THE DESCENT is one of the most overlooked horror films of the last twenty years, and it's a damn shame that more people don't talk about its brilliance.…
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Is there a better way to get into the Halloween spirit than by kicking back and throwing on the most rewatchable comedy of the last decade? NATHAN FOR YOU may not be known for thrills and chills, but two half-episodes fit the season perfectly: S1E5, HAUNTED HOUSE, and S2E1, REALTOR. As I’ve said before (especially in my reviews of THE REHEARSAL), my favorite NATHAN FOR YOU installments start with a genuinely clever idea that spirals wildly out of control. In…
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When I was a theatre teacher, I could not wait to direct one of my all-time favorite psychological horror plays that featured an eight-year-old as the killer. The premise was spine-tingling and totally intense to even suspect a sweet child was capable of murdering innocent people of all ages without a thought of remorse. In Rhoda’s mind, they all deserved to die so that she could get her way. She was the ultimate sociopath who would make any serial killer…
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Since 1989, THE SIMPSONS have been a staple in American culture. Twisting the view of a typical family, we have seen Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie charm their way into our cultural zeitgeist. In Season 2, THE SIMPSONS decided to air their very first Treehouse of Horror, showcasing our beloved characters in alternate, spooky situations. Fun fact: the first chapter of the Treehouse series is the only episode ACTUALLY to take place in a treehouse. These short stories could…
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DISCLAIMER: This review will not discuss how THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS is a cinematic classic with deep critical analysis. If you want that, you can head over to Rotten Tomatoes. Instead, I’m taking a trip down memory lane this Halloween with the hundreds of times I’ve seen this movie. In 1993, Touchstone’s animated classic THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS was released, and it touched my heart. The darkness, serious themes, and characters were that of an adult film, yet the songs…
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This will be an odd comparison, but AGATHA ALL ALONG is the closest Marvel Studios has gotten to a Mike Flanagan series. If you think about it, especially after viewing the final two episodes, there’s a lot here about the effects of grief on an individual and how that (coupled with greed and power) can corrupt them. Each member of the coven confronts fears and traumas episodically and makes peace with the idea of death. And given that, I have…
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The premise of HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON is inherently silly – a 68-year-old “teenage” vampire is kicked out of her parent’s home because of unwillingness to prey on humans. The film plays out a bit like a dramatic version of WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS or a comedic version of TWILIGHT. HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON (Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant) takes place in French Canada and follows parallel stories of reluctant vampire Sasha (Sara Montpetit)…
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I love a lot of John Carpenter movies. HALLLOWEEN, ASSAULT ON PRECINT 13, THE THING, THEY LIVE. Before watching it to review it, I wasn’t sure I had ever seen THE FOG. Now that I have, it’s unfortunately not one of my faves. I might draw some flack for this review. I know THE FOG has become a cult favorite among horror fans. I don’t think it deserves that status. It’s not engrossing enough or scary enough to reach the…
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There are two things that horror movies tend to iconize. The obvious ones are horror characters. Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, and Leatherface are what I like to call the big four. Venerable horror figures with franchises that can last the test of time. Horror characters that multiple actors can play without anybody getting upset about it. I’m a man of a certain age, and the Halloween costumes of all four characters are just as relevant now as they were in…
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