Director Vasilis Katsoupis tells the audience exactly what “Inside” is about to do from its very first scene. The disembodied voice of Willem Dafoe narrates a childhood fable fished from the depths of memory. The story, a seemingly simple school ruse about the things a young kid would save from a burning house, highlights how art has always been the utmost priority in this man’s life — coming above it all, including the well-being of his family.

Continue reading ‘Inside’ Review: Vasilis Katsoupis’ Heist Thriller With Willem Dafoe Is Formulaic Yet Never Dull [Berlin] at The Playlist.

How do you escape the inescapable? An art thief is about to learn that nothing is as easy as it seems in “Inside.” The film’s emphasis focuses on a lone character — played by Willem Dafoe — who deals with isolation, fear, and unexpected dangers. It hails from writer Ben Hopkins and director Vasilis Katsoupis; this marks the filmmaker’s first fictional feature film, having previously directed the documentary “My Friend Larry Gus.”

Katsoupis, along with producer Giorgos Karnavas, were incredibly excited about star Willem Dafoe’s participation.

Continue reading ‘Inside’ Trailer Willem Dafoe Is An Art Thief Trapped In A NY Penthouse When A Heist Goes Wrong at The Playlist.

Halloween marks the prime time to revisit slasher classics and psychological thrill rides. However, creating the perfect horror movie is no easy feat. More than just jump scares and gore, horror brings together all the best facets of film. Camera movement, score, acting, and editing all have to work in harmonious tandem to garner a terrifying reaction.

In a video essay by Plot Point Productions, they break down their picks of the best horror films of the 21st century, and provide thoughtful explanations as to why these films have earned their place in the canon (note, this video was made before the release of “Get Out” and “It“).

Continue reading Scary Supercut Of The Best Horror Films Of The 21st Century at The Playlist.

It’s the beginning of the spookiest month of the year, so it’s no accident that this week will see the release of one of the best horror films of the year, Babak Anvari‘s “Under the Shadow” (our review). It was well received at Sundance and throughout the year at its various festival berths, but if you haven’t heard as much about it as you did about, say, “The Babadook” or “The Witch,” there’s a simple reason: although it’s a U.K.

Continue reading The 25 Best Foreign Language Horror Movies Of All Time at The Playlist.

With October now upon us, Over/Under Movies is getting in the Halloween spirit with an appropriately scary/violent/gross/fun series of episodes. I decided to double down on some New French Extremity and explore perhaps the two most notorious and beloved titles from that brief mid-2000s wave. For the overrated category, I went with “High Tension” and the under is “Inside.” I’m joined on this episode by co-host Oktay Ege Kozak.

Continue reading Podcast: Over/Under Movies Gets In The Halloween Mood With New French Extremity Double Feature ‘High Tension’ & ‘Inside’ at The Playlist.