Bring Her Back - Movie Review

The Movie: Bring Her Back

The Directors: Danny and Michael Philippou

The Cast: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barrat, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton

The Story: A brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.

SIFF 2025 Capsule Reviews: Episode Three - Revenge of the SIFF

Welcome to the third installment of my 2025 Seattle International Film Festival powered journey through the world of cinema. This time around, I traveled through Spain, France, Argentina, and even the modest yet delightful Cat Town, USA. All three films seemed to have something really special to offer so I was pretty excited to see each one. Read below for the results!

Capsule Reviews:

• Undercover
• Cat Town, USA
• The Wailing

SIFF 2025 Capsule Reviews: Episode Two - WTF Did I Just Watch?

Part two of my 2025 Seattle International Film Festival capsule review series takes a leap into the wilder and wackier side of the selection of movies that are available as the festivities unfold. This, of course, has lead to some truly jaw dropping, "WTF" type moments over the years but there's also a real danger of films falling flat or not meeting overhyped expectations. With that in mind, I definitely had some thoughts about the three films listed below.

Capsule Reviews:

• Spermageddon
• New Jack Fury
• Time Travel is Dangerous

SIFF 2025 Capsule Reviews: Episode One - The Festival Awakens

Welcome to Part One of what will be an epic saga that chronicles and collates my thoughts on the feature films I have been watching during the 2025 Seattle International Film Festival. One of the most intriguing things about SIFF is the endless amount of diverse voices creating just about any type of movie you can think of and telling every type of story imaginable.

Capsule Reviews:

• Ka Whawhai Tonu: Struggle Without End
• Four Mothers
• 40 Acres

TheTwoOhSix Picks - 2025 Seattle International Film Festival

Yes, it's once again time for the Seattle International Film Festival which means I get to spend way too much time analyzing the lineup of films, there are 245 films from 74 countries/regions around the world, and narrowing it down to the ones I feel are the can't miss picks of the year. I've been covering SIFF since 2012 and this is always one of my favorite times of the year so here we go. See below for this year's "TheTwoOhSix Picks" list.

Thunderbolts* - Movie Review

The Movie: Thunderbolts*

The Director: Jake Schreier

The Cast: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

The Story: After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

The Legend of Ochi - Movie Review

The Movie: The Legend of Ochi

The Director: Isaiah Saxon

The Cast: Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Emily Watson, Willem Dafoe

The Story: In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy farm girl named Yuri is raised to fear an elusive animal species known as Ochi. But when Yuri discovers a wounded baby Ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to bring him home.

The Wedding Banquet - Movie Review

The Movie: The Wedding Banquet

The Director: Andrew Ahn

The Cast: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-Chan, Bobo Le, Camille Atebe, with Joan Chen, and Youn Yuh-Jung

The Story: A gay man makes a deal with his lesbian friend: a green-card marriage for him, in exchange for in vitro fertilization treatments for her. Plans evolve as Min's grandmother surprises them with a Korean wedding banquet.

Sinners (2025) - Movie Review

The Movie: Sinners

The Director: Ryan Coogler

The Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Li Jun Li, Delroy Lindo

The Story: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

The Amateur (2025) - Movie Review

The Movie: The Amateur

The Director: James Hawes

The Cast: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Laurence Fishburne

The Story: When his supervisors at the CIA refuse to take action after his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, a decoder takes matters into his own hands.

Freaky Tales - Movie Review

The Movie: Freaky Tales

The Director: Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden

The Cast: Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, and Tom Hanks

The Story: Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters — an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector — on a collision course in a fever dream of showdowns and battles.

My Love Will Make You Disappear - Movie Review

The Movie: My Love Will Make You Disappear

The Director: Chad Vidanes

The Cast: Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino, Wilma Doesnt, Lovely Abella, Benj Manalo, Nico Antonio, Rocco Gonz, Martin Escudero, Karina Bautista, Jeremiah Lisbo, Melai Cantiveros

The Story: A woman who believes she's cursed meets a troubled landlord while fighting community displacement. As they grow closer, her fear that all her lovers disappear threatens their connection.

A Working Man - Movie Review

The Movie: A Working Man

The Director: David Ayer

The Cast: Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, Merab Ninidze, Maximilian Osinski, Cokey Falkow, Michael Peña, David Harbour

The Story: Levon Cade left his profession behind to work construction and be a good dad to his daughter. But when a local girl vanishes, he's asked to return to the skills that made him a mythic figure in the shadowy world of counter-terrorism.

Hood Witch - Movie Review

The Movie: Hood Witch

The Director: Saïd Belktibia

The Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Amine Zariouhi, Denis Lavant, Alexis Manenti, Karim Belkhadra, Issaka Sawadogo

The Story: A woman earns a living by smuggling exotic animals and illegal goods, developing a mobile app that links users with mystical marabout healers, but one of the user's consultations takes a tragic turn facing a violent backlash.

Jaibreak - Movie Review

The Movie: Jailbreak

The Director: Jimmy Henderson

The Cast: Celine Tran, Laurent Plancel, Tharoth Sm, Jean-Paul Ly, Dara Our

The Story: What started as a simple escort mission will soon turn to chaos as the prisoners of Koh Kla take over the prison grounds. A special task force gets trapped in the prison will have to fight their way out for survival, to protect a key witness.

Changing Directions Filmmaker Interview Series: Season 3 Premiere featuring Jhett Tolentino, Director of Asian Persuasion

Episode 3.1

Welcome to season three of the Changing Directions filmmaker interview series! We're starting the year off with Jhett Tolentino, a Tony and Grammy award winning producer who has taken on the challenge of directing his first feature film, Asian Persuasion. After a successful film festival run, the movie is set for both theatrical and digital releases.

Asian Persuasian (2025) - Movie Review

The Movie: Asian Persuasion

The Director: Jhett Tolentino

The Cast: Dante Basco, KC Concepcion, Kevin Kreider, Paolo Montalban, Geneva Carr, Scarlet Sherr, Celia Au, Jax Bacani

The Story: An underachiever comes up with an outlandish plan to avoid alimony obligations to his fashion executive ex-wife.

Novocaine - Movie Review

The Movie: Novocaine

The Directors: Dan Berk & Robert Olsen

The Cast: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Lou Beatty Jr., Van Hengst, Conrad Kemp, Jacob Batalon

The Story: When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, everyman Nate turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.

Customs Frontline / 海關戰線 - Movie Review

The Movie: Customs Frontline / 海關戰線

The Director: Herman Yau

The Cast: Nicholas Tse, Jacky Cheung, Karena Lam, Yase Liu, Francis Ng, Brahim Chab

The Story: Hong Kong customs officers discover illegal weapons on a cargo ship and trace them back to an international conflict. Elite agents go undercover, uncovering a transnational operation with roots closer to home.

Daredevil: Born Again - TV Series Review

The TV Series: Daredevil: Born Again

Showrunner: Dario Scardapane

The Cast: Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Margarita Levieva, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Wilson Bethel, Zabryna Guevara, Nikki M. James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, Michael Gandolfini, Ayelet Zurer, Jon Bernthal

The Story: Matt Murdock finds himself on a collision course with Wilson Fisk when their past identities begin to emerge.

Superboys of Malegaon - Movie Review

The Movie: Superboys of Malegaon

The Director: Reema Kagti

The Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Shashank Arora, Vineet Singh Kumar, Anuj Singh Duhan, Muskkaan Jaferi

The Story: The journey of an aspiring filmmaker as he bands together his group of friends to make a film for his town, Malegaon.

Captain America: Brave New World - Movie Review

The Movie: Captain America: Brave New World

The Director: Julius Onah

The Cast: Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, Harrison Ford

The Story: Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, finds himself in the middle of an international incident and must discover the motive behind a nefarious global plan.

Companion - Movie Review

The Movie: Companion

The Director: Drew Hancock

The Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend

The Story: A weekend getaway with friends at a remote cabin turns into chaos after it's revealed that one of the guests is a robot companion.

Heart Eyes - Movie Review

The Movie: Heart Eyes

The Director: Josh Ruben

The Cast: Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa, Jordana Brewster

The Story: For the past several years, the “Heart Eyes Killer” has wreaked havoc on Valentine’s Day by stalking and murdering romantic couples. This Valentine’s Day, no couple is safe.

Presence - Movie Review

The Movie: Presence

The Director: Steven Soderbergh

The Cast: Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Eddy Maday, West Mulholland, Julia Fox

The Story: A family becomes convinced they are not alone after moving into their new home in the suburbs.

Grafted - Movie Review

The Movie: Grafted

The Director: Sasha Rainbow

The Cast: Joyena Sun, Jess Hong, Eden Hart, Jared Turner, Sepi To’a, Xiao Hu

The Story: A bright but socially awkward exchange student takes her craving for popularity to horrifying heights.

TheTwohSix Top Ten Favorite Movies of 2024

2024 was all over the place when it came to what cinemas had to offer, especially with the industry being in the middle of a very shaky transition to more and more movies being sent to streaming platforms rather than getting proper theatrical releases. To me it feels like quality has taken a back seat to quantity as these major media companies scramble to recoup investments and prove that they can sustain a profitable business model. That being said, I feel like this was the most difficult year ever to come up with ten solid entires into my year end favorites list and yet each of the ones I have chosen absolutely deserve their place.

Mufasa: The Lion King - Movie Review

The Movie: Mufasa: The Lion King

The Director: Barry Jenkins

The Cast: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., John Kani, Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Blue Ivy Carter, Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

The Story: Mufasa, a cub lost and alone, meets a sympathetic lion named Taka, the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of a group of misfits searching for their destiny.

It's What's Inside - Movie Review

The Movie: It's What's Inside

The Director: Greg Jardin

The Cast: Brittany O'Grady, James Morosini, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Devon Terrell, Gavin Leatherwood, Reina Hardesty, Nina Bloomgarden, David W. Thompson

The Story: A group of friends gather for a pre-wedding party that descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend arrives with a mysterious game that awakens long-hidden secrets, desires, and grudges.

Last Shadow at First Light - Movie Review

The Movie: Last Shadow at First Light

The Director: Nicole Midori Woodford

The Cast: Masatoshi Nagase, Mihaya Shirata, Mariko Tsutsui, Peter Yu

The Story: Ami, haunted by recurring apparitions, embarks on a journey from Singapore to Japan in search of her missing mother. Amidst the transforming landscapes, Ami's dreams, hauntings and lost mother unveil their true form.

Hold Your Breath - Movie Review

The Movie: Hold Your Breath

The Directors: Karrie Crouse and Will Joines

The Cast: Sarah Paulson, Amiah Miller, Annaleigh Ashford, Alona Jane Robbins, Ebon Moss-Bachrach

The Story: In 1930s Oklahoma amid the region’s horrific dust storms, a woman is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her family.

Apartment 7A - 2024 Fantastic Fest Movie Review

The Movie: Apartment 7A

The Director: Natalie Erika James

The Cast: Julia Garner, Dianne Wiest, Kevin McNally, Jim Sturgess, Marli Siu, Andrew Buchan, Rosy McEwen, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

The Story: A struggling young dancer finds herself drawn in by dark forces when a peculiar, well-connected older couple promise her a shot at fame.

Fly - Documentary Review

The Documentary: Fly

The Directors: Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau

The Story: Over seven years, three couples involved in the extreme sport of BASE jumping test the limits of love and life itself. Risking everything for the thrill of the jump, their dedication is put to the ultimate test.

TheTwoOhSix Picks - 2024 Fantastic Fest

I'm very excited to say that this will be my first time covering Fantastic Fest which is presented by the Alamo Drafthouse! Fantastic Fest has been one of the coolest genre film festivals for a long time and being able to remotely cover some of the films being shown is an honor that I couldn't pass up. So here we are and here is my list of the movies I plan on watching and I hope you're able to give them a chance as well. Here it is, the 2024 Fantastic Fest TwoOhSix Picks!

Sing Sing - 2024 SIFF Movie Review

The Movie: Sing Sing

The Director: Greg Kwedar

The Cast: Teddy Schwarzman, Michael Heimler, Colman Domingo, Raúl Domingo, Larry Kalas, Larry Kelly, Nancy Schafer, Clarence Maclin, John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San José, Paul Raci

The Story: Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.

Alien: Romulus - Movie Review

The Movie: Alien: Romulus

The Director: Fede Alvarez

The Cast: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu

The Story: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. 

Trap (2024) - Movie Review

The Movie: Trap

The Director: M. Night Shyamalan

The Cast: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills and Allison Pill

The Story: A father and teen daughter attend a pop concert, where they realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event.

Twilight of The Warriors: Walled In / 九龙城寨之围城 - Movie Review

The Movie: Twilight of The Warriors: Walled In / 九龙城寨之围城

The Director: Soi Cheang

The Cast: Louis Koo, Raymond Lam, Terrance Lau, Philip Ng, Tony Wu Tsz Tung, German Cheung, Richie Jen, Wong Tak Pun Kenny, Fish Liew, Chu Pak Hong, Cecilia Choi, Lau Wai Ming, Aaron Kwok, Sammo Hung

The Story: Follows troubled youth Chan Lok-kwun as he accidentally enters the Walled City, discovers the order amidst its chaos, and learns important life lessons along the way.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - Movie Review

The Movie: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

The Director: Wes Ball

The Cast: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, William H. Macy

The Story: Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

Deadpool & Wolverine - Movie Review

The Movie: Deadpool & Wolverine

The Director: Shawn Levy

The Cast: Everyone

The Story: Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy.

Twisters - Movie Review

The Movie: Twisters

The Director: Lee Isaac Chung

The Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, Sasha Lane.

The Story: A retired tornado-chaser and meteorologist is persuaded to return to Oklahoma to work with a new team and new technologies.

Longlegs - Movie Review

The Movie: Longlegs

The Director: Osgood Perkins

The Cast: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Michelle Choi-Lee, Dakota Daulby

The Story: In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree.

A Quiet Place: Day One - Movie Review

The Movie: A Quiet Place: Day One

The Director: Michael Sarnoski

The Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou

The Story: A woman finds herself trapped in New York City during the early stages of an invasion by alien creatures with ultra-sensitive hearing.

Trigger Warning - Movie Review

The Movie: Trigger Warning

The Director: Mouly Surya

The Cast: Jessica Alba, Mark Webber, Tone Bell, Jake Weary, Gabriel Basso, Anthony Michael Hall, Kaiwi Lyman, Hari Dhillon

The Story: A devoted daughter is attempting to figure out the cause of her father's passing.

Hit Man - Movie Review

The Movie: Hit Man

The Director: Richard Linklater

The Cast: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Retta Claudette, Austin Amelio, Molly Bernard, Evan Holtzman, Sanjay Rao

The Story: A professor moonlighting as a hit man of sorts for his city police department, descends into dangerous, dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga - Movie Review

The Movie: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

The Director: George Miller

The Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne

The Story: The origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before her encounter and teamup with Mad Max.

Eternal / For Evigt - 2024 SIFF Capsule Review

The Movie: Eternal / For Evigt

The Director: Ulaa Salim

The Cast: Simon Sears, Nanna Øland Fabricius, Anna Søgaard Frandsen, Viktor Hjelmsøe, Halddóra Geirharosdottir

The Story: An earthquake causes a mysterious fracture on the ocean floor, which accelerates climate change.