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The Evolution of Election
Veronica writes an ode to Alexander Payne’s Election – a perfect microcosm of the US, our inherent mistrust of ambitious women, and the gross reality of being a human.
Post-Anime Club: Jigoku & Blind Beast
Carlo and Jenna go to HELL in the latest episode of Post-Anime Club with a double feature of two horror films from 1960s Japan – Jigoku (1960) and Blind Beast (1969)
Hoser Horror: An Interview with Allan Levine (Emmeritus Productions & More!)
On this episode of Hoser Horror, Dan talks to Allan Levine about their history with Emmeritus Productions, their long career in the Canadian film industry, and so much more!
Lights, Camera, Make It Pop: A Review of Quentin Dupieux's Keep An Eye Out
Quentin Dupieux's Keep An Eye Out is a smart mashing of the worlds of commercial art versus personal art. It's surprisingly straight foward but, in the surreal world of Dupieux, making sense does not always land you where you thought it would.
A Conversation with Lynn Novick on Hemingway, Masculinity, Mythos & Filmmaking
Emmy award-winning filmmaker Lynn Novick talks with Jenna about her latest documentary Hemingway, including how to read his work, the prison of his masculinity and Hemingway’s relevancy for modern day audiences. They also touch upon being a female filmmaker and her collaborations with Ken Burns.
Reevaluating Toxic Genius in Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's Hemingway Documentary
At a time when giving toxic male personalities a second look may feel almost like a step backwards, Hemingway makes a strong case for trying. Novick and Burns tackle Hemingway's troubled legacy by looking at his life through his wives, working to separate the myth from the decidedly more interesting man.
Criticism, Critiques, People & Perfection: A Discussion with Jenna & Veronica
Jenna & Veronica discuss an essay by Pauline Kael reflecting on people's hostile responses to her writing while they reflect on their own experiences as female film critics. They touch upon multiple topics–from hate mail, the concept of perfection and how to give and receive criticisms–so stop NAGGING us already GOD retweet sideye #lame
Female Anxiety Films: Women's History Month Edition
Anxiety is what bonds us women together, even more than that sisterhood junk or whichever biological grossness, because it exists inside every type of woman there is. If you’ve spent a minute of your life as a woman, you’ve experienced female anxiety. That’s just the way it goes.
Get Rollin' to Big Fun at the House Party
On Notes from the Back Row, Carlo and Dan dive into a trio of hip-hop and music based feature films that span from the early eighties and into the nineties–Get Rollin (1980), Big Fun in the Big Town (1985) and House Party (1990)
The 3rd Annual Back Rowsie Awards: Overcoming This Fraught Future
For this 3rd Annual Back Rowsie awards we are keeping it loose and riffing on all that the world of cinema in 2020 had to offer us. We're talkin' movies, we're talkin' documentaries, we're talkin'... Wesley Snipes movies? Doctor Sleep? Making funny eyyy ohhhhh New Yawk accents? Why not. 2020 broke us.
Keith Thomas' The Vigil Review: Jewish Demons Can Possess Too, You Know
Finally, a movie that acknowledges how Jewish mysticism can freak people out just as well as any ol’ Christian folk horror. L’chaim!
Back Row's Fourth Year in Movie Reviews, Podcasts & Lists
Back Row turns four on Saturday! This past year we shifted focus a bit more to reviewing new films as they came out, but judging from our most popular articles it seems the audience wants what their hearts want: MORE BLOOD.
Veronica's Top New To Me Movies of 2020
There’s no number attached to Veronica’s “best of” list for 2020. This year, she’ll mention as many movies as she can remember seeing and liking well enough because, well, with theaters closed it was kind of hard for her to see much of anything. Dreaming of you movie theaters, xoxo come back soon.
Jenna's Top Ten Movies of 2020
A great documentary, skillful character studies and a handful of surprisingly original biopics kept 2020 afloat for Jenna. Here’s hoping this under appreciated cinematic year, full of intriguing introspective visions, is the shape of things to come for the decade.
Ten Reasons Why Eric Roberts Was My Rock in the Year of the Curse, 2020
If there’s one guy who deserves some sort of Nic Cage-level renaissance, it’s Eric Roberts. With a filmography that’s over 300 films long, there’s no lack of hidden gems to discover. Let’s begin.
Dan's Top Film Discoveries of 2020
Dan says 2020 sucked but watching these movies didn’t. Maybe you can find a couple new gems to watch to hopefully ensure that 2021 is less shitty.
Double Feature: 30-Something Delinquents Going on 16 (Crime in the Streets & The Delicate Delinquent)
Turning 30 can be rough. All that peer pressure, awkward insecurity, fights with mom, not to mention the raging hormones… Wait did I say 30? I meant 16. Sorry, I get those two confused somehow, just like our double feature: Crime in the Streets & The Delicate Delinquent.
Hoser Horror: Top of the Food Chain (1999) & Corpse Eaters (1974)
Join Carlo and Dan as they talk about two completely random, theme-less Canadian horror movies that they happened to want to watch this week: Food Chain (1999) & Corpse Eaters (1974)
Hoser Horror: Witchboard III - The Possession (1995) & Bleeders (1997)
This week on Hoser Horror, Carlo and Dan are joined by Heather from the Movie Melt! Podcast and Compañeros Radio Network to discuss two Canadian horror movies of varying quality and thematic relevance.
Christmas Capers and Comedies to Lighten Up This Shitty Year
And so this is Christmas… doesn’t mean Veronica’s gotta be all sentimental about it. Here’s a list of three perfectly hilarious Christmas films to bring you joy, whether they mean to be funny or not.

