Octoberween Twelve: Finally, Some Good News*
Octoberween: When you’re here, it’s Octoberween. Enjoy.
Octoberween: ‘The Lure’ is a Grimy, Lovely Fairy Tale
Halloween is upon us, which means we’ve reached the conclusion of another wildly successful Octoberween. Through the Ancient Magicks of seasonal film criticism, we’ve unlocked so many holiday vibes for ourselves and for you, our twelve dedicated readers. Second Breakfast celebrated the original Gentleman of Action, Peter Cushing’s Van Helsing, with a terrifying double feature.…
Octoberween: ‘Smile 2’ is Not a Fun Time
Neither was the first one, so… Smile 2 (2024): The Plot: Staging a comeback tour a year after a traumatic car accident, recovering addict and international pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) soon finds herself doubting her sanity when she’s tormented by a supernatural entity. Will she be able to get help from her mother/manager…
Octoberween: ‘Trap’ is a Fun Time
Ah, fatherhood. A favorite pastime of dads everywhere. It seemed only fitting to follow up my review of The Mummy with a film about a Daddy*. After all, as I sometimes remember that I recently decided, Octoberween is a long-standing family tradition for many of our twelve dedicated readers. Like The Mummy, Trap is a…
Octoberween: ‘The Mummy’ (1932)
I’m going to be terribly gauche and start by quoting myself (kids, don’t try this at home). Last year, in my review of The Wolf Man (1941), I wrote: In the early to mid 20th century, Universal Pictures produced an iconic run of horror movies, starting with 1931’s Dracula and ending in 1956 with The…
Rooster Illusion: ‘Mars Express’
Time to dust off those critical thinking caps, mes amis. Film criticism isn’t just for October anymore. Now it’s for some other times as well, such as shortly after I have watched this specific French film. Zut alors! Mars Express (2023): The Plot: In the 23rd century, private eye Aline Ruby (Léa Drucker) and her…
Octoberween: ‘Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’
Another Octoberween draws to a close. Ah, the passage of time. Makes ya think. As always, we had a blast getting in that holiday spirit. Second Breakfast re-visited Van Helsing, a bangin’ good time if there ever was one, and also the movie that taught me Frankenstein’s Monster could speak. Go figure. Sarah returned with…
Rooster Illusion 