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…
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…
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…
Ah, Halloween. One of the great adult drinking holidays, yet also a powerful source of nostalgia for a simpler, gentler time. There’s only one thing I can think of that could better represent these contradictions at the heart of the human condition: The werewolf. Whether they’re running amok in Kent or setting a precedent for…
Because two times five is ten, the number of Octoberweens this is. You know, like in math. I’m sure our twelve dedicated readers are familiar with Octoberween, especially since it’s the only thing we do here now. They know that of all the fake holidays invented by film critics to sell greeting cards, ours is…
Number four. The magic number*. One is the loneliest, two can be as bad as one, and three? Who gives a shit about three? Aside from that being an “actual” magic number, three ain’t shit. Four. Yes, four. That’s where the magic happens. And it’s happening here, friends. Right now, from this blog to your…
It Follows (2015): The Plot: The trailer does a great job of laying out the premise, and I’d rather not spoil too many plot points. Just ALL OF THE THEMES: One of the many strengths of It Follows is that It is never explained. Once the central premise is laid out, that’s all she wrote.…
