Writing/Film/Philosophy @matthewjoneswriter - Tumblr Blog

Review: Scare Me (2020), a Middling Deconstruction of the Horror Genre

I became a huge fan of Josh Ruben while watching CollegeHumor videos in my dorm room nearly a decade ago. An expert impressionist and all-around great comedic talent, Josh Ruben has all the trappings of an A-list celebrity. In the years since, he has proven to be just as talented behind the camera as he is in front of it. This is why it pains me so much to write this review. I discovered Scare Me…

View On WordPress

#Horror #independent

Content Access

Gain access to this essay from Philosophy in Film!

View On WordPress

10 Best Silent Films for Philosophy Students

Historically speaking, cinema came into being at a particularly momentous time, especially in the United States and Russia. Reconstruction brought about an era of industrial and technological advancement. Meanwhile, the invention of the “moving picture” coincided with the Neoclassical movement in the arts. However, the two had little to do with each other. The earliest silent-era films were…

View On WordPress

#movie analysis #movie list #Silent Film #top 10 list

Review: Deep-Friend Fingers (2021), an Animated Short by Daniel Greenway

On a personal level, I think Deep-Fried Fingers (2021) and films of its ilk are completely necessary. Thanks in large part to the Internet, people have become increasingly aware of the pain and suffering we inflict on animals. Even if you can justify eating meat as the “natural order of things,” it’s hard to justify the barbarity of factory farms, or the general mistreatment of animals that have…

View On WordPress

#movie analysis #short film

Review: Possum (2018), the Terror of Childhood Trauma

Possum (2018) will surely resonate with some viewers more than others. Anyone who has experienced childhood trauma or lived through abuse knows the confusing feelings of fear, shame, and guilt. Matthew Holness’s debut film is certainly a monster movie, but it takes quite a while to realize what — or who — is the monster. Possum borders on a modern-day silent film, with minimal dialogue and an…

View On WordPress

#movie analysis #psychological horror

Review: 13 Cameras (2015), a Voyeuristic Horror Film

I made the mistake of watching 14 Cameras (2018) before I knew that 13 Cameras (2015) existed. It didn’t really ruin anything for me. In fact, watching the first film provided some answers to a few questions I had regarding the 13 Cameras sequel. In any case, you don’t need to watch Victor Zarcoff’s 13 Cameras to enjoy his subsequent film — or vice versa. They both function well-enough as…

View On WordPress

#Horror #movie analysis

The Gettier Cases and the Revision of Knowledge

To many philosophers, it has been the long-standing view that knowledge is defined as a justified, true belief. But does this definition accurately account for knowledge? Edmund Gettier proposes two cases in which this definition of knowledge proves insufficient. Some have criticized Gettier’s examples as invalid because they are based on false propositions. Still other philosophers agree with…

View On WordPress

Review: Flinch (2021), Old-School Crime Meets New-School Visuals

It’s hard to say if film history is dead or if we’re still plodding along in some form of post-postmodernism. Since we continue to make and consume films, I’m inclined to believe in the latter. Either way, a defining feature of our current era is a resurgence of visual style with a dependence on long-standing tropes and narrative mechanisms. In other words, we continue telling stories in much the…

View On WordPress

#movie analysis

Review: Broken Blossoms (1919), D.W. Griffith’s Interracial Romance

D. W. Griffith was one of the most ambitious and influential American directors of the silent movie era. His camera work and complex narratives forever shaped the future of Hollywood filmmaking. His most famous project, The Birth of a Nation (1915), became one of the most popular films of its time. However, it also put Griffith’s racist views on full display. Despite his talent as a filmmaker,…

View On WordPress

Review: Lifeforce (1985), a Film Built on Nudity & Creature FX

It’s difficult to argue that Tobe Hooper peaked early in his career. Though he’s had some mild successes over the years, nothing can top his magnum opus, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. After that success, Hooper still struggled to secure big budgets for his films. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre had a shoestring budget, as did most of his later works, like Eaten Alive and The Mangler. However, Hooper…

View On WordPress

#Horror #movie analysis

The Case for Animal Rights: A Defense of Tom Regan

The Case for Animal Rights: A Defense of Tom Regan #FilmEssay

The animal rights movement has gained a much larger following since the advent of the Internet. American philosopher Tom Regan developed an animal rights theory, which he illustrates in his now-famous 1983 book, The Case for Animal Rights. He refers to this moral standard as the Rights View. In short, the Rights View seeks to reevaluate the widely-held view of animals as resources by identifying…

View On WordPress

#movie analysis

Review: Paulette (2012), the Worst French Film Ever Made

Review: Paulette (2012), the Worst French Film Ever Made #FilmReview

France has produced some of the greatest actors, directors, and films of all time. French culture prides itself on the quality of its art, particularly in the sphere of filmmaking. Yet, the drive for increased box office returns often turns authentic artisans into shallow profiteers. Director Jérôme Enrico doesn’t have a long history of great films and, based on his existing work in film and…

View On WordPress

#French Cinema #movie analysis #worst French film

Review: The Overnight (2015), a Cringe Comedy Movie

Review: The Overnight (2015), a Cringe Comedy Movie #FilmReview

Though cringe comedy is nothing new, it’s certainly making a comeback in both television and film. Comedians like Larry David have made an entire career out of the concept, while media historians like Noël Carroll have analyzed cringe comedy in relation to incongruity theory and its place in modern society. In any case, it is a very specific kind of humor that appeals to those who delight in the…

View On WordPress

#cringe comedy #movie analysis

Review: A Private Function (1984) ★★½

Review: A Private Function (1984) ★★½ #FilmReview

In theory, dry British humor and satire should go hand in hand. There are many satirical films from the United Kingdom that work to great effect, like Monty Python’s Life of Brian(1979). However, there are different forms of satire; some rely on subtlety and subversion, while others rely on overt caricature and exaggeration. The stereotypical “dry British whit” fits in nicely with the former, but…

View On WordPress

#British cinema #movie analysis

Review: Amante para dos (1981), an Argentine Romantic Comedy ★★½

Having lived in Argentina for a while, I can say with confidence that the country has a distinct sense of humor. I’ve seen dozens of live comedic performances and Revistas — theatrical shows unique to Argentina — as well as Argentine television series and films. Through all of these different formats, there is always one identifying element: sex. This is perhaps best exemplified in Hugo Sofovich’s

View On WordPress

Review: Howl (2015), a Claustrophobic Monster Movie ★★★½

A proper setting is the foundation of any great horror film. Naturally, film is a complex medium, comprised of sights, sounds, and intangible narrative elements that all come together to create the setting. One could argue that this rather inclusive definition merges atmospherewith setting, but regardless of how you define them, both concepts work hand in hand. So, what makes a good setting for…

View On WordPress

Review: Swallow (2020), a Film About Pica ★★★

Until I saw the trailer for Carlo Mirabella-Davis’s horror-thriller, Swallow (2020), I had never heard of the Pica Disorder. For the uninitiated, Pica is a psychological condition in which a person has an appetite for non-nutritive objects. I myself enjoy chewing on ice (much to the dismay of my dentist), which technically qualifies as a mild and very common subsect of the disorder known as pagop…

View On WordPress

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Writing/Film/Philosophy