4v291o

Wonderfully entertaining, proudly ridiculous, often tasteless, old-fashioned supernatural horror comedy from the great Sam Raimi.

The small scale, moderate budget, and mixture of horror and absurd comedy felt out of step with the times in 2009 and it seems even more so now, probably a reason it didn’t make much at the box office then and seems to have been somewhat forgotten now. But if you know, you know! Glad this weird little movie exists and glad Sam Raimi got the opportunity to revisit his Evil Dead origins.

The seance scene is still genuinely scary and I still love the EC comics style simplicity of the story and the blunt, perfect impact of the ending. 

Alison Lohman has always seemed a tiny bit miscast to me, but she certainly throws herself into the role (which is very demanding, both physically and emotionally) and seems to have had a good time, judging by the making-of doc. Probably Justin Kirk’s best performance ever? And that’s not a diss, I’m not a Justin Kirk hater.

Raimi has been producing some really good stuff since Drag Me To Hell, but has only directed 2013’s Oz the Great and Powerful (meh) and 2022’s Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (one of the worst Marvel movies I’ve seen), so I’m happy to say that this sounds very promising!

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #441

One of the most painful comedies I’ve seen in a very long time and I mean that as high compliment!

Tonally unpredictable, very funny, surprisingly ambiguous, generally a very difficult film to pin down (again, a compliment).

Paul Rudd plays to his strengths here but also pulls a few new tricks. I’m not familiar with Tim Robinson but now I feel like I should really watch I Think You Should Leave, right?

Attempting to cover the entire history and evolution of funk music as well as brief profiles on a few major acts/artists in only 90 minutes, We Want the Funk! is definitely  surface-level for the most part. If you already know a lot about funk, you may not learn much.

However! Even if it goes really fast and doesn’t go too in-depth into anything, it’s a brisk and highly entertaining survey with some entertaining interviews and tons and tons of great music. And that’s what it’s all about anyway, right?? There are few things I like more than great funk music (especially ‘70s and ‘80s) and a simple celebration of it is just fine.

Originally saw this on PBS, you can watch it for free on YouTube here!

I wanted to love this as I love the idea behind it and there are really cool things with the cinematography and production design. Alas, after a strong start it gets very slow and is ultimately too cheesy and weird (not in the good way) for me.

It’s definitely pretty unique and I like that it occupies a weird space in the way that it seems too weird and scary for kids and yet not compelling enough for adults (although the excellent contemporary reviews imply otherwise). I’ve wanted to see it since I was a kid, though, so it was nice to cross off the list after a few decades!

This review may contain spoilers.

You go, Tom Cruise! Sometimes I wish I could destroy the internet and turn the clock back to 1996 as well.

This is a very, very long and somewhat messy and misshapen, but (more importantly) exciting and truly epic and heartfelt farewell to the best action franchise in film history.

I know “the Entity” is a divisive concept among fans, but I for one really like the surprising pivot to sci-fi in these last two films!

Top 10 best crime thrillers of the last decade, easy. 

Such a rare experience to watch a movie like this and genuinely not know what’s going to happen next or how it’s going to end. Also, its dedication to presenting its characters vividly but without telling you how to feel about them is fascinating and so unusual these days.

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #440

This review may contain spoilers.

This was pretty fun, but not the total success I was hoping for, unfortunately.

Everyone knows the death sequences are the best things about these movies, and some deliver here (while others are way overblown). The fake-out teases and callbacks to earlier movies can be a lot of fun too, but this movie really overdoes both. The copious CGI is also pretty poor.

The characters and the family drama weren’t all that effective for me, and the ending left me feeling a little flat (pun intended).

Tony Todd rules! He was by far the highlight here.

Finally catching up with this and genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed it!

Venom came out at a time when I was just starting to get super tired of all things Marvel and the negative reviews from critics made me feel like I was justified in skipping it. Should have known better, obviously. It’s a fun, silly, surprisingly violent lark of a super(villain?)hero story, with a wonderfully entertaining Tom Hardy performance at its center and a charming Michelle Williams providing ample . It doesn’t really have the towering, grand ambitions of the mainstream Marvel films at the time, which in hindsight appears to explain both the negative contemporary reviews and my affection for it now; it’s weird and different!

P.S. also starring Riz Ahmed as Elon Musk (although not quite as terrifying)!

Not sure why this is partially labeled “horror,” aside from the fact that it’s a Blumhouse release (when I say this feels nothing like a typical Blumhouse release, take that as mostly a compliment).

The enger is a solid thriller. Well-intentioned, well-made, well-acted. For whatever reason though, it never really made the leap from solid to really good for me. It hums along in a fairly relaxed gear, tense but not what I would call gripping, tossing in a few semi-surprises along the way but ends more or less the way you think it will.

Good, but I don’t suspect I’ll much other than the two excellent lead performances.

While not a perfect film, Tod Browning's Dracula is a remarkable experience and an absolutely indispensable part of film history.

The lack of music (common of other early "talkies") makes it feel curiously airless at times to our modern sensibilities, but it's often incredibly evocative, atmospheric, and macabrely beautiful to look at. It's a world of shadows and fog and castles and cobwebs and bats that I always want to get lost in.

This time I watched it with film historian David J. Skal's highly informative and well-researched commentary, which illuminated so many aspects of the film's origins for me, as well as what the future held for many of those involved (poor Helen Chandler).

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #439 (accidentally watched Coppolla's version before this!)

One of my all-time favorite films and will almost certainly always be my favorite version of this story.

An absolute feast for the senses, what with the layered sound design, all the elaborate sets and the wonderfully old-fashioned special effects (miniatures, matte paintings, painted backdrops, animation, etc…) and yet it’s all in service of a powerfully emotional story, given tremendous feeling by Wojciech Kilar’s incredible score.

The cast, too, is an utter delight, with performances ranging from Shakespearean seriousness to wildly enjoyable camp. Were it not for Bela Lugosi, I would consider Gary Oldman the definitive Dracula and I definitely do consider Anthony Hopkins the definitive Van Helsing. And yes, I’m even including Keanu Reeves here, who makes for a charming Jonathan Harker, off-and-on accent included!

P.S. Annie Lennox’s “Love Song for a Vampire” over the end credits, too. Just perfection.

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #438

Richard Ayoade really needs to direct more films, because he’s definitely got the goods. This is really a marvel of sustained tone and atmosphere within a completely original visual and aural landscape.

Funny but also truly unsettling, this is kind of like a Twilight Zone story set in a world not too far from the industrial netherworld where Eraserhead takes place. I haven’t read anything by Kafka, but I have a strong feeling that this is Kafka-esque!

Jesse Eisenberg is excellent in a dual role as both Simon James and James Simon. Simon is a loser whose life (and sanity?) rapidly unravels when his doppelgänger, Simon, gradually begins to take over his life.

Can’t stress enough how cool this movie is on an audio/visual level, I’ve never seen anything quite like it, and with a gripping story to boot.

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #437

Enthralling, funny, gnarly, and occasionally viscerally disgusting horror spin on Cinderella.

Beautifully shot and scored, incredibly well-acted, The Ugly Stepsister is certainly not for the faint of heart but it was definitely my cup of nauseating tea!

Nearly the entirety of human experience, captured on a single street corner, on a single hot summer day in 1989 Brooklyn.

As ever, a masterpiece, stunning in just about every way.

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #436

I’m one of the few genre fans who isn’t a big fan of this filmmaker’s very popular Tucker and Dale Versus Evil, but I enjoyed this one quite a bit!

Silly, inconsequential fluff, but also fun, funny, and fast-paced, with several likable characters and just enough twists to the story to keep it interesting. A good time, and all the orange, brown, and yellow autumn hues make me want to revisit this October!

I love it when a movie gives me a glimpse of a community and a profession I know very little about (with a perspective that makes it feel like the filmmakers know what they’re talking about) and this is definitely one of those!

Terrific ensemble cast here, and a real showcase for Gillian Jacobs and Keegan-Michael Key. Mike Birbiglia (who obviously knows a thing or two about comedy) writes and directs with skill, and he isn’t afraid to play a character who isn’t always likable. 

This is the kind of small (yet exquisite) movie that I probably wouldn’t buy a physical copy of these days, but I’m glad I have this!

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #435

A true masterpiece that only gets better and richer and more haunting and mysterious the more times you watch it.

Brilliantly shot, acted, scored and edited. The montage style used in the opening and closing sequences and the stunning (and surprisingly sensual and moving) love scene is incredibly well-realized. Heartbreaking and so eerily ambiguous.

Cruelest twist ending of all time?

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #434

Perfect! Truly.

I was walking on air after seeing this the first time at the theater, and a second viewing at home confirms that that wasn’t just a high. It’s magnificent and pretty much everything I’m looking for whenever I cue up any movie. 

So fun, so cool, so stirring, and my heart swells every time that Repo Man shade of green appears on the screen.

I’m not from the East Bay, but it’s only about 60 miles from Sacramento, so I really feel that Oakland love here. So cool they got so many East Bay native luminaries to appear and so many great songs on the soundtrack that they surely didn’t have to pay full price for! Samurai sword bloodbath set to Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls?” Fuck yes!

Can’t wait for that 4K!

These documentaries mean so much to me, love them so much. I realized that I had only watched this one once (as opposed to Parts I and II, which I’ve watched twice each so far) so had to remedy that.

This one has easily the most films I (still) haven’t seen. I’ve seen every film from Parts I and II except for Tetsuo: The Iron Man, but there are so many from this one. Gotta get cracking on that.

Also need to revisit In Search of Tomorrow and In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994, only seen those once as well. I just love having them on my shelf, the (amazing) posters on my wall, and the soundtracks in my music collection. Being able to help fund and be part of a community for these movies is such a blessing!

Well! This was a nice surprise. Aside from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies (all three of which I love unreservedly), this has got to be the best Marvel movie I’ve seen in a very long time. Amazing how one really good movie (after years of mediocre ones) can be enough to make you potentially kinda care about a whole universe again.

Did not expect to be reminded of both The Cell and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind here!

A home-invasion-style horror movie set almost entirely at a remote, roadside diner as the lone employee on duty fights off masked invaders one night would ordinarily very much be my thing, as I’m fan of home invasion horror, greasy diner food, and stories that take place during a single day/night.

This movie takes itself very seriously and we’re clearly supposed to be blown away by the twists and moved by the ending. Unfortunately, an ambitious but fatally flawed screenplay, unconvincing character motivations, just-ok performances, deeply unlikable characters (including the protagonist we’re supposed to be rooting for!) and a surplus of implausibilities keep it far, far away from masterpiece territory. Simply put, I wasn’t buying it.

It reminded me a lot of Strange Darling. That film wasn’t perfect, but this is definitely no Strange Darling.

My partner and I have been to the Folsom Street Fair a couple of times, and well…if you know, you know!

This is fairly surface level and low budget, but a heartfelt and informative documentary about the origins of the fair, and how it evolved into an absolutely integral part of San Francisco history and culture. Never goes too deep into anything (pun intended?) but it’s a rewarding 72 minutes especially if you’re already familiar with the material.

I haven’t been in a really long time (since before this 2015 documentary was released). If you’ve been recently…is it still cool?

Co-directed by one of Donna Summer’s daughters, Love to Love You is much more of a stream-of-consciousness video essay than a traditional, linear documentary. It feels homemade, and I mean that mostly as a compliment. It suffers a bit from its scattershot nature, but more often than not its highly personal approach (not to mention the treasure trove of never-before-seen footage) makes it a successful experience.

I’ve seen this type of documentary done better, for sure, but it was nice to see a documentary about a great artist that wasn’t the same-old, same-old (never mind how I usually really enjoy the same-old, same-old).

Despite the grindhouse trappings of the title and a few (enjoyably) silly moments, Don’t Go In The House is an artistically grim and deadly serious film, among the most well-made and genuinely disturbing “descent into madness” movies.

Solid performances, excellent camerawork and sound design, and one incredibly spooky house combine to create some seriously unsettling atmosphere. 

Speaking of the spooky house, love the bonus feature on the Severin Blu Ray about the film’s locations that of course spends a lot of time on the (now lovingly restored but apparently haunted according to the owner) house!

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #433

This review may contain spoilers.

Hadn’t seen this in at least 25 years, as it was never really a favorite, but I enjoyed the revisit and am stoked for the reboot.

Even back in 1997 (when I was so happy to see my beloved slasher movies making a comeback with Scream and its descendants) I thought this was silly and kinda unsatisfying. It’s still very silly; I love seeing Kevin Williamson revisit the classic House on Sorority Row / Terror Train / Slaughter High / Prom Night revenge slasher formula, but the story makes little sense, the killer (once the cool rain slicker comes off) is kinda lame, and sorry, but Jennifer Love Hewitt is a mediocre final girl.

But it looks good, the seaside fishing village setting is well realized, the soundtrack is good (that opening helicopter shot set to Type O Negative’s version of “Summer Breeze” is stunning), and Sarah Michelle Gellar is fantastic even in a ing role. Still hurts to see what happens to Buffy here, but the scene where she meets her end (and the chase leading up to it) is also the only truly excellent sequence in the film, so I guess it’s worth it!

A highly entertaining biopic about the infamous boxing promoter/con man Don King. King is embodied by the great Ving Rhames in an electrifying, Golden-Globe-winning performance.

Revisiting this after many, many years reminded me of the pleasure of watching HBO in the ‘90s, when it seemed like every bit of original material they produced (be it documentary, movie, or series) was excellent.

Too bad it doesn’t appear this has ever been upgraded to widescreen HD, and it’s not streaming on MAX (unfortunately a lot of HBO’s original content from this time period is in that boat). I was watching a very old “full-screen” (ugh) DVD!

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #432 (oops, accidentally skipped this a couple movies back!)

A nearly flawless suspense thriller, tense from almost the first frame to the last (debatably even beyond).

Jane Levy is again great in a rough-and-tumble heroine performance. It's not quite the tour de force role she had in Fede Alvarez's previous film, 2013's brilliant Evil Dead reboot, but it's close. Stephen Lang is incredibly imposing as the heavy, Dylan Minnette does "sensitive nice kid" really well, and I love seeing Daniel Zovatto channel Jared Leto from Panic Room (I mean that as a compliment).

Very much my kind of movie in that it takes place in a condensed time frame, the life-and-death stakes feel real, and it's over in a rip-roaring, no-fat 89 minutes. The twist that takes the story into some truly disturbing areas near the end leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth (no pun intended) but it's suitably harrowing and well-done.

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #431

It’s an interesting film, but a miss for me, unfortunately. 

David Cronenberg is one of my all time favorite filmmakers, and several of his usual themes are present (disturbing technological advances, an obsession with the body, flesh, and metamorphosis, inscrutable global conspiracies, kinky sex, characters and dialogue that don’t seem human, etc…) but it’s weird how the same set of factors that can blow me away in one film can feel so lifeless in another. 

Some fascinating ideas here and it’s obviously an extremely personal film for Cronenberg, but I hope he got this out of his system and that his next film will boast some actual entertainment value again.

I almost never my dreams, but last night I had a really scary one about my home being haunted. Being the dork that I am, when I woke up I knew I had to watch a movie about ghosts today and this was the first one I thought of!

It’s the first traditional narrative film from Stephen Cognetti, the filmmaker behind the corny-but-fun Hell House found footage film series. It’s a mixed bag but entertaining enough for easygoing horror hounds.

The best thing about it is the four chapter structure, with the first three chapters being the same span of time as experienced individually by the three central characters. Rashomon or The Last Duel it is not, but it’s an unexpected approach for a boilerplate haunted house movie and is interesting and well-done.

The worst thing is the flat, dull look of it. The digital cinematography is overly bright and too smooth. This, combined with the rather nondescript (non-scary) house it’s set in never creates the eerie atmosphere needed for a truly successful haunted house film.

Still, it’s reasonably entertaining if you’re in a forgiving mood. I’ve seen way worse and I like this filmmaker!

I think my favorite semi-hidden reference to Kubrick’s inimitable version of The Shining in Doctor Sleep is that the view outside adult Danny's window looks very similar to the beginning of the opening helicopter shot of the Kubrick film (or am I crazy??)

Since I watched both the theatrical and director's cuts of Donnie Darko recently, I thought I would go back and revisit the theatrical cut of Doctor Sleep, following my recent rewatch of the director's cut.

Love both versions of this movie so much, flaws and all. Mike Flanagan had such a monumental task here balancing so many different sets of expectations that the flaws are all but unavoidable, but I 100% believe that this is the best movie that could come from such a challenge.

It genuinely feels like Flanagan made this movie for people like me and many like me (including Flanagan himself) whose lives were changed forever by seeing Kubrick's film of The Shining at a very young age and then grew up with King's worlds and stories. 

There has never been (nor will there ever be) a movie location that feels more cursed than the Overlook Hotel from Kubrick's film. Every square inch of the place feels not just haunted but damned, and that vibe is marvelously carried through here in these physical recreations of the sets, all the while honoring King's more emotional story of redemption that he intended from the beginning. Quite a balancing act and such an interesting and compelling film.

Seen at the SacTown Movie Buffs Film Fest.

Highly entertaining horror comedy about a cursed waffle iron wreaking unholy havoc in a restaurant on Halloween night.

Endearingly silly and very gory, with some adorable practical effects involving possessed (and sentient!) pancakes, waffles, bacon, eggs, French fries…you name it. Fun idea to see food eating the customers as opposed to the other way around.

Seen at the SacTown Movie Buffs Film Fest.

A deliciously unnerving short film that recalls plant-centric body horror like Invasion of the Body Snatchers (especially the 1978 version), Annihilation, and The Ruins. 

Well-acted and tense with excellent editing, score, and sound design.

Seen at the SacTown Movie Buffs Film Fest. 

Certainly flawed and long in the (rodent) tooth at 80 minutes, but likable and unmistakably made out of love by genuine film fans.

😳😳😳
🤯🤯🤯

Simultaneously the weirdest and the goriest Lucio Fulci film I’ve ever seen, which is really saying something. Also oddly endearing! 

In an early example of meta horror, Fulci plays himself, having late-career doubts about the gory horror he’s put on screens over the years. In this vulnerable state, he’s taken advantage of by a maniacal psychiatrist (David L. Thompson) who hypnotizes him to be believe he’s guilty of the psychiatrist’s own murders.

The story barely hangs together, but that’s ok, because this movie is an absolutely insane barrage of surreal (often hilarious) set pieces and wild, gory, bizarre imagery that will frequently have you believing there’s a cat in your own brain! There’s so much gore that, coupled with the lack of strong storytelling, the film threatens to grow tedious in the middle. But it has a great final scene that makes it all worth it!

Definitely “advanced studies” Fulci, but for fans of weird cinema, it’s a delight!

Director’s Cut this time. Very underrated version of the film. At this point I think I’ll always prefer the theatrical version because it’s the one I fell in love with, but there was a time when I preferred this one and it’s honestly still pretty close.

I love how this version is obviously inseparable from the theatrical version, but it feels like a different movie. Hard to explain.

PROS (things that I think actually improve on the theatrical version):
I love nearly all the extra footage, especially the additional scenes with Donnie’s family and his English teacher. Super crucial dialogue exchange with the therapist added, too.

The pacing. Even though this version is longer, the extra breathing room makes the film run smoother and more evenly, so it actually doesn’t feel longer.

Extra songs! ‘Til Tuesday, Oingo Boingo, and INXS are always welcome.

CONS (things that I don’t love but don’t really mind either):

I still prefer “The Killing Moon” for the opening and “Under the Milky Way” for the Halloween party, and I miss some of the score cues I’m used to. Otherwise I don’t mind the music changes.

The chapter inserts. They’re fine, but some of them are way too on-the-nose, and I just think it’s better without.

The visual clutter during the traveling-through-time montage at the end. Again, fine but better without.

In summation: I absolutely love both versions of this film. It sounds weird to say, but I think I’m just now realizing 24 years later that it’s one of my all-time favorites.

Illuminating and enjoyable feature-length documentary about the making of (and legacy of) Donnie Darko, included on the Arrow release.

Full of great details and insightful interviews, this documentary only enhances the notion that this is some real movie magic. Amazing how much talent went into it and how things came together to form something so instantly iconic.

The typo listing one of James Duval’s other films as “The Doomed Generation” [sic] was pretty funny, though.

Debut feature films by 26-year-old writer/directors aren’t supposed to arrive this assured, this original, this ambitious, this well-made, this unique, this fully-formed and this instantly iconic. But it’s really cool when they do. Brilliant and truly one-of-a-kind.

I will say that one element of Donnie Darko that is absolutely crucial to its success and doesn’t get talked about enough is Michael Andrews’s haunting and immediately recognizable score. Also Mary McDonnell in here is one of the all-time best movie Moms.

I hope Richard Kelly gets to make some more movies. I know Southland Tales and The Box had mixed receptions to say the least, but in my opinion they are nearly every bit as singular and effective. He’s a true original.

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #430

One of the silliest damn movies I’ve ever seen. That’s a compliment (I think).

Great sets!

One of the strongest genre films I’ve seen so far this year, this is a really good and wild ride of a movie.

This is the kind of movie you definitely don’t want spoiled, so I’ll just say it’s very well-acted, well-written, unpredictable, suspenseful, psychologically complex, and has tons of individual directorial style, strongly evoking its time period (the early 1980s) without being obnoxious about it. It also does a great job in the first hour of patiently setting up all the pieces for an edge-of-your-seat, anything-goes final third.

Just watch it. Don’t read too much, don’t watch the trailer, just watch it. Trust me!

Large-scale dystopian sci-fi action on a budget!

A couple, Nina (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Tyler Hoechlin), embark on a road trip across a post-apocalyptic landscape to check on the welfare of Nina’s parents. Not many people are left following a mass extermination years earlier, and most who are belong to Warriors-style gangs defending their turf. Fun!

While The Domestics certainly looks a bit cheap at times, the action scenes are sharp and well-directed, and this particular dystopia (despite the debts it owes to others like it) is fairly richly imagined in a minimalist sort of way. Along with the aforementioned Warriors, it feels kinda like the bleakness and violence of The Road combined with the goofiness of Six-String Samurai.

Love seeing Kate Bosworth mix it up in something down-and-dirty like this, but the MVP is the late, great Lance Reddick in a plum ing role that I would have loved to see expanded.

Nothing spectacular, but a good time with several good sequences and a few surprises.

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #429

This one has its fans, apparently, but I found it to be painfully dull and uninteresting for the most part.

I was astounded to find out afterwards that Lucio Fulci made this dry snooze fest right between his all-time horror masterpieces City of the Living Dead and The Beyond. In those films, every frame is alive. In this film, every scene feels limp and halfhearted. 

I will say that the version streaming on Shudder right now is not great. It’s cropped weird (I could be wrong, but it seems like an old pan-and-scan transfer that’s been “zoomed in” to fill a widescreen TV) and definitely appears censored. But I highly doubt that a crisper, complete image and a few more seconds of gore would have made a huge difference for me.

A fun, brief, very weird, occasionally disturbing horror movie with an odd combination of sweet and sinister.

A little girl (Carrie Lorraine) on a road trip in England with her awful father (Ian Patrick Williams) and wicked stepmother (Carolyn Purdy-Gordon) get their car stuck in the mud outside a spooky mansion during a thunderstorm. A spooky old couple (Guy Rolfe and Hilary Mason) live in the spooky mansion with a bunch of spooky dolls and…well, you know.

Directed by the great Stuart Gordon (right in between Re-Animator and From Beyond), produced by Charles Band and Brian Yuzna, and featuring charming practical effects by John Carl Buechler and team, this is a very cool 77-minute genre treat. A true, old-fashioned Old Dark House movie and a twisted fairy tale all in one.

Just learned via the special features that Bunty Bailey, who plays the Madonna lookalike hitchhiker also crashing at the mansion during the storm, was the girl in A-ha’s “Take On Me” music video!!!

The VHS box art was one of my very favorites growing up!

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #428

There’s a whole world in this movie.

Sinners is an utterly singular, bold, audacious and unashamedly weird, genuine work of art that also happens to be a wildly entertaining, blood gushing horror film and a tribute to the spiritual power (both light and dark) of the blues. A true miracle that something this wild and original is also a big budget Hollywood event film.

Unforgettable, and an instant classic!

What a mean, mean little movie. Everything about it is well-done, but not sure to what end, exactly. 

It’s the kind of movie that I can’t imagine anyone wanting to watch more than once, but worth a one-time watch for those into the darkest of dark humor.

Not recommended for new parents. Or any parents!

Underrated! Thought this was a lot of fun in 2007 (when I saw it at the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles while on vacation) and I still think it’s a lot of fun.

I think George Romero is very clearly having a big laugh with this movie for the most part, and I, for one, love seeing him indulging his rarely-seen silly side. 

Is the acting a bit patchy to say the least? Is much of the dialogue painfully on-the-nose? Is it hard to take seriously as “found footage?” Sure. But for me, these things are easy to roll with because its episodic nature ensures that it moves fast, it’s entertaining, it’s funny, there are some very memorable characters (I wanted more of the Amish guy!) and it’s simply fun.

Romero being Romero, he gets in some serious themes with a characteristic lack of subtlety and of course it’s not done anywhere near as well as his earlier films. But the points are well taken and provocative. The technology references are of course hugely dated (blogs! MySpace!) but you also can’t argue that he didn’t hit the nail on the head with some of the more unsavory elements of social media, and fairly early.

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #427 (accidentally skipped this one a few movies back)

I really dug the first 30 minutes or so of this. Jason Momoa is terrific, Jack Black is 100% in his element and clearly having a grand time.

But it’s a problem when the best part of your video game movie is everything BUT the video game parts. Because once they go through the portal to the Overworld it became just another green screen movie and I tuned out. I need sets, man.

Great soundtrack though!

It should be noted that I haven’t been a gamer in 25 years and my experience with Minecraft is limited to watching my nephews play it. Seems like a really cool game. The kids in the audience today were having the time of their lives, so take this review with a grain of salt!

A powerful fly-on-the-wall documentary that gives us a look into a maximum security prison, circa 1990. It acts as a time capsule in multiple ways. 

Received this as a Christmas gift in a huge Docurama box set full of Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning documentaries!

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #426

A fine little movie, nothing more and nothing less.

I’ve lived in Sacramento since 2001 and it rarely feels like we even exist to Hollywood, so this felt like a mini-event to me. As a film, it’s certainly no Ladybird, but I loved seeing Gunther’s Ice Cream on the big screen!

Couldn’t think of anything specific to watch today and found this scrolling on Amazon Prime; it’s a decent little documentary gem.

Focusing on three (almost) ghost towns along historic Route 66, it checks a lot of boxes for me as far as interests go. I love Americana, oddball roadside attractions, ghost towns, abandoned buildings, and road trips. It made me realize that a full Route 66 trip might very well be something I’d like to do one day.

I wish there was a bit more meat on its bones, but it’s a good documentary, barely more than an hour long, certainly worth a watch if you have similar interests.

Watched the original 66-minute version. A truly essential making-of documentary from a time long before those were so commonplace. Of course it doesn't hurt that it's about the making of the best movie ever made!

George Romero's thinking as a filmmaker and a cultural commentator was so far ahead of its time, so shrewd and astute and somehow both deeply cynical and powerfully humanistic. And despite being a genius, he comes across as entirely unpretentious, warm, and easygoing, not just a great artist but a great person [and even narrator Susan Tyrrell (!!) mentions that those two concepts don't always go together].

A wonderful time capsule of the creation of a landmark independent film of remarkable scope and quality, and a sad reminder that filmmaking (and filmmakers) like this don't really exist anymore.

Watching my entire collection in alphabetical order: Movie #425

Long live physical media!!!

1. About a Boy
2. The Abyss
3. Adaptation.
4. Ad Astra
5. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
6. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
7. After Hours
8. Afro-Punk
9. After Midnight
10. Aguirre, the Wrath of God

...plus 1378 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

I started my subscription mid-2022, with no plans (as of now) to stop renewing (update: I missed the deadline for 2025 so the subscription is currently paused). I have limited shelf space so I resell any of the monthly releases that I am lukewarm or negative on, or ones that I just don't don't think I'll wanna watch again.

So this list is to celebrate the keepers, the ones that I've been proud to add to my (limited space) collection!

These are all general subscription releases, no add-ons, and they range from all-time classics I'd already seen and appreciate the upgrade (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2, FROM BEYOND, FREEWAY) to awesome first-time viewing discoveries (KILLER CONDOM, RIGHTING WRONGS, UNDEFEATABLE, PRIMAL RAGE, GORGO) to solid, good flicks that were new to me (THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN, FROSTBITER, MUTANT HUNT) to a few that are borderline, not sure I'm gonna keep them but worth a second look (TERROR AT TENKILLER). And everywhere in between!

Note: these are only subscription keepers. Not counting ones from before my subscription that I purchased (like THE BEASTMASTER and NEW YORK NINJA).

• Against the Grain
• Arnold
• Barbara
• Beware the Black Widow
• Bio Zombie
• The Birds II: Land's End
• Blacker Than the Night
• The Black Room
• Bloodbath at the House of Death
• Bloodsucking Freaks

...plus 59 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

I've always loved good films that take place in about a 24-hour time period (or less). Here are a bunch that I like! They range from masterpieces to movies I've seen once but have fond memories of. Presented in alphabetical order.

P.S. I can be flexible, for instance EYES WIDE SHUT and EVIL DEAD RISE have scenes that take place outside of the most crucial 24-hour period, but they are still absolutely "one crazy night" movies to me.

• After Hours
• Altered
• American Graffiti
• Assault on Precinct 13
• Attack the Block
• The Autopsy of Jane Doe
• Bad Times at the El Royale
• Before Sunrise
• Before Sunset
• Before Midnight

...plus 148 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order.  This is mostly for me, so that I all my options every year!

• About Endlessness
• All Is Bright
• An Almost Christmas Story
• Anna and the Apocalypse
• The Apartment
• The Apology
• Babes in Toyland
• Babygirl
• Bad Santa
• Batman Returns

...plus 124 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Purely because I thought it would be fun and that it would be awesome to see them all in one place, I decided to make a list (arranged alphabetically) of every film I really like in my favorite genre: horror. 3.5 stars and above only.

There are scary horror films, funny horror films, depressing/disturbing horror films, lighthearted/entertaining horror films, big budgets, small budgets, movies I've seen a thousand times, movies I've seen only once but stuck with me and I'd love to revisit, and everywhere in between, even some documentaries!

Basically, all horror films that I'd say to any serious horror fan "yeah, check it out if you haven't!"

I've had this thought for a while, and I'm feeling a little down today reminiscing about all the great times I've had at horror conventions over the years, and wondering when it will ever be like that again, so it feels like the right time to do it.

Here's to the future!

Note: the above was written in 2020, so glad conventions are back, and the world in general is back!

• 10 Cloverfield Lane
• 28 Days Later
• 28 Weeks Later
• After Hours
• After Midnight
• Agnes
• The Alchemist Cookbook
• Alien
• Aliens
• Alien³

...plus 855 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Yeah, they definitely aren’t all winners, but I think Netflix has given us many more good films than some people like to give them credit for. Here are all the ones I’ve enjoyed so far (ranging from merely good to truly great).

• Amanda Knox
• Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood
• Army of the Dead
• The Babysitter
• The Babysitter: Killer Queen
• Back in Action
• Bad Trip
• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
• Barry
• Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell

...plus 92 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Recently finished a project of replacing my DVDs with either Blu Ray or an HD digital copy, whichever is cheaper or the better version (depending on whether I want special features or if there’s an available edition with any). DVD just doesn’t cut it for me anymore, plus I need more room on my shelves! 🤓

• Adult World
• Adventureland
• Agnes
• All the Boys Love Mandy Lane
• All Is Bright
• Altered
• Altered States
• American Pie
• The American Scream
• American Splendor

...plus 288 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Since 2006, I've had a Halloween party every year, at which I show one of my favorite horror films - I don't intend to stop doing it any time soon, so I figured it's a good thing to have a list for!

• The Shining

  2006's selection

• The Blob

  2007's selection

• Creepshow

  2008's selection

• Re-Animator

  2009's selection

• The Monster Squad

  2010's selection

• The Lost Boys

  2011's selection

• The Gate

  2012's selection

• Pumpkinhead

  2013's selection

• House on Haunted Hill

  2014's selection

• Fright Night

  2015's selection

...plus 7 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

These are the films I point to when people complain about how terrible remakes are.

• The Thing
• Invasion of the Body Snatchers
• The Fly
• Let Me In
• Dawn of the Dead
• Evil Dead
• Cape Fear
• Ocean's Eleven
• The Departed
• The Karate Kid

...plus 39 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Starting October 2013, I instituted a bi-monthly Movie Day with my now-19-year-old nephew/budding movie buff, when I show him something good from my collection, or anything in theatres that he might want to see. I mean, if I don't do this, the kid could go his whole life without seeing CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE, and we can't let that happen!

• The Hole
• Halloween
• A Christmas Story
• Army of Darkness
• Child's Play
• The Blob
• Beetlejuice
• Twilight Zone: The Movie
• Tremors
• Poltergeist

...plus 174 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

These movies are awesome but are not available on an HD disc in the U.S. (and several of them not even available streaming).

Added as I think of them, removed when it happens! 🤞🤞🤞

What am I missing?

• Strange Days
• Dawn of the Dead
• Near Dark
• Pin
• Panic Room
• Happiness
• The Abyss
• Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II
• Titus
• Crimes and Misdemeanors

...plus 14 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Shining
2. Carrie
3. Stand by Me
4. The Shawshank Redemption
5. Misery
6. The Green Mile
7. Gerald's Game
8. The Mist
9. It
10. Christine

...plus 37 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• Arrival
• Author: The JT LeRoy Story
• The Autopsy of Jane Doe
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
• The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
• Cameraperson
• The Conjuring 2
• A Cure for Wellness
• Don't Breathe
• Don't Think Twice

...plus 27 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood
• Babylon
• The Banshees of Inisherin
• Barbarian
• Bodies Bodies Bodies
• Bones and All
• Crimes of the Future
• Elvis
• Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Fire of Love

...plus 20 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

The genre is still kicking, if you ask me, and still (occasionally) producing excellent results. Here's my evidence, consisting of the found footage films I've seen that I believe to be worth watching, loosely ranked.

1. The Blair Witch Project
2. [REC]
3. Cloverfield
4. Paranormal Activity 3
5. Out There Halloween Mega Tape
6. WNUF Halloween Special
7. Paranormal Activity 2
8. V/H/S/2
9. Creep
10. Paranormal Activity

...plus 12 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• Agnes
• Army of the Dead
• Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar
• Black Widow
• Bo Burnham: Inside
• Dune
• Fear Street: 1666
• Fear Street: 1978
• Fear Street: 1994
• A Glitch in the Matrix

...plus 25 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• Beginners
• Beyond the Black Rainbow
• Black Death
• Black Swan
• Frozen
• Get Him to the Greek
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Inception
• El Infierno
• Insidious

...plus 18 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• Attack the Block
• Bernie
• The Cabin in the Woods
• Contagion
• Corman's World
• Drive
• Drive Angry
• 50/50
• Final Destination 5
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

...plus 26 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• The Act of Killing
• The American Scream
• Amour
• A Band Called Death
• Berberian Sound Studio
• Cloud Atlas
• The Dark Knight Rises
• Dark Shadows
• Django Unchained
• Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey

...plus 34 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• Anna and the Apocalypse
• At the Drive-In
• Atomic Blonde
• Baby Driver
• The Big Sick
• Blade Runner 2049
• Call Me by Your Name
• Columbus
• The Dark Tower
• Dave Made a Maze

...plus 26 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• As Above, So Below
• Big Hero 6
• Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
• Boyhood
• Calvary
• Charlie Victor Romeo
• Cold in July
• Creep
• Dear White People
• Digging Up the Marrow

...plus 38 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• Adult World
• All Is Lost
• Before Midnight
• Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
• Birth of the Living Dead
• Blue Jasmine
• Blue Ruin
• Cheap Thrills
• The Conjuring
• Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus

...plus 34 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• All Things Must
• The Blackcoat's Daughter
• Bridge of Spies
• Brooklyn
• Ex Machina
• Goosebumps
• Grandma
• Green Room
• The Hateful Eight
• Inside Out

...plus 18 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• Ad Astra
• Annabelle Comes Home
• The Apollo
• Blinded by the Light
• Booksmart
• Cold Pursuit
• Color Out of Space
• Crawl
• The Dead Don't Die
• Doctor Sleep

...plus 34 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• Amazing Grace
• Annihilation
• Apostle
• Bad Times at the El Royale
• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
• Beautiful Boy
• BlacKkKlansman
• Black Panther
• Blood Fest
• Climax

...plus 30 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

In alphabetical order

• #Alive
• Bill & Ted Face the Music
• Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
• Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan
• Da 5 Bloods
• David Byrne's American Utopia
• Dick Johnson Is Dead
• Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
• Fatman
• Feels Good Man

...plus 22 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. David Byrne's American Utopia
2. In Search of Darkness: Part II
3. Zappa
4. Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist
5. Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds
6. Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan
7. Other Music
8. Dick Johnson Is Dead
9. Belushi
10. 8:46

...plus 27 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Other decades were great too, of course, but the '90s (particularly the mid-to-late '90s, my late teens into early twenties) were when I truly became a film buff, so the films that were released in this decade will always hold a special place for me.

These are my favorite films in random groupings, chronologically, 1990-1999.

• GoodFellas
• Edward Scissorhands
• Total Recall
• Miller's Crossing
• Misery
• Wild at Heart
• Pretty Woman
• Tremors
• Back to the Future Part III
• Jacob's Ladder

...plus 277 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My buddy Oscar Velasquez suggested the idea of watching 26 movies in 26 days this month, in alphabetical order. As someone who watches at least one movie most days and obsessively alphabetizes things anyway, this is right up my...Alley! Get it?

• After Hours
• Blade II
• Cube
• Drive
• Eating Raoul
• Fresh
• The Green Mile
• Hustle & Flow
• I'm Not There
• Jeff, Who Lives at Home

...plus 16 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

These are all films in which the setting of New York city is a vital ingredient. I've always loved movies that do a good job incorporating the atmosphere of that fascinating city into the work.

If you think a film is missing, it's probably because I either haven't seen it or don't like it. I could have also just missed it though, so feel free to make suggestions!

• King Kong
• Citizen Kane
• Miracle on 34th Street
• Rear Window
• Sweet Smell of Success
• The Apartment
• West Side Story
• The Pawnbroker
• Rosemary's Baby
• Midnight Cowboy

...plus 100 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

I made this list to participate in the Muriels/Skandies poll with several of my film-buff friends.

I would ordinarily never attempt an all-time Top 20, because that kind of thing drives me nuts. There are simply too many great movies out there, and it really pains me to unavoidably leave off so many films that mean a lot to me.

There are omissions here that shock even myself (no Hitchcock, no Scorsese, no Coppola, no Spielberg, no Coen bros., no Woody Allen, no Nolan...) and rest assured, those filmmakers would be amply represented if the list was expanded to 50 (or even 30). But only allowed 20, I had to go with my gut. And this is it! For now, anyway.

1. Dawn of the Dead
2. Seven Samurai
3. Pulp Fiction
4. The Shining
5. Blue Velvet
6. Requiem for a Dream
7. Boogie Nights
8. Dazed and Confused
9. Carrie
10. Evil Dead II

...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.