The holiday movie landscape is often dominated by predictable romantic comedies and feel-good family dramas, but A Wiseguy Christmas offers a refreshing and hilarious twist on seasonal storytelling. Directed by Gregory Hatanaka, this 2021 comedy brings an Italian-Mafia flair to the Christmas genre, combining festive cheer with wise-guy humor in a way that’s surprisingly entertaining. The story centers on Tony Pantera, a New York mob boss who is placed in the witness protection program and relocated to Los Angeles.
Read MoreHot Wax Zombies on Wheels (1999) #RetroReview
Hot Wax Zombies on Wheels is one of those films that exists purely to confound, amuse, and occasionally disgust in equal measure—and it succeeds spectacularly at all three. Directed by Michael Roush, this low-budget horror-comedy delivers a plot so bizarre that it almost feels like the filmmakers dared each other to see just how many insane ideas they could cram into 83 minutes. At its core, the movie follows a small fishing village thrown into chaos when two eccentric beauty salon operators roll into town, offering hot wax hair removal that has a truly unexpected side effect: anyone waxed becomes a hairless, horny zombie obsessed with spreading the curse of bare skin.
Read MoreBikini Hackers (2023)
Scott Hillman’s Bikini Hackers is an audacious, if uneven, entry into his repertoire of low-budget, camp-leaning cinema. Clocking in at a brisk 67 minutes, the film attempts to merge comedy, crime capers, and a playful take on lesbian romance, centering on a group of women who plot to redistribute wealth by taking down a major corporation—all while clad in bikinis. The premise is delightfully ridiculous, and for about half the runtime, the film delivers exactly the sort of chaotic charm Hillman fans might hope for.
Read MoreSleaze Please: The World of Bill Margold (2024)
Sleaze Please: The World of Bill Margold is a surprisingly engaging and intimate look into the life and legacy of one of adult film’s most complex figures. Clocking in at a brisk 54 minutes, Gregory Hatanaka manages to deliver a compact yet surprisingly thorough documentary that explores not only the career of Bill Margold but also the broader 1970s and ’80s porn industry, with all its glitz, grime, and human drama. The documentary’s real strength lies in Margold himself.
Read MoreAcrylic (2020)
Acrylic is a bold, colorful dive into the world of nail salons, style rivalries, and over-the-top glamour. Directed by and starring Nicole D’Angelo, the film promises fierce style battles, jaw-dropping nail art, and a showcase of confidence, sass, and charm. On paper, the premise—a competition between two salons vying for the top spot—offers rich potential for comedy and drama, and there are moments where the film flirts with that promise. D’Angelo leads with enthusiasm, and the cast brings a playful energy to the screen.
Read MoreBaby Cat (2023)
Scott Hillman’s Baby Cat is one of those movies you can’t quite categorize. At 88 minutes, it’s a curious blend of surreal comedy, experimental drama, and a dash of vigilante-thriller — anchored by a premise so out-there you can’t help but be intrigued. Dana moves to Los Angeles after a breakup and finds herself in a strange new apartment complex.
Read MoreGood Boy (2025)
Ben Leonberg’s Good Boy is one of the year’s most haunting horror films and one of its most heartfelt. Told entirely from the perspective of a dog, the film manages to be both terrifying and profoundly moving, a supernatural tale that doubles as a tribute to the unshakable bond between humans and their four-legged companions. From its opening montage of VHS home videos featuring Larry Fessenden as a doting grandfather, the film traces the life of Indy, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, from playful puppy to devoted adult.
Read MoreBad Haircut (2025) #FantasticFest
Bad Haircut wastes no time pulling you in. The film opens with a long, unbroken party sequence that instantly calls back to American Pie. It is loud, chaotic, and alive, perfectly setting the tone for what follows.
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