-
Maggie’s Plan (2015) Review – A Rom-Com That Knows Life Is Complicated
In one sentence: Maggie’s Plan follows a single woman determined to become a mother on her own, whose carefully laid plans unravel when she falls for a married academic. Romantic comedies often follow a familiar formula and can feel overly predictable. Too frequently, women are portrayed as waiting for a man to arrive before their…
-
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025) Review – A Magical Detour into Self-Reflection
In one sentence: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a magical realism film that follows a couple on an unexpected road of reflection and self-discovery. What would you say if your GPS asked whether you wanted to go on a big, bold, beautiful journey? Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) say yes, catapulting both…
-
It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947) Review – A Christmas Story of Kindness and Community
In one sentence: It Happened on 5th Avenue is a classic festive tale of kindness and community in post-war New York. Christmas is synonymous with generosity and togetherness and most of us can easily name a handful of films that celebrate these ideals. Yet the same titles tend to dominate festive schedules year after year.…
-
Krampus (2015) Review – A Christmas Horror with a Conscience
In one sentence: Krampus is a Christmas horror that spins Alpine folklore into a dark tale about family tension and festive belief. Christmas films do not always have to be light, romantic or comforting. There is now a rich niche of festive horror and Krampus is one of its strongest. Drawing on Alpine folklore, the…
-
The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) Review – A Charming Peek Behind a Christmas Classic
In one sentence: The Man Who Invented Christmas follows Charles Dickens as he struggles to write A Christmas Carol, blurring imagination and reality in the process. We all know the story of A Christmas Carol and have seen countless adaptations in every imaginable style, but how much do we really know about its author, Charles…
-
Wicked: For Good (2025) Review – Hitting the Notes, Even If Not All the High Ones
In one sentence: Wicked: For Good follows Elphaba and Glinda as the consequences of their choices reshape their friendship and their place in Oz. One year after Wicked cast its spell over cinemas, its second instalment, Wicked: For Good, has arrived to mixed critical reactions. I would take some of these with a pinch of…
-
The Life of Chuck (2025) Review – A Life-Affirming Story with an Unexpected Sadness
In one sentence: The Life of Chuck explores an ordinary life in reverse, reflecting on memory, loss and the significance of human connection. With Stephen King’s latest adaptation, The Life of Chuck, I expected something uplifting. After all, the marketing spoke of a life-affirming story filled with wonder. Instead, I found myself sitting with a…
-
Frankenstein (2025) Review – A New Perspective on a Timeless Monster
In one sentence: Frankenstein is a reinterpretation of the classic tale that emphasises humanity and monstrosity over simple horror. Guillermo del Toro’s much-anticipated Frankenstein arrived on Netflix yesterday. I initially wondered whether releasing it after Halloween was a missed opportunity, however, this is not really a horror film but a story about humanity. It also…
-
Eden (2025) Review – The Perils of Chasing Paradise
In one sentence: Eden depicts an attempt to build a utopian community on a largely uninhabitable remote island and the tensions that emerge. Ron Howard’s latest film, Eden, is a psychological thriller inspired by true events. It tells the remarkable story of a group of idealists who flee post WWI Germany and the rise of…
-
Dangerous Animals (2025) Review – When the Real Monsters Are Not in the Water
In one sentence: Dangerous Animals follows Zephyr, a surfer abducted by a shark-obsessed boat captain, who is forced to survive and escape while held captive at sea. I have long believed that Australia produces some of the most exciting film and television today, and I have a soft spot for creature features, especially the water-based…
Rhiann’s Reels 