Matthew Essary
@wheelscritic.bsky.social
“Just a guy who likes movies” - Writer/Sometimes Editor/Podcaster/Gif Maker. Licensed counselor. Pretty much always tired.
Press contact: WheelsCritic@gmail.com
Portfolio: https://muckrack.com/wheelscritic/portfolio
Press contact: WheelsCritic@gmail.com
Portfolio: https://muckrack.com/wheelscritic/portfolio
Pinned
Collateral made Tom Cruise into a slasher movie villain
Michael Mann’s gritty L.A. thriller inches close to the horror genre
www.polygon.com
Thank you for all the new follows! I appreciate the love as I attempt to rebuild after fleeing the sinking u-boat that is Twitter. For anyone who doesn’t know me, I’m going to share a few of my favorite pieces of work. First, one on the horror themes of “Collateral” www.polygon.com/23006361/col...
Everyone is (rightfully) dunking on this news but I choose to look at it this way. Sir Ian deserves as many quick paychecks as he can sleepwalk through. He’s earned the right to cash grab. And this check will allow Elijah to help fund another 10 weird indie passion projects for oddball filmmakers.
Sir Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood will reunite as Gandalf and Frodo in ‘THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM’
Production will begin in May.
(via: Gollumgram)
Production will begin in May.
(via: Gollumgram)
January 6, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Everyone is (rightfully) dunking on this news but I choose to look at it this way. Sir Ian deserves as many quick paychecks as he can sleepwalk through. He’s earned the right to cash grab. And this check will allow Elijah to help fund another 10 weird indie passion projects for oddball filmmakers.
Reposted by Matthew Essary
this moment was honestly so beautiful in a way that's basically impossible to explain to anyone who doesn't watch wrestling lol
How I am going to greet all of my friends going forward:
#njpw
#njpw
January 5, 2026 at 5:04 AM
this moment was honestly so beautiful in a way that's basically impossible to explain to anyone who doesn't watch wrestling lol
Reposted by Matthew Essary
🧵I’ve been thinking about how I can help my friend w/ this. Money’s tight for me atm but I want to do what I can. So I have come up w/ an offer: If this very low funding goal is reached, I will provide any donator w/ a rare, hard to find, &/or out of print film of their choice for every $10 donated
I've been at the end of my rope for trying to support my brother try to live independently, but his mental health issues are a lot.
We've turned to a treatment that we're hoping should help, but it is expensive. Any amount or sharing is appreciated.
gofund.me/b16f75242
We've turned to a treatment that we're hoping should help, but it is expensive. Any amount or sharing is appreciated.
gofund.me/b16f75242
Donate to Helping My Brother Overcome Mental Health Struggles, organized by Ross Reelachart
My brother has been grappling with mental health issues for years.… Ross Reelachart needs your support for Helping My Brother Overcome Mental Health Struggles
gofund.me
January 4, 2026 at 1:36 PM
🧵I’ve been thinking about how I can help my friend w/ this. Money’s tight for me atm but I want to do what I can. So I have come up w/ an offer: If this very low funding goal is reached, I will provide any donator w/ a rare, hard to find, &/or out of print film of their choice for every $10 donated
🧵I’ve been thinking about how I can help my friend w/ this. Money’s tight for me atm but I want to do what I can. So I have come up w/ an offer: If this very low funding goal is reached, I will provide any donator w/ a rare, hard to find, &/or out of print film of their choice for every $10 donated
I've been at the end of my rope for trying to support my brother try to live independently, but his mental health issues are a lot.
We've turned to a treatment that we're hoping should help, but it is expensive. Any amount or sharing is appreciated.
gofund.me/b16f75242
We've turned to a treatment that we're hoping should help, but it is expensive. Any amount or sharing is appreciated.
gofund.me/b16f75242
Donate to Helping My Brother Overcome Mental Health Struggles, organized by Ross Reelachart
My brother has been grappling with mental health issues for years.… Ross Reelachart needs your support for Helping My Brother Overcome Mental Health Struggles
gofund.me
January 4, 2026 at 1:36 PM
🧵I’ve been thinking about how I can help my friend w/ this. Money’s tight for me atm but I want to do what I can. So I have come up w/ an offer: If this very low funding goal is reached, I will provide any donator w/ a rare, hard to find, &/or out of print film of their choice for every $10 donated
A blessed image.
Generations of my wrestling fandom gathered together to send off who might be the greatest of them all.
Generations of my wrestling fandom gathered together to send off who might be the greatest of them all.
January 4, 2026 at 12:29 PM
A blessed image.
Generations of my wrestling fandom gathered together to send off who might be the greatest of them all.
Generations of my wrestling fandom gathered together to send off who might be the greatest of them all.
Reposted by Matthew Essary
I am so grateful we stayed up all night for this. That last 2 hours really reminded me how lucky I am to have found wrestling, even if it took me 30 years.
Thank you so much Tana.
I can only pray that my favorite performers get a tiny sliver of the sendoff you just received. You deserve it, Ace. 💙
Thank you so much Tana.
I can only pray that my favorite performers get a tiny sliver of the sendoff you just received. You deserve it, Ace. 💙
January 4, 2026 at 12:12 PM
I am so grateful we stayed up all night for this. That last 2 hours really reminded me how lucky I am to have found wrestling, even if it took me 30 years.
Thank you so much Tana.
I can only pray that my favorite performers get a tiny sliver of the sendoff you just received. You deserve it, Ace. 💙
Thank you so much Tana.
I can only pray that my favorite performers get a tiny sliver of the sendoff you just received. You deserve it, Ace. 💙
As I finished up reading all of the available "Absolute Batman" today, I have an embarrassing confession to make. It took me much too long to realize the joke behind making his preferred weapon of choice a battle axe.
Get it?
Batman.
BAT-tle axe.
I'm a moron.
Get it?
Batman.
BAT-tle axe.
I'm a moron.
January 3, 2026 at 3:28 PM
As I finished up reading all of the available "Absolute Batman" today, I have an embarrassing confession to make. It took me much too long to realize the joke behind making his preferred weapon of choice a battle axe.
Get it?
Batman.
BAT-tle axe.
I'm a moron.
Get it?
Batman.
BAT-tle axe.
I'm a moron.
Reposted by Matthew Essary
Halfway through the decade! What are your favourite films each year so far?
2020: Extraction
2021: Malignant/Matrix Resurrections/Censor/Wrath of Man
2022: Halloween Ends
2023: Kandahar
2024: Smile 2
2025: Superman
2020: Extraction
2021: Malignant/Matrix Resurrections/Censor/Wrath of Man
2022: Halloween Ends
2023: Kandahar
2024: Smile 2
2025: Superman
Halfway through the decade! What are your favourite films each year so far?
2020: I’m Thinking of Ending Things
2021: Memoria
2022: Pacifiction
2023: Eureka
2024: Queer
2025: The Ice Tower
2020: I’m Thinking of Ending Things
2021: Memoria
2022: Pacifiction
2023: Eureka
2024: Queer
2025: The Ice Tower
January 3, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Halfway through the decade! What are your favourite films each year so far?
2020: Extraction
2021: Malignant/Matrix Resurrections/Censor/Wrath of Man
2022: Halloween Ends
2023: Kandahar
2024: Smile 2
2025: Superman
2020: Extraction
2021: Malignant/Matrix Resurrections/Censor/Wrath of Man
2022: Halloween Ends
2023: Kandahar
2024: Smile 2
2025: Superman
That shit is bleak as fuck. You know what I'm talking about, me doom-posting about it isn't going to help you, me, or anything else about the situation, really. So, I'll just keep posting my nonsense about pop culture bullshit, if that's alright with y'all.
January 3, 2026 at 1:02 PM
That shit is bleak as fuck. You know what I'm talking about, me doom-posting about it isn't going to help you, me, or anything else about the situation, really. So, I'll just keep posting my nonsense about pop culture bullshit, if that's alright with y'all.
Woke up in the middle of the night to see that a little joke I made unintentionally kicked off a popular “quote tweet” prompt for the pro wrestling corner of BlueSky. That’s neat. I tried to “like” every one’s responses but had to tap out after a while.
two wrestlers are hugging each other on a stage . one of the men is wearing a mask .
ALT: two wrestlers are hugging each other on a stage . one of the men is wearing a mask .
media.tenor.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Woke up in the middle of the night to see that a little joke I made unintentionally kicked off a popular “quote tweet” prompt for the pro wrestling corner of BlueSky. That’s neat. I tried to “like” every one’s responses but had to tap out after a while.
So WWE is doubling down on sports washing to cover human rights atrocities in Saudi Arabia and cozying up to the U.S.’s corrupt leadership. While, their competitor, AEW— who platforms queer,POC, socially left-wing athletes, does fun little karaoke sessions. I know which group I wanna support here.
Me when the #AEW mind virus kicks in:
January 3, 2026 at 8:23 AM
So WWE is doubling down on sports washing to cover human rights atrocities in Saudi Arabia and cozying up to the U.S.’s corrupt leadership. While, their competitor, AEW— who platforms queer,POC, socially left-wing athletes, does fun little karaoke sessions. I know which group I wanna support here.
Reposted by Matthew Essary
People logging back into Bluesky for the first time in a year
October 16, 2025 at 2:58 AM
People logging back into Bluesky for the first time in a year
All these calls for people to finally leave Twitter and settle down over here seem pretty futile. If they’ve chosen to stay there through all the other horrible shit that’s already transpired on or because of that site, then adding one more nightmare to the pile won’t matter to them.
January 2, 2026 at 8:09 PM
All these calls for people to finally leave Twitter and settle down over here seem pretty futile. If they’ve chosen to stay there through all the other horrible shit that’s already transpired on or because of that site, then adding one more nightmare to the pile won’t matter to them.
Reposted by Matthew Essary
My brother's first session is this coming Monday.
We can handle the down payment, and the rest can be financed over time. But it would be very helpful to my parents if you could contribute or share.
We can handle the down payment, and the rest can be financed over time. But it would be very helpful to my parents if you could contribute or share.
I've been at the end of my rope for trying to support my brother try to live independently, but his mental health issues are a lot.
We've turned to a treatment that we're hoping should help, but it is expensive. Any amount or sharing is appreciated.
gofund.me/b16f75242
We've turned to a treatment that we're hoping should help, but it is expensive. Any amount or sharing is appreciated.
gofund.me/b16f75242
Donate to Helping My Brother Overcome Mental Health Struggles, organized by Ross Reelachart
My brother has been grappling with mental health issues for years.… Ross Reelachart needs your support for Helping My Brother Overcome Mental Health Struggles
gofund.me
January 2, 2026 at 5:22 PM
My brother's first session is this coming Monday.
We can handle the down payment, and the rest can be financed over time. But it would be very helpful to my parents if you could contribute or share.
We can handle the down payment, and the rest can be financed over time. But it would be very helpful to my parents if you could contribute or share.
Reposted by Matthew Essary
For OLD NEW I wrote about my most anticipated films of 2026: oldnew.substack.com/p/new-year-n...
New Year, New List: Most Anticipated Films of 2026
An odyssey of movie discoveries around the world
oldnew.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:48 PM
For OLD NEW I wrote about my most anticipated films of 2026: oldnew.substack.com/p/new-year-n...
Reposted by Matthew Essary
Sad to hear Yuen Cheung-Yan has passed.
Brother of Yuen Woo-Ping and part of the iconic Yuen family, he was everywhere in HK action cinema.
He grew into a comic actor, director, and stunt coordinator whose work even carried him to Hollywood (Daredevil, Charlie’s Angels).
Brother of Yuen Woo-Ping and part of the iconic Yuen family, he was everywhere in HK action cinema.
He grew into a comic actor, director, and stunt coordinator whose work even carried him to Hollywood (Daredevil, Charlie’s Angels).
In Memoriam: Yuen Cheung-Yan (1957-2026)
The celebrated character actor and action choreographer passed away at age 69 on January 1.
The celebrated character actor and action choreographer passed away at age 69 on January 1.
In Memoriam: Yuen Cheung-Yan (1957-2026)
The celebrated character actor and action choreographer passed away at age 69 on January 1.
filmcombatsyndicate.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Sad to hear Yuen Cheung-Yan has passed.
Brother of Yuen Woo-Ping and part of the iconic Yuen family, he was everywhere in HK action cinema.
He grew into a comic actor, director, and stunt coordinator whose work even carried him to Hollywood (Daredevil, Charlie’s Angels).
Brother of Yuen Woo-Ping and part of the iconic Yuen family, he was everywhere in HK action cinema.
He grew into a comic actor, director, and stunt coordinator whose work even carried him to Hollywood (Daredevil, Charlie’s Angels).
Reposted by Matthew Essary
zohran mamdani speaks to the dream of every goofy nerd that they, too, can land a mind-shatteringly beautiful woman who's just a little mean but in a cool way
January 2, 2026 at 5:07 AM
zohran mamdani speaks to the dream of every goofy nerd that they, too, can land a mind-shatteringly beautiful woman who's just a little mean but in a cool way
Happy new year to everyone who sees this. My only thoughts on the coming year are these two simple directives— don’t take any advice or guff from people you don’t respect. I also asked Henry Rollins for advice once during a really dark time. His exact words were: keep going, keep living through it.
January 1, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Happy new year to everyone who sees this. My only thoughts on the coming year are these two simple directives— don’t take any advice or guff from people you don’t respect. I also asked Henry Rollins for advice once during a really dark time. His exact words were: keep going, keep living through it.
Reposted by Matthew Essary
Reposted by Matthew Essary
I love the movies.
A lot.
Like, more than a lot.
Anyway,
I wrote a thing.
You should read it.
You know, if you got time and want to that is.
It's all my opinions and stuff.
Either way,
Have a Fantastic New Year Eve everybody!
I'll see you all in 2026!
www.paul-hugins.com/2025/12/31/t...
A lot.
Like, more than a lot.
Anyway,
I wrote a thing.
You should read it.
You know, if you got time and want to that is.
It's all my opinions and stuff.
Either way,
Have a Fantastic New Year Eve everybody!
I'll see you all in 2026!
www.paul-hugins.com/2025/12/31/t...
The Top 15 of 2025 – Paul L. Hugins
www.paul-hugins.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I love the movies.
A lot.
Like, more than a lot.
Anyway,
I wrote a thing.
You should read it.
You know, if you got time and want to that is.
It's all my opinions and stuff.
Either way,
Have a Fantastic New Year Eve everybody!
I'll see you all in 2026!
www.paul-hugins.com/2025/12/31/t...
A lot.
Like, more than a lot.
Anyway,
I wrote a thing.
You should read it.
You know, if you got time and want to that is.
It's all my opinions and stuff.
Either way,
Have a Fantastic New Year Eve everybody!
I'll see you all in 2026!
www.paul-hugins.com/2025/12/31/t...
Reposted by Matthew Essary
Reposted by Matthew Essary
I legitimately feel a little sad that Frank Frazetta didn’t live to see this wondrous age of booty and “muscle mommy”-worship that we now find ourselves in. Truly a man ahead of his time.
December 30, 2025 at 9:05 AM
I legitimately feel a little sad that Frank Frazetta didn’t live to see this wondrous age of booty and “muscle mommy”-worship that we now find ourselves in. Truly a man ahead of his time.
"What was your biggest impact on the Internet?"
I made the 4 gifs in this quick thread here. They have a combined share count of nearly 90K, meaning they’ve likely been seen by more people than I can fathom across the internet. Also, I’ve done a decent amount of writing about film that no one read
I made the 4 gifs in this quick thread here. They have a combined share count of nearly 90K, meaning they’ve likely been seen by more people than I can fathom across the internet. Also, I’ve done a decent amount of writing about film that no one read
December 31, 2025 at 12:54 PM
"What was your biggest impact on the Internet?"
I made the 4 gifs in this quick thread here. They have a combined share count of nearly 90K, meaning they’ve likely been seen by more people than I can fathom across the internet. Also, I’ve done a decent amount of writing about film that no one read
I made the 4 gifs in this quick thread here. They have a combined share count of nearly 90K, meaning they’ve likely been seen by more people than I can fathom across the internet. Also, I’ve done a decent amount of writing about film that no one read
Reposted by Matthew Essary
It's here! The 2025 Action Cinema recap!
An overview of the year's most interesting action films. Everything from Ne Zha 2 and Avatar 3 to Last Bullet, Kantara and The Prosecutor, to smaller gems like The Forbidden City, Tatsujin Warriors, and many more!
youtu.be/74ckedulSgo
An overview of the year's most interesting action films. Everything from Ne Zha 2 and Avatar 3 to Last Bullet, Kantara and The Prosecutor, to smaller gems like The Forbidden City, Tatsujin Warriors, and many more!
youtu.be/74ckedulSgo
The Action Year in Review - 2025
YouTube video by Kinemotions
youtu.be
December 30, 2025 at 3:54 PM
It's here! The 2025 Action Cinema recap!
An overview of the year's most interesting action films. Everything from Ne Zha 2 and Avatar 3 to Last Bullet, Kantara and The Prosecutor, to smaller gems like The Forbidden City, Tatsujin Warriors, and many more!
youtu.be/74ckedulSgo
An overview of the year's most interesting action films. Everything from Ne Zha 2 and Avatar 3 to Last Bullet, Kantara and The Prosecutor, to smaller gems like The Forbidden City, Tatsujin Warriors, and many more!
youtu.be/74ckedulSgo