The Northman is perhaps the most accessible work of writer/director Robert Eggers’ young career. He purportedly did not have final cut and the film does feel a half step less quirky than The VVitch and The Lighthouse, both of which I loved. Still, even with one eye sneaking peaks at mainstream concerns, The Northman exudes a distinctive creative vision.
Read MoreCrash (1996) #RetroReview
With the news breaking recently that the legendary David Cronenberg is returning to cinemas this year with Crimes of the Future, a film that reportedly will hearken back to his more transgressive genre roots, I decided to check out one of his more notorious efforts to celebrate. I had never seen his 1996 adaptation of JG Ballard’s Crash before last night. The reviews and anecdotes I’d experienced varied wildly on its quality, but I took everything with a grain of salt, as I remember the moral outrage and controversy the film had generated upon its initial release.
Read MoreDingo (2022) #DVD
After over thirty years of languishing in relative obscurity, Australian director Rolf de Heer’s Dingo from 1991 is getting a rerelease into American arthouses. I honestly may not have noticed but for the presence of legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis in a rare acting role. Being that I am a huge Davis fan and I had never heard of the film before, it instantly shot to the top of my must-see list.
Read MoreThe Batman (2022)
As a longtime comic book fan, I’ve been conditioned to easily accept new interpretations of established characters. New creative teams often attempt to place their own stamps on the mythoi of beloved superheroes. In some cases, they are given free range to completely reinvent a character’s entire universe.
Read MoreThe Belko Experiment (2016) #RetroReview
March 17th marks the fifth anniversary of the release of Greg McLean’s lightly satirical, bleakly humorous, and gory The Belko Experiment. Featuring a what-would-you-do type premise and a mile-wide mean streak, it deftly blends a clearly-defined psychological approach with graphic violence. The result is a visceral, if borderline unpleasant, thrill ride.
Read MoreCyrano (2021)
Director Joe Wright has a history of appropriating great works of literature for his movies. His Pride and Prejudice and Anna Karenina demonstrate a healthy regard for the original material, while still infusing them with his own dreamy style. Wright's successful track record continues here with Cyrano.
Read MoreCult Classic Convention (2022)
Roy and Lisa Rose, Cult Classic’s founders, had a great desire to bring the fans of horror and cult classics together in one friendly space. Cult Classic Convention was born, and it is now recognized as Bastrop’s premier horror conference. It offers meet and greets with your favorite genre actors, a ton of interesting vendors, some live music, and of course, delicious Texas barbecue.
Read MoreTexas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
When reviewing something like Netflix’s new Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I think some bonafides are helpful to the reader. I’m a huge fan of Tobe Hooper’s original film from 1974. The rest of the franchise entries I could take or leave, although I don’t mind revisiting the first two sequels every now and again.
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