It’s December and I Still Think Sinners is the Best Movie of the Year

15 Dec 2025 Leave a comment

by Gina N. Anderson in film, horror, screenwriting Tags: , , , , , ,

Okay, okay, I haven’t seen all of the films that are making the rounds during this year’s awards season yet, but I’ve seen quite a few of the top contenders from the IMDb Best Movies of 2025 list. Of the commercially successful films on the list, I still need to see One Battle After Another, F1 (starring Brad Pitt), and Wicked: For Good.

I still feel strongly that Sinners is the top film of 2025. It not only served horror fans a unique setting in the Mississippi Delta instead of New Orleans, but also gave us some new vampire lore to drool over (Irish vamp Remmick FTW!). The film also introduced or further endeared us to the blues and a fresh new voice in Miles Caton. And through that lens, director Ryan Coogler also educated audiences about the horrors of the Jim Crow era. 

Why is Sinners the Best?

There are so many personal reasons that I connected with this film as both a horror fan and a person of color with roots from the American South, but at the end of the day, Ryan Coogler’s direction, Michael B. Jordan as the lead playing gangster twins, and an outstanding supporting cast tipped the scales for me. 

The technical aspects of the film were also impressive, which the film industry is appreciating this awards season. Coogler’s cinematographer, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, became the first female director of photography to shoot any movie on large format IMAX film. Coogler also used “halo cameras” to film Jordan as twins, among many other techniques he used in this film.

There were also some really cool in-universe newspaper clippings revealing some backstory you can find by clicking through the Sinners Official Playlist on Spotify or by reading Gizmodo’s article. Some of the incidents include the fallout between Irish and Italian gangsters that we learn the Twins are running from in the film, and a mysterious Irish ship that washed ashore in Boston with blood-soaked decks and no one aboard.

Cultural Inclusivity

In this film, we see Native American vampire hunters, the Choctaw Nation, hunt Remmick in the beginning of the film. This short bit of screen time was so popular among fans that they started asking for a spinoff film.

Remmick is an Irish vampire who claims to Smoke that he resonates with African Americans’ suffering in order to get into the juke joint, but due to his vampire nature, it is revealed that he sought to siphon Sammie’s talent. He also leads the new vampires in a rendition of the Irish folktale song, “The Rocky Road to Dublin,” a surprisingly upbeat song and dance sequence.   

The Chinese American characters, Grace and Bo, are grocers who serve both the white and Black communities, and long-time friends of the Twins. Grace also joins the fight with the survivors of the vampire attack on the juke joint after her beloved husband is turned. 

All of these communities actually coexisted in the Mississippi Delta.

Finally, some people may not have been familiar with the concept of “passing” in the Black community prior to seeing the movie. Mary is technically considered Black in the Jim Crow laws, but because she is white-presenting, Stack believed that it was safer for her to continue passing and to have a white husband. If you’re interested in learning more about miscegenation (intermarriage between racial groups), visit the Americans All history page. 

In summary, Sinners ticked many boxes for me. I feel like the more people went down the rabbit hole of lore about this movie, the more they learned about life for people of color (Blacks, Chinese, Native Americans, and Irish folks by way of Remmick) during the Jim Crow South, the real horror for Black Americans. Not only that, but we got some really cool vampire lore out of it. How many genre films can you truly say accomplishes so much while also entertaining fans of horror? Not many.

FilmQuest Festival: How It Went

04 Nov 2025 Leave a comment

by Gina N. Anderson in film, horror, screenwriting, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , ,

Professional industry panel discusses film distribution and acquisition.

This week, I went to the FilmQuest Festival in Provo, Utah. It’s the first exclusively genre film festival I’ve attended (although I’ve been to plenty of Cons and other film fests). I was a judge for the feature films, but the festival had so many other categories, from shorts to music videos.

Directors of the sci-fi film block during Q&A.

I was only in attendance for the last three days of the conference, but the workshops I attended about distribution and acquisition, and producing and directing were very insightful about the business side of the film industry. If you’re doing TV, then this festival is not for you as there isn’t very much representation there, which makes sense.

Jon Fitzgerald, founder of Cause Pictures, shares his years of knowledge about film distribution with the audience.

Some of my favorite takeaways:

Film distribution models and platforms for indie films, such as Gathr, Kinema, Bingeable, just to name a few. This is a much better avenue for film distribution than theatrical releases, however, Fathom is looking for more indie films.

Marketing: The most important part of getting your films out there is to make sure that your marketing materials are visually appealing, especially your trailer and poster. Social media marketing is key as well. Comps are important for marketing/pitching. Make sure you find your trailer moments. Sometimes that’s all streaming viewers need to watch.

Perhaps, the most informative panel for me was about acquisitions. Here are those takeaways:

X-Factors: Horror has a built-in audience and it’s still a growing genre, but don’t count on that lasting forever. However, Slashers are back, and short films, in general, can move to feature development.

Movies on the streaming platforms need to perform, meaning audiences have to watch until the end to trigger the ads that generate revenue.

Reviews matter. Make a compelling story that generates word-of-mouth recommendations.

Things to Consider: 1) Make the film with the audience in mind. 2) Stick to one genre during your pitches. In between genres are tough to sell. Understand what you’re making and why. 3) It’s fine to take feedback from your film fest screenings and make changes. It makes the film even better when you try to sell later.

Know your genre and make sure the film opening sets that expectation.

Trends:

Creature features

Sci-fi has more legs in overseas territories

Small and big budget films are selling, but the small films need to sell well to get pre-buy offers.

Overseas markets:

No beheading scenes in horror films in the Middle East.

Family-friendly and adventure films sell really well overseas because they’re good for all ages.

Selling films to airlines add up in sales. Don’t leave this out of your sales strategy.

Horror still sells well, but no ghost stories in some territories.

American movies are not selling well in these territories as the focus is on their domestic film industries: France, Japan, South Korea, to name a few.

Drug use, nudity, foul language, and suicide scenes in films are a no-no in many overseas territories.

AI will make translation in foreign territories much easier, but bad news for voice actors who dub films.

I met a few new friends along the way.

Besides learning about the business side of filmmaking, attending this genre-focused film festival brought back memories of the vibe from my creative writing MFA program at Seton Hill University . I love hanging out with genre nerds like me! While my stay was brief, I did manage to meet a few cool people at the festival. Perhaps even future film collaborators.

If you’re looking for a fun film festival that specializes in genre films, definitely check this one out.

Beautiful backdrop of the mountains (and the moon) in Provo, Utah.

I am a Judge for the FilmQuest Film Festival!

21 Oct 2025 Leave a comment

by Gina N. Anderson in film, horror, screenwriting Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

FilmQuest Film Festival official poster in collaboration with Bloody Disgusting. Artwork by @Tentaclesandteeth.

I just finished watching 17 feature films over a period of two weeks for this year’s FilmQuest Film Festival that will be held in Provo, Utah from Oct. 23-Nov. 1, 2025. 

This was my first time being a judge for a film festival, so I wasn’t sure how many films I could review in such a short time, but I made it through. 

As a longtime lover of genre films, this was a dream come true. I enjoy watching and writing genre TV, films, and fiction, so this experience gave me greater insight into the next steps after you’ve completed the project. For some filmmakers, that might look like festival submission, distribution, audience reception, and awards! Just being nominated must be something special for the film’s crew, cast, and producers.

FilmQuest is one of the top-rated genre film festivals in the world and boasts the distinction of being the #1 best reviewed film festival on FilmFreeway. If I were an independent genre filmmaker, this festival would be one of the main stops for me because I watched films that had large budgets, and some that were clearly made with heart and passion on small budgets. In this festival, they were all on the same playing field. 

Some of the genre films that I reviewed ranged from comedy musicals to gory horror to thrillers. I viewed them all and I can truly say that each one stood out in their own way. There were a handful of thought-provoking international films as well, both in English and other languages. 

Not only did I rank the films, but also nominations for other categories, such as: Best Actress, Actor, Sound, Direction, etc. I actually found this the most difficult to rank these categories because some of the nominees were good for different reasons. 

Some of the features that have stuck with me stood out for their creative story structure and pacing, out of this world plots, and some took visual storytelling to the next level. I was very pleasantly surprised by one of the comedies that made me laugh out loud (which is hard to do) and one that had a Tarantino flavor to it. I can definitely see a few of them hitting the theaters over the next year or on a streaming channel. They were just that good. 

You can find a link to all of the features and short films (which I did not judge), and other category nominees here. The festival is on its 12th run, and based on the notable actors that I saw in some of the films, you may see some familiar faces if you attend in person. Tickets are on sale on the FilmFreeway and festival website as of the writing of this blog post, but they’re selling out fast. 

Check out the 2025 Schedule to see which days you’d like to attend if you’re like me and can’t attend all of the days. There is also an option to view the films virtually if you want to get ahead of the festival and see what all of the films are about. 

It’s been such an honor to review these films and I hope that this is the first of many more opportunities in the future. Future filmmakers, screenwriters, and film lovers can participate in film festivals in other ways like volunteering. I’d love to learn more about how others stay connected to the film community.

Full disclosure, I submitted my own screenplay to this festival, but it was not selected. Being a judge was a great cancellation prize.

Halloween Hidden Gems: Underrated Movies & TV Shows

29 Sep 2025 Leave a comment

by Gina N. Anderson in fiction, halloween, horror Tags: , , , , , , ,

It’s Halloween season again and I’m sifting through the titles so you don’t have to. Check out some of these Halloween hidden gems that you should check out by category.

Elevated Horror

Gretel & Hansel (2020): You may have missed this one because it came out during the pandemic, but it definitely deserves a hidden gem nod. Directed by quirky horror director, Oz Perkins (Longlegs and The Monkey), this film gives me the vibes of the 2015 film The Witch: atmospheric, dark and moody, oppressive family life, and eldest daughter energy. If The Witch is categorized as elevated horror, this one reaches that level, but relies more on style, composition, and pregnant pauses to increase the tension. 

The film is self-aware enough to stick to the well-trodden beats of its roots, but bold enough to ante up the slow-burn creepiness. I do see Perkins as experimenting with the atmosphere and pacing of the film, but hardcore horror fans might be put off by the scarcity of classic conventions of the horror genre. Magic and supernatural unease are present, but you might miss it between the charm of the witch and the wide-eyed awe of the protagonist, Gretel. The film is, after all, based on a classic German fairytale, and given that the original stories were dark, it was common for those times. 

Despite the setting’s era, Gretel & Hansel’s peril reflects the dark times right now. Where children aren’t safe at school or to play in the streets in the daylight, much less at night. And these two siblings certainly weren’t safe even under the roof of their own mother’s home in the first place. It felt less like a cautionary tale and more like an exploration of Gretel’s own power that she longs to wield, but burdened by her station in life and the care for her little brother. 

Last but not least, Alice Krige is terrifying as the witch, Holda. Whoever styled her costume and makeup did an excellent job of blurring the line between charming grandmother and evil crone. I highly recommend the film if you’re looking for a moody horror flick. 

Bonus: Pay close attention to the music in the film. It really complements the mood and would be a great addition to a Halloween gathering as spooky ambient music.

Here are some other films to check out from the horror genre mashup movies: 

Psychological Horror

Heretic (2024): I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this story and the fact that Hugh Grant plays the lead in a genre I’m not sure I’ve seen him in before. It drew me in even more because I dived in without any kind of prep, reviews, or hype. The story goes: Two young female missionaries visit the house of a hermit (Grant). Eager to discuss their faith with the skeptical man, they soon realize that their visit takes an unsettling turn. It’s a great example of “contained horror,” as the setting is the home they visit and there are only three main characters.  

Foreign

The Oddity (2024, Ireland): Instead of writing a review so that you can enjoy the ending, here is my version of the logline instead: A blind medium haunted by grief over her twin sister’s murder, revisits the crime scene with her golem, only to discover the truth was right under her nose. Go in blind (wink) and you won’t regret it.

Horror TV

Van Helsing (2016-2021): The show follows Vanessa Van Helsing, an enigmatic patient who wakes up from a years-long coma in the middle of a post-apocalyptic world overrun by vampires. She’s got one main mission: to find her daughter who was kidnapped before she fell into a coma. The survivors have a different plan for her: using her unique blood qualities that turn vampires back into humans. Kelly Overton does an amazing job of giving the female descendent of Abraham Van Helsing her own agency. She’s badass and she kicks vampire butt, but she’s also loyal and she’s got a heart of gold for those who follow her. Overton’s Van Helsing navigates betrayals, vengeance, but most importantly, her struggles to hold up the mantle of being humanity’s last hope. 

Black Summer (2019-2021, Netflix): I know, we’ve seen every kind of zombie concept there is, but this Z Nation spinoff is well worth the watch. And don’t worry if you haven’t seen that show because I haven’t either and I still enjoyed it. The show follows the protagonist, Rose, and her journey to find her daughter in a brutal world of a zombie apocalypse. The series starts out slow with Rose evolving from a helpless victim to a certified survivor and eventually zombie slayer. Stick with it through the second season, because that’s when it gets really good. The show is less about the zombies they’re facing and more about the inhumane humans Rose frequently rolls with to achieve her mission of finding her daughter. Not enough people watched it, but this one is definitely a hidden gem as far as TV goes. 

Lovecraft Country (2020, HBO): Don’t let the title fool you. While the TV series borrows some of Lovecraft’s monsters, the setting is very much a historical fantasy against the backdrop of racism of the deep south. The TV series follows a group of young Chicagoans on a roadtrip in search of the protagonist’s father who has gone missing in Jim Crow South. For those who have seen Green Book, you’ve seen a glimpse into the perils of traveling while black in the South at that time. But throw in a little magic, mystery, monsters, and mayhem, and you’ve got a recipe for success. I personally love how casually some of the monsters, human and inhuman, are introduced. Some episodes explore different aspects of the genre through the lens of racism: body horror, magical inheritance, possession, and even dabbles in afrofuturism. This show is worth the wild ride. You’ll never know quite where you’ll be taken next in each episode, but it’s interesting to see how they all come together in the end. Season one left off with the potential for more, but the show was cancelled. That’s okay because it absolutely works as a standalone season.  

Share your Halloween hidden gems in the comments.