All Forms of Art

  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...

  What would you think if someone got into your house and told you that you need to sacrifice one member of your family or humanity will end? Wait, what? Yes, that’s the premise of Knock at the Cabin . A little girl and her dads are on vacation in a cabin in the middle of nowhere when four people armed with strange weapons appear and say one of them should be sacrificed.  Is this horror? I’ve seen people rebuking the movie, and I get why, but let’s take a minute to think about it. Why do you feel so… well, nothing. When the story starts, it is promising. It is not something you’ve seen a thousand times in other movies, and you can feel the tension. It is an impossible choice to make. Here, the problem starts: it creates expectations. These expectations are not fulfilled. The movie is supposed to be a psychological thriller, but you never feel your heart race. Instead, it is slow and calm; all you see are four lunatics and one guy screaming at them. I believe the other guy is s...

  Based on the book of Daria Polatin, with the same title, Devil in Ohio , is the story of a traumatized girl that escapes from a cult and finds shelter with a psychiatrist and her family. Cults are part of the social curiosity, which is enough reason for many to check out this show. Yet, this wasn’t what had the most significant impact on me. The therapist Dr. Suzanne Mathis is a therapist that runs the extra mile for her clients. After meeting Mae, she immediately feels like a mission to take care of and help her. But, being a traumatized child herself, she quickly forgets the needed boundaries between patient and doctor. And sometimes, she forgets about her own family and their needs. I found her an annoying woman. She always has the right thing to say but as a psychiatrist. Even for her daughters, she says the right sentences, but not as a mother would. Instead, she seems cold and distant and so focused on Mae’s needs that no one else’s seems to matter. She is so eager to do th...

  The Sandman is a recent Netflix show, and it's been having a lot of success among the audience. It is the right amount of "weirdness" and mystery, and that conjunction keeps you watching. How do you show you’re something more? In this first season, you get to know the characters. And, frankly, it seems like it's all this season is about: introduction. I felt like I went to a party, and someone introduced me to all the guests at once.  I'd like to focus on the main character and Tom Sturridge . He had a fantastic performance. This is no regular character. How do you show the public that you're not human?  Tom definitely did it. From the very first scene to the most simple ones, you always get the vibe that he is "something more". Congratulations, fantastic work. So many different characters Throughout the show, you get to know different characters from different spiritual beliefs. Here, they all belong to the same world. Some of them are pretty fun...

  This new season of Stranger Things started strong and is better than the previous one from the very first minute. Now, let’s pause to evaluate how huge those episodes are. All episodes are more than one hour long, and the last one is more than 2 hours! That’s not a show. That’s a movie franchise!  They don’t ruin the show by doing this or anything, but it can make it a bit more tiring.  Usually, there is a reason for you to see a show instead of a whole movie, right? So why not have more episodes but shorter ones? Vecna - was all worth it? Everything is connected, not only the hive mind of Vecna and its “things”. Everything was connected or depending on each other in this season. The Russians were fighting or, at least, using the same things that were attacking Hawkins. It may look absurd initially, but everything starts to make sense soon enough. The character Yuri made me laugh a few times. He is a bastard, I know, but let’s face it, his craziness gave a light touch...

  Last Night in Soho is the most recent movie by Edgar Wright. So that alone is a reason to check it out, right?  This is probably one of the weirdest movies I’ve seen in months. Yet, as soon as I started watching, I couldn’t look away anymore. It is different, which makes it interesting, but there is no better word to describe it than weird . The 60s While living in the present time, the main character, Eloise, is a young lady in love with the 60s. She loves music, fashion, and everything related to that decade. Eloise is not an ordinary girl, though. She seems to have some "spiritual powers", I would say. We know she sees her dead mother, but we are never sure what she can do more. Things get weird when, after renting a room from an old lady, she is transported to the 60s London. There, she follows a mysterious woman named Sandie. She is so in love with the decade that everything seems fascinating. At first… It quickly turns out to be a bit creepy, and it will probably mak...

  Baxter is an old French movie about a dog looking for its perfect family. You have access to his thoughts and opinions, always following the dog’s point of view. Do you think we’re talking about a cute dog looking for a sweet owner? Yeah… not even close. Baxter is not cute Baxter is not a cute dog. He is scary and creepy as hell. Actually, he might be considered a psychopath. He kills his first owner! Then, he tries to kill a baby for no other reason than jealousy and selfishness. It is a weird way to show a dog.  Yet, Baxter is not the only one that’s creepy. When he finally finds what seems to be the perfect owner, that’s when the movie gets genuinely uncomfortable to watch. The kid is as messed up as the dog.  Innovative  When I watched it, I had zero information about the film. The only thing I knew was it was about a dog—nothing else. When I realized where it was going and how they portrayed a disturbed mind, I thought the movie was recent. The 80s clothes an...

  A thick mist falls up a town, and something about it isn’t right - good premise. We would expect nothing less than good from a Stephen King’s book. Yet, as we all know, book adaptations can be quite disappointing.  It goes from good to terrible. I loved the plot and, in the beginning, I was very curious and interested - it was almost impossible to stop watching it. Yet, at some point, it started to get on my nerves, and not in the way that a good horror show should. As we got closer to the end of the season, many things stopped making sense. Some characters are simply… not believable. The explanations for whatever was happening were ridiculous and easily refutable. It all took away the feeling of “this could be real”. It killed my interest. Many changes were made to the original novel. Some of them were interesting and made the story better, yet others were… well, nonsense. Cast and production As I said before, the first episodes were good and made us want to keep watching, ...

Locke and Key is a story about a murder. A grieving family, running from their memories, moves to a small town to live in an old family house. In this house, they find a group of magic keys with all sorts of powers. I had a good time watching Locke and Key . It is interesting, mysterious, and entertaining. Yet, there isn’t much more to take from the show. In many points, it is shallow. After checking some reviews, I realized there isn’t any consensus on this one at all. There are those who loved it and those who hated it. Some people think the actors were amazing; others believe they were terrible. Well, the show is fun, and the actors have an average quality. I can’t see the reason for such a fuss.  Horror(ish) It is a horror story, but it lacks something to be considered that way. They were very safe in their choices and decisions, and it wasn’t as creepy as it should have been. Entering someone’s mind? Flying around dead in the garden? They manage to mak...