Ghost in the Shell (1995): Destroying the Illusion of Self

Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell (1995) interrogates the idea of self, collective and non-self, marrying Buddhist and Abrahamic philosophies.

AnalysisAP DwivediAugust 22, 2023Ghost in the Shell, Mamoru Oshii, animeComment

Paul Schrader Movie Mad Lib

Paul Schrader’s movies follow such a clear formula that you can make a Madlibs from it. In fact, we did just that, roping in a couple of other Hyperreal contributors to imagine their own Schrader movies.

AnalysisForest DeLozierJuly 10, 2023Comment

Dissonant Assemblages: Martine Syms' The African Desperate

The African Desperate is indisputably a comedy, but the visceral feelings it elicits span the spectrum. There is an uneasy undercurrent to the whole film that unmoors all of its relationships and hints at all types of violence.

AnalysisJulia HebnerJune 26, 2023Comment

Camp Becomes Her

You have to know the rules to break the rules. Camp is the glowing pink tonic that keeps Death Becomes Her forever fresh all these years later.

AnalysisKathryn BaileyMay 8, 2023Death Becomes Her, Bruce WillisComment

Ravenous: American Capitalism at its Finest

Is there a better monster myth for a movie about America than the cannibal?

AnalysisZiah GraceMay 1, 2023RavenousComment

The Many Flavors of 1991’s Popcorn

Metafictional horror comedy five years before Wes Craven’s Scream isn’t the only reason to love Popcorn.

AnalysisBailey MooreApril 17, 2023PopcornComment

Hung Up on Girl 6

The film was more or less disavowed by Spike Lee and writer Suzan-Lori Parks, but Girl 6 remains a thoughtful, complicated look at sex work and Black womanhood.

AnalysisKatie WilliamsApril 3, 2023Girl 6 Comment

Mother of God! Nunsploitation at the movies

Encountering a dark night of the soul, may you find beckoning reflections in these unfortunate onscreen sisters, whose lives might feel downright relatable.

Roses are Red, Vylette’s are PINK in 1999’s Jawbreaker

What’s more entertaining than murder? Being popular in high school, of course!

AnalysisThe StarMarch 22, 2023JawbreakerComment

Junkspace Cinema and the transformation of physical space in movies

Breaking cinema down into Architectural and Musical modes of filmmaking.

AnalysisSachin BennyMarch 13, 2023Heat, Avatar, La La Land, WhiplashComment

Robert Eggers: Stylization Through Dialect

A look at how director Robert Eggers’ use of historically accurate dialects brings his films to life.

AnalysisTroy BurkeFebruary 16, 2023Robert Eggers, The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman, dialogueComment

Infrastructure Romance

Romance built on a very specific foundation.

AnalysisSachin BennyFebruary 8, 2023Columbus, Only Lovers Left Alive, Undine Comments

Strange Days: Living Through the Apocalypse

Twenty-five years later and Strange Days is more relevant than ever.

AnalysisNoah BrownFebruary 7, 2023Strange Days, Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron Comment

The Pain of Companionship: Friendship and Intimacy in the Films of Tsai Ming-Liang and Jackass

Pain, loneliness, and the search for emotional intimacy pervade the works of Tsai Ming-Liang and Jackass.

We Don't Need Tár Think Pieces: A Think Piece

Tár is the rare film that dares you to talk about what you think the film is about instead of just telling you outright.

AnalysisIan LaydenNovember 25, 2022Tár, Todd Field, Cate Blanchett, There Will Be Blood, NetworkComment

Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Class Consciousness On The Road

Can hard weather and tough traveling bridge the American class divide? In Planes, Trains & Automobiles, anything is possible if you give it a chance.

AnalysisTroy BurkeNovember 23, 2022Planes Trains & Automobiles, John Hughes, John Candy, Steve MartinComment

The Capitalist Zombie Apocalypse Has No National Borders

The only thing more dangerous and contagious than a zombie outbreak is capitalism.

Hyperreal Film Journal