I'm forever grateful to call @cinapse.bsky.social my film criticism home for over a decade. That home has a new address: Cinapse.net!

We'd all be much obliged if you updated your bookmarks and spread the word about where you can find pretty amazing work from folks who love the hell out of movies.

cinapse.net

Cinapse has a new home!

We’ve moved to cinapse.net. Same team, same coverage, same passion for film. Update your bookmark, and we’ll see you there. -> cinapse.net

SXSW 2026: LEVITICUS is a Vital Queer Reclamation of Horror - Cinapse Adrian Chiarella’s supernatural conversion therapy thriller Leviticus is a radical scream for empathy that commands your terrified attention.

ICYMI, here's my #SXSW coverage roundup for @cinapse.bsky.social this year!

LEVITICUS is my favorite of the fest–and of 2026 so far–for how viscerally it puts audiences into the terrified shoes of its supernaturally/socially persecuted gay leads.

cinapse.co/2026/03/sxsw...

Graded DVDs That Sold for Shocking Amounts of Money Graded DVDs: The next big collectible?

After I was slightly boggled by the prices people were paying for graded VHS tapes, I became curious whether there’s a similar market for DVDs encased in plastic rendering them impossible to watch. There is, although the prices aren’t as high ... yet.

Top down view of what the @cinapse.bsky.social crew loved at #SXSW2026. I stamp all the ones that I saw on this list, and trust the opinions of @juliansingleton.bsky.social, @edtravis.bsky.social and David Delgado for the ones I didn't. And you can find my reviews for both Chili Finger and Buddy.

it's gotta be crazy for salmon to find out about bears like that

THE FORBIDDEN CITY - Official Trailer | Starring Enrico Borello & Yaxi Liu | On Digital March 17 YouTube video by Well Go USA Entertainment

I’m touched to be pull quoted in this trailer for #THEFORBIDDENCITY, hitting Digital 3/17 from Well Go USA. This is a special film I will remember after many other titles fade. “Soaring and incomparable” is how I still feel it plays, & I highly recommend prioritizing this one. youtu.be/E02CbJ9dCQY

Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.

www.standwithminnesota.com

It’s consistent in your assessment. Goes down easy but steady decline in overall quality. But I’m affectionate enough that I’m going down with the ship.

ILM's VFX Secrets Behind Star Wars, Transformers & More | Vanity Fair YouTube video by Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair asked me to talk about visual effects, and it was my great honor to show off some of ILM’s terrific work over the years.

Todd Vaziri on Vanity Fair VFX
youtu.be/ERKEsIzTFas?...

Charles Xavier: My school helps mutants control their powers. This is Cyclops, he was my first student and he is totally incapable of controlling his powers. This is Jean Grey, she started with Scott. She also cannot control her powers. And meet Rogue, yep you guessed it, can't control her powers

Fantastic Fest 2025 has come to an end - I saw 30 movies, and here‘s my final ranking: boxd.it/OZmXi

SIRAT:
Friedkin’s Sorcerer but with ravers in the desert. Perfect cast, beautifully shot, amazing music. Incredible. #FantasticFest

THE PLAGUE:
13 year old boys at a summer water polo camp bully a kid for having “the plague,” while the new kid in town attempts to find his place. Pitch perfect performances and casting, will bring up teenage PTSD. #FantasticFest

PRIMATE #FantasticFest
A tangible practical monkey and nasty kills make all the difference and elevate what would be substandard schlock into pretty good schlock.

Fantastic Fest 2025: The Cinapse Team’s Most Anticipated Features - Cinapse Cinapse team Jon Partridge, Julian Singleton, Dan Tabor, and Ed Travis preview their most anticipated titles for Fantastic Fest 2025, screening September 18-25.

#FantasticFest begins NOW. Check out the @cinapse.bsky.social team’s most anticipated and give us a follow as we are going to cover the shit out of this festival! #ChaosReigns

cinapse.co/2025/09/fant...

Fantastic Fest starts tomorrow so time to dust off the ‘ol social media and see what everyone’s been up t- oh my god

Fantastic Fest starts tomorrow!

To keep up with what's happening, pin the Fantastic Fest feed.

To ignore what's happening, add "Fantastic Fest" and #FantasticFest to your mute lists for the next 8 days.

Either way, Chaos Reigns!

The Music Mythology Of Sinners Has A Long And Fascinating History - SlashFilm Ryan Coogler's Sinners creates a mythology all its own, but takes inspiration from the real-life legend of a blues musician and his deal with the Devil.

Good morning SINNERS nation! I’m pleased to present my latest for @slashfilm.bsky.social, in which I dig into how Coogler’s awesome vampire blues legend remixes another supernatural blues legend, namely the story of Robert Johnson at the crossroads. Check it out!!

www.slashfilm.com/1838005/sinn...

My favorite low tech special effect

Here’s your one stop shop for SXSW film coverage - we ranked our favorite films of the fest (using math!) to help fill out your @letterboxd.social Watchlist.

Two Cents is one of Cinapse’s oldest ongoing columns - a book club for films with guest contributors. I’ve listened to the Filmcast since episode 1 and it was one of the inspirations for starting Cinapse, so it’s crazy to have @devindra.bsky.social guest this week! 🙌

Here’s your one stop shop for SXSW film coverage - we ranked our favorite films of the fest (using math!) to help fill out your @letterboxd.social Watchlist.