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A spoiler free review of Lynch/Oz begins with its confidence as a documentary. Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe, it leans on Amy Nicholson and Rodney Ascher to give the material a human centre. At story level, Victor Fleming's, The Wizard of Oz and David Lynch's shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. Those ingredients give the film a useful foundation, but the lasting impression depends on how well it balances mood, character and m

Godland does not need a plot heavy introduction to make its case. This is a drama shaped by performance, pacing and a strong central hook. Directed by Hlynur Pálmason, it leans on Elliott Crosset Hove and Ingvar Sigurdsson to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws At the, Danish and Iceland. The into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. From there, execution matters more than novelty. ⁠ Its strongest quality is atte

There is an appealing directness to The Forger. It knows it is a biographical drama, understands the expectations attached to that label, and then looks for small ways to give the material its own voice. Directed by Maggie Peren, it leans on Louis Hofmann and Jonathan Berlin to give the material a human centre. At story level, Cioma Schönhaus, Jewish and Gestapo shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. ⁠ The biographical material work

Smoking Causes Coughing approaches its horror material with more interest in character than a quick synopsis might suggest. Directed by Quentin Dupieux, it leans on Gilles Lellouche and Vincent Lacoste to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws Tobacco Force, group and vigilantes into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. The film's first job is to make that setup feel worth following, and it establishes the necessary

At its best, The Night of the 12th works as a thriller that puts tone and performance ahead of empty explanation. Directed by Dominik Moll, it leans on Bastien Bouillon and Bouli Lanners to give the material a human centre. At story level, For Yohan, Clara and investigator shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. The result has a recognisable personality from the opening stretch. ⁠ Suspense grows from the gap between what the characte

Immediate Family is a documentary with a clear idea of the experience it wants to create. Directed by Denny Tedesco, it leans on Phil Collins and Keith Richards to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws Documentary, follows and lives into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. That is enough context to enter the film without spoiling the turns that give it shape. ⁠ The documentary is strongest when observation is allo

A spoiler free review of Tad the Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet begins with its confidence as an animated film. Directed by Enrique Gato, it leans on Óscar Barberán and Luis Posada to give the material a human centre. At story level, Tad, Mummy and Jeff shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. Those ingredients give the film a useful foundation, but the lasting impression depends on how well it balances mood, character and momen

Maika does not need a plot heavy introduction to make its case. This is a comedy shaped by performance, pacing and a strong central hook. Directed by Ham Tran, it leans on Tom Dang and Dom Dinh to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws Hung, Maika and meteor into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. From there, execution matters more than novelty. ⁠ The humour lands most consistently through character chemistry. The

There is an appealing directness to The Territory. It knows it is a documentary, understands the expectations attached to that label, and then looks for small ways to give the material its own voice. Directed by Alex Pritz, it leans on Neidinha Bandeira and Bitaté Uru Eu Wau Wau to give the material a human centre. At story level, Brazilian, Amazon and Indigenous shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. ⁠ The documentary is strongest

The Unknown Country approaches its mystery material with more interest in character than a quick synopsis might suggest. Directed by Morrisa Maltz, it leans on Lily Gladstone and Pam Richter to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws American Midwest, Texas and Mexico into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. The film's first job is to make that setup feel worth following, and it establishes the necessary stakes effi

At its best, Scarlet works as a romance that puts tone and performance ahead of empty explanation. Directed by Pietro Marcello, it leans on Raphaël Thiéry and Juliette Jouan to give the material a human centre. At story level, emancipation, woman and twenty shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. The result has a recognisable personality from the opening stretch. ⁠ Its most convincing scenes allow affection to develop through convers

Daliland is a biographical drama with a clear idea of the experience it wants to create. Directed by Mary Harron, it leans on Ben Kingsley and Barbara Sukowa to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws Salvador Dali, New York and gallery into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. That is enough context to enter the film without spoiling the turns that give it shape. ⁠ The biographical material works best when it avoids