One of the things I instantly appreciated about Robert Eggers' remake of the 1922 horror classic, Nosferatu is that he really didn't try to replicate the original. Sure, there are a couple of shots that are pure homage, like the sight of the bony, claw-like hand of Count Orlok (Bill SkarsgĂ„rd) casting an eerie shadow … Continue reading The Night is Dark and Full of Terrors – Nosferatu
I think we can all agree that Saturday Night Live is one of the most important programs in television history. Regardless of whether or not you enjoy the show or the rotating cast - I basically only watch "Weekend Update" these days, but I grew up during the 90s and early 00s Golden Era - … Continue reading Ready for Prime Time – Saturday Night
The 1980s were an interesting time for movies. Advances in visual effects allowed for new avenues in storytelling to be explored. Studios weren't afraid to give younger audiences a bit of a scare. The advent of the PG-13 rating by the MPAA helped to set a middle ground between PG and R, telling audiences that … Continue reading Let the Dead Rest – Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Over the last decade, Yorgos Lanthimos has gone from a celebrated director of Greek films to one of the most revered cinematic auteurs in the world. With his signature combination of intentionally stilted dialogue, darkly comic analogs to the human experience, bonkers depictions of abstract relationship concepts, and refreshingly frank discussions and depictions of sexuality, … Continue reading The Circle of Life – Kinds of Kindness
Yorgos Lanthimos continues to be one of the most creative filmmakers working today, repeatedly going for the oddball gusto with his movies to tell large, memorable, and utterly batshit stories that mask simple and universal ideas. With The Lobster, his first English language effort, he posited a dystopian society where the uncoupled are turned into … Continue reading My Fair Monster – Poor Things
It's been eight months since my mom died, and to be perfectly honest, I haven't been able to move past it yet. I thought it would be easier, as we had time to prepare for it. She was diagnosed with dementia three years ago, and we had to place her in a nursing home. The … Continue reading A Mother’s Love – The Boy and the Heron
Through his first two films - The Witch and the criminally underrated The Lighthouse - Robert Eggers has already proven himself to be an absolute master at setting mood, atmosphere, and tone. His careful eye for production design, combined with his uncanny ability to draw out the most intense performances possible from his actors, has … Continue reading Valhalla, I Am Coming – The Northman
One of my favorite films of all time is the 1932 pre-Code horror film, Freaks. Like many of the great "monster" movies of the age, the film succeeds because of its very sympathetic treatment of the carnival workers that make up the bulk of its cast, asking the crucial, "Who is the real monster?" question … Continue reading Can You Read My Mind? – Nightmare Alley
After the absolutely infuriating tragedy that was Eternals, the Marvel Cinematic Universe desperately needs a palate cleanser, if not a full-on reversal to redeem itself. Hope was on the horizon with a new Spider-Man movie fast approaching, one that would also feature Doctor Strange. Tom Holland is widely considered to be the greatest version of … Continue reading Into the Villain-Verse – Spider-Man: No Way Home
I've mentioned before that the films of Wes Anderson are fairly hit and miss for me. He is no doubt a great writer and spectacular visual artist, creating brilliantly whimsical set pieces that feel like living in a painting at times. But how that fanciful approach hits you is essentially a crap shoot. For me, … Continue reading As Fun As Having a Magazine Read to You – The French Dispatch
I Actually Paid To See This 