Katie Rife

Katie Rife is a writer and critic specializing in genre cinema. She was on staff at The A.V. Club from 2014 to 2022, and currently covers film and TV for Inverse as well as outlets like Indiewire, Vulture, Rolling Stone, Letterboxd Journal, and RogerEbert.com.

Review

'Lee Cronin’s The Mummy' Reinvents a Classic Movie Monster in Grim, Gory Style

3000-year-old demons and shocking body horror collide in Lee Cronin’s oppressively grim interpretation of the classic movie monster.

By Katie Rife
Trailers

The Big G Meets the Big Apple in First 'Godzilla Minus Zero' Teaser

Go ahead and destroy the financial district, Godzilla.

By Katie Rife
Rewind

'Hardcore Henry' Tried — And Failed — To Reinvent Cinema As We Know It

Hardcore Henry’s first-person revolution never quite took off.

By Katie Rife
News

The Internet’s Most Hated Director Is Probably Not Rebooting 'Basic Instinct'

Somehow, Emerald Fennell returned.

By Katie Rife
Review

'Faces of Death' Will Make You Feel Like You Need a Shower — And That’s a Good Thing

Although it's not completely free from franchise rot, Faces of Death is still an impressively nasty piece of work.

By Katie Rife
Review

'The Serpent's Skin' Will Fill The 'Buffy'-Shaped Hole In Your Heart

Missing Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Alice Maio Mackay’s supernatural horror-romance will scratch that nostalgic itch.

By Katie Rife
Rewind

James Gunn's First Movie Proves He Hasn't Changed in 20 Years

James Gunn’s directorial debut Slither turns 20 in 2026, capturing a crucial moment in the Superman director’s evolution.

By Katie Rife
Inverse Recommends

You Can Finally Watch The Best Horror Scene of the Year

Ralph Fiennes steals the show in the zombie sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, now streaming on Netflix.

By Katie Rife
The Inverse Interview

Why Julia Ducournau’s 'Alpha' Is Not “Body Horror At All”

The director of Raw and Titane describes her latest film, Alpha, as an exercise in empathy.

By Katie Rife
News

'It Follows' Is Finally Getting A Long-Awaited Sequel

Star Maika Monroe says that the long-awaited sequel to It Follows starts filming this summer.

By Katie Rife
SXSW Review

'Forbidden Fruits' Is The Campy Horror Teen Girls Have Been Waiting For

Lili Reinhart leads a coven of mean-girl mall witches in Meredith Alloway’s blend of occult and slasher horror.

By Katie Rife
Inverse Recommends

41 Years Later, This Rediscovered Masterpiece Is Reshaping an Anime Icon’s Legacy

Angel's Egg was little-seen until its 4K restoration debuted in 2025. It's quickly becoming one of Mamoru Oshii's most revered works.

By Katie Rife
Rewind

How An Enigmatic Sci-Fi Film Prompted David Bowie’s Reinvention

Nicolas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell to Earth showcased David Bowie at his most extraterrestrial.

By Katie Rife
Rewind

How 'THX 1138' Taught George Lucas To Make 'Star Wars'

THX 1138 was a box-office flop, but the techniques used to make it paved the way for George Lucas’ future success.

By Katie Rife
Rewind

'Hellraiser’s Most Underappreciated Sequel Never Stood A Chance

An infamous victim of studio meddling, 'Hellraiser: Bloodline' still has plenty of appeal for fans of the franchise.

By Katie Rife
Inverse Recommends

Before 'The Bride!,' There Was The Original Feminist Frankenstein Story

James Whale’s 1935 sequel surpasses the original, and it’s now streaming on HBO Max.

By Katie Rife
Inverse Recommends

Here’s Your Chance To Catch Up On The Best Sci-Fi Show You Haven’t Seen

J.J. Abrams' criminally underseen Lost followup is now streaming free on Pluto TV.

By Katie Rife
News

Bruce Campbell Says He’s Taking A Step Back In Bittersweet Announcement

Horror king Bruce Campbell shares cancer diagnosis, says “I expect to be around for a while."

By Katie Rife
Rewind

'The X-Files’ Forgotten Spinoff Is An Artifact Of Another Time

Twenty-five years later, The Lone Gunmen is eerily prescient.

By Katie Rife