All Forms of Art

  I went into Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story expecting a disturbing psychological drama. What I got was something closer to a poorly executed satire. It seems more interested in turning a horrific crime into a feminist statement than in exploring the people and circumstances behind it. The problem isn't the decision to explore the lives of women in a society that offered them very little freedom. There's plenty of material there. The problem is how shallowly the show handles it. A Family Worth Hating Lizzie's stepmother (Rebecca Hall) is introduced as a horrible woman, and her father (Charlie Hunnam) doesn't offer much of a sympathetic alternative. He's an imbecile who seems to care very little about his daughters or their well-being. The family environment is clearly miserable, but the show struggles to turn that misery into something emotionally meaningful. There are attempts to give the stepmother more depth by revealing her unhappiness, but they never qui...

  I went into Sinners knowing surprisingly little. I knew it had Michael B. Jordan, I knew people were talking about it, and that was pretty much it. So when the vampires showed up, I was genuinely surprised. Sinners doesn't begin like a vampire movie. It begins with music, family, racism, violence, and the dream of freedom. Set in Mississippi in 1932, the film gives us a very clear picture of how racial separation affected everyday life. It isn't presented as some distant historical concept. It is simply part of how the community functions. And then the vampires arrive. It sounds like a ridiculous combination when you put it that way. Somehow, it works. Music as an escape The thing I liked most about Sinners is its relationship with music. Music is an escape for these characters, both physically and metaphorically. It gives them somewhere to go when the world around them offers few choices. And the movie doesn't just tell us that music is powerful. It makes us feel ...

  Some movies are easy to criticize because something clearly doesn't work. 28 Years Later is more difficult. It isn't a bad movie. In fact, it starts incredibly well, has some fascinating ideas, and creates a world that immediately makes you curious. And yet, when the credits rolled, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. A Great Start The movie wastes no time. Its opening is shocking and immediately creates the feeling that you are watching something dangerous.  The movie understands something important about horror: sometimes the best way to create fear is to make safety feel temporary. For Spike ( Alfie Williams ), safety exists on the island. It is protected, isolated, and predictable. But eventually, he has to leave it. That's more than a survival decision - it's growing up. You Can't Protect a Child Forever One of the most interesting conflicts in the movie is between Spike's parents and their different ideas of what it means to...

  The Gorge initially seems to set up one kind of story, then suddenly becomes something very different. What begins as a slow exploration of isolation and the human need for connection eventually turns into a much more conventional science-fiction action story about genetic experimentation, military power, and the consequences of treating human beings as expendable. I actually found that division quite interesting because the two halves of the film are connected by one idea: what happens when we stop treating people as individuals? The Loneliness of the Gorge The first part of The Gorge is surprisingly focused on solitude. Two people are placed on opposite sides of an enormous gorge, with a very specific task: watch what comes out of it and make sure nothing gets through. There is no one else around them. No colleagues, no ordinary human interaction, and, most importantly, no real possibility of leaving. The people who send them there already know they won't come back alive....

  When HBO announced Bella Ramsey as Ellie in The Last of Us , the internet reacted almost immediately. Long before the first episode aired, social media was already filled with comparisons to the game's version of the character. Some questioned Bella's acting, others focused on their appearance, and many simply declared that the casting was "wrong." By the time audiences actually met Bella's Ellie, many people had already made up their minds. This raises an interesting question: was Bella Ramsey ever given a fair chance to become Ellie, or were they expected to imitate an impossible ideal? The Ellie Everyone Already Knew Most television characters are introduced to audiences for the first time. We don't know what they'll sound like, how they'll move, or how they'll react until we see them on screen. Ellie was different. For nearly a decade, millions of players had spent dozens of hours with the character . They didn't simply watch her sto...

  For years, Hollywood treated video games as little more than action-packed source material. The results were often forgettable. Then The Last of Us arrived and changed the conversation, proving that a faithful adaptation could also be prestige television. But success isn't simply about copying the game.  If anything, Season 2 showed just how delicate the balance really is. The series became an unexpected masterclass—not only in what to do, but also in what to avoid when adapting beloved games. 1. DO Respect the Heart of the Story Not every dialogue line has to survive, but the themes, emotional arcs, and character motivations do. This is why Episode 1 of Season 1 worked so well. Joel ( Pedro Pascal ) and Ellie ( Bella Ramsey ) feel real from the start. The show changes dialogue, shortens scenes, and even skips gameplay, but it preserves: Joel's emotional distance Ellie's curiosity and humor Their gradual trust The father-daughter dynamic The HBO series under...

  Fans of Stranger Things will probably feel instantly familiar with The Boroughs . The atmosphere, the mystery, and the unsettling small-community secrets clearly carry some of that same energy. But this time, there are no children riding bikes through suburbia. Instead, The Boroughs takes us somewhere far more unexpected: a retirement village that looks like paradise on the surface but hides something deeply disturbing beneath. A Retirement Community Hiding Dark Secrets One of the most original things about The Boroughs is its setting. We rarely see older people placed at the center of mystery and horror stories, and the show uses that brilliantly. The retirement village feels warm, peaceful, and almost too perfect. Everyone smiles. Everyone seems helpful. Everything appears safe. Of course, it isn’t. As the story unfolds, we begin to understand that the real danger is not necessarily the monsters hiding in the shadows, but the systems and people society automatically trus...

  One of the reasons The Walking Dead became such a powerful show isn’t just the zombies—it’s the moral questions it forces us to face. At first glance, Rick Grimes ( Andrew Lincoln ) is the clear “good guy.” He’s a sheriff, a family man, someone we instinctively trust. But if you really look at those first episodes, something more complicated starts to emerge. From Confusion to Control Rick wakes up from a coma into a world that no longer makes sense. In a matter of days, he goes from a confused and terrified man to a decisive leader. That speed is… unsettling. Before the apocalypse, we don’t see much of Rick as a leader. He seems grounded, moral—but not necessarily dominant. Yet the moment he finds a group, he naturally steps into control—as if that version of him was always there, just waiting for the right conditions. “We can’t just stay here, not knowing.” — Rick Grimes That line captures something essential: Rick doesn’t freeze. He moves. He decides. Is that...

Frankenstein is a classic story about a scientist who brings a creature to life and must then confront the consequences of his experiment.  It is a tale about human responsibility, ambition, and the moral weight of creating life without considering what comes after.  Although it has never ranked among my favorite classics, I recognize its impact across generations. Its themes—fear of the unknown, the pain of rejection, and the search for identity—continue to resonate because they touch universal human questions. Del Toro’s New Version Guillermo del Toro’s new Netflix adaptation is visually stunning, as expected from a director known for combining imagination, craftsmanship, and emotion.  Cinematically, the film is close to perfect: the set design, practical effects, and lighting all reflect his signature gothic style, similar to what he used in Crimson Peak and Pan’s Labyrinth , but with a colder and more restrained tone that fits this story. It feels like a project ...

  Coralie Fargeat's The Substance is a cinematic tour de force that melds grotesque body horror with a poignant exploration of identity, aging, and self-worth.  Anchored by Demi Moore's fearless performance , the film challenges viewers to confront society's obsession with youth and the lengths to which one might go to reclaim it. A Tale of Duality and Desperation Demi Moore portrays Elisabeth Sparkle, a former Hollywood star turned aerobics host, who faces obsolescence upon being dismissed on her 50th birthday.   In a desperate bid to regain her former glory, she turns to a mysterious substance that allows her to generate a younger, more "perfect" version of herself named Sue, played by Margaret Qualley ( Maid ).   This transformation sets off a harrowing cycle of identity swapping, with each woman allotted seven days in the real world before yielding to the other—a balance that becomes increasingly unsustainable.   Moore's Career-Defining Performance Moo...

  The Watcher was an up-and-coming show on Netflix . It promised horror and suspense… and I was excited to watch it. It starts in a very typical way: a family moves to a new house, a great deal, and in a few days, they realize that it was too good to be true. Catchy The new house that isn’t as great as they thought can make you feel that it is a bit of a cliche, yet you are hooked in no time. The story starts very well, leaves you curious, and has the potential for binge-watching. The first episodes are terrific, and you get high expectations about the show. Too high… The problem is that the story is disturbing, as it should, but it doesn’t develop. Great Cast One of the best things about this show is the cast. They are excellent, credible, and engaging.  The one I didn’t think was a good character was the private detective, yet Noma Dumezweni’s performance was flawless.  Disappointment The Watcher starts well, with a good story, able to grab your attention, but then… i...

  Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities is indeed a very curious and good show, totally worth watching. Horror The show has eight episodes. They are like miniature horror movies, all with different takes on horror. Some are more intense than others, and it is difficult for me to pick a favorite. They are all very different and focus on specific nightmares, one could say. What's your worst nightmare? There are different types of horror, and they impact you differently as well. In this show, you have a good collection in terms of diversity. Sometimes, there are monsters; sometimes, the monster is yourself… I considered reviewing each episode, but it wouldn't be fair. The show is great the way it is, with every single story in it. Guillermo del Toro The show is good, and if you are a fan of horror stories and Del Toro's work, this Cabinet of Curiosities is definitely the right one for you.

  Jack Kline enters the Supernatural show in the 13th season, but his story was designed in the 12th. Jack is a Nephilim, the son of Lucifer, with a human woman, Kelly Kline.  I will not get to all the details that led to his birth, despite the fact that they created an interesting storyline and yet another challenge for the Winchester brothers and the sweet angel Castiel. I'd instead focus on the character itself, as it was played by Alexander Calvert . A breath of fresh air After so many years on air, the show needed something new that would grab the audience's attention again - Sam's six-pack wasn't doing the trick anymore. So, the best way to develop interest was to create a new character that would be thickening the plot. A new permanent character that would take the spotlight along with Sam and Dean. Supernatural fans are used to regular characters that don't appear in every episode. For a while, Jack shared a significant amount of screen time with the broth...

  John Winchester is one of the main characters of Supernatural , even though he rarely appears. It is because of him that Sam and Dean get together again, and the story starts. So, what's his problem? He's a terrible father! Through Dean's Eyes In the beginning, most of us like John, and the one or two things he says or does which are idiotic… well, we ignore them. He looks cute and clearly loves his boys. We mostly see him by Dean's eyes, and Sam looks like a brat complaining that daddy doesn't understand him. Then John dies, we all share some tears, and dead guys tend to be seen as perfect, right? The past isn’t that glamorous As the story evolves, you may start questioning yourself about some things. Who raised the boys? Were they alone all the time? Why does he fight with everyone? If you look closely, the boys aren't always well-received by John's old friends, and most of them don't see him in a long time because… they had a fight. Are all his frie...