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Thirteen Women: The First Slasher
Released in 1932, Thirteen Women will be the oldest film I cover on here, at least for a while. Based on a best-selling novel written by Tiffany Thayer, this pre-Hayes Code film is a violent tale of revenge, racism, and female fury. I’ve made no secret over my love of all kinds of slashers. It’s…
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Last Straw: Home Invasion Horror Gets a Twist
2025 is off to a rough start with the appropriately titled Last Straw. This was one of the most frustrating viewing experiences I’ve had in a while. I love when a movie tries something new or has an ambitious premise, even if it doesn’t quite pull it off. But when an otherwise solid film hamstrings…
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Best of 2024: Horror and Anime
What better way to start the year, than with a look back at the best of 2024. Since I watch a lot both new and retro, I’m opening these categories up to anything I saw for the first time in 2024. It doesn’t matter if was released this year as long as it was new…
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Nosferatu or If You Don’t Listen to Your Wife, the Whole Town Dies
Turns out, I rended up reviewing another Christmas movie. Technically Nosferatu takes place over Christmas time and a fully decorated tree is on screen for at least one scene. It counts. Director Robert Eggers has made it clear how big an influence seeing F.W. Murnau’s 1922 version of Nosferatu, at the age on 9, had…
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Malignant: Happy Giallo Days!
James Wan makes his second appearance on here with one of my favorite modern giallo-inspired movies: Malignant. During production, Wan discussed the influence Argento had on the look and feel of the movie, especially his films Tenebrae, Phenomena, and Trauma. Malignant is not a true giallo; it crosses over into supernatural slasher territory a bit…
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Return to House on Haunted Hill: Unrated Review
Your Fave Was In That: Jeffrey Combs I love House on Haunted Hill. I’ve seen the original, original with RiffTrax, the 1999 remake, and now it’s time to dig into what I’m sure will be a cinematic masterpiece, Return to House on Haunted Hill. I also love Jeffrey Combs. In addition to being a…
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The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh: Happy Giallo-Days #3
The Giallo-days continue with one of my favorite leading ladies, Edwige Fenech, in The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh; the “h” was added after a lawsuit from a deeply offended, real life Mrs. Ward. In this week’s movie, a sex fiend is killing women in Vienna, while an unfaithful diplomat’s wife becomes more unbalanced due…
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Smile 2 or When A Good Movie Doesn’t Work for Me
I hated the first Smile. So, why am I watching Smile 2? Objectively, I can recognize that timing may have played a large part in my reaction to the movie. The fact that the messaging centered on the contagious and cyclical nature of trauma that leaves death as the only escape didn’t sit well with me,…
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Happy Friday the 13th: Jason Lives Retro Review
Friday the 13th has long been a nostalgic favorite for me. I have an older brother, close in age, so as we grew up, we tended to split things. For example, we both were into Star Wars; he got Luke-themed things, it was Darth Vader for me. Yes, Leia would have made more sense, but…
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Bird with Crystal Plumage: Happy Giallo-Days #2
Today, we are celebrating with the directorial debut of Dario Argento and the first widely acclaimed and financially successful Giallo: The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. Plenty of Giallo were released between The Girl who Knew Too Much and Argento’s entry into the genre. Why did Bird resonate with audiences when earlier films failed to?…