Tag: Streaming

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.

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

At Darkroom Streaming, They’re All About Crusher Joe! (and the classics)

Last week, Darkroom added Crusher Joe to their streaming collection, and if you don’t know who this character is, we have an introduction! He’s more than your “average” Joe, and we explain why. Also other classic titles have been added.

Darkroom StreamingFor those who don’t know about Darkroom, perhaps now is the time to subscribe. Not only is this streaming platform affordable, it also specializes in showcasing independent, foreign, arthouse, and cult classic films; at just $2.99 USD per month, why not? Even a quick browse shows they’re no stranger to giving film festival curiosities like Heavy Trip (film review) a home. There’s even Icarus to be found, assuming you have a premium membership to tap into this particular film vault.

For anime fans, what’s especially notable is the platform’s recently added lineup, which includes Crusher Joe. For those unfamiliar with this classic series, it follows a group of licensed troubleshooters known as Crushers, specialists who tackle everything from rescue missions and planetary colonization support to dangerous assignments that ordinary authorities can’t handle. The Crusher Council oversees their activities, and the original novels delve into far more drama than the animated adaptations that followed. Written by Haruka Takachiho beginning in the late 1970s and published through Sonorama Bunko, the series feels less like Star Wars and more like giving Han Solo his own spin-off series, only with a stronger emphasis on teamwork and adventure.

Continue reading “At Darkroom Streaming, They’re All About Crusher Joe! (and the classics)”

Can You Sweetly Smell What’s Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You Ahead of it’s Debut?

Amusingly, just who Sasaki meets at till number two is a cue that life may well change for him. If Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You borrows from Mötley Crüe, he may have just met the girl all the bad boys want.

Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You
©Jinushi/SQUARE ENIX,Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You Production Committee

Crunchyroll
Streaming link here.

From manga to anime, fans can now sample what’s cooking in Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You (スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり). The series will make its official debut on July 4, and the first 12 mini-episodes offer an early taste of why this story from Jinushi has built such a loyal following. What is presented is more than another adult romance, and its appeal comes from how gently it observes loneliness, routine, and the small moments that make life feel less grey.

Sasaki (Takuya Satō) is an overworked office worker whose life has settled into a dull, joyless rhythm. One of the few bright spots in his day is a local supermarket, where the cheerful smile of cashier Yamada gives him a small reason to keep going. When another woman, Tayama (Seena Hoshiki), invites him to smoke behind the store, what follows plays with identity, attraction, and the difference between how people present themselves at work and who they become after hours.

Continue reading “Can You Sweetly Smell What’s Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You Ahead of it’s Debut?”

Top Streaming Films or Series To Watch This Cool June

From fantasy adventures to animated oddities and supernatural intrigue, the top streaming films (and series) to see in June may seem slim, but these are the titles worth checking out.

Top Streaming Films Avatar- The Last AirbenderNearly every anxious Netflix subscriber is counting down to the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender season two, coming June 25, but there’s plenty else to watch while we wait. As for what other top streaming films or series there are, the mileage will vary depending on tastes.

The former service is running a bit light right now. Stranger Things carried it for years, and Tales from ’85 didn’t really fill that gap. The Boroughs is here. Both debuted last month, and tried as I might to watch, they didn’t hold my attention that well. Also, without the Duffer Brothers in the director’s chair, since they’re producing, not directing, it doesn’t have the same pull. It’s also more sci-fi than supernatural, which changes the vibe considerably.

So here are my top five picks for June. The streamers seem to know better than to drop heavy hitters in summer heat, which works out fine for us.

I Am FrankeldaI Am Frankelda

(Netflix) June 12

This dark fantasy stop-motion feature feels like a bizarre love child of del Toro’s nightmarish aesthetic and Tim Burton’s stop-motion sensibility, and that’s absolutely a compliment. Part gothic fairy tale, part horror-lite, the scares hit just right. It’s “just a film,” sure, but anyone who falls for Frankelda is going to want more. Worth your evening.

Continue reading “Top Streaming Films or Series To Watch This Cool June”

Annecy 2026: Top Ten Picks on What To Look Out For

From steampunk anime and folk fantasy to surreal satire, musical odysseys, and unsettling horror from around the world, Annecy 2026 promises to have a bit of everything for fans of animation. That includes previews on upcoming streaming series.

annecy 2026Every year, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival offers a fantastic glimpse into what’ll be headed to theatres, streaming or television soon. While not everything will be made available for other regions, especially with European made works, I’m always holding out hope. At Annecy 2026, this year’s selections have me excited. From steampunk alternate histories and existential animated satire to folk fantasy and deeply personal musical odysseys. Several projects also continue the growing trend of international co-productions blending artistic traditions from Europe and Asia in ways that feel genuinely fresh.

Here are some of the standout titles currently catching our attention.

Continue reading “Annecy 2026: Top Ten Picks on What To Look Out For”

The Strange Journey The Story of Rocky Horror To America Will Arrive Soon!

After touring festivals and art house screenings, Strange Journey The Story of Rocky Horror finally heads to VOD. This documentary looks at Richard O’Brien, the film’s cult legacy, and the fandom that kept doing the Time Warp long after 1975.

Strange Journey The Story of Rocky HorrorComing to VOD
Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home
Release Date: June 2

It’s astounding that after more than a year of building strong buzz on the festival circuit and through special art house screenings, Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is finding a home across various North American streaming platforms. Magenta Light Studios has the rights to handle this documentary about the enduring legacy of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Directed by his son, Linus O’Brien, the film approaches Rocky Horror as more than a movie. When life is fleeting, what’s presented is a living commentary about how the fandom evolved. After nearly five decades of midnight screenings, cosplay, music, and queer celebration, the appreciation has only gotten stronger. All anyone has to do is look at the “new” material coming out, like the crowdfunding effort to craft a sequel, namely Bride of Rocky Horror (editorial link here).

Continue reading “The Strange Journey The Story of Rocky Horror To America Will Arrive Soon!”