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Cinema in the time of plague: movies set during the COVID-19 lockdown
By: Gordon Briggs
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The recent film Eddington is one of a series of films that attempt to address life during the 2020 pandemic. Some of them have been thrillers, others have been offbeat… Read More
Now Playing: ‘Eddington’ is a surreal but unsatisfying look at America in 2020
By: Gordon Briggs
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We all remember the dark days of 2020. When COVID-19 swept across the globe, it brought death, lockdowns, mask mandates, and protests. All of which unfolded during a contentious presidential… Read More
Cinema of Lost Worlds: A look at three movies about lost worlds and prehistoric monsters
By: Gordon Briggs
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Jurassic World may be the most popular dinosaur franchise. Still, it’s one of a series of ‘Lost World’ stories, a subgenre of fantasy or science fiction where explorers discover a… Read More
A Bungle in the Jungle: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ retreads and repeats the familiar beats of an aging franchise
By: Gordon Briggs
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You know all the ingredients of these movies: a mysterious island, a parade of man-eating dinosaurs, a group of scientists, and fortune hunters fighting for survival. All those components are… Read More
If you had powers, who would you hurt? A look at three different kinds of superhero films
By: Gordon Briggs
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Now Playing is a column by film scholar Dr. Gordon Briggs. This installment in the series corresponds to the Now Playing column that ran on Tuesday, July 15 about Superman. If you had… Read More
‘Superman’: I’m invincible, but I’m still in pain
By: Gordon Briggs
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Superman has always been a symbol of truth and justice. However, in a world where truth has become subjective, and justice feels evasive, how can someone truly be a hero?… Read More
Beyond the boundaries of horror: a look at Stephen King’s non-horror adaptations
By: Gordon Briggs
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Now Playing is a column by film scholar Dr. Gordon Briggs. This installment in the series corresponds to the Now Playing column that ran on Wednesday, July 9 about The Life of Chuck. … Read More
Dancing through the end of the world: ‘The Life of Chuck’ is a standout of 2025
By: Gordon Briggs
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The world is coming to an end. After months of internet and power outages, various natural disasters, and a general feeling of hopelessness, The Life of Chuck starts by showing… Read More
Now Playing: 21st century zombies – three standout zombie films from the last 25 years
By: Gordon Briggs
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Now Playing is a column by film scholar Dr. Gordon Briggs. This installment in the series corresponds to the Now Playing column that ran on Tuesday, June 24 about 28 Years Later. The… Read More
Now Playing: ’28 Years Later’ proves this zombie franchise still has bite
By: Gordon Briggs
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In a media landscape saturated with zombies and other post-apocalyptic content, the real achievement is creating a sequel to a popular movie that looks and feels like its own entity…. Read More
Now Playing: A look at Wes Anderson’s filmography
By: Gordon Briggs
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Now Playing is a column by film scholar Dr. Gordon Briggs. This installment in the series corresponds to the Now Playing column that ran on Tuesday, June 17 about The Phoenician Scheme. Wes… Read More
Now Playing – In ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ Wes Anderson gives us a charming caper about a tycoon and a nun on the run
By: Gordon Briggs
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At this point in his career, after a dozen or so different movies, you are probably aware of Wes Anderson’s style. When I watch one of these movies I always… Read More
Now Playing: Surviving Through Your Siblings: A look at horror films that revolve around brothers and sisters
By: Gordon Briggs
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Now Playing is a column by film scholar Dr. Gordon Briggs. This installment in the series corresponds to the Now Playing column that ran on Tuesday, June 10 about Bring Her Back. An… Read More
Now Playing – ‘Bring Her Back’: The creepy Australian thriller shows us a foster home becoming a house of horror
By: Gordon Briggs
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Yes, there’s blood in this film, grotesque images, and bizarre rituals built around children, but for my money, a horror film like this works when it feels like disturbing things… Read More
Now Playing: ‘With Friends Like These, You Don’t Need Enemies’
By: Gordon Briggs
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Now Playing is a column by film scholar Dr. Gordon Briggs. This installment in the series corresponds to the Now Playing column that ran on Tuesday, June 3 about Friendship. The new A24… Read More
Now Playing – ‘Friendship’: when tragedy becomes comedy
By: Gordon Briggs
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We’ve all been there before; we’re being introduced to a new group of potential friends, and we say or do something embarrassing in front of the entire group. The movie… Read More
Now Playing: the body horror films of David Cronenberg
By: Gordon Briggs
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Now Playing is a column by film scholar Dr. Gordon Briggs. This installment in the series corresponds to the Now Playing column that ran on Tuesday, May 27 about The Shrouds. The recent… Read More
Now Playing – Dreams of the dead: Cronenberg returns to film with ‘The Shrouds,’ a story shrouded in grief and mystery
By: Gordon Briggs
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Over the years director David Cronenberg has crafted quite an unusual filmography. Spanning nearly 60 years, the filmmaker has brought us everything from the body horror romance of The Fly… Read More
Now Playing: When Your Best Friend is a Monster
By: Gordon Briggs
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Now Playing is a column by film scholar Dr. Gordon Briggs. This installment in the series corresponds to the Now Playing column that ran on Tuesday, May 20 about The Legend of Ochi. … Read More
Now Playing: ‘The Legend of Ochi’ asks if you can be friends with what you’ve been taught to fear
By: Gordon Briggs
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The Legend of Ochi is a family fantasy flick that I can only describe as “offbeat.” Set on a fictional island town of Carpathia, we follow the story of a… Read More
Now Playing: What is a Black Vampire Movie?
By: Gordon Briggs
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Now Playing is a column by film scholar Dr. Gordon Briggs. This installment in the series corresponds to the Now Playing column that ran on Tuesday, May 13 about Sinners. … Read More
Dr. Gordon Briggs’ Now Playing: ‘Sinners’: a vampire film that’s sinfully good cinema’
By: Gordon Briggs
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You may know Dr. Gordon Briggs from curating film series at the Athena Cinema, like Heroes in Color with Brandon Thompson or the upcoming Rainbow Connections series. If you’re really… Read More