Thoughts

You’d think with all the glazing I’ve been doing of the man with the recent release of his generational masterpiece One Battle After Another (2025) that I would’ve seen this already. Uh, apparently not. There is so much I could say about this film that it deserves its own dedicated breakdown, when I have the time or energy. But until then, let me first say that this has some of the greatest dramatic performances of all time.

In the film community, the film is regarded as very controversial, with some sects praising its provocative nature, while others consider it a disgusting, borderline “snuff”-like piece of media. This polarization alone made me very curious. So, after much time of getting myself hyped up, along with an ice-cold six-pack of Miller Lite, I finally sat down to witness the endurance-horror that is Salo.

Requiem for a Dream earns every ounce of respect and infamy it has earned over the years. This is not for the faint of heart whatsoever. The story follows an interconnected group of diverse characters in the slums of New York City in the 90s as they struggle through progressively worse addiction. Jared Leto leads the cast as a young son and boyfriend who comes across a “great idea” to start slinging the drugs he and his friends are so hopelessly addicted to.

I started with the brand-new release on MAX that is Companion (2025), starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid in the lead roles. This is a black comedy, horror, thriller film that delves into the world of artificial intelligence and how our relationship with it is likely to evolve.

A part of this modern remaster that I didn't expect was the comic relief. And was that a welcome surprise.