With The Short, “Borbulha “(Pimple), It’s Best to Not Say Pop Goes The World….

At Fantasia Film Festival 2026, it’s best not to show up late to skip the short films screened alongside the feature. And there’s also all the wonderful curated programs too. We look at Pimple, one popper of a work….

Official poster for Fernando Alle’s Borbulha (Pimple)Fernando Alle’s Borbulha (Pimple) is a masterstroke in bringing the absurd to life. When this short film also delivers a courteous message about dealing with bullies, perhaps its strangest turn concerns the language used. Yes, He-Man would blush, but considering what happens, I feel this Adult Swim-style piece works.

Although this film feels like a compact demo reel highlighting what this Portuguese filmmaker loves most. It also reveals his fondness for creating campy, Troma-style examinations of life’s complexities. Or should I say Astron-6? Both comparisons work because what’s presented is so thoroughly old-school 80s that it reminds me of Weird Science.

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How Likely Will Speilberg’s Idea of Disclosure Day Happen? There’s a 1% chance.

With Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day streaming sooner than later, will it motivate our real world governments or someone to say they’re here? (Sorry Carol Anne)

Disclosure Day movie posterNow Streaming on AppleTV, Google Play and YouTube

Steven Spielberg‘s Disclosure Day is now streaming, and that’s about the only way I will see this movie. I opted not to see it in theaters because I knew it is nothing like Close Encounters of the Third Kind. What it offers is a textbook case of downsizing the UAP phenomenon rather than going big. That’s because I knew there would be no grand spectacle, no family drama, and no genuine hunt for the truth. Worse still, for a story built around disclosure, it never feels anchored to the evidence that has kept the subject alive for decades.

Or rather, there would be no return of the little grey visitors and the people they abducted to discover strange new worlds and other wonders. Instead, the message boils down to: “We’re here, we’ve been here for a while, we’re observing you, and we’re deciding whether humanity is ready for space.”

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At Fantasia 2026, Let’s Dance! Or Should That Break Free From the Everyday?

Actually, the title of this film is Kunio’s online identity. He yearns to Break Free from his roots, and this gangster comedy shows how he does it!

Odore! Yakuza, known as Break Free in America, movie poster
Played at Fantasia Film Festival 2026 on July 18 at the Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)

The Japanese movie Odore! Yakuza, known as Break Free in America, has style and nearly everything I want from a film featuring rhythmic music, yakuza fighting one another, and J-pop on top. It’s the perfect movie to begin my coverage of Fantasia Fest 2026 too! In this world, an anti-organized crime law enacted by the government has forced many gangs to either pack up or shut up. Whether that’s meant to mirror real Japanese law or simply serve the plot, I honestly can’t say.

The film is wildly gorgeous under Yu Nakamoto‘s direction. He delivers pathos and ethos in droves, while his focus on Kunio (Akito Fujii) shows just how deep a rut the character is in. He’s fiercely loyal to his crew, but they’re struggling to remain who they are rather than getting real jobs. That’s where the commentary comes in. Since Kunio can’t smack people around without getting tossed in jail, his protégé, Kuzunari (Atomu Mizuishi), comes up with the idea of recording him “dancing.” Goto (Kenta Kiritani), their boss, approves!

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When The Warriors of the Wasteland Is Very Ambitious In Its Execution, Is It Also Flawed?

Warriors of the Wasteland offers an ambitious mix of Serbian folklore, post-apocalyptic adventure, and family drama. Its world has promise, but the lengthy runtime and crowded cast make the journey harder to follow.

Warriors of the Wasteland Movie PosterStreaming on Well GO USA

When Warriors of the Wasteland (originally titled Volja sinovljeva or The Will of the Son) is a long film where I thought the premise was good, but the execution is off, perhaps turning it into a serialised series makes more sense. Writer Strahinja Madžarević has some good ideas, but there’s just something missing. I can’t really blame Nemanja Ćeranić, who directed the effort. When I got the feeling some commentary is being made about how tough life is around the Balkan provinces, perhaps I’m just missing the point.

Or perhaps, some editing is needed to make the ideas make more sense. I did, however, understand what the film was getting at regarding the Grain People (Zrnoljudi)’s plight. They are a peaceful agrarian collective of farmers defending their ancestral land against the exploitation of distant city councillors. Over there, they are all corrupt. And after seeing this film, I couldn’t help but want to compare the ideas to what I recall from Mad Max and Logan’s Run.

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What SDCC 2026 Comic Book Exclusives Are Worth Waiting In Line For? (Part Two)

As there a tons of SDCC 2026 Comic Book exclusives being offer this year, we take on the tough task on which 10 titles are worth waiting in line for!

SDCC 2026 Comic Book ExclusivesWhen some fans are seeking out SDCC 2026 comic book exclusives, the big question some may ask will be which titles are must haves? That’s because with these exclusive variant covers, they make great display pieces rather than gold mines for speculating (i.e. resale value). It’s not to say they are all going to make a solid investment, and that’s why a lot of these offerings are limited in scope, so no one can scalp.

As for which titles I’d personally go after, I continue in my list to focus only on the comics offered by the following companies. Sorry Marvel and DC but there nothing from your list of announced goodies that doesn’t strike me as special.

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Which SDCC 2026 Exclusives Are Worth Waiting in Line For?

Titan Entertainment, Mondo, and artist Chris Uminga are the highlights of this year’s must-grab SDCC 2026 exclusives; with a lottery system back in play, fans will want a game plan before hitting the show floor.

SDCC 2026 ExclusivesThe big convention down in San Diego is almost here, and while I feel divided over where my allegiances should lean to first, I still have to see what I can ask my friends attending to pick up for me. Yes, some of these SDCC 2026 exclusives may be worthwhile grabbing while they are hot.

As for movies and special screenings, the biggest upcoming films naturally get a massive Hall H push, but that’s not why I follow this event from afar. I have to love Image Comics for their cheeky release, Dread the Hall H, and that read is simply spot-on!

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