The Page Pedestrian

It’s been a while, but The Cut Critic is back!In this episode, I dive into a cinematic shift I’ve been obsessed with: the resurgence of gothic and surrealist cinema. This isn’t a usual episode about a single film. Instead, we’re looking at how modern filmmakers are turning inward, using gothic aesthetics, surrealism, and psychological intensity to explore identity, emotion, and anxiety in ways realism can’t.We're looking at the collapse of the 1960's–70's American studio system to today’s streaming-heavy landscape and see how indie studios like A24 are supporting filmmakers with bold, visually and emotionally distinctive work. This shift we're discussing in this episode even influenced my experimental short film, Sweet Sweet Felicity (2025), which premiered in June 2025. It is a Lynchian delight that leans fully into gothic and surrealist modes, with emotionally symbolic storytelling.Here’s a link to watch it: Sweet Sweet FelicityReferences / Suggested Viewing:A Decade Under the Influence (Dunne & Pepe, 2003)Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (Biskind, 1998)Midsommar (Ari Aster, 2019)The Substance (Vanessa Fargeat, 2024)Nosferatu (Robert Eggers, 2024)Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro, 2025)Selected films by Yorgos Lanthimos: The Lobster (2015), The Favourite (2018), Poor Things (2023), Bugonia (2025)If this topic interests you as much as it does me, drop a comment or send an email to [email protected] I might just dive even deeper next time.

In this episode of The Cut Critic, we’re diving broom-first into The Love Witch (2016), directed by Anna Biller. The film follows Elaine, a modern-day witch with a vintage aesthetic, who’s on a relentless quest for true love—armed with potions, seduction, and a dangerously obsessive streak. As her lovers fall under her spell (and drop like flies), Elaine’s fantasy of romance collides with the grim reality of her own desires. With technicolour dreamscapes, feminist satire, and a touch of Grand Guignol, we unravel the intoxicating world of this cult classic.

In this episode of The Cut Critic, we're diving into Ari Aster's 2019 daylight-horror fillm, Midsommar . It follows Dani, a grieving woman who travels with her boyfriend Christian and his friends to a rural Swedish village to attend a midsummer festival. What begins as a serene and picturesque retreat soon turns sinister as the group discovers that the villagers are part of a pagan cult with disturbing rituals. As Dani’s emotional fragility is exploited by the commune, she becomes increasingly entangled in their macabre traditions, leading to a chilling and unsettling climax. The film explores themes of grief, trauma, manipulation, and the darkness hidden beneath idyllic surfaces.

In this episode of The Cut Critic, we’re diving broom-first into The Witches of Eastwick (1987), directed by George Miller. The film follows three women who accidentally summon the devilishly charming Daryl Van Horne and find themselves tangled in a web of power, desire, and rebellion against their small-town patriarchy. With cherries, chaos, and some seriously sharp social commentary, we unravel the layers of this cult classic. P.S: Apologies if I sound a little congested—apparently, discussing witches and cherries can summon allergies too. 🧙🍒

Nocturnal Animals, directed by Tom Ford, follows Susan, an art gallery owner, who receives a manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward, whom she left years ago. As she reads the violent and haunting story, parallels between the novel's events and their past relationship begin to surface, forcing her to confront guilt and regret. The film weaves a gripping narrative about revenge, loss, and the emotional consequences of choices made. P.S - If you heard me say "Nocturnimal Animals" at any point ... no you didn't! Stop making things up!

Welcome to The Cut Critic! 🎧🎬 I’m Dani, a filmmaker talking you through the movies and shows I’m watching. In each episode, I’ll break down the good, the bad, and the weird from a filmmaker’s perspective (... A ... filmmaker. Me. My Perspective ... don't come for me! haha) We'll talk directing, cinematography, production design, narrative and all the stuff that makes a movie tick. Whether you’re a die-hard cinephile or just someone who enjoys a good movie - Welcome to The REEL World. 🎞️