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!


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Review: ‘Abigail’ is a Crowd-pleasing Bloodbath

In the movie Abigail, Radio Silence filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett continue to make a specific type of horror film that harkens back to a bygone era. While horror has always been rich with great films, many recent efforts have been more serious and challenging to rewatch, such as Midsommar and The Witch. It’s been a while since directors have

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‘Challengers’ is Zendaya’s Artistic Tour de Force

Last week, I attended a Challengers press screening at the Amazon MGM Studios headquarters in Beverly Hills, California. Luca Guadagnino’s latest film spotlights three characters tangled in messy relationships amid a backdrop of tennis championships. Anchored by stellar performances from Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor, Challengers is a true tour de force for everyone involved. Haunted by her failed professional

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Book Review: ‘Fate Be Changed’ by Farrah Rochon a Disney Twisted Tale

Merida is the brave Scottish princess who just wants to be in control of her own life in the Disney animated film Brave. But as a princess, she has almost no control. Her mother tells her what to wear, where to go, what to do, even when and who she’ll marry. Merida isn’t ready for marriage now, maybe not ever. Her

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Comics Review: ‘The Dead Boy Detectives’ Omnibus

Some friendships last a lifetime, some last even longer. Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine have just such a friendship. Both died when they were just kids at St. Hilarion’s Boarding School, admittedly a century apart. And both ran from death. Now they spend their time sneaking into theaters and searching for cases to solve. From the creative mind of Neil Gaiman

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Review: ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Tries to Replicate the Magic

Over twenty years ago, Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi made their mark in young adult fantasy with five books collected as The Spiderwick Chronicles. Nickelodeon Movies made a film adaptation with a basic plot that included elements from all five titles, and this series does the same here. Packed into eight episodes around 45 minutes each, this is a much more

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‘Spy x Family Code: White’ Understands The Mission

The Forgers are back, baby. Not only that, the unconventional anime family of Loid, Yor, and Anya Forger has returned for their own full-length feature film Spy x Family Code: White. Directed by Takashi Katagiri and written by Ichiro Ohkouchi, and based on the popular manga by Tatsuya Endo, Code: White will finally be released in the U.S. and other countries

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What To Expect: ‘Red, White, and Royal Blue 2’

The summer of 2023 was truly for the gays, with the arrival of two important pieces of Queer media arriving on streaming services globally. Heartstopper season 2 landed on Netflix in early August, bringing the second chapter of young love for all to enjoy. However, just before that landed on the streaming giant, Prime Video gave the world one of the

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Review: Alex Garland’s ‘Civil War’ is an Empty Political Dystopia

When Alex Garland’s Civil War premiered at SXSW, the early reactions were quick to call it a “masterpiece” and an “important warning” or “cautionary tale” about the future of American politics and the state of journalism, as democracy is (quite literally) on the ballot in November. Some even (dared) compare its importance to the likes of Gillo Pontecorvo’s The Battle of

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Dev Patel’s Full of Rage and Revenge in ‘Monkey Man’

After a while, all action films begin to feel the same: car chases, hand-to-hand combat, and lots of blood. For many films in this genre, it’s style over substance, with cool action sequences that take precedence over well-written storylines and impeccable acting. This has been one of my biggest complaints about action films for years. I appreciate movies that can balance

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‘Fallout’ Review: A Post-Apocalyptic Story Worth the Wait

Dust off your Pip-Boys, crack open a Nuka Cola, and get ready to enter the Wasteland! Fallout has blasted onto Prime Video after years of waiting. Whether you’ve braved the desolate land before or even if it’s your first exposure to Rads, you should immediately tune into this series. All episodes are being simultaneously released on Prime Video, which makes for

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‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ Podcast (Cosmic Circle Ep. 52)

The Titan-sized box office hit Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire popped up from the depths of Hollow Earth into theaters last week. The movie, the latest from director Adam Wingard, is the 38th Godzilla film and the newest entry into Legendary’s MonsterVerse. The film brings together Apple TV+’s Monarch in expanding the world and also gives us the impossible not-to-meme visual of Godzilla sleeping in

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