Alise Chaffins
@alisechaffins.bsky.social
Film critic. Author. Soup-eater. she/her
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alisedchaffins
Member: GALECA, OFTA, IFSCA, IFCA 🍅-approved
Bylines: The Dominion Post, Loud & Clear Reviews, Movies We Texted About
Inquiries to [email protected]
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alisedchaffins
Member: GALECA, OFTA, IFSCA, IFCA 🍅-approved
Bylines: The Dominion Post, Loud & Clear Reviews, Movies We Texted About
Inquiries to [email protected]
Pinned
Alise Chaffins
@alisechaffins.bsky.social
· Nov 16
Intro!
I'm Alise (uh-LEASE). I started blogging in 2009, writing faith-based essays. In 2013, my life underwent a MAJOR shift and I gave up writing for a long time. In 2021, when theaters were opening up again, I tagged my local newspaper asking if they needed a film critic. It was a joke.
I'm Alise (uh-LEASE). I started blogging in 2009, writing faith-based essays. In 2013, my life underwent a MAJOR shift and I gave up writing for a long time. In 2021, when theaters were opening up again, I tagged my local newspaper asking if they needed a film critic. It was a joke.
Luv Ya, Bum! is, by all accounts, a standard documentary, including footage of the Oilers back then and copious interviews with people who knew him...that made me want to put down my Terrible Towel and pick up a powder blue pom pom.
Luv Ya, Bum! Review: Kindness in Coaching
The documentary Luv Ya Bum! looks at former Oilers coach "Bum" Phillips and his brand of kind coaching.
open.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Luv Ya, Bum! is, by all accounts, a standard documentary, including footage of the Oilers back then and copious interviews with people who knew him...that made me want to put down my Terrible Towel and pick up a powder blue pom pom.
Check out the first chapter of my new book, Deus Ex Cinema. This is a reflection on complacency and hope in the context of The Shawshank Redemption. Links to order in the post!
Deus Ex Cinema Excerpt: Caged Hope
The first chapter from my new book, Deus Ex Cinema: An Advent Devotional for Movie Lovers with The Shawshank Redemption.
open.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Check out the first chapter of my new book, Deus Ex Cinema. This is a reflection on complacency and hope in the context of The Shawshank Redemption. Links to order in the post!
My newest book is available now! Find all of the ways to purchase at the links in the post! Thank you for your support!
Deus Ex Cinema Advent Devotional is Available!
You can now purchase Deus Ex Cinema: An Advent Devotional for Movie Lovers wherever you buy your ebooks!
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
My newest book is available now! Find all of the ways to purchase at the links in the post! Thank you for your support!
When I went into Wicked, I was a total skeptic, and the film won me over. This year, I went to Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good with much higher expectations and found it to be yet another delightful trip to Oz, if not quite as strong as part one. #filmsky #moviesky
Wicked: For Good Review: Darker, Yet Delightful
Jon M. Chu's WICKED: FOR GOOD lacks some of the charm of the first act, but still provides an entertaining time at the movies.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
TRAIN DREAMS is a beautiful film, both visually and thematically, and choosing to engage with it completely is a worthwhile endeavor. #filmsky #moviesky
Train Dreams Review: A Simple, Extraordinary Life
Clint Bentley's gentle film TRAIN DREAMS is a thoughtful look at the life of one man, brought to life by a stellar performance from Joel Edgerton.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Reposted by Alise Chaffins
Season 2 of A MAN ON THE INSIDE, out today on @netflix.com, continues in the tradition of feel-good comedies from Michael Schur! 🤩
Read @alisechaffins.bsky.social's review!
#AManOnTheInside #Netflix #TedDanson
loudandclearreviews.com/a-man-on-the...
Read @alisechaffins.bsky.social's review!
#AManOnTheInside #Netflix #TedDanson
loudandclearreviews.com/a-man-on-the...
A Man on the Inside Season 2 Review
A Man on the Inside Season 2 continues in the tradition of feel-good comedies from Michael Schur, capturing most of the charm of the first season.
loudandclearreviews.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Season 2 of A MAN ON THE INSIDE, out today on @netflix.com, continues in the tradition of feel-good comedies from Michael Schur! 🤩
Read @alisechaffins.bsky.social's review!
#AManOnTheInside #Netflix #TedDanson
loudandclearreviews.com/a-man-on-the...
Read @alisechaffins.bsky.social's review!
#AManOnTheInside #Netflix #TedDanson
loudandclearreviews.com/a-man-on-the...
Announcement: A new book from Alise! Deux Ex Cinema is an Advent Devotional with 26 all-new essays from yours truly, examining the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love through the lens of cinema! Click the link to see the cover and then get ready to order it next Wednesday!
Deus Ex Cinema Book Announcement and Cover Reveal!
Announcing my new book, Deus Ex Cinema: An Advent Devotional for Movie Lovers.
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Announcement: A new book from Alise! Deux Ex Cinema is an Advent Devotional with 26 all-new essays from yours truly, examining the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love through the lens of cinema! Click the link to see the cover and then get ready to order it next Wednesday!
The Running Man is a good reminder that if you’re being told that it’s good for masked goons to hunt down “the worst of the worst,” maybe it’s important to think critically about who is giving you that information and what they gain from making you believe them. #filmsky #moviesky
The Running Man Review: Have Fun While the World Burns
Edgar Wright's adaptation of Stephen King's THE RUNNING MAN is a blast, but sometimes the tonal dissonance is too much.
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:58 PM
If you are prepared for a del Toro movie that honors the original while putting his spin on the way that we perceive the monster (and at least one ripped-off jaw), FRANKENSTEIN can take you on a journey that will stick with you for a long time. #moviesky #filmsky
Frankenstein Review: Reluctant Fatherhood
Guillermo del Toro's FRANKENSTEIN is a powerful reimagining of the Mary Shelley story, while still honoring the original.
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
More than anything, CHRISTY feels safe...What Martin has overcome is astounding, and as a West Virginian, I’m thrilled that she is having it told on the big screen. I only wish this movie could have been as bold as she is. #moviesky #filmsky
Christy Review: Timid Story of a Bold Woman
David Michôd’s film CHRISTY starring Sydney Sweeney tells the story of boxing pheom Christy Martin, but is unable to fully capture her spirit.
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
This movie is far more hagiography than biography....but John Candy: I Like Me proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was surrounded by people who loved him, and there is a lot of value in that. #moviesky #filmsky
John Candy: I Like Me Review: We Liked You, Too
In the documentary JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME, Colin Hanks examines the life and career of beloved comedian John Candy through interviews with friends and family.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Die My Love is so broad in the way that it can be interpreted, it can read more as a “b*tches be crazy” film than a deep look at the mental health struggles of a woman with PPD.
Full review below. #moviesky #filmsky
Full review below. #moviesky #filmsky
Die My Love Review: Mistaking Frenzy for Meaning
Lynne Ramsay returns with DIE MY LOVE, a film that follows a woman falling deeper into postpartum depression, but without exploring what that means.
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Séance does an amazing job of creating an engrossing period piece that allows us to examine topics that feel more modern, while reminding us that there is nothing new under the sun. #moviesky #filmsky
Séance Review: Does Love Conquer All?
Vivian Kerr's Séance is an atmospheric period piece that asks important questions about love, sexuality, and loss.
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Dick Cheney right now as he’s realizing that when you shoot your friend in the face, YOU are supposed to apologize.
a woman is smiling and saying this is the bad place .
ALT: a woman is smiling and saying this is the bad place .
media.tenor.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Dick Cheney right now as he’s realizing that when you shoot your friend in the face, YOU are supposed to apologize.
Even in the most nihilistic moment of Bugonia, there is a sense of remorse that suggests that there is something worth saving in the midst of all the mess. Maybe it just takes us remembering our humanity. #moviesky #filmsky
Bugonia Review: Hold Onto Our Humanity
Yorgos Lanthimos is back with BUGONIA, a genre-defying movie with just enough remorse to keep it from feeling entirely misanthropic.
open.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I will be so anxious to see what people think of ANNIVERSARY, as this one is provocative. I quite liked it. Check out my review at @loudandclearrvs.bsky.social! #filmsky #moviesky
This thought-provoking dissection of political centrism is filled with dynamic performances!
Jan Komasa’s thriller ANNIVERSARY hits theaters this Wednesday!
Read @alisechaffins.bsky.social's review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
#AnniversaryMovie
Jan Komasa’s thriller ANNIVERSARY hits theaters this Wednesday!
Read @alisechaffins.bsky.social's review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
#AnniversaryMovie
Anniversary Film Review: The Perils of Centrism
Jan Komasa’s thriller Anniversary is a thought-provoking, if sometimes uneven, dissection of political centrism, filled with dynamic performances.
loudandclearreviews.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I will be so anxious to see what people think of ANNIVERSARY, as this one is provocative. I quite liked it. Check out my review at @loudandclearrvs.bsky.social! #filmsky #moviesky
THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE feels meandering, without any real sense of urgency or threat. And if there’s something that no thriller should ever aspire to, it’s being boring.
Full review below! #moviesky #filmsky
Full review below! #moviesky #filmsky
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Review: Sleepy Horror
Michelle Garza Cervera's remake of THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE has some decent performances from the leads, but fails to be interesting beyond that.
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:37 PM
THE LONG WALK is one of my favorite movies of the year and it's available on VOD now! Check out my review below and absolutely give this one a watch. #moviesky #filmsky alisechaffins.substack.com/p/the-long-w...
The Long Walk Review: Friendship Beats Fascism
THE LONG WALK from director Francis Lawrence, based on the Stephen King novel, is a powerful story about friendship in hard times.
alisechaffins.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
THE LONG WALK is one of my favorite movies of the year and it's available on VOD now! Check out my review below and absolutely give this one a watch. #moviesky #filmsky alisechaffins.substack.com/p/the-long-w...
Season 1 was a breezy 10-episode show that wrapped up well enough that, while not a full meal, it was a tasty snack. Nobody Wants This is back for season 2, and if you’re craving something more filling, you’re in for some disappointment.
Full review below!
Full review below!
Nobody Wants This (Season2) Review: Breezy Isn't Enough
Season 2 of NOBODY WANTS THIS adds some depth to some side characters, but leaves our main couple in the same place they were in the first season.
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Season 1 was a breezy 10-episode show that wrapped up well enough that, while not a full meal, it was a tasty snack. Nobody Wants This is back for season 2, and if you’re craving something more filling, you’re in for some disappointment.
Full review below!
Full review below!
Quick, someone buy my book! This is the first month that it has had no sales since it released and honestly, we could all use some nice Ted Lasso content, right? Grab a couple copies and use it to start a conversation with some friends! It even include discussion questions! amzn.to/42U84bT
The Ted Lasso Relationship Guide
When premiered in 2020, it took the world by storm. For a moment, it was cool to be nice.
And while Ted's kindness was the hook, there was much more to the show. Over the course of three seasons, ...
amzn.to
October 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Quick, someone buy my book! This is the first month that it has had no sales since it released and honestly, we could all use some nice Ted Lasso content, right? Grab a couple copies and use it to start a conversation with some friends! It even include discussion questions! amzn.to/42U84bT
What Good Fortune gets right is that we need to rely on one another. Whether it’s collective action by forming a union...or simply grabbing tacos with someone after work, our greatest strength lies in the communities we form.
#moviesky #filmsky
#moviesky #filmsky
Good Fortune Review: Community Makes Life Bearable
Aziz Ansari's debut feature film GOOD FORTUNE has lots of heart, but the ending is a bit too neat to be truly satisfying.
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Scared Shitless isn’t necessarily going to be the most terrifying film that you see this Halloween season, but it manages to take a silly, gross idea and turn it into a story that has some great laughs and some genuinely heartfelt moments. #moviesky #filmsky
Scared Shitless Review: B-Movie with A+ Heart
SCARED SHITLESS is a funny and surprisingly heartfelt horror movie from director Vivieno Caldinelli and writer Brandon Cohen.
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:12 PM
What allows THE WILDERNESS to feel grounded and authentic is a stellar performance from Doohan. He is restrained when he needs to be, but allows moments of genuine vulnerability that will enable the character to feel three-dimensional. #moviesky #filmsky
The Wilderness Review: Quiet Desperation
Spencer King's THE WILDERNESS starring Hunter Doohan is a slow, serious look at wilderness reform programs and the harm they can do.
open.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:35 PM
While Roofman has a really fantastic cast, it never feels like it lives up to its potential, focusing more on how friendly and sweet Manchester is, while avoiding any introspection into how someone with his intelligence ended up on a criminal path.
#moviesky #filmsky
#moviesky #filmsky
Roofman Review: Doesn't Live Up to Potential
While ROOFMAN from Derek Cianfrance has a lovely performance from Channing Tatum, the story neglects to delve into the themes that shape the story.
open.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The beast of the shadow corporations that funded the MVP did more than simply touch the mountain. While they may have won this battle, the people of Bent Mountain have found one another, and that is how they will ultimately win.
My review of A BEAST TOUCH THE MOUNTAIN. #moviesky #filmsky
My review of A BEAST TOUCH THE MOUNTAIN. #moviesky #filmsky
A Beast Touch the Mountain Review: Money is King
In this breathtaking documentary from James Mottern, A Beast Touch the Mountain shows how the residents of Bent Mountain fight against the MVP.
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 5:02 PM