11 Feb 2026

Barely There Theatre's “word play,” February 19 through 28

By Mike Schulz

With Barely There Theatre's latest presentation landing, as its company originator and playwright says, "just in time to be late for Valentine's Day," busy area-theatre participant (and Reader theatre reviewer) Alexander Richardson brings the world premiere of his first-ever script, word play, to Moline's Black Box Theatre February 19 through 28.

10 Feb 2026

Eleven Minutes for Love: Ballet Quad Cities Presents “Romeo + Juliet: A Love Story,” February 21 and 22 at St. Ambrose University

By Mike Schulz

As Valentine's Month options go, Shakespeare's tale of thwarted love between a teenage Montague and Capulet is certainly devastatingly romantic. Those aware of its ending know it's also devastating, full stop. Yet as choreographer and Ballet Quad Cities Artistic Director Courtney Lyon understands, feeling bad about doomed love can, in this context, feel awfully darned good.

09 Feb 2026

Vun! Two! Tree! Tree Cheers! Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah!: “Dracula,” “The Strangers: Chapter 3,” “The Alabama Solution,” and “The Wrecking Crew”

By Mike Schulz

I had so much fun at Luc Besson's garish vampire yarn that I can easily imagine watching it again, this time with more than the one friend who joined me, and with all of us preferably looped out of our minds. That way, we'd at least come close to approximating Besson's vibe.

02 Feb 2026

She Is the Captain Now: “Send Help,” “Iron Lung,” and “Arco”

By Mike Schulz

Sam Raimi's latest is the ultimate “revenge on a horrible boss” comedy, one far nastier than Horrible Bosses itself, and like 9 to 5's empowered kidnappers, Rachel McAdams' marginalized, fed-up office drone is eminently worth cheering. Ma-a-aybe not when holding a knife dangerously close to her paralyzed employer's privates, but … . Oh, who am I kidding? Especially then.

26 Jan 2026

Witness for the Persecution: “Mercy,” “The Lost Bus,” “Come See Me in the Good Light,” and “The Ugly Stepsister”

By Mike Schulz

The mildly futuristic, vaguely sci-fi thriller Mercy is a rather confused movie, which, of course, isn't the same thing as a confusing one.

22 Jan 2026

The 2026 Academy Awards Nominations

By Mike Schulz

The biggest story regarding contenders for the 98th Oscars, which were revealed this morning by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman at 7:30 a.m. CT, is Sinners. And it's quite literally The Biggest Story, as Ryan Coogler's period vampire musical flew away with 16 nods – the most citations for one movie in Academy Awards history.

19 Jan 2026

Iron Maiden Voyage: “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” “No Other Choice,” and “The Rip”

By Mike Schulz

I couldn't wait for last year's 28 Years Later to end. I was disappointed when this one did, as another half-hour or so would've been totally fine by me.

15 Jan 2026

Predicting the 2026 Academy Award Nominations

By Mike Schulz

This year, One Battle After Another and Sinners appear poised to not only tie but update the most-Oscar-nods-ever stat … and their tallies might not even end at 15.

12 Jan 2026

Rabid, Run: “Primate,” “Is This Thing On?”, and “Father Mother Sister Brother”

By Mike Schulz

One can only hope that director/co-writer Johannes Roberts' Primate remains the worst 2026 horror flick to feature a previous Oscar winner. It should be said, however, that Troy Kotsur, who earned a deserved Best Supporting Actor trophy for 2021's CODA, is the finest thing that could've happened to a dopey, rather repugnant shocker about a chimp gone ape.

05 Jan 2026

Robbed Zombies: “We Bury the Dead” and “The Secret Agent”

By Mike Schulz

As has become a common ritual, the first weekend of the new year brought with it a low-budget horror movie. Unlike releases of the M3GAN/Night Swim variety, however, this most recent release doesn't appear all that interested in being a horror movie – which is largely to its credit.

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