Stephen A Russell

Stephen A Russell is a Melbourne-based arts writer. His writing regularly appears in Fairfax publications, SBS online, Flicks, Time Out, The Saturday Paper, The Big Issue and Metro magazine. You can hear him on Joy FM.

Stephen A Russell's Latest Articles

Pretty Woman The Musical. Photo: Daniel Boud.
Features

Can Pretty Woman navigate the movie-to-musical path in Australia?

After the worrying early closures of Beetlejuice and Back to the Future, the movie-to-musical path is no longer a guarantee…

Penny Lane is Dead. Image: Sanctuary Pictures. Australian horror movies.
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Penny Lane is Dead review: a gripping ripper

Penny Lane is Dead, the debut feature from special effect, hair and makeup artist Mia’Kate Russell, fuses punk rock with…

Heartstopper Forever. Image: Netflix.
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Heartstopper Forever review: a rushed but lovely conclusion to a beloved series

The concluding chapter of Alice Oseman’s queer high school romance soars on the shoulders of stars Joe Locke and Kit…

Animal Farm. Image: Rialto.
Opinions & Analysis

Animal Farm is more relevant than ever – but not in Andy Serkis’ abysmal movie

Author George Orwell would be spinning in his grave over Andy Serkis’ animated Animal Farm.

The Odyssey. Image: Universal Pictures.
Features

Christopher Nolan was the wrong director for The Odyssey

The Odyssey is written, produced and directed by Christopher Nolan, but he's missed all the wonder and painted the epic…

Jurassic Park. Image: Universal.
Features

So long, Sam Neill, and thank you

With a career spanning over 150 credits, it's hard to know where to start with Sam Neill's contribution to our…

First Light. Image: Supplied.
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First Light review: a luminous reckoning with darkness

Award-winning Filipino-Australian director James J Robinson’s debut feature is astonishingly assured.

Saccharine. Image: Carver Films.
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Saccharine review: freaky, fun body horror for the Ozempic era

A hungry ghost story, Saccharine takes a swing at our social media-driven dysphoria crisis.

Supergirl. Image: Warner Bros.
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Supergirl review: planet-hopping fun

Milly Alcock takes up the baton with aplomb in fellow Aussie Craig Gillespie’s adventure movie Supergirl.

Emily Blunt in Disclosure Day. Image: Universal Pictures.
Opinions & Analysis

Disclosure Day: can Spielberg make us believe in alien life all over again?

The Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor and Colman Domingo-led Disclosure Day returns to the filmmaker’s youthful fascination with UFOs.

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