Fiction Genres: The Comprehensive Guide to Rule Them All
Fiction genres are much debated and revised, but they’re crucial to providing logical order to the storytelling arts.
NEWS ROUND-UP: 11-28-2021
In this episode of The Fictionphile Podcast, we cover some of the highlights from the past week, including news about Encanto, Doctor Who, and the passing of a musical theatre legend.
Squid Game Season One: Netflix’s Import Plays Well With Big Themes
Squid Game: Season One was a surprise binge hit from South Korea about a high-stakes game of life and death for underprivileged desperate citizens, and for good reason.
NEWS ROUND-UP: 11-21-2021
We cover some of the highlights from the past week, including news about Black Panther, Ghostbusters, and Lethal Weapon.
The Walking Dead: Sacrifices Actors Endured for the Zombie Show
With a series like The Walking Dead, the actors are bound to see some hardships. Let’s take a look at some sacrifices actors had to make.
What is Speculative Fiction: A Complete Guide to the Encompassing Genre
You might be asking yourself what is speculative fiction? Speculative Fiction is a super-genre of fiction. But let’s dive even deeper.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Season One Review
We take a look back and review the newest completed Marvel TV outing for devoted viewers and potential binge watchers alike.
Army of the Dead VFX Team Dishes on the Zack Snyder Zombie Heist Film
We sat down with some of Framestore’s key Army of the Dead VFX artists to chat about putting together this action-packed visual feast.
Filipino Movies: 21 Best Films of All Time from Philippine Cinema
In this article, we examine Filipino movies and Philippine cinema, arguably one of the more underappreciated industries in Southeast Asia.
10 Best NSFW Comics Actually Worth Reading
While these titles may be NSFW comic books, they’re actually great works of art worth the read. Just with lots of guts and nudity.
The Stand (2020) Review: Storytelling Experiments Disappoint
The newest miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand (2020), like its central plot, is a battle between good and bad. And the show’s good parts are only due to the source material.
10 Movies That Need A Sequel But Don’t Have One
Franchises rule the movie marquee, but there are still movies that need a sequel but don’t have one. Here’s our top 10 picks.
Movie Soundtracks: How 6 Iconic Films Found Their Music
Here’s a look into how filmmakers select the perfect songs to complement their work and a breakdown of a few iconic movie soundtracks.
90s Action Movies: 10 Best Action Films Underrated for Far Too Long
For 90s action movies, cinema moved away from the musclebound giants of yesteryear and embraced more relatable heroes.
Buddy Cop Movies: 10 Best Police Pairings of All Time (2021)
The best buddy cop movies are, at their core, great action movies. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best buddy cop movies ever.
GLOW: TV Series Cancelled On Verge Of Battling Social Issues
Netflix cancelling its GLOW TV series left more than plot threads unresolved. The series had just begun to tackle problematic social issues.
The Stand (1994): Re-Watching the Original Miniseries (Review)
Before you check out the new nine-part series of The Stand (2020) coming to CBS in December, let’s journey back to the mid 90’s and revisit the four-part television miniseries of The Stand (1994).
Box Office Flops: 10 Great Movies That Were A Financial Failure
Not all box office flops are made equal. Our proof? These 10 fantastic films that flopped financially in their original theatrical releases.
How Are Indian Fantasy Writers Retelling Mythology?
Mythology and fantasy have never been distant from one another, and the same holds true for Indian fantasy writers.
NEWS ROUND-UP: 11-2-2020
Screen legend Sean Connery rests in peace, theater chain AMC reports massive loss in revenue due to COVID-19, and other fiction-related news.
Sci-Fi Horror Movies: 10 Frightening Films That Make You Think
Looking back at science fiction film history, we see that its roots are dug deep and tied together with into sci-fi horror movies.
The Shining – Fictionphile Podcast #23
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why the movie The Shining is a work of art.
7 Best Horror Board Games of All Time (Chosen by a GM)
Vet tabletop gamer or not, it’s the season for spooky, so we’ve picked the best horror board games and horror themed board games of all time.
Monochrome: The Chromism Worth More Than Its Budget (Review)
Monochrome: The Chromism’s crew is a genuine group of people who came together around a passion project to make something ambitious and different on a shoestring budget of $2,000.
The Shining and Doctor Sleep: A Halloween Double Feature (Review)
The Shining and Doctor Sleep are Stephen King’s latest seemingly complete saga, years apart in the making but just as chilling.
Alien – Fictionphile Podcast #22
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why the movie Alien is a work of art.
RPG Horror Stories: 7 Terrifying Tabletop Campaigns (2021)
RPG horror stories put you right in the middle of some terrifying situations, making the genre all the more real and visceral, which is a perfect fit for Halloween or any particularly spooky occasion.
Preacher Comic Book Series – Fictionphile Podcast #21
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why the comic book Preacher is a work of art.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – Fictionphile Podcast #20
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a work of art.
Away VFX Artists Talk Details of the Netflix Series’ Zero G Visuals
The Netflix series Away takes place in outer space, and VFX can make or break that illusion. Enter the Away VFX artists from Framestore.
Scott Pilgrim – Fictionphile Podcast #19
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why the Scott Pilgrim comic book series is a work of art.
Denis Villenueve’s Dune Trailer Drops, Features “Dark Side of the Moon” Cover
A new Dune trailer dropped on Wednesday for Denis Villeneuve’s epic reboot of the famous science fiction story by Frank Herbert.
Project Power VFX Artists Share How They Pulled Off the Netflix Original’s Superb Visuals
Project Power’s VFX is clearly one of the stars of the Netflix original movie, alongside Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
The Dark Knight Rises – Fictionphile Podcast #18
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Dark Knight Rises is a work of art.
The Dark Knight – Fictionphile Podcast #17
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Dark Knight is a work of art.
Batman Begins – Fictionphile Podcast #16
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Batman Begins is a work of art.
The Shawshank Redemption – Fictionphile Podcast #15
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Shawshank Redemption is a work of art.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) – Fictionphile Podcast #14
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) is a work of art.
The Fifth Element – Fictionphile Podcast #13
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Fifth Element is a work of art.
The Killing Joke – Fictionphile Podcast #12
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Killing Joke is a work of art.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Fictionphile Podcast #11
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV) is a work of art.
Final Fantasy 7 – Fictionphile Podcast #10
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Final Fantasy 7 is a work of art.
Watchmen – Fictionphile Podcast #9
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Watchmen is a work of art.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Fictionphile Podcast #8
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a work of art. Topics include the immersive gameplay, branching storylines, and innovative game mechanics.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – Fictionphile Podcast #7
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a work of art. Topics include the innovative storytelling, engaging and charming graphics, and the lore that it helped to create.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – Fictionphile Podcast #6
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is a work of art.
Writers on Writing: 20 Best Essays on Writing from Famous Authors
What better way to learn about writing novels, short stories, or any creative work than from essays on writing from legendary writers.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – Fictionphile Podcast #5
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is a work of art.
Star Wars: A New Hope – Fictionphile Podcast #4
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Star Wars: A New Hope is a work of art.
Community: An American Retrospective
The TV show Community featured lots of laughs, but it did so with a truly touching and American-centric message of acceptance, togetherness, and strength through diversity.
Ghostbusters – Fictionphile Podcast #3
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Ghostbusters is a work of art.
21 Best Supporting Legend of Zelda Characters
The supporting Legend of Zelda characters don’t get as much love as they should, yet the iconic series wouldn’t be the same without its cast.
The Princess Bride – Fictionphile Podcast #2
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Princess Bride is a fairy tale work of art.
10 Best Trapped Movies for When You’re Stuck Indoors
If you’ve ever been stuck indoors and driven stir crazy from lack of social interaction, these trapped movies help you feel not so alone.
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark – Fictionphile Podcast #1
In this launch of the new Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is truly a masterpiece.
7 Must-See Veronica Mars Episodes Streaming Now
We recently revisited the pint-sized blonde detective and rekindled our love. But not all Veronica Mars episodes are created equal.
Girl Power Shows: 5 Amazing Series to Binge Watch
Girl power was on the move in 2020, but like most things, it was derailed by the Coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe and driving many indoors, voluntarily or not.
2020 Quarantine Book Club Gives Debut Authors New Hope During Crisis
The 2020 Quarantine Book Club formed just two weeks ago, but it’s already marshaled 1,000 member to read the work of debut authors.
10 Philosophical Movies to Watch Right Now
Philosophy shapes every action in our lives, whether we recognize and understand it or not.
100+ Best Science Fiction Books of All Time
Countless science fiction books, from short story collections to novels, line the shelves of book stores and libraries.
Denis Villeneuve Movies: Your Complete Watching Guide
If you haven’t seen all or any of director Denis Villeneuve’s movies, make the filmmaker’s catalog a priority on your watch list.
Jojo Rabbit Expands America’s Collective Memory of World War II
Taika Waititi’s 2019 film Jojo Rabbit expands society’s collective memory of World War II.
The Curse of Cassandra: Understanding a Prophetess
Princess, priestess, and prophetess Cassandra of Troy lived under a curse; she could see the future, but no one would ever believe her.
Christine (1983) More than a Killer Car Movie (Review)
Proceedings start slowly with Christine, as two high school friends, Arnie the geek and Dennis the jock, navigate life through high school.
Bong Joon-Ho Movies: Your Complete Viewing Guide
This past award season, we bet there is one name you’ve probably heard more than any other: South Korean director and auteur Bong Joon-Ho.
Sci Fi Armor: 6 Best of All-Time
Often times in science fiction we tend to eschew sci fi armor and instead focus on the ships, creatures, gadgetry, big flashy guns, and legally distinct laser swords.
10 Best Psychological Thrillers of the 21st Century (So Far)
Psychological thrillers leverage the complexity of the human brain, which allows them to tap into infinite possibilities.
HBO & WB Form Warner Max Label to Make Original Streaming Content
HBO Max’s May 2020 premiere was already anticipated, but with Warner Max it’s clear WarnerMedia will enter the streaming wars guns blazing.
Remaking Sexism: Female Representation in A Star is Born
When analyizing A Star is Born (2018) using Laura Mulvey’s Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema it’s clear the narrative is inherently sexist.
9 Characteristics of Gothic Mansions in Gothic Fiction: From Manderley to Wuthering Heights
Magnificent in decaying splendor, lonely, haunted and windswept, the big old building stands at the center of most Gothic fiction.
Macbeth & Structure: Shakespeare’s Proto-Blockbuster
When Shakespeare’s great tragedies are brought up, including Macbeth, we often focus on literary merits, but what about plot structure?
Anne Youngson’s Meet Me at the Museum (Review)
Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson is a debut epistolary novel about a farmer’s wife’s correspondence with a Danish museum curator.
Have Religious Movies Fallen Out of Favor?
Religious movies have fallen in popularity at the box office in recent decades. But what caused the rise and fall of these religious epics?
Dreams: The Author’s Collaborators
Author Rayne Hall delves into the psyche to discuss how and why dreams influence her work and the work of great authors past.
20 Best Upcoming Sci Fi Movies, TV & Books (2020)
At Fictionphile, we’re pretty big science fiction nerds, so it’s only natural that we keep a close eye on upcoming sci fi across all of fiction’s mediums.
2020 Oscar Nominations: Joker Big Winner, Gerwig Snubbed
The 2020 Oscar Nominations were announced this morning for the 92nd Academy Awards, and Joker received the most nominations with 11 nods, including Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, and Directing.
Too Old to Die Young is Too Slow, Too Weird, Too Hard to Stop Watching (Review)
Too Old to Die Young is one of those oddities that cause some of us to say to ourselves and viewing partners, “Just a… little more.”
10 Action Movie Cliches Picked by a Nitpick
There is a rumor that I am a picky person, perhaps even worse, a nitpicky person. Some would say this especially applies when it comes to action movie cliches.
Aeschylus: Ancient Greece’s Father of Dialogue and Drama
If you ever loved a movie, play, TV show, or book–anything with dialogue–take a moment and thank Aeschylus. Not convinced? Let’s talk.
Deadpool Now A Disney Princess – Reynolds Confirms MCU Deadpool 3
Disney buying Fox shook up the state of the evolving Fox comic book universe, claiming victims like X-Men. Yet, strangely enough, it seems Deadpool 3 has survived the purge.
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid: Lord Take This Badge Off of Me (Analysis)
Hunting Kris Kristofferson in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, James Coburn enlists Slim Pickens and María Cristina Estela Marcela Jurado García — or the Mexican actress Katy Jurado, for short.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Spoiler Free Review)
As a long-time fan of the Star Wars series, ever since I was introduced to it in the 90’s, I was enamored with the aesthetic of glowing laser swords, massive mechanical marvels, mysterious ancient orders, and strange-looking puppets dressed up as aliens.
Star Wars The Skywalker Saga box set available for pre-order now
With Star Wars Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker out less than a week, Disney didn’t wait long to announce a Star Wars The Skywalker Saga box set of all nine installments of the franchise’s flagship story.
New Mutants movie not dead, trailer releases soon
The New Mutants movie, based on the X-Men horror spin-off, finished years ago but never released. Now, sources say it’s on its way in 2020 with a trailer in January.
Carrie limited series on FX gets greenlight
A Carrie limited series just got approved for FX based on the horror novel of the same name by Stephen King.
High Fidelity TV remake trailer drops (Hulu)
The trailer for Hulu’s TV series remake of High Fidelity dropped today. The series and the original movie, starring John Cusack, is based on the Nick Hornby novel.
Fictional Locations: 12 Made-Up Destinations We Wish We Could Visit
Thanks to various forms of fiction, popular culture is rife with different fictional locations from Hogwarts to the Mushroom Kingdom.
Body Swap Fiction: The 7 Best Examples of All Time (2021)
Just like bodies, no two examples of body swap fiction are exactly the same. They can range from the macabre to the quirky or cringe-worthy to brilliant.
A Constant Reader’s Guide to the Stephen King Multiverse
If you’re relatively new to Stephen King, you might not know the terms constant reader or the Stephen King Multiverse. That’s why we’re here to break down the fiction universe you simply must know.
Doctor Sleep Book vs Movie
The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep is now a feature film directed by Mike Flanagan.
Lunar Lander: The Full Story of the Legendary Game and Genre
Lunar Lander started as a small project by a high school kid but has become a genre unto itself. This gaming story is 40 years in the making.
Ranking Science Fiction Weapons by Amount of Destruction
The battles of science fiction usually need heavy artillery. However, sci-fi movies do not all follow the rules of a single universe.
7 Best Sci Fi Books for Teens and Young Adults
The best sci fi books for teens capture essentials about the teenage years, and they’re often the best sci fi books the genre has to offer.
8 Underrated Martial Arts Movies Ranked by a 4th Degree Blackbelt
Martial arts movies reside in a pseudo-genre where actual martial art skill is not necessary. Yet, we wondered what a fighting expert might like in a martial arts film–so we asked one.
10 Reasons Why Agatha Christie is the Queen of Crime Fiction
The British writer Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE, more commonly known simply as Agatha Christie, was a 20th century crime fiction novelist and the best selling author of all time.
Metaphors in Movies: 10 Most Underrated Uses of Metaphors in Film
Though commonly found in poetry and prose, metaphors appear in several popular movies. Let’s review a few underrated metaphors in movies.
Best Movie Remakes: Past, Present, and Future
Movie remakes might seem like they’re a sign of the times, but their relationship with storytelling is woven into our collective history.
5 Best Lighthearted Films About the Apocalypse
Earth as we know it could one day be rendered uninhabitable by some form of apocalypse, whether it’s nuclear war, zombies, or a robot uprising.
Game of Thrones Theories: 10 Awesome Predictions for the Final Season
With April 14th fast approaching, Games of Thrones theories are getting more accurate and also a lot more weird.
Superhero Fatigue: Disney Overload & The Marvel Machine
Superhero Fatigue has been discussed for years, but yet the movies (and merchandise) kept on coming. Do other films have a shot anymore?
SpaceWar!: How MIT Students Invented Digital Video Games
Even before SpaceWar!, the earliest known video game, games have always crossed paths with computers.
12 Jungian Archetypes and D&D Character Class Cliches (Match-Up)
DM dives deep into the striking parallels between Jungian archetypes and D&D character classes before suggesting ways to break the mold.
31 References in Rick and Morty We Totally Missed (One Per Episode)
Pop culture references in Rick and Morty run deep. Even the concept of the time traveling duo started as a satire of Doc and Marty from Back to the Future.
Altered Carbon and Morality: Who Wants To Live Forever?
Watching Altered Carbon, one inevitably asks, would life lose its savor if we lived forever?
Narrative Games and Spider-Man, Gaming Future Foretold
Narrative games today act more like an interactive work of fiction than games of the past, and no recent narrative-driven game proves this more than Spider-Man.
5 MCU Phase 4 Movies We Bet Marvel Will Announce
MCU phase 4 is just around the corner. After Avengers: Endgame and the ensuing in-world fallout, there’s an approaching need for new properties.
20 Most Influential Science Fiction Short Stories of the 20th Century
Science Fiction is influential to the world around us, and in turn, short stories are influential to Science Fiction.
How the Fortnite Lawsuits Could Change Everything
Recent lawsuits against Fortnite could affect more than just the game’s developer. The outcome of the suits could affect all of pop culture.
Breaking Bad vs Weeds: 5 Surprising Similarities You Didn’t Notice
Drugs and the talkies share a storied history. But two still-popular series show a scary resemblance. Let’s compare Breaking Bad vs Weeds.
5 Most Plausible Black Mirror Episodes
Many episodes of Black Mirror can have a tendency to feel both prescient and totally plausible. Turns out, some are totally possible.
5 Totally Plausible Brain-Machine Interfaces from Sci-Fi
Researchers shook the Internet by the brain this week when they partially restored a quadriplegic man’s control of his hand, and we saw a glimpse of a potentially game changing brain-machine interface.
5 New Discoveries in Science Ripe for Science Fiction
Hearing about new discoveries in science sometimes feels exactly like reading or watching science fiction.
4 Chat Bots Easily Mistaken for Skynet Harbingers
The singularity, otherwise known as Dawn of the Planet of Computers, has been predicted for years. All we’ve received thus far are chat bots.
A Considered Star Wars Casting Call Speculation
At the end of June 2013, a Star Wars casting call leaked for the sequel trilogy. Here are our guesses.
