review

Reviews of the top geek movies, tv, and books in the industry.

Villainess Review: Amanda (Disturbing the Peace)
It's been a minute, or two, or three, since I've written a Villainess Review, though the year-end Top 10 lists centered on Lifetime film villainesses feel like a big two-part review. One of my big promises for 2026: the Villainess Reviews will be plentiful again. I don't have a set schedule for them; I never do. But there will be quite a bit on Vocal, as this April will mark my fifth anniversary of me actually doing this. Fittingly, my very first of almost 2000 stories on this site was a Villainess Review.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Geeks
Hamnet (2025)
Hamnet is an historical drama, directed by Chloe Zhao, adapted from the 2020 novel by Maggie O’Farrell. It is an imagined, fictionalised account of Agnes Hathaway’s life with William Shakespeare, with the action centred on the death of their son from the bubonic plague. It has received critical success and Jessie Buckley recently won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama.
By Rachel Robbins2 months ago in Geeks
Heated Rivalry
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past 8 weeks, then you must have at least heard about this little Canadian show called Heated Rivalry that has, quite literally, taken over the world. It seems crazy that less than two months ago, none of us knew about this show or these characters. I don't know about you, but I cannot go on social media right now without having my entire timeline flooded by Heated Rivalry posts (which I am not complaining about, if anything I would like to see even more).
By Kaiya J2 months ago in Geeks
Why The Last Holiday Still Resonates Even 20 Years Later
Plot Summary Georgia Byrd, a kindhearted but shy department store employee, discovers she has a terminal illness. Faced with her mortality, she decides to abandon her mundane life and take a lavish vacation to Europe, determined to live life to the fullest before her passing. Along the way, Georgia embraces adventure, discovers her own courage, and forms unexpected friendships that change her outlook. Amid luxury hotels, fine dining, and breathtaking scenery, she also encounters romance and laughter, learning to cherish every moment. The Last Holiday is a heartfelt story about finding the true joy of life and self-discovery.
By TheScreenAnalyst2 months ago in Geeks
Presence
Steven Soderberg is one of those directors that when he hits, he hits and when he doesn’t, it's terrible. Well his newest project, Presence, was released earlier this year and it's one of his best.
By Alexandrea Callaghan2 months ago in Geeks
The Life of Chuck
Life of Chuck really assembled an interesting and wonderful team of creatives, to the point where I really don’t care what the movie is actually about. Mike Flanagan, Tom Hiddleston, Stephen King, Matthew Lillard, Karen Gillis, seriously this list is incredible. We even have Offerman doing a voiceover. So just based off of the list of people involved I knew I wanted to see this movie.
By Alexandrea Callaghan2 months ago in Geeks
Thoughts on Stranger Things 5
Recalling cultural zeitgeists like HBO's Game of Thrones or the BBC's Sherlock, especially their lacklustre final seasons, gave legitimate reason for audiences to apprehend the quality of Netflix's final run of the hit series Stranger Things, released in three volumes over the last two months of 2025. The sense of finality has been undeniably palpable, given the show's success and decade-long run. Fans wanted to experience a proper conclusion to a story many around the world have grown up with. And like Benioff and Weiss, or Moffat and Gatiss, Stranger Things' creators - the Duffers - have irrevocably and indisputably proven themselves to be... well... just another pair of hack writers.
By Andrei Babanin2 months ago in Geeks
Stranger Things Season 5 Review
**There may be spoilers ahead! After waiting for so long, we got what we were all waiting for season 5 of Stranger Things. Theories were made, declarations of who will die were cast, and the hope of Hawkins laid out. Given to the people in three sections, we had to wait even longer still to find out what would happen to our D&D kids.
By Rich Burton2 months ago in Geeks
"Beyond the Gates" Weeks 38-44 Recap
It's been a minute since I delivered a Beyond the Gates recap, but I want to start with this. If you had told me that in 2025 and now into 2026 that I'd be religiously watching any soap opera, I would have looked at you like you had three heads or something. My feelings about soaps had always been complicated. I had peeped into some of the classics at times, but I was never a religious viewer. A question I never asked myself was this: "What would it take for me to actually watch a soap every day?"
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Geeks
Jay Kelly - A Netflix Movie Review
Are you running to something or from something? Jay Kelly is a 2025 film about a famous movie actor who is beginning to have doubts about his career. While on the train to his next job, Jay reflects on his life, confronting his past and present.
By Marielle Sabbag2 months ago in Geeks
A Second Look at Hierarchy: Things I loved
Hierarchy is a Korean teen mystery scandal with seven episodes. I watched it in the past, and I've rewatched it again to write this review.
By BBW2 months ago in Geeks
Hamnet Movie Review
Debuting ten years ago with Songs My Brothers Taught Me, Chloe Zhao has a keen eye for deeply poignant connections. Following a brief stint in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Zhao has started 2026 with a powerful production, one that will certainly be up for many awards and widespread praise.
By Robert Cain2 months ago in Geeks