John Dotson

Review: ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ is Flawed but Forgivable

October 27, 2023 John Dotson Game Adaptations, Horror Films & Shows, Peacock, Universal Studios 5 min read

Growing up, this writer enjoyed shows like Little Monsters and Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark. However, at 10 or 11 years old, my interest grew into more intense horror films like Scream. Attending Five Nights at Freddy’s brought back memories of these early experiences. While Little Monsters, Goosebumps, and Are You Afraid of the Dark may not be considered classical horror or memorable adult entertainment, they provide a gateway

Movie Reviews Reviews

Review: ‘The Exorcist: Believer’

October 6, 2023 John Dotson Horror Films & Shows, Universal Studios 4 min read

Here we go again. Another exorcism movie brought to us by Hollywood after decades of failing to match the one that made them a mainstream commodity: The Exorcist. And another sequel to the property, no less. For the most part, it’s hard to have anticipation for this genre of horror anymore. Most of them try to replicate the shock-filled brilliance of

Film Festivals Movie Reviews Reviews

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