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Del Toro’s Frankenstein: The Closer We Get, the Farther We Are
For years, Frankenstein had been Del Toro’s dream project. It was perhaps one of the most- hyped releases of last winter. How could it not be? The director best known for Gothic visuals, taking on THE gothic horror story? The results are spectacular, but not the 100%-faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley’s story I was looking…
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Black Phone 2: Visually Interesting But Nothing New
I’m not sure why I’m watching Black Phone 2. There was a lot about the first that was appealing in a retro horror kind of way. It had a, not realism, but authenticity that made it all the more frightening. The Grabber was every “stranger danger” after-school special made physical. Making The Grabber a supernatural entity doesn’t…
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Dust Bunny: Fluffy but With a Few Teeth
I hadn’t heard of Dust Bunny until it popped up under “recommended for you”. Since every streaming service I have thinks I have terrible taste, those suggestions are pretty hit or miss. However, Dust Bunny is by Brian Fuller and stars Mads Mikkelsen and Sigourney Weaver. That’s enough creative star power for me to give…
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Lisa Frankenstein: An 80’s Monster Mash
Lisa Frankenstein was written by Diablo Cody. If you’ve seen Juno, or one of my personal favorite feminist horror movies, Jennifer’s Body, then you know to expect catchy, stylized dialogue and themes that feel relevant. While a bit of a jumbled mess of genre, Lisa Frankenstein manages to be entertaining and clearly takes a lot…
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Toxic Fandom – The Weight of Unrealistic Expectations
This isn’t just about the Stranger Things fandom, but this is a LOT about the Stranger Things fandom. I’ve noticed a trend of escalation over the past few years. People have developed parasocial relationships, not just with influencers but with brands and intellectual properties. The thoughts and concerns I’ve had crystalized over the past week or so while observing the behavior of…
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Universal Monsters’ Frankenstein: New Year New Body
2026 – The Year of the Monster Before we get into Frankenstein, I’d like to talk a bit about 2026, or as it will be called, “The Year of The Monsters”. I’m starting with the Universal classic monsters, but not in any chronological order, since that would be too easy. I’ve spent some time on the…
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The Stuff: More Relevant Than Ever
The Stuff is literally about people who find mysterious goo in the ground and without knowing what it is, decide to eat it, package it, and sell it. It is without a doubt one of my favorite under-looked bits of commentary on the over-commercialization and capitalism of the ‘80s. The Stuff has all the hallmarks of a…