There’s two kinds of old friends. The first are people you want around you. These people you can talk to at any point or pick up conversations you had years earlier. You know they’ll support you through anything. You want them around you. Then there’s the old friend you don’t want around. This person knew... Continue Reading →
Hooptober 9.0 – Wendell & Wild (2022)
Being Film #31 for Hooptober 2022 And so at last we come to the end of Hooptober 2022, at least for me. 31 and done. I've watched more films, and more horror (currently relishing every delicious moment of Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities), but I'm also relishing simply watching without thinking about what to... Continue Reading →
Hooptober 2022 #31: Death Curse of Tartu (1966)
The scariest thing in William Grefé’s Death Curse of Tartu is anytime a person gets in the water. Shot on location in Florida swamp land, there’s a palpable sense of danger when cast members get in the water. Who knows what they’ll encounter in there? Unfortunately this is about the only danger in the film.... Continue Reading →
Hooptober 2022 #30: Blood Harvest (1987)
One of the joys of watching regional horror movies is coming across something deeply strange. Regional films tend to bring out the unhinged in a particular era of filmmakers. Maybe the film needed to meet the demands of a producer or distributor. Possibly the filmmakers tried to one up another film to get your film... Continue Reading →
Hooptober 9.0 – Halloween Ends (2022)
Being Film #30 for Hooptober 2022 And so at last we come to the end of Michael Myers. No more will we have to deal with his nasty shenanigans, as I am sure this is without a doubt the definitive end of this storied franchise. HA! I kid - where there's money to be made... Continue Reading →
Hooptober 2022 #29: The Hidden (1987)
There’s always been something… off about actor Kyle MacLachlan. On the surface, MacLachlan is a traditionally handsome actor. In his performances, he can exude deep empathy or be a total prick. However, he always comes across as one step removed from society, an otherworldly presence. One of the great missed opportunities is he never got... Continue Reading →
Hooptober 9.0 – V/H/S: Viral (2014)
Being Film #29 for Hooptober 2022 Look, there are all sorts of reasons why after speaking about my distaste for found footage films I am here again, squandering my final free-rein Hooptober entries with another found footage film. V/H/S: Viral is the third in the series of anthology films that tries to take the conceit... Continue Reading →
Hooptober 2022 #28: The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
The Curse of Frankenstein is one of two films, the other being Horror of Dracula, that cemented Hammer Films horror reputation. Horror of Dracula might be the more iconic of the two films. When people think of Hammer they think of Christopher Lee prowling the frame and look imposing. They they think of him in... Continue Reading →
Hooptober 2022 #27: Seed of Chucky (2004)
About a third of the way through Seed of Chucky, Glen (occasionally Glenda) sees their parents, murderous dolls Chucky and Tiffany, brutally murder someone. Later that night, they asks their parents why do they kill. The two dolls look at each other flabbergasted. It’s framed as the awkward question a parent isn’t ready to explain... Continue Reading →
Hooptober 9.0 – Deadstream (2022)
Being Film #28 for Hooptober 2022 I'm as shocked as you are that I am reviewing Deadstream. Found footage is not my thing, and yet here we are, not only reviewing a found footage film but sheepishly admitting it worked like gangbusters on me. All credit to Joseph Winter, who along with his wife Vanessa... Continue Reading →