Reviews

Although we mainly focus on reviews of movies and TV or streaming series, we have a wide array of reviews here at Cosmic Circus. This includes concerts, tech and other products, travel, games, books, and comics.

Refer to the Stellar Picks archive to find some of our top-rated movies, shows, books, games, and more!


FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

‘I Want Your Sex’ Review: Uneven but Delightfully Zany Sex Positive Comedy

It’s been nearly 12 years since Gregg Araki’s last feature film. If anything, what’s most apparent about I Want Your Sex is that the director is letting loose in both poppy stylization and a plea for younger generations to get out and get laid. In the process of providing a silly atmosphere to match its brightly colored zaniness, I Want Your

Read More
Cons & EventsFeaturesFilm FestivalsMovie ReviewsReviews

Fantasia Fest 2026: ‘When You Open The Door’ Review

When You Open The Door is one of the more unconventional offerings at the 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival. The film brings a fresh approach to the mythology of werewolves. It takes one main character down a mysterious path as she tries to understand the changes inside her. Unlike previous werewolf interpretations, there is no big monster that attacks the central

Read More
FeaturesReviewsSeries & Specials Reviews

‘The East Palace’ Review: Netflix’s Creepy New Supernatural K-Drama

The East Palace is a new dark fantasy series for those who love palace intrigue and spooky supernatural horror. The K-Drama successfully blends horror, humor, mystery, and the supernatural to make it a satisfying and bingeable watch. The 8 episode season, which landed on Netflix on July 17, 2026, was directed by Choi Jung-kyu and written by Kwon So-ra and Seo

Read More
Cons & EventsFeaturesFilm FestivalsMovie ReviewsReviews

Fantasia Fest 2026: ‘You Are The Film’ Review

Fantasia International Film Festival 2026 brought a familiar talent to the festival. You Are The Film sees playwright Makoto Ueda bring another playful sci-fi concept, only this time he takes a unique spin on the multiverse craze. Ueda, who previously scripted minimalist pieces in the genre such as Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes, River, and Rewrite, moves away from the theme of

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

‘Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender’ Review: Continuing A Legacy of Animation Excellence

Nearly two decades after the original show concluded, Avatar: The Last Airbender influence can still be felt across comic books, so far two animated spin-offs, fan-fic storytelling, games, and television as a whole. From the beginning, it wasn’t simply the beautifully written world or the stunning element bending that gathered audiences in front of the TV. It was the emotionally mature

Read More
FeaturesGame ReviewsGamingReviews

‘LIFTED’ Game Review: Fun Puzzles But Disappointing Platforming

Come along on a journey filled with danger, wonder, and adventure as you travel through time in LIFTED! This is the first game developed and published by Adventure Works, a new studio that was founded by former Disney Imagineer Jeffrey Ashbrook. Mr. Ashbrook was influenced not only by his imagination but was strongly inspired after speaking to an archeologist while on

Read More
FeaturesReviewsSeries & Specials Reviews

‘Ride or Die’ Review: A Bumpy Ride for This Buddy-Action-Comedy

Prime Video’s latest action adventure comedy, Ride or Die, stars Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Ed Skrein, Calam Lynch, Savannah Steyn, Sylvia Hoeks, Bill Nighy, and more. The series blends a serious tone of espionage with the lighter themes of a buddy-comedy film, often giving the season some significant tonal whiplash. With that being said, is Ride or Die worth watching? Read more

Read More
Book ReviewsBooksFeaturesReviews

‘Eyes Like Stars’ by Ashley Poston Book Review (A ‘Star Wars’ Romance Novel)

Now that the dust of the High Republic (and the Jedi) has settled, Star Wars is looking to the future of its publishing initiatives. Its newest one, starting this year, brings us books set around specific genres. The books will focus on putting genre first, such as horror, war, romance, fantasy, and more, and setting them within the Star Wars universe.

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

‘Pinocchio: Unstrung’ Review: Robert Englund Elevates the Poohniverse’s Best Story Yet

Since the launch of the Twisted Childhood Universe with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey in 2023, the franchise has become synonymous with one thing: taking beloved childhood characters and transforming them into blood-soaked slasher villains with absurd storylines. It’s a fun premise that’s celebrated by hardcore gore hounds but carries little weight in the realm of truly respected filmmaking. That just might

Read More
FeaturesFilm FestivalsMovie ReviewsOn LocationReviews

Fantasia Fest 2026 Review: ‘Her Private Hell’ is Boring As Hell

During the opening ceremony of the Fantasia International Film Festival, Her Private Hell director Nicolas Winding Refn was awarded a Cheval Noir Career Achievement Award for his contributions to cinema. He made an impassioned plea on the importance of a festival like Fantasia and genre cinema as a whole: “In the mid-90s, when I began, we really couldn’t make genre movies;

Read More