Christian Zilko

Christian Zilko is IndieWire’s Staff Editor. A Michigan native (who never quite shook his obsession with the Detroit Lions), he earned a BFA from Emerson College before beginning his career as an editorial intern for IndieWire in 2019. After spending several years working in the music industry — including stints working at JamBase and managing tours for a Grateful Dead cover band — his passion for film and television led him back to the site.

A frequent contributor to IndieWire’s film coverage, he regularly reviews films premiering at major festivals, often with a focus on horror movies. Christian is driven by his passion for writing serious criticism about art that’s been unfairly written off as lowbrow, taking every opportunity to share his opinions aboutslasher franchisesanddepraved alternative comedieswith the same enthusiasm that he has for Kurosawa and Jarmusch.

Christian cites the Coen Brothers, Bob Dylan, Robert Hunter, Damien Chazelle, Annie Baker, D.A. Pennebaker, and John Coltrane as the biggest influences on his artistic worldview (the actual order changes by the day). He’ll gladly tell anyone willing to listen why he thinks “Bottle Rocket” is the best Wes Anderson movie, “Frasier” is the funniest TV show of all time, and Bob Dylan didn’t start doing his best work until the late 1990s.

Christian resides in Echo Park, often spending his free time running marathons and attending far too many concerts. Those who feel the need to receive daily updates on his personal misadventures can find him on Twitter @TangledUpInNews and Instagram @ChristianBlakeZilko.