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!

Horror, Interview, Movies

Jason Blum Talks ‘Drop,’ ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,’ and Blumhouse’s Biggest Year

March 24, 2025March 25, 2025 Sophia Soto

While covering NYCC 2024, I caught up with the founder and CEO of Blumhouse, Jason Blum. We discussed the company’s many exciting projects that are coming up this year, including The Woman in the Yard on March 28, Drop dropping on April 11, M3GAN 2.0 premiering June 27, and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 out December 5.

Interview, Movies

The Cast of ‘Black Bag’ on Why Spy Movies Never Go Out of Style

March 13, 2025 Kelly Martinez

From James Bond movies to Spy Kids to Netflix’s The Recruit, audiences of all ages and backgrounds have always been fascinated by the world of espionage. While some genres have waned in popularity over the years (westerns, for instance), spy films and shows never really seem to go out of style.

Fantasy, Interview, Movies

Taking Flight at the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Trailer Event with Dean DeBlois

February 12, 2025February 12, 2025 Mike Manalo

How timeless is How to Train Your Dragon? The first film debuted almost 15 years ago, and the themes of prejudice and misjudgment could not be more relevant today than ever.

Interview, Movies

Director Chris Landon and Star Meghann Fahy Preview ‘Drop’

February 6, 2025February 6, 2025 Sophia Soto

While covering New York Comic Con 2024, I had the chance to speak with Drop director Chris Landon and star Meghann Fahy after the Blumfest panel. The thriller will be released in theaters on April 11.

Martial Arts, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘Love Hurts’ is a Sweet But Messy Valentine

February 6, 2025February 6, 2025 Mike Manalo

Last year I reviewed an action movie that I had incredibly high hopes for based on its cast and action-proficient filmmakers, called Argylle. While the movie had its moments, ultimately, it was a pretty big mess. A little over a year to the date at which that film premiered, I found myself about 70 minutes into Love Hurts thinking, “This is 2025’s Argylle; just only slightly better.” That is not really a great thing.

Interview, Martial Arts, Movies1 Comment

‘Love Hurts’ Star Daniel Wu on Asian Representation in Cinema

February 4, 2025 Mike Manalo

Love Hurts starring Ke Huy Quan is hitting theaters this Friday. In the film, Quan’s Marvin Gable finds the ultimate villain in Daniel Wu’s Alvin “Knuckles” Gable, Marvin’s brother. After all, you can’t have an epic series of stunts and fights from the team behind John Wick, without two incredible forces of action leading the charge. Recently we were given the tremendous opportunity to chat with Wu about his role in the movie, as well as Asian representation in cinema.

Martial Arts, Movies

Ke Huy Quan to be Immortalized at TCL Chinese Theater

January 31, 2025February 1, 2025 Mike Manalo

Despite its historic and ironic namesake, the TCL Chinese Theater has seen only a handful of hand and foot print ceremonies for Asian and Asian American actors. Naturally, this can be attributed to the lack of Asian and Asian American representation in cinematic history overall. However, with that now changing gradually, it fills us with joy to learn that on February 3rd, a new legend will join the ranks of Jackie Chan, James Hong, John Woo, and Justin Lin in this tremendous honor: Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan!

Horror, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘Wolf Man’ is a Successful Reinvention of a Horror Icon

January 15, 2025January 15, 2025 Mike Manalo

As long as Universal Pictures has been around, there have been monsters. Through the ages, the Universal Monsters have been terrifying audiences, making their way into the annals of cinematic history as icons.

Horror, Interview, Movies

Director Leigh Whannell on ‘Wolf Man’ and the Fun Part of Making Movies

January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 Sophia Soto

At New York Comic Con 2024, I had the chance to speak with Leigh Whannell, who directed, co-wrote, and executive produced Wolf Man. The movie will be released in theaters on January 17.

Horror, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: The Darkness Beckons You to Succumb to ‘Nosferatu’

December 25, 2024December 25, 2024 Mike Manalo

The holiday season is one commonly associated with red, and this year, director Robert Eggers wants to ensure that your holidays are blood red. Eggers new vision of the legendary Nosferatu is finally hitting theaters on Christmas Day.

Horror, Interview, Movies

Dissecting the Darkness with Robert Eggers and the Cast of ‘Nosferatu’

December 24, 2024December 24, 2024 Mike Manalo

The dusk has fallen. The master of darkness rises. And evil has come to theaters! From acclaimed director Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman) comes a new vision of evil with his remake of Nosferatu. To celebrate the upcoming Christmas release of the gothic tale of terror, we had the opportunity to sit with Eggers, himself, as well as cast members Lily-Rose Depp, Emma Corrin, and the legendary Willem Dafoe.

Interview, Movies

‘Wicked’ Director Jon M. Chu Compares the Wizard’s Popularity to Clickbait

December 9, 2024December 10, 2024 Laura Sirikul

Wicked director Jon M. Chu has long been fascinated with the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Growing up in San Francisco as a child of immigrants, Chu saw the Yellow Brick Road as the path toward the dream, leading to the Wizard, who could fulfill these wishes.

Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘Wicked’ is the Movie We Need In These Wicked Times

November 22, 2024November 23, 2024 Mike Manalo

I don’t care if this statement isn’t going to be… popular. Since we’re living in a time where more than half the country voted for an elected official/convicted felon trying to use people of color as a scapegoat to elevate his platform and retain the pitiful amount of “power” he has, I’d say a movie like Wicked could not come out at a better moment.

Interview, Movies, Music

‘Wicked’ Star Michelle Yeoh is Ready to Have Her Voice Heard

November 21, 2024November 21, 2024 Laura Sirikul

There are many superlatives that best describe Michelle Yeoh: Legendary. Iconic. Stunning. Talented. Brilliant. And, now… Triple Threat.

Horror, Movies

New Character Posters for ‘Nosferatu’ Arise from Hell

November 2, 2024 Mike Manalo

This Christmas, visionary director Robert Eggers will be showcasing his terrifying new vision of the classic story, Nosferatu. And while the trailers have recently given us a glimpse of the horror that awaits, this week we got a series of creepy new posters for us to sink our teeth into!

Movies, Trailers

The Trailer for ‘Love Hurts’ Packs a Punch

October 22, 2024October 23, 2024 Mike Manalo

We previously reported that a new action movie, starring Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose, was officially in the works from 87 North (John Wick, Nobody, The Fall Guy). Well happy to say that today we got our first trailer for the film, formerly known as With Love, now titled Love Hurts.

Horror, Movies

Succumb to the Darkness with the Latest Trailer for ‘Nosferatu’

September 30, 2024 Mike Manalo

Director Robert Eggers (The Northman, The Lighthouse, The Witch) is back! And this Christmas, he’s giving us a jolly, feel good holiday family comedy to unwrap. Just kidding. Get ready for the terrifying new trailer for Nosferatu!

Animation, Movies, Toys

Lego Yourself with the New Minifigure Generator Inspired by ‘Piece by Piece’

September 25, 2024September 26, 2024 Mike Manalo

Piece by Piece, the upcoming biopic of Pharrell Williams, is not your average biographical film. Nope! As he does with all his work, Williams is teaming up with documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville to give us something with flair! And that’s a biopic that has been Lego-fied! And now they’re giving you a chance to Lego-fy yourself too!

Animation, Interview, Movies

The Lovely Lupita Nyong’o on ‘The Wild Robot’ and the Power of Animation as Cinema

September 25, 2024 Mike Manalo

We have a huge one for you today, everyone! With Dreamworks’ new animated classic, The Wild Robot debuting this week, the Oscar race for Best Animated Feature has never been tighter. A huge part of why this movie is a masterpiece boils down to the wonderful work of Academy Award winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, who brilliantly voices the titular “Wild Robot,” ROZZUM-7134 — aka “Roz.”

Animation, Movies

Getting Wild at ‘The Wild Robot’ Press Conference

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024 Mike Manalo

On Friday, one of the year’s best films will be hitting theaters. Dreamworks’ The Wild Robot, from director Chris Sanders, has been garnering terrific reviews (including one from myself) over the past few weeks, and it’s no secret why.

Horror, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: It’s Easy to ‘Speak No Evil’ With a Movie So Forgettable

September 10, 2024September 10, 2024 Mike Manalo

This is not Blumhouse’s year. They’re 0 for 4 so far, with Night Swim, Imaginary, AfrAId, and now Speak No Evil. While the latest film from Blumhouse is easily the most watchable of their 2024 offerings, is “bland and forgettable” really the bar they want to set here? Maybe next year will be better.

Animation, Movies, Reviews2 Comments

NOC Review: ‘The Wild Robot’ is a Future Animated Classic for the Ages

September 8, 2024September 9, 2024 Mike Manalo

Wow! Every year the Best Animated Feature race at the Oscars gets more and more difficult, and this year’s will definitely be a doozy. It’s hard to top a film like Inside Out 2. But I truly believe Dreamworks and writer/director Chris Sanders have managed to do just that with a beautiful, artistic triumph about love and parenthood called The Wild Robot.