FOLLOWING FILMS

There’s something undeniably old-school about Paul Feig’s Another Simple Favor , a sequel that knows its strengths and doesn’t mind spinning wildly off the rails as long as it looks fabulous doing so. The film doesn’t so much follow in the footsteps of its predecessor as it jet-sets to Italy in six-inch stilettos, dragging a suitcase full of couture, crime, and camp. The result is a zany, stylish black comedy mystery that thrives on the chemistry of its two leads, leans into genre parody, and never misses a chance to show off a killer outfit. Picking up five years after the events of A Simple Favor, we find Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) still basking in the modest glow of her bestselling memoir, now with sagging book sales and a lifestyle vlog teetering on irrelevance. Her quiet suburban life is jolted back into chaos when Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) resurfaces from a presumed prison sentence — out on appeal thanks to her fiancé’s elite legal team. She wastes no time dragging Step...

From the mind behind Barbarian, filmmaker Zach Cregger returns with Weapons, a new horror-thriller that looks to shake audiences with its eerie premise and disturbing visuals. New Line Cinema has released the first trailer and images for the film, offering a tense glimpse into what could become one of the year’s most talked-about genre releases. The film's premise is as chilling as it is mysterious: one night, at exactly 2:17 a.m., every child in a single school class disappears—except for one. As the quiet suburban town reels from the event, panic spreads, and suspicions mount. What—or who—is behind the vanishing? The trailer offers only fragments: empty classrooms, shadowy figures, and a sense of creeping dread. Set in a seemingly normal community now scarred by tragedy, Weapons explores not only the supernatural elements surrounding the children's disappearance, but also the unraveling of a town’s sense of security. Weapons stars Oscar nominee Josh Brolin as a desperate fath...

Today on The Following Films Podcast, I’m joined by cinematographer Martin Ruhe. Martin’s latest film, The Amateur, is a tense, grounded thriller, and we spend a lot of time talking about how he helped shape its unique look and feel. We also get into his earlier work, like the beautifully shot Control, and how his collaborations with George Clooney kicked off with The American and later continued with The Tender Bar. It was a real pleasure hearing Martin break down his process, how he approaches working with directors, and how he keeps pushing himself creatively from project to project.

When STAR TREK: SECTION 31 was announced, fans across the quadrant were intrigued. A Star Trek story led by Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh? Focused on the Federation's most enigmatic black-ops division? The possibilities seemed endless. Now that it’s finally here, Section 31 delivers a visually engaging, conceptually daring, and action-packed spy thriller that pushes the boundaries of traditional Trek storytelling—though not without the occasional stumble along the way. At the heart of the film is Philippa Georgiou, once the ruthless Emperor of the Terran Empire, now stranded in the prime universe and recruited into the Federation’s most clandestine intelligence agency. Michelle Yeoh commands every frame she’s in. Her performance is magnetic, effortlessly weaving together the brutal cunning of Mirror Georgiou with flickers of unexpected emotional depth. Watching her navigate a morally grey universe while questioning her place in it gives the film a surprisingly introspective edge. The...

Today, I'm really excited to have cinematographer Tommy Maddox-Upshaw on the show. You probably know his work from Snowfall, Straight Outta Compton, and a bunch of other incredible projects. We’re talking about his newest film, Opus, and how he approached the look and feel of it, what it was like putting it together, and just his overall process behind the camera. It’s a great conversation — so let's jump right in.

April 25, 2025 — Los Angeles, CA — Following a touching Hollywood debut, the documentary I Know Catherine, The Log Lady is set for national rollout, with premieres scheduled in New York City on May 1 at the IFC Center and in Los Angeles on May 9 at the Laemmle Glendale. The film, directed by Richard Green and presented by History of Cool and Next Step Studios, offers an intimate portrait of actress Catherine Coulson—best known as the Log Lady from David Lynch’s cult classic series Twin Peaks. Coulson’s story is one of profound dedication. Just weeks after Lynch announced the return of Twin Peaks 25 years after its original run, Catherine received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Despite her illness, she was determined to reprise her role as the Log Lady, staying alive long enough to film her final performance—a tribute to her deep commitment to the character, the show, and its fans. The documentary premiered on April 17 as the Closing Night Film of the American Cinematheque’s This Is Not A...