Alise Chaffins

American Baby Review: American Pregnancy Telling the story of teen pregnancy in America through the eyes of a 15-year-old Texan, Ellen Rodniaski's American Baby is a visual feast.

Ellen Rodnianski’s AMERICAN BABY examines the choices facing a pregnant teen in the middle of Texas with authenticity and tenderness.

Read @alisechaffins.bsky.social's review! 🔥

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Rooster Review: Lessons in Mid-Life Bill Lawrence's new HBO series ROOSTER, starring Steve Carell, is a fun story of a father and daughter helping each other heal after loss.

...the first six episodes of Rooster are funny and touching, exploring themes of finding yourself after loss at different stages in life.

There's a new Bill Lawrence show coming, so you know I had to review it. #tvsky

Shrinking S3, Episode 6: Drink It In Recap and review of Apple TV's Shrinking season 3, episode 6, "Dereks Don't Die."

The latest episode of Shrinking is out, which means my latest recap is out! Watch the episode and then read the post, and let me know what you think! #shrinking #tvsky

Crime 101 Review: Throwback Thriller (Affectionate) Bart Layton's Crime 101 is a fairly standard action thriller, but with enough character development to make you care.

While there is nothing particularly unique about the structure of Crime 101, Layton artfully weaves the stories together in a satisfying way so that even the familiar feels reinvented. #filmsky #moviesky

Sundance Review for Hot Water, Extra Geography, and Big Girls Don't Cry Reviewing three narrative features from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

My last three reviews from the Sundance Film Festival. Absolutely incredible experience, hoping to make it happen in person next year! #sundance #moviesky #filmsky

US Men's Hockey Proves Why Women Love Heated Rivalry Heated Rivalry has been a breakout success and the US Men's Hockey team's response to Trump's misogynistic joke proves why.

New post about Heated Rivalry and the disgraceful display from the US Men's Olympic Team to the misogynistic joke from our misogynistic president. This one is paywalled, but good news - 50% off sale going on right now! Perfect time to upgrade!

DTF St. Louis Review: Get Your Midwestern Middle-Aged Strange DTF ST. LOUIS, starring David Harbour, Jason Bateman, and Linda Cardellini, is a hilarious and touching mystery with exceptional characters.

I had the opportunity to view the first four of the seven episodes of DTF St. Louis, and it is both an engaging whodunnit and a fascinating character study. #tvsky

Shrinking S3, Episode 5: Safety Over Spontaneity Recap and review of Apple TV's Shrinking season 3, episode 5, "Hold Your Horsies."

The latest episode of Shrinking is available! Watch it and then come over for my recap and breakdown of the episode. #shrinking #tvsky

How to Make a Killing Review: A Boring Thriller HOW TO MAKE A KILLING, from John Patton Ford, is a fun enough idea, but the story lacks a unified vision, rendering it rather dull and aimless.

While this film does boast performances from the effortlessly charming duo of Glen Powell and Margaret Qualley, it struggles to figure out what kind of movie it wants to be, ultimately leaving it rather forgettable, if momentarily entertaining. #moviesky #filmsky

Threshold Review: The Strength of Olympian Jessie Diggins In the film THRESHOLD, Lars and Torsten Brinkema look at cross-country skier Jessie Diggins and her battle with bulimia.

In their film Threshold, coming to Peacock on February 23, directors Lars and Torsten Brinkema look into Jessie Diggins's incredible skiing career, but also her struggles with the eating disorder, bulimia.

Sundance Reviews for Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, How to Divorce During the War, and Bedford Park Reviewing three narrative features from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival

Three more reviews from Sundance. This time: Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, How to Divorce During the War, and Bedford Park. Interesting takes on romantic relationships! #sundance #filmsky #moviesky

Shrinking S3, Episode 4: Mundane Pain Recap and review of Apple TV's Shrinking season 3, episode 4, "The Field."

New episode of Shrinking means a new recap/review from yours truly! We're talking about boring pain today. Thanks for reading! #tvsky #shrinking

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die Review: Make the AI Apocalypse Fun Gore Verbinski returns with GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE, a maximalist look at the coming AI apocalypse.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die...blends comedy, action, and a sci-fi dystopia into something designed for the moment we are living through. #filmsky #moviesky

PANEL 1 Razzlynette holds the door of an antique shop open for an old lady named Prestine. Razzlynette: Here you go, ma'am! Prestine: Why, thank you! PANEL 2 Prestine pinches Razzlynette's cheek. Razzlynette flinches a little. Prestine: You are such a doll! Razzlynette: Thank you! PANEL 3 Razzlynette looks at her nervously. Razzlynette: ...How did you know?

Goober Grove - Doll
Sometimes I just gotta write a comic about niche transfeminine wordplay.

Sundance Reviews for Carousel, The Musical, and If I Go Will They Miss Me Reviewing three narrative feature films from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival

Reviews for three of my most anticipated movies from the Sundance Film Festival. Not all of them were bangers, but one was! Full review below! #sundance #moviesky #filmsky

Sundance Reviews for Joybubbles, Silenced, and Seized Reviewing three of the documentaries I saw during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Reviews of three documentaries that I watched at the Sundance Film Festival. Talking today about JOYBUBBLES, SILENCED, and SEIZED. #filmsky #moviesky #sundance

Shrinking S3 Episode 3: Enjoy the Ride Recap and review of Apple TV's Shrinking season 3, episode 3, "D-Day."

There's a new episode of Shrinking out and I have all the deets and some additional thoughts right here! It's D-Day, baybee! #shrinking

Whistle Review: Death is Coming Corin Hardy's WHISTLE is a messy, but fun horror film about an evil Aztec death whistle and the teenagers stupid enough to blow it.

...a fun, blood-soaked movie filled with some gnarly kills that will satisfy most gore-hounds. #moviesky #filmsky

GOOD LUCK HAVE FUN DON'T DIE interview with Matthew Robinson YouTube video by Alise Chaffins

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE comes out this weekend. I had the opportunity to speak with screenwriter Matthew Robinson about this really fun and timely movie. Check out our conversation - this was a fun one! #filmsky #moviesky

Exhausting. Guess my conversations with my kids will move entirely to Signal. Sigh.

Pike River Review: Healing Power of Friendship PIKE RIVER explores the 2010 mine explosion in New Zealand in a unique way, focusing on the survivors on the outside rather than the disaster itself.

The shift in focus means much less spectacle, but a deeper, more heartfelt story that gets to the center of what it means to be left behind following a major traumatic event like this. #moviesky #filmsky

Run Amok Review (Sundance): Too Ambitious RUN AMOK from NB Mager has some incredibly compelling moments, but the ambition of the story leads to some problems with focus.

Run Amok is an ambitious movie that has some of the most interesting and unique ideas I’ve seen in a minute, but it overplays its hand in a way that doesn’t allow it to live up to its potential. #filmsky #moviesky

Shrinking S3, Episode 2: Go Live Your Life Recap and review of Apple TV's Shrinking season 3, episode 2, "Happiness Mission."

Episode 2 of Shrinking is out! Check out my spoiler-filled recap and review of Happiness Mission!

The Incomer Review (Sundance): Taking Flight Louis Paxton's debut feature, THE INCOMER, is a delightful film that, despite its quirkiness, has a nuanced look at family and home life.

This Scottish absurdist comedy is an absolute delight, addressing themes of isolation and authenticity with whimsy and fun.

My first full review out of Sundance! #filmsky #moviesky

Shrinking S3, Episode 1: Growing and Living Recap and review of Apple TV's Shrinking season 3, episode 1, "My Bad."

My very spoiler-filled recap of Shrinking season 3, episode 1, “My Bad.” I love this show, and I’m so happy to be back to writing about it again!

Soft Boil Review (Sundance): Adulting 101 Alec Goldberg's SOFT BOIL is a wildly entertaining look at what it means to be an adult.

Soft Boil is a clever, hilarious pilot that takes an entertaining look at the hard work of adulting.

First review out of the Sundance Film Festival is live! #sundancefilmfestival
open.substack.com/pub/alisecha...

Mercy Review: AI Is Not Your Friend Timur Bekmambetov's MERCY asks some interesting questions about the nature of justice, but is ultimately unwilling to engage with them.

There’s a potentially interesting idea in Mercy, but it is abandoned for innumerable plot conveniences, an overabundance of CGI screens, and an AI judge that seems to think the guy she’s trying to execute is actually pretty swell deep down. #filmsky #moviesky

Shrinking Season 3 Review: Moving On In season 3 of Shrinking on Apple TV, the writers lean hard into the theme of moving on in what feels like a final season of the show.

Season 3 of SHRINKING, out next week on Apple TV, is yet another satisfying season of television! 🔥😍

Read @alisechaffins.bsky.social's review!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#Shrinking #ShrinkingSeason3 #AppleTV

Signing Tony Raymond Review: Football Family Drama SIGNING TONY RAYMOND from writer and director Glen Owen is a clear-eyed look at NIL regulations blended with a family drama/comedy.

Signing Tony Raymond is a sweet, caring film that highlights some of the issues surrounding college football recruitment while also casting a light on how that impacts families.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Review: Cruelty and Care Nia DaCosta's 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE is a thrilling juxtaposition between the cruelty and care of the two main characters.

In 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Nia DaCosta takes the directing reins and steers the franchise in a way that somehow feels both nihilistic and hopeful at the same time. #moviesky #filmsky