After Paul soaks in the strange adulation from strangers, things take a turn. People’s dreams about him turn into nightmares where he begins to brutally murder people. The depiction of those nightmares feels accurate compared with real dreams; they’re not overly absurd and the imagery is disjointed and confusing when presented to the viewer.

I think Peter B.’s muted presence in the film is one reason fans are so receptive to these new Spider-People. The film pays homage to the history of the character but also directs us to pay attention to the new cast. It comes across as a film that is specifically tailored for everyone. It emphasizes Spider-Man as a symbol of hope.

In a new video for Highbrow Magazine, contributing writer and film critic Ben Friedman reviews the new dark comedy, Sick Girl. Nina Dobrev stars as Wren, who spreads an intentional, big lie in order to rally her friends around her -- but her lie inevitably brings about unexpected consequences. Jennifer Cram wrote and directed Sick Girl, and Friedman gives the film a high rating.

The movie, much like Molly’s character, tries to have its cake and eat it too. Even though there are scenes that poke fun at frats and the college party lifestyle, the film – perhaps inadvertently -- also shows those things in a positive light. I wish the script leaned more into the satire it’s clearly capable of, instead of relying on tired conventions.

America, thanks in large part to its economic strength, has an outsize voice in worldwide pop culture, making it easy for subcultures and aging traditions to get swept into its melting pot. Thibodeaux and others make a compelling case for preserving our individual cultures, and filmmakers Abby Berendt Lavoi (director/producer), husband Jeremy Lavoi (director/producer) and Stephen Thorpe (sound producer) foster the conversation with gorgeous cinematography and a soundtrack that is always sharp and compelling.

In a new video for Highbrow Magazine, contributing writer and film critic Ben Friedman discusses a poignant story of filmmaker Sav Rodgers and his new film, Chasing Chasing Amy, which pays fond tribute to acclaimed indie director Kevin Smith's film. Friedman discusses how Rodgers relates his own personal story, while documenting the important role Smith's film played in his own life -- in addition to featuring interviews with Smith and the film's stars.

If the movie were to have one saving grace, it would be Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula. She’s the only one in the cast who is giving it her all, and her character stands out. She delivers most of the lines that are funny, and without her, the whole thing would be much more bland. What’s also strange is that the star, writer and director Vardalos’s performance is quite flat by comparison.

This movie’s vision of the near future is narrow yet realistic, with intrusive AI being intertwined with everyday life and the functions of the pregnancy pod being controlled through an app. A lot of movies that have near-future settings take place in New York, which is the easiest example of a modern city that is detached from nature and has a populace that is easily fooled into following trends. The drawback is that it’s hard to tell what life is like for those in the rest of the country.

In failing to reach agreements with the striking guilds, Hollywood executives are essentially forced to promote movies without their A-list cast. The first signs of danger may present themselves this month – August -- with the Venice International Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival beginning at the end of this month. In the meantime, film festivals such as the Cinequest Film and Creativity Festival offer a glimpse of what this upcoming season has in store for Hollywood, both professionally and creatively.

All that being said, this movie does have a saving grace and it’s the fight choreography. Roughly half of the scenes in the movie are all back-to-back fights. Aside from Walid, it’s hard to tell who the characters in combat are or why they’re even fighting, other than a general “good guys vs. bad guys” thing, but the choreography makes it entertaining.