Rian Johnson Hilariously Riffs on Agatha Christie with “Knives Out”
Agatha Christie’s estate in England has made a concerted effort over the past few years to revitalize the late, great author’s works, particularly in adaptations for the big and small screen. Kenneth Branagh and John Malkovich both rebooted Hercule Poirot in various vehicles, and the BBC produced two critically-acclaimed TV movies with And Then There […]
“Don’t Let Go” Twists Its Mystery into a Mobius Strip
One has to commend writer/director Jacob Estes for his committed and earnest attempt to turn the mystery genre on its ear. For starters, he grounds his new film Don’t Let Go in the middle-class black community of Los Angeles, a setting that rarely gets showcased in mainstream cinema. Next, his story touches on compelling topics […]
“Everybody Knows” Tells A Subtle Tale of Family Betrayal
The language of cinema may be universal, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that every genre will be approached similarly from country to country. When it comes to thrillers, the Europeans have rarely been interested in the slam-bam kinetics that define American-made action. Instead, foreign thrillers place more emphasis on character and mood than quick cuts […]
Summer of 84 Screenwriters Breathe Fresh Life Into A Serial Killer Movie
In keeping with the current spate of eighties-themed films and TV shows, Summer of 84 is slow-burning thriller film starring Rich Sommer, best known as Harry Crane from Mad Men. Creative Screenwriting stepped out to chat with the screenwriters Matt Leslie and Stephen Smith about their writing process from script to screen. Screenwriter Matt Leslie […]
