Contributor: Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

In a Violent Nature

In the über-bloody genre of slasher movies, is ‘In a Violent Nature’ the bloodiest? It very well may be.

Read more

The Watchers

It’s a horror movie, but The Watchers stays within its PG-13 confines. Too bad it wanders away from sensible storytelling.

Read more

Land of Women (Tierra de Mujeres)

Land of Women positions itself as a heartwarming story with unsavory secrets. Fitting that it comes with unwelcome surprises of its own.

Read more

We Grown Now

We Grown Now is a work of cinematic poetry—a look at inner-city turmoil and poverty through the forgiving, knowing eyes of a child.

Read more

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

‘Furiosa,’ a prequel to the much-praised ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ has all the action fans want—but more than a little sadism, too.

Read more

Ezra

Ezra takes us on a cross-country road trip with an anger-prone father and his autistic son. And while it can be sweet, it’s often a bumpy ride.

Read more

Movie Monday: ‘Inside Out 2’ Now the Year’s Biggest Film

Inside Out 2 just claimed the biggest debut since 2023’s Barbie en route to a no-doubt weekend win. But what would it do for an encore?

Read more

Episode 239: A Look at ‘Inside Out 2.’ Plus Screens and Our Brains

First, we talk Inside Out 2. Then, Focus on the Family’s Dr. Daniel Huerta talks about how entertainment and technology impact our brains.

Read more

Mars Express

The French film ‘Mars Express’ isn’t rated. But if it were, this sci-fi story would land an R rating—and we don’t mean for its robots.

Read more

Sight

Based on a true story, ‘Sight’ gives us a resonant story, some inspiring characters—and a glimpse of God behind it all.

Read more

Movie Monday: ‘Inside Out 2’ Soars to Win

Inside Out 2 earned $155 million in North America–the biggest opening of any film this year.

Read more

I Saw the TV Glow

I Saw the TV Glow is weird little film—both provocative and problematic and plenty creepy besides.

Read more

Just In Time for Father’s Day, Five Films with Less-Than-Perfect Dads

The fathers on this list aren’t perfect. They don’t always do the right thing. But even when father-child bonds are strained, there’s still often room for redemption.

Read more

Episode 238: ‘The Acolyte’ and the Theology of Star Wars. Plus, an Interview with Judas and John of ‘The Chosen’

On Episode 238, the Plugged In team talks about The Acolyte, and the broader spirituality within Star Wars. Then we interview cast members of The Chosen.

Read more

Presumed Innocent

This story is predicated on acts of lurid sex and horrific violence, and Presumed Innocent is guilty of showing us plenty of both.

Read more