FOLLOWING FILMS - Podcast, Movies, Music, and More

If you were a teenager in the mid-90s with a penchant for classic rock and a somewhat questionable haircut, chances are you found a VHS copy of The Stoned Age (1994) shoved in a corner of your local Blockbuster, right between Spinal Tap and some direct-to-video horror flick. For years, I was one of those people who looked at the cover, two guys in a beat-up blue van, and immediately rolled my eyes. I dismissed it as a desperate, low-rent Dazed and Confused knock-off. On the surface, the DNA is undeniably shared: it’s a period-piece "hangout" movie set in the 1970s, fueled by a soundtrack of heavy riffs, centered on the eternal quest for beer and girls, and steeped in the hazy atmosphere of suburban aimlessness. But after finally sitting down with Joe and Hubbs for ninety minutes of "schnappiness," I realized I was wrong. While Linklater’s masterpiece is a sweeping, multi-character tapestry of nostalgia and philosophy, The Stoned Age is something far more concentrate...

The grit of the 1990s East Bay punk scene is more than just a backdrop in the upcoming project inspired by Rancid’s seminal album, And Out Comes the Wolf. Big Newport Studios and Z2 have officially joined forces to expand this world through a companion graphic novel that serves as a visceral extension of the feature film. Adapted by artist and writer Kevin Mellon from a script by Danny Peykoff and the Neese Brothers, the narrative explores the desperate intersection of poverty, drugs, and the raw ambition to escape a decaying city. It is a story rooted in the tension between dreams and a violent reality, centered on two friends navigating a landscape filled with predators while facing the haunting question of who survives when the wolf finally arrives. For creators Jason and Jamie Neese, the transition from film to the printed page is a full-circle moment. Jamie Neese noted that comics were his original gateway into cinema, making this partnership with Z2 a natural evolution for a stor...

The legacy of Fred Ross Sr. is often described as the invisible scaffolding behind some of the most significant civil rights victories in American history. From mentoring legendary figures like Dolores Huerta to laying the groundwork for landmark desegregation cases, Ross’s grassroots methods proved that collective action could dismantle systemic barriers. Now, that story is coming to the big screen as Abramorama has officially acquired the North American theatrical rights to the documentary American Agitators. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Raymond Telles, the film serves as both a historical record and a modern call to action. It traces Ross’s influence from his early days in Los Angeles, where his organizing efforts helped set the stage for Mendez v. Westminster—a precursor to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. Narrated by playwright Luis Valdez, the documentary connects these 20th-century victories to the urgent labor and voting rights movements happeni...

The upcoming release of Mārama marks a significant moment for Indigenous cinema, blending the atmospheric dread of Victorian Gothic horror with a fierce Māori perspective on retribution. Directed and written by Taratoa Stappard, the film is set to hit select theaters on April 17, following a celebrated festival run that included stops at TIFF, Sitges, and AFI Fest. This release is a collaborative effort between Dark Sky Films and Watermelon Pictures, signaling a new partnership under the MPI Media Group banner focused on bringing fearless and boundary-pushing stories to the big screen. The story transports audiences to North Yorkshire in 1859, where a young Māori woman, played by breakout lead Ariāna Osborne, is summoned from New Zealand only to uncover a harrowing colonial heritage. As she navigates the cold landscapes of Victorian England, she finds herself locked in a struggle to reclaim her identity and culture. Her journey eventually leads to a necessary confrontation with a title...

When Parks and Recreation first hit the air, Chris Pratt’s Andy Dwyer was the soul of the show. He was the lovable, dim-witted goofball who lived in a pit and played in a band called Mouse Rat. There was an inherent, puppy-dog vulnerability to Pratt back then, a human-ness that felt unmanufactured. We rooted for him because he felt like the guy next door who just happened to be hilarious. Fast forward to 2026, and the Pratt-ification of Hollywood has moved into a sophisticated and effective new phase with Mercy. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, this is a screenlife techno-thriller that feels less like a movie and more like a high-stress Zoom call from hell, and it is here that Pratt finds a way to weaponize that old Pawnee charm into something far more visceral. The film is set in a grim, near-future Los Angeles. Pratt plays Detective Christopher Raven, a man who has spent his career championing the Mercy program, an AI-driven judicial system designed to eliminate human bias and legal re...

Rupert Wyatt is a filmmaker who understands the weight of a landscape. From the overgrown urban decay of Rise of the Planet of the Apes to the pressure-cooker tension of The Gambler, he has a knack for making the environment feel like a primary character. With the first trailer for Desert Warrior, Wyatt is turning his lens toward seventh-century Arabia, and the scale looks appropriately massive. The footage introduces us to Princess Hind, played by Aiysha Hart (We Are Lady Parts), a figure who refuses to be traded away as a concubine to the ruthless Emperor Kisra. This isn't just a domestic dispute; it’s the spark for a historical pivot point. Sir Ben Kingsley appears to be leaning into the menace of Kisra, providing a formidable anchor for the conflict. When Hind flees into the desert with her father, the trailer shifts gears into a survivalist epic, eventually bringing her into the orbit of a legendary bandit played by Anthony Mackie. Mackie has been busy lately with high-concept...

Joe Dante is a mad scientist of the suburban variety. He takes the familiar comforts of our living rooms and the mundane routines of our lives, then he injects them with a frantic cartoon energy that feels like it might burst at the seams. Seeing Innerspace for the first time on a grainy VHS tape back when I was eleven or twelve years old felt like discovering a secret transmission from a much cooler, more chaotic dimension. My parents had a top-loading VCR in our basement that made a heavy mechanical clunk when you pushed the tape down, and that sound was the starting bell for a journey into the microscopic. Back then, I didn’t know who Dennis Quaid was and was only familiar with Martin Short as Ed Grimley, but to me, after watching Innerspace, they were the two halves of a perfect comedic brain. The movie starts with a premise that should be terrifying, a miniaturized pilot injected into the body of a hypochondriac grocery clerk, but Dante turns it into a high-speed chase that never ...

Black Mandala has officially released the trailer for SHED, a gripping survival horror film that promises to turn a simple farm building into a claustrophobic house of mirrors. Directed by Steven J. Mihaljevich, the film has already begun making waves on the festival circuit, securing major wins at the UK Film Awards and a premiere at the prestigious Screamfest LA. A Nightmare on Christmas Eve Forget the holiday cheer. SHED centers on 10-year-old Mia (Mani Shanks), who finds herself accidentally locked inside a farm shed on Christmas Eve. The situation turns from a mistake into a nightmare when a violent stranger descends upon the property. What follows is a uniquely intimate horror experience, told almost entirely from Mia’s perspective. Trapped and isolated, the young girl must endure hunger and mounting fear while grappling with the horrifying realization that something catastrophic has happened to her family, all while the killer remains only meters away. The Cast and Creative Team...

If you’re looking for a reason to dust off your best fascinator or break out the seersucker, look no further than May 2nd. The Stella Artois Derby DayClub is returning to Turf Paradise, and this year, the organizers aren’t just bringing back the same old party, they’ve basically rebuilt the experience from the ground up. Presented by Sanderson Lincoln, the event is positioning itself as the premier spot in the Valley to watch the 152nd "Run for the Roses." But while the Kentucky Derby is the main attraction, the new amenities at Turf Paradise might just steal the show. New Ways to Lounge The biggest buzz this year surrounds two brand-new additions. For those who enjoy a slower pace, the "Million Dollar Mingle Cigar Lounge" is making its debut. For a $50 add-on, guests get a reserved seat in a dedicated lounge, a premium cigar, and a glass of bourbon. It’s designed to be an intimate, comfortable escape from the high-energy crowd. If bourbon isn't your speed, ther...

On today’s episode, we are diving into the high-stakes world of true crime and the intricate process of bringing procedural intensity to the small screen. Joining us is Executive Producer Matt Robins to discuss his work on the series FEDS, which is currently airing on Investigation Discovery. We’re specifically looking at the upcoming episode, "Gangbuster," which premieres on April 1st. It’s a compelling look at a community in Southern Florida gripped by a wave of unsolved shootings, and the story follows rookie FBI Special Agent Jessica Box as she attempts to dismantle the gang responsible. In our conversation, Matt and I talk about the balance between the gritty reality of gang violence and the character-driven narrative of a rookie agent finding her footing under immense pressure. We also touch on the collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement that makes this particular episode so authentic. It’s an insightful look at the storytelling behind one of the ...