Katie Rife

Dolly movie review & film summary review: “Dolly” sets viewers up for an experience that it can’t quite deliver, mostly due to small acts of self-sabotage.

“DOLLY is quite repellant, which in this case can be read as a compliment … Scratch the surface, however, and it’s less flattering, one predictable element among many in this utterly predictable film,” writes @rifewithkatie.bsky.social.

My contributor copy of THE UGLY STEPSISTER takes her rightful place next to my other @secondsightfilms.bsky.social contributions 🪱💖 my old ass phone doesn’t do justice to how GORGEOUS this release is, and a TOC made up of ALL WOMEN NO LESS!!!! Incredible scenes. More labels should take note.

All the Days of My Life: On Elaine May’s “A New Leaf” A reappreciation of a film once lost to history (but always loved by Roger), Elaine May's A New Leaf.

"Every time someone discovers A NEW LEAF, Elaine May's immortality is assured,” writes @rifewithkatie.bsky.social.

Frederick Wiseman understood the subtle architecture of humanity Frederick Wiseman understood the subtle architecture of humanity

We have a lot of great writing on Frederick Wiseman in our archives, and here's @rifewithkatie.bsky.social with another corker:

www.avclub.com/frederick-wi...

Thank you!! I love writing it so that’s great to hear 🥹

Yes, The Testament Of Ann Lee is a musical—that's why it works Through song-and-dance expression that never denies its genre, the story of the Shakers springs to life in The Testament Of Ann Lee.

And then with a testament to Ann Lee as a musical, from a recent convert to the genre:

www.avclub.com/the-testamen...

The blinding light of love Underneath the darkness and surrealism, the work of David Lynch contained a pure, earnest belief in beauty and love. He will be missed.

It's fitting that I both began and ended 2025 with my ride-or-die @avclub.com, first with a tribute to David Lynch...

www.avclub.com/david-lynch-...

Queens of the desert—On the gloriously messy set of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans Queens of the desert—On the gloriously messy set of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans

Finally, the first great behind-the-scenes piece on #Dragula from one @rifewithkatie.bsky.social on @avclub.com!

cw: MONDO spoilers for the upcoming reunion episode

A huge thanks to everyone who played a part in this beauty! @bjcolangelo.bsky.social, @michellekisner.bsky.social, @blondekwaidan.bsky.social, @rifewithkatie.bsky.social, @crazysexyghoul.bsky.social amongst many other legends. #Horror #PhysicalMedia

Thanks Kier-La!

Two Lost Exploitation Films from Trash-Cult Favorite Andy Milligan Will ‘Re-Premiere’ at Tribeca Two lost films from trash-cult favorite Andy Milligan are set to 're-premiere' at the Tribeca Film Festival.

TWO LOST ANDY MILLIGAN FILMS - discovered by @severinfilms.bsky.social researcher Todd Wieneke and newly restored by Severin, will premiere at #tribecafilmfestival this week!! Read the whole sordid story here, brought to you by @rifewithkatie.bsky.social : www.indiewire.com/news/general...

Nice Guys and Shanghai Blues: on shelves and screens this month • Journal • A Letterboxd Magazine A pair of the most obscure movies in Shelf Life history topline our latest edition, alongside Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, Iranian slow cinema, a Tsui Hark classic and queer Canadians.

A pair of the most obscure movies in Shelf Life history topline our latest edition from @rifewithkatie.bsky.social, alongside Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, Iranian slow cinema, a Tsui Hark classic and queer Canadians. boxd.it/2yW

Dead Mail movie review & film summary (2025) | Roger Ebert It’s thoughtfully directed, full of interesting angles and fussy, fetishistic montages.

DEAD MAIL's "quirkiness never grows tiresome, which is impressive. And the angle truly is unique."

Read @rifewithkatie.bsky.social's review:

As Emilie Blichfeldt’s The Ugly Stepsister casts a spell over Letterboxd members, @rifewithkatie.bsky.social leafs through the pages of the storybook genre for a starter pack of 20 dark fairy tale films, from honking imps to jealous spirits. boxd.it/2v4

I heard if you say his name three times he appears and throws a bucket of poo on you

Completing this springtime celebration of weird little guys, I'm also hosting Basket Case at Music Box next Friday! See you at the movies, Chicago:

musicboxtheatre.com/films-and-ev...

And two days from now, yours truly will return to host Weird Wednesday, presenting a truly special film: The pink musical Underwater Love!

I know it's been a while, but I want to share some upcoming shows with my Chicago pals (and the rest of you, I suppose). First, fresh from the Toronto underground, The Pee Pee Poo Poo Man arrives NEXT THURSDAY! You've never seen anything like it, trust me:

musicboxtheatre.com/films-and-ev...

I signed! Anyone with a conscience would.

RIP Masahiro Shinoda, whose DOUBLE SUICIDE and SILENCE would make a hell of a double feature. Throw in SAMURAI SPY and you’ll start to get a sense of the depth and range of his experimentation. An indispensable filmmaker.

I went down the rabbit hole of Errol Morris’ influence on the Netflix house style, and how Netflix is influencing him in turn.

Another corker from @rifewithkatie.bsky.social at @avclub.com

my god

Tokyo International Film Festival 2024: Daihachi Yoshida on Prize-Winning “Teki Cometh” | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert On a Japanese film that you're going to want to watch for.

Believe it or not, there are places in the world where people are optimistic about the film industry. One of those places is Japan, where Daihachi Yoshida's Teki Cometh is enjoying a successful awards run:
www.rogerebert.com/festivals/to...

Friendship Review - IGN Tim Robinson’s first movie-star role is like an extended I Think You Should Leave sketch with fancier camera work and a guest appearance by Paul Rudd.

And this was a fun screening to attend, a fun review to write, and a fun editing process with @erikadams.bsky.social. I wrote nine reviews in total, but these are my highlights <3

www.ign.com/articles/fri...

‘American Sweatshop’ Review: A Thoughtful but Artless Descent Into Online Hell Cinematographer and TV director Uta Briesewitz moves into features with 'American Sweatshop,' an artless descent into online hell. Read our review.

And I had three days to think about this one, of course it turned out pretty good (even if I was disappointed by the movie). There were a lot more, but those are my SXSW highlights <3

www.indiewire.com/criticism/mo...

Friendship Review - IGN Tim Robinson’s first movie-star role is like an extended I Think You Should Leave sketch with fancier camera work and a guest appearance by Paul Rudd.

This was really fun to write:

www.ign.com/articles/fri...