Once upon a time, Tim Burton used to make nothing but must-see films. One of his absolute best, the supernatural comedy Beetlejuice from 1988, turns 35 on March 30th. Imaginative, unique, funny, engaging, well crafted, and nicely performed, it’s about as flawless a film as exists.
Read MoreHouston's Oddities & Curiosities Expo (2023)
The Oddities & Curiosities Expo was a unique and fascinating experience for anyone interested in the weird and wonderful. The Expo offered a wide range of odd and intriguing exhibits, from taxidermy and anatomical specimens to bizarre art and macabre jewelry. One of the things that set the Expo apart is the variety of vendors and exhibitors that showcased their strange and unusual wares.
Read MoreFire in the Sky (1993) #RetroReview
Though most of Robert Lieberman’s Fire in the Sky is a fine sci-fi mystery, competently crafted if a little mundane, it contains about fifteen minutes of pure undiluted nightmare fuel that justifies a watch. Based on an allegedly true story, Tracy Tormé, who has written for a slew of fan-favorite sci-fi TV shows, took some liberties with Travis Walton’s source account in his script. From what I understand, this was an improvement. In any case, the realization of Tormé’s vision for that particular sequence is absolutely fantastic.
Read MoreCB4 (1993) #RetroReview
Tamra Davis’ hip-hop satire and early Chris Rock vehicle CB4 made its theatrical debut on March 12th, 1993. I decided to take a look back at the film’s 30th anniversary. Care to join me?
Read More10 to Midnight (1983) #RetroReview
Does the idea of Charlie Bronson in a morally ambiguous pseudo-slasher film sound appealing to you? If so, join me in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of J. Lee Thompson’s 10 to Midnight. Executive produced by legendary B movie figures Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus through their beloved Cannon Films, the film pits Bronson against a Richard Speck-esque serial killer in an unapologetically sleazy and gritty Los Angeles. It was released in theaters on March 11, 1983.
Read MoreThrust (2022)
I first became aware of low-budget filmmaker Victor Bonacore when he released Diary of a Deadbeat: The Story of Jim VanBebber back in 2015. Being a huge fan of VanBebber’s work, I came away thoroughly impressed with Bonacore’s warts and all documentary about the famously volatile western Ohio native. So, when I saw that Bonacore was releasing his first feature-length narrative film, I knew I had to see it.
Read MoreCult Classic Convention (2023)
I'll just start with that if you're a cult film fan, you don't want to miss the aptly named, Cult Classic Convention! From the moment you step through the doors, you're transported to a wacky world of nostalgia. The atmosphere is electric, with enthusiastic fans, talented artists, and engaging presenters all coming together to celebrate the horror genre and other weird films.
Read MoreInfinity Pool (2023)
Get ready for the White Lotus on psychedelics. Infinity Pool, disturbing and erotic, is a stylized bloody satire both trippy and mesmerizing. This film, as well as Possessor, has established Brandon Cronenberg as the most exciting young Writer-director in science fiction and horror.
Read MoreThe Ghosts of Monday (2022)
If you’re going to lift, lift from the best. Francesco Cinquemani’s The Ghosts of Monday tiptoes through the paths trod by The Shining, Rosemary’s Baby, and even The Beyond, but does it have a unique perspective? I would say that the lo-fi digital look, the setting of Cyprus, and themes about voyeurism do add a wrinkle to the more familiar story beats. The film also boasts some star power in the form of fan-favorite actor Julian Sands.
Read MoreWolf Hollow (2023)
A good werewolf film is hard to come by these days. While their bloodsucking brethren, vampires, have enjoyed a long cinematic life, it generally seems to be accepted that werewolf films peaked in 1981 with the release of John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London and Joe Dante’s The Howling, both of which are considered to be the two best werewolf films of all time. While one cannot deny the romantic allure and elegance of a good vampire film, sometimes it’s fun to just sit back and enjoy the pure carnage that a werewolf film can bring to the table.
Read MoreThe Outwaters (2022)
Right off the bat, I need to state that The Outwaters won’t be to everyone’s taste. There is about a thirty-minute stretch of the film’s 110-ish-minute runtime that is probably best described as experimental. That chunk combined with the found footage aesthetic and the script’s reluctance to provide concrete answers makes for an atypical horror experience.
Read MoreCasting Kill (2023)
Shot in a mere six days in London, director/cinematographer James Smith’s Casting Kill is a classy and lightly satirical look at the underside of the film business. Though the budget was likely quite small, the filmmakers and their cast deploy some Hitchcockian flair in a beautifully shot piece that makes some movie magic with a coterie of fine performances and playful dialog. After an effectively moody title sequence, we soon meet Arthur Capstone, a big-shot Hollywood casting director.
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