The Take

A video essay analyzing the use of shapes in Pixar's UP to convey a message about main character Carl's life in the beginning of the film.

A video essay analyzing a particular filmmaking technique - the subjective camera. The dynamic, subjective camera in Black Swan keeps us close to Nina, seeing the world through her eyes.

What if Ferris Bueller is a Figment of Cameron's Imagination?

A fascinating analysis unpacking the meaning of the final scenes of Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman.

An entertaining analysis of how Marlin goes from overprotective "helicopter" fish to finding a balance between careful and carefree.

David Sandberg's "Lights Out" is based on his 2013 short of the same name. A compelling analysis of how Sandberg remakes the short almost shot for shot at the beginning of the feature-length movie.

Explore the hidden imagery and underlying sexuality of the pivotal club scene in BLACK SWAN. An analysis of the scene reveals some fascinating elements.

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This video essay unpacks what the final "gift" really was at the end of the 2015 movie, The Gift.

Where did the Suicide Squad first come from? We explore the comic's origins and how John Ostrander established characters like Deadshot and Amanda Waller in his 1980s run. Harley Quinn joined the Squad later, in the 2011 New 52 Reboot.

How BLACK SWAN uses black and white visuals in almost every frame to support its symbolic messages.

Director David Fincher once said there is a Starbucks coffee cup in every scene of Fight Club.

We look at the meaning behind the rose imagery of American Beauty.

In THE DEPARTED, director Martin Scorsese uses an "X" in the frame to foreshadow the characters' fates.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), starring Gene Wilder, is full of literary allusions. How many can you count?

We look at how three very different directors -- George Miller, Wes Anderson and Stanley Kubrick -- use Center Framing to control our gaze.

Inside Out's memory orbs contain hidden allusions to other Pixar movies.

In this video essay, we explore how 12 Angry Men shifts between high-angle and low-angle shots to express the characters' emotional states.

We explore Hitchcock's concept of the MacGuffin and how it lives on in movies today.

We examine how shadows help shape the characters in The Godfather.

We take a look at the bird imagery in Hitchcock's Psycho and how the stuffed birds reveal Norman Bates's attitude toward women.

The mysterious recurring patterns in Game of Thrones bear a striking resemblance to symbols of the Golden Ratio.

Look closer at the deeper meaning and messages of American Psycho's ending.

We unpack why light from below just looks scary.

Find out why the characters on The Walking Dead never say the word "zombie."

The horror of Rosemary's Baby explores close-to-home realities like the loss of control.

We unpack the alien language in Arrival (2016) and explain how the filmmakers visualized it on screen. Warning, this video may contain spoilers

Arrival (2016) is not your average sci-fi movie. We explore how the film departs from standard conventions of the sci-fi genre and the film's deeper meaning.

We look at how the Final Girl & Death by Sex became staples of the horror genre.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is structured like a classic Hollywood movie musical, but with a video game twist.

We unlock the deeper meaning of Rory Gilmore's hair evolution through the years.

Pulp Fiction's bathroom scenes carry a hidden meaning.

We take a closer look at Jeff Nichols' Loving (2016) and the filmmaking philosophy of visual simplicity.

The characters in Inception correspond to a film crew, and a hidden anagram in their names reveal the deeper message of the film.

The Incredibles (2004) uses superpowers to challenge our assumptions about family roles.

We all know Casablanca is a great movie -- but what makes it great? We talked to film professor Julian Cornell about why Casablanca is one of the classic love stories in cinema.

Find out how Elf (2003) uses Christmas nostalgia to warm our Grinch-like hearts.

We break down the criteria for a Christmas movie and find out if Die Hard belongs on the naughty or nice list.