After a two-year delay because of Orion Pictures’ financial problems, legendary writer/director George Romero’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Half was finally released in 1993. The affable filmmaker preferred to work in an independent setting and it would seem his somewhat difficult experience on this film helped cement that predilection. Notably, it was the last movie he made in his beloved Pittsburgh.
Read MoreErotomaniac (2022)
As you may already know, I have a love for micro-budgeted homemade DIY flicks. I also happen to love animation. Last night, I checked out writer/director/editor/producer/animator Sam Salerno’s Erotomaniac from 2022, which combines both of those aspects.
Read MoreLiquid Sky (1982) #RetroReview
Aggressively arty, bizarre, and unpolished, Slava Tsukerman’s Liquid Sky is one of the coolest flicks I’ve ever seen. Made for a paltry $500K, it would go on to become one of the most successful independent films of the early ‘80s and led to the genesis of the electroclash musical genre and club scene that emerged in the late ‘90s. April 15th is the 40th anniversary of the film's theatrical release in America, so I decided to take a look back.
Read MoreLinoleum (2022)
If you’ve read my work with any regularity, you know that I love writing about films with Ohio connections. Writer/director Colin West was born in my longtime hometown of Columbus and went to undergrad at the Ohio State University, my alma mater. His new film, Linoleum, is also set in suburban Dayton.
Read MoreBoston Underground Film Festival (2023)
Another festival has come and gone and while I wasn’t able to view everything that I had hoped, I was still able to check out some really cool genre films courtesy of the Boston Underground Film Festival. Hopefully, I’ll get my hands on more next time around. That being said, the few films are definitely not to be overlooked, so if you see something you may be interested in, I suggest making a note and circling back when they are more widely available.
Read MoreBeetlejuice (1988) #RetroReview
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.
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