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Latest by Alex Welch

Alessandro Nivola stands behind Aubrey Plaza in Spin Me Round.

Spin Me Round review: a forgettable vacation comedy

Director Jeff Baena's Spin Me Round is a delightfully absurd but ultimately forgettable vacation comedy. It opens in theaters and on AMC+ on August 19.
Simon Pegg and Alex Jennings stand in an office together in The Undeclared War.

The Undeclared War review: a cybersecurity thriller that never quite clicks

Peacock's spy drama The Undeclared War is an uneven, occasionally riveting espionage thriller with great performances from Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance.
Lili Reinhart and Danny Ramirez stand in between two bookshelves in Look Both Ways.

Look Both Ways review: another forgettable Netflix original

Lili Reinhart's heartfelt lead performance in Look Both Ways isn't enough to save it from being another dull and forgettable Netflix original.
The Rockford Peaches stand together in their locker room in Amazon's A League of Their Own.

A League of Their Own review: A worthwhile reimagining

Amazon's A League of Their Own is the rare TV reimagining that actually manages to feel necessary. It premieres Friday, August 12 on Prime Video.
Bee, Sophie, Jordan, and Alice stand in the dark together in Bodies Bodies Bodies.

Bodies Bodies Bodies review: a viciously funny horror comedy

Bodies Bodies Bodies is a viciously funny new horror comedy from A24 and director Halina Reijn. It hits theaters on Friday, August 5.
Danni Sanders takes a selfie while wearing a red beret in Not Okay.

Not Okay review: a social media satire that pulls its punches

'Not Okay' is a vapid film about the superficial world of a narcissistic, wannabe influencer. It begins streaming Friday, July 29 on Hulu.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw lies on a bench in Surface.

Surface review: an unrewarding psychological thriller

Surface is an unrewarding and painfully slow new thriller starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. It premieres Friday, July 29 on Apple TV+.
Rebecca Hall stands next to a mirrored wall in Resurrection.

Resurrection review: a gripping and unpredictable thriller

Rebecca Hall gives one of the best performances of the year so far in Andrew Semans' dark and unnerving new psychological thriller, Resurrection.
Kya Clark sits against a tree in Where the Crawdads Sing.

Where the Crawdads Sing review: a bland murder mystery

Olivia Newman's Where the Crawdads Sing is a well-acted but ultimately bland film adaptation of Delia Owens' best-selling novel.
The Elliot and Musgrove sisters look through a window together in Netflix's Persuasion.

Persuasion review: a messy adaptation of a timeless story

Dakota Johnson's performance as a lovelorn Anne Elliot anchors Netflix's messy new adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Persuasion.' It begins streaming July 15.
Paul and Bella look at each other in Moonhaven.

Moonhaven review: A promising sci-fi mystery

Moonhaven is an imperfect but promising new sci-fi mystery series. Its six-episode first season begins streaming Thursday, July 7 on AMC+.
Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain stand by a car together in The Forgiven.

The Forgiven review: A familiar journey worth making

Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain lead an incredible ensemble of actors in The Forgiven, an observant but slight new social satire.
Oliver, Charles, and Mabel stand at a party together in Only Murders in the Building Season 2.

Only Murders in the Building season 2 review: A welcome return

Only Murders in the Building season 2 is a charming and hilarious, if less tightly plotted, follow-up to the Hulu hit's debut season.
A ghost stands next to Finney in The Black Phone.

The Black Phone review: A spooky, surface-level thriller

Scott Derrickson's The Black Phone is an intense yet ultimately superficial thriller.
Billy, Elle, and Lamina stand in front of a banquet table together in Flux Gourmet.

Flux Gourmet review: A surreal comedy that’s a test of taste

Director Peter Strickland's Flux Gourmet is an intentionally provocative, sensual, and surreal film about a trio of quirky performance artists.
Leo and Nancy sit on a bed together in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande.

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande review: A pleasant but lackluster two-hander

'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande' is a pleasant but slight two-hander about the power of pleasure. The Emma Thompson-led film premieres June 17 on Hulu.
Andrew and Domino look at each other in Cha Cha Real Smooth.

Cha Cha Real Smooth review: A lovestruck, kindhearted gem

Cooper Raiff's Cha Cha Real Smooth is a charming and unabashedly romantic new drama.. The Dakota Johnson-led film premieres June 17 on Apple TV+.
Joe Leaphorn stands in the desert in Dark Winds.

Dark Winds review: A pulpy detective thriller with a stellar cast

'Dark Winds' is a fun, pulpy detective thriller anchored by an incredible Zahn McClarnon performance. It premieres on AMC and AMC+ on Sunday, June 12.
Bo Cruz leans down while talking to Stanley Sugarman in Hustle.

Hustle review: Adam Sandler’s sports drama comes out on top

Adam Sandler has returned with Hustle, a winning new sports drama that's a total crowd-pleaser. The film premieres June 8 on Netflix.
Terence Davies at the London Film Festival in 2021.

Director Terence Davies on his latest movie, Benediction

Benediction director Terence Davies reveals the films that influenced his new post-war drama and explains why music and movies have so much in common.
Erin, Keegan, Howie, Noah, and Luke stand together in Fire Island.

Fire Island review: A fun but basic summer rom-com

Fire Island offers a modern but predictable take on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The Joel Kim Booster-led film begins streaming Friday, June 3 on Hulu.
Jeremy Irvine stands next to Jack Lowden in Benediction.

Benediction review: An operatic portrait of postwar devastation

Benediction is another meditative, visually stunning drama from director Terence Davies. The Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi-led film hits theaters on June 3.
Franklin and Irene look together at another planet's stars in Night Sky.

Night Sky review: A sci-fi mystery that looks down, not up

J.K. Simmons and Sissy Spacek bring their A-game in 'Night Sky,' the new sci-fi mystery series that is set to premiere Friday, May 20 on Amazon Prime Video.
Nick sits next to Frances in Hulu's Conversations with Friends.

Conversations with Friends review: A tedious romantic drama

Conversations with Friends, which premieres May 15, fails to recapture the magic of Hulu's previous Sally Rooney adaptation, 2020's Normal People.
Haley Lu Richardson stands behind a truck door in Montana Story.

Montana Story’s Haley Lu Richardson discusses the gripping new drama

Haley Lu Richardson talks to Digital Trends about what it was like making Montana Story and getting into her character's emotionally dark headspace.
Cora and Will look at each other in The Essex Serpent.

The Essex Serpent review: A visually ravishing gothic melodrama

Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes lead the moody, visually splendid new gothic melodrama The Essex Serpent. It premieres Friday, May 13 on Apple TV+.
pleasure review neon 4

Pleasure review: An explicit and unflinching drama

Director Ninja Thyberg's Pleasure is an explicit and unflinching look at the adult film industry. The film hits theaters in the U.S. on Friday, May 13.
Jim drives away on his motorcycle from a group of crazed zombies in The Sadness.

The Sadness review: A blood-soaked zombie thrill ride

Director Rob Jabbaz's The Sadness is a grotesque, bloody horror-thriller that definitely isn't for the faint of heart.
Jean Smart wears a cheetah print shirt while standing next to Hannah Einbinder in Hacks Season 2.

Hacks season 2 review: Taking the show on the road

Jean Smart returns in fine form as Deborah Vance in the hilarious and entertaining, if occasionally aimless, second season of HBO Max's Hacks.
Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague stand next to a truck in Montana Story.

Montana Story review: Well-acted western takes its time

Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague give a pair of star-making performances in Montana Story, a film about two estranged siblings who are unexpectedly reunited.
Anamaria Vartolomei dances in a crowd in Happening.

Happening review: A brutal but necessary drama

Audrey Diwan's Happening tells an intense, timely story, and features one of the best performances of the year so far from Anamaria Vartolomei.
Jeb looks at Robin Lafferty in Under the Banner of Heaven.

Under the Banner of Heaven creator on making the FX thriller

Under the Banner of Heaven creator Dustin Lance Black opens up about the challenges of making a true-crime thriller, and how the new series explores Mormonism.
Colin Firth and Toni Collette both look up in The Staircase.

The Staircase review: A crime drama that loses its footing

The Staircase is an overly ambitious, sometimes misguided true-crime thriller that is elevated by several stunning performances from its lead cast members.
Anaïs Demoustier and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi look at each other in Anaïs in Love.

Anaïs in Love’s director, star on making 2022’s best rom-com

Anaïs in Love director Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet and star Anaïs Demoustier open up about how they made one of the year's best romance films.