Jeff Bulmer - Contra Zoom Pod

Reviews: Whatever It Takes from Hot Docs 2024

May 1, 2024

Whatever It Takes, directed by Jenny Carchman, is a gripping true-crime documentary centred around the 2019 stalking scandal of Ina and David Steiner.

Reviews: Hundreds of Beavers

February 16, 2024

Hundreds of Beavers wears its inspirations on its sleeve. An irreverent, black-and-white, live-action cartoon, it’s a survivalist western by way of Looney Tunes.

Reviews: Gran Turismo – Physical Release

November 29, 2023

The highlight of Gran Turismo are the racing scenes, which are skillfully shot and edited, the film’s pace keeping up with the cars.

Reviews: Bad CGI Gator

November 22, 2023

A group of teens being chased by a clearly computer-animated alligator is a great premise for a joke. And then it keeps trying to do it again with diminishing returns.

Review: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

November 20, 2023

Nearly 10 after The Hunger Games saga concluded with Mockingjay, director Francis Lawrence returns with an adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Reviews: Hey Viktor! from ImagineNATIVE 2023

November 3, 2023

In Cody Lightning’s debut film Hey Viktor!, Lightning plays a lightly fictionalized version of himself attempting to revitalize his failing career with a spiritual successor to his most famous film. Named for a notable line in Smoke Signals, Lightning’s 1998 acting debut, Hey Viktor! is a wildly funny look at minor fame that packs a surprising amount of heart.

Reviews: Late Night With The Devil from Toronto After Dark Film Festival

October 25, 2023

Presented as the original master tapes from the most scandalous episode of a fictional TV talk show, Late Night is a slow-burn psychological horror that’s as funny as it is terrifying and as gripping as it is kitschy.

Reviews: Fancy Dance from ImagineNATIVE 2023

October 23, 2023

Centred around the coming-of-age of a young Seneca-Cayuga girl on a road trip with her aunt, Fancy Dance deftly weaves in themes of cultural assimilation, missing and murdered indigenous women, and apathy towards crime against Native Americans.

Reviews: Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person From TIFF 2023

September 12, 2023

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is nothing if not ambitious. The feature directing debut of Ariane Louis-Seize, Humanist Vampire juggles multiple genres while exploring themes of
trauma, parenting, and depression. Unfortunately, Humanist Vampire stumbles as often as it works,
resulting in a fun, but shallow experience.

Reviews: I Don’t Know Who You Are from TIFF 2023

September 8, 2023

After he is sexually assaulted, musician Benjamin spends the weekend trying to get money for HIV-preventative treatment. Embarrassed, confused, and with his pride and life both on the line and at odds with each other, Benjamin turns to extra work and begging old friends for extra cash.