Michelle Kisner

Man’s Inhumanity to Man: Emotional Suppression and the Machinery of Control in “Equilibrium” (USA, 2002) Despite lukewarm reviews and poor box-office performance in 2002, Equilibrium has captivated audiences and become a cult hit in the decades since its release. That isn’t to say it’s a film without …

Hey, everybody, welcome our newest Editor to The Cultural Gutter, @michellekisner.bsky.social! Here's her first official piece as a CG Editor: culturalgutter.com/2026/01/29/m...

Searching For Peace and Respite: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) Dr. Kelson finds himself in a shocking new relationship - with consequences that could change the world as they know it .

My review for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is an incredible follow up to the last film. There’s always one banger that slips into the January dumping grounds, hahaha.

James Jean poster for Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice (2025).

Thank you!

I have a video essay about The Wiz on this upcoming Lumet boxset!

Very excited to be a part of this release!

*PRESS RELEASE*

DETROIT - The Michigan Movie Critics Guild has announced its winners for the best films and performances of 2025. Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS was the year’s major winner, with eight awards including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress.

#filmsky

MICHIGAN MOVIE CRITICS GUILD logo shows an orange vintage movie camera

**PRESS RELEASE**

DETROIT - The Michigan Movie Critics Guild has announced its nominees for the best films and performances of 2025. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another topped the nominations, with 12, including Best Picture, Director, and Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.

buff.ly/xLQLFGv

Hamnet (2025)

There is a moment in the film, where the audience is reacting emotionally to the play, and I could see the audience in the theater reacting the same exact way, that I felt an incredible synergy. It’s why people make art.

Arco (2025)

Beautiful animation and style. I wish we got to learn more about the two different time periods. Overall pleasant watch, I found the voice acting to be a bit stilted.

It’s coming to Shudder in December!

I watched a press screener, but it’s coming to Shudder in December!

Reflection in a Dead Diamond (2025)

This is INCREDIBLE

It’s like Danger: Diabolik refracted through a diamond and madness

What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse: Deathstalker (2025) - Reviewed The warrior Deathstalker is tasked by an old witch lady to obtain and unite the three powers of creation – a chalice, an amulet, and a sword

I absolutely LOVED the new Deathstalker! If you dig practical effects and ‘80s fantasy films it’s a must-see.

Frankenstein (2025)

I thought this was fantastic! Very touching (and gory).

The sets and costumes were amazing! Loved Jacob Elordi’s performance; poignant and haunting.

Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)

Fun fact: Ernest is canonically impervious to damage, so essentially he is an elder god of some sort

Director Spotlight: Peter Watkins: Blurring the Line Between Reality and Fiction Peter Watkins is an English film and television director. He was born in Norbiton, Surrey, lived in Sweden, Canada and Lithuania for many years, and now lives in France. He is one of the pioneers of d...

I just found out Peter Watkins passed away, noooo! He was an absolutely fantastic director who wasn’t afraid to tackle controversial issues and criticize authoritarianism.

I wrote a piece on some of his works years ago, it’s well worth taking a trip through his filmography, it’s illuminating.

Hahahaha! (Correct)

I had the same reaction, Lanthimos getting soft in his later years, haha.

Bugonia (2025)

Lanthimos actually toned down the torture scenes from the original film, Save the Green Planet, so it’s easier to digest in that respect. It doesn’t do the tone changing as much either.

It’s fantastic and it captures the vibe while doing its own thing too.

Pain is Something You Never Get Used To: Save the Green Planet (2003) A young man believes that his country's leaders are actually toxic reptilian aliens sent down to launch a takeover of his beloved Earth.

Since Bugonia is coming out soon, I thought I would write a piece about Save the Green Planet which isn’t talked about enough. It’s a fantastic (and fucked up) flick!

A phenomenon I find amusing is that people will straight up block you or get mad if you ask them if they used ChatGPT to write something (and it’s always very obvious that they did). Why not just admit it?

This movie is so beautiful.

!!!

I received my contributor copy of Alone from Error_4444! It’s an incredibly haunting film that I loved writing about. My essay is about depictions of Siamese twins in media and how it influenced Alone.

Thanks for inviting me to write for this release!

I have an essay on this beautiful looking set! Extremely stoked to be in such good company!

Diane Keaton at The Schwab’s Pharmacy counter in 1983.

Farewell to one cinema's greatest legends Can’t believe we’ve lost her. Such a shock. Rest in peace Diane Keaton. “La-dee-da, la-dee-da” forever.