In a 2017 discussion of George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead”, Chicago based film critic Josh Larsen offered some food for thought: can a young modern film fan watch this horror classic for the first time and have the same reaction as moviegoers did during its original 1968 release? Could it possibly have the … Continue reading
REVIEW: “Halloween” (2018)
David Gordon Green’s “Halloween” is yet another entry into the four-decade-long slasher franchise sure to drive continuity hounds insane. If you’re into chronology finding a link through every Halloween movie is all but impossible. Case in point: If you’re loyal to the original order you have “Halloween” 1-6. Maybe you choose the two “H2O” movies … Continue reading
Blind Spot Series – “Picnic at Hanging Rock”
I’ve always been a fan of Australian filmmaker Peter Weir. A quick scan of his filmography reveals a unique variety of movies. Just consider 1985’s “Witness”, 1989’s “Dead Poets Society”, and 1998’s “The Truman Show”. Since then Weir has made just two other films – one of my personal favorites 2003’s “Master and Commander” and … Continue reading
REVIEW: “The Guardians” (2018)
As Frenchmen fought on the blood-soaked battlefields of World War I women were often left to maintain their family’s farm and ultimately their livelihood. To do so required backbreaking work tending to cattle, plowing fields and harvesting crops. “The Guardians” is a female-driven French drama offering a fresh wartime story of one such family. Writer/director Xavier … Continue reading
REVIEW: “Bad Times at the El Royale”
It’s hard to watch Drew Goddard’s new neo-noir crime-thriller and not think of Quentin Tarantino. For better or for worse “Bad Times at the El Royale” plays like a Tarantino picture. It leans heavily on its style, its characters are a shady lot, violence comes in bloody bursts, and the whole thing is a bit … Continue reading
REVIEW: “Apostle” (2018)
Exploring the world of Netflix Originals can be a fascinating experience. You never quite know what you’re going to get. That especially holds true for their forays into the horror genre. Their new film “Apostle” definitely lands among the stronger titles in their Originals spectrum. Not only that, but it offers up something the horror genre … Continue reading