For about as long as we’ve been exploring social and cultural dynamics on screen, there have been instances where someone has an idea to subvert expectations and look at a subject from a very different perspective. One of the most common areas in which we find this happening is in works that propose alternative realities,…
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
If a stranger approached you and requested that you follow him to a cemetery to discover your supposed birthright, just about any level-headed individual would reject such an offer and choose to prioritise their safety in such a clearly dangerous situation. However, this is not the case for Buffy Summers, who sets aside her hesitations…
If I Was Honest (1942)
While his name may be somewhat obscure to some, Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia is a vitally important figure in the history of Italian cinema, specifically if we are looking at a specific era in the nation’s artistic output. One of its most cherished figures in terms of comedy, Bragaglia was a fascinating individual, since his career…
The Meddler (2016)
Parenthood is the greatest gift any of us could be afforded – whether we look at it from the perspective of the parent or the child, the relationship that is formed from birth is always worth exploring, especially when it comes to understanding the iron-clad bond that develops over time. However, there comes a time…
Criminally Insane (1975)
Why do we engage with art? The obvious answer exists somewhere between wanting to be entertained and craving to be enlightened about something much deeper about the human condition. We all experience the world in different ways, and it is the artist’s job to attempt to condense that into a single artwork, aimed at as…
The Wackness (2008)
There was a time when Jonathan Levine was one of the most exciting young directors working in the business – his ability to take on any project across multiple genres and infuse them with a signature style proved that he was one of the most intriguing artists at the time, being the perfect combination of…
Yes! (2025)
How do you write about the subject of satire without turning it into a history lesson on the origins of the art of lampooning culture and society to underline the hypocrisies and ironies that populate – if not outright define – everyday life? The truth is that it’s a fool’s errand, one that is usually…
Getting Any? (1994)
You cannot underestimate the lengths to which someone will go to satisfy their cravings, regardless of the specific desire and how they tend to be acquired. In the case of Getting Any? (Japanese: みんな～やってるか!), Takeshi Kitano asks similar questions and sets out to provide some answers in the process, which he does in the form…
My Favorite Brunette (1947)
Film noir is a genre in which the precise parameters are often difficult to discern, but which we can generally agree consists of a few key components that persist throughout, particularly when it comes to the earlier works that defined the genre and essentially laid its foundation. This has allowed many tributes and imitations, with…
Remarkably Bright Creatures (2026)
When I’m not discussing film, one of my other professional passions is linguistics. It is the area in which I hold a couple of degrees, and it is a field that I truly love. I ran the gamut of subjects over the years, finding interesting elements in a range of sub-disciplines that all fall under…
The Postmodern Pelican 