If you’ve read my work with any regularity, you know that I love writing about films with Ohio connections. Writer/director Colin West was born in my longtime hometown of Columbus and went to undergrad at the Ohio State University, my alma mater. His new film, Linoleum, is also set in suburban Dayton.
Read MoreBoston Underground Film Festival (2023)
Another festival has come and gone and while I wasn’t able to view everything that I had hoped, I was still able to check out some really cool genre films courtesy of the Boston Underground Film Festival. Hopefully, I’ll get my hands on more next time around. That being said, the few films are definitely not to be overlooked, so if you see something you may be interested in, I suggest making a note and circling back when they are more widely available.
Read MoreBeetlejuice (1988) #RetroReview
Once upon a time, Tim Burton used to make nothing but must-see films. One of his absolute best, the supernatural comedy Beetlejuice from 1988, turns 35 on March 30th. Imaginative, unique, funny, engaging, well crafted, and nicely performed, it’s about as flawless a film as exists.
Read MoreHouston's Oddities & Curiosities Expo (2023)
The Oddities & Curiosities Expo was a unique and fascinating experience for anyone interested in the weird and wonderful. The Expo offered a wide range of odd and intriguing exhibits, from taxidermy and anatomical specimens to bizarre art and macabre jewelry. One of the things that set the Expo apart is the variety of vendors and exhibitors that showcased their strange and unusual wares.
Read MoreFire in the Sky (1993) #RetroReview
Though most of Robert Lieberman’s Fire in the Sky is a fine sci-fi mystery, competently crafted if a little mundane, it contains about fifteen minutes of pure undiluted nightmare fuel that justifies a watch. Based on an allegedly true story, Tracy Tormé, who has written for a slew of fan-favorite sci-fi TV shows, took some liberties with Travis Walton’s source account in his script. From what I understand, this was an improvement. In any case, the realization of Tormé’s vision for that particular sequence is absolutely fantastic.
Read MoreCB4 (1993) #RetroReview
Tamra Davis’ hip-hop satire and early Chris Rock vehicle CB4 made its theatrical debut on March 12th, 1993. I decided to take a look back at the film’s 30th anniversary. Care to join me?
Read More10 to Midnight (1983) #RetroReview
Does the idea of Charlie Bronson in a morally ambiguous pseudo-slasher film sound appealing to you? If so, join me in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of J. Lee Thompson’s 10 to Midnight. Executive produced by legendary B movie figures Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus through their beloved Cannon Films, the film pits Bronson against a Richard Speck-esque serial killer in an unapologetically sleazy and gritty Los Angeles. It was released in theaters on March 11, 1983.
Read MoreThrust (2022)
I first became aware of low-budget filmmaker Victor Bonacore when he released Diary of a Deadbeat: The Story of Jim VanBebber back in 2015. Being a huge fan of VanBebber’s work, I came away thoroughly impressed with Bonacore’s warts and all documentary about the famously volatile western Ohio native. So, when I saw that Bonacore was releasing his first feature-length narrative film, I knew I had to see it.
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