Zachary Lee

Zachary Lee is a freelance film and culture writer based in Chicago. You can read his work at places like RogerEbert, The Chicago Reader, Dread Central, Sojourners, and The National Catholic Reporter. He frequently writes about the intersection between popular culture and spirituality. Find him hopelessly attempting to catch up on his watchlist over on Letterboxd.

A woman in a blue dress sits on a brown leather couch in a dimly lit room, holding a wine glass and looking slightly to the side with a thoughtful expression.

Jessica Henwick is the heart and soul of ‘How to Make a Killing’

The actress spoke about her character Ruth, a truth-teller with her head on straight, and the prevalence of “kill the rich” stories

A man and a woman sit across from each other at a small table, sharing food and drinks in a dimly lit setting with string lights in the background. They look engaged in conversation.

Stephanie Ahn’s ‘Bedford Park’ will make you hungry, then break your heart

The filmmaker spoke with writer Zachary Lee about feeding her characters and expanding this film beyond her own story

A woman with curly gray hair speaks into a microphone at an event, gesturing with her hand. She wears a dark dress and a pendant necklace. Another person and microphones labeled “NYFF” are visible.

Why Geeta Gandbhir likens ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ to a horror film

The documentary has been shortlisted for the Oscars and follows a BIPOC community devastated by gun violence

A woman with headphones around her neck gestures with one hand pointing forward and the other held out, speaking intently. Several people are blurred in the background.

Director, stars of ‘Rental Family’ on film, Japan’s taboo topics and more

Writer Zachary Lee talks to them about Japan’s rental family industry, societal shame, and the intimacy found in borrowed roles

A person in military uniform kneels on rocky ground outdoors, with a military vehicle and large storage tank in the background under a cloudy sky.

‘A House of Dynamite’ showcases government unpreparedness in three parts

The Kathryn Bigelow political thriller focuses on the U.S. government’s response to a nuclear threat when deescalation is not an option

Two people wearing striped sweaters stand indoors, each with a green Sims-style plumbob headpiece. The background shows a doorway with plants and warm lighting, creating a casual, playful atmosphere.

James Sweeney’s ‘Twinless’ explores forgiveness, food and queer Asian storytelling

The filmmaker’s latest project follows two men who form a bond after meeting at a twin bereavement group

A man wearing headphones and a Champion shirt gestures while talking to a group of people in a dim, industrial setting with a metal barrel and stacks of items nearby.

Not Nobody: Director Timo Tjahjanto makes his English-language debut

The Indonesian filmmaker on taking the reigns on “Nobody 2,” working with Bob Odenkirk, and how violence can be used to propel a story

Joan Chen as May in "The Wedding Banquet."

How ‘The Wedding Banquet’ is making traditional Asian spaces more inclusive

Director Andrew Ahn and actors Joan Chen and Kelly Marie Tran on making space for queerness in heteronormative traditions

From left, Andie Ju and Brandon Soo Hoo in "Forge."

The cast and crew of ‘Forge’ share why Asians would make great criminals

Director Jing Ai Ng and actors Kelly Marie Tran, Brandon Soo Hoo, and Andie Ju on their new film, Miami and the world of art crime

Ji-Young Yoo is a fighter and a lover in ‘Freaky Tales’

The actress chats about how her dance background helped her during fight scenes, and the joy of showcasing Korean culture on-screen

‘Rabbit Trap’ is more frustrating than haunting

The psychological horror film sets a disquieting atmosphere from the start but unfortunately loses focus halfway through

Callina Liang of ‘Presence’ isn’t afraid of the paranormal

The actress talks about encountering the supernatural in real life and how it prepped her to be in Steven Soderbergh’s latest thriller