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Featured are von Trier’s most recent films, “Nymphomaniac” (2013) and “The House that Jack Built” (2018) (Photos courtesy of Imdb).

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Director’s Cut: Lars von Trier

By Maia Venuti | Apr. 25

Lars von Trier is a Danish film director and screenwriter whose career has spanned across over four decades. His most notable work includes “Dogville” (2003), “Antichrist” (2008), “Melancholia” (2011), and “Nymphomaniac” (2013) to name only a few. No stranger to controversy, von Trier has pushed the boundaries of screen to new levels, never failing to shock the film community as a whole.

(Photo courtesy of Netflix/Yana Blajeva)

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‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (2022) review: Not worth the watch

By Maia Venuti | Feb. 23

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (2022) is the newly released sequel to the 1974 classic of the same name. It follows a group of young influencers looking to revive the ghost town of Harlow, Texas nearly fifty years after the original film. However, the group quickly realizes that the town of Harlow is a ghost town for a reason, that reason being the chainsaw wielding Leatherface, who kills everyone who crosses his path.

Movie posters featured are “Belfast,” “The Power of the Dog,” “West Side Story” and “Drive My Car.” The directors of each of these films are nominated for Best Director (Photos courtesy of IMDB).

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The Oscars 2022: predictions, reactions

By Maia Venuti | Feb. 20

The 2022 Oscar nominations were released on Feb. 8 and there has been a lot of buzz regarding who got nominated, as well as shock at who did not. The Oscars are a way to reflect on the films from the past year, and the awards give the more unseen roles in making a great film the recognition they deserve. I wanted to take some time today to talk about some of my favorite categories and give my predictions for who I think will win the Oscar in five of the most popular categories.

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‘American Psycho’ reexamined: a brilliant work of satire

By Maia Venuti | Feb. 11

“American Psycho” (2000) is a drama/thriller film that chronicles the daily goings-on of 27-year-old Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a young Wall Street executive, and his slow descent into insanity. Alongside Bale, the film features a star-studded cast with Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe, Chloe Sevigny and Reese Witherspoon. Over the past two decades, “American Psycho” has carved itself into American pop culture, and the film is just as relevant today as it was at the time of its release. However, in recent years, I started to notice a disconnect forming between the original purpose of the film and those who are fans of it today.

(Photo courtesy of https://www.screammovie.com/synopsis/)

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‘Scream’ (2022) review: Newest installment feels like a walking cliché

By Maia Venuti | Jan. 17

“Scream” (2022) is the fifth installment of the “Scream” franchise and was released on Friday, Jan. 14. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olphin and Tyler Gillett, the story follows some familiar classic characters from the 1994 film of the same name, as well as introducing a new cast of characters, who together have to work to defeat the evil serial killer Ghostface. When discussing this film, it is important to first talk about the original “Scream” (1996) and its message.

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‘House of Gucci’ review: full of talent, great historical fashion

By Maia Venuti | Dec. 1

“House of Gucci” is the newest release from director Ridley Scott and the crime-drama is based on a true story, telling the tale of the relationship and tragic murder of Maurizio Gucci by his wife, Patrizia Reggiani. The cast consists of exclusively a-list celebrities, with Lady Gaga and Adam Driver starring as Patrizia and Maurizio respectively, but the film also showcases actors such as Jeremy Irons in the role of Rodolfo Gucci, Al Pacino in the role of Aldo Gucci and Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci.

Photo: “Friday the Thirteenth” (1980) is example of a slasher film where the male director sexualized women and portrayed them as dumb (Photo Courtesy of moviepostercollections.guide).

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Violence against women in films keeps repeating from male directors

By Maia Venuti | Nov. 14

For decades, male directors have portrayed women in their films as nothing more than pretty airheads who blindly walk into their death in a sexy little outfit. While this itself is distressing, to me, I find their murders so much more invigorating. Male deaths in slasher films are quick and painless.

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‘Squid Game’ review: What is the real horror of the game?

By Maia Venuti | Nov. 8

“Squid Game” is a 2021 Netflix Korean thriller and horror show that has taken the world by storm. If you are not already familiar with the show's premise, in the simplest of explanations, it is about 456 people who are all living on the brink of financial ruin. All of these people are invited to play childhood games in order to win a massive amount of money, enough to pay off all their debts as well as allow them to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. The games played are all childhood games that everyone is already familiar with, having played them as children. The catch? If you break the rules of the game, you are shot execution-style by the mysterious masked guards who help run the games.

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Director’s Cut: Stanley Kubrick

By Maia Venuti | Nov. 8

While Stanley Kubrick has undoubtedly made some of the best, most iconic films, the methods he used to make his films so fantastic are unethical to say the least.

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Maia Venuti

Director’s Cut: Lars von Trier

‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (2022) review: Not worth the watch

The Oscars 2022: predictions, reactions

‘American Psycho’ reexamined: a brilliant work of satire

‘Scream’ (2022) review: Newest installment feels like a walking cliché

‘House of Gucci’ review: full of talent, great historical fashion

Violence against women in films keeps repeating from male directors

‘Squid Game’ review: What is the real horror of the game?

Director’s Cut: Stanley Kubrick

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