Third Annual Abortion Access Benefit Series Sat 1/25 at Sleeping Village
The post In its third year, the Abortion Access Benefit Series faces down the return of Trump appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Lazer Dim 700 Wed 1/29 at Avondale Music Hall
The post Atlanta rapper Lazer Dim 700 throws thrilling curveballs appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Yakuza Sun 1/26 at Sleeping Village
The post Chicago art-rock wiz Marcus Drake plays his first local show since his comeback album appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Yakuza Sat 1/25 at Thalia Hall
The post Chicago avant-garde metal band Yakuza make their live-score debut with <i>Der Golem</i> appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Dust Bunnies Sat 1/25 at Fallen Log
The post North-side alt-rockers Dust Bunnies bust out of the basement and into your heart appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Yves Thu 1/23 at Copernicus Center
The post Yves departs Loona to become one of K-pop’s best new solo artists appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Ibrahim Maali moved to Chicago after graduating from Duke University in 2012. He came here wanting to use music to bring communities together, and he’s found collaborators in every pocket of Chicago. A job at Groupon, for instance, brought him in touch with in-demand visual artist Emma McKee, aka StitchGawd, who’s well-connected in the hip-hop […]
The post Ibrahim Maali, cofounder of Solidarity Studios appeared first on Chicago Reader.
It’s December 5, and Chicago is already immersed in holiday spirit. Companies are slowing down to reflect and throwing year-end parties, and start-up incubator mHUB is celebrating with partner organization Portal Innovations. Located across the street from Cobra Lounge, just steps from Union Park, mHUB specializes in supporting “hard tech,” meaning physical rather than digital […]
The post A Chicago DJ from Ghana invents an e-bike for the people appeared first on Chicago Reader.
“Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica" through 3/30 at the Art Institute of Chicago
The post The Art Institute surveys the culture of Panafrica appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera in wide release in theaters
The post Review: <i>Den of Thieves 2: Pantera</i> appeared first on Chicago Reader.
There’s no turkey in this monumental sandwich at Jhoana Ruiz and Danny Espinoza’s pandemic-born house of masa, now reborn in a former Dunning diner. But the native Mexico City carb attack takes the shape of one, and thus derives its name from the Nahuatl word for turkey. The couple’s guajolota is considerably chef-kissed up from […]
The post The guajolota torta tamal at Santa Masa Tamaleria appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The Moviegoer is the diary of a local film buff, collecting the best of what Chicago’s independent and underground film scene has to offer. As of this writing, I have seen 11 of the 12 films I’d need to have seen in theaters to be up-to-date with my New Year’s resolution. Not bad, I think. […]
The post Hard truths appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The dollar store always has surprising finds, including really stylish shoppers. It’s a fertile place for the thrifty and creative, a combination that often produces intriguing sartorial choices. Shelly Parks, 65, perfectly embodies this mix; sporting a colorful patchwork outfit that matched her cheerful personality, Parks was rocking the accessory aisle. “I’m pretty much a […]
The post Dollar store treasure appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Chicago is riddled with impressionable visual curiosities in any weather, but there’s something about winter that encourages the eye to narrow in on our shared city poem with a hungry spirit: a three-legged lawn chair in an empty parking spot, a raccoon on a rooftop, and lost gloves laced through a fence. At night, the […]
The post Editor’s note: Painter Gertrude Abercrombie appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Windy City Shorts isn’t your typical open mike night. There are no anxious first-time comedians flipping through joke-filled Moleskine notebooks or acoustic guitar dudes who liked Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) enough to take a swing at a Bob Dylan cover. There isn’t even a microphone. Instead, the new quarterly Lincoln Lodge showcase has a projector, […]
The post Get your local laurels at Windy City Shorts appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Help wanted/employment/job listings and classified listings for professional services, research, and adult services.
The post Classifieds Tear sheets appeared first on Chicago Reader.
By Karl Michael Iglesias
The post ALTERNATE REALITY WITHOUT HUMANS appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The Reader is available free of charge at more than 1,100 Chicago area locations. Issues are dated Thursday, and distributed Wednesday morning through Thursday night of the issue date. Some locations are restocked the following Wednesday.
The post Find a print copy of this week’s <i>Chicago Reader</i> appeared first on Chicago Reader.
"Potential Energy: Chicago Puppets Up Close, through 4/6 at Chicago Cultural Center
The post ‘An object animated to create the illusion of life’ appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Chicago Reader Volume 54, No. 15. January 16, 2025.
The post Chicago Reader Volume 54, Number 15 appeared first on Chicago Reader.
On Thursday, January 2, “Crazy” Steve Szegho died at age 73. A rock promoter, Jam Productions security staffer, talent manager, and bon vivant, Szegho cut a colorful figure in Chicago music for more than half a century. He was the son of inventor Constantin Szegho, whose work on cathode-ray tubes led to the development of […]
The post Farewell to a larger-than-life architect of Chicago’s concert ecosystem appeared first on Chicago Reader.
“Gertrude Abercrombie: The Whole World Is a Mystery" through 6/1 at Carnegie Museum of Art
The post ‘Her painting was her life and her life was painting’ appeared first on Chicago Reader.
In early January, S. Mayumi “Umi” Grigsby stepped down as chief of policy for the City of Chicago. In this exclusive interview with the Reader, Grigsby reflects on her time in the mayor’s office and shares her thoughts on the challenges the city faces with the incoming Trump administration. Born in Liberia, Grigsby and her […]
The post A seat at a set table appeared first on Chicago Reader.
CHICAGO, IL – The Reader Institute for Community Journalism, publisher of the Chicago Reader, on Tuesday announced the immediate layoffs of six non-union employee staff positions, spurred by an urgent need to reduce costs in order to avoid organizational closure. In addition to the layoffs, RICJ CEO Solomon Lieberman submitted his resignation to the RICJ […]
The post Chicago Reader Announces Restructuring and Layoffs appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Uncle Vanya, through 2/1 at Servi-Sure
The post <i>Uncle Vanya</i> feels right at home on a factory floor appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Shucked, through 1/19 at CIBC Theatre
The post Children of the cornpone appeared first on Chicago Reader.
“Year Zero" through 2/9 at the Renaissance Society
The post All my works are haunted appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Headhunters Wed 1/22 at SPACE
The post Jazz-fusion greats the Headhunters travel to SPACE appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Novatore Sat 1/18 at Bottom Lounge
The post South-side MC Novatore celebrates the new <i>Agoraphobia</i> with a stacked, battle-tested lineup appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Maps & Atlases Sat 1/18 at Metro
The post Maps & Atlases reunite with their original guitarist at Metro appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Julia's War label showcase Sat 1/18 at Schubas
The post Philadelphia label Julia’s War brings its cutting-edge indie-rock community to Chicago appeared first on Chicago Reader.
This Is Lorelei Fri 1/17 at Schubas
The post This Is Lorelei returns to Chicago behind one of 2024’s best rock albums appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Half Waif Thu 1/16 at Sleeping Village
The post Half Waif finds an abundance of beauty on her journey through grief appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Jorrit Dijkstra Thu 1/16 at Elastic Arts and Sun 1/19 at Hungry Brain
The post Saxophonist Jorrit Dijkstra rekindles his connection with Jeb Bishop and other local improvisers appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The Secret History of Chicago Music turns 20 in 2025, specifically in May. This impending anniversary, combined with the turn of the year and the reflection it traditionally provokes, has got me looking backward too—and for this week I’ve chosen one of the oldest Secret History subjects yet. Jimmy Bertrand, described as “the leading black […]
The post Drummer Jimmy Bertrand helped power Chicago’s Black nightlife in the 1920s appeared first on Chicago Reader.
“I Would Like to Step Out of My Heart" through 2/8 at Devening Projects
The post Lost whimsy appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The Last Showgirl in wide release in theaters
The post Review: <i>The Last Showgirl</i> appeared first on Chicago Reader.
September 5 in wide release in theaters
The post Review: <i>September 5</i> appeared first on Chicago Reader.
A Complete Unknown in wide release in theaters
The post Review: <i>A Complete Unknown</i> appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya is set in a country estate where midlife crises, unrequited love, and general existential angst grow like kudzu. As in most of the Russian master’s plays, nobody’s work satisfies them, and nobody really feels like they’re where they’re supposed to be in the world. (When They Might Be Giants wrote the […]
The post <i>Uncle Vanya</i> goes industrial appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Sometime this Sunday afternoon, a teeming culture of fungal microorganisms will begin to digest the carbohydrates in a large orb of pizza dough with your name on it. As they express carbon dioxide, it will bubble and swell, and the gluten strands within will strengthen and link together in a Bacchanalian orgy of eukaryotic fermentation. […]
The post Death by Dough rises again at the next Monday Night Foodball appeared first on Chicago Reader.
In an October essay for the New Yorker, critic Kyle Chayka tried to unpack what he called “online recommendation culture.” It often manifests itself in curated lists of films, music, or books, whether presented in TikTok videos, old-fashioned listicles, or personal email newsletters. And I can’t decide what counts as an “overlooked” Chicago release without […]
The post The best overlooked Chicago records of 2024 appeared first on Chicago Reader.
In the 1920s, jazz kissa, or listening bars, began popping up in Japan, and by the 1950s, they had become quite popular in the country. Kissa embraced the concept known commonly as hi-fi in the United States: to immerse oneself in music and truly listen to sound. At listening bars, music is typically played on […]
The post The midwestern charm of Charis Listening Bar appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Ben Creech was shuffling around the Chicago Filmmakers attic when he stumbled upon a gem of a film, Analogies: Studies in the Movement of Time. Creech, who is the head projectionist at Northwestern’s Block Cinema, was excited to see the 1977 short based on information found online. In it, director Peter Rose experiments with a […]
The post From the attic to the big screen appeared first on Chicago Reader.
By Karl Michael Iglesias
The post IT IS EASY TO KEEP A SECRET IF NO ONE WANTS TO LEARN IT appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Chicago Reader Volume 54, No. 14. January 9, 2025.
The post Chicago Reader Volume 54, Number 14 appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Editor’s note: Coco Picard spoke with artist Zachary Cahill about his latest book, Unicorn Death Moon: Paris Guidebook. Edited text from the comic is transcribed here to ease readability. Interdisciplinary artist Zachary Cahill’s fourth book Unicorn Death Moon: Paris Guidebook (Red Ogre Press) continues the artist’s long-standing inquiry into social contracts that gird imagination. Inspired by […]
The post Walking with Baudelaire appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The Moviegoer is the diary of a local film buff, collecting the best of what Chicago’s independent and underground film scene has to offer. Welcome back, moviegoers! I spent much of the holiday break not being a Chicago moviegoer, but an international one. My husband and I enjoyed a week abroad in Budapest following a […]
The post A New Year’s resolution appeared first on Chicago Reader.
More than 170 police surveillance cameras—including more than 40 in and around Chicago—broadcast real-time video and license plate data directly onto the open Internet, according to information uncovered by a security researcher named Matt Brown. Brown discovered that certain Motorola Solutions automated license plate readers (ALPR) used by law enforcement in multiple states were incorrectly […]
The post On display appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Chicago music fanatic Aadam Jacobs began recording local shows in the early 80s and kept at it obsessively for more than 30 years. He’s never sought to monetize this work, though artists have occasionally incorporated his recordings into licensed releases. The Replacements live album Not Ready for Prime Time, for instance, used some of Jacobs’s […]
The post A private collection of 10,000 Chicago show tapes finds a public home appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The Youngster at R&A Sourdough is a bagel sandwich with plain schmear, your choice of sausage or hot-honey bacon, egg frittata, cheddar, and hot sauce. But let’s get this out of the way: There are a few key customizations needed to make this a bagel sandwich worth talking about. The Youngster should be built on […]
The post The Youngster bagel sandwich at R&A Sourdough appeared first on Chicago Reader.
This story was a collaboration between the Investigative Project on Race and Equity and Borderless Magazine. Reina Isabel Jerez García filed a grievance with the City of Chicago last fall when staff started serving smaller meals at the city-funded migrant shelter where she and her teenage son were staying. Dinner was a scoop of rice […]
The post City contractor ‘failed’ clients as migrant shelter complaints mounted, staffers say appeared first on Chicago Reader.
“Positions: New Landscapes" through 2/23 at Hyde Park Art Center
The post Unsettled landscapes appeared first on Chicago Reader.
News of former president Jimmy Carter’s death on December 29 had me rummaging through a drawer I hadn’t opened in 40 years, searching in vain for notes from the day I met him. I didn’t find them, but this is what I remember: It was late summer or early fall, 1981. Carter had been out […]
The post Get me rewrite! appeared first on Chicago Reader.
I regret to inform: I don’t give a shit about football. Sometimes when it’s invoked in casual conversation I can nod and pretend for a minute that whoever brings it up isn’t speaking Orcish. But mostly I wear my ignorance on my forehead. “Who’s Caleb Williams?” I blurted out one night last fall, my bad […]
The post The new winter 2025 Monday Night Foodball schedule hates the game, not the player appeared first on Chicago Reader.
“Office Hours” through 1/18 at Tiger Strikes Asteroid Chicago
The post Visible labor appeared first on Chicago Reader.
A Broadway musical about corn, with music and lyrics by a pair of veteran Nashville hitmakers, might not strike the prospective ticket buyer as possibly transgressive in any way. But Shucked, which opens January 7 at the CIBC Theatre, is a multiracial, queer-positive look at rural America. The play—which wears both its corniness and its […]
The post ‘Lookin’ for a window, not a wall’ appeared first on Chicago Reader.
For two decades the injured, ailing, and elderly patients that Tamara Valdovinos helped to regain their mobility and function had no clue that their physical therapist’s small but powerful hands possessed a second, latent superpower. But when they and her coworkers started catching COVID, the secret street taqueria lurking deep within her began to emerge. […]
The post Tacos las Manitas launches a new 2025 season of Monday Night Foodball appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Urika's Bedroom Wed 1/15 at Schubas
The post Urika’s Bedroom makes sweet and sinister bedroom pop appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Black Duck and 60 Strings Sat 1/11 at Constellation
The post Local trios Black Duck and 60 Strings celebrate the sound of electrified wires appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Background Character Sat 1/11 at Cole's Bar
The post Chicago art-punk trio Background Character bring the whimsy hard appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Melvin Taylor Fri 1/10 at FitzGerald's
The post Chicago bluesman Melvin Taylor is a jewel hidden in plain sight appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Pan•American Fri 1/10 at Chop Shop
The post Chicago ambient artist Pan•American brings his album with indie legend Kramer to the stage appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Daniel Knox Thu 1/9 at Constellation
The post Pianist and pop-culture acolyte Daniel Knox plays a rare hometown show appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Hitt Records, through 1/26 at Black Ensemble Theater
The post <i>Hitt Records</i> offers a spirited musical history lesson appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The Day After, through 1/12 at Dreamers YOLO
The post Political and personal backlash appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Most days, you can find Cindy Mendoza and Matt Pospiech in the dining room at the Piggery slinging nachos, wings, burgers, and sass. “I’m always talking crap,” says Mendoza, “because I’m an asshole sometimes.” “Cindy’s got no filter,” agrees Pospiech. “And that’s why I love her. She takes no bullshit.” A compatible appetite for mouthiness […]
The post Loud Mouth mouths off at the next Monday Night Foodball appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Every day of work at the Reader brings new discoveries and challenges but we don’t do this work alone. We have the joy of our readership: those of you who seek out our paper, send friends to our website, and talk online about our stories. We’re also doing this work while trying to keep our […]
The post Reader Rewind appeared first on Chicago Reader.
“Bean pie, my brother?” was originally published in the issue of November 18, 2013. Since I first went in search of the sweet, custardy navy bean pie made in accordance with the dietary regimen prescribed by the late Elijah Muhammad, it hasn’t quite gone mainstream, but it might be easier to eat one. Plenty of […]
The post Rewind: Bean pie, my brother? appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Hot chocolate isn’t something I usually go for. While I may crave it a couple times a year, usually around the holidays, it was more in my rotation when I was younger—before I acquired a taste for coffee, matcha, or chai. But they’re doing something different at Sfera Sicilian Street Food. Reader Bites readers might […]
The post Sicilian hot chocolate at Sfera Sicilian Street Food appeared first on Chicago Reader.
In the lead-up to this year’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, media abounded with reflections on and comparisons to its storied 1968 predecessor. And while the city was once again the site of multiple protests against another horrific war, the level of violence and the number of arrests were relatively low compared to what ’68 […]
The post Rewind: On Exhibit: a roomful of Daleys appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Grease is a movie that’s grown with me as I’ve aged. The first time I saw it was during a winter break from elementary school in Ohio. My excitement for the movie’s dirty denim, black leather, and glittering kitsch could’ve melted the snow outside, and it’s an aesthetic preoccupation that’s come to define much of […]
The post Rewind: The original Pink Ladies appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Chicago Reader Volume 54, No. 13. December 26, 2024.
The post Chicago Reader Volume 54, Number 13 appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Jessica Hopper has been an important national voice in feminist music criticism since the 2010s, when she became the first music editor at Rookie magazine and assembled teams of top-shelf talent at Pitchfork and MTV News. But 20 years ago, Hopper was still freelancing regularly for the Reader, and she wrote this lively scene report […]
The post Rewind: Punk is dead! Long live punk! appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Grant Pick had a knack for the unusual. During his time as a Reader contributor, he documented residents of a north-side hotel as they fought against displacement, interviewed a local hypnotist who once loaned his services to Saddam Hussein’s eldest son, and profiled a stranger clad with dozens of keys (“the keys to my broken […]
The post Rewind: Speed Wash appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Last year, Chicago singer-songwriter Gia Margaret issued Romantic Piano, her first release through mighty midwest indie label Jagjaguwar. I’ve been listening to Margaret since her 2018 debut album, the lush, contemplative There’s Always Glimmer, but since then she’s moved from its delicate arrangements into more overtly ambient music that’s even more sparse and hushed. Romantic […]
The post Gia Margaret goes viral on the shoulders of a Chill Guy appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Babygirl in wide release in theaters
The post Review: <i>Babygirl</i> appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The Moviegoer is the diary of a local film buff, collecting the best of what Chicago’s independent and underground film scene has to offer. Well, fellow moviegoers, it’s the last column of 2024. I’d ask how we got here, but life careens forth on the same principle as cinema: movement and light. To understand how […]
The post Kat Sachs’s best in 2024 moviegoing appeared first on Chicago Reader.
“Making an Impression: Immigrant Printing in Chicago”” through 3/29 at the Newberry Library
The post All that’s fit to print appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Los Frikis in limited release in theaters
The post Review: <i>Los Frikis</i> appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Hannah A. Barnes, Negative Capability This collection of five pieces showcases the ambition and drive of rising composer Hannah A. Barnes; its sparse soundscapes use canonlike spiral patterns, nonlinear motion inspired by fungal growth, and many sounds that don’t resolve into notes. Barnes recorded this material in various Chicago locations with some of the city’s […]
The post Chicago Record Report: December 2024 appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Earlier this month, Chicago Reader culture editor Kerry Cardoza was announced as a grantee of the Andy Warhol Foundation Art Writers Grant for her short-form writing. This year, Cardoza published several impactful stories, including the investigative story on the sexual misconduct of the former CEO of Schuba’s, Lincoln Hall, and Audiotree, Michael Johnston. Cardoza’s work […]
The post <I>Chicago Reader</I> culture editor Kerry Cardoza awarded Andy Warhol Foundation grant appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Legally Blonde, through 12/29 at Music Theater Works
The post Omigod you guys! appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The Berlin Diaries, through 1/5 at Open Space Arts
The post Pages of the past appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Last December, the Chicago-born sculptor Richard Hunt died at the age of 88. The prolific artist was born in Woodlawn, blocks from the home of Emmett Till, whose brutal murder helped shape the course of Hunt’s career. As a young man, Hunt took art classes at the South Side Community Art Center and later earned […]
The post Rewind: Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt’s six-decade career gets two concurrent exhibits appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Putting aside the joy and chaos of “Hollywood Shuffle” reading like an absolute fever dream of impressions and quotations, this piece from April 2, 1987, is a fascinating time capsule. Not only does it accomplish the classic Reader feat of spotlighting a now-famous Chicagoan at the onset of their career, but it also provides a […]
The post Rewind: Hollywood Shuffle appeared first on Chicago Reader.
“violet sissy fleur pinkie” through 1/11 at Ruschman
The post Miss Havisham’s world appeared first on Chicago Reader.
For those who have some shopping to do this season, Ravenswood might be your destination. Some of the coolest and cutest local shops can be found on Damen in the stretch between Montrose and Argyle. Sailor (4658 N. Damen at Leland) offers high-end yet affordable contemporary jewelry, home goods, ceramics, and more. You’ll find colorful […]
The post Chic c’est la vie, c’est Bon Femmes appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Nosferatu in wide release in theaters
The post Review: <i>Nosferatu</i> appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Looking for a last-minute gift for the artist, or art enthusiast, in your life? Or maybe you’re wondering what art publications you might have missed this year? While you can never go wrong by perusing the latest titles over at Half Letter Press (I have my eye on You Are Compost), or checking out the […]
The post Eye candy appeared first on Chicago Reader.
One of my favorite ways to find subjects for the Secret History of Chicago Music is to track down and interview an artist whose story isn’t published anywhere. Obviously this restricts me to living people, but the excitement of learning something that almost nobody else knows makes up for that. Even popular live bands can […]
The post JD, Foster & Eastman made sublime country rock but didn’t leave a trace appeared first on Chicago Reader.
38th Annual Young Playwrights Festival, 1/2-1/26 at Chicago Dramatists
The post ‘I’ve actually created something that was worth something’ appeared first on Chicago Reader.
New York City rapper Dave East delivers verses like a freight train—just as a train is unassuming and familiar in its bulk and speed, his performances have a powerful momentum that’s belied by his restrained persona and low-humming voice. He’s understated on the mike. Though he isn’t one to raise his voice, he can still […]
The post Rapper Dave East celebrates a trio of 2024 albums at the Promontory appeared first on Chicago Reader.
The Brutalist opening 1/10 at the Music Box Theatre
The post Review: <i>The Brutalist</i> appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Lucero love to catch you by surprise, not with their volume—though they could blow the roof off a venue—but with a sudden ambush of memory and feeling. Over their 26-year history, the Memphis group have perfected the art of weaving Americana, punk, heartbreak, and glory into a soundtrack for life’s most private moments: the triumphs […]
The post Lucero celebrate a year on the road with a three-night run at SPACE appeared first on Chicago Reader.
December in Chicago can be so dark and gloomy that even people who like the holiday season might wish for a reprieve. Local band Beach Bunny debuted the Pool Party mini fest (named after a 2016 EP) in August 2023, and now it’s returning as Pool Party on Ice to give you a dose of […]
The post Beach Bunny’s two-night Pool Party on Ice brings sunny pop to the dead of winter appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Chicago R&B singer Megan Hammond, better known as m.e.h., delivers searching lyrics as though she’s already figured out what to do. With her steadfast poise and voluptuous voice, she balances confidence and vulnerability, which gives her music a disarming sincerity. In August, Hammond self-released the two-song EP Coup de Grâce, where she handles stylistically slippery […]
The post Emerging Chicago R&B singer m.e.h. delivers a <i>Coup de Grâce</i> at Dorian’s appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Chicago crew Teklife formed in 2011, and they’ve thrived as an electronic dance collective, fashion brand, and record label with footwork as the group’s impenetrable core. Founders DJ Rashad (aka Rashad Harden, who died in 2014) and DJ Spinn (aka Morris Harper) met as teens in the mid-90s and bonded over the DJ mixes they’d […]
The post Footwork veterans Teklife gather an all-star lineup to sweat out the Empty Bottle appeared first on Chicago Reader.
I won’t say you’ll never again taste the knee-weakening pleasures of a gooey Philly masala cheesesteak after Monday, but it might be a long time before you get another chance. And this is from the source, so don’t say you weren’t warned: right after Christmas Sheal Patel is embarking on a heroic two-and-a-half-week cook’s tour […]
The post It’s bon voyage for Dhuaan Barbecue Company at the next Monday Night Foodball appeared first on Chicago Reader.
Eric McClanahan reviews Robert Eggers's latest film, NOSFERATU.
Wouldst thou like to live immortally?
Robert Eggers is back in theaters with his latest vision, NOSFERATU, a remake of the 1922 film of the same name, which was itself an unlicensed retelling of Bram Stoker's DRACULA. For those who don't know, Eggers is the visionary behind such standout films as THE VVITCH, THE LIGHTHOUSE, and THE NORTHMAN. His films have earned him a fiercely dedicated fanbase and heavy auteur status in Hollywood, essentially giving him carte blanche when it comes to making his films. NOSFERATU is the culmination of that legacy and that power, for better or worse.
I saw NOSFERATU last night in a packed theater, my second choice theater as the first had already sold out by the time I arrived. It was preceded by trailers for THE WOLF MAN and THE MONKEY, tailored to its audience of artistic horror hounds. The movie begins with simple white text over black backgrounds, and the first thing the audience hears is a woman crying the darkness. From there, the film is two plus hours of atmosphere and mood, stretched to its near breaking point before the final fade out. Eggers is a master of tone, an Edgar Allan Poe of the visual form, and his legacy as a visual storyteller receives no tarnish with this entry into his oeuvre. So much is explored with a muted color palette and expert use of light and shadow. The camera pulls into darkness, pulls the bodies onscreen into rooms into which they cannot see,
Filmmaker James Fox discusses his new documentary THE PROGRAM which examines the United States government's pre-existing relationship with UAPs.
In a new AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SEGMENT, I will do something terrifically similar to what I did the last time I did this segment, and now that I'm reading that out loud I realize how ridiculous it sounds. Regardless, I once again enter the realm of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena and speak with a specialist about what the United States knows, what it doesn't, and the barriers that are preventing it from disclosing its full knowledge to the public.
Let's get one thing established right away: the conversation around alien visitation has changed. When I chatted with Disclosure Activist Stephen Bassett back in 2021, we weren't discussing if these visitations were real but rather why we weren't being told about them. Even the classification has changed - they're no longer Unidentified Flying Objects but Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon, or UAPs. Our government has come clean about their interest in UAPs, largely due to military concerns, and they take sightings seriously. The Defense Department's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office was created to investigate unidentified anomalies to determine if they're foreign or domestic, dangerous or innocuous, earthbound or alien. That part is transparent, but THE PROGRAM's findings aren't, and that is the subject of filmmaker James Fox's new documentary, THE PROGRAM.
I chatted with James Fox, filmmaker of The Phenomenon, Moment of Contact, and I Know What I Saw, to discuss THE PROGRAM after viewing it, and though we were able to talk for quite a while, I didn't really have that many questions. Not because the
McEric chats with produced Hilarie Burton Morgan and star Molly Brown about the new SHUDDER exclusive BLOODY AXE WOUND, a coming-of-age slasher comedy with heart(s) to spare.
Everything about film has changed, and while some lambast this brave new world, it does have its silver linings. Streaming services took over channels and then became their own studios. For every Netflix dud there's a great horror film championed by SHUDDER, Bloody Disgusting, or Fangoria that would go otherwise unproduced. SHUDDER, specifically, has been picking up amazing films, from last year's LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL to this year's IN A VIOLENT NATURE. The studio is ending the year strong with a meta take on the coming-of-age slasher rom-com called BLOODY AXE WOUND, releasing in limited theaters before landing on the streamer in early 2025. The synopsis is as follows:
Abbie Bladecut (Sari Arambulo, "A.P. Bio") is a teenager torn between the macabre traditions of her family’s bloody trade and the tender stirrings of her first crush (Molly Brown, "Dexter: Original Sin"). In the small town of Clover Falls, Abbie’s father, Roger Bladecut (Billy Burke, TWILIGHT), has built an infamous legacy by capturing real-life killings on tape and selling them to eager customers, but as Abbie delves deeper into the grisly family business, she begins to wonder if it’s time to take the family tradition in a new direction.
The conceit of the film is surprisingly fresh in a genre that finds new ways to reinvent itself with shocking regularity. Set within the confines of a horror film, we see what it might be like to grow up in a family where the patriarch is a serial killer/slasher who rises from the grave
Barbarella Dives into Conversation with FREEDIVER Director Michael John Warren!
Hey friends! Barbarella here. Michael John Warren’s latest documentary Freediver is available on Prime Video, or buy or rent on Digital starting December 7, 2024. The film plunges viewers into the world of competitive freediving as it chronicles Alexey Molchanov’s unprecedented attempt to set world records in multiple categories of the sport. Opening with some explanations about diving’s impact on the body, the film draws me back to memories of getting certified to scuba. Prior to those classes, the risks about which I knew were drowning, underwater predators (e.g. sharks), and the bends. Yet, those first days in the classroom, we learned a whole horde of other damaging or fatal consequences of diving that I had never previously considered. Once we were all sufficiently terrified of the consequences of our planned endeavor, it was time to don our gear and plunge into the depths. And we did, despite the inherent risks of injury and death.
Although risk-free to myself, witnessing Alexey move gracefully deeper into peril in Freediver proves almost as nerve-wracking as my first open-water dive and leaves me pondering questions, like “How long could I hold my breath?” - the answer is not long at all - or “Would I ever consider free diving?” The answer is maybe, but absolutely not competitively. Those people are insane, superhuman, or both!
Whether they are insane or not, I spend much of the film in awe of these people who have trained their bodies to perform skills the human body was never meant to experience.
Tim Sheridan chats about Alan Scott: Green Lantern, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Batman: The Long Halloween, and adapting legacy stories to small and large screens.
When I got into this racket over six years ago, I did so as a fan. In fact, it was a passing text exchange with a friend about the movie A QUIET PLACE that ended with “Hey, do you want to write about movies for a website?” Flash forward, here I am, having interviewed over a hundred creatives in my time with this site and others. Typically, I’ll get an email from a PR firm asking if I want to screen a film and speak with attached talent or read a book and speak with the author. I rarely say no as I firmly believe that everyone is worth talking to and every person you come in contact with can teach you something that you might not learn in your own sphere of social contacts or experiences.
This interview is different. This subject I hunted down. I saw that he was going to be at New York Comic Con this year signing books in Artist Alley, and I’d already interacted with him briefly on Twitter (back when it was Twitter) so I felt I could swing over and say hello. I did, and of course he had some fans in front of him when I arrived so I decided to hang back and let them have their moment. Watching him interact with these fans confirmed everything I believed about this writer - he couldn’t be any nicer, any more accommodating, or any more grateful for the people who celebrate his art.
McEric chats with reality star Jenni "JWoww" Farley on her feature-film debut as writer/director of the found-footage horror film DEVON.
Found footage horror. Do you love it? Do you hate it? Do you think it is its own genre or do you lump it in with its overarching tone - slasher, supernatural, monster, etc. Love it or hate it, the convention is here to stay, as it offers a realistic, relatable approach to horror that blurs the lines between reality, film, empathy, and voyeurism.
So, when I got an email asking if I wanted to screen the feature DEVON, written and directed by Jenni “JWoww” Farley, I said “of course I do!” My wife is a fan of “Jersey Shore” and has been since day one, so I mostly did it for her, but I was also very curious what the singular star would bring to the horror pantheon. The logline read:
Devon's parents never stopped searching for answers after her disappearance from a notorious asylum. Years after the incident, a mysterious website draws five adventurers to the abandoned asylum where she was last seen. Armed with cameras, they plunge into the darkness, unaware they’re filming their own descent into horror—never meant to return.
I got the chance to chat with writer/director/producer Jenni “JWoww” Farley about jumping into a feature-length film, the serendipitous location, and her crew.
Eric McClanahan: Hey, Jenni! How are you?
Jenni “JWoww” Farley: Good. Nervous.
EM: Nervous? Why are you nervous?
JJF: I feel like this is [me] kind of starting my career over. It’s a different world, a different element. I am a superfan of horror films; I have been since I
HIPPO'S Writer/Director Mark Rapaport Chats Video Games, Sex Talks, and Black-and-White Filmmaking
Hey, friends! Barbarella here to talk about dark comedy Hippo, or more accurately to share the conversation I had with Hippo’s director and writer Mark Rapaport. Genuinely funny, this incredible film has the potential to achieve cult status, so long as people take a chance on this black-and-white gem and actually see it. I recommend that they do. Hippo stars Kimball Farley, Lilla Kizlinger, Eliza Roberts, and Eric Roberts as the narrator. It tells the story of two exceptionally different teens being raised by their mother in a somewhat isolated existence. At times, it reminds me of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Dogtooth, in the way that the children in Hippo are sheltered, while not in the same extreme way they were in the Greek film, both films make strong points about the detriment of isolation. The two would make a great double-feature, but if you want to jump on this one first, Hippo will be in select theaters November 8.
At any rate, after a night of minimal sleep due to staying out late at the Pink concert, I caught up with Mark Rapaport, and we had a fun chat about the movie. Check it out!
Barbara: Why go black and white with this?
Mark: I've always loved classic movies, but I never thought I would make a movie in black and white until my cinematographer started taking photos of black and white, and I was like, “These are so cool and good, why don't more people shoot in black and white? Maybe we should do something like that.” He was very into that. When
McEric highlights a few spooky films for your Halloween night, including DIE ALONE and HOLD YOUR BREATH.
‘Tis the season, for a few more hours, before Mariah Carey breaks through her ice-cocoon and heralds in the winter holidays. If you need a couple of thrillers to hold back the tide of the inevitable, I’ve got you covered with a couple of brand new features released this very month: HOLD YOUR BREATH and DIE ALONE.
DIE ALONE stars Carrie-Anne Moss (THE MATRIX, “The Acolyte”), Frank Grillo (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER, ONE DAY AS A LION), Douglas Smith (HBO’s “Big Love”), and Kimberly-Sue Murray (Netflix’s “V-Wars”). The film is written and directed by Lowell Dean (WOLFCOP, SUPERGRID) and released by Quiver Distribution. After an outbreak turns the majority of the population into plant-based zombies, a young man (Smith) with amnesia searches for his lost love and stumbles across a rugged survivalist (Moss). Check out the trailer:
If you’re getting “The Last of Us” vibes, you’re on the right track. The film features some pretty great creature effects, apt desolation to sell the apocalypse, and a surprisingly original story. Moss is the star of the show, by far, and carries her scenes with a deadpan humor that keeps the heavy subject matter from swallowing the viewer in despair. The budget limitations are clear but the film that emerges is certainly a smart, fun ride that hits all the points of an apocalyptic thriller with a (predictable) plot twist and great performances.
I got the chance to chat with Carrie-Anne Moss about the production of the film, her bicycle-riding skills, and dream roles.
Carrie-Anne
Snake Plotzkin Reviews THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF CHRISTOPHER LEE
Snake Plotzkin, reporting from Fantastic Fest 2024, where I got to see the biographical documentary, The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee. I’m a big fan of Hammer horror, and I will watch literally any Hammer film with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing in it. One of my favorite Hammer films is Rasputin the Mad Monk, which, if you haven’t seen it, is one of Lee’s best performances. The gigantically tall Lee stalks around St. Peterburg as the mad monk, hypnotizing women, seducing them, and then yelling at them to get out of his room and leave their money on the bed. It’s amazing.
If The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee had been made up completely of anecdotes about Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing on the Hammer films, I would honestly have been very satisfied with it. But the movie unexpectedly goes much further, revealing not just another side of the actor, but multiple facets. For instance, did you know that Christopher Lee fought Nazis? That he may have been the inspiration for James Bond (which was written by his cousin)? That he released two heavy metal albums? Well, this movie goes where no marionette-narrated biopic has gone before, using a mix of interviews, animation, and puppetry to bring Christopher Lee to life (the man himself passed away in 2015).
Yes, I said puppetry. The movie is narrated by a marionette of Christopher Lee – who, in an uncanny imitation of Lee’s sonorous voice (played by Peter Szymon Serafinowicz, an English actor
STRANGE HARVEST: THE OCCULT MURDER IN THE INLAND EMPIRE Premieres at Fantastic Fest 2024!
Hey friends. Barbarella here. Strange Harvest: The Occult Murder in the Inland Empire is a long title for a great narrative utilizing the true-crime documentary format. The format proves so effective at tricking my brain into thinking I’m watching actual footage of crime scenes and caught-on-tape moments that I had to occasionally remind myself to relax, it’s only a movie.
It made its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2024 on September 22, 2024 at 11:50 p.m. CT, and I had the delightful opportunity to sit down with genre director Stuart Ortiz, and actors Peter Zisso and Terri Apple in Austin last week. Check it out!
Barbara: I'm one of these people that I can watch the most gruesome stuff in movies, and it doesn't bother me, heads getting drilled and stuff.
Peter: Bless You.
Barbara: But it really upsets me to see people getting hurt, even these skateboarding videos and such, and this movie messed with my brain because I knew it’s fictional, but my brain got tricked into thinking it was real at times because the way it was done. I'm very impressed with the effectiveness of that.
Stuart: Thank you.
Barbara: Why do this in a true crime format? What were you going for?
Stuart: I just think it's a really interesting way to tell a story, and in particular to tell a horror story because it just allows you to have this vantage point that you don't normally have with horror, to investigate certain details or aspects of a horror story that you wouldn't focus on necessarily in a more conventional story. I
Kevin Smith Talks to McEric about THE 4:30 MOVIE
Kevin Smith’s THE 4:30 MOVIE is coming home today, available on digital through all major retailers. The film tells the story of young Brian David, an avatar of Kevin Smith, and his adventures at the local Atlantic Cinema where he watches films with his friends Burny and Belly in 1986. It’s a departure from the View Askewniverse that Smith started thirty years ago, which admittedly stretched to its possible breaking point as the characters within encountered rebel angels, demons, Hollywood, jewel thieves, terrorists, and a monkey. THE 4:30 MOVIE offers a much more grounded story of a simpler time when the cinema and video store ruled the weekend, and the lives on the silver screen either mirrored our own or showed us worlds we could only imagine.
I had the opportunity to chat with Kevin Smith yesterday in support of the film’s digital release and it went exactly as I thought it would: we were given six minutes, I asked one question, and he talked for eight. What I got in that response, though, was a good deal of wisdom about what the filmmaker attempts when he puts his memories to screen for our amusement, how he’s remained relevant, and where his ideas originate. Prior to the interview’s start, my cat Bennie decided she needed to be part of it all, as well, and leapt onto the seat behind me.
Eric McClanahan - Hi Kevin!
Kevin Smith - Hello, Eric! How are you?
EM - I’m well, thank you!
KS - Look at that cat!
McEric chats with David Howard Thornton (Art the Clown) and Lauren Lavera (Sienna Shaw) ahead of Damien Leone's TERRIFIER 3
Time to crawl out from under your bridges, ghouls, because Damien Leone’s Art the Clown is back in TERRIFIER 3, hitting theaters October 11th. This time the terror is set against the backdrop of Christmas, with Art (David Howard Thornton) returning to hunt down Sienna (Lauren Lavera) after she cut his head off in the last installment. The film picks up right at the end of Part 2 before allowing Art to take a five year siesta while Sienna spends time in facilities piecing her psyche back together. Young Jonathan Shaw (Elliott Fullam) isn’t so young anymore, attending college near his Aunt and Uncle, Jessica and Mark (Margaret Anne Florence and Alex Ross), with whom Sienna stays after being checked out of the latest facility.
The film opens with Art dispatching a family while dressed in a Santa Claus suit, letting the audience know right away that no one is safe. The entire film plays out as a supercut of gory kills and dark humor, with occasional moments of genuine world-building that allows the supporting cast to really stretch their acting muscles. Plotwise, the film seems to be more focused on showcasing creative kills than telling a cohesive story, and the end seems somewhat rushed, as though the filmmakers had almost forgotten that they had to end the thing.
What a TERRIFIER fan is looking for, however, is exactly what they’ll find in 3: inventive kills, stomach-turning sound design, laughs that’ll make you question your own morality, and surprises. When I got
Barbarella Talks AI With SUBSERVIENCE Director S.K. Dale
Hi friends, Barbarella here. Sci-fi film Subservience, starring Megan Fox, Michele Morrone (his name’s Italian so the “ch” is pronounced like a “k”), Madeline Zima, and Matilda Firth, just came out on Demand and Digital, so let’s talk about AI. Do you think artificial intelligence will bring about major medical advancements, or do you envision more of a Terminator situation evolving? I tend to think it’s not the AI itself but whoever’s behind it that should be on whom we focus our concern. When it comes to cinema, filmmakers always hold technology responsible, because let’s face it, that makes for a more entertaining movie. I would argue Will Honley and April Maguire’s screenplay puts at least some of the onus on the humans. Maybe don’t say certain things to a Sim that’s constantly evolving and learning; that’s all I’m saying. If it weren’t for one comment made to Alice (Megan Fox), the attractive Sim acquired to help out around the house, perhaps a lot of mayhem could have been avoided.
I appreciate that the conflict in Subservience primarily occurs within the family unit, as this makes it more believable to me. Favoring older technologies, Nick (Michele Morrone) isn’t the biggest fan of artificial intelligence, but when he and his sick wife (Madeline Zima) can’t keep up with managing the household and children, he caves and gets Alice, the best new Sim on the market, to help out, and you know that’s not going to work out quite how everyone expects, well, at least how everyone
McEric chats with the cast of Kevin Smith's THE 4:30 MOVIE
Writer/Director Kevin Smith began his View Askewniverse in 1994 with his breakout hit CLERKS. The film tells the story of a couple of slackers working dead-end jobs in New Jersey in the 1990s and the conversations and misadventures they dabble in along the way. The film paved the way for countless stories, and so far nine films by Smith have rounded out its canon, along with several animated adventures and more in the pages of comic books. Before Dante and Randall ever sat around the Quik Stop and chatted about JAWS, STAR WARS, or even NAVY SEALS, young Kevin Smith was a New Jersey native soaking up inspiration on the silver screen at his local movie theater, the Atlantic Highlands Cinema. Flash forward to today and he owns that theater, rebranded as the Smodcastle, where he showcases new releases, repertory classics, film festivals, and even special screenings of “Movies With Kev,” where he screens a classic and participates in a Q&A following the screening.
Finally the formative experiences of young Kev are getting their own film treatment, with Kevin Smith’s newest release, THE 4:30 MOVIE, premiering tomorrow in cinemas around the country. The film, not set within the View Askewniverse, tells the story of a young man named Brian David, a not-even-thinly-veiled stand-in for Kevin Smith, played by Austin Zajur, who one day in the late spring of 1986 asks his crush Melody Barnegat (Siena Agudong) to meet him at the movies. This is much to the chagrin of his two
Shiloh Fernandez Discusses Working With Nadine Crocker on CONTINUE
Hey, friends! Barbarella here. It feels a little wrong that I have a ton of pep today while I’m covering a movie about the very serious topic of suicide, but here we are. Continue makes a personal and powerful statement from writer, director, and star Nadine Crocker, who survived her own suicide attempt in her twenties. In Theaters, On Demand and Digital September 6, 2024, Continue escorts viewers through Dean’s struggles as she experience life after a suicide attempt. Beautifully shot, the film also includes an unexpected love story, albeit, I’m not sure I believe that two people would be that flirtatious while discussing their past traumas, but just because I wouldn’t flirt while sharing horrific things from the past doesn’t mean it’s not possible that some people might. Anyway, before I veer too far off-topic, the movie stars an actor of whom I’ve been a fan since first seeing him about fifteen years ago in an independent film at Fantastic Fest called Deadgirl, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to chat with that actor, Shiloh Fernandez, about the film.
Right out of the gate, I share my love of Deadgirl and Shiloh’s performance in it. Check out his response and the rest of our conversation!
Shiloh: That is so sweet. It’s still one of my favorite movies. I loved doing a small movie like that, and all these years later, to do Continue, I think it was maybe the 2nd smallest. It is really neat having these small movies make an impact.
Barbara: I don’t know what it says about me, but Deadgirl was one
Barbarella and Director Audrey Cummings Discuss Western PLACE OF BONES!
Hey, friends. Barbarella here. A new Western, Place of Bones, rides into theaters and on digital Friday, August 23, 2024. Unlike the Westerns of yesteryear, this one is female-led, with Audrey Cummings in the director’s chair and Heather Graham shining in the lead role as a mother who, along with her daughter (Brielle Robillard), must fight for survival when a gang of outlaws, led by Tom Hopper, arrives in the area.
I’ve been a Tom Hopper fan ever since he won me over with his enticing portrayal of Billy Bones in Black Sails. He earns additional adoration from me through the way he injects subtle humor as villain Bear John in this film. I find myself laughing at moments that I’m fairly certain weren’t intended to be funny, yet he fires wit like a true sharp-shooter with a faint exasperation about him that’s just funny. However, he’s not the only one who offers something more than just delivering what’s written on the page. Corin Nemec, Brielle Robillard, and Heather Graham also add an extra something that gives insight into their characters and adds a bit of snark to the exchanges.
I had the opportunity to speak with Audrey Cummings, and I sometimes like to break the ice with a question about Muppet-casting on remakes. While she placed Kermit, Miss Piggy and Fozzy Bear in the lead roles of Calhoun (Corin Nemec), Pandora (Heather Graham), and Hester (Brielle Robillard), I took a completely different approach, thinking it would be fun to have Statler and
#ALL MY FRIENDS ARE DEAD director Marcus Dunstan and star Jade Pettyjohn talk to McEric about the new slasher comedy!
There was every manner of film at this year’s Tribeca Festival, and I managed to take in thirteen features, four shorts, and an episodic premiere by the time the whole thing wrapped this past June. One of the highlights was the opportunity to interview two of the lead talents behind the new slasher ALL MY FRIENDS ARE DEAD: director Marcus Dunstan and star Jade Pettyjohn. We met at the Roxy Hotel bar and restaurant, a favorite meetup spot of mine, on a Saturday morning. I was, admittedly, running late, but they were so patient and gracious with me and I always appreciate that from stars and filmmakers, whose lives are probably ten times as cluttered as mine.
Its logline says of the film: “A group of college friends rents an airbnb for the biggest music festival of the year. However, their weekend of partying soon takes a deadly turn as a masked killer murders them one by one according to their sins.”
The film, though familiar in synopsis, finds a way to inject new life into a tired formula. The design of the killer is unique, the kills are creative, the victims are fighters rather than training dummies, for the most part, and the twist(s) are welcome.
Marcus Dunstan is perpetually smiling, speaking in a small voice from a large, gentle face. Jade Pettyjohn is excitable, clearly enjoying being at the festival and also talking about this joyous diversion in her filmography. We couldn’t help but jump right in. Unfortunately, I recorded this
Check Out This Trailer for Psychological Thriller SLINGSHOT!!
Hey friends, Barbarella here. It seems like ages since we’ve had a really cool psychological thriller that takes place in space, but it appears that Slingshot may fill that void. When a trio of elite astronauts set to undertake a risky slingshot maneuver, potential issues with both the ship and a crew member add to the dangers of the mission. Starring Casey Affleck, Laurence Fishburne, Emily Beecham, Tomer Capone, and David Morrissey, the film hits theaters nationwide August 30th.
Check out the trailer!
Robert Downey Jr is back but not as we know it!
In perhaps the most shocking story to come out of this year's otherwise short-on news panel from Marvel Studios, Robert Downey Jr is returning to the MCU. It has just been announced that he has been cast as none other than the great green dictator Doctor Doom. Taking to the stage Downey Jr had this to say:
"New mask, same task...What can I tell ya, I like playing complicated characters."
Whether or not he’ll be the genuine Earth 616 version or the Doom from the alternate Universe Fantastic Four: First Steps seems to be set in remains to be seen. Either way, welcome back to the fold RDJ.
The panel revealed that Downey Jr’s Doom would make his presence known in the freshly titled Avengers: Doomsday which has a release date of May 2026 with Avengers: Secret Wars following in May 2027.
Let us know what you think of this curveball in the comments down below!
The Max panel from HBO has just unveiled the second trailer for its forthcoming original limited series!
(Photo: Max)
Tear down the empire from the inside out.
The Max panel from HBO has just unveiled the second trailer for its forthcoming original limited series The Penguin starring Academy Award Nominee Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzi Feliz and Clancy Brown.
Set directly after the events of Matt Reeves’ The Batman, the series follows crime boss Oswald Cobblepot as he makes a bid to control Gotham cities underworld after the death of Carmine Falcone.
Created by showrunner Lauren LeFranc and Directed by Craig Zobel, The Penguin premiers on September 19 exclusively on Max.
I personally still can't get my head around Farrell’s insane transformation for this role. When you see him introduce the trailer, it makes that stunning metamorphosis all the more unreal.
Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think in the comments below.
All the action from the Star Trek panel at San Diego Comic-Con!
The Star Trek panel at SDCC just hit and boy did Paramount + bring the good stuff!
Not only did they give us our first look at Strange New Worlds Season 3 and Lower Decks Season 5 but we were also treated to our first look at section 31, a Paramount+ Original Movie, starring Academy Award® winner Michelle Yeoh as Emperor Philippa Georgiou who joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with some of the shadier work that comes with protecting the United Federation of Planets.
Also revealed was a little bit of casting news regarding the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series, which is bringing back Star Trek: Discovery alum Tig Notaro, Oded Fehr and Mary Wiseman and get this, Robert Picardo of Voyager and Prodigy!
It would seem that the next few years will be a great time to be a Star Trek fan and I can't wait for more.
Let us know what you think of the footage in the comments section below and as always, Live Long and Prosper…
Nicola Coughlan introduces the first look at the new Doctor Who Christmas Special!
Hello Doctor Who fans, House of Macleod here with some very special news!
SDCC 2024 has well and truly kicked off and this year promises to be full of all the geeky joy that keeps us going through these long summer months and Honey, are we here for fun!
Speaking of Joy, Doctor Who’s YouTube channel just released a first look at the 2024 Christmas special, complete with an introduction from Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, Derry Girls, Barbie).
This year's special is called “Joy to the World” and is written by Steven Moffat and happens to be the 50th script he’s written for the series in total.
Doctor Who is available now to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ in the rest of the world.
Check out the clip straight from Hall H below and as usual, let us know what you think in the comments section!
Allons-y!
Amazon MGM Revives the Legendary Studio United Artists!
In some exciting news circulating the internet, it would seem that the ex-head of film at Netflix Scott Stuber is reviving the once legendary United Artists label through new partners Amazon MGM Studios.
Founded in 1919 by the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickforth, D.W.Griffith and famed actor and filmmaker Douglas Fairbanks, United Artists began as a studio that would allow artists to control their own careers and artistic vision instead of being controlled by Hollywood moneymen.
After decades of success, Metro Goldwyn Mayer bought the company over in 1981 for an unheard-of 350 million dollars and continued to release movies under the brand MGM/UA through the rest of the 80s, 90s and 2000s. United Artists are responsible for releasing some of the most classic movies of all time including The Mark of Zorro (1920), D.W.Griffith’s final film The Struggle (1931), The Great Dictator (1941), Alexander the Great (1956), Robert Mitchum’s Thunder Road (1958), The Magnificent Seven (1960), Dr. No (1963), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Rocky (1976), Annie Hall (1977), Raging Bull (1980) and To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) to name but a few.
Jennifer Salke (Head of Amazon MGM Studios) had this to say about the resurrection:
“With his proven track record of delivering global hits and an eye towards theatrical fare, Scott’s expertise and vision align perfectly with our film strategy. We are so proud to welcome him on the relaunch of the legendary UA brand, as we work to leverage existing and new IP into big, broad films
Fanhome, a subscription-based models and collections service, launches a Batman collection for the ages.
Hello all!
So, if you're like me, you love Batman. Who doesn't? However, when it comes down to reading his myriad adventures, where should one start?
Batman has been a hero in pages and on screens for over 85 years, so it's hard to jump into his exploits without a guiding hand to navigate the most important formative stories. To this end Fanhome, a subscription-based model and collectible service, has launched a new collection called The Legends of Batman Graphic Novel Collection. From Year Zero to Year 100, this collection promises to tell the most definitive stories of the Caped Crusader in beautifully reproduced glossy hardcovers, each with bonus content such as variant covers, concept art, and creator notes.
"From the moment Bruce Wayne becomes The Caped Crusader to his final days in the future, this collection brings together essential Batman tales in a book series that belongs on every bookshelf."
New volumes arrive monthly, and the series is MASSIVE. From the collected spines one can see that we'll witness the Joker's origin, the Death in the Family, the Breaking of the Bat, and the formation and expansion of the Bat Family. This looks to be an amazing collection for fans of the Bat new and established, young and old.
To find out how to order, check out https://www.fanhome.com/us/movie-series/legends-batman-graphic-novels
Check it out and stay tuned for more info!
-McEric, aka Eric McClanahan-
Exclusive Clip from THE MANDELA EFFECT PHENOMENON!!
Hey friends, Barbarella here. We have an exclusive clip from The Mandela Effect Phenomenon, directed by Robert Kiviat. The film explores the claims that movies, TV show titles, celebrities’ names, logos and brands are not what they once were. Conspiracy theorists may jump on the notion that a supernatural force is editing history.
Check out this clip from The Mandela Effect Phenomenon. The documentary is available now on digital!
Shane Dax Taylor Talks MURDER COMPANY
Hey friends, Barbarella here. I’ve had quite a couple months, and I wish I could say that I was gallivanting around the globe, but not this time. I’ve been sick a good chunk of it. In fact, I had quite a fever when I screened Murder Company, written by Jesse Mittelstadt and directed by Shane Dax Taylor. I don’t know that it would be fair to the filmmakers to review the film, given that I was feeling so awful while watching it that I don’t think my thoughts would necessarily be a true reflection of how the movie was. I will make a few observations, though.
First of all, Kelsey Grammer was my favorite thing about Murder Company, which is currently On Digital and On Demand, and I wanted him to have far more screen time. I love a serious Kelsey Grammer, and he's incredibly serious in this. Second, while there was far less graphic violence and gore than I would have expected from a war movie made in this day and age, the filmmakers seemed to compensate for that with the amount of people flying around, proving yet again that stunt men are insane. “Yeah, you can hurl me into that tree. Sure.” Finally, could we please stop having people engage in casual conversations while walking through enemy-occupied territories? I understand that it seems a good way to develop characters, but it drives me crazy every time anyone has a conversation at a normal volume as if they’re just strolling through the
It May Only be July, but Here's a Trailer for THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER!
Hey friends, Barbarella here. I know it’s way too early to start thinking about Christmas, but we have a trailer to share with you for a Christmas movie! Please forgive us. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever comes to theaters November 8.
Based on Barbara Robinson’s beloved book, the story centers on the Herdmans as they take over their local church pageant. The worst kids in the community participating in a church activity; what could go wrong? It’s hard to say from the trailer if this movie, starring Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Molly Belle Wright, and Lauren Graham, is going to be just another sappy Christmas story or something memorable to add to one's annual holiday movie rotation. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
Marc Singer (BEASTMASTER, V) talks Derek Ting's AGENT RECON, streaming now!
I get a lot of emails. A lot of invites to screen films, read books, watch documentaries, talk to strangers. A lot. I can’t answer them all, sadly. But when I got an email that said there was a new film coming out with Chuck Norris and Marc Singer, and would I like to talk to Marc Singer about it, I practically broke the sound barrier with my swift response of “hell to the yes!”
I’m a man of a certain age, and I grew up in the wilds of Southeast Texas. As I recall my rough and tumble childhood, I don’t say I’m from the streets - I’m from the roads. Concrete jungle films didn’t interest me quite as much as actual jungle films, so if you wanted my ticket money, throw an animal or two in your film. Want to see Clint Eastwood act with a monkey? Hell yes, take my money.
So for me there was no greater action franchise than the BEASTMASTER films starring Marc Singer. The Sword & Sorcery world of Conan distilled through the eyes and wings of beasts and marketed to a younger audience, it surprised me to learn that the films came out in the same year and were envisioned in relative ignorance of one another. While CONAN THE BARBARIAN was the box office victor, and probably stands the test of the time more defiantly, I take some pleasure in knowing that it made four times the box office draw of BEASTMASTER at the
WIN an Autographed Poster of THE STRANGERS - CHAPTER 1!!
Hey, friends! Barbarella here. Lionsgate horror film, THE STRANGERS - CHAPTER 1, will be available on PEST / PVOD on July 7, 2024. This is the first entry of a horror feature-film series that introduces a new generation of fans to the creepy masked strangers from Bryan Bertino’s cult classic.
We have some mini-posters signed by Cast Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez, Director Renny Harlin, and Producer Courtney Solomon to give away. If you want to win one, please email me at aicn-barbarella@hotmail.com with STRANGER as the subject. In the body of the email, please include your name and mailing address, whether or not you saw the original, and what are your preliminary thoughts on this new film series. (Open to US residents only, no PO Boxes.) Entries must be received by noon CST on Sunday, June 9.
Check out the trailer!
Barbarella Talks With Best-Selling Author ADELE PARKS About THE IMAGE OF YOU!
Hey, friends! Barbarella here. The Image of You, starring Sasha Pieterse (Pretty Little Liars), Parker Young (Imposters), Nestor Carbonell (The Dark Knight Rises), and Academy Award® winner Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite), tells the story of twins Anna and Zoe, who find their bond tested when one of them falls in love. Skeptical Zoe digs for the dirt on Anna’s love interest, leading them into a web of deceit and desire.
I had an opportunity to speak to best-selling author Adele Parks about her novel-turned-movie, and I have to tell you, I loved talking with her. She’s the kind of person I could spend days just absorbing the stories that she tells with passion, energy, and humor. I found her so engaging. I hope you will, too. Check it out.
I want to start with a little icebreaker. What's the weirdest experience you've had while dating?
“Oh. I don’t know if I've had that many weird things. I think I've got quite a high threshold of what weird would be. Yeah, I have. Also, I'm a serial monogamist, and I've been married twice. I was married for seven years, and the very first night I went out after the divorce – which was quite a long time after the divorce – I met my second husband, so I haven't really done much dating. I should have done a lot more. No, I honestly, I'm absolutely stumped. So unlike me. I think the only quote from that is, I have a very high threshold of weird.”
You know, writers, you're creative,
Curious about the Silo Season 2 finale? Jessica Henwick’s flashback scene as Helen leaves fans pondering its connection to the larger narrative. The finale, titled Into the Fire, introduces Donald Keene, a young congressman, and his unexpected encounter with Helen. Their meeting, marked by a surprising gift, adds layers of intrigue to the show’s intricate […]
The post What Was Jessica Henwick’s Flashback Scene in Silo Season 2 Finale’s Ending? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Silo Season 2’s tenth episode recently dropped. It showcased exciting twists and turns surrounding the fate of Juliette Nichols and Bernard Holland. The ending has thrilled fans, and they wish to find out if additional episodes are lined up. So, is there a Silo Season 2 Episode 11 or Part 2? Here is everything you […]
The post Is There a Silo Season 2 Episode 11 Release Date or Part 2? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Viewers are curious to know where is Harmony Cobel, aka Mrs. Selvig, in Severance S02E01. The episode, titled “Hello, Ms. Cobel,” features Mark’s return to the shady organization with a different motive. Several dark secrets from the outie and innie world begin to resurface. One of the mysteries that viewers are waiting to be resolved […]
The post What Happens to Harmony Cobel aka Mrs. Selvig in Severance S02E01? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
The Gorge‘s streaming release date is right around the corner, and viewers are wondering when they can start streaming the movie. The Gorge is a 2025 action thriller movie that centers on two snipers sent to a guard on either side of a gorge. However, neither of them knows what actually lies in there. The […]
The post The Gorge Streaming Release Date: When Is It Coming Out on Apple TV Plus? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
The Zero Day streaming release date is right around the corner. Now, viewers are wondering when they can start streaming the TV series. Zero Day is a 2025 political thriller limited series created by Eric Newman and Noah Oppenheim, two minds behind some of the best shows of the past few years. Their new series […]
The post Zero Day Streaming Release Date: When Is It Coming Out on Netflix? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Severance recently returned with a second season. It showcases the journey of Mark and others who pay the price for not taking the severance barrier. Aside from the intriguing storyline, there have been numerous fresh entries in the new season, with fans growing curious to know about the character of Miss Huang. So, who is […]
The post Who Is Miss Huang in Severance S02E01 & Who Plays Her? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
The Electric State‘s streaming release date is right around the corner, and viewers are wondering when they can start streaming the movie. The Electric State is a 2025 sci-fi adventure comedy-drama movie by the Russo Brothers. Featuring a stellar cast, the movie follows a young woman and her journey through the perilous Western landscape of […]
The post The Electric State Streaming Release Date: When Is It Coming Out on Netflix? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Curious about what’s next for Juliette Nichols in Silo Season 3? With Bernard’s fate sealed and the silos’ origins coming into focus, the stakes have never been higher. Juliette’s journey promises bold leadership, rebellion, and a fight for survival against the system’s rigid control. Here’s an in-depth look at Juliette’s role in the upcoming season […]
The post What Will Happen to Juliette in Silo Season 3? Book Spoilers Explained appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
With the recent release of Ad Vitam on Netflix, fans who enjoyed the film and its high-stakes storyline are wondering if Ad Vitam 2 has been greenlit by the streamer. Moreover, they also want to know if it has a release date. Here’s all the Ad Vitam 2 release date information we know so far, […]
The post Is There an Ad Vitam 2 Release Date & Is It Coming Out? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
The future of Silo has sparked speculation among fans, especially regarding the possibility of a Season 3 and beyond. Central characters like Juliette Nichols and Bernard Holland remain at the heart of the story, with the show’s mysteries and conflicts driving anticipation. The ongoing developments have left viewers eager for updates. Here’s what we know […]
The post Has Silo Season 3 Been Canceled or Renewed by Apple TV+? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Paul Danan, a former Love Island star, has tragically passed away at the age of 46. His management company confirmed his death, which occurred under circumstances that authorities have stated are not suspicious. Here’s what we know about Paul Danan’s death, his legacy in entertainment, and his personal struggles. Paul Danan passes away at 46, […]
The post What Happened to Paul Danan? ‘Love Island’ Actor Passes Away appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
The Bachelor Season 25 stars Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell have decided to go their separate ways. James took to social media to announce their breakup and tagged Kirkconnnell in the post. They have been together for four years and first met on the sets of the reality show. Their latest split decision has left […]
The post Matt James & Rachael Kirkconnell Break up After 4 Years of Dating appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Interested players can now solve the NYT Connections for today, January 17. The word game debuted in The New York Times in June 2023 and has since become one of the most successful puzzles of the publication. To solve the game, a player must categorize 16 words into the correct four groups, each containing four […]
The post Connections Help, Hints & Clues for Today, January 17 appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Bob Uecker, the iconic voice of the Milwaukee Brewers, has died at 90. Known as “Mr. Baseball,” he enjoyed a long career as a broadcaster, comedian, and actor. Uecker left a lasting impact on both baseball and the entertainment world. Here’s a closer look at Uecker’s legacy, his contributions to baseball, and the tributes pouring […]
The post What Happened to Bob Uecker? Brewers Broadcaster Passes Away appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
David Lynch’s passing has left the world mourning the loss of a visionary filmmaker and artist. Renowned for groundbreaking works like Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and Mulholland Drive, Lynch redefined storytelling in cinema and television. Here’s a closer look at David Lynch’s remarkable career and the lasting impact of his unique artistic legacy. David Lynch […]
The post What Happened to David Lynch? Twin Peaks Director Passes Away appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
LSU QB Colin Hurley stable after car crash; details remain limited. Stay updated on his recovery and investigation.
The post LSU Freshman QB Colin Hurley Hospitalized After Car Crash appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Curious about the January 17 Strands puzzle from The New York Times? Today’s challenge brings a fascinating exploration of generational divides with clever wordplay woven into a nostalgic theme. With a satisfying spangram tying it all together, this puzzle promises both a challenge and a touch of reflection. Let’s dive into today’s hints and answers, […]
The post Strands Help, Hints & Clues for Today, January 17 appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Netizens are enraged over Myka and James Stauffer, who gave away the custody of their 4-year-old adopted son, Huxley. A few years ago, the YouTube creators went on an international adoption journey and kept fans posted on social media. However, they soon discovered that the kid required more than special attention, which led to them […]
The post Why Myka & James Stauffer Face Controversy Over Adopted Son, Huxley appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Wondering how the dramatic ending of Silo Season 2 seals the fates of Juliette Nichols and Bernard Holland? This gripping conclusion unveils shocking truths, life-or-death decisions, and the fate of Silo 18’s leadership as everything hangs in the balance. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the dramatic Silo Season 2 ending. Does Juliette or Bernard die […]
The post Silo Season 2 Ending Explained: What Happens to Juliette & Bernard? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Luke Goss, the talented actor and former drummer of Bros, remains a celebrated figure in 2025. Recognized for his dynamic performances both on stage and screen, he transitioned from his musical fame in the 1980s to an impressive acting career that has spanned decades. Fans are now eager to learn more about Luke Goss’ journey […]
The post Luke Goss Net Worth 2025: How Much Money Does He Make? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.