Animation, Movies, ReviewsLeave a comment

‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ is Non-Stop Cinematic Confetti

April 1, 2026April 3, 2026 Sabina Graves

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is out this week, already poised to keep making bank by turning more game nostalgia into a pumped-up franchise for Nintendo and Universal Pictures. Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) reprise their roles as the Mushroom Kingdom’s go-to plumbers to fix and fight well… anything you’ve seen in the games you grew up playing.

Animation, Interview, MoviesLeave a comment

Directors Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford on the Filipino Roots of ‘Forgotten Island’

March 30, 2026 Mike Manalo

What a week it has been for Filipino representation! Last Wednesday, we got our first glimpse of Dreamworks Animation’s Forgotten Island. On Friday, we unveiled our intimate interview with superstars H.E.R and Liza Soberano. And today, we’re continuing the streak with our conversation with the directors of Forgotten Island and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford!

Animation, Interview, MoviesLeave a comment

Feeling the Filipino Pride with H.E.R and Liza Soberano from ‘Forgotten Island’

March 27, 2026 Mike Manalo

This week, Dreamworks Animation and Universal dropped a historic trailer for Filipino film fans everywhere. They revealed the first official look at their latest feature, Forgotten Island; Hollywood’s first Filipino-centric animated feature.

Animation, Movies2 Comments

How Dreamworks’ ‘Forgotten Island’ Fosters Filipino Culture and Folklore

March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 Mike Manalo

I am a proud Filipino American nerd. As such, I grew up here in the US searching for, but never quite finding, mainstream Hollywood movies that propelled the voice of the Filipino community strongly.

Horror, Interview1 Comment

‘Ready or Not’ Here Comes Radio Silence, aka Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett

March 16, 2026 Mike Manalo

Ready or Not came out almost 7 years ago. And while the film, of course, made star Samara Weaving a household name, it also skyrocketed directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (aka “Radio Silence”) into the stratosphere. In the aftermath of the surprise hit, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett successfully relaunched the then-dormant Scream franchise with two of its best installments, and brought us an amazing little surprise in Abigail. Now, they’re bringing back Weaving’s Grace for another killer game of hide and seek with Ready or Not 2: Here I Come!

Horror, Interview, Movies

Emma Tammi Talks Returning for ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’

December 3, 2025December 4, 2025 Sophia Soto

Emma Tammi is back for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, based on the popular video game series by Scott Cawthon. The first film, released in 2023, became the highest-grossing horror movie of the year. I caught up with the director/executive producer at New York Comic Con to discuss how the characters will continue to grow, which Easter eggs to include, and more.

Movies, Podcasts

The Middle Geeks Episode 75: ‘Wicked: For Good’ and Fighting for a Cause

November 22, 2025November 23, 2025 Swara Salih

The Middle Geeks review the concluding film Wicked: For Good and what it has to say about fighting for your cause.

Movies, Opinion2 Comments

At First Glance, Universal’s ‘Mummy’ Sequel is Orientalist Regression

November 5, 2025November 6, 2025 Swara Salih

This past week, Egypt unveiled its new Grand Museum with a resounding announcement of their new magnificent structure spotlighting their country’s antiquities. After decades and decades of the West’s cultural theft of their relics, stories, and monopolizing of scholarship on Egypt, the museum’s opening highlights Egypt’s ownership and sovereignty over their rich history, archaeology, and scholarship, serving as a signal forward past the extreme Orientalist narratives the West thrust on it.

Horror, Interview, Movies

The Cast of ‘Black Phone 2’ on Continuing the Story and Exploring Their Characters

October 29, 2025December 31, 2025 Sophia Soto

While covering New York Comic Con for The Nerds of Color, I had the chance to speak with Black Phone 2 stars Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Miguel Mora, and Demián Bichir! We discussed the pressure of making a sequel, having Finn and Gwen’s sibling relationship as the heart of the story, bringing their own experiences to the characters, and more.

Horror, Interview, Movies

‘Black Phone 2’ Star Madeleine McGraw Answers the Call

October 20, 2025October 20, 2025 Mike Manalo

Black Phone 2 is terrifying audiences everywhere now! While the first film was all about Mason Thames’ character, Finney, the amazing Madeleine McGraw takes center stage this time as Gwen. What does The Grabber have in store for this clairvoyant badass? We had a chance to chat with McGraw about the answer to that, plus much more!

Horror, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: Blumhouse Phones It In with ‘Black Phone 2’

October 17, 2025October 30, 2025 Mike Manalo

Traveling back to 2022, I remember leaving my screening of The Black Phone, touched, thrilled, and genuinely surprised having seen what became one of my favorites of that year.

Horror, Movies, Reviews, Sports

How ‘HIM’ Exposes the Cult of Sports and the Commodification of Black Athletes

September 20, 2025 Ainsley 'LadyL' Landry

American football isn’t just a game; it’s a religion. The rituals, the chants, the stadiums packed with worshippers draped in team colors, it all mirrors a form of collective devotion. In Justin Tipping’s new psychological thriller HIM, produced by Jordan Peele, football becomes something far more literal: a site of sacrifice, worship, and horror.

Horror, Movies, Sports

‘HIM’ is a Chilling Thriller Knocking on Athletes’ Doors

September 19, 2025September 19, 2025 Nikita Francois

With bold, in-your-face depictions of football injuries and the culture surrounding professional athletes, HIM delivers a chilling commentary on pro sports that will have you at the edge of your seat. This film leaves you wondering if risking it all for the love of the game is actually worth it.

Animation, Interview, Movies

Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Brooks, Awkwafina, and the Fun Chaotic Folks of ‘The Bad Guys 2’

August 1, 2025August 2, 2025 Michael Lee

The Bad Guys 2 is bigger, funnier, and has totally unhinged heists and action sequences. We got to talk to the cast and crew of the DreamWorks sequel: Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), Pigtail Petrova (Maria Bakalova), Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) and the director, Pierre Perifel. Our interviews below:

Animation, Movies, Reviews

‘The Bad Guys 2’ Walks a Fine Line Between Redemption and Hilarious Chaos

July 30, 2025 Michael Lee

The Bad Guys 2 delivers fast-paced action, high-concept heists, and plenty of laughs as the lovable criminal crew returns. Things are different this time as they find themselves teaming up with an all-female trio of criminals while struggling to prove they’ve truly turned over a new leaf.

Horror, Interview, Movies

The Stars of ‘M3GAN 2.0’ on Surviving an AI Apocalypse

June 30, 2025 Mike Manalo

The Baddest Bot B of all is back! M3GAN 2.0 is now officially in theaters. The sequel to the surprise horror charmer, M3GAN, promises a complete genre shift, and bigger, crazier challenges for Allison Williams’ Gemma and Violet McGraw’s Cady, as they are forced to team up with their favorite homicidal TikTok-ing robo-doll to stop another killer AI from destroying the world.

Fantasy, Interview, Movies

Director Dean DeBlois and The Riders of Berk Discuss ‘How to Train Your Dragon’

June 12, 2025 Mike Manalo

We are soaring ever so close to the debut of How To Train Your Dragon! We have been fortunate all week to bring you interviews with stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, and Nick Frost. However, we’re not done yet! We’re proud to present to everyone our interviews with franchise mastermind, Dean DeBlois, and the Riders of Berk themselves, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Gabriel Howell, and Julian Dennison!

Fantasy, Interview, Movies

Berk’s Best Buds Gerard Butler and Nick Frost on ‘How to Train Your Dragon’

June 11, 2025 Mike Manalo

Being the Chieftain of Berk is a tough job. While other islands have pests like rats or mice, they have dragons. Which is why if you’re going to rule this sturdy Viking isle, you’re going to need the best right-hand man available (so to speak and pun intended). Enter How To Train Your Dragon stars, Gerard Butler’s Stoic the Vast and his most trusted friend, Nick Frost’s Gobber!

Fantasy, Interview, Movies1 Comment

Flying High with ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ Stars Mason Thames and Nico Parker

June 9, 2025 Mike Manalo

Remaking a classic can be incredibly risky. However, when you’re Vikings, that’s just an occupational hazard! One that the cast and filmmakers of How to Train Your Dragon absolutely nailed, in one of this summer’s best blockbusters! All this week, we’ll be bringing you the most incredible interviews from all of them, starting with Hiccup and Astrid themselves, stars Mason Thames and Nico Parker!

Movies, Reviews

‘The Phoenician Scheme’ is Charming Yet Predictable

May 24, 2025May 24, 2025 Edward Hong

One thing is for sure, Wes Anderson will keep repeating the same signature formula he has honed and defined over the years and film lovers and movie stars will flock to whatever he has to offer. Such is the case for his latest, The Phoenician Scheme, which stars Benicio Del Toro and a whole cast of his usual favorites alongside some newcomers like Riz Ahmed and Mia Threapleton.

Interview, Movies

‘The Wedding Banquet’ is Andrew Ahn’s Love Letter to Queer Asian American Family

April 21, 2025April 21, 2025 Michael Lee

Andrew Ahn isn’t just remaking The Wedding Banquet — he’s reimagining it. In our interview, the director delves into how he transformed Ang Lee’s 1993 classic into a modern queer Asian American narrative by finding the delicate balance of humor and drama, the evolution of storytelling in 2025, and the cultural nuances that shape his characters.

Animation, Movies

Dreamworks Unveils Filipino Animated Film ‘Forgotten Island’ for September 2026

April 16, 2025April 16, 2025 Mike Manalo

Okay, this one is close to the heart for me. To date, there hasn’t been a single (long-form) animated film centered around Filipino mythology from any of the major Hollywood animation studios. However, as of today, Dreamworks Animation has finally announced, we have one coming!

Horror, Interview, Movies

Dropping the Mic with the Cast and Crew of ‘Drop’ at the Red Carpet Premiere

April 11, 2025 Mike Manalo

Drop is now out in theaters! It’s one of the most fun in-theater experiences I’ve had this year, and I encourage everyone who hasn’t seen it yet to absolutely grab the popcorn, and go enjoy the ride. We were fortunate enough to attend the incredible evening of the film’s premiere where we got to speak with the terrific cast and producers of the film. Here’s what they had to say about the new Blumhouse thriller!