Evan Pol

A sophisticated, dialogue driven dramedy that's anchored by one of the best performances of #EthanHawke's career, #BlueMoon doesn't do much with its limited setting, but it's still a witty, humble, melancholy, and captivating watch that made me want to research the real-life people in it. #filmsky

A neo noir, gambling thriller that tries to show how addiction can lead to self-destruction, #BalladofaSmallPlayer benefits from its stimulating style and the commitment from #ColinFarrell, but it loses its way in a jumbled story that fails to get you invested despite so much going on. #filmsky

A cinematic panic attack showing the harsh realities of motherhood that gives the film a constant sense of apprehensive escalation, #IfIHadLegsI'dKickYou is a blistering social horror film elevated by claustrophobic direction from #MaryBronstein and #RoseByrne's best performance to date. #filmsky

A distinctly unconventional alien invasion flick that highlights the overall impact of conspiracy theories while also being wildly entertaining, #Bugonia is a twisted, grim, funny, and riveting ride with superb performances from #EmmaStone and #JessePlemons that's truly out of this world. #filmsky

#GuillermodelToro's vision of #Frankenstein is as impeccably crafted, superbly acted, and graphically macabre as you'd hope for, but this gothic epic is also too unevenly paced and narratively heavy-handed to reach the quality we'd expect from this pairing of director and source material. #filmsky

A biographical character study that'll resonate the most with diehard fans of the titular artist while possibly alienating others, #Springsteen:DeliverMeFromNowhere has superb performances from #JeremyAllenWhite and #JeremyStrong but struggles emotionally/narratively due to lack of focus. #filmsky

A barely tolerable affair that sugarcoats all the drama to the point where it feels like it came from Hallmark, #RegrettingYou has a talented cast who try their best to make this shallow, tone deaf, and increasingly unlikeable romance work, but all I can say is that I regret watching it. #filmsky

A relatively simple yet daringly relevant look at how America would likely respond to an incoming nuclear missile strike, #AHouseofDynamite captures it's overwhelming scenario with terrifying realism even if it's nowhere near as riveting or investing as #KathrynBigelow's other films. #filmsky

Starting off as a genuinely creepy horror movie with an intriguing mystery that slowly devolves into a muddled and generic mess, #ShelbyOaks displays some genuine promise from director #ChrisStuckman but falls a bit short due to its flawed execution keeping it firmly in C grade territory. #filmsky

A true crime documentary that is raw, relevant, and riveting all at once, #ThePerfectNeighbor examines Florida's 'stand-your-ground' law and the disproportionately negative impact it has on the Black community while shedding light on one tragic crime that is sadly one of many just like it. #filmsky

A screwball, body swap comedy that resonated with me more than I expected, #GoodFortune may not be laugh-out-loud funny due to its structure, but it's still undeniably unique, frequently humorous, and surprisingly optimistic with an adorably charming performance from #KeanuReeves as well. #filmsky

A horror follow-up that somewhat justifies its existence even if it's not as good as the original, #BlackPhone2 isn't as scary or well-paced as the first, but it does expand on the story and characters in interesting/creepy ways while also having good performances and disturbing visuals. #filmsky

An untraditional revenge thriller as well as an unfiltered outlet to explore the immoral political repression in Iran, #ItWasJustAnAccident is a tense yet poignant cinematic experience with terrific performances that's as bold as it is well-made. One of the best endings of the year! #filmsky

A real-life disaster flick executed so terrifyingly that it almost feels like a horror film, #TheLostBus sometimes struggles with the human side of its narrative, but it still delivers a suspenseful and well-crafted ride with solid performances from #MatthewMcConaughey and #AmericaFerrera. #filmsky

More of a showcase for #DanielDay-Lewis and #SeanBean rather than being a meaningful or articulate drama, #Anemone has tons of surreal and stunning imagery, but fails to justify it's two runtime with a barely engaging story with shallow depth and a bad main character who isn't interesting. #filmsky

An invitingly cozy, consistently hilarious, and deceptively mature Christmas movie that feels like this year's version of The Holdovers, #TheBaltimorons is a perfect blend of sincere drama and dark comedy with great performances from and chemistry between #MichaelStrassner and #LizLarsen. #filmsky

Failing to deliver a proper continuation of the series that fans actually wanted or a remotely compelling blockbuster, #Tron:Ares may look and sound good, but it falls flat due to characters that are as flat as 2D graphics and an incoherent story that feels like a rambling, formulaic code. #filmsky

An unexpectedly heavy dramedy on family and connection disguised as a fairly funny, true story crowd-pleaser, #Roofman continues the strong filmography of #DerekCianfrance with another compelling narrative while also showcasing one of #ChanningTatum's best (and most emotional) performances. #filmsky

Another very solid entry in a series that's lasted way longer than I expected, #V/H/S/Halloween gives out imaginative tricks and bloody treats in this perfectly timed collection of holiday related tales that range from hilariously over-the-top to disturbingly serious so it can feel uneven. #filmsky

A heartfelt ode to man's best friend as well as an original horror flick with an ingenious concept, #GoodBoy has a haunting atmosphere, creepy scares, creative camerwork, and one of the best dog performances I've ever seen. It stands on all fours as one of the better horror films of 2025. #filmsky

Leaning more towards being a psychological (and horny) thriller rather than a bloody slasher, #BoneLake explores manipulation and trust in relationships as it rides a fine line between discomforting and enjoyable while periodically becoming irritating through its many twists and turns. #filmsky

Carried by and even elevated by a superb performance from #DwayneJohnson, #TheSmashingMachine doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to sports biopics and can also be very unfocused at times, but it maintains a realistic and humble sense of humanity that makes it periodically compelling. #filmsky

A somewhat exasperating MeToo thriller that thinks its intelligent and complex but instead is messy and self-important, #AftertheHunt can be engaging thanks to its strong performances and elaborate direction, but that doesn't stop it from feeling like an unsatisfying lecture. #filmsky

A flawed but sincere crowd-pleaser that'll get plenty of laughs and tears out audiences, #EleanortheGreat may be predictable with how it explores grief in its plot, but still has a strong emotional core with poignancy as well as great performances, especially from the wonderful #JuneSquibb. #filmsky

A directionless and pointless sequel that only further solidifies the fact that this entire trilogy is a ridiculous waste of time, #TheStrangers:Chapter2 is somehow even more boring and generic than its predecessor with a complete lack of genuine tension/scares and narrative investment. #filmsky

Stressfully exciting, frequently funny, incredibly relevant, superbly acted, and masterfully crafted, #OneBattleAfterAnother is a massively entertaining, 162-minute crime thriller that absolutely flies by. It's one of #PaulThomasAnderson's best films and one of the best movies of 2025! #filmsky

Feeling like an episode of Goosebumps aimed at adults, #BadHaircut takes its fun premise and combines it with an irresistibly quirky yet committed performance from #FrankieRay to make for a solid albeit overly long horror comedy that leans into the humor most of the time. #filmsky #fantasticfest

Taking inspiration from several directors such as Tarantino, Fincher, and Soderbergh, #Luger is a Spanish crime thriller that overcomes a convoluted setup thanks to purposeful writing, tight pacing, layered characters, and strong filmmaking. #filmsky #fantasticfest

Combining a loosely based true story war drama and bloody shark creature feature together, #BeastofWar has a solid script with nuanced characters as well as some great practical effects, which helps to overcome its repetitive structure and drawn-out pacing. #filmsky #fantasticfest

A noble attempt to capture the feel of a Gareth Evans' action flick (The Raid), #Penance takes a reported $7000 budget and delivers a couple of exciting action scenes. Sadly, it forgets to tell a good story with interesting characters and is plagued unfinished technicals. #filmsky #fantasticfest