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Norman Gidney

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

Norman J. Gidney is a Los Angeles-based film critic and writer. Founder of HorrorBuzz and writer for Film Threat, Norman grew up in Southern California learning to read by scouring the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times and is an avid film fan with a special love for horror and genre films. His goal is to champion horror, queer cinema, and the independent filmmakers who sacrifice everything to tell their stories.

Publications:

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
undertone (2025) 85% 8/10 EDIT “By the time Undertone has you under its control you are mentally and emotionally captive. The result is easily one of the most terrifying films in years.” – HorrorBuzz Jan 26, 2026 Full Review The Incomer (2026) 7/10 EDIT “Paxton keeps the heart of the film beating with a certain beguiling charm.” – HorrorBuzz Jan 25, 2026 Full Review Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant (2026) 100% 6/10 EDIT “The hilarious pregnancy happens, the expected chaos ensues, and copious fluids spew at the most awkward moments. Yet as charming and silly as this movie is, it can't overcome a sudden shift in the stakes and a third act that loses its steam.” – HorrorBuzz Jan 25, 2026 Full Review Saccharine (2026) 92% 6/10 EDIT “Effectively disgusting, yet weighed down in ponderous, often meandering storytelling.” – HorrorBuzz Jan 24, 2026 Full Review Buddy (2026) 80% 8/10 EDIT “A deliriously absurd, journey through the banal world of children’s programming that serves as both satire and an indictment. Buddy is destined to become a cult classic.” – HorrorBuzz Jan 23, 2026 Full Review Junkie (2025) 8/10 EDIT “William Means writes and directs a surprisingly funny, gritty, and ultimately affirming story about an addict on the run.” – HorrorBuzz Jan 10, 2026 Full Review The Demoness (2025) 6/10 EDIT “Infuses campy horror with a silly story of demonic ambition for amusing if mixed results.” – HorrorBuzz Dec 30, 2025 Full Review Bitter Desire (2025) 3/10 EDIT “What makes the film so egregious is that, given the resources, something better should have come from this.” – HorrorBuzz Dec 30, 2025 Full Review The Plastic Men (2025) 6/10 EDIT “Gonzalez has crafted a heartfelt tribute to the veterans that have served their country along with a message of compassion and empathy. ” – HorrorBuzz Dec 29, 2025 Full Review Our Happy Place (2024) 6/10 EDIT “It’s minimal, it’s indie, but Our Happy Place is a noteworthy thriller with its fair share of surprises.” – HorrorBuzz Dec 29, 2025 Full Review Everyone Asked About You (2025) 7/10 EDIT “Both a celebration and condemnation of the Hollywood ecosystem. It is ugly, beautiful, honest, and misleading. That's showbiz baby.” – HorrorBuzz Nov 17, 2025 Full Review The Carpenter's Son (2025) 31% 6/10 EDIT “I give writer-director Nathan full credit for the what is overall a handsome film, but it struggles to summon real, unpredictable tension.” – HorrorBuzz Nov 15, 2025 Full Review Dead Giveaway (2025) 7/10 EDIT “A breezy, bloody, farce that is well written, paced at a clip, and over before you have time to overthink it.” – HorrorBuzz Nov 2, 2025 Full Review Intruder (2025) 5/10 EDIT “An entertaining, if wildly scattered movie that builds to a climax only to leave us lost in space.” – HorrorBuzz Oct 27, 2025 Full Review The Offing (2025) 7/10 EDIT “Writing-directing duo Koko Crozier and Lily Lunder tell a surprisingly insightful tale of the connection between past trauma and how it shapes the future.” – HorrorBuzz Oct 25, 2025 Full Review Monsters Within (2025) 4/10 EDIT “A boring collection of predictable scenes that offers nothing new.” – HorrorBuzz Oct 23, 2025 Full Review Protein (2024) 7/10 EDIT “At once a grisly serial killer movie, an engrossing procedural, and a comical crime farce. The pieces don’t exactly come together like they should but it’s still a fun watch.” – HorrorBuzz Oct 21, 2025 Full Review The Reunion (2024) 6/10 EDIT “A beautifully produced drama with strong performances that is ultimately, well, mysterious.” – HorrorBuzz Oct 21, 2025 Full Review The Vile (2025) 100% 7/10 EDIT “A slow burn look at the horrors of family and the constant fear of no longer being needed.” – HorrorBuzz Oct 2, 2025 Full Review Dolly (2025) 82% 8/10 EDIT “Rod Blackhurst and Brandon Weavil have boiled down the bitter elements to pay respects to the cruel, unhinged movies that tapped into our fears. ” – HorrorBuzz Sep 22, 2025 Full Review Bad Things (2024) 6/10 EDIT “While the movie runs a bit long, and there might be a few too many characters vying for screen time, this is a worthy addition to the sci-fi-horror-in-the-woods cannon.” – HorrorBuzz Sep 19, 2025 Full Review Devil's Punchbowl: Aftermath (2025) 4/10 EDIT “What could have been an exciting evolution of the slasher genre becomes a bloated and agonizingly slow “thriller.”” – HorrorBuzz Sep 11, 2025 Full Review Sugarcane (2025) 6/10 EDIT “Directors Baker and Darryl Postley Jr. keep things in a very ‘Silence of the Lambs’ vibe while dipping into ‘Hostel’ and ‘I Spit on your Grave’ territory for sure. They even deliver an iconic villain complete with a creepy bunny mask. ” – HorrorBuzz Sep 9, 2025 Full Review The Long Walk (2025) 88% 7 EDIT “A brutal tale of endurance, friendship, and loyalty that tries to straddle the fence between the early life lessons from the novel and the graphic violence that would satisfy horror fans.” – HorrorBuzz Sep 2, 2025 Full Review Just One Drink (2015) 100% 6/10 EDIT “De Burgh’s affinity for creating powerful female leads is on display again here and, while not perfect, it is admirable.” – HorrorBuzz Sep 1, 2025 Full Review
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