Previous Next August 14, 2026 WRITTEN BY: BODE Fantasia International Film Festival is the largest genre festival in North America, and this year marked 30 years as such — a very important milestone. It’s a privilege to attend this storied event in any capacity, and to do so (remotely) for the second year in a row is something I don’t take for granted, especially alongside Nick and Adriano. Though virtual coverage means less access to everything you’d hope to see, I was still able to check out most of the films I was interested in over the course of Fantasia’s two-week period. Here’s how I ranked them… 9. THE GALACTIC GHOUL For director Simon Harrison to achieve a space opera homage like The Galactic Ghoul on what had to have been a shoestring budget is commendable, particularly with its practical effects and even the dual performance from star Vincent Hoss-Desmarias. Unfortunately, the film’s low-fi charms came few and far between for me. It isn’t funny enough to work as a tongue-in-cheek parody, nor is it zippy or exciting enough to work as the real thing. I’m sure it’ll find an audience that is more attuned to what it’s doing, but I can’t consider myself part of it. 8. ATTACK ON PARADISE Attack on Paradise was one of my most anticipated titles at Fantasia, especially given its The Raid -like premise. Of course, I wasn’t expecting it to be at the level of that modern classic, but unfortunately, Paradise doesn’t even deliver on being decently entertaining. The action simply fails to excite with how unimaginatively captured and edited the sequences are, one cool camera tilt during a bathroom fight notwithstanding. This only makes the film’s lack of substance and utterly predictable story beats stand out even more. I do admire the film’s efforts regarding its representation, but otherwise, it’s a disappointment. 7. THE PERIL AT PINCER POINT The Peril at Pincer Point ’s beautiful monochrome style, foreboding score, and remarkable sound design — very much the film’s defining strengths — certainly grabbed me from the jump. Plus, directors Jake Kuhn and Noah Stratton-Twine do an admirable job contrasting all of that with some biting industry satire and delightfully bizarre moments. So, it’s a shame that, as it goes on, it doesn’t build towards much, which makes its pacing more of a grind than it should be, even at just 83 minutes. It doesn’t help that the tone becomes decidedly more uneven in the back half. It’s ultimately a film I wish I liked more than I actually did. 6. AFTER SCHOOL In some respects, After School (Straf) feels like the Netherlands’ answer to the darkly comedic works that Jody Hill and Danny McBride have created over the years, particularly their great HBO series Vice Principals . It definitely isn’t as biting or anarchic as that two-season wonder, but credit to directors Merijn Scholte Albers and Tobias Smeets, as well as the cast they’ve assembled, because they manage to get some cringe-inducing fun out of its “teacher vs. student” premise. There are plenty of broadly silly musings on school bullying, differing types of masculinity, single parenting, and self-respect to go around. It’s a bit disposable, but it’s entertaining enough. 5. DANCE FREAK If you threw the distinctively surreal styles of David Lynch, Guy Maddin, and Tim & Eric in a blender, you’d get something along the lines of directors Alan Resnick and Robby Rackleff’s Dance Freak . Playing like one of their Wham City shorts expanded to feature length, the film, with its grimy black-and-white aesthetic and the efforts of its alt-comic friendly cast, explores male depression and rage in the most nonsensical and sinister ways possible. Though it can drag here and there, I still came away admiring its utter insanity, making it as compelling as it is confounding. 4. I LOVE PARIS If you loved What We Do in the Shadows and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping …and wondered what would happen if you mashed them together… I Love Paris could serve as an answer to that. A mockumentary hybrid of comedy, horror, and musical, it draws a connection between literal vampirism and the attention economy in ways that are funnier and bleaker than you’d think. I don’t quite know if it justifies its two-hour runtime (the improvisational style has its limits), but it maintains a wild energy throughout, and lead star Aminata Thiboult carries the whole film effortlessly. It’s worth a watch, regardless. 3. YOU ARE THE FILM You Are the Film serves as my introduction to writer-director Makoto Ueda and his knack for pulling off very high concepts on low budgets. By all means, it was a good one. Revolving around parallel films interacting with one another, this 67(!)-minute venture not only plays as a cleverly inventive ode to multiverses, but also as a whimsical treatise on the inherent voyeurism of cinema as an artform. It does get a bit too busy for its own good towards the final act (in ways I won’t spoil), but it is infectious and breezy enough to make that forgivable. Overall, it’s a fun time. 2. HER PRIVATE HELL Since achieving mainstream success with 2011’s Drive , director Nicolas Winding Refn has spent more than a decade specializing in neon-drenched nightmares to the point of increasing divisiveness. With its glacial pacing, bisexual lighting, extreme violence, psychosexual situations, and emphasis on mood over narrative, Her Private Hell sees him picking up right where he left off. It’s Refn at his most unrestrained, and I loved nearly every minute of it. Could I understand everything? No. But the images are beautiful, the vibes are immaculate, and composer Pino Donaggio’s score is award-worthy stuff. That might be hell to some, but not for me. 1. TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA With their previous two features, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and I Saw the TV Glow , I’ve admired how writer-director Jane Schoenbrun can nail a Lynchian vibe whilst still carving out their own distinct style. With their latest feature, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma , I feel like I’ve fully embraced it. It’s a surprisingly playful and deeply poignant deconstruction of the slasher and the sort of impact it can have on one’s identity. Boosted by terrific central performances from Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson, a great score from Alex G, and some outstanding needle drops, I’m a big fan.

HELLO TOMORROW!: SEASON ONE Starring: Billy Crudup, Nicholas Podany, Hank Azaria, Haneefah Wood, Alison Pill, Dewshane Williams, and Matthew Maher Creators: Amit Bhalla and Lucas Jansen QUENTIN While I love the retro-future design of Hello Tomorrow! , which looks like live-action The Jetsons , the story is far more pedestrian. It’s ultimately about achieving “The Dream” and (maybe unattainable) happiness, which means something different for each character; however, other than Jack (Billy Crudup), you don’t care enough about these underdeveloped characters to root for them. Also, there is a small mystery element baked into the narrative, but the twists are so telegraphed that you mostly shrug as that aspect plays out. The always underrated Crudup is great, but this is a tale of style over substance that doesn’t entice enough for a second season.

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Starring: Thuso Mbedu, Chase Dillon, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Pierre, Amber Gray, William Jackson Harper, Mychal-Bella Bowman, Kraig Dane, Sheila Atim, Lucius Baston, Kylee D. Allen, Jeff Pope Creator: Barry Jenkins JACOB Barry Jenkins has found his magnum opus in The Underground Railroad . It may seem like hyperbole to claim the director of Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk can reach another level in his storytelling, but there is no mistaking it. All the technical elements of those films are elevated here, including the immaculate cinematography by James Laxton and perfect score by Nicholas Britell. Yet again, Jenkins has made a phenomenal discovery in lead Thuso Mbedu, whose performance aches with the fury of how slavery's stain on America is still plainly visible - a feeling that permeates the entire series.

IN THE KNOW: SEASON ONE Starring: Zach Woods, J. Smith-Cameron, Charlie Bushnell, Caitlin Reilly, Carl Tart, and Mike Judge Creators: Mike Judge, Zach Woods, and Brandon Gardner QUENTIN While this brand of dry satire may not be for everyone, In the Know is a laugh-out-loud, stop-motion skewering of public radio and the well-meaning-but-ultimately-performative woke. To be clear, it’s not a takedown of wokeness, but of the super-far-left individuals who say and believe all the right things while obliviously doing the complete opposite. For example, Lauren Caspian (Silicon Valley ’s Zach Woods) is the type of guy who will forcefully talk over every woman in the room to let them know he understands how they feel when men talk over them. Show co-creator Mike Judge has always been a hitmaker, and that seemingly hasn’t changed.

DUSTER: SEASON ONE Starring: Josh Holloway, Rachel Hilson, Keith David, Asivak Koostachin, Sydney Elisabeth, Benjamin Charles Watson, Camille Guaty, Adriana Aluna Martinez, Greg Grunberg, Gail O’Grady, and Corbin Bernsen Creators: J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan QUENTIN While Duster isn’t reinventing the crime thriller wheel, its pitch-perfect homage to the 70s and shows like Starsky & Hutch and CHiPs makes for a tremendously enjoyable spark plug of a series. From the extensive needle drops (everyone from Tina Turner to Merle Haggard) to the impeccable fashion and vintage cars, the self-aware exploitation vibe of gun fights and car chases creates a fun sandbox in which Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson charmingly thrive through their rugged and feisty performances, respectively. Granted, if the 70s-themed setting, with all its expertly done period details, doesn’t mean anything to you, maybe look elsewhere; however, I had a blast! ROBERT Never did I imagine that J.J. Abrams would again helm a straightforward show, especially not one dealing with law enforcement, but here we are with Duster . Given his involvement, I liken this to a melding of Alias with the fifth season of Lost, where they went back in time to the 1970s (especially with the length of Josh Holloway’s hair). I was a big fan of the Hot Wheels opening credits and the music queues of killer songs. I was happy with the cast in place, even if it didn’t always deliver, and there was enough mystery and intrigue to keep me guessing. Dust this off and give it a shot.

Previous Next November 12, 2025 WRITTEN BY: AMARÚ The end of Halloween marks the official time of year when a teacher is in stride. Whether that stride is good or bad, the longest month of the first semester is over (screw October), and the steady breaks coming from the gaggle of holidays at the end of the year make for a very quick next couple of months. By now, we know our kids, and one of the key incentives we give to motivate them for the rest of the year are end of quarter awards. Positive acknowledgment is a key part of reaching these kids. But, right now, I am not a teacher. I am an adult movie critic, and every time I see a child, tween, teen, or adolescent on screen, I have one response and one response only: FTK. It’s a daily mantra that allows me to switch back and forth between my profession and my passion without losing my sanity. Every so often, as you’ve read in previous articles I have written (like my Movie Teacher Accuracy Report HERE ), I commingle the two things that take up the majority of my life to entertaining effect. So, I present to you my inaugural FTK Awards, which is strictly “For The Kids” (I’d like to keep my job people, so if you know you know, but I ‘m never going to explicitly put that in writing). I have gathered some of the child characters I have watched on a movie screen and assigned them awards to describe my admiration or disdain for what feelings they evoke in my life. With so many deserving candidates to love and hate, this won’t be a list of usual suspects like Kevin McCallister (Macauley Caulkin), Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole), or Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), but those who stood out to me over my life both before and after I was perfectly equipped to judge the merits of children. With that, after yet another wordy introduction to the actual content of my article (you know who you’re reading), here are the 2025 FTK Award recipients. THE TITULAR FTK AWARD Alfred Milano (Noah Bromley), Final Destination Bloodlines I repeat… if you know you know. I came up with the idea for these awards after watching this annoying, undisciplined, rude, self-centered, punk-ass, “who’s child is this?” kid be the cause of all the horrible things that happen to the Reyes family in Bloodlines . He embodies my daily mantra, the perfect example of a child who knows better and straight up chooses to be an asshole. I personally decided to add racist to the list of this demon spawn’s characteristics because, in the late 1960s, he fakes being respectful to the Black attendant of the Sky View who warns him not to toss the penny off the tower. I am probably wrong in that assumption, but I don’t give a damn because this kid sucks. We all prayed that it was coming, then we all saw it coming, and then we all cheered when it finally came: the MVP of the film, the most cathartic piano in 2020s cinema. Thank you, you beautifully heavy percussion instrument for delivering the justice we all desired and handing The Penny Kid his “Titular FTK” award for 2025. He truly deserves it. THE SOURPATCH KID AWARD Ronnie Shields (Bobb’e J. Thompson), Role Models There’s a huge difference between children who are straight up assholes, and those you would call loveable assholes. Yes, they can be vulgar, and yes, they can be disrespectful, but underneath it all, they are actually really funny. You often have to walk away for fear of them seeing you laugh when they get a good joke off at another person’s expense. Once you get to know them, the best way to describe them is that, at first, they’re sour, then they’re sweet. That’s Ronnie from Role Models . If you have ever watched Bobb’e J. Thompson, you know the exact skillset he has for this award. If you haven’t seen Role Models , you should remedy that because you are missing his best use of those skills. Before Ronnie is set up with his court-mandated “Big Brother,” Wheeler (Seann William Scott), he had scared off every other “Big” he’d been paired with, and things start off the same way between him and Wheeler. However, the things you’d expect to happen when Scott and Thompson team up gradually come to fruition as they realize they are the adult and child versions of each other. They bond over superficial likes (boobies) and underlying trauma (father abandonment), quickly endearing you to both characters. So, between the funny disses, character growth, hilarious dynamic, Kiss face paint, and unavoidable charm that Thompson oozes throughout this R-rated romp, you can’t help but love every asshole tendency that Ronnie displays to season the truly sweet child underneath. MOST LIKELY TO TRY TO STEAL YOUR GIRL AWARD Edmund Pevensie (Skander Keynes), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe Thank goodness there are two more movies for Edmund to show his worth, because in 85% of the first Narnia film, Edmund is the absolute worst kind of jealous and whiny. It’s bad when those you thought were your friends are people who see what you have and want to take it from you. It’s even worse when it’s your own brother. From the start of the film, Edmund thinks of only himself, putting his siblings in danger because of it. While literal bombs are being dropped on his home, Edmund runs back to grab a picture of his father but gets mad when his older brother Peter (William Moseley) scolds him after having to put his life in danger to save him. On the surface, this looks brave and dumb on Edmund’s part, but then you see how he betrays his siblings out of jealousy for the low price of a TURKISH FUCKING DELIGHT. Then, he lies on his little sister Lucy (Georgie Henley) about seeing Narnia just so he doesn’t look crazy. THEN after he is caught in his lie and “apologizes” to Lucy, he leads his siblings to the White Witches’ (Tilda Swinton) castle because he can’t help but choose poor judgment, self-victimization, and envy over the kindness, leadership, and patience his three siblings demonstrate around him. First-film Edmund would 100% lie about you to your girlfriend just to slide into her DMs after y’all breakup. Bro… all it took was Turkish Delights??? THE GOOD DAKOTA FANNING AWARD Lupita “Pita” Ramos (Dakota Fanning), Man on Fire When thinking about Dakota Fanning and her very successful child-acting career, the “annoying kid” performance that usually gets brought up is that of Tom Cruise’s daughter in War of the Worlds (originally that was going to win the “Bad Dakota Fanning” Award, but then I realized I don’t remember anywhere near enough about that film). That’s not the performance that stuck out to me for these awards, though. Her ability to live up to and match the greatest actor of all time in one of his most entertaining, brutal, complex, and bad-ass films is the one that stands above the rest. Plus, in addition to Denzel Washington, she also had to contend with charisma personified in Christopher Walken. The range of achievements unlocked while acting alongside these giants is astounding. Pita outwits Washington’s John Crease in their car rides to school, faking him out when she deservedly cries by jumping out the car just to move to the backseat when he’s being an asshole. She gets most of the license plate number of the bad guys tailing them. And more importantly, she eloquently and charmingly chips away at Crease’s hard exterior to create the cutest relationship between pseudo father-and-daughter you may ever see. The swimming training montages between them makes you want to be Pita’s father, her loving nickname for John (Creasy Bear) makes your heart absolutely melt, and the screams she screams for Creasy before, during, and after she is kidnapped make you want to burn the world down. We love you Pita, and we believe you with every fiber of our being when you say you love Creasy. THE RIGHT KID DIED AWARD Beau Abbott (Cade Woodward), A Quiet Place The pattern of these awards so far has vacillated between kids I couldn’t stand and kids I quite enjoyed on screen. Based on the title of this one, you might be thinking “insert Friday DAYUUUUM meme here” and “what did this kid do for you to hate him that much?” In actuality, though, this is the perfect final award of the night because it straddles the love/hate line nicely while ultimately being an award Woodward can be proud of. For me, Beau is the MVP of this film, both for the audience and for his family. For one, he gave me one of my favorite theater experiences ever. Sitting in a Magic Johnson theater in Harlem, New York, when Beau gets snatched by the Death Angel, the crowd went from pin-drop silent to “AAYYYOOOOOO” batshit bonkers. That set up not only the film’s top notch entertainment value, but also how director John Krasinski was playing no games with the stakes as he showed that everyone can get got, no matter their age. Even more so, Beau’s demise is a key reason the rest of the family is able to live so long. In a world where any sound will get you killed, it was inevitable that a young child wasn’t going to understand the gravity of the situation. His mother, father, and slightly older siblings will never forget the lesson the youngest member of the Abbott family taught them in death. Beau, I’m sorry it had to be you, but we all are thankful for your sacrifice. We salute you, young sir.

Previous Next December 16, 2024 WRITTEN BY: AMARÚ Every awards season, there are tons of articles that wax poetic about the best all-time performances, and it’s pretty easy to point to actors giving rousing speeches, heartbreaking monologues, and epic transformations. However, there is a group of performers who have shaped our movie- and television-watching lives that never seem to get the same recognition. From Vincent Price doing the creepiest voice-overs to legends like James Earl Jones and Mark Hamill bringing our favorite villains to life, voice-actors have delivered some of the most iconic and memorable performances while still flying under the radar. In fact, it wasn’t until Andy Serkis dawned the mo-cap suit as Caesar in Matt Reeves’ Planet of the Apes Trilogy that we’ve collectively considered voice-over work as award worthy. Many critics associations have been recently recognizing breakthrough vocal performances in both animation and mixed media, but I don’t think that’s enough for these unsung Hollywood heroes. You’ve heard their voices all your life, but there’s a good chance you wouldn’t know their names or their faces if they were standing right next to you. So, to prevent any awkward “I know that voice” interactions in public — while giving them even the slightest bit of shine that I can — I’m here to honor some of my favorite voice actors of my lifetime. THOSE YOU SHOULD KNOW KEITH DAVID “It is the nature of humans to fear what they do not understand.” - Goliath ( Gargoyles ) There is no chance that you’ve ever watched a movie, played a video game, enjoyed a cartoon, or gone an entire year without somehow hearing the deeply sultry voice of David. Everything about him oozes cool, from his walk to his devilish smirk to his always dressed-to-a-tee fits. That’s how he’s able to go toe-to-toe with superstars like Kurt Russell in The Thing . However, it’s his voice that enters deep into your soul and stays there well past his screen time. If you need a powerful entity, whether it’s the noble leader of the Gargoyles , Goliath; the slick-tongued Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog ; or the mysterious and mighty Arbiter from the Halo video game series; there isn’t anyone better. The man has over 300 voice credits in every genre of entertainment you could think of, and for very good reason. One word from his lips and you already know the scene has been stolen from whoever you think is leading the show. Other Notable Credits : The Cat ( Coraline ); Spawn ( Spawn ); Apollo ( Hercules ) HANK AZARIA “Thank you, come again.” – Apu Nahasapeemapetilon ( The Simpsons ) Even if you decide to lambast his most famous role in The Simpsons , over half the citizens of Springfield owes their existence to Azaria’s biting tongue. Even in his live-action roles, there’s something missing if Azaria isn’t putting on a voice to go with his multitude of animated expressions. His smarmy pitch is perfect for any bully, outcast, smart-ass, or sassy diva, and that’s why his voice is a staple for the longest running American animated television show. His many, yellow-skinned characters’ voices have filled my childhood, your childhood, and your children’s childhood for 764 episodes and counting. You want a beer at Moe’s, ask Hank. You want Chief Wiggum to be as unhelpful as possible, ask Hank. You want a fact-check from the Comic Book Guy, ask Hank. Other Notable Credits : Eddie Brock/Venom ( Spider-Man: The Animated Series ); Abraham Lincoln ( Night at The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian ) PATRICK WARBURTON “Squeaky, uh, squeak, squeaker, squeakin’.” – Kronk ( The Emperor’s New Groove ) Loud, brash, and boastful, Warburton is what I imagine Bruce Campbell’s voice to sound like if I had never heard Campbell speak before. There’s an air of hilarious arrogance in his voice that perfectly fits your favorite oblivious airhead. Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove is a quote waiting to happen, Family Guy ’s wheelchaired hot-head, Joe Swanson, is ready to blow at any minute, and you can automatically hear the exclamation of disgust from the meme that is his Bee Movie character, Ken. And, of course, he was the only choice to properly star as the live-action version of the world’s most unaware superhero, The Tick. Shit, I thought he was the original voice in the first place. Other Notable Credits : Brock Samson ( The Venture Bros. ); Agamemnon ( Mr. Peabody & Sherman ) THOSE YOU MAY KNOW TARA STRONG “I was protected by the Monks of Azarath.” – Raven ( Teen Titans Go! ) With 665 credits to her name, Strong has been a staple in cartoon voice acting for at least three generations. Over the last 25 years, she has provided the iconic voices behind the likes of Timmy Turner ( The Fairly Oddparents ), Bubbles ( The Powerpuff Girls ), Raven ( Teen Titans Go! ), and, more recently, Miss Minutes ( Loki ). All that is to say that she has put her name alongside legends like Christin Cavanaugh, E.G. Daily, Nancy Cartwright, and June Foray as arguably the most famous voice actress of all time. Notable Credits : Dil Pickles ( Rugrats ); Barbara Gordon/Batgirl ( Batman: The Animated Series ); Harley Quinn (2011-present, multiple appearances) STEVE BLUM “Whatever happens, happens.” – Spike Spiegel ( Cowboy Bebop ) Even though he has played in two of the most well-known geek sandboxes as Wolverine (numerous times, most notably in Wolverine and the X-Men ) and Zeb in Star Wars: Rebels , Blum will forever be linked to the icon that is Spike Spiegel ( Cowboy Bebop ). His voice is as memorable as Bebop ’s jazzy-ass intro music and has been used in a multitude of video games, anime dubs, and several hip-hop albums (thanks, Logic!). After racking up 882 credits over a 45-year career, Blum doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Other Notable Credits : Kyogai ( Demon Slayer ); Orochimaru ( Naruto ); Amon ( The Legend of Korra ) TOM KENNY “I’m Ready… I’m Ready… I’m Ready.” – SpongeBob SquarePants ( SpongeBob SquarePants ) Between the laugh, the high-pitched voice, and the slight hint of mischievousness, there might not be a more recognizable voice on this list than that of SpongeBob SquarePants himself. Yes, he also has the misfortune of voicing two of the most annoying characters in Transformers history (Wheelie & Skids), but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t perfect for the job. Years and years of voicing the yellow and porous invertebrate has not doomed him to a life of typecasting, as he’s also done work in Batman: Caped Crusader, Rick & Morty , and hundreds (800 to be precise) of other credits. But that pineapple under the sea has treated him well. Other Notable Credits : Nute Gunray ( Star Wars: The Clone Wars) ; Ice King ( Adventure Time ) CREE SUMMER “That’s the final nail in the coffee!!!” – Susie Carmichael ( Rugrats ) Currently killing it as librarian Ms. Inez in Abbott Elementary , Summer is the light behind the voice of the fiercest, most passionate little girls of the 80s & 90s. From the overbearing Elmyra on Tiny Toon Adventures to the warrior princess Kida in Atlantis: The Lost Empire , Summer has inspired young women for decades. However, none has reached more hearts and minds than that of Susie Carmichael, Rugrats ’ independent, intelligent, compassionate, and all-around badass toddler bold enough to put Angelica (Cheryl Chase) in her place. Hail to queen Cree and all the powerful women she will voice from now until forever (also, shout out to Freddie from A Different World ). Other Notable Credits : Cleo ( Clifford the Big Red Dog ); Bunny Star ( The Patrick Star Show ) THOSE I WISH YOU KNEW KEVIN MICHAEL RICHARDSON "This puny mortal will be no problem. I'll crush him with one blow." – Goro ( Mortal Kombat ) My introduction to Richardson was the short-lived UPN comedy Homeboys in Outer Space , so finding out he is the voice of damn near every deep-timbred, evil-laired, all-mighty entity that I’ve ever watched has always made me laugh hysterically. In all seriousness, though, he is the only person I’d put up there with Keith David in terms of room-filling voices. He’s done Shredder ( Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ), he’s done Goro ( Mortal Kombat ), he’s done Joker ( The Batman ), and he's done Deebo ( Friday: The Animated Series ). Dammit, man… he’s even done Morgan Freeman ( The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius )! You name it, he's probably done it, and most likely done it with the depth of a thousand caverns. Other Notable Credits : Captain Gantu ( Lilo & Stitch ); Heihachi ( Soulcaliber II ) JOHN DIMAGGIO “Bite my shiny metal ass!” – Bender Bending Rodriguez ( Futurama ) There have been plenty of movies and television shows over the past ten years where there’s a smarmy character with a lowkey Jersey accent doing some sort of shady business, and nine times out of ten, when I say “that’s gotta be DiMaggio, right?”, the end credits prove me right. DiMaggio is the name I expect to pop up in every new animated anything I see nowadays, and I am absolutely flabbergasted when he doesn’t appear. His ability to maneuver his voice just slightly enough to not immediately recognize it every time is a testament to how versatile a voice artist he is, especially considering his more than 450 credits — many of which occur in the most notable of franchises ever, from TMNT to Justice League to Scooby-Doo , not to mention his most famous voice by far, Bender from Futurama . Other Notable Credits : Bullock ( Batman: Caped Crusader ); King Zog ( Disenchantment ) PHIL LAMARR “50 years have passed. But I do not age.” – Samurai Jack ( Samurai Jack ) A lot of things have gone well since LaMarr had his head blown off by Vincent Vega (John Travolta) in the back of that car in Pulp Fiction . Alongside the other two gentlemen in this section, LaMarr is a constant presence in what feels like 75% of the voicework of this century by either voicing supporting characters in Bojack Horseman (Professor Thistlethorpe) and Futurama (Hermes Conrad) or being the absolute essence of wisdom and guidance as the title character in Samurai Jack . LaMarr is the calm to whatever storm you choose to bring to your vocal performances, and he has helped bring weight to voice-over ensembles in over 450 credits. I guess that work with Tarantino really prepared him to stand out amongst a crowd. Other Notable Credits : John Stewart/Green Lantern ( Justice League & Justice League Unlimited ); Virgil Hawkins/Static ( Static Shock )

Previous Next July 14, 2026 WRITTEN BY: NICK, BODE, AND ADRIANO Stop us if you've heard this before... The Fantasia International Film Festival was the first festival to grant us press credentials and, as such, is an integral part of Bitesize Breakdown's growth. We will always be proud to cover it. This year (its 30th edition) once again features plenty of interesting genre and international titles, featuring a mix of up-and-comers and beloved veterans. Nick, Bode, and Adriano are the ones tasked with covering Fantasia's 30th, and they've expanded on some of the titles they're looking forward to most, listed below. The 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival runs from July 16th to August 2nd. A favourite of many notable actors and directors, the Montréal-based event is the largest genre festival in North America and never fails to deliver some truly unique and entertaining films. Stay glued to our site and socials for all of our thoughts on everything we get to check out this year. ATTACK ON PARADISE If the likes of The Raid and Dredd have proven anything, it’s that you can’t go wrong with setting your action flick practically in one location - especially one as enclosed as an apartment building. Director Bob Colaers and star / co-writer Saïd Boumazoughe look to put their own Belgian spin on that formula with Attack on Paradise , which follows a formerly incarcerated citizen who has to fight his way through his gang-infested flat block in order to save his ailing mother. It’s promised by Fantasia programmers to be “one of the most pulverizing action films in ages”, and I can’t wait to see how much it lives up to that sentence. - Bode BUDDY Buddy is seemingly your average children's program - think Barney & Friends – until Buddy (Keegan-Michael Key) shows his dark nature. There’s something about the seldom-used sub-genre of children’s television shows that turn evil that I always get a kick out of. Season One of Channel Zero is the prime example, but Mr. Crocket is a more recent example. The creepy teaser doesn’t give much away, but I’m very curious to see Key in a more nefarious role. If you can blend that with some of his Key & Peele-style comedy, his take on this twisted unicorn should be highly entertaining. Add to that a strong supporting cast featuring the likes of Cristin Milioti, Patton Oswalt, and Topher Grace, and I think this has every chance to be a sleeper horror hit of the festival. - Nick DANCE FREAK The spirit of Adult Swim is alive at Fantasia this year, as a handful of filmmakers who've honed their humorously surreal skills creating shorts for the network bring their feature film debuts to the festival. Wham City Comedy members Alan Resnick and Robby Rackleff are one such example with Dance Freak , a black-and-white dark comedy that comes equipped with a wild premise (a literal dance freak - played by Rackleff - wreaking havoc throughout the city) and some serious alt-comedy star power, including the likes of Connor O’Malley ( Friendship ), Sarah Sherman ( Saturday Night Live ), and Stavros Halkias ( Bugonia ). I don’t know how Wham City’s formula translates to a larger canvas, but I do know that I’m intrigued to find out. - Bode THE FOX Jai Courtney speaking in an American accent and Jai Courtney speaking in his native Australian accent are two very different actors. Luckily, The Fox features the latter. When Courtney isn’t tasked with putting on an accent, he oozes charisma (see: Dangerous Animals ) and can display an almost Nicolas Cage-style offbeat energy. Here, he gets to use that while playing off of realistic talking animals, and I expect him to have a blast doing so. That said, Courtney isn’t all that drew me to this film, as the title character is voiced by one of our top working actors, Olivia Colman. Having her bring her comedy chops to this role - not to mention what looks to be a scene-stealing performance from Sam Neill as The Magpie in one of his final films - should only enhance what I predict will be a very strange, yet hilarious, feature film. - Nick RUBBERHEAD: THE LIFE & MONSTERS OF STEVE JOHNSON Documentaries about industry figures can be hit-or-miss; they tend to become a little too sentimental and forgo actual exploration in favour of mythologizing the subject. But if the description of Rubberhead: The Life & Monsters of Steve Johnson is honest, then we have something truly special on our hands. Instead of a womb-to-tomb narrative, the documentary promises something of a rise and fall, showing off not just his creature work in films like Ghostbusters or Videodrome , but apparently, his self-destruction alongside studios' reliance on digital creature work. An entertaining documentary that sheds light on an aspect of the industry that deserves a parade? Sounds pretty enticing to me. - Adriano THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER The goal of my Fantasia journey is exploration. I don’t know a lot of these filmmakers, and for the most part, I’m just seeing what vaguely interests me and giving it a shot. With that in mind, I see Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s new film, The Samurai and the Prisoner , in the lineup, and I must make an exception. Given that he’s the director of Cure , one of my all-time favourite films, and the fact that it premiered at Cannes to really solid reviews, that’s enough to get me excited. And then I find out it's a samurai mystery film? It seems like the possibility of this being bad is highly unlikely, and I can’t help but get excited for what Kurosawa has in store. - Adriano

DEATH BY LIGHTNING Starring: Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford, and Nick Offerman Creator: Mike Makowsky QUENTIN Handsomely made and impeccably cast, Death by Lightning is a quick history lesson about a forgotten era of American politics that is surprisingly still relevant. The miniseries’ only flaw is the story is too condensed. It attempts to explore civil service reform in a post-Civil War society, government cronyism, and the man and motive behind President Garfield’s (Michael Shannon) assassination. That’s way too much for four episodes. Afterwards, I rushed to Google to learn more, which is both a compliment and a complaint for a historical drama. Still, through the commanding performances, I was gripped by the political intrigue and left wondering what could have been.

Previous Next March 25, 2022 WRITTEN BY: THE BITESIZE CREW Time for the Bitesize Crew to predict the 94th Academy Awards. Who do we have taking Best Picture? Did anyone vote for Kristen Stewart? How many awards will Dune walk away with?

CLICKBAIT Starring: Zoe Kazan, Adrian Grenier, Betty Gabriel, Phoenix Raei, Abraham Lim, Motell Gyn Foster, and Jessica Ann Collins Creators: Tony Ayers and Christian White QUENTIN Clickbait isn't great. The acting is middling and there are two very annoying characters, the sister and the youngest son (it's always the kid). On top of that, the final resolution is random and comes out of nowhere. That said, it lives up to its title. At the end of each episode, it compelled me enough to sit through another generally uninspired hour, which wasn't a huge drag at only eight episodes. It has a lot to say about the dangers of the internet, but this is mostly just a quick mystery binge that you'll forget soon after watching.

EUPHORIA: SEASON TWO Starring: Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Storm Reid, Javon “Wanna” Walton, Austin Abrams, Colman Domingo, Nika King, and Dominic Fike Creator: Sam Levinson PAIGE Euphoria ’s second season was a rollercoaster of emotions! One of the highlights of this show continues to be the amazing rising talent on display with every episode. It makes what I love most about the series that much better, as the cast really gets to deliver an incredible depth and rawness to the characters and the world they inhabit. Unfortunately, some characters and storylines took a backseat this season, which was a bit of a bummer. Still, the show is visually stunning, the cinematography is remarkable, and the switch to shooting on film was a brilliant move that really makes the show pop. QUENTIN After a nearly 2.5-year absence, Euphoria has finally returned with its Kids meets Clueless take on high school life. It’s possible I’m being nitpicky or that my memory of season one is hazy since it’s been so long since I watched it, but season two’s overarching story doesn’t feel quite as strong. It can also be gratuitously over the top at times. That said, the acting, direction, cinematography, character development, score, and soundtrack remain the best and perhaps most cinematic on television. Zendaya is surely in line for another Emmy win, while Sydney Sweeney also deserves some awards buzz.