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Event Horizon: The Cold Hell of Space
Event Horizon is listed in the streaming platform as an action movie, which is an interesting classification. I get that genre is a lens, not a label. But even with the most generous viewing, I find it hard to fit my favorite intergalactic hell ship movie into the conventions of an action film. The unusual classification, and…
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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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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…
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Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 : So Much Wasted Potential.
So, it’s come to this, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. The first movie was interesting enough considering that I knew nothing of the lore. This second attempt is not good. I don’t write many reviews where I thoroughly dislike a film. And it turns out that, even here, there are a few bright spots, keeping…
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Him : The Horror of Devotion
Him is a rare subgenre: sports horror. As I am a fan of both of these things, I knew I would eventually give it a shot. Especially since it was produced by Jordan Peele. He’s one of the creators that I’m willing to take a chance on, no matter what the reviews say. Let’s see…
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The House with the Laughing Windows: Happy Giallo-Days!
Last week, we went all in on the sexy side of giallo. The House with Laughing Windows has a darker focus. This is not your typical giallo. Because it’s light on the usual tropes and trappings, I think it often gets overlooked. It doesn’t have the style or visual drama of an Argento or Bava.…
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The Case of the Bloody Iris: Happy Giallo Days to You!
The Case of the Bloody Iris has all the best elements giallo has to offer: violence, beautiful girls, obsessed lesbians, and a crazy sex cult. Oh, and a gloved murderer in a black trench coat is murdering women in and around an apartment building. The Case of the Bloody Iris also stars genre-favorite Edwidge Fenech. While it may not…