Train Dreams (2025)

Chronicles the life of one Robert Grainier, an ordinary man without much sense of direction or purpose, who searches for meaning in the absurdity and tragedy that follows him during the early twentieth century. Life is simple but hard, and similarly, I found this film meditative but dull, which is probably an accurate depiction of what life was like back then. The cinematography is beautiful and brings to mind the works of Terrence Malick, as we're treated to long stretches of quiet contemplation. It seems to be about how the world changes and leaves us behind, which is as profound as it is devastating.

3 boots nailed to a tree out of 5

After Hours (1985)

Martin Scorsese's pitch-black comedy is the perfect example of a cult movie that keeps getting better and better the more times you see it. I've watched this probably a half dozen times throughout various points in my life and yet so much of it remains embedded in my subconscious. It perfectly manages to encapsulate that feeling of 'after hours,' when things don't quite seem real and yet possibilities remain endless. It takes place over one night, in what feels like either a fever dream or a nightmarish hellscape, depending on your lucidity. It's best to take this journey alone, without any prep beforehand.

Watch it after midnight while severely sleep deprived for best results.

5 uncanny sculptures out of 5