Dexter: Original Sin (Season 1)

Creator: Clyde Phillips
Starring: Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, Molly Brown, Christina Milian, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, Patrick Dempsey, Michael C. Hall, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Brittany Allen, Raquel Justice, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Sarah Kinsey, Jasper Lewis, Aaron Jennings, Roberto Sanchez, Randy Gonzalez, Isaac Gonzalez Rossi, Amanda Brooks, Roby Attal, Joe Pantoliano
Original Airdate: 2025

★★★ (out of ★★★★)    

For those still keeping track, Showtime's Dexter ended its eight season run in 2013 with a much maligned finale before returning nine years later for its continuation, New Blood, which fans still whined about despite getting the ending they claimed to clamor for. But when plans for subsequent seasons were scrapped after Michael C. Hall's title character seemingly met his demise, it appeared we were done. That is until creator and showrunner Clyde Phillips realized the best way to ward off complaints was to ensure the series never ends again, resulting in this prequel, Dexter: Original Sin.

Taking place fifteen years prior to the start of its first season, the new series opens with the shocking revelation that our favorite serial killer/blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan may have survived the shooting in New Blood. And now with Hall back to narrate the character's past from his death bed, there's still a direct sequel ahead with Dexter: Resurrection, as well as the proposed Trinity Killer prequel spin-off focusing on John Lithgow's murderous psychopath. 

Returning us to the show's comfortably familiar Miami surroundings for a period piece that delves deeper into how this complicated anti-hero came to embrace his "Dark Passenger," Original Sin has promise. And while the central mystery is its weakest aspect, casting and performances pick up the slack, especially one from a lead who expertly channels Dexter in all the ways you'd want from an actor playing Hall's younger counterpart. Filled with easter eggs, wonky creative choices and even some occasional retconning, it's not perfect, but builds a solid enough foundation that viewers will want to stick around for what's next.

It's 1991 and eccentric, socially awkward 20-year-old Dexter Morgan (Patrick Gibson) is hired as the newest forensic intern at the Miami Metro Police Department, where his adoptive father Harry (Christian Slater) works as a homicide detective. Keeping an eye on Dexter in hopes of curbing his increasingly dark and violent impulses, Harry also has his hands full with angry, rebellious daughter Deb (Molly Brown), who's still coping with the recent death of her mom and Harry's wife, Doris (Jasper Lewis).

Learning the ropes from unshakeable forensics chief Tanya Martin (Sarah Michelle Gellar), wise cracking analyst Vince Masuka (Alex Shimizu), fedora wearing detective Angel Batista (James Martinez) and his dad's partner Bobby Watt (Reno Wilson), Dexter joins a squad rocked by a series of child kidnappings. As Captain Aaron Spencer (Patrick Dempsey) explores a possible cartel link, he assigns Harry to keep an eye on the first female Miami PD homicide detective, María LaGuerta (Christina Milian), who's investigating a string of murders she suspects is the work of a serial killer. 

Meanwhile, Dexter's applying Harry's "code" to satiate his worst urges, targeting only society's worst criminals as he builds confidence with each new kill. But his youthful hubris and inexperience also leads to some major rookie mistakes that could get him caught, or worse. Haunted by past trauma and guilt, Harry fears losing control of his adopted son, continuing to shield Dexter from the grisliest details of a childhood he's subconsciously blocked out.

With the exception of New Blood, the original series always followed a certain formula that usually ended with the big bad on Dexter's table by season's end. And in showing how this all started, these ten episodes don't necessarily stray from that template.While remaining emotionally detached from Morgan family problems, Dexter sloppily navigates his way around as a killer, still searching for a system that works as he implements the tactics he'll later hone. 

Whether it's how Dexter chooses his victims, the first use of an Etorphine injection, the origination of his kill room, or solving the body disposal problem, this is him still figuring everything out. A few missteps alarm an already stressed Harry, who harbors major secrets of his own about Dexter's upbringing. And the childhood backstory we only heard about or saw brief glimpses of now gets a full fleshing out with '70's set flashbacks of Harry's affair with his cartel drug mole Laura Moser (Brittany Allen), mother of Dexter and older brother Brian. 

While we know how Dexter witnessing his mom's murder in that shipping container shaped him and future "Ice Truck Killer" Brian, the entire unfiltered experience is laid bare here. But the biggest revelations concern Harry, who's presented as being far more responsible for Laura's death and the brothers' evolution than we previously suspected. He's also heavily flawed and careless as a detective, developing a savior complex as his attempts to protect Laura go awry, putting her in harms way and nearly destroying his own marriage.

Since James Remar's version of Harry only appeared in brief flashbacks and as an apparition during the classic series, it's unfair to compare his take to Slater's since both serve entirely different purposes. But Slater's tremendous, making few attempts at directly imitating what Remar did as a father and cop torn apart by the guilt of failing his family. Though the writers have Harry make unbelievably incompetent mistakes, Slater's has it covered, shedding light on why he's so protective of Dexter and obsessed with shielding him from the truth about his past. In this sense, Harry's "code" to curb Dexter's darkest urges is also an effort to shield his own shortcomings, rationalizing that if he couldn't save Laura, there's still hope for her son. Or at least one of them.

Learning what not to do as Harry breathes down his neck, Dexter fumbles his way through the killings of a murderous nurse (Tanya Clarke), loan shark (Roberto Sanchez) and mob hitman (Joe Pantoliano), all of whom have left innocent victims in their wake. As Dexter, Patrick Gibson's brilliant, adapting portions of Hall's detached approach while simultaneously providing a blueprint for what we know will follow. 

With Dexter still lacking a full understanding of himself or his capabilities, it's all about not screwing up as a skeptical Harry hovers over him. But Gibson's even better at depicting Dexter's awkwardness in social situations, displaying some great comedic timing as he navigates a relationship with Deb's best friend Sofia (Raquel Justice) or clumsily attempts to endear himself to co-workers.

Because Jennifer Carpenter was so physically distinctive as Deb, they were never going to fill that part with her doppelganger, leaving Molly Brown to turn the volume up in incorporating the character's various personality quirks. Reeling from her mom's death, the anger and swearing is off the charts as she seethes at all the attention Harry gives Dexter. And with the two now suddenly working together, she's never felt more invisible, causing her to rebel by dating the older Gio (Isaac Gonzalez Rossi), who talks a smooth game, but might be trouble.

Unfortunately, Deb's subplot with Gio amounts to less than expected, sort of fading away without any concrete resolution. Despite that, Brown brings sass to the part, excelling most in the moments she vulnerably displays concern and affection for her "weirdo brother." It's through this, her strained bond with Harry and a series of personal roadblocks, that the seeds are planted for a future career in Miami homicide. 

The rest of the cast is uniformly strong, as Shimizu and Martinez are dead ringers for younger incarnations of Masuka and Batista, while Christina Milian gives the season's most underrated turn as the no-nonsense LaGuerta, eerily capturing previous actress Lauren Vélez's demeanor and inflection. Her feud with Dempsey's Captain Spencer is an ongoing thread, with him thoroughly insulted someone so publicly critical of the department would be brought in to undermine him. Besides helping to explain how LaGuerta became the hardheaded boss we know, it also sheds some light on her noticeably different treatment of the Morgan siblings.

Whenever any character pops up in a prequel who wasn't in the original there's wild speculation about why they weren't. And the more recognizable the star, the crazier these theories get. So as much as the writers try to distract us from it, it's impossible to ignore the presence of billed guest star Sarah Michelle Gellar as Tanya Martin, or stop wondering what her overall purpose is. 

Unfortunately, they do so little with Gellar it's almost as if whatever plans were in place for her character got completely scrapped. As a result, we're left wondering what could have been, especially since she steals every scene she's in as a dry, sarcastic forensics expert who actually shares a lot in common with Dexter. The possibilities seemed endless, so while Tanya's influence is still felt in some choice scenes, it's a missed opportunity they won't get back since Gellar's now attached to a Buffy reboot.    

It's somewhat ironic that everything involving Dexter perfecting Harry's code and finding his sea legs as a vigilante is more engaging than the season's big arc involving the murdered and kidnapped kids. Once the perpetrator is revealed, you'll start counting down the minutes until Dexter closes in, but not before the writers jump through hoops to avoid explaining too many details of the killer's convoluted plan.

When it's all over, there are lingering questions you're forced to kind of just let slide, mainly because Harry and LaGuerta's side hunt for the NIH killer so quickly overtakes the main case in interest. More directly tied to what Dexter was and who he'll eventually be, it also provides a further glimpse into Harry's motivations with a surprising twist that skillfully sets the stage for forthcoming seasons. 

Despite some messiness getting there, this does finish on a strong note, with the added benefit of an early 90's milieu and soundtrack that really captures the period's specificity. Narratively and stylistically faithful to its predecessor, it also updates the show's iconic opening title sequence by cleverly incorporating the supporting players into Dexter's superficially tedious, but sinister morning routine.

The advantage of Dexter's origin story being this heavily expanded upon can be a handicap when loyal viewers pick apart every detail, carefully hunting for inconsistencies. But with so many clever callbacks, it's a real trip seeing the his formative years depicted in such detail, prompting us to rethink popular theories. And if this is any indication, the Dexter franchise shows no signs of slowing down, evolving into a full blown multiverse with a shelf life as long as the character himself.            

Burning Questions From The 2025 Oscars

  

Didn't it feel good seeing this start at a reasonable time?

 

Did you expect that optimism would fade later on?

 

Wasn't that L.A. tribute montage incredibly short given the circumstances? 

 

Can you believe they were seriously considering not have any musical performances on the show at all?

 

Was that a rhetorical question?

 

Were you expecting Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to perform in character?

 

Was that maybe asking a little too much?

 

Okay then, how about Chalamet?

 

Out of all the nominees Conan could insert himself into, wasn't 'The Substance' the best choice?

 

Wasn't his joke about Netflix's constant price hikes the cold, hard truth?

 

Just like the one about Karla Sofía Gascón's publicist?

 

Didn't you know he'd immediately go there with the Gascón jabs?

 

And why shouldn't he?

 

Can you believe she actually attended? 

 

A sand worm playing the piano?

 

While the musical number was funny, did you think "I Won't Waste Time" was a promise Conan wouldn't be able to keep?

 

And wasn't that kind of the song's point?

 

With the exception of Chalamet's ultrasound, didn't those celebrity headshots resemble not so embarrassing high school yearbook photos?

 

How about that Adam Sandler bit? 

 

Did Robert Downey Jr. ramble or what? 

 

Are they really not showing any film clips of the nominees...again? 

 

Were you worried they'd present every category like that?

 

With the Culkin win, was everyone officially guaranteed one right on their ballots?

 

Sort of like he and his wife are officially guaranteed two more kids?

 

So, they're showing clips after all?

 

Did anyone correctly predict Animated Short?

 

In any year?

 

Ever? 

 

Didn't the costume nominees presentation take up a lot of time?

 

What would Conan say about that?

 

Wasn't Nick Offerman the ideal choice for announcer?  

 

Were you thinking that Original Screenplay win was a promising early sign for 'Anora?'    

 

Or were you thinking that Adapted Screenplay win was a promising early sign for 'Conclave?'

 

Weren't June Squibb and Scarlett Johansson an inspired pairing? 

 

Did Squibb display the best comedic timing of any presenter?

 

In the event of an Adrien Brody win, wouldn't it be better to have Halle Berry announce Best Actor?

 

Is isn't absurd how Margaret Qualley had to be a part of the James Bond tribute to get onto the Oscars?

 

So, they decided to go all in on the musical performances anyway?

'Cinemastreams?'

 

Was that the first time we've seen Darryl Hannah in over a decade?

 

Did that editing loss seal 'Conclave's' fate? 

 

Why were they not showing clips for the Supporting Actor and Actress nominees?

 

When Zoe won were you wondering if she'd mention Karla Sofía Gascón? 

 

If you still wanted a career after this, would you?

 

Was that Rolex commercial better than just about any Oscar montage?

 

Mick Jagger?!

 

Isn't he unsurprisingly great at this whole presenting thing?

 

Did you think the 16th time would be the charm for Diane Warren? 

 

Did anyone correctly predict Documentary Short?

 

In any year?

 

Ever?

 

Am I in shock that I actually did?

 

Would "guessed" be a more accurate word than "predicted" in this instance?

 

Miles Teller and Miley Cyrus?

 

Are they Conan's version of Letterman's Oprah and Uma?

 

Was Conan's 'Anora' joke about "standing up to a powerful Russian" the line of the night?  

 

Am I the only one perplexed at the level of online hate directed toward Rachel Zegler?

 

Doesn't that 'Better Man' movie look ridiculous? 

 

Did my luck run out with Live-Action Short?

 

Didn't everyone's?

 

Wasn't that a classy tribute to Gene Hackman from Morgan Freeman? 

 

Wasn't it jarring to see how many big names we lost over the past year?

 

And surreal seeing Shelley Duvall, David Lynch, James Earl Jones and Gene Hackman listed consecutively at the end of the montage?

 

Did you yell "Oh no, not again!" when you realized they excluded Michelle Trachtenberg?

 

How can they so royally screw this up every year?

 

Are they trying to upset viewers?

 

Was 'I'm Still Here' winning Best International Feature the ultimate slap in the face to 'Emilia Pérez?'

 

Wasn't that sort of expected? 

 

Does it get any better than Mark Hamill coming out to John Williams?

 

Was Best Actor the most suspenseful award of the night? 

 

Did you breathe a sigh of relief or disappointment when Adrien Brody won? 

 

Was Cillian Murphy worried Brody would try to kiss him?

 

Did Brody's gum tossing top his infamous Halle Berry moment? 

 

Was his speech longer than 'The Brutalist?'

 

Did you notice Tarantino nodding and clapping with approval when Sean Baker talked about the importance of preserving the theatrical experience?

 

Was he preaching to the choir with that one? 

 

After seeing the poorly chosen Demi Moore clip, were you worried she may not have this in the bag after all? 

 

Did 'Anora''s screenplay, editing and directing wins forecast Mikey taking this? 

 

Didn't she give a really nice speech?

 

Though she hid it well, how disappointed must Demi be right now? 

 

Once Best Picture rolled around, wasn't 'Anora' winning inevitable?

 

But did you really expect it to clean up like it did?

 

Can Conan O' Brien do this again?

 

At this point, should any host just chalk it up as a victory they made it through the show without getting slapped? 

2025 Oscar Predictions

Lately, there's been this split inside the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as the old guard continues to clash with an influx of newer members who changed the game when preferential balloting went into effect in 2009. While the former still cling to traditionalist views of what an Oscar winner should look and feel like, a younger, more diverse voting body has risen up, with some surprising results. 

Rarely has the playing field seemed as fractured as this year, as competing definitions of what a Best Picture is comes to a head an hour earlier Sunday when Conan O'Brien hosts the show. And as recent victors like Parasite, Nomadland, Coda and Everything Everywhere All At Once have proven, bigger doesn't always equal better for voters, with gigantic, high grossing theatrical epics becoming extinct in the streaming era. In retrospect, last year's "Barbenheimer" phenomenon was an anomaly, not just in terms of critical and commercial success, but in generating the kind of water cooler buzz that leads to renewed Oscar interest. 

Wicked appeared to be taking that route until abruptly fading from the conversation despite its 10 nomination haul. Instead, the headline surrounding this 87th Academy Awards is scandal, with former frontrunner Emilia Pérez's chances going up in smoke after a flurry of offensive tweets resurfaced from Best Actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón. Now, it faces the very real possibility of being shut out of all 13 categories for which its nominated. 

Suddenly, we're left with a potential Conclave vs. Anora showdown when the dramatic papal thriller faces off against a more zeitgeisty vision that could better represent where modern filmmaking's headed. Whether it gets the general public to care about the show is almost beside the point since this almost century old institution isn't going anywhere, regardless of what wins or how much doomsayers complain. But we are set for a really tight one on Sunday. Below are my predictions, along with an analysis of the major categories.                

 

*Predicted Winners 

ANIMATED FEATURE
Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot

ANIMATED SHORT
Beautiful Men
In the Shadow of the Cypress
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Black Box Diaries
No Other Land
Porcelain War
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat
Sugarcane 

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Death By Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart
The Only Girl in the Orchestra

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
I'm Still Here (Brazil)
The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)
Emilia Perez (France)
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
Flow (Latvia)

LIVE ACTION SHORT 
A Lien
Anuja
I'm Not a Robot
The Last Ranger
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent 

FILM EDITING
Anora (Sean Baker)
The Brutalist (David Jancso)
Conclave (Nick Emerson)
Emilia Pérez (Juliette Welfling)
Wicked (Myron Kerstein)

SOUND
A Complete Unknown (Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey & David Giammarco)
Dune: Part Two (Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett & Doug Hemphill)
Emilia Pérez (Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz & Niels Barletta)
Wicked (Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson & John Marquis)
The Wild Robot (Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo & Leff Lefferts)

PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Brutalist (Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Patricia Cuccia)
Conclave (Production Design: Suzie Davies; Set Decoration: Cynthia Sleiter)
Dune: Part Two (Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau)
Nosferatu (Production Design: Craig Lathrop; Set Decoration: Beatrice Brentnerová)
Wicked (Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales)

COSTUME DESIGN
A Complete Unknown (Arianne Phillips)
Conclave (Lisy Christl)
Gladiator II (Janty Yates & Dave Crossman)
Nosferatu (Linda Muir)
Wicked (Paul Tazewell)

ORIGINAL SCORE
The Brutalist (Daniel Blumberg)
Conclave (Volker Bertelmann)
Emilia Pérez (Clément Ducol and Camille)
Wicked (John Powell and Stephen Schwartz)
The Wild Robot (Kris Bowers)

ORIGINAL SONG
"El Mal," Emilia Pérez (Clément Ducol, Camille & Jacques Audiard)
"The Journey," The Six Triple Eight (Diane Warren)
"Like a Bird," Sing Sing (Abraham Alexander & Adrian Quesada)
"Mi Camino," Emilia Pérez (Camille & Clément Ducol)
“Never Too Late,” Elton John: Never Too Late (Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt & Bernie Taupin)

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
A Different Man (Mike Marino, David Presto & Crystal Jurado)
Emilia Pérez (Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier & Jean-Christophe Spadaccini)
Nosferatu (David White, Traci Loader and Suzanne Stokes-Munton)
The Substance (Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne Scarselli)
Wicked (Frances Hannon, Laura Blount and Sarah Nuth)

VISUAL EFFECTS
Alien: Romulus (Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin & Shane Mahan)
Better Man (Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft & Peter Stubbs)
Dune: Part Two (Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe & Gerd Nefzer)
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story & Rodney Burke)
Wicked (Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk and Paul Corbould)

CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Brutalist (Lol Crawley)
Dune: Part Two (Greig Fraser)
Emilia Pérez (Paul Guilhaume)
Maria (Ed Lachman)
Nosferatu (Jarin Blaschke)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
A Complete Unknown (James Mangold, Jay Cocks)
Conclave (Peter Straughan)
Emilia Pérez (Jacques Audiard; In collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius & Nicolas Livecchi)
Nickel Boys (RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes)
Sing Sing (Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John "Divine G" Whitfield)

A month or two ago, Audiard's script for Emilia Pérez would have been a serious threat in this category, or at least leading Nickel Boys and Sing Sing. Now it's in dead last, with all the controversy shining an even bigger spotlight on what dissenters already thought was the film's weakest aspect. Now, A Complete Unknown has made up about as much ground as Pérez lost, but most are more enamored with Chalamet's take on Dylan than Mangold and Cocks' script. That leaves the still very well regarded Conclave, which almost has to win this with Edward Burger's direction going unnominated and the Actor and Picture outcomes still in doubt. Its recent SAG and BAFTA trophies only help.       

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Anora (Sean Baker)
The Brutalist (Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold)
A Real Pain (Jesse Eisenberg)
September 5 (Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum; Co-Written by Alex David)
The Substance (Coralie Fargeat)

It's a surprise enough voters even knew about September 5 so its inclusion here is probably reward enough. A Real Pain has a great chance, but with only one other nod to its name, it may not be significant enough to topple three strong Best Picture contenders. If it's between Anora, The Brutalist and The Substance, this outcome largely depends on what happens in the bigger, more consequential races. Given the roll Anora's on and that the latter two will likely be recognized elsewhere, you have to figure this goes to WGA winner Sean Baker, who's the only nominee equally respected as both a writer and director. Whether or not Anora takes home the big one, voters will want to reward him here.        

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
Ariana Grande (Wicked)
Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

With a frontrunner who's been forced to distance herself from the very film she's nominated for, the discussion revolves around how much damage has been done to Zoe Saldaña. But there's good news. While not quite the lock she was a month ago, even Pérez's most vehement haters would admit her performance is far and away the best thing in it. So what it really comes down to is whether anyone can beat her. 

Rossellini has two minutes of screen time in Conclave, most need to be reminded The Brutalist's Jones was nominated, and as much love as A Complete Unknown's Monica Barbaro has gotten, a win her first time out is a stretch. That leaves us with Ariana Grande, who's deserving, but Wicked's stalled campaign makes it hard to imagine voters favoring her, even under these circumstances. If anything, the Academy will be more inclined to reward Saldaña for graciously holding it together throughout the entire P.R. disaster. With Globe, BAFTA and SAG wins under her belt, she's got this.               

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Yura Borisov (Anora)
Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown)
Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)

Anora's Yura Borisov earned a surprise, but well deserved nod that's hopefully just the start for him. Norton represents yet another endorsement for A Complete Unknown, but he's a real longshot. Though many think Guy Pearce should be getting even more attention for his role as industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren in The Brutalist, he's a lot less likely than Adrien Brody to be the acting win that polarizing film picks up. 

So good as young Trump's slimy mentor Roy Cohn in The Apprentice, Jeremy Strong taking this feels completely justified, if not for the fact his Succession costar Culkin already has it locked up for his manic portrayal of rambunctious, grief ridden cousin Benji Kaplan in A Real Pain. While the Supporting Actress race is known for its upsets, this category isn't, and should be the only foregone conclusion of the night. Put your money on Culkin, who won every precursor in sight and seems poised to deliver another wildly entertaining acceptance speech.   

ACTRESS
Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)
Mikey Madison (Anora)
Demi Moore (The Substance)
Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here)

Gascón never had much of a chance at pulling this off anyway given how her lead category placement was called into question from the get-go, with many still believing she and Saldaña should have swapped places. But none of that matters now, as her shot at becoming the first openly trans actress to win an Academy Award has evaporated. But what it does is create an opening for beloved underdog Fernanda Torres to capture some of those international votes for her Golden Globe winning performance in I'm Still Here, which no one dislikes.

Erivo seemed much stronger before Wicked fizzled, erasing her from contention and leaving Mikey Madison and Demi Moore to battle it out in a race that's narrowed considerably in recent weeks as Anora's gained momentum. Madison's surprise BAFTA win definitely helped and a potential Best Picture victory could seal this since her performance and the film are nearly inseparable. But SAG and Globe losses to Moore, combined with her lower visibility, could hurt. Voters have also have a history of passing over young ingenues by rationalizing how much "time" they still have to win Oscars.

It's less what Madison lacks than everything Moore brings, which is immense popularity and a narrative that overcomes any ambivalence toward endorsing a graphic body horror film. And who among the Academy won't want to hear another inspiring acceptance speech about the double standards facing  women in Hollywood? Or reward an actress who thought she was finished, only to pour all those fears and insecurities into the defining role of her forty year career? Comeback stories don't get much bigger than this.                     

ACTOR
Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)
Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)

In a sparser than usual field, I'd jump out of my seat if Sebastian Stan won for The Apprentice, but it's just not in the cards. And neither is a victory for Sing Sing's Colman Domingo or Conclave's Ralph Fiennes, who's slipped despite Conclave recently regaining ground. Besides giving the category's most popular performance, Chalamet managed to win over many doubters who assumed he couldn't play a believable Bob Dylan and does his own singing (something previous winners like Rami Malek for Bohemian Rhapsody can't claim). The surprise SAG victory indicates passionate support, even if it came after Oscar voting already ended. 

Whether or not playing a real life figure still carries the same currency it once did, Chalamet would be the youngest Best Actor winner ever at 29, breaking the record set by fellow nominee Adrien Brody over twenty years earlier in The Pianist. And we'll see if voters can justify holding off on crowning Chalamet, who many believe will be back here again soon. But whatever hesitation there is in recognizing Mikey Madison for that reason, just double it and ask Elvis' Austin Butler how things went for him against Brendan Fraser. As divisive as it is, The Brutalist can't go home empty handed and Brody's suffering performance as Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor László Tóth could be how voters honor it, making him a two-time Oscar winner. Still, this race is a coin flip.                

DIRECTOR
Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
Sean Baker (Anora)
Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)
James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)

Voters might be feeling a twinge of remorse that they can't substitute Conclave's Edward Burger, Nickel Boys' RaMell Ross, or Dune: Part Two's Denis Villeneuve in for Audiard, but the ship already sailed. A Complete Unknown will be remembered and celebrated for a while to come, but most agree it won't necessarily be for Mangold's direction. The Substance making it this far is a real credit to the talents of writer/director Fargeat, but a Best Actress and Makeup win is probably its ceiling. 

A possible Picture/Director split is always on everyone's minds when this year's no exception. Almost equally strong cases can be made for Brady Corbet and Sean Baker, but Baker has the slight edge having picked up that coveted DGA, an almost foolproof indicator that the Oscar's his. And if The Brutalist is a rough sit for voters, the more warmly embraced Anora has been held up as the ultimate signifier of Baker's skills. And him somehow feeling overdue with barely ten films behind him has to be seen as a very positive sign.         

BEST PICTURE
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I'm Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked

Emilia Pérez is finished, and while it's still leagues better than the atrocity that's been described, the film's excessive nomination tally and unfortunate scandal put a target on its back. Wicked peaked months ago and will occupy a proverbial blockbuster slot alongside Dune: Part Two, with voters awaiting their final installments before awarding either.

The competition is too stiff for I'm Still Here and Nickel Boys, neither of which have a director nod or equally meaningful notice that indicates a break through. The Substance's genre starts factoring in here since there's very little chance the Academy would crown a horror film with its top prize. A Complete Unknown's late surge is impressive, but more likely to result in a win for Chalamet than the movie as a whole. 

The Brutalist was looking much better a couple of weeks ago and it's hard to imagine a cerebral critics pick running away with this, especially considering how a similarly themed and executed masterpiece like There Will Be Blood couldn't even manage to pull it off. Conclave has a BAFTA and just recently got the SAG boost, but Berger's lack of a directing nod is worrisome.

While there's some precedent for overcoming the director hurdle (ask Ben Affleck), what can't be overcome is Anora winning both the PGA and DGA, making its path to gold a whole lot easier. Of those that have, only Brokeback Mountain, La La Land and 1917 failed to win Best Picture, with their losses documented as the most shocking in Oscar history. This doesn't feel like one of those races. Anora checks all the important boxes, solidifying it as the safer bet.                

Cobra Kai (Season 6)

Creators: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Peyton List, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Dallas Dupree Young, Vanessa Rubio, Martin Kove, Thomas Ian Griffith, Yuji Okumoto, Oona O'Brien, Griffin Santopietro, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Brandon H. Lee, Carsten Nørgaard, Lewis Tan, Patrick Luwis, Rayna Vallandingham
Original Airdate: 2025

**The Following Review Contains Major Plot Spoilers**

★★★★ (out of ★★★★)

After eight years, six seasons and two streaming services, the most creatively successful legacy sequel yet takes its final bow and the timing feels just right. It's a far cry from when the mere suggestion of a Karate Kid follow-up set decades after the original's events prompted skepticism and ridicule. But creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg had a clever hook. And while it's one thing to come up with a great pitch, it's another to make that a reality by following through as skillfully as they have with Cobra Kai. 

In speculating what became of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) following his devastating loss to Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) in the 1984 All-Valley Karate Tournament, the showrunners devised a plan that not only answered that question in endlessly satisfying ways, but bridged an elusive audience age gap by giving equal attention to the original characters and the generation following them.

As it turns out, neither Johnny, Daniel or ruthless Sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) ever really moved past what happened, as Johnny's resurrection of the Cobra Kai dojo (along with its "Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy" karate philosophy) had far reaching implications over these past six seasons, spawning even more conflicts and alliances. 

At the series' heart was always Johnny's struggle to escape his troubled past, resulting in a redemptive arc that's now reached its climax. With the show's mission largely accomplished, only a few more puzzle pieces remain, along with one of Miyagi-Do's biggest challenges in preparing for the world's toughest, most respected karate tournament. And just when you thought Cobra Kai was dead, it's back as a new, more dangerous incarnation led by a pair of familiar faces. This combined with Johnny's personal trials and Daniel's attempts at reckoning with a recent discovery help make for a jam packed send-off.

Fresh off the heels of Cobra Kai's demise and Terry Silver's (Thomas Ian Griffith) arrest, Miyagi-Do begins training for the prestigious Sekai Taikai karate tournament under the tutelage of Daniel, Johnny and Chozen (Yuji Okumoto). But with the senseis clashing over their conflicting philosophies, Kreese arrives South Korea following his prison escape to revive a lethal new version of Cobra Kai alongside Kim Dae-Un (Alicia Hannah-Kim). 

As Miyagi-Do teammates vie to compete in the tourney, Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), Robby (Tanner Buchanan) and Hawk (Jacob Bertrand) contemplate their post-karate futures, while Sam (Mary Mouser) and Tory's (Peyton List) burgeoning friendship gets interrupted by tragedy. Upon their arrival in Barcelona, Myagi-Do must not only contend with Cobra Kai's bloodthirsty new captain Kwon (Brandon H. Lee), but Sensei Wolf's (Lewis Tan) even more sadistic Iron Dragons dojo, With Daniel distracted by a shocking revelation about Mr. Miyagi's past and Johnny nervously preparing for Carmen (Vanessa Rubio) to give birth, their biggest threat waits in the wings, plotting to enact revenge at any cost.

From the moment this kicks off, the clock starts ticking down to when and how Silver will reemerge. And considering we last saw him being  dragged off to jail after framing Kreese, it was always a safe bet he wouldn't stay down for long. The reveal itself is worth the wait, but before that comes Miyagi-Do's tournament preparation, which revolves heavily around Daniel and Johnny's shaky alliance. 

Since the show's always excelled at taking the uncontrollable Johnny out of his comfort zone and  letting hilarity ensue with Zabka's performance, having him work for Daniel at LaRusso Auto Group is one of those great ideas you can't believe they were able to hold off on until now. And it's no surprise Johnny excels at it since he's always been a used car salesman of sorts, playing up the confident bravado despite considering himself a failure as a father, sensei and competitor. But lately, he's come closer to overcoming that, with Zabka and the writers gradually adding layers to a character who before this series was better known as an iconic but one-dimensional 80's bully.

If Kreese's salvation was teased throughout Season 5, he spends a good portion of this one reminding us of his true colors. And if there's endless entertainment found in Johnny selling cars, there may be even more in his former mentor getting bitten by and attempting to behead an actual cobra. 

Utilizing Kwon as Cobra Kai's secret weapon, Kreese is more determined than ever to bring down Miyagi-Do, temporarily blinding him from the real enemy. Only this time his actions have horrific consequences, the least of which involve swaying an extremely vulnerable Tory back to the dark side following her mother's death. Understandably, her heart isn't in it anymore, lashing out the only way she knows how.  

As the series' unheralded MVP for a few seasons running, Peyton List again believably demonstrates how Tory, like Johnny, can be her own worst enemy, often unable to stop self sabotaging any shot she has at potential happiness. But despite pushing away Robby, Sam and the rest of Miyagi-Do, you get the impression she's grown tired of being angry, as if she needs to get it all out of her system before somehow finding the strength to continue on. 

The Sekai Taikai stands out from other competitions we've seen on the show not just due to venue, setting or how its shot, but by giving viewers an opportunity to see Miyagi-Do pulverized by superior opponents. That's especially true for the distracted Robby, whose concern for girlfriend Tory causes him to falter, leading Miguel to emerge as the team's true captain as he attempts to motivate his friend and former rival. 

Known for its thrillingly choreographed fight sequences, the show still manage to raise the bar in a season that features multiple antagonists on and off the mat. But their biggest physical challenge comes from The Iron Dragons, captained by the intimidating, Dolph Lungren-like Axel (Patrick Luwis) and social media superstar Zara (13-time Taekwondo world champion Rayna Vallandingham), both of whom are dynamic enough to top any wish list of candidates for a potential spin-off. Led by the abusive Sensei Wolf (Lewis Tan), it'll come as no surprise who he takes his marching orders from. 

Keeping with tradition, there's a chaotic, drag out brawl that earns comparisons to some previous cliffhangers like the second season school fight. But what sets Sekai's smackdown apart are the horrific consequences caused by Kreese, who crosses a line in his obsession with Silver that's officially too far to walk back, nearly destroying everything and everyone around him. It's only after this that it becomes painfully clear what he needs to do.

One of the season's more prominent sub-plots involves Daniel's investigation into Miyagi's past, especially considering he even leaves the team high and dry to follow a false lead. As Daniel considers his idol may not have been as morally flawless as he thought, we're reminded how the series has always fared best when incorporating Miyagi's legacy through his teachings. So while nothing he allegedly did decades ago could really diminish Daniel or anyone else's opinion of him, we know there's a logical explanation coming. 

What we do get out of this are a couple of memorable dream sequences, and even if a digitized deep-fake Miyagi distracts more than impresses, Brian Takahashi's performance as his younger counterpart hits the mark, as does the concept behind a scene involving Daniel being attacked by a gang of costumed skeletons from his past. 

Whether it's a rejected, despondent Chozen's surprising bond with adversary Kim, the culmination of Kenny (Dallas Dupree Young) and Anthony's (Griffin Santopietro) long running feud or Devon's (Oona O'Brien) secret prank, the writers get much of the supporting characters' business out of the way early. They also wisely tackle the birth of Carmen and Johnny's baby and his inevitable proposal well before the finale, clearing a path for those last two episodes.

The explanation for how the Sekai Taikai could possibly continue after what happened to Kwon is actually a pretty good one. And as much as Silver wants it resumed for purely selfish reasons, it's equally hard for everyone else to deny they need it to continue also. The argument that this tournament can't end in disgrace is about as good a defense as it gets, if just suitable enough for Sekai's hard nosed director/emcee Gunther (Carsten Nørgaard in an underappreciated turn) to accept. 

While the tournament finds a new home in the Valley, there's still the issue of a decimated Cobra Kai that can't possibly return with a culpable Kreese at the helm. So it's only fitting that after Miyagi-Do's loss, Miguel and Tory again don the black and yellow to take down The Iron Dragons under Johnny's guidance. It also feels right that Robby and Sam have reached the point where they no longer need this, internalizing Miyagi's biggest lesson about karate's true purpose. Despite lying on a stretcher with a broken leg, Robby realizes he couldn't be more grateful for what this entire experience has done for him. As for Sam, she's gotten all she can out of this and just seems excited to move on.

Even if the plot machinations behind getting Johnny on that mat for a final shot at redemption against the formidable Wolf seems crazy on the surface, it needs to happen for his story to come full circle. And while seeing Daniel in his corner wearing Cobra Kai black is a trip in itself, Johnny still has unfinished business left with a somber, remorseful Kreese.

Since the first film's aftermath remains a debated topic even among diehard fans, it's surreal watching Kreese tearfully admit that Johnny's display of sportsmanship after that loss proved how much more of a man the student was than his teacher. It wasn't the losing that destroyed Johnny, but when Kreese berated and assaulted him in that parking lot, failing a kid who saw his sensei not just as a mentor, but the father he never had. Now as Kreese finally takes responsibility for his role in Johnny's downward spiral, Zabka and Kove deliver the best scene of the entire series, giving their characters a catharsis that feels forty years in the making.

When a winded, bloodied Johnny miraculously defeats Wolf to earn the self respect that's long eluded him, it's Daniel offering the same congratulations Johnny did in their '84 fight, bringing it all back around. But Kreese is busy finishing his own war after recognizing that vengeful look in his ex-Vietnam buddy's eyes. With Silver determined to use what little time he has left for the most vile act possible, Kreese sacrifices himself to save Johnny. It's not about redemption or forgiveness, but a chance to set things right, finally using his violent methods for a noble cause.  

Curiously, we're led to believe Johnny and Daniel haven't a clue their arch enemies perished in that boat explosion, or at least there's no indication they do. Besides a passing nod to Silver's mysterious absence during the big fight, it remains a small, dangling thread. Whether that's due to time constraints or a conscious creative decision not to distract from Johnny's otherwise uplifting ending, details like this aren't usually accidents.

Johnny's visit to his mother's grave could have easily been a trip to Kreese's, but wasn't, making us wonder if they're leaving some wiggle room for the possibility he survived, which isn't a stretch seeing how Johnny already began this series believing his former sensei had died. But assuming the bodies and wreckage were recovered, it still wouldn't have hurt to get Johnny and Daniel's reactions, if only to see how they'd process it. Either way, the last minutes are well spent, giving these characters the closure they deserve and offering reassurance their world will continue long after those credits roll. 

From "Ace Degenerate" to Ex-Degenerate," this was always Johnny's story, and now it's complete, with Sensei Lawrence back in his Cobra Kai dojo, still insulting and motivating students with his tough love approach. Armed with the knowledge that a multi-faceted method works best, he's realized there's no Cobra Kai without Miyagi-Do or vice versa. And just as those two disciplines can now peacefully co-exist, so too can Daniel and Johnny.

While certain questions remain, Heald and Hurwitz stick the landing, with a major caveat being that this may not be over. With a Karate Kid spin-off feature on the horizon, it's entirely possible for more chapters to be written in the "Miyagiverse." And after seeing what they did here, that hypothetical pitch for a Back to the Future series suddenly doesn't sound like such a crazy idea after all.                                                                                                

Juror #2

Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Chris Messina, Gabriel Basso, Zoey Deutch, Cedric Yarbrough, Leslie Bibb, Keifer Sutherland, Amy Aquino, Adrienne C. Moore, Francesca Eastwood
Running Time: 114 min.
Rating: PG-13

★★★ (out of ★★★★) 

In the tradition of 90's potboilers like A Time to Kill, The Firm or even Clint Eastwood's own Absolute Power, the director's Juror #2 is a gripping legal thriller that foregoes histrionics to instead examine the consciences of its characters. Quieter and more subtle than expected, there's a welcome lack of flash to how Eastwood efficiently makes his point about how the legal system can fail even those with noble intentions. There are grey areas here as everyone involved attempts to do the right thing, no matter how skewed the scales seem.

Jurors with different backgrounds, personalities and biases forced to reach a consensus can often make for compelling human drama, but when one's harboring a major secret, those stakes are raised. It's a relatively simple premise, but the performances and execution go a long way, reminding us how good Eastwood is when interpreting material as solid as what screenwriter Jonathan Abrams provides. Logical and engaging, this reimagines Twelve Angry Men through a different lens, with the clever twist of a lone holdout being directly involved in the case he's selected to serve on.

Savannah based journalist and recovering alcoholic Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) is called for jury duty in a murder trial just as his pregnant wife Ally (Zoey Deutch) is about to give birth after having previously miscarried. When an attempt to be dismissed fails, he joins eleven other jurors in hearing the case of James Sythe (Gabriel Basso), who's accused of murdering his girlfriend Kendall Carter (Francesca Eastwood) last year after the couple's heated argument at a local bar. 

Prosecutor Faith Killebrew (Toni Collette) anticipates an easy conviction, potentially bolstering her popularity as she runs for district attorney. The opposing counsel is overworked public defender Eric Resnik (Chris Messina), who maintains his client's innocence despite struggling to overcome a mountain of circumstantial evidence and key witnesses. But when Justin realizes he was at the scene and possesses crucial information that could clear Sythe's name, he panics. At the advice of his AA sponsor, defense attorney Larry (Keifer Sutherland), Justin keeps his mouth shut, instead attempting to plant reasonable doubt in these jurors' minds without incriminating himself.

The script covers itself well in explaining how Justin not only slipped through the cracks onto this jury, but isn't aware of his possible role in the crime until the trial's underway. In certain respects, he couldn't be safer since the police already have their man, but knowing the truth, he drowns in guilt as opinionated jurors' theories place him in increasing jeopardy during deliberations. And while Justin's an amiable guy who'd rather be by his wife's side, he still has personal demons he's working to put behind him.

Through Eastwood's use of strategically placed flashbacks, more alarming details concerning where Justin went and what he did that night after leaving the bar are revealed. As small bits of visual information unspool pieces at a time, the fuller picture emerges about why he's so torn about coming forward. Weighing the ramifications of convicting of an innocent man or telling a truth that could  destroy his life, Hoult subtly conveys his character's heavy burden as a trembling Justin nervously tries to nudge these stubborn jurors.

Most of the jury deem Sythe guilty before they've entered the room, such as an irritated Marcus (Cedric Yarbrough), who has an ax to grind that has more to do with his own experiences than the defendant's actual guilt or innocence. Making matters worse, he's incredibly suspicious of James, who's fighting an uphill battle in convincing this group to consider alternate possibilities. That is until retired homicide detective Harold Chicowski senses there could be a whole lot more to this case.  

Expertly played by the great J.K. Simmons, Chicowski's been around the block, his investigative skills proving to be both a blessing and curse for James. One of the more compelling ideas he introduces is that of confirmation bias, with police working backwards to finger an obvious suspect before collecting evidence that affirms it. For them, it's all about the optics of getting that conviction, just so long as their suspect fits the profile. It's something prosecutor Killebrew knows all too well, having presumably leveraged it to her benefit many times before.   

Killebrew's rivalry with Resnick is one of the more realistically rewarding details in the script, bucking the usual trend for this genre. Far from being at each others throats, they're friends, colleagues and former classmates who may be on opposite sides, but can still joke and commiserate over drinks. This shared respect becomes increasingly important when Killebrew starts having her own doubts about Sythe's guilt. Unsurprisingly, a superb Toni Collette brings additional layers of complexity to this woman as she grows suspicious of Hoult's tormented protagonist. The result is a tense, intelligently written showdown between two decent people that Eastwood stages with nuance and restraint. 

As a potentially innocent man's freedom hangs in the balance, the title character can't be sure whether he's actually responsible. And neither can we, until the realization hits that Juror #2 isn't about that, even if we're given more than enough information to put those pieces together. In the eyes of the law, all that ever matters is the verdict, which sometimes exists in an entirely separate universe as our preconceived notions of justice.                                 

Anora

Director: Sean Baker

Starring: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Aleksei Serbryakov, Darya Ekamasova, Luna Sofía Miranda, Lindsey Normington, Vincent Radwinsky
Running Time: 139 min.
Rating: R 

**The Following Review Contains Plot Spoilers For 'Anora' **

★★★½ (out of ★★★★)

Lost amid all the justifiable praise for writer/director Sean Baker's Anora is how quickly it flips, as a hilariously entertaining farce starts to become more movingly raw and real with each new crazy development. And in doing that it melds elements of different genres into a picture that opens rather conventionally, giving little hint of the wild, exhilarating ride to come. All those comparisons to Pretty Woman set the bar low, lulling viewers into anticipating Hollywood's latest take on the "hooker with a heart of gold." Only the trope isn't just subverted here, but turned upside down and shaken over the course of an energetically paced two hours and a half hours.

You'll know the point Baker pulls the trigger, as misadventures pile up around an arrangement that quickly goes south, derailing the title character's chances of cashing in on her dreams. What the cautiously optimistic protagonist experiences instead is a nightmare that's equal parts funny, violent and heartbreaking. It's all powered by Mikey Madison, who plays each moment with the grit and vulnerability of a woman desperately trying to salvage a rapidly deteriorating situation. As circumstances constantly change, she knows the handwriting's on the wall, but still won't go down without a fight, determined to control her own destiny.

Anora "Ani" Mikheeva (Madison) is a 23-year-old stripper and sex worker at a nightclub in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn who's introduced to Ivan "Vanya" Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), the spoiled, hyperactive 21-year-old son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. After paying Ani for a series of sexual encounters at his family's lavish mansion, he offers her more to stay with him an entire week. But as they grow closer when she parties with him and his entourage in Vegas, Vanya proposes they marry so he can avoid returning to Russia to work for his father. Though initially hesitant, Ani agrees. 

After eloping, Ani quits her job and moves into Vanya's mansion when word of their marriage reaches his disapproving parents, who send Armenian relative Toros (Karren Karagulian) and his two thugs Garnik (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yura Borisov) over to force them into getting an annulment. But the bumbling Russians have their hands full with Ani, causing all hell to break loose as she struggles to save a relationship that's suddenly fallen way short of her lofty expectations. Now wondering if this impulsive decision was worth it, she could lose everything.

Baker teases a character study primarily focused on the life and career of a sex worker, but that's all setup to establish who Ani is before Vanya makes his whirlwind entrance. Goofily played  by Eydelshteyn as an unpredictable livewire, he initially seems no different to her than other clients, at least until arriving at the mansion. It would be easy see this as a con, with Vanya manipulating Ani to get a green card while she's after his money. But Baker has something a lot more complex in mind. 

Even if there's an underlying element of subconscious manipulation going on, the pair do forge a superficial connection that makes us want to believe in them as much as Ani. Plus, the immature, rascally Vanya isn't smart enough to think through any scheme, especially when his primary hobbies consist of partying, drugs and playing video games. But between his disposable wealth and fun loving attitude, the proposal still seems like a can't miss deal for Ani, who thinks she just punched a one-way ticket out of prostitution. Unfortunately, the carefree obliviousness that makes Vanya such a safe bet is what ends up derailing her life. 

What starts as a knock at the door from unwelcome intruders turns into this fight sequence so uproarious it could be mistaken for a Home Alone sequel, as these hired guns arrive to forcibly end a marriage Vanya probably would have sunk on his own anyway. The oafish Garnik and Igor botch a job that only worsens when their equally flustered boss arrives on the scene to discover Ani's more of a handful than they assumed. Armenian actor Karagulian's turn as Toros might be the film's most underappreciated, as his completely flustered character barges onto the scene totally unprepared, his priceless reactions and explosive outbursts stealing the show. And yet his angry ramblings can't be completely written off, forcing us to consider that everything he tells Ani about Vanya may be true.

It's only when Ani's dragged along on their loony search for Vanya that she gets an inkling of her new husband's cowardly true colors. Waiting for him to reemerge from hiding as a responsible adult willing to stand with her against his family is a lost cause. But that's a reality she'll need to see on her own once his parents enter the picture because their treatment of this say a lot. Madison's work reaches its fever pitch upon Ani fully recognizing what she avoided seeing all along, even if it's painfully clear this couldn't have gone another way.  

The three men tasked with resolving this debacle aren't especially prepared or invested. A discombobulated Toros flies off the handle, his brother Garnik is incompetent and the quiet, contemplative Igor hovers in the background, making awkward small talk with Ani when he's not physically restraining her. But we do get indications he's not like his two accomplices and would far rather sit this out. And boy does Borisov's performance sneak up on you, burning slowly until taking a pivotal turn late in the game, transforming how we see Ani, and ultimately, how she views herself. 

Fighting an unwinnable battle, Ani commits to leaving with her dignity intact, even as everything else falls apart. And with Baker hiding his biggest twist in plain sight the entire time, we have to peel ourselves away from this electrically charged chaos long enough to see it. The controversial final scene is a gut punch, as Ani expresses gratitude with the only transactional currency she knows, hating herself in the process. Devastating but still not the saddest of all possible outcomes, Anora leaves audiences contemplating how Ani's future very much remains in her own hands.                      

Heretic

Directors: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace, Elle Young
Running Time: 111 min.
Rating: R

★★★ (out of ★★★★) 

The first observation everyone will make about A24's chilling horror film Heretic is how it features Hugh Grant "playing against type" in a rare villainous role. But that's only partially true since the English actor inhabits this sadistic part exactly as we'd assume, playing it politely and eloquently, much like the characters he's built a career portraying in romantic comedies like Notting Hill and Love, Actually.

If anything's certain, it's that Grant's evil antagonist loves to hear himself talk, subjecting his visitors to an unsettling theological lecture about belief and spirituality. And in doing this he sets up an elaborate scenario that's constructed with more time, effort and motivation than most normal, functioning people are capable of. Of course, he's far from normal. The set-up is bold and ambitious enough to fear a letdown, but even when the film takes a more traditional horror path, it at least preserves the ideas that got it there.

Sister Barnes (Yellowjackets' Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) are two young Mormon missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints who arrive at the house of Mr. Reed (Grant), a middle-aged man possibly looking to join their congregation. He invites them in, alleviating initial concerns by announcing his wife will be joining shortly with her blueberry pie.

As the young women inquire about his interest in the church, Reed responds with increasingly awkward and uncomfortable queries of his own, mostly aimed at discrediting their faith. With a wife that's still nowhere to be seen and his behavior growing more suspicious and confrontational, Barnes and Paxton attempt to exit a potentially dangerous situation, not knowing they're already pawns in Mr. Reed's lethal, sadistic game.

The script cleverly establishes the women as having two very different and distinct personalities, making it imperative for viewers to pay attention to casual banter that later becomes important in the context of Reed's trap. Unwavering in her loyalty to her religion, Barnes appears to be the stronger, more confident of the two, while the shy and naive Paxton is also devoted to a fault, though noticeably iffier about certain aspects of the church.

Pamphlets in hand, Barnes and Paxton arrive in the pouring rain, greeted by a seemingly warm, welcoming host on their last scheduled stop of the night. But writer/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (who helmed 2019's grisly slasher Haunt) fill the film with small, visually important details, even down to how they drag their bikes up the hill. While the last thing both expect are Reed's attempts at dismantling organized religion with his verbal attacks and theories, that's only the beginning.  

Since he's played by Grant, all of it's done with a class and charm that continues up to and after imprisoning them in a small, innocuous cottage home containing enough timed locks and hidden passageways to double as Fort Knox. Dimly shot with a foreboding sense of dread by cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon, you can see and feel the women's escalating unease amidst a growing doubt they've taken all necessary precautions. It's only when Reed's lies become too much to ignore that concern turns to fear, and then, pure panic. 

The movie is all about belief, or more accurately, what people believe and why, with this atheist Jigsaw insisting the choice to leave is theirs. But there's a catch, or more accurately, a test. It begins with a speech broadly outlining his big philosophical theory involving The Hollies' 1974 hit "The Air That I Breathe" and various iterations of Monopoly. This is where the film peaks, still shrouded in mystery as Reed holds court in his pew-like study.

The script veers into gruesomely familiar territory from then on, but still manages to deepen the psychology of the two women in the process. What comes next is entertainingly preposterous, but the acting sells it, as does a crammed, claustrophobic setting that ups the tension. Still, the story's strongest when we're left in the dark, speculating about Reed's intentions.

Temporarily freed from the usual constraints, Grant's clearly having the time of his life tackling darker material few would ever associate with him. More reliant on suspense than gore, the first half centers around a constantly evolving game of human chess, with his performance hinting at a number of feasible outcomes, including the possibility Reed could let them go.  

Thatcher and East (both of whom actually had a Mormon upbringing) subvert expectations following their characters' memorable introductions when Barnes and Paxton's arcs diverge. While the film's first two acts emphasize the former's steely determination and resourcefulness, a sudden turn cause us to completely reevaluate East's Paxton, whose timidity isn't the sign of weakness we'd assume. There's also a Topher Grace cameo that appears to be leading somewhere huge, but instead reveals itself as window dressing to underscore the true helplessness of this predicament. 

Up until an ending where the villain describes his master plan in agonizing detail, there's an authenticity to Heretic that's only enhanced by the performances and creepy atmosphere. What we see in the final minutes may not be the entire truth and remains open for interpretation, but that's only fitting given its themes. An inspired approach makes watching this unfold thrilling fun, especially with Grant giving his best opposite a pair of up-and-coming actresses more than capable of matching him.