When Hostel was released theatrically in 2006 (it technically debuted in 2005 at the Toronto International Film Festival), it arrived like a blunt instrument. Audiences recoiled, critics argued, and the term “torture porn” entered the mainstream horror lexicon almost overnight. Directed by Eli Roth and produced by Quentin Tarantino, Hostel quickly became a lightning rod…
We might be one week into the year, but there’s every chance we’ve already seen the set of the year, in the form of Turnstile at their Hordern Pavilion headline show. Yes, it’s a big call considering there’s a plethora of festivals ahead of us, a multitude of announced and unannounced tours coming our way,…
The Alliance Française French Film Festival is gearing up for another major year, offering audiences an early taste of what’s to come in 2026 with the announcement of seven standout titles from its upcoming program. After drawing a record-breaking crowd of nearly 199,000 attendees in 2025, the festival – now firmly established as Australia’s largest…
At just 24, James Barry already sounds like an artist who’s lived a few musical lifetimes. Releasing music under his indie project link3 since late 2022, Barry’s journey has been shaped by instinct, curiosity and a very clear vision, rooted in a self-described ‘slowcore revival’. Growing up in Australia, he gravitated towards the quiet intensity…
Fans can rejoicify and return to the Emerald City as Wicked: For Good, the epic conclusion to the untold story of the witches of Oz, arrives on digital platforms today (January 6th). After debuting at #1 at the global box office and earning a thrillifying USD $223 million, the film surpassed Part One as the…
It’s not a surprise that Google’s Pixel line is the fastest-growing in the space. I think since the 8, Google has done more to convert Apple users over to Android than Samsung ever has. The company’s software superiority is no longer the only reason for this. Designers have clearly stepped up in these past few…
When Christy Martin exploded into the public consciousness in the 1990s, she didn’t just change the visibility of women’s boxing – she redefined what strength could look like when it refused to be contained. Christy revisits that seismic rise through the eyes of those tasked with bringing her story to the screen: Sydney Sweeney, whose…
In Christy, writer-director David Michôd turns his gaze away from the brittle myths of masculine bravado that have long defined his work, and towards a woman whose strength was forged in public, pressure and pain. The film charts the life of boxing trailblazer Christy Martin not as a sports legend alone, but as someone who…
Sydney Sweeney has really been doing a commendable job of proving that, as an actress, she’s so much more than what we see on Euphoria. Whilst there have been the expected streaming filmic choices (a Netflix horror effort, an Amazon sex thriller) and a dip into the superhero subsect (farewell Madame Web, we hardly knew…
Returning to the country for the first time in three and half years, Joy Crookes took to Sydney’s Enmore Theatre stage to deliver a smooth, sultry and genuinely funny set in support of her second album Juniper. In town performing on a selection of new year’s festivals, the English artist was in fine form as…
London singer-songwriter Joy Crookes performed for the first time in Sydney in over three years at the Enmore Theatre, playing songs off her critically acclaimed 2025 album Juniper and debut album Skin. Her songs draw from smoky jazz phrasing and soul tradition with cool beats and basslines. A star on the rise. Supported perfectly by…
Underworld may be the biggest name on the lineup for a new Carriageworks live series, simply called The Works, but make no mistake about it: the headline is intelligent curation and the art institution’s wondrously well-suited warehouse. Over the next few weeks, Carriageworks will kick the new year off with a series of classic warehouse…
The wind, music and good times were at an all-time high on the fourth and final day of Beyond The Valley 2025. The Day 3 fatigue was shaken off with attendees eager to get back into high spirits and ring in the New Year in the best way possible. It was a much cooler day,…
Beyond The Valley Day 3 arrived with a noticeable and welcome shift in pace and temperature, which was exactly what the festival needed. After the chaos and intensity of Day 2, Tuesday felt like a collective exhale. Attendees were obviously still keen on partying like there’s no tomorrow, but there was a calmer, more…
2025 has proven to be a year of cinematic surprises, a period where filmmakers pushed boundaries, challenged expectations, and delivered stories that linger long after the credits roll. From pulse-pounding thrillers that leave you breathless, to intimate dramas that pierce the heart with quiet, unflinching honesty, this year’s films navigated extremes – emotional, visual, and…
