Aarcflick

 *The Gates*, by John Burr, is a thriller about three Black college students who find themselves trapped in a gated community in Texas—one populated predominantly by wealthy white residents. The young men are viewed with suspicion and, eventually, hunted through the neighborhood as if they were criminals. Undoubtedly, the film aims to convey the anxiety and terror experienced by people of color when they are stopped by a white police officer or accused of a crime based solely on their physical appearance. It also confronts the ways in which Christianity can be performative—used as a mask to conceal all manner of hateful ideologies and behaviors. Given all this, Burr’s film could elicit an intense reaction from viewers, one way or another. Some will dismiss the material, labeling it "woke"; though, in all likelihood, if they use that term pejoratively, they wouldn't have watched *The Gates* after reading its synopsis anyway. Others may wonder if Burr goes too far—or even i...

A Chinese-American high school student undergoes a hypothetical race-changing procedure that allows her to experience life as a white girl in Amy Wang’s SXSW-winning comedy. If high school is a popularity contest—the premise of misplaced priorities driving screenwriter-director Amy Wang’s SXSW-winning satire on assimilation, titled *Slanted*—then Chinese-American senior Joan Huang (Shirley Chen) might be justified in renouncing her cultural heritage for a shot at being crowned prom queen. That is the Faustian bargain Wang posits in a provocative comedy—which doubles as a thought experiment—that veers squarely into *The Substance* territory when Joan agrees to a racial transformation so radical and thorough that Wang replaces the original actress with another (Mckenna Grace) to embody her new identity for the remainder of the film. Director: Amy Wang Writer: Amy Wang Stars: Shirley Chen, Mckenna Grace, Amelie Zilber Tackling complex questions of identity head-on, *Slanted* draws on Wang...

 *Scared to Death* follows a group of filmmakers who attend a seance at an abandoned orphanage to conduct research for a movie. Every character in *Scared to Death* is based on a stereotype: the grumpy director, the disgruntled assistant, the drunken actors... The list goes on. While these exaggerated clichés fall flat in other films, here they work. The script and performances succeed in making these personalities feel intentional. Thanks to this, the parodic approach feels convincing. Director: Paul Boyd Writer: Paul Boyd Stars: Lin Shaye, Bill Moseley, Olivier Paris The entire cast is at the top of their game, though Lin Shaye (Max) and Bill Moseley (Felix) are likely the most recognizable faces. Shaye brings a consistently bitter and furious energy, while infusing her character with wit through exaggerated reactions. Moseley, for his part, offers an affable and subtly hilarious presence. Both are additions that fans of the genre will surely appreciate. "I’m not sure what else ...

Last night, I found myself in the most unexpected of places: AMC Lincoln Square, attending a preview screening of *Reminders of Him*—the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2022 romance novel, slated for release on March 13. Although I am a voracious reader, I have never been a particularly fervent admirer of this author. Consequently—from *Verity* to Reminders of Him (and all the drama in between)—I have kept abreast of her work solely through the commentary of others. While I understand that Hoover boasts a massive fan base, I have largely steered clear of her work out of simple personal preference. Thus, I went into the screening with rather low expectations... and came out pleasantly surprised. Set in Laramie, Wyoming, the film opens with a rather striking introduction to its protagonist, Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe), who knocks over a roadside memorial cross and rips it from the ground. Through entries in her journal, Kenna reveals that she has just been released from prison after being ...

Any honest and unbiased conversation about artificial intelligence must begin by acknowledging how insurmountable the issue is. No matter how deeply you cling to your own ideological positions, anyone claiming to have truly grasped AI is delusional. We live in an era where humans are deliberately creating a technology that seems poised to strip us of our status as the most intelligent species on Earth. It could render most of the jobs we do to survive completely obsolete. It could take us to a point where a machine-induced mass extinction is no longer just a science fiction premise. And it could cure all our diseases, provide every child on Earth with a free, first-class education, maximize our farmland to eliminate world hunger, and solve problems we haven't even begun to anticipate. Or, as insufferable as it sounds to point this out at parties, the results of our AI experiment could fall somewhere in between those extremes. Directors: Daniel Roher, Charlie Tyrell Stars: Sam Altma...

ITVX's new crime thriller, Gone, is a quintessentially British production, grounded in realism and exploring a range of social and personal themes. Inspired by the book "To Hunt a Killer" by detective Julie Mackay and journalist Robert Murphy, the six-part series follows the police investigation into the discovery of the body of the headmaster's wife at a prestigious Bristol private school. Gone is a gripping and suspenseful series, featuring fantastic performances, and is a must-see for any fan of slow-burn mystery thrillers. Gone opens on the sprawling grounds of St. Bartholomew's, a prestigious private boys' school in Bristol, attended by the sons of the region's wealthy and influential families. A rugby match is underway at the school, a matter of great importance, as St. Bartholomew's is renowned for its rugby program and aims to repeat its unbeaten season.  Creator: George Kay Stars: Eve Myles, Amy Marston, Ryan Zhou The headmaster and rugby coac...