Category Archives: Film & TV

Ben Shapiro hating on ‘Superman,’ a movie about hope? More likely than you think

Oh look, Ben Shapiro judging an entire movie based on a trailer and saying it looks horrible. Weird, it’s almost like he mocked this very site for doing that to one of his movies! Anyway…Shapiro is mad that…Superman looks good?Recommended Videos Failed screenwriter turned Daily Wire mouthpiece Ben Shapiro has often taken to his YouTube to share his opinions on movies. Weird since no one asked him to do that but hey, once a failed screenwriter… This time, he posted a video about the new sneak peek look at the upcoming Superman film from James Gunn. You know, the hero who is all about hope? Shapiro published a video titled “James Gunn’s New ‘Superman’ Movie Looks TERRIBLE.” According to Shapiro, he thinks that this looks like The Guardians of the Galaxy and went as far as to compare David Corenswet’s Clark Kent to Chris Pratt’s Starlord. From the trailer alone, I know that these two characters are completely different but I guess since Superman and Krypto have a funny moment, Shapiro is mad about it. In the video, Shapiro says that the trailer for Superman is wrong for a reason that, frankly, makes no sense. “The attitude here is totally wrong. It’s just Guardians of the Galaxy in a Superman suit. And that ticks me off, it really does. Because as a lifelong fan of the Superman brand, let me just say that it’s not that hard to get Superman right. He’s supposed to be the embodiment of everything cool and heroic about America. And, of course, he’s supposed to be charming as well.” You can’t be that big of a Superman fan, Shapiro, if you don’t even know what Superman stands for. Because he has not nor has he ever been an embodiment of what is “heroic” about America. if your film is about kindness, hope & justice and joe rogan/ben shapiro hate itthen you’re probably conveying the message perfectly https://t.co/pvv1EfJu62— axel? (@ReevesBatverse) April 5, 2025 His suit is literally a symbol for “hope” you poser (Warner Bros. Pictures) We live in a world where men like Shapiro long onto their YouTube pages, openly talk about things as if they are experts, and are wrong about them repeatedly. First, Superman’s “S” symbol stands for hope, as does the idea of the character. He is meant to represent the good in all of mankind and the hope that we all can maintain that goodness about ourselves. Just because he’s a guy who was adopted into a Kansas family does not mean he represents America. In fact, your favorite guy, Donald Trump, would probably try to deport Superman since he is technically an “illegal alien.” Besides that, it is just not what the character was created for! My point here is that if a woman or a liberal was to say this about Superman, we’d be attacked for not knowing the character right? So this is my calling out of the right-wing mindset about this character. Superman has never and will never represent right-wing and MAGA ideologies and if that means you’re mad at Gunn’s Superman trailer than good. It means that Gunn and company are doing something right with this movie and character. (Featured image: Warner Bros. Pictures)Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

Rachel Leishman
Assistant Editor

A Minecraft Movie Cut A Streamer Cameo After Viral Jason Momoa Criticism

Just two weeks ago, it was all doom and gloom for Warner Bros. The 102-year-old movie studio was smarting from a string of high-profile flops that included “Joker: Folie à Deux,” “Mickey 17,” and “The Alto Knights,” and was desperate for its big spring release, “A Minecraft Movie,” to reverse its box office fortunes. Though tracking for the film, based on the enormously popular sandbox video game from Mojang Studios, was trending upward heading into the April 4 weekend, the studio seemed less than confident given reports that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav was taking meetings with potential replacements for embattled production chiefs Michael DeLuca and Pamela Abdy. “A Minecraft Movie” was, stem-to-stern, their project. If it fell short of expectations, they would’ve been out on their ear.
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There were uncertainties as to what number “A Minecraft Movie” would have to clear to be considered a bona-fide blockbuster, but, rest assured, finishing its opening weekend with per /Film’s box office guru Ryan Scott, a bigger-than-“Barbie” $163 million domestically and $314 million worldwide, is a champagne-cork-popping success for Team WB. It would look dumb and petty for Zaslav to dismiss DeLuca and Abdy now (a look he’s okay with flaunting), so it feels safe to say that “A Minecraft Movie” is a rising tide that will lift all boats associated with it. Save for one.
If you’ve seen “A Minecraft Movie” and are familiar with the streamer community that has exploded around it, you probably noticed the inclusion of famous folks from that world in cameo roles. If you’re really familiar with that world, you might’ve noticed that one major name was missing. What happened to Valkyrae aka Rachell Marie Hofstetter? She shot a scene but didn’t make the final cut, and it turns out this likely had something to do with her speaking out about an upsetting incident involving Jason Momoa that occurred during her time on set.
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Valkyrae spoke out about Jason Momoa’s boorish on-set behavior

@Valkyrae/YouTube

In a “Hot Ones” knock-off interview with Jason the Ween from 2024, Valkyrae revealed that she witnessed Momoa mistreat the crew on the set of “A Minecraft Movie.” As she told the Ween, “[I]t was pretty disappointing. It was after a very intense scene, and it was a very emotional scene, so maybe he was still in character. I don’t know. But I just was surprised at how he treated some of the crew.”
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What precisely did Momoa do? According to Valkyrae:

“He was just really mad at them that they weren’t doing something right. It was setting up the shot and stuff, and he was angry, like really mad, and like yelling. So I was like, ‘Man, this is not a good work environment. I would not be happy working under these conditions.'”

When Valkyrae’s scene didn’t appear in the film over the weekend, people speculated that this must’ve been retribution for her comments about Momoa. Valkyrae addressed her absence from the film during a Twitch stream on Sunday, but she tap-danced around the reason why she was cut. “Let’s just say I’m not gonna touch too much on it,” she said. “But as much as you guys saw the other creators that were in it, [it] would have been the equal amounts that you saw me in it, which is like 30 seconds.”
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She then added, “I would much rather not have that 30 seconds than be sued. So it’s all good, okay? It’s all good.”
If she signed an NDA that prohibited her from talking about what she saw on set (unlikely), I can’t see how she’d be in any legal jeopardy for talking about Momoa behaving boorishly during shooting. If she was cut because she spoke out about an actor being a jerk to crew members, that reflects poorly on the studio and the filmmakers (though it’s not particularly surprising considering that he’s been cast as Lobo in James Gunn’s DC Universe). Unless she feels like speaking out further (or WB issues a response to her allegations, which they have yet to do), all we can do for now is speculate.

This Cancelled Minecraft Movie Concept Art Looks Better Than What We Got

Warner Bros.

Jared Hess’ new film “A Minecraft Movie” is an odd duck. It’s based on “Minecraft,” the single best-selling video game of all time (and one can surmise why a film studio would want to adapt such a valuable I.P.), but the game is an open-ended sandbox that allows players to mine and craft at their own pace. There are no quests or levels or mythology to the game, and there’s no plot to follow. Making a movie out of “Minecraft” seemed like a foolhardy affair, and the idea was roundly mocked online prior to the film’s release. Hess’ only recourse in adapting the material was to put real people into the “Minecraft” universe and make his movie into a slapstick comedy. It was enough to earn “A Minecraft Movie” $163 million in its opening weekend. 
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The look of “A Minecraft Movie” is also a little odd. “Minecraft” was made to look deliberately low-fi, with players taking control of blocky, unrealistic characters, and pushing through a world that is, likewise, made of cubes. It was like a 3D rendering of an old 8-Bit NES game. For “A Minecraft Movie,” the fantasy Overworld is indeed as cubic and blocky as the game, but now possessed of more realistic textured. The natives of the Overworld have outsize block heads, but also skin, teeth, lips, and eyeballs. The animals in the Overworld have a square, symmetrical look, but are also disconcertingly biological. 
It seems that there was an earlier version of the film — when it was still being developed in 2015 — that skewed a little more in a naturalistic direction. There was a time when Rob McElhenney was leading the project, and he cast Steve Carell in a notable role. He also commissioned some artwork for the film that made the “Minecraft” world look slightly less blocky (but still sporting enough right angles to be recognizable). Some of the art from that project were leaked on Twitter/X by the @MCMovieUpdates account. They look pretty cool. 
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Endermen looked more like Slender Man

Warner Bros.

One of the more impressive 2015 designs was an Enderman with eerie human body shapes. The Endermen in the original “Minecraft” game were tall, lanky, all-black monsters with glowing purple eyes and a stiff gait. In Hess’ final movie, an Enderman is equally stiff, and block-like, only slightly more “rounded” than in the game. Some of the early art work, credited to Will Groebe, shows the Enderman lurking in the woods like, well, Slender Man. Disturbingly, its hands and forearms aren’t blocky in the least, but stretched out versions of realistic human arms. It seems that a physical, life-size Enderman prop was also built, and the blue-eyed monster looks truly terrifying. Could you imagine one of those coming at you in a dark alleyway? 
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Another physical prop was a “Minecraft” kitten. Like the animals in Hess’ film, the kitten still had square features and eyes, but also more natural-growing fur and whiskers. McElhenney’s design ethos seemed to be to make the “Minecraft” world as real as possible. Indeed, some of the artwork on Twitter/X shows a vast cave, and the cubic shapes seem to look more like a natural geological phenomenon than in Hess’ movie. One might think of the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, which is made of naturally occurring hexagonal stone growths. 
Artist Vance Kovacs also worked on the 2015 version of “A Minecraft Movie,” and he actually designed an Ender Dragon, a creature not seen in the final film. The Ender Dragon was also vaguely cubic, but mostly because it was made of shale and minerals. Kovacs posted his designs for the Ender Dragon on his Cara account. Those same designs show human-shaped characters standing alongside a blocky version of Steve as he appears in the games. In Hess’ film, Steve was played by Jack Black in live-action, so it seems there was a large conceptual shift during development as well. 
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The final film was still a hit, though. It made $163 million in its opening weekend.

This Hilarious Buddy Comedy Is The Top Movie On Netflix Right Now

“One of Them Days” is currently the most popular movie on Netflix, according to the platform’s public ranking system.The buddy comedy stars Keke Palmer and SZA as two friends and roommates who must race against the clock to come up with rent money after one of their boyfriends steals it. The movie premiered in theaters on Jan. 17 to mostly positive reviews from critics. Advertisement

“One of Them Days” also features Lil Rel Howery, Katt Williams, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Maude Apatow and Janelle James.Read on for more trending movies of the moment across streaming services, including Hulu, Max and Peacock. And if you want to stay informed about all things streaming, subscribe to the Streamline newsletter.HuffPostAdvertisement

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“Classified” is the second most popular movie on Hulu right now. The 2024 action thriller stars Aaron Eckhart, Tim Roth and Abigail Breslin and centers on a CIA hit man who discovers he’s been taking orders from an unexpected source. The movie was released on Oct. 22 via video on demand and received mostly negative reviews from critics. “Girl You Know It’s True”Advertisement

The 2023 biographical film “Girl You Know it’s True” began streaming on Peacock on April 4.The movie explores the story of the infamous German R&B music duo Milli Vanilli, who rose to fame in the late 1980s but quickly saw their success turn when they were exposed for lip-syncing.“Geostorm”We Don’t Work For Billionaires. We Work For You.Big money interests are running the government — and influencing the news you read. While other outlets are retreating behind paywalls and bending the knee to political pressure, HuffPost is proud to be unbought and unfiltered. Will you help us keep it that way? You can even access our stories ad-free.You’ve supported HuffPost before, and we’ll be honest — we could use your help again. We won’t back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. But we can’t do it without you.For the first time, we’re offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless journalism. We hope you’ll join us.You’ve supported HuffPost before, and we’ll be honest — we could use your help again. We won’t back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. But we can’t do it without you.For the first time, we’re offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless journalism. We hope you’ll join us.Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.Another popular movie on Netflix this week is the 2017 sci-fi disaster flick “Geostorm.”Starring Gerard Butler, the film tells the story of a satellite designer who must rescue the world from a catastrophic storm caused by climate-controlling satellites. Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish, Ed Harris and Andy García also star. Advertisement

RelatedNetflixHulupeacock’A Nice Indian Boy’ Is The Rom-Com We’ve Been Waiting ForThe Complicated, Awkward Truth Behind A ‘White Lotus’ PunchlineThe ‘Friends’ Spinoff You Forgot About Is Now Streaming — And It’s Kind Of Good

A Minecraft Movie’s Best Battle Already Happened, And You Never Got To See It

Warner Bros.

In Jared Hess’ new video-game-based blockbuster “A Minecraft Movie,” Henry (Sebastian Hansen), Garrett (Jason Momoa), and Steve (Jack Black), are being chased by an army of evil Piglin warriors through the Overworld. In a panic, they flee up a staircase, only to find a dead end. They stand on a precipice, looking down at a rocky ocean, many hundreds of feet below then. Steve, thinking quickly, extracts two palm-sized widgets from his pockets. He explains that these are Elytra, a pair of special, back-mounted gliding wings they can use to soar away. He slaps one on Henry’s back and pushes him off the cliff. Henry screams in terror as he plummets, only for the wings to spring open and unfold at the last minute, allowing him to fly. 
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The following sequence sees Henry and Garrett figuring out how to execute high-speed midair gliding maneuvers in order to outpace the Piglins pursuing them via floating Ghasts. It’s a comedic chase, as Steve forgot his own Elytra (he could have sworn he had three), and has to ride on Garrett’s back. 
“Minecraft” players watching “A Minecraft Movie” will know that it’s very impressive that Steve even had Elytra. In the mythology of the game, Elytra can only be retrieved when one defeats the Ender Dragon, the toughest enemy in “Minecraft,” which dives at players and spits acid. Although “Minecraft” is an open-ended sandbox game that lets players tinker around however they like, the Ender Dragon is kind of the game’s “final boss” — and there’s only one Ender Dragon in each world. Defeating it in combat unlocks access to the only areas of the game where Elytra can be found.
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That means that if Steve has Elytra in “A Minecraft Movie,” he has already defeated the Ender Dragon. That implies that the toughest enemy in the “Minecraft” universe is already dead, and we won’t be seeing it in any potential sequels.

Steve seems to have already slain the Ender Dragon

Mojang Studios

In “A Minecraft Movie,” the film’s protagonists — Henry, Garrett, Henry’s sister Natalie (Emma Meyers), and their real estate agent Dawn (Danielle Brooks) — find their way into the Overworld. “Minecraft” players will be able to tell you that the Overworld is the first of three dimensions that one can visit in the game. It’s a pastoral and garden-like realm where one can relax and mine to their hearts content, only needing to hide in a house at night (as that’s when the monsters come out). Portions of “A Minecraft Movie” also take place in the Nether, a darker, volcano-like realm overrun by Piglins and Ghasts. 
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The third “Minecraft” realm, and one that is not seen in the movie, is the End, a miniature dimension only accessible through End Portals found in strongholds. If “Minecraft” does have a “last level,” the End would be it. Players enter the End specifically so they can fight the Ender Dragon, hoping to prove their mettle. Once it’s defeated, you can find those little gliding wings that will, thereafter, make the “Minecraft” realms that much easier — and more fun — to navigate. 
Of course, if Steve already has two Elytra, then he — by the game’s logic — found an End Portal, went through with weapons and armor, killed the Ender Dragon, and won his prize. “Minecraft” fans may be dismayed to realize that the epic Ender Dragon battle already happened before the movie begins, and they didn’t even get to see it.
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But then, we just might. By the rules of the game, there is a way to re-summon a dead Ender Dragon. If a player can collect four End Crystals and arrange them just so around the End’s exit portal, it can spawn a new dragon. “Another Minecraft Movie” (or whatever it may be called) could potentially introduce strongholds, End Portals, and a plot that requires characters to resurrect a dead Ender Dragon. The promise of seeing the ultimate “Minecraft” mob on the big screen would make the sequel an even bigger hit than the first. 

15 Best Thai Horror Movies Of All Time, Ranked

Static Media

The film industry in Thailand has been active since the 1920s, and the horror genre has been a part of it for most of that time. The genre saw its biggest rise, though, as part of the Asian horror boom of the early 2000s. While Japanese horrors like “Ringu” (which inspired “The Ring” franchise in the U.S.) and “Dark Water” are among the country’s best horror films, Thailand made waves with the release of 2004’s “Shutter.” The genre has stayed a constant ever since.
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While Thai horror filmmakers deliver the occasional slasher or creature feature, the bread and butter of the country’s horror output remains tales of the supernatural. The country’s culture is rich in folklore, and it’s well-served by a populace that gives far more credence to the idea of ghosts, spirits, and magical powers than westerners do. Where an American horror movie might take half its running time before characters come to believe they’re being haunted, its Thai counterpart passes that marker just a few minutes in leaving more room and time to deal with the threat.
Here’s a look at the 15 best Thai horror movies.

Laddaland

Birch Tree Entertainment

“Laddaland” is in some ways the most generic of the films on this list, and it’s arguably a little too long, but the 2011 film’s themes and inciting elements are as timely today as they ever were. A family moves out of Bangkok and into a manufactured suburban neighborhood, but rather than be a step up, the move sees them falling towards their doom. Neighbors are dying, there’s rumors of ghosts haunting the subdivision, and the air is heavy with stress, worry, and violence. What’s driving it all, you ask? Capitalism, baby!
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Financial distress is a massive concern for people in every country, and it’s a natural fit for the horror genre, as it works to create feelings and fears that we’re all too familiar with. 2010’s “Dream Home” remains the most horrifying take on the subject, but the themes are well-executed here leading to a third act that hits harder and harder until the final death brings home the tragedy. Ghostly visions and jump scares are essentially attempts at misdirection as the true terror creeps in with painful worries about the inability to support your loved ones. It’s a gut punch.

Dorm

Golden Village Pictures

Comparisons to Guillermo Del Toro’s 2001 chiller “The Devil’s Backbone” (one of the 106 best horror movies ever made) have dogged “Dorm” ever since its release in 2006, but the similarities don’t stop Songyos Sugmakanan’s film from standing on its own. A young boy named Ton is sent to boarding school where he struggles to fit in and find friends, but he finds one friendly face after hearing stories about a ghost who haunts the halls. Two points to you if you can guess something about Ton’s new friend…
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Still, while you’ll probably see some of the story beats coming, the film unspools its narrative with care for both its characters and atmosphere. It’s spooky and sad in equal measure, and both of the lead child performers do strong work in showing their isolation and the joy of ultimately finding a friend. The old buildings offer opportunities for both beauty and creepiness, and the film’s color-drained look only adds to the oppressive feeling of loneliness. 

Scared

CN Entertainment

Thailand’s genre film industry isn’t heavy on the slashers and instead leans mostly towards the supernatural. “Scared” is one of the rare exceptions, and a mild misstep of an ending aside, it’s a terrifically gory (though maybe not one of the goriest movies ever made) and thrilling time for fans. The setup sees a busload of high schoolers take a misguided turn that lands the bus in a river and the teens in the crosshairs of a deadly killer. It’s an unusually big ensemble meaning there isn’t really much time for viewers to connect with any of them.
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That’s normally a bad sign, but that large pool of protagonists means something very good for slasher fans. Once the killing starts — fairly quickly, another bonus — they never really stop. One is skewered by a homemade booby trap, and the rest start falling almost immediately as the killer unloads on them with a veritable bevy of murderous tools ranging from blades to their exhaust-spewing SUV. Our focus narrows, and soon we’re rooting for the handful making an attempt at fighting back with both ferocity and ingenuity. Just maybe stop the film when it cuts to black five minutes before the end.

Death Whisperer 2

Niu Vision Media

Should you watch 2023’s “Death Whisperer” before pressing play on “Death Whisperer 2” that followed in 2024? Yes, probably, but this sequel is still the superior film, upping the ante on the original’s fairly traditional story and execution. It’s been three years since Yak (spoiler alert) watched his friends and his sister die at the hands of a dark spirit, and it upended his entire life. He now spends his days hunting and killing malevolent entities while always searching for the one who caused his sister’s bloody demise: the woman in black.
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Genre fans can never have enough action/horror hybrids, and while this one can’t touch the likes of the sensational, gnarly “Overlord” when it comes to the firepower, it’s still an energetic and exciting step in the right direction. The film covers its horror bases with possessions, bloody assaults, zombies, and more, but it stands apart from the usual Thai horrors by adding in lots of gun play. Yak takes a page from “Evil Dead” and Ash with both his look and his boomstick, and it works to give an aggressive, adventurous approach to the spooky stuff. Here’s hoping they continue ramping it up for part three.

Rahtree: Flower of the Night

Bangkok Filmex

A young woman named Rahtree leads a solitary life, but things change when she’s wooed by a young man who knocks her up, encourages an abortion, and then abandons her back at her apartment where she bleeds out and dies. It’s at this point where I should mention that, yes, “Rahtree: Flower of the Night” is a comedy. Rahtree’s landlady discovers her corpse, but the dead woman refuses to leave. Instead, she haunts the entire building, driving away tenants, hurting and vomiting on a series of exorcists, and generally feeling sorry for herself.
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Writer/director Yuthlert Sippapak’s 2003 feature spawned three sequels and a director’s cut (a concept that only exists because of “The Twilight Zone”), and while its tonal tightrope sometimes wobbles, it’s easy to see why Rahtree’s fans are ride or die for her. The character is wronged by her lover, assaulted by her stepfather, and generally ignored by everyone else. It’s a tragedy both for her and for society at large knowing how many of us are content looking the other way when it comes to other people’s problems, but it also brings great jokes and some amusing “The Exorcist”-related gags.

Killer Karaoke (aka Premika)

ITN Distribution

The karaoke horror subgenre is as niche as it gets, but if 2003’s excellent “Karaoke Terror” is its past and the upcoming “Bad Karaoke” is its future, well, its present is the delightfully unhinged horror/comedy called “Killer Karaoke” (aka “Premika”). Prepare for some tonal whiplash as the premise kicks off with a teenage girl being killed and dismembered with her heart being tucked inside an old karaoke machine. A hotel’s grand opening sees the machine turned on resulting in the undead Premika stalking guests and demanding they sing a song — nail it, and you live, but if you sing off-key or mess up the lyrics? Well, as the opening song from “What We Do in the Shadows” says, “You’re dead, you’re dead, you’re dead.”
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The film’s third act finds some dark and surprisingly emotional beats, but getting there is a broadly comedic romp as the hotel’s guests are introduced, interact with each other, and face their fears with a microphone in hand. Each song is presented almost like a live music video with costume changes and props, and they keep the film visually popping with color and energy. Check your serious bone at the door, and just settle in for the goofy fun.

Alone

24 Frames

It’s not news to suggest that guilt, grudges, and ghosts go hand-in-hand in the horror genre, and that’s made true once again with 2007’s “Alone.” Pim is a happily married young woman who returns home for a family issue only to discover that something has been waiting. Ghostly images and whispers haunt her childhood home, and she soon realizes that the entity just might be her long-dead conjoined twin, Ploy, who didn’t survive their surgical separation. Pim had promised her they’d stay together forever, but that promise died in an instant alongside her sister. However, it looks like Ploy has neither forgotten nor forgiven.
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That’s already enough of a premise to support a horror movie, but genre veterans Parkpoom Wongpoom and Banjong Pisanthanakun have a bit more up their sleeves. The third act delivers some intriguingly messed up story turns adding new layers to everything that’s come before, and it gives the movie an extra emotional punch. The film’s combination of setup and twist is simple and satisfying, as evidenced by a whopping seven remakes it’s received.

Pee Mak

Netflix

The legend of Mae Nak is a well-known part of Thai folklore and has been the basis of two dozen or so films over the years. A man returns from war to his wife and baby, but he’s oblivious to the truth that neither is still alive. 1999’s “Nang Nak” is a solid and serious take on the legend, but 2013’s “Pee Mak” raises the ante by adding both a real budget and some unexpected laughs. It’s essentially a horror/comedy finding laughs with both wit and some very broad gags, and it’s currently Thailand’s highest grossing film of all time.
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Familiarity with the legend and past films adds context, but audiences coming into it fresh will still find both laughs and thrills. Mak is the husband blind to his wife’s ghostly status, and it’s his war buddies who first realize something is amiss. The comedy comes from their varied reactions and attempts at getting through to Mak, but the film is also pretty heavy on the pratfalls and slapstick, even as it makes time for the emotional core of its all. It walks a fine line, and while it tinkers and has fun with the story, it still honors the tragedy at its heart.

The Pool

815 Pictures

“The Pool” is only the second film to make this last that finds its horror thrills without ever touching on the supernatural, and it’s also the last. Instead, the film is a blend of creature feature and survival horror that kicks off with a premise that’s as ingenious as it is ludicrous. Hired to clean up an Olympic-sized pool, an unfortunate young man instead falls asleep while floating atop the water, only to wake up to discover the water has been drained and there are no accessible ladders. Oh, and there’s a hungry crocodile nearby too.
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Opinions vary sharply on this one, but your odds of appreciating it increase if you go in on its own darkly comic wavelength. The film marries its genre elements with some pitch-black humor, regarding everything from our protagonist’s situation to his efforts at escape to the name of the poor guy’s dog. You’ll cheer when he gets close, you’ll shake your fists when he fails, and you’ll smile at the endlessly creative ways that director Ping Lumpraploeng finds to use and explore an empty pool.

Art of the Devil II

Asian Crush

It’s not often that sequels overwhelmingly surpass their predecessors, but here’s a second example. “Art of the Devil II” carries over only two things from the first film: the title and the general theme of revenge. This time out, it’s a teacher seeking supernaturally fueled justice against her former students. Seems simple enough, but you’re going to want to wear a neck brace while watching this one as the numerous story turns might just strain your neck. No one’s innocent, everyone’s guilty of something, and the odds seem slim that anyone’s going to make it out alive.
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Curses, torture, ghostly visitations, and infidelity are just the tip of the unpleasant but highly entertaining iceberg here, and it’s something of a small miracle that a story this heavy in flashbacks and misdirects remains as easy to follow as it is, especially seeing as there are a whopping seven credited directors. I can’t pretend to understand how that was accomplished, but the end result is a gory, mean, and devious slice of horror about actions and consequences.

Shutter

Palisades Tartan

As mentioned at the start, “Shutter” wasn’t the first horror film out of Thailand, but it was the one that made international audiences sit up and take notice of the country’s genre filmmaking. Like Hideo Nakata’s “Ringu” before it, it pairs a ghostly tale with the aid of a visual medium inside the film itself. Here it’s a variation on spirit photography, the idea that a camera can capture a spirit’s image, and it’s triggered when a couple accidentally run over a pedestrian with their car and  leave her to die.
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She reenters their lives through their photographs, and it’s made immediately (and understandably) clear that she’s back with ill intentions. The film finds some truly creepy beats through its use of photography and lighting, and the scares are ultimately heightened by some dark story turns in the film’s third act that will have viewers revisiting their allegiances. It’s worth noting that, while not as bad as its reputation suggests, the Hollywood remake (also called “Shutter”) starring Joshua Jackson really can’t compare to this Thai original.

Countdown

Birch Tree Entertainment

The Thai film industry is still small enough that’s it’s fairly uncommon to see a production set elsewhere, let alone filmed outside of Thailand. “Countdown” was shot mostly in country, but its story plays out in a New York City apartment on New Year’s Eve. Three young Thai transplants are living their best lives on their parents’ dime, but they get a reality check when a new-to-them drug dealer named Jesus turns a simple transaction into an awkward night of terror. These ungrateful youths are about to see both their choices and their beliefs tested in some very uncomfortable ways.
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All three protagonists are given solid performances, but Jarinporn Joonkiat does an especially compelling and affecting job as Bee, the film’s most sympathetic character. We can’t help but feel for her situation, both past and present, as she gives the film its heart. Still, it’s David Asavanond’s Jesus who steals the movie. His shift from obnoxious dealer to uncomfortably threatening houseguest to moral avenger is endlessly entertaining and unsettling, and it helps give what’s essentially a single-location tale some real energy and sizzle.

The Medium

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Found footage films and horror-themed faux-docs come with all manner of issues that are difficult to avoid, but the good ones succeed at diverting viewer attention with a combination of compelling narrative and thrilling visuals. “The Medium” is one of the best and scariest found footage films, as it drops audiences into a filmmaker’s attempt at documenting the beliefs and behaviors of a shaman named Nim. She’s reportedly a skilled practitioner capable of expelling evil spirits from human hosts, and it’s not long before the film crew gets to experience those claims firsthand.
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Banjong Pisanthanakun’s second solo effort on this list unfolds with a sturdy, slow burn approach to a subject treated with serious and detailed respect. The intricacies of various rituals add weight to the characters and proceedings, and it works to make the horror more compelling once things get increasingly out of hand. The intentional pacing of the first half ramps up with aggressive energy, satisfying scares, and unsettling visuals featuring some wonderfully creepy beats you won’t soon forget.

Operation Undead

Cathay

“Operation Undead” is a terrifically affecting anti-war film (even if it didn’t make our list of the best anti-war movies) exploring its themes with energy, style, and pathos. Its focus is a group of green recruits directed into battle by older men secure and safe away from the carnage, and director Kongkiat Khomsiri gives as much detail and weight to the young men’s emotional state as he does the violence, pain, and physical suffering of war. It’s a tragedy painted in swathes of red and screams of horror, and things only get worse for everyone involved when the young men killed on the battlefield return to life as zombies.
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The extra twist of the knife here is that these zombies are far from the mindless brain munchers we’re used to. These guys are driven by an unquenchable hunger for human flesh, but they also retain their own memories, awareness, and human consciousness. They know what they’re doing is horrifying, and that knowledge in the face of an inability to stop is an idea more terrifying than most zombie films would bother to address.

Inhuman Kiss

Netflix

Thailand, along with some other Southeast Asian countries, is home to legends about a mythological creature called a krasue. Young woman possessed or inhabited by the being experience something horrifying at night as their head detaches from their body, complete with dangling entrails, and flies away in search of blood, only to return before sunrise. It’s an incredibly visceral and visual image that’s been brought to life in numerous films before this, but it’s 2019’s “Inhuman Kiss” that nails the horror and tragedy equally while also delivering an attractive and thrilling watch.
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There’s a tragic love triangle at the heart of the film as a young woman is afflicted and tries to hide it from everyone including the two young men who love her. It’s layered with social commentary as well, though, following the introduction of a band of krasue hunters powered by misogyny, faith, and fear of the unknown who feel very aligned with the witch hunters of our own country’s past. All of that said, the film doesn’t shirk on the bloodletting, and the krasue itself, while created with CGI, looks incredible.

A Minecraft Movie Post-Credits Scenes Explained: Who Is That New Character?

There was some controversy or, more precisely, mockery involving “A Minecraft Movie” before it was released. This was especially the case when it came to Black’s casting as Steve, one of the only notable named characters in the early days of the “Minecraft” video game universe. That version of Steve wasn’t a character with a backstory or a personality; he’s merely the default “male” player avatar. In time, Steve became the face of “Minecraft” media, and he can be seen on much of the franchise’s merchandise around the world. Nevertheless, having Black play Steve was seen as somewhat risible by the (sizable) “Minecraft” community. It would be like making the mermaid figure from the Starbucks logo into a movie character.
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Luckily, “A Minecraft Movie” is — shockingly — not that bad. Even Black avails himself well, relying on his usual over-enthused shtick.
There was, notably, also a “female” player avatar added to the “Minecraft” game in 2014. This new avatar, Alex, had long red hair and a green blouse. Alex, like Steve, didn’t have a personality, but her mere presence made her an equal to her “male” counterpart. Reams of fan fiction were soon produced, sussing out the relationship between Steve and Alex. Were they siblings? Friends? Lovers? Are Alex and Steve symbols for Adam and Eve?
Regardless, should Hess’ film receive a sequel (and it likely will, given how successful “A Minecraft Movie” has been), Alex will play a part. Both Black and McKinnon are hilarious comedians, so it will be fun to see them play off each other in a whimsical “Minecraft” universe. It will also fulfill a vital new character in the minds of “Minecraft” players. One cannot have Steve without Alex.
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More recently, other named default skins have been added to “Minecraft,” including Sunny, Kai, Makena, Zuri, Efe, Ari, and Noor. Again, none of them have actual backstories or personalities, but it’s nice to see a wider panoply of humanity in the block-headed game. Perhaps if Alex appears in “Another Minecraft Movie” (or whatever it ends up being called), then those other seven will as well.
“A Minecraft Movie” is now playing in theaters.

Downton Abbey star lets slip pregnancy plot in final movie

Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt told BBC viewers what they can expect to see in the upcoming Downton Abbey movie.20:46, 07 Apr 2025Actress Joanne Froggatt shed light on the anticipated new Downton Abbey film during her Monday night appearance on The One Show, chatting with hosts Gethin Jones and Alex Scott.The BBC host eagerly asked about the final chapter of the cherished period drama, which drops in September, as she questioned: “Are you ready to say goodbye?”Article continues belowTo which Joanne responded: “Oh my goodness, it’s going to be hard! We’ve said goodbye a few times, thinking, ‘This is the end’, at the end of the seasons. Then we did one movie and we wondered if we’d get a second movie.”This really is, the third and final, so this really is goodbye. It’s going to be emotional, but all good things must come to an end, I suppose.”Downton Abbey star lets slip pregnancy plot in final movieAudiences will recognize Joanne from her enduring role as Anna Bates in the ITV saga, emerging onto the scene back in 2010, reports the Express.The series concluded in 2015 with her role capping off an impressive run, though she reprised her role for the subsequent movies, with the first launching four years post-finale in 2019.As Joanne confirmed this marks the cast’s last curtain call, host Gethin Jones couldn’t resist probing for some juicy tidbits about the finale.Challenged about spilling any details, Joanne divulged: “Look, I think I can say Anna, my character, is pregnant because I was pregnant when we were filming and there’s been pictures out there, so that’s one spoiler.”Joanne is known for her role as Anna Bates on the ITV period drama(Image:

Bill Murray says masked kiss led to sexual misconduct allegation that shut down movie

Bill Murray said a masked kiss in 2022 on the set of a movie led to sexual misconduct allegations that eventually shut down the film, an incident the famed actor says still bothers him and feels he was “barbecued” for.In 2022, a female staff member working on the film set for “Being Mortal” accused the “Ghostbusters” and “Groundhog Day” star of behaving inappropriately with her. The film, directed by Aziz Ansari, was eventually shelved by Searchlight Pictures.“I don’t go too many days or weeks without thinking of what happened in ‘Being Mortal,’” the 74-year-old actor told The New York Times in an interview published Saturday. He explained that he had known the woman who made the complaint, and the incident involved him kissing her as they were both wearing face masks that were part of Covid-19 protocols. Murray and the woman eventually reached a settlement, Deadline reported. The woman was never identified by anyone affiliated with the movie and has not come forward to comment on the matter.When asked to discuss what unfolded, Murray said, “I tried to make peace. I thought I was trying to make peace. I ended up being, to my mind, barbecued.”“But someone that I worked with, that I had had lunch with on various days of the week — it was Covid, we were all wearing masks, and we were all stranded in this one room listening to this crazy scene. I dunno what prompted me to do it. It’s something that I had done to someone else before, and I thought it was funny, and every time it happened, it was funny,” Murray said. “I was wearing a mask, and I gave her a kiss, and she was wearing a mask,” he explained. “It wasn’t like I touched her, but it was just, I gave her a kiss through a mask. And she wasn’t a stranger.” He said the incident still “bothers me.””Because that movie was stopped by the human rights or ‘H & R’ of the Disney corporation, which is probably a little bit more strident than some other countries’. It turned out there were pre-existing conditions and all this kind of stuff. I’m like, what? How was anyone supposed to know anything like that? There was no conversation, there was nothing. There was no peacemaking, nothing,” Murray said. “It went to this lunatic arbitration, which, if anyone ever suggests you go to arbitration: Don’t do it. Never ever do it. Because you think it’s justice, and it isn’t,” he continued. The veteran comedian and critically acclaimed actor, who has a long history of alleged bad behavior on movie sets, said he thinks the whole experience was “stupid.” “You can teach an old dog new tricks. But it was a great disappointment, because I thought I knew someone, and I did not. I certainly thought it was light. I thought it was funny,” he said. “To me it’s still funny, the idea that you could give someone a kiss with a mask on. It’s still stupid. It’s all it was.”

Unannounced Thor Movie Actor Spotted With Pedro Pascal Near Avengers: Doomsday Filming

Following the announcement of the Avengers: Doomsday cast, a star known for work in the Thor saga was seen near filming for the MCU’s next team-up outing with the MCU’s Mister Fantastic actor, Pedro Pascal.Doomsday is already confirmed to deliver the biggest cast of any comic book movie in history, and the announcement stirred up plenty of interesting discussions. Some confirmed stars for the film are still keeping quiet about their involvement, leaving fans to fend for themselves news-wise.With over a year until Avengers: Doomsday releases, plenty of secrets are still being kept. However, Marvel seemingly cannot keep everything under wraps thanks to potential cast members simply living their best lives.Thor Star Seen Near Avengers: Doomsday Filming LocationShortly after Marvel Studios began filming 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, an Instagram post revealed an unexpected Thor star being close to the action.Tessa Thompson (known for playing the MCU’s Valkyrie) posted a picture to her Instagram Story of Reed Richards star Pedro Pascal with his arms up and smiling at a party. Thompson also appears to be sitting on Pascal’s shoulders as he celebrates his 50th birthday (held on April 2).
InstagramPascal is one of the first 27 confirmed cast members in Avengers: Doomsday and is already filming for the 2026 blockbuster. Tessa Thompson has not yet been announced to be in Avengers: Doomsday; however, Marvel has revealed that the final cast of Avengers 5 will include many more Marvel characters.While nothing is certain, considering Thompson is so close to where filming is taking place, it would be no surprise to see her reprise her role as Valkyrie in the movie as well.Thomspon played Valkyrie in five MCU projects, most recently in What If…? Season 3. Her last live-action appearance came via a small cameo as the King of Asgard in 2023’s The Marvels.Valkyrie’s Potential Role in Avengers: Doomsday
Marvel StudiosDoomsday would be Thompson’s second Avengers movie after 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. While she only appeared in one scene before shining during the epic final battle, she could be in for a bigger role this time around.Since Endgame, Valkyrie has held a position as the King of Asgard after being anointed to the role by Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. Continuing with this role in 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder, she now has the task of leading the New Asgardians against any potential threats.After Hemsworth became the first name on the back of Doomsday’s string of director’s chairs, Valkyrie’s chances of appearing in the film went up. If she gets a bigger role, she will unquestionably prove to be a key fighter for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as new Variants and enemies make their presence known.In the end, all these questions will lead to Robert Downey Jr.’s reintroduction to the MCU as Doctor Victor Von Doom (see more on a recent birthday post for Downey here).Downey Jr. is being teased as arguably the scariest and most powerful villain Marvel Studios has ever delivered, particularly considering the inevitable ties between Doom and Tony Stark. No matter the details, emotions will run high for Thompson and everyone else involved in this blockbuster.Avengers: Doomsday will debut in theaters on May 1, 2026.