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‘Happy Campers’ shows home is far more than structure

When I was a kid, my grandparents purchased an RV. My family used it often, regularly traveling around the East Coast and up into New England. I have many fond memories of our time camping — spending time close to my parents and sisters and meeting people at the campgrounds. We never spent any extended time in any of the campgrounds we visited but met the folks who were there for the season. My background love of camping led me to check out Amy Nicholson’s documentary “Happy Campers,” available on VOD on Sept. 10.  The documentary is focused on a small trailer park in ...

‘Afraid’ feels too timid to really qualify as horror

Earlier this year, there was some controversy around the film “Late Night with the Devil” over its use of generative AI in some of the art in the movie. Teachers are struggling with students using AI to write essays. There are more convincing deep fakes, making it harder to know what is true and what is false in the news. Artificial intelligence  is moving quickly, and any time there is a shift in technology, it is a prime moment for a movie to be made about that technology. Writer and director Chris Weitz is tackling AI in the new film “Afraid.”   Curtis (John ...

Music Under the Stars with the Wheeling Symphony set to return Sunday

The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (WSO) returns to Oglebay Park for Music Under the Stars, an annual Labor Day concert, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.  An evening of Broadway, Disney and classical music, this year’s featured guest artists include WSO Principal Trumpet John Winkler, Broadway star Siri Howard and local talent Amanda McGovern.   Music Under the Stars is free to attend.   “Music Under the Stars is one of my favorite WSO traditions, and this year is extra special because it marks the symphony’s 95th anniversary,” said WSO Music Director John Devlin. ...

‘The Deliverance’ fails to deliver

The first horror novel I ever read was William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist” and the first horror movie I ever watched was “The Omen,” so possession horror holds a special place in my heart. I like the way  possession can be a stand-in for different personal, societal or religious ills. And it generally has some of the gnarliest-looking visual elements. Lee Daniels hasn’t worked in this genre before, but nevertheless, I was interested to see his take in the new Netflix film, “The Deliverance.”   Ebony (Andra Day) and her mother Alberta (Glenn Close) ...

‘My Penguin Friend’ is a film about bonds

I don’t know if penguins are the most popular animal, but I imagine they’re up there, following household pets like cats and dogs. In 2005, “March of the Penguins” was a massive commercial success, something that rarely happens for documentaries, and there is no shortage of funny videos featuring these odd little birds. I expect the appeal of the penguin, combined with his love for Brazil, to be what led director David Schurmann to create the film “My Penguin Friend,”  which is based on a true story.  When João (Jean Reno) discovers a lost, oil-covered penguin, ...

‘The People’s Joker’ meets definition of art

Heath Ledger’s Joker quipped, “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stranger.” Vera Drew has internalized that line in her outrageous parody of Todd Phillips’ “Joker,” “The People’s Joker,” which is now available on VOD and for purchase on Blu-ray, DVD and VHS.  I wasn’t sure what to expect from this movie, only knowing that after its premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, it has been playing on the independent scene to critical and audience praise.  When the Young Joker (Griffin Kramer) suggests that “boy” is not the correct ...