Andrew J. Salazar

3 weeks ago | discussingfilm.net | Andrew J. Salazar

The Final Destination franchise is finally back after a 14-year hiatus, but at the risk of writing a shameless pun, it could be dead on arrival. Halloween (2018) kicked off a new era for horror legacy sequels, with Hollywood studios reviving any IPs they could still get their hands on. From The Craft: Legacy (2020) to Candyman (2021) to Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) to The Exorcist: Believer (2023), the success rate of bringing horror franchises back has been very hit or miss.

1 month ago | discussingfilm.net | Andrew J. Salazar

Isaiah Saxon’s The Legend of Ochi (2025) is as ambitious as a feature directorial debut can get. An original, family-friendly fantasy adventure that relies heavily on puppetry and practical creature effects? In today’s economy, no such projects exist outside of intellectual property (IP). Even when examining the current examples in Hollywood franchises, it’s only in staples like Star Wars that such fantastical productions are given the platform for success.

1 month ago | discussingfilm.net | Andrew J. Salazar

Sinners (2025) is writer-director Ryan Coogler‘s most ambitious work yet. It’s a reflective Southern tale of legacy that thematically spans decades. How does each generation define the culture? Moreover, how much humility and guilt is each generation willing to accept in order to shield that culture from appropriation?

Mar 10, 2025 | discussingfilm.net | Andrew J. Salazar

Filmmaker Christopher Landon has played a significant role in establishing Blumhouse as a household name in horror. He is, of course, most famous for writing and directing the two beloved Happy Death Day movies and 2020’s Freaky. However, his history with famed producer Jason Blum goes much further back, having written five of the seven films in the Paranormal Activity franchise.

Mar 2, 2025 | discussingfilm.net | Andrew J. Salazar

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is now preparing to celebrate and announce the winners of the 97th Academy Awards. The 2025 Oscars will be the culmination of one of the most unpredictable and, frankly, chaotic award races in recent years. Quite a few major races are being declared “too close to call” heading into Oscars night. Best Actor is between predicted leader Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) and underdog Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown).