Author: Kasey Butcher

This Valentine’s Day, instead of going to the theater to see a standard romantic comedy, you might choose instead to see Isn’t It Romantic? the sendup of romcoms starring Rebel Wilson, Priyanka Chopra, and Liam Hemsworth. . . Read More

In my last column of the 2018, I am reviewing two movies that each focus on difficult relationships between women that come to disastrous (in the case of The Favorite) or heartwarming ends (in Dumplin’). . . Read More

I spent some time last weekend waffling over going to see The Nutcracker and The Four Realms. In the end, I decided that if I was going to watch the feature-length equivalent of a perfume ad, I’d rather spend that time on terrible made-for-TV Christmas movies. . . Read More

Currently, there is a flurry of documentaries about criminal justice reform. On Hulu, v, directed by Stephen Maing, follows a group of NYPD officers who go against the department in an effort to bring down an illegal quota system that was leading to a disproportionate number of people of color facing tickets, summons, and jail time for minor infractions, real or otherwise. . . Read More

“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within…” Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House begins with the opening lines of the Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name, but from there it diverges dramatically, creating a series that is different in plot, but similar in tone, theme, and scariness. . . Read More

As a bookworm, it is truly a rare occasion for me to think a movie is better than the book, but the recent film A Simple Favor managed to best the novel it’s based on. . . Read More

There has been a lot of discussion about the Netflix true crime machine, but the streaming service has also upped their romantic comedy game. One of their recent productions, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, has some classic romcom charm and a quippy trio of sisters at its heart. . . Read More

This week, I watched Sorry to Bother You in the theater and Birthmarked on Netflix. One movie I loved; the other I’m advising you not to waste your time on. In Sorry to Bother You, Cassius “Cash” Green (Lakeith Stanfield) needs a job, any job, and lands at a telemarketing firm. . . Read More

Summer is a great time for travel adventure comedies, and Netflix has released some new originals to fit the bill. Ibiza is a new movie about three friends on a romp through Spain that hides a sweet romance at the heart of a sometimes raunchy travel comedy. . . Read More

I got the chance to see an early screening of the new horror film and film festival favorite, Hereditary, followed by a live-streamed Q&A with the director, Ari Aster. When asked about what he was trying to accomplish with the film, he recounted how he wanted to make a movie about trauma and grief but thought that horror was a more commercial way to go than family drama. . . Read More

From Making a Murderer to The Keepers, true crime has become a big genre for Netflix. I happen to be a huge true crime fan, so this week, I’m rounding up an assortment of true crime options on Netflix, along with a book recommendation and two podcasts. . . Read More

Although Mother’s Day is a holiday meant to celebrate the joys of mothering and the impact those who mother have on all of our lives, mothers and motherhood itself can cause conflicting feelings for many people. . . Read More

With its enormous budget and relative freedom, Netflix has an opportunity to support smaller, innovative films that would likely flounder at the theater. With this opportunity, however, comes mixed results. This week, I watched an independent movie I loved and one I was not so sold on. . . Read More

It’s a special treat when a scary movie is also a beautiful film. A Quiet Place, a new monster movie from John Krasinski, infuses 90 minutes of uncomfortable suspense with a touching story of familial love. . . Read More

You may have seen an article floating around about the movies on Netflix that are too scary for people to finish. I think a few items on that list are there due to gore and low quality, but I can say that when I saw The Conjuring in the theater (to review it for this paper), I was tempted to walk out. . . Read More

Not long ago, I watched Heathers, the 1989 dark comedy about a teen girl (Winona Ryder) whose deranged boyfriend (Christian Slater) keeps killing their classmates and making it look like suicide. . . Read More