Scout Tafoya is a film critic, video essayist, filmmaker, and author known for his deep exploration of unconventional and overlooked cinema. He is the creator of The Unloved, the longest-running video essay series on RogerEbert.com, which highlights films that deserve a second look. His writing has appeared in The Village Voice, Film Comment, Nylon Magazine, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and The Film Stage, where he frequently analyzes cult films, avant-garde storytelling, and forgotten cinematic gems.

Originally from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Tafoya has built a reputation for championing films that challenge traditional narratives and push artistic boundaries. He is also the author of Cinemaphagy: On The Psychedelic Classical Form of Tobe Hooper, the first book-length critical study of the director of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Beyond his work as a critic, Tafoya is a prolific filmmaker, having directed over 25 feature films, including Eyam, House of Little Deaths, and Beata Virgo Viscera, which debuted on RogerEbert.com. His films often explore themes of identity, isolation, and surrealism, reflecting his deep appreciation for experimental cinema.

His extensive video essay work can be found on Patreon, where he continues to produce insightful analyses of films that deserve more recognition.