Feature Underground

Feature Underground

By Hunter LanierTV & FilmFilm Reviews
Download on the App Store

Feature Underground episodes

  • The Monkey Review • Unpleasant Valley Sunday

    And here's my non-spoiler review of The Monkey, written and directed by Osgood Perkins, but based on a short story by Stephen King. When we first meet the titular toy, it’s a generational albatross tight around the necks of the Shelburn family (Adam Scott, Tatiana Maslany, and Theo James), though we later get the impression it has nothing personal against the Shelburns. The monkey just has a devilish affinity for taking up residence in the dark, empty spaces left by absentee fathers, and the Shelburns happen to have more than one. Elijah Wood is here, too. Hunter discusses the film's emphasis on childhood, the Jerry Lewis approach to horror, and well-reviewed movies that don't leave an impression. 0:00 Not a Horror Film0:57 Orwell & King3:37 What's the Plot?5:35 America's Funniest Home Demises6:21 Problems9:36 What's NextTo join the Feature Underground, click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvxAK5S4R3vrfJQ7jySGDog/joinX: (https://twitter.com/Lanierhunt64)Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/hunterlaniermoviereviews/)Tik Tok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@featureundergroun)Letterboxd: (https://letterboxd.com/HunterLanier/)#themonkey #horrorfilm #moviereview

    11 min
  • Russ Meyer's Vixen Trilogy Review • Restoration Au Naturel

    Three Russ Meyer classics have been restored in 4K and an impending Blu-Ray release is upon us. January 28th, to be precise. These films include Vixen! (1968), Supervixens (1975), and Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens (1979, co-written by Roger Ebert).

    Severin Films, responsible for the upcoming release and two of the restorations, was kind enough to send me early copies. One thing led to another, and now I'm here with this video review.
    0:00 Intro
    1:21 Nudies in Living Color
    3:51 Artistic Value & Vixen!
    7:15 Ebert's Impish Side
    9:07 Supervixens & Ultravixens
    12:07 Special Features
    14:30 Closing Thoughts & What's Next
    To join the Feature Underground, click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvxAK5S4R3vrfJQ7jySGDog/join
    X: (https://twitter.com/Lanierhunt64)
    Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/hunterlaniermoviereviews/)
    Tik Tok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@featureundergroun)
    Letterboxd: (https://letterboxd.com/HunterLanier/)
    #RussMeyer #Bluray #moviereview

    16 min
  • Top 10 Movies of 2024 • A Feature Underground Exclusive

    To celebrate making it out of 2024 alive, I wanted to do something truly unprecedented: create a list of my favorite movies from the past year. Bear with me, as something like this has never been attempted.
    0:00 Intro
    1:40 Anora
    2:52 The Beast
    4:02 The Brutalist
    5:10 Coup De Chance
    6:06 A Different Man
    8:18 Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World
    9:50 Drive-Away Dolls
    10:42 Furiosa
    11:50 Hundreds of Beavers
    12:59 The Substance
    14:29 Other 2024 Favorites & What's Next
    To join the Feature Underground, click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvxAK5S4R3vrfJQ7jySGDog/join
    X: (https://twitter.com/Lanierhunt64)
    Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/hunterlaniermoviereviews/)
    Tik Tok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@featureundergroun)
    Letterboxd: (https://letterboxd.com/HunterLanier/)
    #top10movies #oscars2025 #film

    17 min
  • Nosferatu Review • Carnal Carnage

    And here's my non-spoiler review of Nosferatu, the latest movie from Robert Eggers, which stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, and Willem Dafoe.
    After a mysterious Count purchases some land in 19th-century Germany, a deeply evil presence casts its shadow on the city. Call him Dracula. Call him Orlok. Just don't call him collect. Transylvania's far.
    Hunter discusses how this version of the Count leaves much to be desired, the potent atmosphere and immersive environments, and why in an insane movie, it is the sane actors who fail.
    0:00 Intro
    1:17 A Retelling, Not a Reimagining
    2:26 The Count
    5:50 Plotty
    7:18 Potent Imagery
    9:27 Lily-Rose Depp is Very Good
    10:54 Closing Thoughts & What's Next
    To join the Feature Underground, click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvxAK5S4R3vrfJQ7jySGDog/join
    X: (https://twitter.com/Lanierhunt64)
    Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/hunterlaniermoviereviews/)
    Tik Tok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@featureundergroun)
    Letterboxd: (https://letterboxd.com/HunterLanier/)
    #nosferatu #horrormovies #roberteggers

    13 min
  • A Complete Unknown Review • Talkin' Bob Dylan Biopic Blues

    And here's my review of A Complete Unknown, the upcoming Bob Dylan movie starring Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, and Scoot McNairy.

    The film chronicles Bob Dylan's early days as an artist, from the moment he arrived in New York City to his tumultuous performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. As he evolves as an artist, the public--and those closest to him--try to simplify, classify, deny, defy, and crucify him.
    Hunter discusses how the the film's monotonous approach is antithetical to the Dylan persona, where it gets Dylan right, its emphasis on Woody Guthrie, and a clever trick it does with its screenplay.
    0:00 How My Opinions Changed
    1:42 At Odds with the Dylan Persona
    4:26 Respects the Music
    5:37 Script Faults
    7:33 Importance of Woody Guthrie
    9:31 Dylan as Protagonist
    14:49 Dialogue & Supporting Characters
    16:34 Timothée Chalamet
    19:06 Fame, No Direction Home, Dylan's Involvement
    21:49 Closing Thoughts & What's Next
    To join the Feature Underground, click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvxAK5S4R3vrfJQ7jySGDog/join
    X: (https://twitter.com/Lanierhunt64)
    Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/hunterlaniermoviereviews/)
    Tik Tok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@featureundergroun)
    Letterboxd: (https://letterboxd.com/HunterLanier/)
    #ACompleteUnknown #bobdylan #folkmusic

    23 min
  • Juror #2 Review • Eastwood and Casual Dread

    And here's my review of Juror #2, the latest and quite possibly last movie from the legendary Clint Eastwood. It stars Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Zoey Deutch, and Kiefer Sutherland. After a small theatrical release, it will come out on MAX on December 29th.

    Juror #2 is a high-concept story, as it centers around a juror in a murder trial who not only knows the defendant to be innocent, but is himself guilty of the crime.
    Hunter discusses how unsentimental the movie is compared to Eastwood's recent work, the casual dread at its core, and why we should respect the masters while they're alive.
    0:00 Intro
    1:38 Solid Late-Eastwood
    3:08 The Screenplay
    5:24 Casual Dread
    8:55 Unsentimental Eastwood
    10:17 Respect the Masters
    12:41 Housekeeping & What's Next
    X: (https://twitter.com/Lanierhunt64)
    Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/hunterlaniermoviereviews/)
    Tik Tok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@featureundergroun)
    Letterboxd: (https://letterboxd.com/HunterLanier/)
    #film #clinteastwood #filmcritic

    17 min
  • Gladiator II Review • Better Than the Original

    And here's my spoiler free review of Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott. It stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pescal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Connie Nielsen.
    The film finds slave-turned-gladiator, Lucius (Mescal), on a Death Wish campaign to avenge the killing of his wife by Roman general, Acacius (Pescal). He ends up purchased by a former slave, Macrinus (Washington), who has ambitions of his own. If I tell you any more, Ridley Scott will fire a cannon into my gut.
    Hunter discusses the movie's infectious fun, how it improves on the first film, and why its averseness to risk hinders its potential.
    0:00 Intro
    1:14 Ridley Scott in Good Form
    3:10 Everyone's Having Fun
    5:02 Restraint and Reverence
    5:55 Improvement on the Original
    9:29 Handicaps
    11:03 Sword and Sandal Movies
    12:19 Q&A and What's Next
    X: (https://twitter.com/Lanierhunt64)
    Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/hunterlaniermoviereviews/)
    Tik Tok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@featureundergroun)
    Letterboxd: (https://letterboxd.com/HunterLanier/)
    #film #gladiator #ridleyscott

    16 min
  • Heretic Review • The Hugh Grant Show

    And here's my review of Heretic, the latest A24 production. It stars Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East. It's directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.

    We meet two Mormon girls (Thatcher and East) on their uphill assignment of converting complete strangers to an entirely new religion. They're naive, but smart, and easy targets for mockery. When Mr. Reed (Grant) opens the door with a humble smile, it's a radical contrast to the cruel bullies from earlier in the day. But their pleasant visit quickly turns into a sinister lecture on religion.
    Hunter discusses how Hugh Grant carries the movie's heavy load, how it doesn't follow through on its excellent first act, and its tendency to overplay its hand.
    0:00 Intro and Pie
    1:34 The Hugh Grant Show
    4:19 First Act Sets a High Bar
    6:13 Second and Third Act Disappoint
    7:50 Rolling My Eyes
    10:17 Closing Thoughts & What's Next
    X
    Instagram
    Tik Tok
    Letterboxd
    #film #a24 #heretic

    14 min
  • Anora Review • Sean Baker Evolved

    And here's my review of Anora, the festival sweetheart directed by Sean Baker and starring Mikey Madison. The ending of Anora is discussed at the end of the video in a spoiler section.
    If you're not already aware, Anora is about a stripper whose ability to speak Russian gets her an admirer in the ambiguously rich Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn). Dressed in her finest pair of jean shorts, Anora marries Vanya and kicks off a highly unpredictable honeymoon phase. Trust me: the less you know about the movie, the better.
    Hunter discusses the movie's uncommon structure, how it evolves Baker's primary motif, and the curious ending (spoiler section).
    0:00 Intro
    2:11 Sean Baker Evolved
    5:29 Three Movies in One
    8:45 Standout Performances
    10:18 The Ending (SPOILERS)
    14:13 Closing Thoughts + What's Next
    X: (https://twitter.com/Lanierhunt64)
    Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/hunterlaniermoviereviews/)
    Tik Tok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@featureundergroun)
    Letterboxd: (https://letterboxd.com/HunterLanier/)
    #film #anora #moviereview

    17 min
  • Memoir of a Snail Review • One of the Best Movies of 2024

    And here's my review of Memoir of a Snail, one of my favorite movies of the year so far. It features the voice talents of Sarah Snook, Eric Bana, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jacki Weaver, and Nick Cave. It's directed by Adam Elliott, who hasn't directed a movie since 2009's critically acclaimed, Mary and Max.
    The life of Grace Pudel (Snook) is not a charmed one, but it's not an unusual one either. It's a volatile wave of bad decisions, strokes of luck, thunderbolts from God, and beautiful epiphanies. If the film has a hero, it's Grace's octogenarian friend, Pinky, who returns books by putting them in the trash can.
    Hunter discusses the movie's nuanced perspective of life, its Dickensian influence, and how perfectly it weaves together comedy and pathos.
    0:00 Intro
    2:07 Visuals & Tone
    3:40 Life Sucks, and Also Doesn't
    6:43 Nuanced Character Arch
    8:19 Expert Writing & Dickens
    9:57 Genuinely Funny
    12:08 What's Up Next
    X: (https://twitter.com/Lanierhunt64)
    Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/hunterlaniermoviereviews/)
    Tik Tok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@featureundergroun)
    Letterboxd: (https://letterboxd.com/HunterLanier/)
    #film #animation #foreignfilm

    13 min

About Feature Underground

From the publisher's feed

The Feature Underground is a place for good-faith discussions about movies. All persons and viewpoints are welcome in the Underground. Adopt a little FU energy and join the community today!