My university undergrad was mostly filled with anthropology and archaeology classes. I had a deep interest in how we as a species had developed from chipping chert in the Olduvai Gorge to standing with our eyes facing down into our smartphones. That interest in the development of people and culture […]
Movies
Review: Redcaps of Unwelcome remind us who the real monsters are
Unwelcome Director: Jon Wright Cast: Hannah John-Kamen, Douglas Booth and Colm Meaney Warner Bros. UK & Ireland / Ingenious Media 4/5 I’m not much of a meme person. Don’t get me wrong, I find some funny. Some go over my head as maybe my Gen-X self is just getting a […]
Review: They Live in the Grey sheds light on the terrors of mediumship
They Live in the Grey Directors: Abel and Burlee Vang Cast: Michelle Krusiec, Ken Kirby, Ellen Wroe and Madelyn Grace STANDOFF Pictures/Shudder 3.5/5 I remember having a conversation with an alleged medium once, where she equated her ability to that of Cole Sear in The Sixth Sense. She saw dead […]
Review: A dark and wicked perspective of the evils plaguing rural America
The Dark and the Wicked Director: Bryan Bertino Cast: Marin Ireland, Michael Abbott Jr. and Julie Oliver-Touchstone Shudder 4.5/5 A careful study of the worst hauntings on record, whether in the archives of the Warrens or self-published accounts by those afflicted, will reveal the insidious nature of the demonic. In […]
Review: America’s own Faust fable reaches a crossroads
ReMastered: Devil at the Crossroads Director: Brian Oakes Studio: Netflix 4/5 Mississippi’s own Faustian tale of Robert Johnson has been given its due documentary treatment. Remastered: Devil at the Crosswords shares what little there is about renowned blues musician Robert Johnson through academics, musicians (Keith Richards and Bonnie Raitt among […]
Review: Folk tales are our guilty pleasures
The Curse of La Llorona Director: Michael Chaves Cast: Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz and Patricia Velasquez Studio: Warner Brothers 4/5 Folklore has its roots in the real world. Something inexplicable occurred that the locals didn’t have an explanation for, and thus took it as an opportunity to teach through the […]
Review: Revealing the bad seed of reincarnation
The Prodigy Director: Nicholas McCarthy Cast: Taylor Schilling, Brittany Allen, Jackson Robert Scott Studio: Orion Pictures 4/5 Much like Dr. Elaine Stasser (Paula Boudreau) and Arthur Jacobson (Colm Feore) explain in the film, The Prodigy, reincarnation has been around for quite some time either through Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. But it’s not just […]
Review: Painting a lurid picture of flesh and bone
Velvet Buzzsaw Director: Dan Gilroy Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Zawe Ashton and John Malkovich Studio: Netflix 3.5/5 There is a painting called “The Anguished Man” that allegedly has the blood of its artist used within its own acrylics. Of course, it could be that it’s part of a creepypasta that is continuously drumming up more believers affixed to the […]
Review: This cryptid endears itself to a younger audience
Smallfoot Director: Karey Kirkpatrick, Jason Reisig Cast: Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya Studio: Warner Brothers 3.5/5 As warm and fuzzy as the Yeti is in Smallfoot appear, there is a very sobering message about organized belief systems and human nature snuggled into the narrative. The Yeti, a.k.a. Abominable Snowman, a.k.a. […]
What to watch this Halloween
The most wonderful time of the year is upon us and it doesn’t involve Andy Williams singing. That abomination of corporate-buy ethos begins even before Halloween’s corpse is placed six-feet-under. And that should never be. Let those who don’t celebrate dressing a pine tree in drag, enjoy their own holiday: […]