In 1992, the term final girl was coined by Carol J. Clover in her book Men, Women, and Chainsaws, a canonical work of critical exploration of gender and sexuality in horror. Subsequently, the final girl would go on to live so many lives and so many deaths, ultimately becoming this symbolic and monolithic being. Rehashed,... Continue Reading →
Despite being overlooked by some major US film festivals like SXSW and Sundance, perhaps due its potentially controversial themes, writer-director Elliot Tuttle's intense and intoxicating Blue Film has found its way into theaters this weekend, and is already one of the buzziest and most acclaimed queer releases of the year. No doubt independent film bodies... Continue Reading →
As the end of the festival draws close, I take in three features in the running for the Queer Palm, including my first documentary of Cannes 2026. A Secret Heart (CÅ“ur Secret) ★★★★Directed by Tom Fontenille / ACID (Queer Palm eligible) A delicate, intensely personal, and moving documentary, A Secret Heart (CÅ“ur Secret) follows the... Continue Reading →
After a much needed day of rest and relaxation, we come back to the fest with a stylish yet divisive genre film and a colorful, biting introspective work by a veteran auteur. With no more brisk winds to cool things off, things are heating up the in Cannes, and in the festival competition. Her Private... Continue Reading →
NewFest, New York’s LGBTQ+ film and media organization, continues its tradition of kicking off Pride month in the city with its sixth annual five-day NewFest Pride summer series featuring in-person screenings nd events, with select titles streaming virtually throughout the US from May 28th to June 1st, 2026. Adam Shankman’s zany Stop! That! Train!, starring... Continue Reading →
Jinkx Monsoon shines as the iconic Judy Garland in a breathtaking performance. I remember when Jinkx Monsoon debuted as Matron "Mama" Morton in Chicago on Broadway in 2023. Reporting on the reaction to her first night on The Great White Way from this side of the pond it was clear that Monsoon’s star power far... Continue Reading →
Writer-director Elliot Tuttle makes his assured debut feature with Blue Film, marking the arrival of a bold new voice in queer cinema. Despite being overlooked by some major US film festivals like SXSW and Sundance, perhaps due its potentially controversial themes, the intense and intoxicating film has become one of the year's most talked about independent... Continue Reading →
From an American Mafia movie to a jaunt through Paris' gay district via a high-octane sci-fi Korean action-thriller, Cannes is offering a little bit of everything today as I took in two In Competition titles and a supremely queer animated midnight selection. Paper Tiger. Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival. Paper Tiger ★★★ 1/2Directed by James... Continue Reading →
When oil spills upon a wet surface, the opposing two fluids clash and when reflected in the sunlight a radiant iridescent glow is produced. Any parking lot, truckstop, or industrial sectors of our world are filled with these subtle moments of beauty. An interaction between two forces that unveil an elegance in the most innocuous... Continue Reading →
Away from the today's film offerings—featuring soulful performances, android children, and gay long haul truckers—my self-made The Substance jacket caught the attention of its filmmaker, Coralie Fargeat, who posted a snap to Instagram that she'd been sent of me proudly sporting it as I scurried along La Croisette from one screening to the next. All... Continue Reading →
Early mornings and late nights is the way of things. Day three brings a special screening, a Cannes Premiere, Un Certain Regard, a midnight and Queer Palm eligibility. Tangles. Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival. Tangles ★★★★★Directed by Leah Nelson / Special Screening Selection / Queer Palm eligible Leah Nelson’s feature debut superbly adapts Sarah Levitt’s... Continue Reading →
Like most good students of a certain age, I read Albert Camus’ 1947 novella, The Stranger, in high school. Considered a classic of existentialist storytelling (but don’t tell Camus that!), I felt instantly drawn to its spare, distant approach. The 1967 film adaptation by Luchino Visconti, and starring Marcello Mastroianni, didn’t quite capture Camus’ elusive... Continue Reading →
