Greetings again from the darkness. For fourteen-year-olds, there’s often very little difference in passion for something and obsession with that same thing. Writer-director Nicholas Colia (reimagining his 2017 short film, ALEX AND THE HANDYMAN) brings us the coming-of-age story of Griffin (a fantastic newcomer in Everett Blunck), whose passion for art is undeniable and plays a role in his newfound obsession (this time we can tell the difference).
A cold opening finds us on stage at the school’s end of year Student Talent Show. Griffin announces he will be performing an excerpt from his ‘latest’ play, “Regrets of Autumn”, which he describes as “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and “American Beauty”. The scene, and his performance, are intense and funny, and far beyond the audience of teens since it’s a harsh view of the relationship between an alcoholic housewife and her disinterested and philandering husband.
With summer arriving, Griffin convenes his friends to begin rehearsal on his play. The basement takes some rearranging, and his patient and understanding friend Kara (the talented Abby Ryder Fortson, ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET, 2023) has agreed to be the director … despite her knowing that things must go according to Griffin’s plan. Of course, not every 14-year-old wishes to adhere to his 60 hour per week rehearsal schedule (don’t be late!), so there is a bit of pushback as kids like to be kids. Griffin is struck by another annoyance – his mother (expert at playing beat down characters, Melanie Lynskey, “Yellowjackets”) has hired a twenty-something handyman named Brad (the always interesting Owen Teague, IT, 2017), and the noise is disturbing Griffin’s creativity.
It’s the dynamic between Griffin and Brad that sets this one apart from so many movies. Stars align when Brad discloses that he’s a performance artist in New York City … the city of Griffin’s hopes and dreams. Soon the two are working together, and the fallout causes other issues that Griffin’s blinders initially prevent him from noticing. Additionally, his attraction to Brad is interrupted by Brad’s girlfriend Chloe (an energetic and funny Kathryn Newton, “Big Little Lies”), generating more unfortunate actions.
Coming-of-age is a term that gets easily tossed around, but the actual process can be quite challenging and often involves the first heartbreak. There’s another interesting aspect to Colia’s screenplay and that’s the similarities between Griffin’s parents’ relationship and that of the couple in his play. It’s never directly mentioned, yet was clearly an influence. This is Everett Blunck’s first lead role, and he’s a unique talent that we will surely see more often in the coming years. The same can be said for filmmaker Nicholas Colia who has delivered a dramatic coming-of-age with plenty of laughs, while also commenting on how one’s passion for art may be easily mocked, making it difficult to sustain.
Available in theaters beginning August 29, 2025
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. This is the type of movie that almost begs to be criticized, while at the same time, deserves to be enjoyed for being exactly what it tries to be. Author Richard Osman now has five books in this series, and the first has been adapted by co-writers Katy Brand (GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE, 2022) and Suzanne Heathcote (“Fear the Walking Dead”). It’s directed by Chris Columbus, known for HOME ALONE (1990), MRS DOUBTFIRE (1993) and a couple of the Harry Potter movies. These are professionals who know how to entertain … and just as importantly, they know how to cast.
Greetings again from the darkness. It’s frightening to see how societal norms and individual behavior have shifted over the past five years. It seems clear that the COVID Pandemic was a turning point … or at a minimum, an accelerant. Writer-director Ari Aster (MIDSOMMER, 2019; HEREDITARY, 2018) uses this as a theme in this Neo-noir Western that takes place in a small fictional town in 2020 New Mexico as the pandemic was kicking into gear.
Greetings again from the darkness. Once it became a bumper sticker, it also became a cliché. “Stuff” happens. It happens to each of us. Of course, the degree to which something bad affects us is a personal matter, and how we deal with it determines the impact on our life. A traumatic event will stick with us forever in what’s best described as the aftermath. Although we get some backstory, first time writer-director Eva Victor focuses on the aftermath, and the result is a realistic, grounded, and emotional perspective of one woman’s journey to trudging forward.
Greetings again from the darkness. The first feature film from writer-director Danny Turkiewicz is an expanded version of his same-titled 2020 short film. It’s also an example of clueless buddies being passionate about a very bad idea. Mostly though, the characters here seem to share a certain unspoken loneliness that unites them.
Greetings again from the darkness. At this point it seems clear that Wes Anderson makes movies for himself and his devoted followers … and his loyal troupe of actors. I can’t think of another filmmaker whose movies are so instantly recognizable and consistently similar in look and feel. The pacing, verbal style, color palette, and overall rhythm of his latest compares favorably to some of his previous, including: ASTEROID CITY (2023), THE FRENCH DISPATCH (2021), THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (2014), and MOONRISE KINGDOM (2012). Rather than a criticism, that’s intended instead as a notice to viewers. If, like me, you’ve enjoyed his past films, you’ll likely take pleasure in this one.
Greetings again from the darkness. Those teenage years can be so bumpy. One day is the worst ever, and the next day is the best. Dealing with parents is frustrating because they just don’t understand. Making friends is impossible. Today they like you and tomorrow they join with others in making fun of you. Clothes and shoes are never right. School is a waste of time. It’s a wonder anyone ever reaches their twenties. In his first feature film, writer-director Chris Merola doesn’t try to tackle all aspects of teenage misery, rather just enough to make sure we recognize it.
Greetings again from the darkness. London-based Indian artist Karan Kandhari chooses a misfit couple’s arranged marriage as the basis for his debut feature film. As writer and director, Kahdhari delivers a psychological comedy that goes a bit dark at times, yet the abundance of creativity and a terrific lead performance keep us anxious to see what happens next.
Greetings again from the darkness. ‘Keep Austin Weird’. That’s one of the more popular and fitting city slogans in the United States. For five plus decades there has been an ongoing battle of conservationists versus developers … or the little guy against big money. Over those years, the city’s population has quadrupled to around one million. On the surface, it appears big money won … but there have been a few ‘little guy’ victories as well.
Greetings again from the darkness. For most of us, the worst thing that happens at a dinner party is the pork loin is a bit dry or the wine selection is a bit lacking. Among the worst occurrences are the friction and hurt feelings caused by a joke-gone-wrong, or God forbid, someone brings up politics. It’s just such a dinner party that kicks off this film from writer-director Matt Winn and his co-writer and frequent collaborator, James Handel.
