Her Private Hell (2026)

Her Private Hell is written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, and unfortunately it continues the filmmaker's uneven output following the heights of Drive. This is a film that wields symbolism like a sledgehammer, repeatedly beating the audience over the head with imagery and dialogue that leave little room for interpretation. There is no subtlety to its themes, and the screenplay introduces some characters through clumsy exposition rather than allowing them to develop naturally. The score is another major distraction, overwhelming scenes that would have benefited from restraint instead of constantly demanding the audience's attention. To make matters worse, the ending is telegraphed so early that there is little satisfaction when it finally arrives. It left me wondering whether the brilliance of Drive was more a product of its cast and collaboration than Refn's direction alone.

Sophie Thatcher, known for Companion and Yellowjackets, delivers what is easily her weakest performance to date. She has proven herself capable of carrying emotionally demanding material before, but nothing here ever comes together. Whether it's the dialogue, the direction, or the character itself, her acting never finds its footing and lacks the authenticity needed to anchor the film.

Charles Melton, known for May December and Riverdale, gives a performance that is simply forgettable. He never leaves much of an impression despite his screen time. Havana Rose Liu, known for Bottoms and No Exit, struggles with a character that comes across as stiff and emotionally distant, resulting in a wooden performance. Kristine Froseth, known for The Assistant and Looking for Alaska, also feels miscast, unable to find a natural rhythm within the film's heightened style. It's disappointing because each of these actors has shown far stronger work elsewhere, suggesting the shortcomings lie more with the material and direction than with their abilities.

Overall, Her Private Hell is an exhausting experience that mistakes obvious symbolism for meaningful storytelling. Between its heavy-handed script, intrusive score, predictable conclusion, and underwhelming performances, the film never gives the audience a reason to invest in its world or characters. For me, this is another major disappointment from Nicolas Winding Refn and one of the weakest films of the year. Result: F

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You Can See Everything (2026)

You Can See Everything is a documentary about Elizabeth Holmes and the thirty four days leading up to her imprisonment. Directed by Nathan Fielder , best known for Nathan for You , the film brings his trademark dry delivery and sense of humor to a story that is already absurd enough to be a comedy. There are plenty of comedic moments, but most of them come from watching Holmes and the people around her behave in ways that are difficult to believe. Her husband, Billy Evans , is just as fascinating to watch, and not necessarily for the right reasons. The dynamic between Elizabeth Holmes and Billy Evans is one of the most interesting aspects of the documentary. Both come across as strange characters, and the film constantly makes you question whether they are genuinely insane together or simply master manipulators. The documentary provides enough evidence to support either interpretation, but never quite gives you a definitive answer. That ambiguity is part of what makes the relation...

Whalefall (2026)

Whalefall is a suspense drama written and directed by Brian Duffield , known for directing Spontaneous and No One Will Save You . The film brings Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin together again after Weapons , this time in a story that combines a strained father-son relationship with a claustrophobic survival thriller. The movie does a good job balancing flashbacks with the increasingly terrifying situation in the present. There are some genuinely tense moments that make you feel trapped alongside the main character, and the flashbacks give the story some much-needed breathing room. Austin Abrams , who has had a great run with Weapons last year and Resident Evil this year, is quickly becoming one of Hollywood's go to leading men. He does a great job carrying the film, balancing the physical demands of the survival story with the emotional baggage his character brings into it. He has a natural screen presence that makes him easy to root for, and this is another strong performance...

The Lazarus Effect (2015)

The Lazarus Effect is a film I never got around to watching when it was released in 2015 so seeing it eleven years later certainly makes for an interesting experience. Directed by David Gelb , best known for the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi , the film tries to blend scientific experimentation with supernatural horror. Unfortunately, it spends far too much time explaining the science behind its premise and not nearly enough time making any of it frightening. There is an interesting concept buried underneath all the exposition, but the movie seems more concerned with explaining how everything works than actually scaring its audience. Olivia Wilde , known for Tron: Legacy and House , is probably the film's biggest asset, though not necessarily because of her acting. She has a screen presence that keeps the movie interesting whenever she is around, and the direction wisely seems to understand that she is more effective on screen than some of her costars. Unfortunately, the film d...

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