worked with the Festival to shape a programme that imagines a hopeful future after a difficult time, celebrating our collective ability to recover, take action and come together to change the world for the better, inspired by the idea of a ‘New Dawn’.

This year’s classical programme at the Brighton Festival, is going to be incredible, and will showcase some outstanding music featuring collaborative classical performances that span eras, genres and generations.

Anoushka Shankar said: “I’m thrilled to be welcoming an incredible range of performers from across the...

Whether they’re symbols of purity, sarcastic sidekicks, or straight-up murder targets, unicorns have pranced their way into some of cinema’s most memorable moments. Sometimes they’re majestic and wise, sometimes they’re total divas, and sometimes they’re just there to be hunted by some evil king with serious control issues. From animated classics to bizarre indie flicks, unicorns have proven that they can be more than just Lisa Frank stickers brought to life. On the occasion of the release of Death of a Unicorn, we’re diving into the most famous unicorns ever to grace the big screen—whether they’re noble and heroic, tragically misunderstood, or just straight-up weird. Alexa Camp

Fantasia (1940)

Fantasia only seems about as great as the particular segment you happen to be watching in the moment, but it’s is also one of the few Disney movies whose outsized aims marinate tastefully in memory instead of festering.

How Many Times Has Disney Nearly Gone Broke, Bankrupt, or Been on the Verge of a Sale?

The Walt Disney Company stands as a titan in global entertainment, its name evoking images of timeless animation, sprawling theme parks, and a seemingly unbreakable legacy. Yet, beneath this veneer of invincibility lies a history riddled with financial peril, near bankruptcies, and moments when the company’s very existence hung in the balance—or its ownership nearly slipped away.

This article takes an exhaustive look at these precarious episodes, drawing on archival records, historical accounts, and contemporary analyses to fact-check claims and provide a comprehensive picture. Below, we explore the key instances when Disney teetered on the edge of collapse or faced the prospect of being sold, enriched with additional details for a fuller narrative.

1. 1923: Laugh-o-Gram Films Bankruptcy – Walt Disney’s First Failure

The Event: Before The Walt Disney Company emerged as a household name,...

Walt Disney didn’t just make animation history — he made Academy Award history. To this day, Disney still holds many Academy Awards records, including the most competitive Oscars (a whopping 22) and the most Oscars overall (a monumental 26). This record includes myriad Oscars for Best Short Subject (Cartoon) for such animated shorts as "Flowers and Trees" (1932), "The Three Little Pigs" (1933), "The Ugly Duckling" (1939), and "Der Fuehrer’s Face" (1942), and a set of honorary Oscars, including one for the creation of Mickey Mouse (1932), the use of sound in Fantasia (1942), and the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in (1942). However, it was at the 11th Academy Awards in 1939 when Disney was bestowed the most unique Oscar in history.

At the ceremony on Feb. 23, 1939, Disney was given an honorary Academy Award for his first feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). By definition, honorary awards have always been special, but Disney’s was particularly unique.

After raiding the crown jewels for just about every live-action reboot imaginable, Disney has finally gotten around to the one that started it all, the 1937 classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. That film represents Walt Disney’s first-ever full-length animated feature.

Originally, Disney’s plan was to rerelease its animated vault treasures every seven years for a new generation of kids, but they got the bright idea to instead remake those films as live-action features. Thus we have had versions of Sleeping Beauty reimagined around evil Maleficent; Peter Pan; Fantasia; Dumbo; Pinocchio; three variations on 101 Dalmatians including Cruella; The Lion King; Jungle Book; Aladdin; Mulan; Alice In Wonderland; The Little Mermaid; and an unfortunate attempt to meddle with my favorite, Lady and the Tramp among others. The best in the live-action genre to date remain Bill Condon’s blockbuster Beauty and the Beast and Kenneth Branagh’s splendid Cinderella.

The cure is worse than the disease in the trailer for Párvulos: Children of the Apocalypse.

The Mexican coming-of-age post-apocalyptic zombie film opens in select theaters on April 4 from Firebook Entertainment.

From the executive producers of Huesera: The Bone Woman, it’s written and directed by Isaac Ezban.

In a dystopian future ravaged by a viral apocalypse, three young brothers find themselves isolated in a remote cabin deep. As they navigate this desolate world, they harbor a dark and disturbing secret in their basement—a presence they must feed to ensure their own survival.

Farid Escalante Correa, Leonardo Cervantes, and Mateo Ortega Casillas star with Norma Flores, Horacio F. Lazo, Carla Adell, Juan Carlos Remolina (“Who Killed Sara?”), and Noé Hernández (“Narcos: Mexico”).

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review out of Fantasia, “This coming-of-age horror fantasy gets bleak, as dystopian tales tend to, with Ezban plunging three young boys into gruesome,...

Throughout its three and a half-decade run, "The Simpsons" has seemingly managed to parody pretty much every aspect of popular culture. From major developments in political history to iconic movie scenes, the show's ability to recreate historic moments was always part of its charm, and "The Simpsons" acted as a way to showcase the animators' talents (at least in the golden age).

The "Raiders of the Lost Ark" parody from the opening of season 3 episode, "Bart's Friend Falls in Love," stands as one of the best examples. The hand-drawn recreation of Indy's escape from the Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors, reimagined as Bart escaping his home while being chased by an enraged Homer, was a genuinely impressive demonstration of the animators' abilities, and aside from being funny, proved that the show was being made by true craftsman.

As the show has gone on, the movie parodies have remained a consistent element,...

Quick LinksDisney’s Bambi Subverted Critical Expectations in 1942Bambi Would Go On to Become a Beloved Disney FilmA CGI Remake Similar to The Lion King Is Planned for Disney’s Bambi

In 1942, Disney released its fifth full-length animated feature, Bambi. The story followed a young forest prince as he grew into adulthood in the animal kingdom. Similar in plot to Disney's later smash hit, The Lion King (1994), the film follows Bambi through the loss of a parent and the maturation of his relationships; his understanding of responsibility and self-reliance. The movie itself was based on a 1923 Austrian coming-of-age novel by Felix Salten: Bambi, a Life in the Woods. Often seen as a parable examining Jewish persecution, the Disney adaptation surprised some critics on its release.

Prior to Bambi, Disney had released movies such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), and Dumbo (1941) -- cementing itself as a studio of magic,...

Joining Screambox today is the must-see thriller #Manhole, an intense and shocking new addition to our library that has a twist ending you’ll never see coming.

Shunsuke Kawamura’s life is going great by every measure from work to his engagement. On the day before his wedding, his colleagues hold a surprise party for him. On the way home, he falls into a deep manhole! When he wakes up, it is late at night and he must struggle to find his way out of the abyss deep below ground.

Director Kazuyoshi Kumakiri will shock audiences with this always-surprising thriller that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Joe Lipsett reviewed the film out of Fantasia last year, calling #Manhole “an exciting new twist on the confined single location thriller.

Check out the trailer today, and then subscribe to watch #Manhole and Terrifier 3 on Screambox.

The post ‘#Manhole’ – Intense,...

Joining Screambox next Tuesday, February 25th is the must-see thriller #Manhole, an intense and shocking new addition to our library that has a twist ending you’ll never see coming.

Shunsuke Kawamura’s life is going great by every measure from work to his engagement. On the day before his wedding, his colleagues hold a surprise party for him. On the way home, he falls into a deep manhole! When he wakes up, it is late at night and he must struggle to find his way out of the abyss deep below ground.

Director Kazuyoshi Kumakiri will shock audiences with this always-surprising thriller that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Joe Lipsett reviewed the film out of Fantasia last year, calling #Manhole “an exciting new twist on the confined single location thriller.

Check out the trailer today, and then subscribe to watch #Manhole and Terrifier 3 on Screambox.

Acclaimed Japanese animation director Masaaki Yuasa has announced the launch of his own animation studio, ame pippin. Teaming up with industry giants Asmik Ace, Inc., Aniplex Inc. and CoMix Wave Films Inc., Yuasa’s new venture promises to bring fresh and innovative content to the world of animation.

Yuasa, known for his unique and imaginative storytelling, has been a prominent figure in the animation world for decades. In 2013, he co-founded the hugely popular Japanese animation studio Science Saru with producer Eunyoung Choi. That studio produced Yuasa’s 2023 Golden Globe-nominated feature “Inu-Oh,” Netflix’s “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” and episodes of “Adventure Time” and “Star Wars: Visions.”

In the animation community, Yuasa’s most highly regarded work may be 2004’s “Mind Game,” considered by many to be one of the most important Japanese works of the 21st century. His more recent films, such as “Lu Over The Wall” and “Ride Your Wave,...

For practically the past century, Disney has crafted some of the most beloved films on the big screen. Utilizing animated artistry and brilliant visual storytelling, The Walt Disney Company has enchanted and delighted entire generations.

That said, as much as we adore our favorite princesses and cartoon characters, there's something truly remarkable when the artists and filmmakers have free reign, resulting in some delightfully bizarre features. Disney+ has nearly the entire filmography of the animation studio and then some, but here are our picks for just how weird things can get at the house of mouse.

Fantasia (1940)

What better way to begin this list than with Disney's first art house film? Presented in "Fantasound" in 1940, Walt Disney's concert feature blended famous pieces of classical music with animation magic. Although this combo resulted in iconic sequences like "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," it also gave the artists permission to experiment.

Look at the visuals of "Toccata in Fuge,...

Quick LinksDisney's Bolt Was a Successful But Almost Forgotten Disney FilmDisney's Bolt Helped Save Walt Disney Animation in the Early 2000sDisney's Bolt Has a Similar Premise to Disney • Pixar’s Toy Story

It's possible only Disney fans remember Bolt(2008). One of the first fully computer-generated movies Disney produced without the partnership of Pixar in the early 2000s. The studio was struggling to make the transition from hand-drawn animation to CGI at the time, and Bolt gave the studio the boost it needed. Starring John Travolta and a young Miley Cyrus, the movie follows a dog who believes he has the same superpowers as his TV persona. It premiered on November 17, 2008, at Disney's El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, and ranked third at the box office in its opening weekend.

Critically and financially, it was a hit for Disney. However, over the years, a shadow has fallen over Bolt, and it's...

Utopia has secured worldwide rights to Pedro Kos’ psychological thriller In Our Blood and will commence talks with buyers at the EFM in Berlin next week.

Brittany O’Grady from The White Lotus and It’s What’s Inside stars as filmmaker Emily Wyland who reconnects with her estranged mother tocollaborate on a documentary.

When her mother mysteriously disappears, Emily and her cinematographer Danny embark on a search, uncovering haunting remnants of her past struggles with addiction. E.J. Bonilla, Alanna Ubach, Krisha Fairchild, Steven Klein, Bianca Comparato, and Leo Marks round out the cast.

Mallory Westfall, known for her work in the genre...

All eyes are on the alternate poster for The Dead Thing, pictured below. The erotic thriller drops February 14 on Shudder.

The film will also screen on 35mm at New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles on February 6, IFC Center in New York City on February 11, and Music Box Theatre in Chicago on March 7 and 8 with more cities to be announced.

Blu Hunt (The New Mutants) and Ben Smith-Petersen (Mad Max: Fury Road) star with John Karna (“Scream”), Katherine Hughes (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl), and Brennan Mejia (“Power Rangers Dino Charge”).

Elric Kane, co-host of Fangoria’s Colors of the Dark podcast, makes his solo feature directorial debut from a script he co-wrote with Webb Wilcoxen.

In the movie, “Alex is trapped in a downward spiral of shallow hookups and tepid connections, but she is caught off guard when her dating app swipes lead her into the arms of a mysterious,...

Disney is a huge movie studio responsible for countless beloved films over the last century.For the most part, Disney's animated films are wholesome entertainment with messages of friendship and harmony. However, some scenes in certain movies have sparked controversy.

Even though the studio is known for being family-friendly, Disney has offered movie moments that are offensive to some audiences. This was more common during the studio's earlier years, like in Song of the South, Dumbo, and Fantasia. However, a few examples persist even in relatively recent films, including Tarzan. Some of these controversial Disney scenes are more shocking than others, but no matter what, all of them seem strangely out of place when revisiting their respective movies.

Updated on January 31, 2025, by Ajay Aravind: With the rising awareness of socio-political issues, today's viewers are a lot less tolerant of prejudice than their mid-20th century counterparts. Despite the concept of...

For a long time, sequels to Disney’s animated movies were created primarily for straight-to-home releases. These movies were often perceived as lower in quality, although many were underrated at the time. While they rarely matched the original in scope and depth, the stronger entries still provided beloved characters with new challenges to grow and learn from.

Thanks to the success of sequels from DreamWorks and Pixar, Disney’s animation studio has become more ambitious with theatrical releases for their sequels. Whether it’s a 2D hand-drawn film from Disney’s Renaissance era or a modern 3D big-budget production, the studio is building an impressive library of animated sequels.

Related10 Best Disney Animated Movies Made Before 1960, Ranked

Disney wouldn't be the studio it is today without its early classics like Fantasia and Dumbo, which left an indelible mark in the world of animation.

Peter Pan: Return to Neverland Had a...

Bluey has often been referred to as a kids' show that parents can watch too, along with other similar takes. This writer is here to tell you that kids are far from mandatory to benefit from a straight-up Bluey binge, as many episodes not only speak to the kid in us but help the grown-up side see things with a fresh set of eyes.

Not all of the 154 episodes are as simple and cutesy as they appear, as many of them take a sharp turn into some deep subjects (along with some adult humor as well). Take a look at this small sampling and see if it doesn't turn you into a bonafide Bluey buff!

"Sleepytime"

Firstly, we need to address the heavy hitter. If there's one episode that seems to be the absolute definitive Bluey experience, it's "Sleepytime." Don't let the cutesy title or premise fool you, this is...

Disney films have a long history of including darkness within their films. While some pictures dabble with darkness, others have been downright terrifying. Whether it’s thematic, like in Pinocchio, or visual, such as in Fantasia, everyone has that one Disney film that perhaps still keeps them up at night to this day. But then, there’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, an animated masterpiece that balances both and results in a movie that is as beautiful as it is terrifying. For me, though, it’s the film’s most joyous sequence that still haunts my dreams, nearly 30 years later.

"If you've seen one, you've seen them all." It's a phrase we may each have used before, or at least something of the spirit behind it, when talking about films of a certain genre. You may think, if you're not a fan of horror movies, that if you've seen just one slasher, you know how they all work. And if you see just one feel-good romantic comedy, you might think you don't need to watch any more because of how familiar the tropes may be. But arguably, few genres get treated like this, and so unfairly, as the movie musical. Where so many audiences can suspend their disbelief to watch a superhero film or the like, they struggle to get over the image of people bursting into song to express their emotions. But the truth is, each genre has its standout entries and its misses. Not every musical is perfect,...

Although Disney is known for over 100 years of animated masterpieces, not every one of them is worthy of an Academy Award. That said, it's criminal to see just how many of Disney's best and brightest often go overlooked.

Fantasia 2000 (1999), Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), and Treasure Planet (2002) are just a small handful of Disney's underrated gems, but there's one that truly towers above the rest (in more ways than one).

Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame Scores Overdue Win

Per their social media post, RottenTomatoes recently announced that Disney's adaptation of the Victor Hugo gothic novel finally achieved a Fresh Rating, currently at 80%. While it's certainly unusual for a decades-old film to make the page with this change, those who know what all went into it know that it was bound to happen eventually.

Although the House of Mouse took several artistic liberties when retelling this tale of religion, lust, and acceptance,...

Not feeling quite festive this holiday season? Could you use a few more scares on a cold winter night? If you have even just a few minutes to spare, we’ve got you covered!

Writer/director Adam Davis recently released his award-winning Christmas short film Orum via CryptTV‘s official YouTube page. With genre staple Kristina Klebe taking the lead, Orum finds a grieving daughter attempting to bring her mother back from beyond the grave–with horrifying consequences. Always game for a memorable genre role, horror icons Barbara Crampton and Bill Moseley are caught up in the holiday horror here as Klebe’s parents, a welcome addition to this brief but satisfying slice of short-form terror. Former WWE wrestler Paul London rounds out the cast.

Following its festival run, Orum was ultimately nominated for Best Horror Short and Best Supporting Performance (Barbara Crampton) at the 2024 Nightmares Film Festival. Sitting at a brief,...

Walt Disney was actually “erased” from a historical image with renowned Russian composer and conductor Igor Stravinsky.

While looking through some old images of Igor Stravinsky, Jeff Roth, a “caretaker” at the New York Times archives, discovered an image of Stravinsky where he was holding open music to show someone. However, the other half of the image was painted over with a ” thick layer of gray, water-based paint.”

Walt Disney was “canceled” from the image. The back of the photograph. Image from the New York Times.

The back of the image indicated that the New York Times had run the photo on three stories, once in 1948, once in 1953, and once in 1955. It also had the words “Walt Disney & Igor Stravinsky” written on it.

Walt Disney’s name caught Roth’s attention, and he carefully removed as much of the gray paint as he could and the full image was revealed...

When Moana was first released in 2016, Walt Disney Animation Studios, the main-line, non-Pixar producer of Disney cartoons, had released exactly two sequels: One in 1990 and one in 2000. Sequelizing classics was strictly a novelty business: The Rescuers Down Under got a why-not tryout in 1990, while Fantasia 2000 realized Walt Disney’s...

Walt Disney was the producer and studio mogul who pioneered in the field of animation, proving it could be used for more than just creating amusing shorts for kids. Let’s take a look back at all 19 animated features produced during his lifetime or that he personally worked on, ranked worst to best.

After years producing amusing shorts, most of them staring a lovable mouse named Mickey (voiced by Walt himself), Disney broke new ground with the first feature length animated film: “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937). Both a radical experiment in filmmaking and a revolution in storytelling, it proved cartoons were a viable means of artistic expression. Russian director Sergei Eisenstein, in fact, called it the greatest movie ever made, no small praise for the man who made “Battleship Potemkin” (1925).

With each subsequent feature — “Pinocchio” (1940), “Fantasia” (1940), “Dumbo” (1941), and “Bambi” (1942) — Disney and his team of animators refined their visual and narrative techniques,...

One might think, looking at the above headline, that this will be an article about the legendary composer John Williams, but that is not the case. Williams, perhaps shockingly, has only won five Oscars in his decades-long career, specifically for "Fiddler on the Roof," "Jaws," "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope," "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," and "Schindler's List." The famed composer, however, has been nominated for more Oscars than anyone in history (save for one), having been recognized 54 times since 1968. Williams' most recent nomination was for "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."

Others might also think of director John Ford or actor Katharine Hepburn as the most decorated talents in Oscars history, but they each only have four wins to their names. To be fair, winning four Oscars in one's field is still a huge achievement. Also, Ford holds the record as the most awarded director, and Hepburn the most awarded actor.

Quick Links Villains Have Always Played a Pivotal Role in Disney Films The Best Disney Villains are Not Redeemable Disney is Afraid to Let Its Villains Be Bad

Villains in Disney films have taken many shapes over the decades. They're witches, stepmothers, animals, and even religious figures and Disney clearly noticed the uptick in their popularity with audiences as time passed. The company spawned its Disney Villains brand and even produced films and books building repackaged narratives centering on some of its most popular antagonists. Whether it's because villains love to say the things some viewers are all thinking or are just fun to watch, there's something magnetic about a well-written villain.

However, a trend has emerged with Disney, and cinema in general, of presenting a more sympathetic side to villains. Giving some of them a tragic backstory as a reason for their dark actions has become a shorthand for...

Dialogue-free animation is currently mostly contained to artsy episodes of TV or emotionally devastating Pixar shorts. A sole reliance on visual storytelling has developed a mature reputation as popular kiddie fare has only gotten sillier and shoutier, more overrun with Minions and more reliant on YouTube’s autoplaying algorithm. But Gints Zilbalodis’ Flow,...

“Adrift in Tokyo” is the sixth feature by Japanese writer and director Satoshi Miki, whose reputation in his home country is based on his work in television, which is much infused with his particular brand of humor. While his films, unlike the work of colleagues like Takashi Miike or Takeshi Kitano, have largely remained unknown to many Western audiences, thanks to the attentiveness of companies such as the UK-based Third Window Films at least some of them can now be enjoyed in decent DVD releases. One of them is “Adrift in Tokyo”, a feature praised by critics and audiences as it was screened in various international festivals.

Adrift in Tokyo is screening at Five Flavours

Looking at the director, one might be excused to mistake him for one of his protagonists. With his goatee, slacker-like clothes and a floppy heat, Satoshi looks a bit like the Asian version of Johnny Depp...

As Disney announces what the new Villains Land will be like, it just proves why a 5th gate would be better for Wdw!

D23 had a lot of big announcements for Disney World. Among them was the transformation of Frontierland into a Cars-themed area, getting rid of the Rivers of America, which has not been a popular decision.

There's also the confirmation of the long-rumored Villains Land, which does make sense. An area dedicated to Disney villains is logical, and the artwork is unique, showcasing it. We now have a bit more info courtesy of D23 Brazil as Disney Parks head Josh D'Amaro announced which villains are coming to the land:

The Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland); Jafar (Aladdin); Lady Tremaine (Cinderella); Yzma (The Emperor's New Groove); Cruella de Vil (101 Dalmatians); Captain Hook (Peter Pan); Gaston (Beauty and the Beast); Mother Gothel (Tangled); Ursula (The Little Mermaid); Hades...

Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D’Amaro revealed over the weekend new details about the much-anticipated Villains Land at Walt Disney World. At the D23 Brazil fan event, D’Amaro presented a preview of the attraction which promised the most infamous and nefarious characters from the Disney universe.

Disney officially confirmed the Orlando-based land at D23 in Anaheim in August, teasing appearances from Ursula, Gaston and the Evil Queen.

The presentation in Brazil revealed 13 characters from Disney movies who would be inspiring the land. The list includes the three above as well as the Queen of Hearts (from Alice in Wonderland); Jafar (Aladdin); Lady Tremaine (Cinderella); Yzma (The Emperor’s New Groove); Cruella de Vil (101 Dalmatians); Captain Hook (Peter Pan); Mother Gothel (Tangled); Hades (Hercules); Chernabog (Fantasia). D’Amaro’s presentation included 15 images with all of the above as well as Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty), in both human and dragon form and...