John Dotson

Fantastic Fest 2023 Reviews: ‘What You Wish For’ and ‘Your Lucky Day’

September 29, 2023 John Dotson Fantastic Fest, Horror Films & Shows 5 min read

Despite being different film subgenres, Your Lucky Day and What You Wish For are surprisingly similar. The two movies boast fantastic performers from Angus Cloud and Nick Stahl. Although Angus Cloud has passed away, his performance in the film is still a captivating force. Stahl, like Cloud, has also faced struggles, but his performance in What You Wish For may mark the beginning of a comeback for the underappreciated actor. Both

Film Festivals Movie Reviews

Fantastic Fest 2023: ‘Dream Scenario’ Review

September 27, 2023 John Dotson A24, Drama Films & Shows, Fantastic Fest 5 min read

In the present era, popularity has taken a unique shape. Platforms like TikTok have enabled short and meaningless videos to thrust someone into unexpected stardom. Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage, examines the contemporary idea of fame and how it can be a delicate issue in the public eye, even for something trivial. The movie cleverly utilizes satire to communicate its message,

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Film Festivals Movie Reviews Reviews

Fantastic Fest 2023: ‘The Toxic Avenger’ and ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’

September 24, 2023 John Dotson Fantastic Fest, Horror Films & Shows, Legendary, Netflix 6 min read

It’s been an eventful weekend here at Fantastic Fest 2023, with lots of great films for fans of genre pieces. The festival started with a massive swing of a movie on the first night. Fans of the original Toxic Avenger are well aware of how nutso the original film is in execution. The remake is not much different and might be the

Film Festivals What to Expect

Fantastic Fest 2023: 6 Films/TV Shows We Are Excited to See

September 22, 2023 John Dotson Fantastic Fest, Foreign Film, Legendary, LGBTQ+, Netflix 6 min read

The Cosmic Circus is happy to announce we will be in attendance at this year’s Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Last year, Fantastic Fest brought a lot of surprise offerings that went on to be massive hits and even Oscar contenders. Smile opened the festivities in 2022 and became an enormous success. The Banshees of Inisherin made the rounds during Oscar

Movie Reviews Reviews

Review: ‘A Haunting in Venice’

September 14, 2023 John Dotson 20th Century Studios, Agatha Christie, Mystery Films & Shows 5 min read

Director and actor Kenneth Branagh’s passion for the works of Agatha Christie continues with another murder mystery for Hercule Poirot. This time, Branagh takes a swan dive into the supernatural with A Haunting in Venice, an approach he has tried with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. A Haunting in Venice is not a perfect sequel. Some aspects feel slightly undercooked within its screenplay. However, this might be the most engaging

Movie Reviews Reviews

‘The Creator’ IMAX First Look Breakdown and Reaction

August 31, 2023 John Dotson 20th Century Studios, IMAX, Sci-Fi Films & Shows 8 min read

This week, various audience members and critics had a chance to see a first glimpse at the sci-fi blockbuster The Creator. The film, directed by Gareth Edwards, imagines a futuristic world where humans and A.I. are at war. However, unlike most tech paranoia films like The Terminator or The Matrix, Gareth Edwards is approaching the concept of artificial intelligence with compassion. The sneak peak consisted of three scenes with

Corey Hawkins as Clemens in 'The Last Voyage of the Demeter'

Movie Reviews Reviews

Review: ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’

August 10, 2023 John Dotson Horror Films & Shows, Universal Studios, Vampires 5 min read

The Last Voyage of the Demeter recounts the tale of Dracula’s journey to England on the infamous ship from the novel Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Specifically, the script takes the ideas from the chapter “Captain’s Log” and expands the narrative. Early in the film, the potential is noticeable for this Dracula encounter to have an Alien-inspired story (something like Master and Commander) but with the

Gaming Movie Reviews Reviews

‘Gran Turismo’ Review: An Unexpected Thrill Ride

August 8, 2023 John Dotson Drama Films & Shows, Game Adaptations, Gran Turismo, Sony 5 min read

This writer is flummoxed. Flabbergasted even. When the summer first began, there were numerous films with great potential ahead of us. However, many were disappointing, bringing in low revenue and substandard critical reception. For instance, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny failed to meet expectations. However, Gran Turismo is the diamond in the 2023 rough, and it’s a pleasant surprise by Neill Blomkamp.

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Movie Reviews Reviews

Review: ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’

June 8, 2023 John Dotson Paramount+, Sci-Fi Films & Shows, Transformers 6 min read

When discussing Michael Bay movies, the conversation almost turns political. There are defenders of the filmmaker’s bombastic directing style, and there are the vicious Bay detractors who want the filmmaker’s career to die in a ferocious Armageddon-inspired asteroid-like explosion. Personally, this writer enjoyed the first Transformers. Mainly because Steven Spielberg’s fingerprints existed beneath Michael Bay’s cringe decisions. At the time, Spielberg had been shepherding the film to the big screen.