Saxon Whitehead
@saxonwhitehead.bsky.social
Film Critic and Founder of Doctor Popcorn. Member of SEFCA. Awkward Human Being. Actor. Champion of Second Breakfast. He/Him.
Pinned
My Favorite First-Time Watches of 2025: A Thread
The Running Man has some interesting ideas and thrilling action sequences, but it suffers from an inconsistent tone and lack of depth. It’s definitely a mixed bag, but there are some bursts of fun amidst its messiness.
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-run...
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-run...
'The Running Man': An Uneven Dystopian Satire
A Stephen King adaptation directed by Edgar Wright and starring Glen Powell sounds like a slam dunk on paper. After all, Wright has given us such singular creations as Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
November 22, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The Running Man has some interesting ideas and thrilling action sequences, but it suffers from an inconsistent tone and lack of depth. It’s definitely a mixed bag, but there are some bursts of fun amidst its messiness.
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-run...
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-run...
Nouvelle Vague is catnip for cinephiles, paying loving homage to French New Wave and the act of creating art.
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/nouvell...
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/nouvell...
'Nouvelle Vague': A Lovely Ode to Filmmaking and French New Wave
When seeing the words “Un Film de Richard Linklater” during the opening credits of Nouvelle Vague, I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle. This isn’t because I feel that Linklater is ill-equipped...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
November 18, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Nouvelle Vague is catnip for cinephiles, paying loving homage to French New Wave and the act of creating art.
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/nouvell...
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/nouvell...
Die My Love is yet another bold, uncompromising vision from Lynne Ramsay, and features a career-best performance from Jennifer Lawrence. It might leave some frustrated or perplexed, but it hit me pretty hard.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/die-my-...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/die-my-...
'Die My Love': A Bold, Feral, Psychological Drama
The opening moments of Die My Love may feature the best example of tone setting I’ve seen all year. We begin with an extended shot of our two lead characters, Grace and Jackson, entering a dilapidated...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
November 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Die My Love is yet another bold, uncompromising vision from Lynne Ramsay, and features a career-best performance from Jennifer Lawrence. It might leave some frustrated or perplexed, but it hit me pretty hard.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/die-my-...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/die-my-...
Bugonia is a pitch black comedy and a paranoid thriller all in one, featuring that distinct bleakness that only Yorgos Lanthimos can provide. Some may leave feeling alienated, but longtime Lanthimos fans will undoubtedly be pleased.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/bugonia...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/bugonia...
'Bugonia': A Timely, Darkly Comedic Thriller
With images of bees and voice-over narration from Jesse Plemons, we are introduced to the world of Bugonia, the latest from filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos. Plemons’s narration tells us about the lives of ...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
November 7, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Bugonia is a pitch black comedy and a paranoid thriller all in one, featuring that distinct bleakness that only Yorgos Lanthimos can provide. Some may leave feeling alienated, but longtime Lanthimos fans will undoubtedly be pleased.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/bugonia...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/bugonia...
I Wish You All the Best has its heart in the right place, but mainly just feels like a run-of-the-mill teen drama. I can appreciate what it’s going for, but it has the vibes of an after-school special and feels a tad artificial.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/i-wish-...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/i-wish-...
'I Wish You All the Best': A Well-Meaning, But Flawed Teen Drama
Representation is important when it comes to media, as being able to watch a film or a TV show and see someone who looks, acts, or feels similar to oneself is an affirming experience. As more and more...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
November 6, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I Wish You All the Best has its heart in the right place, but mainly just feels like a run-of-the-mill teen drama. I can appreciate what it’s going for, but it has the vibes of an after-school special and feels a tad artificial.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/i-wish-...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/i-wish-...
Ballad of a Small Player looks good, but has hardly any heart or depth to back it up. Despite its visuals and a great Colin Farrell performance, this film is a mess and largely feels empty.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/ballad-...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/ballad-...
'Ballad of a Small Player': A Shallow, Yet Stylish Gambling Drama
Filmmaker Edward Berger has experienced a sharp rise in his career ever since his international breakthrough with All Quiet on the Western Front. That film, a German language adaptation of Erich Maria...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
November 1, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Ballad of a Small Player looks good, but has hardly any heart or depth to back it up. Despite its visuals and a great Colin Farrell performance, this film is a mess and largely feels empty.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/ballad-...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/ballad-...
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere does its best to be an insightful portrait of The Boss, but plays things too safe. At the very least, it’s worth watching for Jeremy Allen White’s performance, but the rest is pretty much what you’d expect.
full review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/springs...
full review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/springs...
'Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere': Jeremy Allen White Shines in Otherwise Standard Biopic
There are few artists as ubiquitous as Bruce Springsteen. For decades, he has steadily put out hit records and sold out stadiums, earning his place as one of the most legendary figures in the history ...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
October 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere does its best to be an insightful portrait of The Boss, but plays things too safe. At the very least, it’s worth watching for Jeremy Allen White’s performance, but the rest is pretty much what you’d expect.
full review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/springs...
full review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/springs...
Anniversary may not be the sharpest in its political commentary, but it still gets some good digs in. It does have a tremendous ensemble cast, though, and is a rather engaging blend of family dramas and political thrillers.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/anniver...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/anniver...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
October 28, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Anniversary may not be the sharpest in its political commentary, but it still gets some good digs in. It does have a tremendous ensemble cast, though, and is a rather engaging blend of family dramas and political thrillers.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/anniver...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/anniver...
#NowWatching Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
October 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
#NowWatching Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
After the Hunt wants to be a provocative commentary on a number of topics, but it doesn’t exactly have much to say. Not even its talented cast can fully save it, and it ends up being little more than a confused collection of ideas.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/after-t...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/after-t...
'After the Hunt': Luca Guadagnino's Latest Aims to be Provocative, But Ends Up Being Hollow and Muddled
Considering that Luca Guadagnino’s latest film After the Hunt comes with the tagline “Not everything is supposed to make you comfortable”, it is clear that he and screenwriter Nora Garrett hope to del...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
October 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
After the Hunt wants to be a provocative commentary on a number of topics, but it doesn’t exactly have much to say. Not even its talented cast can fully save it, and it ends up being little more than a confused collection of ideas.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/after-t...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/after-t...
Black Phone 2 improves upon its predecessor by leaning into its supernatural elements and evoking slasher films of the 80s. It does get a bit shaky when examined closely, but it is still a good sequel that works far better than it should.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/black-p...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/black-p...
'Black Phone 2': A Chilling Horror Sequel
When you make a successful horror movie, a sequel is practically guaranteed. But what happens when you make a successful horror movie that doesn’t have a clear path to a sequel? If you’re Scott Derric...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
October 20, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Black Phone 2 improves upon its predecessor by leaning into its supernatural elements and evoking slasher films of the 80s. It does get a bit shaky when examined closely, but it is still a good sequel that works far better than it should.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/black-p...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/black-p...
Tron: Ares is impressive on a technical level, but its broadness and lack of depth makes it more of a mixed bag. It doesn’t help that Jared Leto is lifeless in the lead role, but at least it has some fantastic visuals and a great score to fall back on.
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/tron-ar...
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/tron-ar...
'Tron: Ares': Visually Stunning, But Narratively Shallow
Considering that the Tron franchise already made their big legacy sequel with the aptly titled Tron: Legacy, it makes sense that the filmmakers behind any further entries would want to take a differen...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
October 12, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Tron: Ares is impressive on a technical level, but its broadness and lack of depth makes it more of a mixed bag. It doesn’t help that Jared Leto is lifeless in the lead role, but at least it has some fantastic visuals and a great score to fall back on.
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/tron-ar...
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/tron-ar...
The Smashing Machine diverts from the usual sports biopic formula, which sometimes works and sometimes leaves the film feeling a bit cold. Thankfully, it still works well thanks to Benny Safdie’s direction and Dwayne Johnson’s best performance to date.
Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-sma...
Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-sma...
'The Smashing Machine': Dwayne Johnson Gives His Best Performance in Mostly Solid Sports Biopic
No matter how famous Dwayne Johnson has become, he will always be known by many as his ring name, The Rock. Johnson’s pro-wrestling career helped him break into the mainstream and led to a long, highl...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
October 6, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The Smashing Machine diverts from the usual sports biopic formula, which sometimes works and sometimes leaves the film feeling a bit cold. Thankfully, it still works well thanks to Benny Safdie’s direction and Dwayne Johnson’s best performance to date.
Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-sma...
Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-sma...
One Battle After Another is yet another triumph from writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson. It is bold, thrilling, and one of PTA’s best films yet.
My review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/one-bat...
My review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/one-bat...
'One Battle After Another': A Timely, Incredibly Crafted Epic from Paul Thomas Anderson
Like other modern auteurs, Paul Thomas Anderson has mostly made period pieces over the past several years. From There Will Be Blood to Licorice Pizza, Anderson’s past several works have jumped to vari...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
September 30, 2025 at 4:09 PM
One Battle After Another is yet another triumph from writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson. It is bold, thrilling, and one of PTA’s best films yet.
My review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/one-bat...
My review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/one-bat...
#NowWatching One Battle After Another
September 26, 2025 at 12:06 AM
#NowWatching One Battle After Another
Twinless has some style, but it is a bit disconnected and struggles to maintain a good tonal balance. Dylan O’Brien’s performance helps make up for its other shortcomings, and it still does a decent job depicting loneliness and grief.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/twinles...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/twinles...
'Twinless': A Disjointed Study of Loss and Companionship
Loneliness and grief are concepts that have been explored in film many times over, but still manage to connect and evoke deep emotions when done well. At times, Twinless seems to be heading down the r...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
September 18, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Twinless has some style, but it is a bit disconnected and struggles to maintain a good tonal balance. Dylan O’Brien’s performance helps make up for its other shortcomings, and it still does a decent job depicting loneliness and grief.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/twinles...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/twinles...
I had two cookies and a Coke for breakfast, and I have to agree with David Lynch, it’s phenomenal.
September 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I had two cookies and a Coke for breakfast, and I have to agree with David Lynch, it’s phenomenal.
The History of Sound is a muted period romance that feels a bit too bland to really make an impact. The vision is clear, but it falls short of delivering on its promises, with only brief moments of beauty and poignancy to break up the monotony.
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-his...
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-his...
'The History of Sound': A Meditative Romance That Feels More Minor Than Major
As I started watching The History of Sound, I couldn’t help but think of Brokeback Mountain, as the two films share a couple of major similarities. Both films star a pair of popular actors of their re...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
September 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
The History of Sound is a muted period romance that feels a bit too bland to really make an impact. The vision is clear, but it falls short of delivering on its promises, with only brief moments of beauty and poignancy to break up the monotony.
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-his...
Full Review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/the-his...
Caught Stealing is a bit of a detour for director Darren Aronofsky, but it is one that pays off for him nicely. This is easily his best film in years, and blends elements of comedy and dark crime thrillers to make one wild ride.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/caught-...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/caught-...
'Caught Stealing': Austin Butler Knocks It Out of the Park in Comedic Crime Thriller
Darren Aronofsky has made a name for himself by making films that could be described as “cerebral” or “bummers”. When you hear his name, you have a good idea of the type of film you’re in for, as his ...
www.doctorpopcorn.net
September 8, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Caught Stealing is a bit of a detour for director Darren Aronofsky, but it is one that pays off for him nicely. This is easily his best film in years, and blends elements of comedy and dark crime thrillers to make one wild ride.
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/caught-...
Check out my review:
www.doctorpopcorn.net/post/caught-...