Category Archives: Film

2024 Superhero Movies Ranked

Posted on February 12, 2025 by Sam S-P

https://secondcutpod.substack.com/p/2024-superhero-movies-ranked SSP

Posted in Film, Film Feature, Second Cut | Tagged Deadpool and Wolverine, Hellboy: The Crooked Man, Joker: Folie à Deux, Kraven the Hunter, Madame Web, Superhero Movie, The Crow, Venom: Last Dance | Leave a comment

Review in Brief: Wolf Man (2025)

Posted on February 9, 2025 by Sam S-P

While not as effective as his modern take on THE INVISIBLE MAN, Leigh Whannell’s WOLF MAN still works as a no-nonsense representation of a painful and tragic transformation. In a slightly laboured setup, Christopher Abbott’s Blake must return to his … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief | Tagged Christopher Abbott, Horror, Julia Garner, Leigh Whannell, Matilda Firth, Wolf Man | Leave a comment

Review in Brief: Rebel Ridge (2024)

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Sam S-P

It’s depressingly rare today to come upon a suspense film that genuinely keeps you guessing the direction it is heading in. Jeremy Saulnier’s REBEL RIDGE, a politically pointed, punchy modern Western certainly does that. Terry (Aaron Pierre) rides into a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief | Tagged Aaron Pierre, AnnaSophia Robb, Don Johnson, Jeremy Saulnier, Rebel Ridge, Thriller | Leave a comment

Looking Back and Looking Forward: 2024

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Sam S-P

The year in which Hollywood tried its darnedest to recover from a year of disruption and underperformance, and the resulting 12 months ended up being a mixed success. Some studios like Disney saw some of their biggest box office hits … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Feature | Tagged All of Us Strangers, Anora, Conclave, Deadpool & Wolverine, Dune: Part Two, Evil Does Not Exist, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, His Three Daughters, Hundreds of Beavers, Inside Out 2, Israelism, Kneecap, Monster, My Old Ass, Perfect Days, Poor Things, Rebel Ridge, Robot Dreams, Sing Sing, Sometimes I Think About Dying, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, The Substance, The Teachers’ Lounge, The Wild Robot, The Zone of Interest | Leave a comment

Review: Nosferatu (2024)

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Sam S-P

It’s been a long time coming, Robert Eggers’ NOSFERATU. A dream project for the singular director of THE WITCH and THE LIGHTHOUSE since high school, this version of FW Murnau’s unauthorised adaptation of DRACULA brings with it shocking imagery, an … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bill Skarsgard, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Emma Corrin, FW Murnau, Jan Blaschke, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Nosferatu, Ralph Ineson, Renfield, Robert Eggers, Shadow of the Vampire, The Lighthouse, The Witch, Willem Dafoe | Leave a comment

Review in Brief: Anora (2024)

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Sam S-P

Sean Baker, champion if those whose professions have made them persona non grata in American society has made his most crowd-pleasing film to date, winning him the Palme d’Or at Cannes for his troubles. Stripper Ani (Mikey Madison) falls for Ivan … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief | Tagged Anora, Black Comedy, Drama, Karren Karagulian, Mark Eydelshteyn, Mikey Madison, Romance, Sean Baker, Yura Borisov | 1 Comment

Review in Brief: Inside Out 2 (2024)

Posted on January 21, 2025 by Sam S-P

The first INSIDE OUT, out of all of Pixar’s output, is probably the film that connects with adults far more than children. It was profound, clever and moving and seemed almost impossible to meaningfully follow up. INSIDE OUT 2, while … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief | Tagged Amy Pohler, Animation, Family Film, Inside Out, Inside Out 2, Kelsey Mann, Kensington Tallman, Maya Hawke, Pixar | 1 Comment

Review in Brief: The Substance (2024)

Posted on January 20, 2025 by Sam S-P

How do you honestly react to THE SUBSTANCE without using expletives? The commentary on sexualised imagery and aging isn’t subtle, but Coralie Fargeat’s body horror is powerful, cinematic and by turns nauseating and uncomfortably hilarious. Movie star-turned-TV fitness guru Elisabeth … Continue reading →