The Stand may be Stephen King’s best novel according to all of his fans and critics. The novel was published so early in his career as a published novelist that such a massive book could’ve very easily ended his career if it wasn’t so well-received. Set mostly in an apocalyptic world where a superflu calledContinue reading “‘The Stand’ Doesn’t Deliver As Well 30 Years Later”
Category Archives: Flashback Friday Frights
‘Dawn’ Good Remake Of Dead Horror Classic Released 20 Years Ago
Twenty years ago when I first saw the commercials for the Dawn of the Dead remake, I groaned. The original by George A. Romero isn’t perfect but its few flaws are easy to dismiss for how great it’s made. Set mostly at a shopping mall in the suburbs of Pennsylvania, it was social commentary onContinue reading “‘Dawn’ Good Remake Of Dead Horror Classic Released 20 Years Ago”
‘Joy Ride’ Is One Helluva Trip
Back in 1971, a young up-and-coming TV director named Steven Spielberg was given the opportunity to direct a TV movie in which Dennis Weaver played a businessman harassed by the driver of a tanker semi on desolate Southwestern highways. The movie was called Duel. There was such critical acclaim for it that the movie thatContinue reading “‘Joy Ride’ Is One Helluva Trip”
‘Lake Placid’ Takes The Plunge
Lake Placid is one of those horror movies where once you’re introduced to the main cast, you can tell that there is no threat to any of them. Normally, that would take some of the thrills out of the plot. But the movie remains one of my guilty pleasures of a creature feature/when nature attacksContinue reading “‘Lake Placid’ Takes The Plunge”
‘Leviathan’ Is A Hodgepodge Of Terror Under The Sea
Picture it, 1989. George H.W. Bush had just been sworn in as President becoming only the second incumbent Vice-President to be elected to the Oval Office. Batman mania was spreading across the nation. The Berlin Wall was going to be torn down by year’s end. And everyone was dancing to “Walk the Dinosaur.” It wasContinue reading “‘Leviathan’ Is A Hodgepodge Of Terror Under The Sea”
‘Sleepwalkers’ Is The Stuff Lucid Dreams Are Made Of
A movie like Sleepwalkers was advertised as the first movie Stephen King had written for the movies that wasn’t based on a previous body of work. And it shows why King is better at writing novels than he is at writing scripts. I don’t know what it is but his scripts aren’t the best. I’mContinue reading “‘Sleepwalkers’ Is The Stuff Lucid Dreams Are Made Of”
‘Heathers’ At 35, How Very
In any market, there can be an oversaturation, which tires the public out. There have been teen movies around for decades. Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello danced on the beach angering the stiff shirts of the time. Then, James Dean and Natalie Woods up the drama on teen angst in Rebel Without a Cause. ButContinue reading “‘Heathers’ At 35, How Very”
How ‘Beetlejuice’ Made Horror Comedies More Mainstream
Horror comedies have been around for years before Beetlejuice. Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein was one. Then, you had Young Frankenstein. But actually mixing gruesome horror elements with comedy was still new. George A. Romero had added it as satire to Dawn of the Dead showing zombies lurching around a mall and looking amazed atContinue reading “How ‘Beetlejuice’ Made Horror Comedies More Mainstream”
The 23rd Spring Since ‘Jeepers Creepers’ Has Arrived
I almost didn’t want to do a blog about Jeepers Creepers. Victor Salva, the writer/director is an convicted child molester. Then, again so is Roman Polanski. I’m not too keen on his works either. But I decided to do it anyway mainly because it’s the 23rd Spring since the movie came out in 2001. TheContinue reading “The 23rd Spring Since ‘Jeepers Creepers’ Has Arrived”
‘Memento’ Is Unforgettable
With Christopher Nolan picking up two Oscars this past week for directing and producing Oppenheimer, it’s hard to believe it took him a quarter of a century to finally receive this award. From the get-go, Nolan has proven to be an amazing filmmaker and storyteller. He seems to be one of the few directors nowadaysContinue reading “‘Memento’ Is Unforgettable”
Zane Says 