“For they are all gone now. Only we remain.” So ends Sgt. Haane, a stirring and deeply resonant war-drama documentary that brings to light the extraordinary story of Sergeant Haane “Jack” Te Rauawa Manahi—one of Aotearoa’s most revered yet under-recognised World War II heroes. Arriving in time for ANZAC Day, the film stands as both […]
Movie Reviews
‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’ – Ancient Evil, Modern Horror — And No Way Out – Review
With Evil Dead Rise, Irish filmmaker Lee Cronin announced himself as a fearless new voice in modern horror — a director unafraid to plunge audiences into viscera, chaos, and pure, unrelenting dread. Now, with Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, Cronin doubles down, delivering a film that claws, snarls, and screams its way into your psyche. This […]
‘The President’s Cake’ – A Quiet Act of Defiance Baked Under Pressure – Review
There’s a quiet, simmering tension that runs through The President’s Cake, the feature film debut from Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi, and it’s that tension that proves to be the film’s greatest strength. What begins as a seemingly small, almost trivial premise; 9-year-old Lamia, who is tasked with baking a cake for then Iraqi President, and […]
‘Project Hail Mary’ – One Man, One Mission, Infinite Stakes – Review
There’s a particular kind of cinematic thrill that comes from watching one man stand alone against the impossible, and Project Hail Mary taps directly into that primal nerve. Adapted from the best-selling novel by Andy Weir, this space-bound survival epic and quintessential buddy-comedy trades Weir’s interest in Martian soil for interstellar darkness, and the result […]
‘The Drama’ – Wedding Vows Turn Venomous in A24’s Boldest Mind Game Yet – Review
There’s a certain electricity that comes with the A24 banner. It’s a promise of something bold, unpredictable, and just a little dangerous, and The Drama absolutely delivers on that expectation. Loud, brazen, and deliciously unhinged, this black comedy-drama flips the idea of pre-wedding nerves on its head, transforming them into a full-blown psychological battleground. Led […]
‘I Swear’ – A Quietly Powerful Portrait That Earns Every Emotion – Review
There’s a version of I Swear that could have been unbearable. You can almost feel it sitting just off to the side – the overly sentimental, awards-chasing biopic that leans too hard on swelling music and obvious emotional beats. But what actually ends up on screen is something far more grounded, and honestly, a lot […]
‘They Will Kill You’ – Review
Sometimes you crave a film that doesn’t just push the envelope — it obliterates it with a chainsaw. They Will Kill You is exactly that kind of experience: a feral, death-metal-infused action-horror spectacle that swings hard, fast, and without mercy. This is cinema turned up to eleven; a savage, unrelenting barrage of violence, style, and […]
‘No Tears on the Field’ – A Roaring Tribute to Heart, Grit, and Grassroots Glory – Review
Rugby isn’t just a sport in Aotearoa New Zealand; it’s a way of life. From packed international test matches to muddy grassroots fields on Saturday mornings, the game pulses through the nation’s veins. In recent years, the rise of women’s rugby has been nothing short of electric, and No Tears on the Field captures that […]
‘THE BRIDE!’ – A Punk-Rock Resurrection of Gothic Romance – Review
The resurrection is at hand, and actress-turned-filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal turns the volume all the way up as she revives the legend of The Bride of Frankenstein for an all-new generation. The result is THE BRIDE!, a film that jolts a blinding dash of punk-rock romance into classic gothic horror. Arriving in a riot of attitude, […]
‘No Other Choice’ – Park Chan-wook Turns Corporate Despair into a Savage, Blood-Soaked Farce – Review
There are filmmakers who flirt with satire, and then there is Park Chan-wook, who skewers it, salts it, and serves it with a knowing smile. No Other Choice is the South Korean auteur’s latest act of controlled cinematic cruelty — a pitch-black comedy thriller that transforms modern employment anxiety into a vicious, absurdist survival game. […]