Minutes before I made eye contact with Kathryn Hahn I was very much in a daydream of thinking, “how have I ended up meters away from Hahn herself?” After being invited to a press conference…
Bethany Lola
Bethany Lola
Recent film graduate vibing in London and writing about films in her spare time. Mads Mikkelsen fan account in disguise. You can find Bethany on her socials below.
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Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, Mark Jenkin will be the name on everyone’s lips when it comes to talking about British films. Bait will be included on film schools’ syllabi along with the likes of…
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Streaming DramaStreaming Reviews
London Film Festival 2022 Review: ‘My Policeman’
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaMy Policeman is an adaptation of Bethan Roberts’ 2012 novel of the same name which is primarily set on the backdrop of the sometimes sunny seaside town Brighton in 1957 (with 1990s flash-forwards set in…
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The Cabin in the Woods is probably my most-watched film of all time by now. It’s the perfect film for any occasion. There’s so much that makes it rewatchable every year, and as time goes…
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DramaReviews
London Film Festival 2021 Review: ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaDouble, double toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble. It’s a story we all know. One of Shakespeare’s many classics, The Tragedy of Macbeth takes pride in being a new spin on the 1606…
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In an era where we’re overwhelmed with features made during quarantine, it’s hard to find a film that strays from the rest and is actually worthwhile watching. While Language Lessons doesn’t necessarily go above and…
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With 2021’s Cannes Grand Prix win on its back, Compartment No. 6 brings to life a self-reflective, alcohol-filled drama. Establishing an unlikely friendship between a Finnish student and a Russian miner, Laura (Seidi Haarla) and…
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Agnes slides neatly into the subgenre of ‘nun horror’ with the likes of, you guessed it, The Nun. However, Agnes prides itself on building tension rather than being full of jump scares. When you’re placed…
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HorrorReviews
Fantasia Film Festival 2021 Review: ‘The Last Thing Mary Saw’
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaThe Last Thing Mary Saw is a 19th-century folk story, centered around sin and suspicion. We are introduced to Mary (Stefanie Scott) as she is blindfolded in a dark, candle-lit room. This is at the…
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Matthew Gray Gubler is a modern-day icon in the eyes of many. King Knight has been long-awaited by both fans of his and director Richard Bates Jr. It’s slightly dark, yet reassuringly humorous. It’s everything…
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ReviewsScience Fiction
Fantasia Film Festival 2021 Review: ‘Tiong Bahru Social Club’
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaThrough extremely stylized Art Deco sets, and cinematography comparable to Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, Tiong Bahru Social Club is an extraordinary watch. Straight from Singapore’s own Bee Thiam Tan, we are thrown into a…
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HorrorReviews
Fantasia Film Festival 2021: ‘We’re All Going to the World’s Fair’
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaWe’re All Going to the World’s Fair captures the essence of online culture. Hints of Eighth Grade, Nerve, and Unfriended are all combined to make an anxious 86 minutes. Despite its parallels to those few…
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Santiago Segura takes the driver’s seat in the fast-paced journey that is The Five Rules of Success. This is not for the faint-hearted. X (Santiago Segura) is an ex-convict newly released back into the world.…
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Picture yourself in the midst of a sunflower field on a hot summer’s day, surrounded by friends, with a glass of wine. That’s what it feels like to explore Éric Rohmer’s filmography. It’s a breath…
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Ben Platt, a man of many talents. He once again showcases his raw, exquisite acting skills in Peter Sattler’s Broken Diamonds. Scott (Platt) is an aspiring author, longing to move to Paris. His flights are booked…
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This list takes into consideration all nine Saw films, including the latest installment, Spiral. It was definitely hard to pick a top 10, as the franchise has come to be defined by the gruesome ways…
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HorrorReviews
George A. Romero’s Restored ‘The Amusement Park’ Is a Terrifying Take on Aging
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaGeorge A. Romero’s The Amusement Park is a nightmarish 53 minutes. Recently found and restored from its original production in 1973, the story deals with an interesting yet profoundly disturbing viewpoint of getting old. We…
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HorrorReviews
The Warrens Are Back in Action in ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaEd and Lorraine Warren are back on our screens yet again, this time to tackle a supernatural court case based on the true story of the Trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson. In The Conjuring: The Devil Made…
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Retrospectives
‘Obvious Child’ and ‘Landline’: Why Gillian Robespierre’s Films Should Be Your New Obsession
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaSix months ago, Gillian Robespierre wasn’t on my radar, but flash forward to now, I’ve watched her entire small yet unbelievably brilliant filmography, including both limited series she has worked on (A Teacher and Mrs. Fletcher)…
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DocumentaryReviews
Jewish International Film Festival 2021 Review: ‘They Call Me Dr. Miami’
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaWhen the opportunity arose to watch They Call Me Dr. Miami, I jumped on it faster than a half-price BBL. Dr. Miami has always been one of the most fascinating people on the internet to…
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ReviewsScience Fiction
What Would You Do if You Forgot the One You Love? Exploring a Memory-Loss Pandemic in ‘Little Fish’
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaIn a world where a pandemic has broken out (imagine that!), Emma (Olivia Cooke) and Jude (Jack O’Connell) must figure out how to hold onto their memories of each other as their thoughts begin to…
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ComedyReviews
Jamie Babbit’s ‘The Stand In’ Is a Fun But Forgettable Way to End 2020
by Bethany Lolaby Bethany LolaIn theory, double the Drew Barrymore should mean double the jokes, but The Stand In fails to achieve a script even a quarter full of funny moments. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of enjoyment here,…