On Screen

Smart reviews for the visually obsessed. On Screen features film reviews and festival coverage, spotlighting cinematic craft, storytelling and standout performances.

  • Review: ‘Ammonite’ leaves its rose-coloured glasses at the door (Includes first-hand account)

    In an age where homosexuality wasn’t acknowledged, coming to terms with one’s needs and desires was difficult. At the same time, at least for women, it could be veiled as a very close friendship that people were less likely to question. Recently, a number of films have highlighted historical tales of female relationships that existed under these circumstances, and were simultaneously strained by the need to keep up appearances and abide by social norms. In Ammonite, two women are reborn via their love for each other, even though their affair begins with an expiry date.

  • Review: ‘Come Play’ turns your screen into a window of terror (Includes first-hand account)

    It doesn’t take much for a kid to catch a bully’s attention, but being different is like having a giant target painted on their back. Special treatment, vulnerabilities and awkward social behaviour are just some of the things that can make a kid stick out from the crowd — having all three is a recipe for loneliness. But there are worse things than being alone. There are monsters that prey on young people’s isolation, using the solitude to draw them away from their families and into the darkness. Come Play is about a boy whose lack of companionship awakens a creature that wants nothing more than to be his friend.

  • Review: ‘Mulan’ becomes the master of her destiny, but can’t fight free (Includes first-hand account)

    As Disney continues to dig into its archives for live-action feature film material, it’s always interesting to see how they opt to update the narrative for a contemporary audience. Whether the animated film is 20 or 70 years old, it’s likely to include some elements that made for a charming fairy tale but could be altered to better represent current ideologies. Even though the pictures featured female protagonists, they weren’t always the heroes of their own stories and Disney is now taking the opportunity to rectify the matter. The latest film to get the live-action treatment is Mulan.

  • Review: ‘Survival Skills’ shows ethics are sometimes secondary (Includes first-hand account)

    While North American law enforcement has come under scrutiny for its bias application of discretion and unnecessary use of lethal force in countless situations, navigating the discussion around these topics can be challenging. Nonetheless, there have been a number of films that do an excellent job of shining a light on the subject and bringing the conversation to the forefront. Many of these pictures tell the story from the perspective of the victim since that narrative has historically lacked attention, but few try to depict the root of the problem. In Survival Skills, audiences are taken into the world of a 1980s police training video that goes off-script.

  • Review: ‘The Mortuary Collection’ makes funeral homes even creepier (Includes first-hand account)

    The horror anthology is a long-standing genre tradition. Sometimes the short stories share a common thread, and other times the only connection between tales is the framing story. Sometimes they are all written by a single storyteller, and other times it’s a collaborative effort between multiple writers and directors. Sometimes the collections are a good mix of quality scares and eerie atmospheres, and other times one or all of the stories fall short of being good. Yet the promise of a creepy compilation of scary stories keeps fans coming back for another try. The Mortuary Collection is a horror anthology that unsurprisingly originates in a funeral home.

  • Review: ‘Crazy Samurai Musashi’ doesn’t go mad enough (Includes first-hand account)

    When making a movie, it’s important to have a hook, which should also serve as your answer to some important questions. Why should someone fund the making of your film? Why should a film festival or theatre program your picture? Why will audiences choose your movie over the many others on offer? Crazy Samurai Musashi has an excellent answer to these questions. The majority of the 92-minute picture is comprised of a single take in which the title warrior faces hundreds of opponents.

  • Review: ‘Hail to the Deadites’ doesn’t cast a wide enough net (Includes first-hand account)

    Being a fan has never been more accepted. Flaunting you’re passionate about something is no longer limited to sports teams or mainstream franchises. The ever-rising popularity of fan conventions is evidence people are actively seeking opportunities to connect with their fandoms and fellow enthusiasts. For some, this cultivated community of like-minded individuals is the only place they feel comfortable letting their freak flag fly, as it were. Others value the occasion to discuss and debate the nuances of a minute detail at length with people who don’t scoff at what they consider nit-picking. Hail to the Deadites is a letter of recognition to the fans of the Evil Dead franchise.

  • Review: ‘Clapboard Jungle’ goes deep behind the scenes of moviemaking (Includes first-hand account)

    It’s common knowledge the film industry is one of the toughest to penetrate and even more difficult to be successful. Of course, everyone’s measure of success is different, but in this case it can be boiled down to a few basic achievements: making a movie, getting said movie distributed, and people mostly liking it once they’ve been afforded the opportunity to see it. Now the method of all these things occurring is about as varied as the types of pictures people can make. But deep down there’s got to be some similarities; a common thread that drives everyone and bonds them in their pursuit. Clapboard Jungle is an exploration of independent filmmaking and the parallels of creators’ experiences.

  • Review: ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’ is excellent to each viewer (Includes first-hand account)

    More often than not, our favourite movies are those that can be watched over and over again without losing their charm. It doesn’t necessarily make them cinematic accomplishments or the best movie of the year, but it means their ability to entertain us is enduring. Trying to recapture that appeal in a sequel is tricky business – especially if it’s decades later. Thirty-one years ago, audiences were introduced to Ted Theodore Logan and Bill S. Preston, Esquire as they travelled through time to pass high school history and one-day save the future. In Bill & Ted Face the Music, they’re still waiting for that crucial moment when their music will unite the world and the future is growing impatient.

  • Review: ‘Tenet’ is a time-bending thriller that keeps you in the loop (Includes first-hand account)

    After approximately six months of not going to movie theatres, it’s not surprising studios are trying to lure audiences back with high-profile films that had pre-established hype. Big pictures with big names are definitely an advantage in this re-emerging market as the many delayed release dates are finally coming due. In 2000, writer/director Christopher Nolan had a breakthrough indie success, becoming a filmmaker to watch — and boy did we! Twenty years later, the mere mention of his name piques interest and conjures expectations of grand complexity. His latest film, Tenet, is a time-bending, action adventure that will keep viewers on their toes.

  • Review: ‘Bloodshot’ forgets they’re still human (Includes first-hand account)

    Science and technology have been changing the way we live for centuries, particularly since the industrial revolution. From making tasks easier to extending life expectancies, the world is forever evolving due to new discoveries and innovations. Procedures and treatments allow some to “cheat death,” eradicating disease and repairing or replacing damaged parts. However, they’re still only able to reverse death in the movies… for now. Bringing back the dead has mixed results in fiction, but it’s typically a negative experience to some degree and must be rectified by the end. In Bloodshot, a soldier is revived with the superhuman ability to bring armies to their knees.

  • Review: ‘Onward’ is infused with magic and emotion (Includes first-hand account)

    Growing up, there’s a subconscious pressure to have a mom AND a dad. Yet, in spite of what most sitcoms tell you, the majority of households don’t consist of that dynamic. Some parents separate or suffer untimely deaths, while others may be same-sex. There’s no “traditional family” anymore as families come in all shapes and sizes. But that doesn’t mean a kid won’t still feel the stress of not having a mom and dad at home, creating a longing that may be impossible to fulfill. In Onward, a teen wants nothing more than to spend a day with the father he never met.