The Fall and Rise of Babylon

The third film from writer/director Brandon Cronenberg (son of body horror maestro David), 2023's Infinity Pool, which follows 2012's Antiviral and 2020's Possessor, shows a penchant for the same bodily flair his father has, but also hones in on the devolution of humanity and the soul. Following a married couple, James and Em Foster (Alexander Skarsgård and Cleopatra Coleman), he is a less than middling author, having released a single critic-slammed novel that has left the man with a serious case of writer’s block... while she comes from money and sometimes seems more like a patroness than significant other.

Now three movies in, there is no doubt that Robert Eggers is one of the more creative minds working in the film industry today. With The Northman (2022), the co-writer (along with Sjón), director, and producer brings forward his most accessible piece yet... but that doesn’t mean that this is not as creative, intricate, challenging, or authentic as his The VVitch and The Lighthouse. This time taking a deep dive into Norse history and mythology, it might surprise some that the main source they worked from was the story of Amleth... a tale which appears in the “Gesta Danorum” (History of the Danes) – as it is also the main inspiration for William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (it is easier to spot the similarities once you are aware of the connection).

Transporting the viewer down the proverbial rabbit hole, 2016's A Cure for Wellness, co-written and directed by Gore Verbinski, is a fantastical fairy tale, but maybe not in the way you might be thinking. Rooted in the original Grimm versions of the stories that might come to mind, this narrative is horror tinged, to be sure. Full of juxtaposition and symmetry, we follow a newly promoted cutthroat executive, boy-faced Lockhart (Dane DeHaan), who is being tasked with retrieving their CEO emeritus of sorts, Pembroke (Harry Groener) – a beast of a businessman, who, after taking two weeks off in the Swiss Alps, has decided to call it quits and focus more on his health and wellness (a complete role reversal by the businessman).

Adding horror to sex and drugs and rock `n roll, 1985's Hard Rock Zombies, co-written and directed by Krishna Shah, was never supposed to happen – as it was only meant to be a twenty minute faux feature that would play in the background at the titular American Drive-In (a comedy released the same year)... instead, the film maker scraped together a bit more money, and a true (and truly bad) cult classic was born. A throw everything at it but the kitchen sink style production, the narrative is a bit of a mess, but in the best possible way. Following the burgeoning rock band Holy Moses (E.J. Curse – member of Silent Rage, Geno Andrews, Sam Mann, Mick McMains)

2022's Barbarian, which is written and directed by Zach Cregger, is a gonzo, go for broke horror thriller that needs to be seen to believe... preferably with as little known as possible, so this will be a pared-down, to the basics, as close to spoiler free review as possible. Following a guarded gal, Tess (Georgina Campbell), she has Airbnb’d a cute place in a sketchy neighbourhood in Detroit (the city takes another movie blow after others like Don’t Breathe). Arriving late at night (not truly realizing just how ramshackle the surrounding area is), she finds the lockbox holding key empty. A perfect side note for history lovers, the address of the place is 476 Barbary St. – the year the barbarians invaded ancient Rome.

A movie about blood-sucking parasites... if you’re thinking I’m talking about lawyers, you’d be way off track today; Ticks have become creatures that haunt the backs of our minds as we enjoy our outdoor summer activities (fears of Lyme disease and meat allergies run rampant in articles found in newspapers and online), meaning the 1993 direct-to-video cult classic directed by Tony Randel is more pertinent than ever before. Following a group of lowly teens that are a part of a program run by Holly Lambert (Rosalind Allen) and Charles Danson (Peter Scolari), the shtupping pair bring kids from inner city Los Angeles out into nature as a form of therapy and group bonding (Holly is in charge of the former, while Charles studies the latter).