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Joe Lipsett
Tomatometer-approved critic
Toronto, ON, Canada
Movies reviews only
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Twisters (2024) |
As the lead, Edgar Jones is fine, [but] It’s Powell who runs away with the film. Blame the drawl, the smarmy charm, and even the way his crew, particularly Brandon Perea’s videographer Boone, gaze at him with unabashed idolization. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted Jul 19, 2024
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When Mom Becomes a Murderer (2024) |
When Mom Becomes a Murderer works decently well as a mystery. Thankfully it is more than its very obvious title, and there’s enough silliness here that, despite all of heightened teen drama, it's clear the film doesn’t take itself too seriously. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Jul 18, 2024
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Twister (1996) |
Anchored by an amazing array of character actors, state of the art FX and a surprising variety of action set pieces, Twister is quite possibly one of the best, most entertaining summer blockbusters. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jul 17, 2024
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A Monster Calls (2016) |
Occasionally janky FX aside, Bayona's film pulls on the heartstrings in the same way Ness' source material does. - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Jul 16, 2024
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MaXXXine (2024) |
Although there are moments of greatness (Goth and Kevin Bacon and the 80s look), no one else gets anything to do, the script is bad and the killer reveal is obvious. It's a bit of a hollow disappointment - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jul 16, 2024
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The Inheritance (2024) |
The Inheritance has a pervasive “half-way there” vibe throughout. For every element that works, there’s another that doesn’t and the film ultimately plays like a paint by numbers pastiche of other (often better) horror films. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Jul 16, 2024
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Amityville Frankenstein (2023) |
Amityville Frankenstein is little more than a bland collection of scenes that go on interminably long in what is ultimately a flimsy attempt to pad the runtime. [It is] the laziest of cash grabs - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Jul 10, 2024
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Beautiful Thing (1996) |
This slice of gay coming of age film is quintessentially British. Some elements haven't aged particularly well, but the film's use of Mama Cass, and the character's tentative steps towards acceptance are solid. Plus: Ben Daniels! - The Queer Gaze (YouTube)
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| Posted Jul 10, 2024
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Sebastian (1995) |
This slight coming of age queer story is filled with unusual moments that could be chocked up to differing cultural contexts, but ultimately Sebastian remains a mystery despite being the star of his own film. - The Queer Gaze (YouTube)
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| Posted Jul 10, 2024
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Eyes Wide Shut (1999) |
Kubrick's final opus is a chilly sexual odyssey featuring two stunning confessional scenes by Nicole Kidman. Cruise is game to be the butt of the joke as the protagonist who wants sex but never has it. Gorgeous, moody, and a perfect final line of dialogue - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jul 10, 2024
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A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) |
A surprisingly human story about a pair of isolated individuals who just so happen to find themselves in A Quiet Place film. Lupita Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn are fantastic and the film does right by its feline co-star (the true third lead of the film!) - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jul 09, 2024
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Transmutations (1985) |
A surprisingly dull and uninspired affair. George Pavlou's direction only comes alive in the underground sequences and the script, plagued by producer interference, bears few traces of Clive Barker's penchant for sexy violence. - Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
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| Posted Jul 09, 2024
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Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) |
A confronting metal soundtrack accompanies this bizarre and compelling nearly dialogue-free odyssey about two men who go from enemies to lovers. The black and white visuals are sumptuous. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jul 03, 2024
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Birder (2023) |
Think American Stranger by the Lake with more dark humour. Michael Emery delivers an amazing lead performance in this twisty queer erotic thriller whose outrageous ending is the cherry on top - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jul 02, 2024
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To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) |
Peck delivers an Oscar-worthy performance in an adaptation that basically eliminates its black characters while delivering a simplistic fable on overcoming racism - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Jul 02, 2024
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The Straight Story (1999) |
A sweet, simple story that feels unorthodox for Lynch, but eventually reveals it contains a number of his signature themes and visuals. Farnsworth's Oscar nomination was well-deserved; he anchors the film with humanity and boundless empathy. - Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Amityville Death Toilet (undefined) |
Painfully unfunny and far too long for such thing material, Amityville Death Toilet is easily one of the worst entries in the “franchise." - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Jun 26, 2024
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Planet Terror (2007) |
A clever ode to Grindhouse films of the 60s and 70s, Robert Rodriguez leans heavily into gross-out fratboy humour, but gives all of the best roles to the badass women who survive the apocalypse long after the men have died off. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jun 26, 2024
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The Exorcism (2024) |
The Exorcism gets off to a promising start before the wheels begin to fall off, to the point where it feels like there are full scenes missing from the back half. Some strong technical elements, but it's not enough to save the film's flimsy narrative. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jun 25, 2024
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The 5th Wave (2016) |
Despite featuring likeable actors like Grace-Moretz and Robinson, the film adaptation of Rick Yancey's novel has no time for anything. There's a propulsive need to barrel forward, but nothing lands (characters, plot, not even action). - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted Jun 18, 2024
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The Watchers (2024) |
Considering Shyamalan's outstanding work on Servant, The Watchers is a frustrating disappointment. There's no tension or dread, it's unclear how much time is passing, and the characters are shallow and 1-dimensional. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jun 18, 2024
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Death Down the Aisle (2024) |
After a solid opening, Death Down the Aisle gets stuck spinning its wheels, endlessly recycling its red herrings and interminable phone calls between characters. The suspect list is long, but the film’s energy lags through the saggy middle section - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Jun 15, 2024
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Leprechaun 4 in Space (1996) |
Not a good movie, but a fun movie. The FX are surprisingly great and the space movie references are amusing, even if Davis doesn't get to do as much as normal and the primitive CGI is terrible. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jun 13, 2024
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Under Paris (2024) |
A silly, entertaining shark movie with at least two great set pieces and a surprisingly audacious ending that reinforces that humanity is the true villain. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jun 11, 2024
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Sunshine (2007) |
Boyle's incredible visuals are complemented by his deep bench of international actors. And while the last act initially feels jarring in tone and subject, on subsequent viewings the foundation for Pinbacker and sun madness is present throughout - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted Jun 06, 2024
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The Girl on the Train (2016) |
Blunt does her best to elevate the material, but dividing the film's focus between three different women (and all of their men) means no one has an opportunity to develop a fully formed character. - Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
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| Posted Jun 04, 2024
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What You Wish For (2023) |
What You Wish For is hugely entertaining, tense, and (often surprisingly) funny film that risks getting lost in the glut of horror and thriller releases. Don’t miss this culinary delight; it’s one of the best of the year. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted Jun 03, 2024
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In A Violent Nature (2024) |
With brutal kills, immersive sound design, and nods aplenty to Friday the 13th, In A Violent Nature is one of the most original horror films of the year - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted May 31, 2024
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Blue My Mind (2017) |
Thirteen meets Ginger Snaps in this Swiss queer coming of age film that reinforces the intimacy of teen girl friendships and the horrors of our changing bodies. Features gorgeous cinematography and a fantastic lead performance by Luna Wedler - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted May 30, 2024
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Daddy's Deadly Secret (2024) |
The rare Lifetime success that doesn’t rely on camp...With more twists than a pretzel, the film manages to shake up the Lifetime formula without disregarding what makes these movies so enjoyable in the first place. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted May 30, 2024
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Lost Highway (1997) |
Lynch's surreal masterpiece is infused with film noir conventions and characters, real world ties to true crime, and a fantastic dual performance by Patricia Arquette. Rarely has inky blackness ever looked so simultaneously romantic and terrifying. - Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
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| Posted May 30, 2024
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Fitting In (2023) |
Fitting In has a great cast and explores a compelling story of non-normative female bodies. There's a few issues with the film's messaging, but overall it's pretty enjoyable and Maddie Ziegler makes a strong impression in the lead role. - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted May 28, 2024
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Drag Me to Hell (2009) |
Raimi's "return" to horror features cartoonish violence, Evil Dead references, and a great cast that's game for anything. And that's before we talk about the controversial animal murder and mean AF ending. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted May 28, 2024
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The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024) |
Clearly intended for younger viewers and those unfamiliar with Bertino's original, Renny Harlin's remake is well-shot, albeit too reliant on jump scares. Petsch is a solid Final Girl in a film that exists mostly to lay the foundation for the next 2 films - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted May 24, 2024
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Babes (2024) |
Babes is a touch too long, but it works because of the strong character work between Glazer and Buteau and the frank female-focused comedy. Fans of either comedienne should already be lining up - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted May 24, 2024
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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) |
What’s so impressive about the film is not just its ability to craft dazzling new action set pieces (though it does that in spades), but how Miller and co. create genuine audience investment in Furiosa’s revenge plot. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted May 22, 2024
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Alien (1979) |
A towering technical achievement; an all-time Final Girl; creature design for the gods. Alien is the complete package. 5/5 - no notes. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted May 22, 2024
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Aquamarine (2006) |
The adaptation of Hoffman's slight, breezy novel overcomplicates a lot of elements, including the introduction of a mean girl villain, but its fantasy escapism, mixed with teen feminism and dumb himbo love interest who doesn't save the day, is welcome - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted May 21, 2024
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Sting (2024) |
There's a tonal imbalance between the hard R-cruelty of some of Sting's scenes that don't match the Amblin-inspired jokiness, but overall this is a solid killer spider flick. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted May 21, 2024
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Madame Web (2024) |
The reality is that Madame Web is not a good movie. But in the right frame of mind, with the right crowd, and the right mix of controlled substances, it *can* be a fun movie. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted May 20, 2024
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M. Butterfly (1993) |
Jeremy Irons and John Lone are both doing great work, but the film's reticence to engage with its gender, queer, and even political themes is frustrating. The film is a bad marriage of director and material. - Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
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| Posted May 16, 2024
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Mysterious Skin (2004) |
Araki's fearless adaptation of Scott Heim's novel is challenging and uncomfortable. Featuring a stand-out performance by Gordon-Levitt and intimate, unflinching close-up camerawork by the writer/director, Mysterious Skin is important and powerful. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted May 15, 2024
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Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988) |
Killer Klowns from Outer Space is an utter delight. Packed with visual gags, exciting set pieces, and those incredibly memorable titular antagonists, the film is a fantastic piece of easily digestible entertainment. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted May 15, 2024
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Amityville Thanksgiving (2022) |
Amityville Thanksgiving has a glimmer of an interesting premise, but the execution is lacking on all fronts. Like so many of these latter entries, there’s simply not enough here to recommend. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted May 15, 2024
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The Woman in the Window (2021) |
Too long by far considering its obvious twist and nonsensical killer reveal. Amy Adams is doing her best with a nothing character, swathed in billowing pyjamas and hysteria, but aside from a few great visuals by director Wright, this is a miss. - Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
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| Posted May 14, 2024
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Tarot (2024) |
A movie that refuses to play by its own internal logic, changes its characters' personalities for narrative convenience, and hides its greatest asset (the creature design) in the shadows. The actors are likeable, but this film is a mess. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted May 14, 2024
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The Manny (2022) |
You know that when prolific director Doug Campbell is involved in a thriller, it’s going to be a ridiculously good time. - Bloody Disgusting
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| Posted May 09, 2024
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Wait Until Dark (1967) |
Audrey Hepburn may have "cripped" up for her Oscar nominated role, but Suzy is still a great character. It's Arkin who steals the show as the slick villain, though, and that iconic jump scare remains every bit as effective now as it was in 1967. - Horror Queers Podcast
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| Posted May 08, 2024
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Turtles All the Way Down (2024) |
The film does a great job of visually capturing the intrusive thought spirals that make John Green's book so visceral and upsetting. Special kudos to Isabela Merced and Cree for embodying flawed, albeit empathetic characters - Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
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| Posted May 07, 2024
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The Fall Guy (2024) |
The Fall Guy is less about...criminal hijinks than using them as an excuse to highlight action movie stunts and watch the electric chemistry between Gosling and Blunt. And, in that capacity, the film is a stunning success. - Queer.Horror.Movies.
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| Posted May 04, 2024
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