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The upcoming historical drama Nickel Boys is already receiving Oscars buzz following a successful premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in August and a Golden Globe nomination, leading to audience interest in watching the film once it arrives in theaters. Nickel Boys follows Elwood Curtis, played by Ethan Herisse, and Turner, played by Brandon Wilson, as they attempt to survive through their time at an abusive boys' school called Nickel Academy, and the film also features a great supporting cast with some recognizable faces.

Nickel Boys is based on the novel The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, which won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, already pointing the movie toward a positive reception. Furthermore, the book and movie did have real-life inspiration, making its meaning even deeper. The movie was filmed in 2022 in Louisiana, and, interestingly, Nickel Boys was shot from a first-person perspective. Luckily for curious audiences, the Amazon MGM...

It's worth starting this review by saying I have read the Colson Whitehead novel Nickel Boys is based on, and very recently. In fact, it was the rapturous festival reactions to the film, many of which emphasized it as an achievement of adaptation, that inspired me to seek out the book ahead of time. I'm glad I did – it's a wonderful book. Having read it, however, did shape my response to this movie.

Set in Jim Crow-era Florida, two Black teens, Elwood Curtis and Turner, endure the brutal conditions of Nickel Academy, a reformatory for boys. While Turner teaches survival through cynicism, Elwood clings to his belief in justice, despite the horrors around them. Their friendship offers a glimmer of hope amidst a backdrop of systemic racism and violence.

Director RaMell RossWriters Colson Whitehead, Joslyn Barnes, RaMell RossCast Mike Harkins, Najah Bradley, Ethan Cole Sharp, LeBaron Foster Thornton, Escalante Lundy,...

Nickel Boys isn't just a powerful movie about important and relevant themes. It's also an audacious burst of brilliance that uses some of cinema's unique and immersive capabilities to create a lasting experience. This is a movie everyone needs to see. The movie is adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, which itself is based on the true stories of the Dozier School in Florida, known for 111 years of abusing and murdering its students.

However, before any of that becomes part of the story unfolding on the screen, first-time narrative feature director RaMell Ross (Oscar-nominated for his documentary work) has already gripped audiences with lyrical and evocative filmmaking. From the moment the movie begins, the audience embodies the first-person perspective of a young Black boy living in the Jim Crow South. All exposition is handled as we experience the world around him. The cinematography and sound design are main characters from the rip,...

Stars: Lauren Buglioli, Madison Hatfield, Jonathon Pawlowski, Najah Bradley, Zae Jordan, Aditi George, Steven Reddington | Written and Directed by Jono Mitchell, Madison Hatfield

With her nuptials on the line and the Prince of Darkness lurking close by, Courtney does her best to protect her childhood home on the eve of the wedding. But when her ne’er-do-well sister accidentally invites Satan inside (known more casually as Dave), he possesses Courtney – throwing a demonic wrench into her happily-ever-after plans. Courtney’s ragtag team of reluctant heroes including her sister, perfectionist best friend, and skeptical future sister-in-law must find a way to exorcise Dave, reclaim Courtney’s soul, and get her down the aisle with as little bloodshed as possible.

At first seeming like a parody of The Exorcist, including having the titular character Courtney (Lauren Buglioli) tied up in a bed and calling out the situation as a cliche, Courtney Gets...

Indie horror comedy Courtney Gets Possessed is set to release on Digital and On Demand in November after winning Best Local Feature at a film festival. The film follows a wedding that takes a dark turn when the Devil enters the picture, leading to the possession of the bride-to-be, Courtney. The movie combines horror and humor, with a talented cast including Lauren Buglioli, Jonathon Pawlowski, and Steven Reddington.

After winning Best Local Feature Winner at the Atlanta Horror Film Festival, Courtney Gets Possessed is making its way to home release. The indie horror comedy arrives on Digital and On Demand in November, and Screen Rant is thrilled to offer a first look at both the trailer and poster. Written and directed by Madison Hatfield (who also appears in the movie itself) and Jono Mitchell, the story follows a wedding gone very wrong when the Devil enters the mix.

In addition to Hatfield,...

Moonshot Review — Moonshot (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Christopher Winterbauer and written by Max Taxe and starring Cole Sprouse, Lana Condor, Zach Braff, Peter Woodward, Henson Milam, Lukas Gage, Sarah Stipe, Kabby Borders, Mason Gooding, Drez Ryan, Christine Adams, Chelsea Alana Rivera, Emily Rudd, Najah Bradley, Kathrine Barnes, Michelle Buteau and [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: Moonshot (2022): A Sweet Romantic Comedy but Too Little Zach Braff...

The Curse of La Patasola Trailer — Aj Jones‘ The Curse of La Patasola (2021) movie trailer has been released by Vertical Entertainment. The Curse of La Patasola trailer stars Gillie Jones, Patrick R. Walker, Najah Bradley, and Luciana Faulhaber. Crew Aj Jones and Shaun Mathis wrote the screenplay for The Curse of La Patasola. Kelsey Woods [...]

Continue reading: The Curse Of LA Patasola (2022) Movie Trailer: Luciana Faulhaber & Gillie Jones Encounter an Infamous Vampiric Monster...

When You Hear Her Song It's Too Late To Run. Vertical Ent. has revealed the first official trailer for the indie horror thriller The Curse of La Patasola, another "based on South American folklore" supernatural film arriving soon. This is opening in January, skipping festivals and everything else. La Patasola, directed and co-written by Aj Jones, follows two struggling couples whose relationships, morality and will to survive are tested when they are haunted by a famed vampiric monster from Amazonian folklore. Gillie Jones' performance in the horror feature will have critics and fans on the edge of their seats. The cast features both Jones, Patrick R. Walker, Najah Bradley, and Luciana Faulhaber. This horror just seems to be riding on the coattails of all the other The Curse of La Llorona films recently, and does not look good. Check it out. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Aj Jones' The Curse of La Patasola,...

Exclusive: Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to indie horror film La Patasola from Glass House Distribution, with plans to release it in theaters in at least 10 major markets, and across streaming media and other platforms, on January 14, 2022.

Shot over a 21-day period in a Covid-free bubble just outside of Orlando, Florida, La Patasola follows two struggling couples whose relationships, morality and will to survive are tested when they’re haunted by a famed vampiric monster from South American folklore.

Actor and writer Aj Jones (Lovecraft Country) directed the film in his feature directorial debut, from a script he wrote with Shaun Mathis (The Plug), which was based on a story he created with Daniela Gonzalez (Frenemies).

Gonzales and Aj Jones also appear in the film alongside Luciana Faulhaber (Shades of Blue), Patrick R. Walker (The Resident), Najah Bradley (Black Box), Gillie Jones (Welcome to Flatch), Jack Young (The Perfect Race...