Classic and James Bond films unite
Wikipedia calls The Crow an American superhero film, but for me, it's more a gothic horror/romance film. The Crow isn't really a superhero, he's an antihero who becomes like that because of circumstances. He reminds me more Darkman than Clark Kent. The Crow is largely famous because it was Brandon Lee's final motion picture due to his tragic… Continue reading Rain and Revenge: The Crow (1994)
The release of Rosemary's Baby in 1968 unleashed the full force of the audience's fascination with satanic panic, with such films as The Devil Rides Out, The Omen, The Exorcist, and To The Devil A Daughter being released. These films showed two groups who were perennially at risk: young women and children. In Polanski's seminal adaptation of Ira Levine's classic… Continue reading Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Seventies: Shelley Winters in ‘The Devil’s Daughter’ (1973)
I became aware of Phantom of the Opera (1943) through the purchase of my two Universal Monster boxsets, both of which featured the second English language adaptation of Gaston Leroux's famous novel. I was quite delighted to discover that one of my favourite classic film actors, the great Claude Rains, who was no stranger to Universal, starred… Continue reading Christine, Christine: Phantom of the Opera (1943)
The Phantom of the Opera (1925) is considered one of the greatest silent films ever made. That may be a bold claim considering that the majority of silent films are lost, perhaps forever, but the film's compelling central performance by Lon Chaney, its technical mastery and its fascinating plot make an extremely valid case. But the… Continue reading The Phantom of the Opera Is Here: “Phantom of the Opera” (1925)
Spoilers lie in the sewers. So back away from the drain if you haven't seen the film yet. When I was thirteen, my mom bestowed upon me her battered copy of IT by Stephen King, which she'd owned, and read every year, since 1986. And from that moment on, right through the lonely years of my adolescence, and… Continue reading The Divide: Why I think IT Chapter Two nailed it
This post contains spoilers and graphic content. Please be advised that you may turn into a fly humanoid after reading this. You've been warned. Man's tendency to act like a god and try to control and obliterate nature's tenets has been explored many times, most famously in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. What Shelley explored and taught… Continue reading The Madness of Miracles: Jeff Goldblum in “The Fly” (1986)
This post contains graphic and mature content, please read at your own risk. Twins of Evil is fascinating because it comes after Lust for A Vampire in the Karnstein Quadrilogy and it's as if someone said "What made The Vampire Lovers good and Lust for a Vampire awful?" Don't get me wrong, Lust for a… Continue reading Deadly Legacy
Although Our Dancing Daughters (1928) is the film that is often cited as Joan's star making role, she herself said that it was her starring in The Unknown that really taught her to act. According to IMDB , Joan Crawford always considered The Unknown (1927) a big turning point for her. She said it wasn't until working with Lon… Continue reading The Perfect Joan Double Bill: The Unknown (1927) and Berserk! (1967)
This post does discuss some sensitive subjects that may be potentially triggering. So please read on at your own risk of maybe unleashing an evil alter ego. Ya just never know. Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novel has become one of the most famous novels of the English literary canon. It has been adapted numerous times… Continue reading The Doctor and the Demon: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1920)
Daphne du Maurier is considered one of the greatest writers in history. Her influence as an author is so widespread that people are aware of elements of her work without actually always being familiar with it. She was characterised as a romance novelist in her lifetime, a title she disliked intensely, and with good reason.… Continue reading Announcing The Calls of Cornwall: The Daphne du Maurier Blogathon
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