Martin Crane: King of the Hipsters

May 3, 2017

Recently, Pennie got me into watching the entirety of Frasier on Netflix. Despite being an inveterate Cheers fan, I’d only ever seen one episode of the show before this year. I’d always liked the character of Frasier, but, he was never my favorite.

When Horror Helps: Texas Frightmare and Stop the Stigma

April 19, 2017

Horror has long prided itself on being a socially conscious genre. From the racial commentary of Night of the Living Dead to the anti-consummerism of They Live, fans have long been able to point to films ostensibly about blood, death, and terror and say that they’ve been aware of—and concerned about—a variety of social ills and injustices while the “straight” world has still been wringing its’ hands and spinning tales of denial. To paraphrase, though, fandom without works is dead, and it benefits the world little if the horror community can simply tout film after film that brings a problem to light without affecting any sort of change.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Leaked Script

January 24, 2017

Yesterday's Jedi teaser was greeted with a massive response. But, you guys demanded more! Today we have the leaked Star Wars: The Last Jedi script.

RIP William Peter Blatty: Memories of The Exorcist

January 19, 2017

When I first started watching horror movies as a very young girl, spending hours seeing people getting ripped apart with my grandmother on long, sunny Saturday afternoons, part of me knew it would never be that good again. That sense of safe deviance, of transgression, of danger, the badge of honor of being able to say, “Oh, yeah, that eye gouge was so fake…” to my scandalized, blood-shy girlfriends—it became a part of me as it does to any young fan of the macabre. But time passes and after your two hundredth hour clocked in front of the screen, your thousandth corpse, after the very last drop of technicolor blood, suddenly you find, to your horror, horror just isn’t what it used to be.

Hastings Memories

November 2, 2016

In a lot of ways, Hastings Entertainment in Conroe WAS my 20s. For a pop culture geek in the early-to-mid 2010s, there was no better hangout. It was a megastore the size of Best Buy that sold books, music, movies, collectibles, magazines AND was the last video rental store around, not to mention it had an on-site coffee shop.

Texas Frightmare: For Coop

May 20, 2016

And so another Frightmare has come and gone. Yes, the event ended two weeks ago, and, yes I'm just getting around to writing about it. Attending Texas Frightmare Weekend tends to be a draining experience: It is, after all, nearly seventy-two hours of non-stop glee, a cavalcade of film screenings, autograph signings, meet-and-greets, parties, and general good-old-fashioned mayhem, all dedicated to the horror genre in art and entertainment.

Who’s this Finn and why does it matter?

December 3, 2015

I reckon there’s at least a million theories spinning ‘round the internets these days concernin’ that new Star Wars movie. This would be on account o’ Star Wars is loved like one’s closest blood-relations. I knowed this ‘cos I’m one of ‘em what's all wound up in't.

Young Frankenstein 2.0

November 25, 2015

I recently had the pleasure of discussing all things cover-art with Thomas Hodge aka The Dude Designs, and while I am still attempting to transcribe our two hour alcohol parade, I do have some exclusive poster art to whet your appetite until then. Hodge has produced his own mash-up for Victor Frankenstein playing homage to the Mel Brooks classic, Young Frankenstein! While being a fan of both The Dude Designs as well as the original piece, I can't help but hope that this is a sign of things to come.

Final Boy (Or, why I love Friday the 13th)

November 14, 2015

People need heroes. For many, their heroes are athletes or politicians, men or women who have accomplished superhuman feats, faced down insurmountable odds, or brought about great social change for the betterment of mankind. These heroes allow individuals to see themselves and the world in which they live in a better light: To see that people can enact change or overcome physical boundaries to do the impossible.

Andrew Bryniarski's Official Response to THE Official Response

November 9, 2015

When I first heard Andrew Bryniarski suggested that CineDump's Jason Howard "suck Gunnar's dead nutz" I knew I had to see what this guy was about. Plus, I like Batman Returns, so why not give Leatherface 2.0 the time of day, right? The following is a messenger exchange I had with Andrew concerning his recent status updates and reaction to Gunnar Hansen's death.

Review

Alley Cats: Ricky Gervais Turns a Pack of Strays Into an Existential Sitcom

Ricky Gervais has spent decades building comedy out of uncomfortable truths, awkward conversations, and characters who say exactly the wrong thing at exactly the right time. Alley Cats takes that formula and filters it through a gang of feral cats roaming the streets, resulting in a strange, frequently hilarious adult animated sitcom that feels like stand-up comedy disguised as a cartoon. At first glance, the premise almost seems too gimmicky.

Terrifier Junior: Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man Is a Sugar-Fueled Bloodbath

For over twenty years, Eli Roth has apparently been trying to get Ice Cream Man made. After watching it, that's easy to believe. This is the kind of movie that sounds too insane for a studio to greenlight: an idyllic small town, a mysterious ice cream vendor, and an army of children driven into a homicidal frenzy after enjoying a frozen treat.

Cookie Queens Finds the Humanity Behind America’s Most Famous Cookie Sale

Cookie Queens opens with "Cookie Road" by The Julie Ruin blasting over the introduction, immediately establishing the film's playful punk-rock energy. From there, director Alysa Nahmias takes audiences behind one of America's most beloved traditions: Girl Scout Cookie season. What begins as a charming look at four ambitious young girls competing to become top sellers gradually reveals itself as something more thoughtful, a coming-of-age documentary about ambition, family expectations, and the complicated realities of growing up.

Late Fame: Kent Jones Finds Beauty in New York's Lost Dreamers

What begins as something resembling Dead Poets Society quickly reveals itself to be something altogether more contemporary: a sharply observed examination of rich kid faux intellectualism, artistic posturing, and the people who confuse proximity to art with the act of creating it. Kent Jones' Late Fame is sweet, smart, funny, and occasionally scathing. Adapted by Samy Burch from Arthur Schnitzler's novella, the film follows Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet whose long-neglected work is suddenly rediscovered by a collective of young creatives calling themselves The Enthusiasm Society.

The Last Picture Shows Captures the Beauty and Fragility of the American Cinema

For some people, going to the movies is entertainment. For others, it is something closer to a ritual. No matter what is playing, stepping into a theater offers a temporary escape from the chaos of everyday life.

Malcolm Kelner Is the Face of Obsession, Whether the Rest of the Cast Likes It or Not

Every great film has that one performance audiences can't stop talking about. For Obsession, the viral thriller from director Curry Barker, that performance belongs, unquestionably, to Malcolm Kelner's bartender. What began as a brief appearance in the film's opening moments has somehow evolved into one of the internet's favorite running jokes, spawning memes, fan theories, social media discourse, and a level of celebrity that Kelner has embraced with remarkable confidence.

Chasing More Than Storms: Ken Cole and Reed Timmer Find the Heart Behind Never Stop Chasing

There are few people more synonymous with storm chasing than Reed Timmer. For decades, audiences have watched him barrel toward some of nature's most violent phenomena in pursuit of science, understanding, and, admittedly, a little adrenaline. But Never Stop Chasing isn't simply another film about tornadoes.

Nat Boltt Brings Heart, Humor, and Humanity to Holy Days

There are filmmakers who make movies because they love storytelling, and then there are filmmakers who seem genuinely in love with the medium itself. After speaking with Nat Boltt about her feature directorial debut, Holy Days, it quickly became clear that she falls into the latter category. Known to many audiences as the unforgettable Penelope Blossom from Riverdale and for her work in films like District 9, Boltt has spent decades in front of the camera.

Aging Legend, Wild Stories: James Faulkner Looks Back on Zulu Dawn

Sometimes you go into an interview with a plan. You’ve got your notes, your bullet points, your angles about the new 4K restoration of Zulu Dawn. And then sometimes you get James Faulkner on the line and you just… let him go. That’s exactly what happened here.

Kathleen Kinmont Brings the Heart to Valley of the Horntak

Few performers have built the kind of genre résumé Kathleen Kinmont has accumulated over the years. From surviving Michael Myers in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers to becoming part of the twisted madness of Bride of Re-Animator and later finding television success with Renegade, Kinmont has spent decades navigating horror, action, and cult cinema. Her latest project, Valley of the Horntak, adds another intriguing chapter to that legacy, placing her at the center of a folk horror story filled with cults, family trauma, creature effects, and fungal nightmares.

Soulbound: A 53-Minute Animated Odyssey Through the Afterlife That’s Already Winning Awards

Independent animation is often defined by passion, perseverance, and the willingness to tell stories that larger studios might never attempt. Soulbound, the original animated web series created by writer, director, and storyboard artist Jeff Stirling, embodies all three. With the completion of its first story arc, Soulbound now stands as a roughly 53-minute animated feature experience released across four episodes, blending fantasy, comedy, psychological drama, and existential mystery into a uniquely memorable journey.