Alise Chaffins

Morgantown

Freelance Film Critic at Freelance

Author. Film Critic. Soup Eater. Member: @ifscritics @thecherrypicks @dorianawards #OFTA Bylines: @domionpostwv @movieswetexted @loudandclearrvs Views are mine

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Articles

The White Lotus Season 3 Review

2 weeks ago | loudandclearreviews.com | Alise Chaffins

In season 3 of The White Lotus on HBO, Mike White continues his fascinating character studies of the ultra-rich and how wealth influences their decisions.
Shudderbugs Review: A Study in Solitude

4 weeks ago | loudandclearreviews.com | Alise Chaffins

In her directorial debut, Shudderbugs, Johanna Putnam creates a psychological thriller that examines the pain of losing a parent. Writer and Director: Johanna PutnamGenre: Drama, Psychological ThrillerRun Time: 105′U.S. Release: March 25, 2025U.K. Release: TBAWhere to Watch: On digital and on demandThe death of a parent is often a traumatic event and one that has been explored in film numerous times.
The Stimming Pool Review: Diving into Autism

1 month ago | loudandclearreviews.com | Alise Chaffins

The Stimming Pool is a documentary that blends fantastical elements with traditional techniques to share what it is like to live as an autistic person.
The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Review

1 month ago | loudandclearreviews.com | Alise Chaffins

Season 4 of Danny McBride’s The Righteous Gemstones on HBO provides thrills, laughs, and a few tears as we bid farewell to the Gemstone family.
Common Side Effects Review: A Cure for Binary Thinking

1 month ago | loudandclearreviews.com | Alise Chaffins

Adult Swim’s animated series Common Side Effects by Joseph Bennett and Steve Hely asks what would happen if there was a cure to all diseases. Showrunners: Joseph Bennett & Steve HelyGenre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, ThrillerNumber of Episodes: 10Release Date: February 2, 2025, followed by weekly episodesWhere to Watch: Adult Swim (US) / Channel 4 (UK & Ireland)What if there was a drug that could cure every ailment, and even bring you back from death?
The Studio Review: Hilarious Niche Comedy

1 month ago | loudandclearreviews.com | Alise Chaffins

The Studio, a new comedy from Apple TV+, follows the president of Continental Studios as he learns to balance his love of film with the bottom line. Creators: Alex Gregory. Peter Huyck & Evan GoldbergGenre: Comedy SeriesNumber of Episodes: 10Release Date: 2-episode premiere on March 26, 2025, followed by weekly episodes with finale on May 21Where to Watch: Apple TV+Most people, even those interested in the business, are a bit puzzled by the inner workings of movie studios.
To Wong Foo: An Imperfect Film for an Imperfect Time

1 month ago | loudandclearreviews.com | Alise Chaffins

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar is an LGBTQ film that highlights goodness at a time when that is necessary. When I first watched Beeban Kidron’s comedy To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar in 1995, I had no idea that 30 years later, I would have a blended family with six kids, five of whom would be transgender.
The Summer With Carmen Review: Queer, Sexy, Fun!

1 month ago | loudandclearreviews.com | Alise Chaffins

The Summer with Carmen is a fun film exploring friendship and breakups and the hero’s journey while also being a meta-commentary on queer filmmaking. Director: Zacharias MavroeidisGenre: Comedy, DramaRun Time: 106′U.K. Release: February 28, 2025 in selected UK cinemasU.S. Release: TBAAccording to the rules of filmmaking, as established in Zacharias Mavroeidis’s film The Summer with Carmen (To Kalokairi tis Karmen), the hero of your film must be able to undergo a change.
Mom Review: The Horror of Shaming Depression

2 months ago | loudandclearreviews.com | Alise Chaffins

Adam O’Brien’s supernatural horror film Mom takes us inside a haunted house and a tortured woman following the birth of her son. Content Note: This review of Mom includes conversations about mental illness, postpartum depression, and infant death, which could be upsetting to some readers.
Good Bad Things Review: Love & Disability

2 months ago | loudandclearreviews.com | Alise Chaffins

In Good Bad Things, director Shane Stanger and disabled actor Danny Kurtzman bring a unique and necessary perspective to the rom-com genre. Director: Shane StangerGenre: Drama, Rom-ComRun Time: 96′U.S. Release: February 4, 2025U.K. Release: TBAWhere to Watch: On digital platformsPlenty of identities are underrepresented on film, but the disability community is one of the most overlooked. Writer and director Shane D. Stanger is looking to remedy that with his new rom-com, Good Bad Things.