The Last Movie Guy

Obsession (2025): A Psychological Horror of Control and Desire

In John Truby’s book The Anatomy of Genres, his chapter on horror is one of the most interesting. The author treats it not just as a narrative genre, but as a direct expression of the human being facing death. Regarding the greatest dichotomy—life and death—the human consciousness knows we are going to die and we cannot avoid it, and the fundamental tension of horror stems from this. It is not the threatening monster, the killer, or the supernatural entity that terrifies us most; what is truly disturbing is the contradiction that being alive is the only condition for dying. In Obsession, director Curry Barker appeals to the most basic fundamentals of the genre to achieve a compact and powerful film that works perfectly.

Sugar Island (2024): The Echo of Slavery

Posted on 17 Days Ago by Hugo Pagan Soto

When the Caribbean sun of Hispaniola first burned the backs of those African Black bodies, a wound was opened. Sugar Island reminds us that this scar still hurts; more than 500 years later, the echoes of colonization continue to resonate. Rarely has Dominican cinema looked so rigorously at a past that cannot be shaken off. The reflection in the mirror is painfully difficult, and we prefer escapism so the mind can drift elsewhere. From that uncomfortable place, Johanné Gómez Terrero constructs a powerful narrative painted on a hypnotic, color-drenched canvas.

Mortal Kombat II (2026): Built for the fans

Posted on 19 Days Ago by Hugo Pagan Soto

Mortal Kombat is one of the most famous video games in history. Its impact has transcended consoles, maintaining a constant presence in popular culture since Midway Games released the first version in 1992. Its graphic violence and the famous fatalities were among the reasons why, years later, the age-rating system for video games in North America was created. The legacy of Mortal Kombat has expanded into a universe that includes films, series, cartoons, and promotional merchandise. In 1995, we saw the first cinematic adaptation, followed by a franchise reboot in 2021. Now we have Mortal Kombat II, which is a direct sequel to the 2021 version.

The Drama (2026): Love is a Nightmare

Posted on 22 Days Ago by Hugo Pagan Soto

There are many ways to break the traditional narrative structure of the romantic comedy, and The Drama, by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, uses all of them. In a way, I should have been prepared for an unusual story since I was already familiar with Borgli’s previous work, Dream Scenario, where he puts Nicolas Cage through absolute chaos. Now it is Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s turn to experience another nightmare built around a fractured love story.

Michael (2026): The Impossible Portrait of MJ

Posted on 25 Days Ago by Hugo Pagan Soto

You can easily argue that Michael Jackson was, is, and always will be the biggest star in the world of music. You would have more than enough reasons to defend that position. His legend is so monumental that not even the most disturbing scandals away from the stage could bring it down. Approaching a figure of this magnitude in a fictional biographical film is no easy task. Michael (2026), directed by Antoine Fuqua, ventures into those waters. It attempts to put the genie back in the bottle, to humanize a demigod, to touch the myth and make it come alive once again on screen.