It's not a surprise that, with a decades-long history, even some of the best Western movies have many similar elements that bleed into one another. While this means some genre tropes are all but expected in these types of films, it can be a balancing act of typical genre ideas and a unique approach that makes a movie stand out. Sometimes, those scales can tip in the wrong direction. In the case of The Unholy Trinity, the scales equalize, though not just because of the events that unfold. 6i4w4i

Despite everyone from major studios to smaller production companies continuing to make them, good creature features feel like a dime a dozen in the modern cinematic landscape. Even rarer are ones based on a true story, with one of the more notable recent efforts being Elizabeth Banks' Cocaine Bear, which delivered some fun B-movie thrills, even while burying itself in unnecessary human subplots. Unfortunately, Gator Lake shows that writer-director Michael Houston King learned the wrong lesson from the 2023 movie with his feature directorial debut.

Though packed with gorgeous costumes and well-designed sets, I felt like I was missing something while watching Something Beautiful. The visual album is being released to accompany Cyrus' latest studio album of the same name. It's a quick watch and something I anticipate seeing in the background of parties this summer. Largely inoffensive but lacking cohesion and a sense of identity, Something Beautiful has no perspective. It only makes Cyrus' shortcomings as a pop star more evident, never convincing me she'll stand the test of time.

Isolated locations and long-dormant mysteries are often the perfect combination for horror movies to deliver terrifying, memorable stories. Oftentimes, these tales are layered with deeper meaning, whether it's subtle symbolism or overt storytelling. Best Wishes to Alloffers a look at the latter, but does so in a way that's compelling and creepy. The setup for the 2025 horror movie is innocuous enough: a girl and her parents are visiting her grandparents in the Japanese countryside. However, one night, she discovers something horrifying upstairs, hidden in a room at the end of their hallway.

Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney are the big selling points for those tuning in to watch Apple TV+'s new thriller, Echo Valley, but it's clear that even the actors aren't quite sure what story they're telling. The actresses play Kate and Claire, a mother and daughter with a strained relationship marred by betrayal and lies. However, Echo Valley leans far further into dangerous and violent territory than its idyllic setting lets on. As the grass sways gently in the breeze on Kate's horse farm, she gets pulled into a plot that will test the limits of her love for Claire.

Though no longer as prominent as it once was, the samurai genre remains one of the most influential in cinematic history. Whether it's Akira Kurosawa's brilliant Seven Samuraibeing remade as The Magnificent Seven in America, or the Star Warsfranchise embracing some of its influences with the incredible "The Duel" episode in Visions, its influence is still felt today. As such, when a movie like 11 Rebels comes along, it's not only a treat to see the genre return, but doing so with a mix of classic and modern filmmaking techniques.

Imagine you had the ability to time travel when you sneeze. That’s the backbone of this eccentric action flick that will surely be a fun time for everyone. Yang Li’s Escape From the 21st Century is an absurd, wacky, visual spectacle. The film is a nostalgia trip that has a unique voice and vision, and it could easily become a favorite in the vein of Back to the Future and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Although romantic comedies were once pervasive in Hollywood, they've fallen by the wayside in favor of big franchise blockbusters and prestige dramas, which seemingly delve into all aspects of humanity except romance. However, Past Lives writer and director Celine Song is giving romance the dissection it deserves, all while delivering compelling movies that will leave your heart aching in a good way. In her latest film, Materialists, Song tackles the age-old question of whether a woman should marry for material gain or love — and though the ending may be expected, it's still a fresh perspective.

How to Train Your Dragon marks DreamWorks' first foray into the realm of live-action adaptations of beloved animated movies. It’s a trend that has so far been dominated by Disney, and the studio's seen great success – but they have also weathered some big failures. DreamWorks, to my great surprise and delight, seems to have figured it out straight out of the gate. The How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake is a fantastic movie, not just emulating the animated original, but elevating it, all while also delivering an exciting summer blockbuster poised to thrill.

Dan Da Dan took 2024 by storm. Fūga Yamashiro and Abel Gongora co-direct Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye, which pushes past its setup and brings Momo and Okarun to a place of understanding, if not iration. But the story isn’t the only thing that’s matured. The fight choreography and character design in Dan Da Dan:Evil Eye, which consists of the first three episodes of season 2, are not only stunning but also visually elevate the show to a whole new level. Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye jump-starts season 2 with a bang and the reassurance that season 1 was not a fluke.