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Mixed (USA, 2022) [CAAMFest 2022]
John Atom reviews Caty Borum Chattoo & Leena Jayaswal's documentary Mixed.
Howling (Japan, 2022) [OAFF 2022]
Jason Maher reviews M Haris Sheikh's neo noir Howling.
Eleven Greed (2022) [JFFH 2022]
Despite its obvious low-budget nature, Soejima delivers a highly entertaining and engaging action-thriller.
Dawning (USA, 2022) [CAAMFest 2022]
Colleen Wanglund reviews Young Min Kim's psychological thriller Dawning.
Yamabuki (2022) review [IFFR 2022]
“A beautiful socially-engaged narrative that explores the very fact that, by being grasped within the societal network of relations, one cannot but influence the other and become influenced…
Angry Son (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“An incredibly rich and deep narrative that not only delivers a satisfying coming-of-age story but also an elegantly delivered social commentary on some of the frictions marking Japanese…
Shaman’s Daughter (2022) review [JFFH 2022]
A genre mish-mash – a cocktail of light-hearted comedy, family drama, bloody thriller, and ghostly romance – that is not only pleasant but offers the spectator a rich…
Stone Steps (2022) review [JFFH 2022]
A great indie narrative that highlights the need for the parental and the traditional Other to aid the subject to embark on the path of his own desire.…
Bagmati River (Japan, 2022) [OAFF 2022]
Jason Maher reviews Yusaku Matsumoto's short film Bagmati River.
Summer Wedding (Japan, 2022) [OAFF 2022]
Jason Maher reviews Azusa Hieda’s short film Summer Wedding.
Random Call (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
Ohkanda’s narrative proves that one does not need a big budget to deliver a narrative that touches the spectator.
Melting Sounds (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“Kahori Higashi’s debut is impressive.”
Random Call (Japan, 2022) [OAFF 2022]
Jason Maher reviews Riki Ohkanda's comedy-drama Random Call.
Straying (2022) review [Camera Japan 2022]
A pleasant and charming exploration of the fact that, within the game of love and romance and beyond, subjects often rely on acting-out to reveal to the other…
Angry Son (Japan, 2022) [OAFF 2022]
Jason Maher reviews Kashou Iizuka's drama Angry Son.
Farewell 2022
Happy New Year! We have entered into 2023 and so I decided to look back and reflect on the podcast and life in 2022. Lets go down memory…
Farewell, 2022…
This post is brought you by Nijiyon Animation, an upcoming short anime adaptation of a 4-koma manga series by Miyakohito which is based on Love Live! Nijigasaki High…
The Anime Rambler – By Benigmatica
Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, NIJIYON ANIMATION
Winter 2022
Happy New Year! I’m aware January is almost over but I’m still taking this as a win that I managed to send this post out while it was…
Motherhood (2022)
An enjoyable and engaging exploration of the destructive impact of a subject’s fixation on gaining the (m)Other’s love and that the often-ignored truth that becoming a mother is…
2022 Retrospective
As we say hello to 2023, it's time to take a look back at the many highs and hilarious lows of 2022... 2:01 - 2022 Recommendations 3:16 - Liar Game 5:30…
BLUELOCK, Cipher, Crossing Time, Dororo, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
North Shinjuku 2055 (Japan, 2022) [OAFF 2022]
Jason Maher reviews Daisuke Miyazaki's sci-fi short North Shinjuku 2055.
Goodbye Cruel World (2022) review [Japannual 2022]
“A stylish exploration of the cruel call for destruction that structures the perverse criminal field.”
Our House Party (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
Kawanobe delivers a very touching and emotional story about homosexuality in Japan.
In The Distance (2022) review [Japannual 2022]
“A very pleasant slice-of-life narrative that elegantly shows that bonds between subjects are that much more genuine if they are grounded in the acceptance of the other’s radical…
Far Away, Further Away (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“A beautiful film that elegantly explores the role the imaginary plays in marital failure as well as in the beginning of a new romantic bond.”
Two On The Edge (2022) review [Japannual 2022]
“A touching experience that highlights that the desire to be loved, for better or worse, is the ulitmate guide the neurotic subject within the societal field.”
One Day, A woman (2022) review [JFFH 2022]
“Mihiro Kaneko’s incredibly rich performance does not only engages the spectator from start to finish, but allows Yuko’s subjective turmoil, her flight from the societal Other, and her…
Kingdom of The Apes (2022) review [JFFH 2022]
Shugo Fujii proves that he is the master of indie-thrillers.
Out of TOKYO 202x (Japan, 2022) [OAFF 2022]
Jason Maher reviews Akinori Ikuse's short film Out of TOKYO 202x.
Short Movie Time: Outsourcing (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“A very satisfying satirical short thta shows that, within the job-seeking process, only the image matters.”
Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]
Miki delivers a great psychological mystery narrative, yet it might not be for everyone.
Review: Hero (2022)
Hero 世间有她 China/Hong Kong, 2022, colour, 2.35:1, 115 mins. Directors: Li Shaohong 李少红 (I), Chen Chong 陈冲 [Joan Chen] (II), Zhang Aijia 张艾嘉 [Sylvia Chang] (III). Rating: 6/10.…
Summer 2022 1
Hello and welcome to the new season, Summer 2022, when there’s nothing to do since it’s 36 degrees outside but sit at home and watch shows, well, there’s…
Fall 2022 2
SpyxFamily reminds us of the premise. This second installment is off to a good start with Spy x Family’s return. We got two things going on, first, a…
Immoral Guild, The Eminence in Shadow, Management of a Novice Alchemist
Wandering (2022) review
With his poetic sensitivity, Sang-il Lee delivers a rich tapestry of genuine emotionality and a powerful affirmation of the fact that the affirmation of the subject lies beyond…
Usogui (2022) review
‘Usogui’ got 99 problems, but the manga-like appearances of the characters ain’t one.
OAFF 2022 Special
Hello everyone, In this special episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss their favorite movies from the wonderful 2022 Osaka Asian Film Festival. Timestamps:2:53 - Media Consumption19:12 - News23:42…
Summer 2022 4
I think that’s the gateway to the next world. Kuro no Shoukanshi has Kelvin as the one reincarnated to a fantasy world. We learn that he gave up…
Happy Pride 2022
Seeing as June is the date many countries celebrate Pride, this month here on Yaoi Playground I will be taking a step back from talking about just yaoi…
Review: Snipers (2022)
Snipers 狙击手 China, 2022, colour, 2.35:1, 95 mins. Directors: Zhang Yimou 张艺谋, Zhang Mo 张末. Rating: 6/10. Gripping action/psychodrama, as Chinese and US snipers face off in a…
Convention Rankings 2022
With the end of Yama Con, my conventions for 2022 are done and I won’t be attending another one till the middle of January 2023 so with that…
Otakon 2022: Wrap
It’s really nice to get back to my “home” convention and run through it as if nothing happened since 2019. I enjoyed the humid Chesapeake Bay summer as…
Onpaku (2022) review
While Fujii does not re-invent the J-horror genre with Onpaku, he does prove the horror-frame can still be exploited to deliver satisfying horror narratives.
Noise (2022) review
A highly satisfying experience that delivers suspense as well as good dose of touching emotionality.
Winter 2022 Preview
Alas, it is winter (depending on where you live) with bone-chilling winds blowing their way through the bare, dreary trees. Like the winter trees, this anime season is…
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Love of Kill, ORIENT, Requiem of the Rose King, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Fall 2022 Preview
Ahh autumn, truly the season of change. As hot snaps and long summer days give way to changing leaves, colder weather, and the always ubiquitous combo of Uggs…
Akiba Maid War, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Urusei Yatsura, LOVE FLOPS, Chainsaw Man
Special - NYAFF 2022
Hello everyone, In this special episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss their favorite movies from the 2022 New York Asian Film Festival. Timestamps:1:48 - Media Consumption10:32 - News17:13…
Summer 2022 Preview
Summer is the season of waves-surfing the water waves, suffering the heat waves, and of course-tuning into new anime on the air waves. This summer we have some…
Uncle from Another World, Lycoris Recoil, Shoot! Goal to the Future, TEPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Laughing 'til You Cry, Utawarerumono