“She escaped the monster she knew… only to face the truth she feared.”
If you love a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last frame, mark your calendars. Coming to theaters and digital platforms this June 2, 2026, is Fathers, a gripping new dramatic mystery-thriller that proves blood isn’t always thicker than water. (One Tree Entertainment, 2026)
🎬 The Premise
After years held in captivity, Natalie finally escapes the man she believed was her father. But the nightmare doesn’t end there. As her true father steps in to bring her home, Natalie’s loyalty, fear, and confusion spiral into a web of violence. Trapped in a maze where every clue leads to another lie, she must figure out what is real before everything explodes, forcing both father and daughter to confront a devastating truth about her past.
🎭 Cast & Crew
Directed and written by Harley Wallen and distributed by One Tree Entertainment, Fathers boasts a stellar indie cast, including an award-winning lead performance.
Writer/Director: Harley Wallen
Starring:
Kaiti Wallen (Finding Nicole, Beneath Us All, Ash and Bone) – Winner of Best Actress honors at the Top Indie Film Awards for this role!
Harley Wallen (Ash and Bone, Finding Nicole)
Leslie Mechigian (Chasing Hope, Final Recovery)
Richard Tyson
Vida Ghaffari
Dennis Marin
📅 Release Date & How to Watch
Fathers hits theaters and digital platforms across the U.S. and Canada on June 2, 2026. Ready to dive into the mystery? You will be able to rent or buy the film on the following streaming platforms:
Prime Video
Fandango at Home / Vudu
Netflix
What are your thoughts? Will Natalie find peace, or is her real father hiding secrets of his own? Let me know in the comments below if you’ll be adding Fathers to your summer watchlist.
Sight Unseen will be available on digital and on demand on May 19. Photo: One Tree Entertainment
Movie Review: Sight Unseen
Every Gift Has a Price
The Synopsis
Three siblings inherit their estranged father’s rural cabin after his mysterious death. But the longer they spend in the house, the more apparent it becomes that someone, or something, still lives there. (One Tree Entertainment, 2026)
Sight Unseen traps viewers in a rural nightmare where something waits in the dark. You can’t hide from what you can’t see.
Film Credits
Release Date: Digital and On Demand — May 19, 2026
Written & Directed by: Stephen Packhurst
Starring: Lauren Pisano (Law & Order), Daniel Burns (Inventing Anna, Insomnia), and Kellie Spill.
Atmosphere & Tension
Sight Unseen is a tense and atmospheric horror thriller that leans heavily into isolation and the fear of the unknown. It begins as an uncomfortable family reunion and quickly spirals into something far more terrifying. As strange noises, missing objects, and unsettling encounters mount, it becomes clear the siblings are not alone.
The film’s atmosphere is its greatest asset. The rural setting feels cold, empty, and claustrophobic all at once. By keeping the “presence” largely obscured, the director taps into the primal fear that our imagination is far scarier than any physical monster.
The Verdict on Dread: Rather than relying on cheap jump scares, the cinematography turns darkness into a living threat. The true star, however, is the sound design. Every creaking floorboard and distant whisper builds a layer of anxiety that makes the tagline feel like a personal threat.
The Sibling Dynamic
The emotional weight of the movie rests on the shoulders of the three leads. Their chemistry feels authentic, with years of resentment and unresolved trauma bubbling to the surface.
Grounded Performance: Their bickering provides a realistic contrast to the escalating supernatural absurdity.
Personal Stakes: Their fractured relationships make the survivalist nightmare feel earned, turning a standard family drama into a fight for their lives.
Final Thoughts
While some plot beats may feel familiar to veteran horror fans, Sight Unseen succeeds through sheer mood and suspense. It is an eerie, nerve-rattling experience that keeps audiences guessing until the final moments.
The takeaway? Some doors are better left locked, and the secrets we inherit can eventually hunt us down.
**Thank you to One Tree Entertainment for the screener link for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Adam Scott stars in Hokum, now in theaters. Photo: NEON
The Unseen Terror: Why Supernatural Horror Still Haunts Us
Supernatural horror films tap into fears that transcend the physical world. Unlike realistic horror, which relies on tangible threats like serial killers or survival scenarios, supernatural horror explores the unknown. It leans into ghosts, demons, curses, and otherworldly forces that defy both logic and human control.
This genre appeals to a deep-seated psychological unease: the unsettling idea that forces beyond our understanding are lurking just out of sight, watching and waiting.
The Evolution of the Eerie
Over the decades, the appeal of supernatural horror has evolved alongside our cultural anxieties:
Early Era: Films often reflected religious fears or moral consequences, portraying evil as a direct result of sin or a terrifying glimpse into the afterlife.
Modern Era: As society became more secular, the focus shifted toward internal struggles. Today, supernatural threats often serve as metaphors for trauma, grief, and the fragility of the human mind.
These movies stand the test of time because they confront us with the limits of human understanding. They invite viewers to imagine a world where the rules of physics and logic no longer apply, making the fear feel existential and lingering long after the credits roll.
New Movie Spotlight: Hokum
If you’re looking to test your nerves with the latest in supernatural cinema, Hokum is now playing in theaters.
Synopsis
Written by Damian McCarthy, the film follows novelist Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott) as he retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents’ ashes. His stay takes a dark turn as he becomes consumed by local legends of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Before long, disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance force Bauman to confront the darkest corners of his own past. (IMDb, 2026)
Film Details
Category
Information
Director/Writer
Damian McCarthy
Starring
Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot
Genre
Supernatural Horror
Rating
R
Runtime
1h 47min
Bottom Line:Hokum promises to be a gripping addition to the genre, blending isolation with the psychological weight of the past. Catch it on the big screen… if you dare.
The movie adaptation of ‘Reminders of Him’ is now in theaters. Photo: Barnes & Noble
Book to Movie Spotlight: Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover has solidified her status as a titan of contemporary fiction. Driven by massive sales, #BookTok buzz, and a string of successful film adaptations, Hoover’s appeal lies in her emotionally intense storytelling. She blends romance with heavy themes like trauma and complex relationships, using an accessible writing style that creates a deep emotional bond with her audience.
Now Playing: The highly anticipated movie adaptation of Reminders of Him is currently in theaters everywhere.
The Book: A Journey of Redemption
A troubled young mother yearns for a shot at redemption.
After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong. Her goal is simple but daunting: reunite with her four-year-old daughter. However, the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut her out, regardless of how hard she works to prove she has changed.
The only person who hasn’t closed the door completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. As a connection forms between them, the stakes grow higher. If their relationship is discovered, both risk losing the trust of the people they love most. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past to build a future defined by hope and healing.
The Movie: At a Glance
After prison, a woman attempts to reconnect with her young daughter but faces resistance from everyone except a bar owner with ties to her child. As they grow closer, she must confront her past mistakes to build a hopeful future.
Production Credits & Details
Category
Details
Director
Vanessa Caswill
Writers
Colleen Hoover, Lauren Levine
Stars
Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Zoe Kosovic
Genre
Romance / Drama
Run Time
1h 55m
Rating
PG-13
Why We’re Watching
Whether you are a longtime member of the “CoHo” fandom or a newcomer to her stories, Reminders of Him promises to be a tear-jerker. Seeing Kenna’s journey from isolation to hope on the big screen adds a new layer of depth to an already powerful story.
Have you read the book yet, or are you heading straight to the theater?
The Furious will be released in theaters in May. Photo: Lionsgate, used with permission.
Why We Can’t Get Enough of the Rush: The Magic of Action Cinema
There’s a reason audiences flock to the theater for a high-octane thriller. Between the adrenaline, the clear stakes, and the visceral storytelling, action movies offer a perfect escape. We love watching high-risk worlds where courage and determination are tested in the most explosive ways possible.
The Hong Kong Influence
When it comes to elevating the genre, Hong Kong action movies are in a league of their own. They bring a signature blend of:
Stylized Choreography: Fight scenes that feel like a fluid, precise dance.
Intense Physicality: Sequences often performed by the actors themselves.
Emotional Depth: Themes of honor, loyalty, and sacrifice that make every punch and kick feel meaningful.
This fusion of artistry and intensity creates a cinematic experience that is as memorable as it is thrilling.
🎬 New Movie Spotlight: The Furious
If you’re looking for that perfect blend of artistry and intensity, mark your calendars. Directed by the legendary Kenji Tanigaki, The Furious is an English-language Hong Kong action powerhouse that recently took the Toronto International Film Festival by storm. (Cinematic Red PR, 2026)
The Plot
After the daughter of Wang Wei (Xie Miao) is kidnapped by a criminal network, he finds himself trapped in a web of corruption. With the police refusing to help, Wei goes on a solo rampage to get her back.
He finds an unlikely ally in Navin (Joe Taslim), a relentless journalist searching for his own missing wife. Together, the duo takes on a ruthless criminal underworld in an explosive martial arts showdown fueled by pure vengeance.
Essential Details
Category
Information
Release Date
May 29, 2026
Genre
Action
Rating
R (Strong bloody violence and language)
Runtime
113 Minutes
Director
Kenji Tanigaki
Starring
Xie Miao, Joe Taslim, Yang Enyou, Brian Le, Joey Iwanaga
Producers: Bill Kong, Shan Tam, Frank Hui
Writers: Mak Tin Shu, Lei Zhilong, Shum Kwan Sin, Frank Hui
‘Depth of Field,’ a tender story of grief and hope, is now out in the UK. Photo: One Tree Entertainment, used with permission.
New Release: “Depth of Field” Arrives in the UK
Following its successful release across the US and Canada, the moving drama Depth of Field is now officially available on major digital platforms in the UK. (One Tree Entertainment, 2026)
Focus On What Matters
Depth of Field is a tender exploration of grief and the resilient power of hope. The story follows a grieving widower struggling to navigate life after the tragic loss of his wife and son.
His path to healing takes an unexpected turn when he forms a bond with the troubled foster child living next door. Through the lens of a camera, he teaches her the art of photography, and in the process, they both begin to rediscover the beauty hidden in everyday life.
“A story of chosen family and the realization that, even in our darkest moments, connection can bring things back into focus.”
Cast & Crew
Director: John F. Uranday
Writer: Bobby Cloud
Starring: Rafael Petardi, George Stroumboulopoulos, Jay Acavone
Film Details
Genre: Drama, Family
Themes: Healing, Mentorship, Redemption
Where to Watch
Whether you’re in London or Los Angeles, you can now experience this heartfelt journey:
United Kingdom: Now available on all major digital platforms.
Búi Dam and Birita Mohr in BIRITA. Photo: Franklin Symphor Henriksen, Outlier Project
CPH:DOX 2026: The World Premiere of ‘Birita’
The Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival (CPH: DOX) is back. As one of the world’s most prestigious documentary festivals, it transforms Copenhagen into a hub of cinematic storytelling and international dialogue.
This year’s festival runs from March 11 – 22, featuring a massive program of screenings and events across the city. Among the most anticipated titles is the deeply moving feature documentary BIRITA, which makes its World Premiere in Competition this March. (CPH: DOX, 2026)
🎬 Featured Film: Birita
A family’s love, a mother’s legacy, and the stage that calls them back.
Birita (89 mins) follows a family of theater-makers in the Faroe Islands attempting an impossible feat: staging Shakespeare’s King Lear with the family matriarch—celebrated actress Birita Mohr—in the lead role. The challenge? Birita is currently living with Alzheimer’s. (EG-PR, 2026)
Directed by her son, Búi Dam, the film explores a controversial but beautiful premise: the belief that even when language fades, the artist’s soul remains. As the production unfolds, Birita’s joyful presence brings an unexpected lightness to a heavy process, impacting everyone involved in this remarkable drama.
“A stirring exploration of art, memory, and the enduring bond of a family of creators.”
🗓️ Official Screening Schedule
If you are in Copenhagen this March, don’t miss the chance to see this World Premiere on the big screen:
Date
Time
Location
Sunday, March 15
16:15
Dagmar 2 (Jernbanegade 2)
Tuesday, March 17
14:15
Dagmar 5 (Jernbanegade 2)
Wednesday, March 18
19:30
Emmauskirken (Peter Bangs Vej 3C)
👥 Meet the Team
Búi Dam (Director)
Búi Dam is a multi-talented artist whose career spans theater, music, and film. Born into a family of artists in the Faroe Islands, he studied in Denmark, London, and Iceland. After a hand injury ended his career as a jazz guitarist, he transitioned to the stage and screen.
Accolades: Winner of the M. A. Jacobsen Award (2022) and Best Actor at the Winter Film Awards (2021).
Fun Fact:BIRITA marks his debut as a feature film director.
Birita Mohr (The Lead)
A titan of Faroese theater for over three decades, Birita Mohr has graced the stage in legendary productions like Antigone, The Crucible, and The Cherry Orchard. In 2023, she received the Cultural Honorary Award from the Faroese government for her lifelong contributions to the arts.
Quick Film Facts
Runtime: 89 minutes
Origin: Faroe Islands
Language: Faroese and English (with English Subtitles)
Production: Produced by Jón Hammer, Mark Steele, and Durita Sumberg
The Interrogation of Anna Goode is a suspenseful psychological thriller that flips the script on the classic “cat-and-mouse” police procedural.
The story begins with a standard room-bound inquiry as FBI Agent John Savage and Detective Marshall bring in Anna Goode as a witness to a crime. It quickly evolves into a disorienting nightmare for Agent Savage when he mysteriously ends up as the accused. As Savage moves from lead interrogator to the primary suspect, he must convince the volatile detective that he’s innocent while he faces life in prison.
With a nonlinear narrative that includes flashbacks of Anna’s history, it also leans heavily on the “extreme lengths” Savage must take to regain control of the situation. While some of the plot twists require a healthy dose of suspended disbelief, the shocking truth revealed in the final act provides a satisfying, if cynical, payoff.
Most of the action takes place in the interrogation room and as the story progresses, the cinematography shifts from clinical and wide to claustrophobic and erratic, using space to heighten paranoia. The transition is seamless, leaving the audience questioning Savage’s sanity and Anna’s true identity.
The film’s premise is simple, but its execution is layered, forcing viewers to question not only who is guilty, but how power can shift in an instant. As suspicion falls on Savage, the narrative explores themes of institutional loyalty, manipulation, and the thin line between justice and self-preservation.
The pacing is deliberate, occasionally slow, but always purposeful. Each revelation lands with measured impact, ending in a twist that feels natural. While some supporting characters lack depth, the central performances carry the story with intensity and conviction.
Verdict: While not an original concept, it’s a lean, mean thriller that explores the fragility of identity and the terrifying power of a frame-up. It contains tension and moral ambiguity while exploring the unsettling fragility of truth.
The Interrogation of Anna Goode is less about solving a murder and more about confronting the unsettling possibility that truth is often shaped by whoever controls the narrative. If you enjoyed The Fugitive but want something with a darker, more psychological edge, this is a must-watch.
Experience the ultimate genre-mashup. ‘Art Show! With Captain Skinner’ blends the soothing vibes of Bob Ross with the cosmic gore of The Evil Dead. Photo: ETCH, used with permission.
🎨 ART SHOW! WITH CAPTAIN SKINNER: Bob Ross Meets The Evil Dead… In Space
Get ready to paint some happy little nightmares. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a PBS instructional show was hijacked by cosmic horror and psychedelic chaos, your questions are about to be answered in the most vibrant, gory way possible. (EG PR, 2026)
ARTSHOW! WITH CAPTAIN SKINNER has officially landed.
The Premise: Cosmic Chaos Meets Canvas
Premiering on YouTube and Substack, this series follows the doomed misadventures of a television crew trying to film a “how-to” art show in the furthest reaches of outer space.
Captain Skinner and his tiny crew—including a stop-motion Space Cowboy—battle more than just perspective and lighting. They are constantly thwarted by:
Unpredictable meteor showers
Intrusive, existential thoughts
The stark horror of an uncaring cosmos
The Format: The series consists of 10 episodes, each roughly 15 minutes long. Every episode features Skinner creating a stunning, unique piece of artwork amidst “hyper-phantasmagorical” slapstick and body horror. It’s a love letter to classics like The Joy of Painting and The Secret City, but drenched in gore and off-the-wall comedy.
The Masterminds Behind the Madness
SKINNER (Co-creator / Writer / Star)
Skinner is a legendary artist and a self-described “manifestation of psychedelic nightmare experiences.” His influence spans global murals, skateboards, and toys.
Music Pedigree: Created art for Grammy-winning albums (High on Fire, Mastodon).
Screen Credits: Hosted shows for Super Deluxe and created commercial experiences for Adult Swim and Warner Brothers.
ALLEN CORDELL (Co-creator / Writer / Director)
An award-winning filmmaker with a penchant for the weird and beautiful.
Directorial Portfolio: Music videos for Beach House, Dan Deacon, and Girl Talk.
Film: Directed the acclaimed short The Lizard Laughed.
Produced by ETCH
This series is brought to life by ETCH, an independent production powerhouse specializing in the provocative and the horrific. The team includes:
Philip Gelatt: Emmy and WGA Award-winner (Love Death + Robots, The Spine of Night).
Will Battersby & Morgan Galen King: The creative forces behind The Spine of Night.
ETCH is dedicated to “putting the dark magic back into moving images,” focusing on creative control and innovative distribution.
📅 Mark Your Calendars
New Episodes: Weekly starting Friday, March 6
Where to Watch: YouTube and Substack
First episode premiered February 13
“Skinner exists as a bizarre mixture of entertainment and visual intensity.”
Crime 101 is one of the short stories in Don Winslow’s Broken. Photo: Barnes & Noble
Broken by Don Winslow: From Gritty Crime Fiction to the Big Screen
“No matter how you come into this world, you come out broken…”
Don Winslow’s Broken is a blistering collection of crime stories that showcases why he’s long been considered one of the most powerful voices in contemporary crime fiction. Now, one of its standout stories—“Crime 101”—has made the leap from the page to a major motion picture, bringing Winslow’s razor-sharp storytelling to an even wider audience.
About the Book: Broken
Hailed by Stephen King as “one of America’s greatest storytellers,” #1 international bestselling author Don Winslow returns in Brokenwith six intense short novels. Some feature familiar characters, others introduce new ones, but all are connected by Winslow’s signature themes: crime, vengeance, guilt, and redemption.
With his trademark blend of insight, humanity, dark humor, and propulsive action, Winslow delivers stories that feel both immediate and timeless. These are tales of people living by codes, moral, criminal, or personal, and the devastating consequences when those codes are tested or broken.
Spotlight on “Crime 101”
At the heart of Broken is “Crime 101,” a tightly wound crime story that reads like a perfect noir film waiting to happen.
A series of high-level jewel heists along California’s Pacific Coast Highway has baffled law enforcement for years. The crimes are initially attributed to Colombian cartels, but Detective Lou Lubesnick suspects something else entirely: a lone thief operating under a strict personal philosophy known as Crime 101.
The jewel thief has followed his rules flawlessly, until now. As he plans one final, legendary score, Lou decides to do the unthinkable: break every rule of Crime 101 to stop him.
It’s a story about obsession, intuition, and the thin line between hunter and hunted, and it’s no surprise Hollywood came calling.
About the Movie: Crime 101
The film adaptation of Crime 101 brings Winslow’s story to life with an all-star cast and sleek, tension-filled direction.
Plot Overview
A jewel thief named Mike Davis has executed a series of daring heists along the 101 freeway, leaving police completely stumped. When he sets his sights on the ultimate score, his plans intersect with those of insurance broker Sharon Colvin. Meanwhile, Detective Lou Lubesnick believes he’s finally cracked the thief’s pattern and is determined to bring him down before the next job.
Film Details
Written and Directed by: Bart Layton
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Nolte, and Halle Berry
Crime 101 premiered on January 28, 2026, in London and is scheduled for U.S. release on February 13, 2026.
About the Author: Don Winslow
Don Winslow is the author of twenty-six acclaimed, award-winning international bestsellers, including eight New York Times bestsellers such as Savages, The Cartel, The Force, The Border, and his epic City trilogy (City on Fire, City of Dreams, City in Ruins).
A former investigator, anti-terrorism trainer, and trial consultant, Winslow brings lived experience to his fiction, lending it an authenticity that sets his work apart. He has also written award-winning short stories for Audible, narrated by four-time Oscar nominee Ed Harris. Winslow currently lives in California and Rhode Island.
Final Thoughts
With Broken, Don Winslow once again proves his mastery of crime fiction, and Crime 101’s transition from short novel to feature film feels both natural and inevitable. Whether you encounter this story first on the page or on the screen, one thing is certain: Winslow’s world is gripping, morally complex, and impossible to forget.
SA Examiner 