David Michôd’s Christy tells the remarkable true story of Christy Martin, a woman who fought her way out of small-town West Virginia with nothing but grit, raw athleticism, and a will to survive. The film opens with Tears for Fears, an inspired needle drop that immediately sets the tone. What follows is an ambitious 135-minute biopic that delivers powerful performances and emotionally intense storytelling, even as it struggles with pacing and familiarity.
Read MoreThe Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee (2024) #FantasticFest
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee is a brilliantly crafted documentary that takes you through the astonishing life of one of cinema’s most enduring figures. Directed by Jon Spira, it blends archival footage, puppetry, animation, and interviews to tell the story of Christopher Lee—a man who was much more than Dracula or Saruman. His life reads like an adventure novel: aristocratic Italian roots, ties to Ian Fleming, wartime heroics, Nazi hunting, and even a late-life stint as a heavy metal singer.
Read MoreDario Argento Panico (2023)
If you’re a fan of horror movies at all, you’re probably already familiar with the works of Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. However, how much do you know about the man himself? What motivates him?
Read MoreRace for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia (2024)
After watching Gran Turismo recently, I was in the mood for another good car movie. Unfortunately, Race for Glory wasn't it. While it has solid racing moments, the film is bogged down with mediocre performances and a bloated narrative.
Read MoreFire in the Sky (1993) #RetroReview
Though most of Robert Lieberman’s Fire in the Sky is a fine sci-fi mystery, competently crafted if a little mundane, it contains about fifteen minutes of pure undiluted nightmare fuel that justifies a watch. Based on an allegedly true story, Tracy Tormé, who has written for a slew of fan-favorite sci-fi TV shows, took some liberties with Travis Walton’s source account in his script. From what I understand, this was an improvement. In any case, the realization of Tormé’s vision for that particular sequence is absolutely fantastic.
Read MoreThe Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) #RetroReview
The Passion of Joan of Arc is a hard sell. Ninety-percent of its run time is devoted to extreme close ups on star’s Renee Jeanne Falconetti’s tormented face. The other ten percent is almost exclusively reserved for arcane theological battles.
Read MoreLords of Chaos (2018)
When watching Lords of Chaos, you’ll find yourself repeating these three words: this actually happened. Here it is, my first non-horror review for CineDump, but that’s not entirely accurate. That’s because this new black metal nightmare from director Jonas Akerlund is an utterly horrific descent into the dark void of the soul, and the subconscious terrors that lurk there.
Read MoreEndless Poetry (2016)
There are two types of people in this world: artists and the people who are obliged to put up with them. You may be an artist. Someone you love may be an artist.
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