The overwhelming nature of grief and the inability to let go of those who have passed on is universal. Not as relatable is that weight twisted into a hilariously morbid narrative: a child lost to a ritual sacrifice at the hands of a washed-up Christian rock star who has made a deal with the devil for one more shot at stardom. You know, that old chestnut. “Extra Ordinary”— the debut film from Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman — takes nearly every heavy ghost and exorcism film impeded with bereavement, and flips them on their heads with humor and ingenuity to spare, which more than makes up for the times when the film gets away from them.

Continue reading Horror-Comedy ‘Extra Ordinary’ Is An Outrageously Farcical Spin On Ghost Stories [NBFF Review] at The Playlist.

The fall film festival circuit is in full swing. Venice has already started, Telluride is bringing up the rear with TIFF not far behind, and buzz has already started building for potential awards darlings like “First Man,” “Roma,” and “The Favourite.” But this past weekend, in a small Washington town where the owls are not what they seem, something strange emerged like the fog rolling down through the woods: the arrival of the first annual North Bend Film Festival (NBFF).

Continue reading ‘Anna & The Apocalypse,’ ‘Shirkers,’ & More [North Bend Film Festival Recap] at The Playlist.

“My Name is Myeisha” is a rare film amongst the canon of strong urban dramas in that it’s specific to the experience of young African-American females. These films largely focus on the hardships of young men – or a mixed ensemble – and it’s refreshing to see a perspective that feels largely absent from cinema. However, it would be a disservice to the film itself, regardless of what it does or does not accomplish, to champion it solely on baseline victories.

Continue reading ‘My Name is Myeisha’ Is A Powerfully Fresh Take On The Urban Drama [North Bend Film Fest Review] at The Playlist.

Making a film is incredibly difficult. For most, it’s a labor of love and not a financially viable endeavor, which is exactly what “Shirkers” was to Sandi Tan. Growing up in Singapore and loving things that were seen as taboo (punk music, strange world cinema, coordinating with her cousin in Florida to bootleg a copy of “Blue Velvet”), she wrote her own avant-garde screenplay at age nineteen about a serial killer named “S,” who she would play.

Continue reading ‘Shirkers’ Is A Love Letter To Renegade Filmmaking And The Ghosts Of The Past [North Bend Film Fest Review] at The Playlist.

“It is happening again…”

Well, more like “it is happening for the first time.” Unlike Los Angeles, New York, and Austin, the number of film festivals in the Pacific Northwest are very slim. The biggest festivals are SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) and PIFF (Portland International Film Festival), despite both Seattle and Portland still having a robust filmgoing market. Fortunately, something strange is coming to the film lovers of the PNW.

Continue reading The First-Ever North Bend Film Festival Announces Full Line-Up Including Netflix’s ‘Shirkers’ at The Playlist.