Aarcflick

Making a mixtape for someone is a pretty bold move. You might like that person. You might even think you’re in love with them. But giving them a mixtape—out of all the possible things—is, in a way, tantamount to saying: "Here is a collection of emotions I’ve decided you ought to feel, in an order I’ve determined myself, and for reasons probably no one but me will understand. Enjoy!" That’s quite a statement. The ninth installment in the beloved *V/H/S* franchise takes that potentially awkward premise to a terrifying cinematic extreme; the new anthology premieres on Shudder on October 9. This time around, the evening’s entertainment includes four short films and several musical interludes, all centered around the theme of... sound? It is, without a doubt, a perfectly valid excuse to shoot another *V/H/S* movie. However, *V/H/S Mixtape* also suggests that maintaining the saga’s novelty factor is becoming increasingly difficult. Directors: Ernest Dickerson, Flying Lotus, Tobias ...

*Below* is overloaded. So overloaded that it naturally conveys a sense of exhaustion; it is as if the effort of juggling its various plotlines has left it breathless. Nowadays, many journalists complain—rightly so—about being required to perform tasks beyond their core duties or meet unrealistic targets. They do not simply investigate, gather information, and write a report or article for a newspaper or website; they must also master SEO, video editing, social media, and tools like Canva. To make matters worse, they are expected to pitch and write ten articles a day, on top of handling editorial tasks assigned by their superiors.  Creator: Jesse McKeown Stars: Josh Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton It is no wonder that many suffer from burnout and even leave the profession due to paltry wages. A corpse or a zombie would likely radiate more vitality than these exhausted journalists forced to multitask. If *Below*—created by Jesse McKeown—were a person working in a newsroom, ...

 Dhruv Tripathi seems to operate between conflicting sensibilities: he wants to be sincere, yet his mode of communication comes across as artificial and flimsy. Beneath Dhruv Tripathi’s film *Reporting Live* lies a promising work that occasionally surfaces to address the physical dangers inherent in the journalistic profession. Sandhya (Parineeti Chopra) and her best friend, colleague, and cameraman, Vinod (Deven Bhojani), spend most of their time in the field—talking to civilians, interviewing shady characters, and filming illegal activities. This exposes them to thugs, including a man who turns on the radio before killing or harassing his victims. At a bus stop in Visargaon, this individual intimidates and assaults Sandhya and Vinod; later, he is shown invading their private space to deliver a more severe warning.  Director: Dhruv Tripathi Writers: Mihir Jadhav, Dhruv Tripathi Stars: Deven Bhojani, Saswata Chatterjee, Parineeti Chopra Tripathi and his co-writer, Mihir Jadhav...

 *A Prayer for the Dying* is set in the small town of Friendship, Wisconsin, during the 1850s. Jacob Hansen (Johnny Flynn) wears many hats: he is the local sheriff, the pastor, and even the undertaker. These roles place him in a difficult position when the town doctor (John C. Reilly) informs him that an outbreak of diphtheria has arrived and is beginning to spread. Hansen’s first instinct is to quarantine the town. The doctor advises against this measure, arguing that it would trigger a panic that could cause people to flee, thereby spreading the epidemic even further. Meanwhile, Hansen struggles to keep his wife, Marta (Kristine Kujath Thorp), and their young daughter safe by forcing them to stay indoors. Since he is constantly in contact with infected individuals, this task becomes increasingly difficult. Director: Dara Van Dusen Writers: Stewart O'Nan,, Dara Van Dusen Stars: Johnny Flynn, John C. Reilly, Kristine Kujath Thorp Directed by Dara Van Dusen, *A Prayer for the Dying*...

 Filmed over the course of three years across 40 locations in 22 countries and five continents, *World Without Cows* is an ambitious, visually stunning, and thought-provoking documentary; it explores the environment, climate change, and, ultimately, humanity's place in the natural world. All of this is examined through our relationship with an animal we have relied upon for millennia: the cow. In the age of social media, artificial intelligence, clickbait headlines, and the derogatory, sweeping label of "fake news," it is difficult to know which information to trust. *World Without Cows* examines various assumptions and analyzes how livestock have increasingly been portrayed as villains responsible for emissions, pollution, and even health issues. Award-winning journalists Michelle Michael and Brandon Whitworth spent years traveling the globe and filming in a remarkable variety of climates and environments to examine the complex science and the potentially significant rol...

 *Angel and the Badman* is a remake of the 1947 Western starring John Wayne. Zachary Levi takes on the role of gunslinger Quirt Evans; he is an actor who shares Wayne’s conservative values ​​but lacks his screen presence. This works to the detriment of this Angel Studios release, which conveys a positive message about personal redemption through faith but suffers from a narrative so slow-paced that viewers are likely to lose interest. A wounded Evans is taken in by Irene Worth (Jean Louisa Kelly, of *Uncle Buck*) and nursed back to health by her adult daughter, Penny (Meg Fraser). He has hidden a stash of stolen Confederate gold, and a ruthless criminal named Laredo (Neil McDonough) is willing to kill him to find it. Meanwhile, the local marshal, Boone McClintock (Tommy Lee Jones), investigates the matter, aware that Evans did not acquire the gold legally. Director: Julio Quintana Writers: Kevin M. Townsend, Christopher Tuffin, Jaime Hernandez Stars: Zachary Levi, Neal McDonough, T...