SLUG Contributor Limelight
January 4, 2023
Contributor Limelight: Max Bennion
Max Bennion has been lending his exemplary skills in film writing to our Contributing Writer collective since October of 2021, covering national and local films including our own Utah cinematic treasure, the Slamdance Film Festival. Check out his coverage of Slamdance exclusively at slugmag.com.
Articles by contributor
Film Review: Civil War
Civil War is intentionally unemotional, apolitical and apathetic toward the American identity. … read more
Film Review: Riddle of Fire
With so many charming kid performances, good vibes and slices of blueberry pie to go around, it’s disappointing that the ending leaves a bittersweet taste. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Skywalkers: A Love Story
Part-thriller, part-romance and part-heist film, Skywalkers performs a delicate balance of genres that pays-off with a climax that elicited two cheers and a standing ovation from its premiere audience. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Handling the Undead
Handling the Undead is a well-crafted re-contextualization of a familiar monster that ruminates on how to mourn loss when it’s staring you in the face. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Good One
Good One explores teenage girlhood as 17-year-old Sam embarks on a weekend in the Catskills with her father and his longtime friend. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Will & Harper
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele star in Will & Harper, where two lifelong friends embark on a cross-country road trip after one comes out as a trans woman. … read more
Pathfinder: Reclaiming the Native Narrative with Winding Path
The team behind Sundance film Winding Path strives to offer a counternarrative to Native stereotypes and reclaim the Wind River Reservation as a place for positive stories to be told. … read more
The Stories We Still Need: Queer Filmmaking in Utah
These two local LGBTQ+ indie films prove that the Salt Lake film community is much broader and more diverse than what gets shown on the big screen. … read more
5th Annual Craft Lake City Holiday Market Presented By Google...
Celebrating its fifth year, Holiday Market provided plenty of opportunities for fun and finding the perfect gifts to complete attendees’ holiday shopping. … read more
Film Review: Thin Skin
Despite a few weak performances, Thin Skin soars where it counts and paints a picture of an artist on the rise despite the pain of the darker sides of life. … read more
Film Review: Talk To Me
Talk To Me is a brisk watch offering a clever concept, true terror beyond the fleeting nature of a jump scare. … read more
Film Review: Barbie
Barbie doesn’t just make a toy seem real; it makes that toy’s literal and philosophical journey to reality the core of its story. … read more
Film Review: Egghead & Twinkie
Egghead & Twinkie is a low-budget comedy that wears its heart and influences on its sleeve, and it’s sure to resonate deeply with its target audience. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Mad Cats
Mad Cats is a joy to behold. When something’s this much of a blast, looks this good and has this much quality stunt work, how could it not be? … read more
Slamdance Film Review: A Perfect Day for Caribou
A Perfect Day For Caribou’s metaphor is a little obvious, but following Herman and Nate through their shared blood and flawed traits is a quiet fascination. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: New Religion
Having time and the ability to perceive it allows us a sense of history. In Keishi Kondo’s New Religion, history is enviable when you have so little of it. … read more
Film Review: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is yet another endlessly entertaining watch as well as a satisfying showcase of quality genre filmmaking. … read more
Film Review: Pivot Pals
Despite the apparent commentary on things like masculinity and grief, Pivot Pals’ ending message is a familiar one of kindness and friendship. … read more
Film Review: Squeal
If you’re interested in an odd, international, indie-folk fairy tale that will leave you dizzy trying to discern meaning, then Squeal is worth the watch. … read more
Film Review: The White Fortress
For all its solid performances, beautiful cinematography and interesting characters, The White Fortress is beautiful in moments but uninteresting in others. … read more
Film Review: We Were Hyphy
For a documentary about 20-year old niche, cultural movement, We Were Hyphy is a testament to the craft and love of those behind it. … read more
Film Review: Compartment No. 6
I was not on board at the start of Compartment No. 6, but it’s a testament to the original text, adaptation and the performances that, by the end, I am endeared. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Yelling Fire in an Empty Theater
Yelling Fire in an Empty Theater is a timeless, double-layered slice of youth and indie culture that is sure to gain praise. … read more
Film Review: American Night
Overstuffed and muddled by the nonlinear storytelling, the stylish-yet-mostly-standard American Night searches desperately for meaning. … read more
Film Review: Agnes
Agnes, directed by Mickey Reece, explores the relationship between life, loss and religion in two distinct halves. … read more
Film Review: The Parker Sessions
The Parker Sessions is an interesting concept that works most of the time due to its cinematography and a strong performance by Rachell Sean. … read more
Film Review: No Future
Shot with a somber haze in its framing, coloring and camera movement, No Future creates a sense of hopelessness, realism and slowness. … read more