Hello, welcome to Cinesthesia!

My name is Carlos Cuevas and I’ve been a fanatic of genre movies since I was around eight and my parents took me to see the special edition of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Several years later I bought Peter Nicholls’ book The World of Fantastic Films (1984) and I was changed for life. The result is the website you’re reading now.

If you’d like to submit a review, please write me at ciancuevas@gmail.com.

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Grading movies is a largely silly exercise. While there are obvious indicators of craft, the experience of watching a film is highly subjective and elastic. But since we need some sort of guide, here is how I rate them (with exhibits from John Carpenter’s filmography):

**** | Excellent

Emotionally resonant and technically impressive films that push the medium forward. Example: The Thing (1982).

***½ | Very Good

A cut above the rest. Films that go above and beyond in terms of skill and overall effect. Example: Halloween (1978).

*** | Good

Generally solid, well-rounded films, even if there are some minor kinks here and there. Example: Assault on Precinct 13 (1976).

**½ | Above Average

Pretty good efforts with more hits than misses. Well worth watching, even if you can’t shake the feeling that they could’ve been better. Example: In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

** | Average

These are the “just okay,” “meh,” “seen better” flicks that have entertaining moments but are mediocre overall. Example: Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)

*½ | Below Average

If you’re counting the minutes, that’s a bad sign. Misguided and substandard, these films make you wish you had spent some time at the dentist instead. Example: Escape from L.A. (1996)

* | Awful

These are not “so bad they are good” cult films that could conceivably earn a higher spot on the list. No, these are just… bad. Example: Ghosts of Mars (2001).

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Site title generously suggested by Gerry “The Stillness” López.