Streaming Spider-Man: Brand New Day Deserves Better Than CosmoGO’s Playback Issues

When deciding on which service is best to be streaming Spider-Man requires knowing who is offering what, and sticking to Amazon. ’nuff said

Spider-Man: Brand New Day UHD
Available to pre-order on Amazon USA

Spider-Man: Brand New Day may well be the second-best film next to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, and streaming it at home calls for recreating as much of the theatrical experience as possible. For me, that means a proper surround sound setup, the meanest UHD screen I can use (I have a Samsung U79 55″ 4K UHD Smart TV), and preferably a physical disc. Until that release arrives, there’s the digital edition. And what buyers receive varies by service.

For viewers interested in how this adventure came together, the bonus material is part of the attraction. But choosing where to buy the digital edition requires a closer look at what each streaming service includes. While it won’t replicate what I experienced in IMAX and UltraAVX, I hoped the video quality would be just as detailed. And that’s where my expectations fell short.

Continue reading “Streaming Spider-Man: Brand New Day Deserves Better Than CosmoGO’s Playback Issues”

Who’s Hiding Along The Shadow’s Edge (捕风追影) Really Depends On A Wider Release

Although not in wide-release, Jackie Chan’s The Shadow’s Edge shows a different side of this versitile actor, especially when we move away from the silly. It can be found as an EU release where it looks official rather than be a bootleg.

The Shadow's Edge
Coming soon to Amazon Prime (IJD) and 4K in select territories

There are a lot of conspiracies in play in Jackie Chan’s The Shadow’s Edge (捕风追影). This film received limited screenings during its debut last year, and like other movies from China recently, not everything is getting a proper North American release. It’s a shame, because out of the latest crop of films from this entertainer, this one has to be the most gangster of them all.

As Wong Tak-chong, a retired cyber-intelligence agent, Chan may be the only person able to locate Fu Lung-sang (Tony Leung Ka-fai), a godfather to a gang of thieves who commit a mix of heists and cybercrimes.

Joining Wong is the lovely rookie He Qiuguo (Zhang Zifeng), whose inexperience may well let this group get away. While Wong teaches her the ropes and poses as her father during an undercover operation, the pair figure out that a certain neighbour may well be this ruthless crime lord. I can see why Zhang is regarded as one of the New Four Dan actresses of the post-95s generation. She delivers doe-eyed naivety in droves, but when the moment comes to bring down Fu and earn her cred as an agent, even I cheered!

Continue reading “Who’s Hiding Along The Shadow’s Edge (捕风追影) Really Depends On A Wider Release”

Hollywood Suite’s 2026 Halloween Lineup Is Looking Good. Our Top 10!

For those folks looking for something to see eery day, Hollywood Suite’s 2026 Halloween Lineup is looking sweet and it represents a diverse range of films that also includes the classics!

Hollywood Suite's 2026 Halloween LineupHollywood Suite’s 2026 Halloween Lineup may well be Canada’s go-to destination for a full month of spooky films playing nonstop. What’s offered is huge, and with every genre well represented to be presented on demand and on air, even I may tune in to watch those titles I don’t have on home media.

But what caught my eye is the original documentary series Cinema A to Z. If you haven’t watched this program yet, it’s a good primer for those who’d rather not learn about cinema history from a book. A full episode guide can be found here.

The show is now in its fourth season, with episodes devoted to Creature Features, Party, Sports and Witches, in that order. To celebrate Halloween, the network is focusing on the first and last instalments.

Continue reading “Hollywood Suite’s 2026 Halloween Lineup Is Looking Good. Our Top 10!”

When We Still Love Dead Media, Joseph Scrimshaw’s Work Is More Than Another Zombie Film.

Anyone who grew up on those movies of the 50s or 90s will find Joseph Scrimshaw’s film Dead Media honour more than many decades worth of forgotten films, and zombie mayhem in a compact format. And there’s a reason to preserve them all!

Dead Media Movie PosterRoadshow’s Final Stop at Whammy Analog Microcinema on Oct. 17 – Los Angeles, CA

Spoiler Alert

At first, I thought Dead Media might be a horror movie anthology, but instead, it’s a tale within a tale about Maggie Sloke (Sammi-Jack Martincak), who is stuck with the consequences of her poor life choices. One night, she’s with her mates, Daniel (Antonio Teodoro) and Brenda (Jessica Fenton), for a streaming marathon of horrible pulp movies at home, including Night of the Lurchers. This forgotten piece of late-1990s horror has special meaning to her, and when Uncle Heppy (Sam Landman) shows up with a proper DVD version to watch, things shift from a “They’re here” moment to the characters becoming part of the movie itself.

Or is that the other way around? After Maggie goes poking at the DVD’s menu and finds a hidden Easter egg, her excitement turns into an oh sh*t moment as the people and zombies from the film start appearing. And for budget reasons, no, they don’t emerge from the television. I’d have loved to see that, but alas, some effects would blow this film’s budget, and what happens instead becomes a mix of Last Action Hero and Scream!

Continue reading “When We Still Love Dead Media, Joseph Scrimshaw’s Work Is More Than Another Zombie Film.”

Never Be Alone, Especially Never After Dark, In This Eerie Thriller

The trick of saying, “I won’t do this, especially Never After Dark” can be a loaded response. In this film’s case, what’s presented hints at all those things lurking nearby rather than hiding in the shadows….

Never After DarkMagnolia Pictures
Please check local listings for screenings

As I kick off October with some more horror films to view at night, Dave Boyle’s latest film, Never After Dark, tries its best to show that this writer/director has an overwhelming interest in the supernatural side of Japan. Although he isn’t of Asian or Japanese ancestry, his movies offer his interpretation rather than follow what’s established. The main character is not an onmyoji. There is no Western equivalent to the diverse skills required to become such a person. In some ways, a person with the skills of a priest, diviner and seer can be labelled as such.

With his latest, once that light dims, secrets will come crawling out of nowhere. In this film’s case, it’s about Airi (Moeka Hoshi), a medium trying to keep those skeletons in her own closet locked up. She’s not a certified one and is self-professed after discovering she can see her dead sister in mirrors. And to have that access around while going out to solve other people’s problems can be helpful and dangerous. When she’s a magnet for the deceased, anyone can come calling. 

When she’s hired by the owner of a fancy, out-of-the-way hotel to clear out those ghosts, well…

Continue reading “Never Be Alone, Especially Never After Dark, In This Eerie Thriller”

Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2026. Five Essential Top Picks and The ScareScore Experiment! Do We Really Need It?

For those folks able to attend Toronto After Dark Film Festival, it’s time to power up those smartwatches!

Toronto After Dark Film FestivalToronto After Dark Film Festival (TADFF) officially announced its lineup for its 19th year. And although Casey Walker’s films (Home Bodies and Ithaqua) are suspiciously missing from this year’s lineup, there’s no need to be concerned. His work will be playing somewhere as the cold chill strikes Canada. In this case, though, what will befall Cineplex Scotiabank Theatre (259 Richmond St W) and CineCycle (129 Spadina Ave)? The event takes place from October 14 to 18, 2026, and this year’s event is unique, which I will talk about later.

What has my attention this year are works that showcase what Austin Abrams can truly do rather than simply running around and doing nothing. The festival kicks off with the Canadian Premiere of Brian Duffield’s Whalefall. A tense and emotionally charged survival thriller starring Austin Abrams (Resident Evil) and Josh Brolin (Weapons), the film depicts the harrowing story of a scuba diver (Abrams) who finds himself swallowed whole by a sperm whale and trapped inside the animal’s stomach. With a dwindling supply of oxygen in his tank, the young man turns to the nautical and life lessons his father passed on to him in a desperate bid to survive. Jonah’s Whale this tale is not, and honestly, who doesn’t want to check this out?

Continue reading “Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2026. Five Essential Top Picks and The ScareScore Experiment! Do We Really Need It?”