Your destination for reviews of hidden indie gems, Canadian stories, and standout festival films.
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From my conversation with director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, one thing became clear: My Dead Friend Zoe is more than just a movie. It’s an exploration of Hausmann-Stokes’ personal experiences as an Iraq War veteran and the post-traumatic pain and growth that can result. But, it isn’t only his story.
Oz Perkins, best known for The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Longlegs, returns with his newest film, The Monkey. Adapted from a Stephen King short story, it marks a clear stylistic and tonal shift from most of Perkins’ earlier work – enough so that it might just confirm his place among the best in genre filmmaking at this current moment.
Directed by Cole Webley and written by Robert Machoian, Omaha is one of the quiet standouts of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It may be slight in its scope (and runtime), but that doesn't stop it from being emotionally devastating.
Atropia, the ambitious feature debut from Hailey Gates, has left the 2025 Sundance Film Festival with the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Dramatic Feature. Still, the broader feelings about the project remain divided.
Eva Victor’s Sorry, Baby is a remarkable debut – a film that manages to be deeply unsettling while also ruthlessly funny.
Sook-Yin Lee and Chester Brown have a history unlike most exes: they "broke up" almost three decades ago, yet remain each other’s closest confidants. Chester took their story—detailing the end of their romantic relationship and his journey into paying for sex—and turned it into a graphic novel. Rather than being upset about having their private life on display, Sook-Yin found the book so compelling that she adapted it into a feature film.
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival has officially wrapped up, and while it had its share of controversies, it also brought us more great indie films to watch and fall in love with. For now, let’s dive into some of the standout films from this year’s festival and what makes them so special.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Ethan Palmer and learn more about the creative and technical choices that helped make Plainclothes one of the festival’s most talked-about titles. From joining the project late to choosing to use a wide array of cameras and lenses, Palmer shared his perspective on crafting a look that honours the film's themes while also elevating the performances on screen. Here’s our conversation.
Nickel Boys comes from director RaMell Ross, who was previously nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars for his debut film Hale County This Morning, This Evening. Now, he's back with a narrative feature, which has also earned a Best Picture nomination. Not a terrible way to build a career.
While Baptiste is brilliant in the role, Hard Truths doesn't quite reach the same level of emotional resonance as some of Leigh's previous works.