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Cian McGrath

In

The Ugly Monster

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Cian McGrath

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Nov 1

‘Street Fighter’ Is an Amusing, Over-Excited Adaptation Geared Towards Punchy Thrills

The film adaptation of the uber-successful fighting game is rough around both the edges and centre, but knows how to entertain and charm

‘Street Fighter’ Is an Amusing, Over-Excited Adaptation Geared Towards Punchy Thrills

In

The Ugly Monster

by

Cian McGrath

·

Oct 31

‘Scream’ Is Wes Craven’s Endlessly Self-Aware Ode to Horror — A 30-Year Retrospective

The master horror director crafted the ultimate tribute to the genre central to his decades-long career in film

‘Scream’ Is Wes Craven’s Endlessly Self-Aware Ode to Horror — A 30-Year Retrospective

In

The Ugly Monster

by

Cian McGrath

·

Oct 28

‘Clayface’ Is Shapeless in More Ways Than One

The latest DC Studios’ film succeeds at body horror but fails at maintaining emotional investment

‘Clayface’ Is Shapeless in More Ways Than One

In

The Ugly Monster

by

Cian McGrath

·

Oct 27

‘Cape Fear’ Is a Delightfully Trashy Southern Gothic Thriller

Scorsese’s 1991 film is jittery with paranoia, with an antagonist who’s equal turns formidable, amusing, and charming

‘Cape Fear’ Is a Delightfully Trashy Southern Gothic Thriller

In

Frame Rated

by

Cian McGrath

·

Oct 26

Punishment Park — a harrowing, prescient reimagining of 1970s America

A pseudo-documentary of a film crew of a team of soldiers escorting a group of hippies and dissidents across the desert…

Punishment Park — a harrowing, prescient reimagining of 1970s America

In

The Ugly Monster

by

Cian McGrath

·

Oct 25

‘Donnie Darko’ Reveals Ethereal, Mind-bending Beauty Lurking Underneath the Everyday

Richard Kelly’s emotionally charged portrait of adolescence and mental illness is a stirring fusion of Spielberg and Lynch’s sensibilities

‘Donnie Darko’ Reveals Ethereal, Mind-bending Beauty Lurking Underneath the Everyday

In

Frame Rated

by

Cian McGrath

·

Oct 21

Martha Marcy May Marlene — evocative portrait of the paralysing grip of trauma

Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing a cult.

Martha Marcy May Marlene — evocative portrait of the paralysing grip of trauma

In

The Ugly Monster

by

Cian McGrath

·

Oct 12

‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ Examines Nature and Nurture in Response to Unimaginable Tragedy

This tortured portrait of a fraught mother-son relationship presents uncomfortable meditations on parenthood, complicity, and grief

‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ Examines Nature and Nurture in Response to Unimaginable Tragedy

In

Frame Rated

by

Cian McGrath

·

Oct 8

Sleepers — an uneven but haunting tale of abuse and its lingering trauma

A reporter and a District Attorney help childhood friends who killed a sadistic guard.

Sleepers — an uneven but haunting tale of abuse and its lingering trauma

In

The Ugly Monster

by

Cian McGrath

·

Oct 8

‘Digger’ Is an Insufferable Dissection of Moral Rot

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s latest film is a smug dissection of ‘eat the rich’ films and the real-life moral decay inspiring them

‘Digger’ Is an Insufferable Dissection of Moral Rot

Cian McGrath

Cian McGrath

Writer and journalist. I have written over 400 reviews and analysis pieces on movies and TV shows on Medium, and write stories and screenplays in my free time.

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