Movie Reviews Archives | Page 17 Of 241

Heidi Rescue of the Lynx and the Hayao Miyazaki Connection

Yes, we even need an aside from Fantasia Film Festival. Heidi Rescue of the Lynx is a continuation, especially if you know the story from Heidi, Girl of the Alps already.

Now Playing in Cinemas Across the UK and Ireland.

Heidi Rescue of the Lynx continues a beloved story, capturing the same charm and warmth found in Johanna Spyri’s classic Swiss tale—while also welcoming a new generation of fans. I first discovered this story through the 1970s animated series Heidi, Girl of the Alps, one of Hayao Miyazaki’s earliest projects. His work on the screenplay and production art—centered on nature, kindness, and emotion—would shape many of his later cinematic works.

At the time, shows like Lupin the Third and The Rose of Versailles introduced me to European stories told through anime. But Heidi stood out. It had a quiet, heartfelt tone that stayed with me. Its characters and designs even helped inspire others, like Mei in My Neighbor Totoro. Over the years, Heidi has returned in a few new versions. Most of them stayed close to the original story.

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[Fantasia Film Festival] Five Ways Foreigner Exposes the Real Terror of Cultural Erasure

The real possession in Foreigner isn’t demonic—it’s cultural: the slow erasure of nuance, contradiction, and soul.

FOREIGNER - Poster 1 - 1 — This movie played at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival on July 31st.

Ava Maria Safaid debut with her horror film Foreigner is sure to make waves. This standout exploring the Iranian diasporic experience is the opposite of Juliet and the King, which I reviewed a few days ago. While I’m more familiar with the mythic world of ancient Persia, this story echoes the dilemmas once faced by figures like Siavash and Mithra. Here, Yasamin (played with quiet intensity by Rose Dehgan) is an Iranian teenager whose family has moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, in search of a new beginning.

At home, Persian customs remain strong. But outside those walls, the world she faces is confusing and often against who she is. Her tale is the classic Hero’s Journey, with challenges that are both spiritual and social. Like Siavash, she wants to be seen for who she truly is—but has to prove herself in a place that doesn’t really get her. And like Mithra—a figure from an old Persian religion that isn’t really practiced anymore but still symbolizes things like truth and justice—she’s stuck between family traditions, society’s expectations, and figuring out her own identity. It’s that old struggle of holding on to who you are when everything around you says to change.

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Dungeons and Television’s Hilarious Debut At Fantasia Film Festival 2025 Will Want You Posing Too!

Set to release on YouTube next month, Dungeons and Television is fast-paced, charming series about dungeon livestreaming in a way where why isn’t that reporter running away from that dragon!?!?

Dungeons and Television is one of the standout new series introduced at Fantasia Film Festival, and what’s presented is merely a teaser. When the festival also becomes a launchpad for fresh shows, there’s more than one title I’m already tuning in to. Another is Night of the Living Cat, which is currently streaming on Crunchyroll and you can catch my review of the first two episodes here; Fantasia hosted a theatrical screening of episodes three and four (highly recommended—the plot finally thickens).

As for this fantasy series, this made-for-the-web anime will arrive next month on YouTube. Although I can’t find an official channel, I’m sure that’ll quickly be live very soon, and as soon as I know, I’ll posted updates! In this world, the discovery of the vacuum tube has reshaped life in the kingdom of The Grand Half-Moon Cauldron, turning once-mythic dungeons into hotspots for exploration and opportunity. The setup feels very Dungeons & Dragons-inspired, and that’s definitely a plus.

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Yerden Telemissov’s Stinker is Weird Yet Wonderful. And Why It Wins Big at Fantasia Film Festival!

Yerden Telemissov’s movie is no Stinker. Instead, it’s a charming tale concering, I won’t know.

Spoiler Alert

Although the initial moments of the movie Stinker (originally titled Sasyq) introduce a vino, Sadyk Ospanovich (Dulyga Akmolda), absolutely hammered and laid out in a field, this setup is perfect. When he walks out onto the highway, the abrupt ending may well shock. That’s because of the fake credit sequence. But the story does not end there. Maybe what that’s supposed to mean is that he’s imagining the rest of the film. Until I get to interview writer and director Yerden Telemissov, I won’t know.

What follows is a quietly powerful story of loneliness and acceptance. In his small Kazakh village, Sadyk is a harmless drifter. After the death of his wife, he’s without purpose. He’s given up on life, and locals are used to his presence. But lateone night, everything changes. He witnesses a UFO making erratic moves and it soon crashes! Although the wreckage and mention of gets swept under the rug and nobody wants to talk, this individual finds meaning by taking care of the alien (Chingiz Kapin).

Their bond is rather unusual. Both yearning for a connection. I doubt this relationship is like the one in E.T. The Extraterrestrial. Instead, I see this presentation as a tale about bridging worlds together.

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[Fantasia Film Festival] Although Flawed but Fierce, Good Game Struggles to Hit Full Potential

This entertaining e-sports drama where underdogs fight for purpose, pride, and a struggling internet café’s future requires a good game where sportsmanship is key if this team is to win the respect of everyone playing, their rivals included.

Good Game Movie Poster — This movie played at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival on July 27th.

Just when I thought first-person shooter games couldn’t be brought convincingly to life, Dickson Leung’s Good Game proves otherwise. Rather than rely on flashy CGI, this film keeps things grounded, visualizing the action in a way that feels closer to what real gamers crave. But at its heart, Good Game isn’t just about the spectacle—it’s a heartfelt sports drama about misfits, redemption, and second chances.

The core of the story follows Solo (Will Or), a disgraced esports competitor who was ousted from his team after an in-game betrayal. He’s a gamer to the core, living and breathing the digital battlefield, but struggling to find purpose in the real world. When he wanders into an ailing internet café for a quick fix, he crosses paths with Fay (Yanny Chan) and her father Tai (Andrew Lam), who run the place. Fay sees potential in Solo, while her skeptical father remembers his infamous reputation. Continue reading “[Fantasia Film Festival] Although Flawed but Fierce, Good Game Struggles to Hit Full Potential”

[Fantasia Film Festival] Haunted Mountains The Yellow Taboo – Delving Into Taiwan’s Eerie Mountain Mysteries

When the haunting symbolism in Haunted Mountains The Yellow Taboo overshadows the narrative challenges, just what should we appreciate from this folk horror cinema?

Although the movie Haunted Mountains The Yellow Taboo, written by Wan-Zhen Zou and directed by Chia-Ying Tsai, doesn’t specify the exact mountain range at first, its haunting visuals and symbolic storytelling quickly hint at the setting. A quick Google search reveals where the legend of the Yellow Raincoat Ghost first manifested, and that place is in Taiwan’s Yushan (Jade Mountain) National Park—a place I’d definitely want to explore… just not during the wrong season.

While the vibrant autumn palette in the cinematography is visually stunning, it carries ominous undertones. The colour yellow, in this context, isn’t just seasonal—it’s a warning. Despite the horror visuals, this film leans more toward psychological thriller, particularly when tensions rise as Chen Jia-ming (Jasper Liu) tries to escape a mysterious time loop.

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