Tribeca Review: Iconoclast (2026)

Follows a reclusive young man whose dangerous obsession with a live-streaming influencer increasingly erodes his grip on reality.

Iconoclast is directed by Gabriel Basso which is his directorial debut.

Iconoclast is the film I knew the least amount about going into the Tribeca Film Festival and I’m glad that was the case. This is a film that slowly but surely sets the viewer into its world and creates this surprisingly disturbing look at how damaging parasocial relationships can be, plus with a twist ending that ties everything together incredibly well.

The performances all across the board are fantastic, Gabriel Besso does such a fantastic job of giving this on the edge of being disturbed type of performance. As the film goes on we see Connor slowly but surely lose himself, just when you think he might be able to be pulled into reality he goes right back into the insanity. Besso does such a fascinating job of showcasing this whether it be through is direction of the film or his performance.

Courtney Eaton is fantastic here as well, she delivers such a tense yet relaxed performance that shows you two sides of her character Nika. Throughout the film when Connor is listening and watching Nika’s streams we only ever hear her voice, however we do get to see Nika when Connor sees her everywhere he goes. It’s a very effective way of showing the viewer two different angles of this story that once you get the full picture in the end is quite disturbing.

Finally there’s Rain Spencer who continues to impress as an actress, while Spencer’s role might seem a little undercooked during the film’s first half. She quickly starts to find a place in the film and ends up being quite effective, her character Morgan is in the dark about the whole situation with Connor and these moments of trying to unknowingly try to bring someone back to normalcy are effective. The dialogue shared between the two is fantastic, Rain Spencer seriously brings her talent front and center here.

As mentioned before, the film takes a look at how damaging parasocial relationships can be. It also does take a look at online radicalization, the film delivers some quite disturbing and raw moments that sharpen the film’s narrative in this careful way that avoids making it come off as disturbing for the sake of being disturbing. Besso’s direction definitely helps here, the slow burn element that Besso includes here works wonders for the film. It helps create this atmosphere that the viewer slowly but surely gets put into, all of this adds up to the film’s ending which does leave quite an impact on the viewer.

Overall Iconoclast is a very well acted, directed and atmospheric ride from beginning to end. The film’s pacing can definitely feel a bit too slow at times, however that is not enough to stop the film from being quite effective.

Iconoclast currently has no release date.

8/10 B+

How To Make A Killing (2026) Film Review

A disinherited man, Becket Redfellow, systematically murders his way up the line of succession to claim his family’s fortune.

How To Make A Killing is directed by John Patton Ford director of Emily The Criminal (2022).

How To Make A Killing has its flaws, but it’s an overall entertaining ride with a solid cast that does lift the material in entertaining ways.

Glen Powell shows a lot of charisma here, he plays Becket Redfellow in this humorous and charming way that you can’t help but feel invested into him as a character. He works with the cast quite well particularly with Margaret Qualley and Jessica Henwick. Margaret Qualley brings this charm to the film as well and brings this femme fatale into the mix that is quite effective, Jessica Henwick has great chemistry with the cast. Her story can feel a bit out of place with the chaos happening, but she manages to make it work in the end.

The writing has some very humorous moments and brings this satirical edge to the mix as well. There definitely are moments where the film does get a bit too ridiculous and admittedly the ending does give off the vibe of rushing something together due to not really knowing how to close out the film. But I do think everything that came before the ending does work together decently well.

The pacing can be very inconsistent at times, some sections of the film have this nice atmospheric and fun feel, while others have this rushed feel that doesn’t flow together all that well. The character moments are fine enough and although brief, the flashback scenes do give us a bit more information about Julia Steinfeld (played by Margaret Qualley.)

Overall there really isn’t a whole lot to say here, How To Make A Killing isn’t really saying anything new. But it is admittedly a very entertaining ride that does have a fun cast, great humor and works purely on charm.

How To Make A Killing is available on all VOD platforms.

7/10 B

Quick Review: Apex (2026)

A woman seeking isolation in the Australian wilderness becomes the target of a ritualistic killer, forcing her into a brutal fight for survival.

Apex is directed by Baltasar Kormákur director of 2 Guns (2013), Everest (2015), Adrift (2018), Beast (2022) and many others.

Apex is your very typical cat and mouse thriller, the material is elevated a tiny bit due to the talent of Taron Egerton and Charlize Theron being involved. But outside of that, this is a quite forgettable thriller that doesn’t quite stick the landing.

Charlize Theron gives a solid performance here, it’s not going to go down as one of her greatest but she still has her natural charm here that works effectively. Taron Egerton plays an unhinged maniac and it works perfectly, Egerton is able to take the movie’s more over the top moments and turn them into something genuinely creepy. Plus he captures the atmosphere the movie requires so that’s always a bonus.

What the movie struggles here with the most is just not having a whole lot of meat on the bone. The exploration of grief is very hollow and really is nothing more than a jumping pad to get Sasha (played by Charlize Theron) into the woods, when you take away the movie’s surprisingly decent production value it is just another Netflix thriller that really doesn’t go anywhere that interesting.

Overall Apex is not terrible, you could easily do a whole lot worse and if you are looking for a late night watch or something quick to put on the movie gets the job done. However if you are looking for something with a lot more substance, you are going to be disappointed with this one. Hadn’t been for Theron and Egerton, Apex would have sank far sooner.

Apex is available on Netflix.

5/10 C

Psycho Killer (2026) Film Review

A police officer tracks a serial killer known as “the Satanic Slasher” after he kills her husband.

Psycho Killer is directed by Gavin Polone which is his directorial debut.

Before you ask no Psycho Killer by Talking Heads is not in this movie. Anyways Psycho Killer is such an absolute mess of a movie that it’s almost impressive. This is basically one of those detective tries to catch a serial killer movies but done incredibly poorly. Which is sort of funny since writer Andrew Kevin Walker (writer of Seven (1995)) is involved with this movie.

First and foremost the characters are not interesting at all, outside of a few decent moments from Georgina Campbell who really tries her best to salvage what she can. The rest of the cast just can’t help this movie at all, I’m not exactly sure how they made the antagonist of the movie the Satanic Slasher incredibly boring but they somehow did it. The voice they decided to go with for the character sounds like an edgelord (I hate using this term but it’s truly the best way to describe it) of Bane from The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Which leads to the character not being taken seriously at all from the viewer, especially when you don’t have the suspenseful atmosphere to back it up.

The main problem here is the script, there is no originality here. Every single cliche you can think of that’s in a horror movie about a serial killer is here and each of these cliches are done at their worst, it’s almost impressive to see just how many cliches are packed into this movie. The incredibly clunky dialogue does the movie no favors at all, a lot of the conversations have no depth and fail to invest the viewer. The movie’s characters make observations that the viewer had long since made which in turn makes the whole mystery element irrelevant.

The only other positive outside of Georgina Campbell’s performance is the movie’s opening. It’s the only time during this 91 minute mess where you can actually feel the atmosphere be thrilling and what does end up happening is genuinely nasty, it gives the movie a nice little boost to hopefully take advantage of but then the rest of the movie happens.

There really isn’t much more to say here, Psycho Killer is by far one of the worst movies of the year so far. It’s baffling how much of a mess and truly awful this one gets as it goes on.

Psycho Killer is available on all VOD platforms.

1/10 F

Over Your Dead Body (2026) Film Review

A couple with secret plans to murder each other at a remote cabin find their schemes unravel when strangers arrive, leading to chaotic carnage.

Over Your Dead Body is directed by Jorma Taccone director of MacGruber (2010) and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016). The film is an English-language remake of The Trip (2021).

Over Your Dead Body is a fun ride that definitely has its bumps in the road, but for the most part sticks the landing due to some incredibly fun slapstick and a really solid cast.

Jason Segel and Samara Weaving work incredibly well together, Segel brings a lot of the film’s humor. He is able to match the film’s chaotic and slapstick nature and even moves away from his traditional comedic roles and goes far more chaotic and riotous. Samara Weaving continues to show that she’s one of the most exciting actresses working today, she uses a lot of what makes her performance in horror comedies such as the Ready Or Not movies so great and applies here. It’s definitely not as large in scale, but it’s still very entertaining and much like Segel’s performance, it matches the tone of the film incredibly well.

Timothy Olyphant and Juliette Lewis are both great here as well. Olyphant always brings a certain intensity to his villain roles and here is no exception, Juliette Lewis gives an entertaining performance that is filled to the brim with this balance of humor and genuine craziness. The two add a lot of spirit and fun to the film that really helps it stand out.

The writing definitely has its ups and downs, while the film is quite entertaining and has some genuinely funny scenes. There is one particular bit associated with sexual assault that feels like it goes on for way too long, it’s horribly handled and seemingly comes out of nowhere. I’m obviously not trying to say a film can’t depict heavy subjects, however there is no commentary here and it does really suck the air out of the movie.

However I do think the film recovers from this eventually as the third act is a decently fun (although very predictable) slapstick fest with gore that is quite fun. There is clearly a lot of fun energy poured into this final act that brings the the slapstick portion of the film front and center, especially when you combine it with Segel and Weaving’s facial reactions and body language.

Overall Over Your Dead Body is fun enough movie that doesn’t overstay its welcome, it’s a very quick 105 minutes that fans of the thriller comedy genre will enjoy.

Over Your Dead Body releases Friday in Theaters.

6/10 C+

Crime 101 (2026) Film Review

An elusive jewel thief’s final score puts him in conflict with a determined detective and an insurance broker, blurring the lines between hunter and hunted.

Crime 101 is directed by Bart Layton director of The Imposter (2012) and American Animals (2018).

Crime 101 is essentially Michael Mann lite, but it still is quite great in its own ways, even if the film may not be doing anything new. But it is still a quite fun time all around.

The performances are what really make the movie work. Chris Hemsworth gives a strong performance and brings nuance to his character, Hemsworth captures the film’s atmosphere almost immediately and only adds on to it as the plot starts to reveal itself. Mark Ruffalo is reliably intense and Halle Berry serves as the emotional weight of the film, she works incredibly well with the rest of the cast and has a ton of great moments with Hemsworth. Barry Keoghan much like Hemsworth (all be it in a much more louder way) fits the atmosphere and goes all out when required.

The visuals are quite strong with cinematographer Erik Wilson really bringing the film’s world to life, the classic L.A. crime setting pops out wonderfully and the attention to detail with the lighting is genuinely gorgeous. The tension during the film’s man car chase scenes are filled to the brim with atmosphere and thrills that are enough to keep the viewer invested, they never go over the top and try to remain as focused as possible.

Where Crime 101 suffers is the running time and a bit of a very thinly written story. The film goes on for a bit too long especially with scenes with Maya (played by Monica Barbaro) who is Mike/James Davis’s (played by Chris Hemsworth) love interest that just really do not add to the plot. The story isn’t exactly anything new, if you have seen any sort of crime thriller before you are going to recognize a lot of different elements almost immediately.

With that being said, Crime 101 is still a lot of fun. It’s not going to break any new ground, however it’s well directed, acted and made. If you are a fan of the genre you should give this one a go.

Crime 101 is available on all VOD platforms.

7/10 B

Honey Bunch (2026) Film Review

Diana is a head trauma patient with memory loss whose husband takes her to a secluded, “cozy” mansion for a radical new treatment, only to find the staff is secretive and the therapy disturbing.

Honey Bunch is directed by Dusty Mancinelli and Madeleine Sims-Fewer both of which previously directed Violation (2020).

I was very impressed with Mancinelli’s and Fewer’s directorial debut Violation (2020) so I was very excited to see what they would do next, while Honey Bunch isn’t as good as Violation (2020) I still do think this is an incredibly solid follow up and has a lot to like about it.

The performances are solid, particularly Grace Glowicki as Diana. Glowicki gives a believable, meditative and this psychological performance almost like we are seeing through her eyes. It’s a stunning performance that really gives the viewer a lot to explore as the movie progresses, she also delivers some genuinely sweet and vulnerable moments that stick with the viewer throughout the experience.

The whole theme of memory being recovered and feeling the unease about relationships is so well done here, it’s done at this slow burn type of pace that slowly creeps up on you and ultimately shows the final result. The tone plays into why the film works as well as it does, it’s unnerving and at times oddly whimsical. It reveals itself in dissociation and ambiguity without ever fully explaining itself, it keeps the viewer informed just the right amount to have you stay on the ride.

The technical aspects such as the cinematography from cinematographer Adam Crosby is very beautifully done and gives the film a personality, it has this balance of beauty and darkness that is truly mesmerizing and really keeps the viewer invested and motivates the viewer to explore the film’s world. There’s a lot of striking moments here that really leave you in awe.

Overall Honey Bunch might have some pacing problems, however the film makes up for it with just about everything else. If you are a fan of slow burn horror films this is definitely something worth checking out!

Honey Bunch is available on Shudder.

7/10 B

Sweetness (2026) Film Review

When a superfan learns that her rock-star idol is spiraling into addiction, she makes it her mission to save him, whether he wants her help or not. However, when her desperate plan spins out of control, she kidnaps him in a delusional attempt to fix him. What started as compassion soon turns into captivity as she locks him away in the name of love.

Sweetness is directed by Emma Higgins which is her directorial debut

Sweetness is basically Gen-Z Misery (1990), the main difference here is this movie released at a time where Stan culture is at its most insufferable. This one mainly focuses on the teenage celebrity obsession which the movie surprisingly executes quite well.

It helps that the Rylee (played by Kate Hallett) and her friend Syd (played by Aya Furukawa) actually do look like teenagers, it makes the movie a bit more on the grounded side and helps execute its themes a lot better. Hallett and Furukawa also give great performances as well and lead to some interesting dialogue exchanges. Hallett sells the transition from an awkward and lovestruck teenager to somebody who is very unhinged in this quite disturbing and realistic way. Without Hallett I don’t think Sweetness would have worked nearly as well as it did.

When it comes to tone and pacing , Emma Higgins nails it. She slowly builds this atmosphere around Rylee, she starts out friendly and being lovestruck then slowly but surely turns unhinged. It’s carefully done and does not feel rushed at all, there might not be as many powerful and striking moments as there were in Misery (1990) but it’s still quite impressive to see how well crafted and paced Sweetness really is with its tone.

There are definitely moments in the writing where you need to suspend your disbelief, but even then those moments make for an interesting satirical edge that grabs the viewer’s attention. The character writing for Rylee is actually quite solid, we get a quite tragic backstory as to why she became the way she did and it’s all told decently well.

Overall Sweetness is a decent little thriller, it’s definitely not going to reinvent the whole Misery (1990) premise but I do think the way the story is told and the performances make this one worth a watch.

Sweetness is available on all VOD platforms.

6/10 C+

Pretty Lethal (2026) Film Review

Five ballerinas find themselves in a fight for their lives when they seek shelter at a mysterious roadside inn that’s run by a former ballet prodigy.

Pretty Lethal is directed by Vickey Jewson director of Lady Godiva (2008), Born Of War (2014) and Close (2019).

Pretty Lethal is basically if you took the John Wick franchise and put in five ballerinas, the movie has its flaws the major one being the character writing. However the final result is admittedly quite fun due to the action, kills, fight choreography and the chemistry between the cast.

While the performances here aren’t going to hit the ball out of the park, they are far from bad. Maddie Ziegler, Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds and Avantika all work together quite nicely especially during the action scenes where they use some team up techniques. You can really feel the passion and fun through these scenes, as I said before the character writing has its issues. We really do not get a whole lot of information about the girls outside of Bones (played by Maddie Ziegler) and Princess (played by Lana Condor), even then it is very surface level at best. Despite that however the girls are able to make it work and deliver satisfying enough performances. Uma Thurman gives an incredibly campy performance that is entertaining enough to stand (although the dialogue really does not help in some cases.)

The fight choreography combined with the kills are the movie’s best parts, the kills are surprisingly brutal and match the thrilling atmosphere the movie is going for. The fight choreography is especially impressive when the previously mentioned team up techniques are shown off, it feels like the cast is in sync with one another which actually tells a lot more about their bond than the script ever does.

The main problem here as I said before is the character writing, it ranges from not being really present to surface level and that becomes apparent later on when the movie tries to bring in the emotional moments which sadly do not really work. They feel very tacked on and while the acting works decently enough, the corny dialogue that rears its head is not doing the movie any favors.

Overall Pretty Lethal is decently fun, it’s not a great movie and it’s completely understandable if someone checks out of this movie early on. However I would be lying if I said I did not have fun with it, the movie does just enough to satisfy the viewer if they are looking for great kills and excellent choreography.

Pretty Lethal is available on Amazon Prime Video.

6/10 C+

Thrash (2026) Film Review

A massive hurricane floods a South Carolina town, and bull sharks swim inland, forcing residents to fight for survival.

Trash is directed by Tommy Wirkola director of Dead Snow (2009), Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013), Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead (2014), What Happened to Monday (2017), Violent Night (2022) and a few others.

Not a whole lot to comment on here since Thrash is basically if you took the idea of Crawl (2019) and replaced the alligators with sharks. It’s also clear that Netflix was trying to get their Sharknado (2013) moment with this movie, however all this results in is a very dull shark movie that has a good cast and some decent kills but that is really about it.

Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak and Djimon Hounsou all give fine enough performances, the character writing however is incredibly bland and just doesn’t have the investing or striking moments it needs to draw the viewer in. Had the movie just went nuts with the idea rather than trying to have a serious tone at certain points with the characters I think you could have maybe given this a pass. However the movie opts to go the tonally confused route with its character writing that ultimately hurts itself.

I think the main problem here is the movie wants a little bit of everything. It wants to be this silly and over the top shark movie while also wanting to be taken seriously during a lot of moments. The way the movie tries to execute this is rough and really feels like they are just trying to pad out time, the scenes with the kids raised by the abusive caretaker family are quite terrible and feel incredibly out of place. I get that most shark movies aren’t made with character writing in mind, however this does feel quite lazy and almost feels like there wasn’t exactly an attempt to really try.

I’m struggling to think of more to say, Thrash is a very forgettable shark movie that you are absolutely going to forget about almost immediately after watching.

Trash is available on Netflix.

3/10 D-