Tag: Family

Site Movie Review – Time-Twisting Horror That Warps History and Reality

Although this film is a bit rough, Site twists time and reality into a psychological horror that forces a man to confront the sins of the past to save his future.

Site 2025 Movie PosterBlindness to the past matters in Jason Eric Perlman’s sophomore film, Site. Or should that be Sight? Here, Neil Bardo (Jake McLaughlin) wants nothing more than to be a family man, but his life unravels when work pulls him away and tragedy strikes. His son Wiley (Carson Minniear) is blinded in an accident. Overcome with guilt, Neil finds himself in a series of strange events that lean more toward fractured realities than pure cosmic dread.

Things change after he visits a property with Garrison (Theo Rossi). They hope to flip it for a profit, but inside they find a strange “Time Tunnel.” Its retro design recalls the 1960s sci-fi series on ABC. Like in that show, Neil can only observe events unfold—he can’t change them. Radiation from the machine sparks visions which won’t fade. McLaughlin captures the confusion well, showing a man who no longer feels in control of his own life. When Neil struggles to find work to pay for his son’s surgery, his world fractures even more.

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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.

Heidi- Rescue of the LynxNow 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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All Stitch! All The Time. On Why The Animated Takes Matter.

After the recent live-action adaptation, a look back at the animated versions of Lilo & Stitch reveals the Japanese series, Stitch! The Series, offers a more profound exploration of family and character development, and I present my five favourite episodes.

Stitch! Anime PosterSpoiler Alert

After watching the live-action version of Lilo & Stitch (movie review link), I needed a palate cleanser—so I turned to both the American and Japanese animated series. Of the two, Stitch! The Series offers much more to appreciate than the live-action take. It better explores the meaning of family (Ohana), and even when the latest adaptation strays from canon, just hearing Jumba boast about his evil genius was enough to win me over.

Overall, I found the Asian series much better. A few episodes break away from the usual formula. The U.S. version follows a “gotta catch ‘em all” approach, with Lilo finding and giving homes to the 625 loose experiments with Stitch’s help. Fans will admire her perseverance, especially after this fuzz ball talks about family a lot, and misses it. That’s because all these genetic creations, the experiments, share a bond and the more popular ones have a recurring role. Jumba, as their creator, is like a father who must accept responsibility for them.

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When Venturing Into the Wonderwoods, The Dangers Are Real!

Come join Angelo Into the Wonderwoods where imagination and reality intertwines. This coming of age fantasy is certainly different than visiting Wonderland!

Into the Wonderwoods Movie PosterShout! Studios
Coming to Digital This Week

After a long run at various film festivals, Into the Wonderwoods, is headed to streaming and the coming of age story about Angelo (Dario Hardouin Spurio in the original and Kristen McGuire for the dub) is rather wild. After getting “accidentally” left behind at a rest stop, this kid has to find his way to grandmother’s house and I definitely had a certain “Over the River and Through the Woods” song stuck in my head afterwards.

Fortunately, the family is on the last leg of their long road trip, so he can probably find his own way there. However, when they do not notice he’s not in the car, in the real world, to know what the parents are like is very unsettling.

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The Qaqsoss naka Wahuntuhsis is More Than An Enchanting Fable

The Qaqsoss naka Wahuntuhsis is very easily the highlight of the Victoria Film Festival’s F1RST, A Celebration of Aboriginal Films. It’s an all-ages product that’ll entertain!

The Qaqsoss naka Wahuntuhsis PosterPlaying at F1RST FIlm Festival June 22, 2025
Moxy Fox Studio

The Qaqsoss naka Wahuntuhsis (which literally translates to Fox and the Tiny Demon) is a wonderfully animated film which is like a children’s graphic novel come to life. When Tara Audibert from the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick came up with the idea about the struggles this animal has to face, I’m sure the decision on how to bring it to life and relatable to the human condition was tough. . She wanted the narrative to deal with mental illness, an idea reasonably well conveyed, and show how this critter can deal with those personal demons.

And when there’s a literal one appearing occasionally during this fox’s wanderings through a magical forest, the fact this young cub doesn’t always take notice is amusing. But at some point, this supernatural force will have to appear!

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With A Comic Book Titled, Eat Your Young, Is Coming This Summer by Mad Cave Studios….

…. Immortality is a curse. Legacy is a weapon. And Blood is the only way out! No, Eat Your Young is not based on Renfield, but it might!

Eat Your Young Comic Book CoverMad Cave Studios
Release Date: Aug 20, 205

When Mad Cave Studios announces a comic book titled, Eat Your Young, people are going to pay attention! That’s because there’s an unspoken rule where no harm should come to a child. And when it’s described to be like Highlander and Oldbay (in addition to the aforementioned tales), that’s a formula readers will no doubt want to see how all of this can work, myself included!

Can there be only one, or what happens when every kid on Earth is gone? As for who would desire this, those are my burning questions in this release. And how can I not pick up a comic with a character whose name is like mine?

From the Press Release

Mad Cave Studios is proud to unleash Eat Your Young—a visceral, character-driven blood feud from writer Brian Buccellato (Midlife, Chicken Devil, The Flash) and artist Mattia Monaco (Knock Em Dead, Kalya), with letters by Buddy Beaudoin (Gatchaman), and Cover B by Stefano Simeone (Good Luck).

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