In September 1978, the Bulgarian writer Georgi Markov was killed in London under highly suspicious circumstances. The playwright had defected from his Soviet-allied home country in 1969 and spent the ensuing years appearing on American and West German radio programs, so his demise was always going to raise eyebrows. It was the cause of death,…
A frightened buffalo faces down the audience. Large, red and tattered claw marks rip through the canvas. The earthy color of the buffalo is soaked with blood. It’s a painting of fear, and as this enormous beast faces off against death, it’s mouth drops, and its eyes widen. With his back turned to the camera,…
Welcome to Carnage Classified, a monthly column where we break down the historical and social influence of all things horror, then rank the films of each month’s category accordingly. Franchises, movements, filmmakers, sub-genres, etc…It’s all here! This entry is about slasher remakes. Let’s get to the breakdown. For horror fans, October is the best time…
Filmmaker Interview by: Jason Knight For those who have not seen it yet, what is I Am You about? I Am You is based on the true story of Afghan refugees, their will to survive, and the dramatic conditions they endure on their journeys. We follow Massoud, a young man, who embarks on a perilous…
“Which one of these houses do you live in?” Don’t forget your mask! Or else. This creepy new horror short is from filmmakers Zak White and Todd Spence, the same duo that makes lots of horror shorts all year long for Midnight Video. Face Mask is their latest creation, a social commentary horror about the…
Joe Rogan sent some seriously mixed signals on free expression in recent months. The podcast superstar vowed to maintain editorial control over the “Joe Rogan Experience” after accepting a massive check from Spotify to join its platform. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonThe audio giant quickly put that vow to the test,…
It is inevitable that the famous sometimes have a hand in their own depictions in media. That is to say, from living figures, one can expect a level of involvement from a subject relating to their portrayal onscreen. For instance, the recent Rocketman, a fantastical retelling of Elton John‘s life and career, was initiated by…
There are a number of reasons to visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. It’s the tallest city hall in the world, evokes a gothic cathedral wrought in metal, and includes observatories and gift shops. But don’t forget to grab a bite to eat at the staff cafeteria in Tower One, which is a cut above,…
Among the Akan people in West Africa, there’s a story of a hunter. He had come from a long, storied lineage, and knew the rules of the land. He knew when he could hunt, when he could not, and where he could hunt, where he could not. But one day, for reasons unknown, he resolved…
During the reign of Tsar Nicholas I in the mid-19th century, there lived a farm laborer with three sons, the story goes. The youngest, Ivan, was foolish and lazy. When it was time to mow, he dropped his scythe and slept in the hay. When it was time to fish, he paddled around the lake…
It was with bemused condescension that a 2018 financial news article reported on a unique challenge facing a mining company at a new site in Western Australia. According to local Martu lore, the massive dry salt bed was home to a tribe of human-eating monsters. This didn’t dissuade Reward Minerals. For the firm operating in…
Here, at the tail end of the London Film Festival, comes a frankly enthralling drama bursting with humanity; simultaneously heart-warming and heart-breaking. In some alchemical way, Chloe Zhao‘s Nomadland manages to capture the spirit of a broken system and the lost souls who fall between the cracks using natural performances from non-actors and an amazing…
Alex Gibney churns out so many documentaries. This year alone, he’s made three of them. Even though I was riveted by some of his works including Zero Days and the Oscar winner Taxi to the Dark Side, I came into Totally Under Control with an ounce of skepticism, simply because this story of the pandemic…
Utilized as a landmark for Native Americans and European settlers for centuries, Castle Rock itself stands 70-feet high on the otherwise gently rolling western Kansas prairie. It’s all that remains after the erosion of what was once the floor of the Western Interior Seaway from the Cretaceous Period. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonThis particular layer…
We the editorial team of RogerEbert.com endorse the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden for President and Kamala Harris for Vice President for the 2020 U.S. election. We have never made an editorial endorsement before, and the fact that we are doing so today reflects the importance of this decision. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect…
October is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “31 days of horror.” Don’t bother looking it up; it’s true. Most people take that to mean highlighting one horror movie a day, but here at FSR, we’ve taken that up a spooky notch or nine by celebrating each day with a top ten list. This article about…
The Rubicon Hydroelectric Scheme was a triumph of early-20th century engineering. Constructed by the State Electricity Commission in 1922, it has supplied electricity to Victoria for almost 100 years by harnessing the natural power of the Rubicon and Royston Rivers. When first opened, the system supplied around 16 percent of the entire state’s electricity requirements….
Nestled in the Himalayan foothills well north of Kathmandu’s city center is a wholly remarkable Hindu temple. The site pays homage to Vishnu (Narayan) whose likeness floats on the sea of bliss reclining upon the multi-headed snake Shesh. It’s believed the 16-foot (5-meter) long sculpture made from a single block of basalt, was created during…
It’s all music and passion in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the latest from director George C. Wolfe. Being in the studio wasn’t a simple thing for Ma Rainey. As one of the first well-known blues singers, she was breaking ground in all sorts of ways. That means the industry didn’t get her, let alone respect her,…
On the shore of Telise village stands two stone pyramid-shaped towers. They were constructed around 1910 and were used by seamen to orient their vessels to the shore. The lower marker stands around 22-feet (7-meters) and the upper is 39-feet (12-meters) high. The distance between them is well over 1,000-feet (400-meters). Read moreA Guide to…
A sconce was a defensive structure that was developed as an earthwork. They normally followed a star-shaped plan to allow overlapping fields of fire. They were also capable of absorbing artillery blasts. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonSeveral sconces were constructed around Newark in Nottinghamshire, England during the English Civil War. The…