Reviews

‘EDWARD SCISSORHANDS’ (1990) and His Dad’s Interesting Creative Choice

Edward Scissorhands

Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands brilliantly showcases Tim Burton’s ability to seamlessly blend the fantastical with the mundane, as a bizarre humanoid invention named Edward Scissorhands (Johnny Depp) ends up venturing into suburbia. Edward had been invented by an unknown old man simply called “The Inventor” (Vincent Price), who had temporarily …

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‘HOUSE OF WAX’ (1953) – “You’ve never been scared until you’ve been scared in 3-D!” – Review

House of Wax (1953)

How do you revitalize the career of a horror legend? Cast him in the first major studio film to be shot in color 3-D, and tap a one-eyed director who famously couldn’t see any of the 3-D effects – that’s how! House of Wax (1953) Synopsis “An associate burns down …

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‘THE SHINING’ (1980) and a Father-Son Relationship Gone Awry

Near the intro of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (read our retro review here), we already get the sense that Danny (Danny Lloyd) and Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) have a strained father/son relationship. In addition, the two, along with mother and wife Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall), eventually meet a series of …

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Tim Burton’s ‘BEETLEJUICE’ (1988) Still Going Strong After 35 Years

“It’s…showtime!” Thirty-five years ago, after making a name for himself with the 1985 hit Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Tim Burton’s success in the directorial world only grew stronger with 1988’s Beetlejuice. The film follows deceased couple Adam (Alec Baldwin, The Departed 2006) and Barbara (Geena Davis, The Fly 1986) as they navigate …

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‘MIRROR MIRROR’ (1990) and the Strange Disappearance of Rainbow Harvest

I discovered Mirror Mirror quite by accident a number of years ago, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about this 1990 horror gem. With a “who’s who” of actors and a cool plot, this nostalgic film deserves a second look.  Mirror Mirror stars the up-and-coming Rainbow Harvest (Old Enough …

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Overlook Film Festival: ‘Smoking Causes Coughing’ (2022) – Review

Smoking Causes Coughing

The team that Smoking Causes Coughing focuses on, Tobacco Force, are Power Ranger expies that use the chemical components of cigarettes but are “heroes” fighting off human-sized rubber monsters. There is no indication these monsters present a threat to anything beyond what the team says, and even kids above 6 …

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A Night To Die For: ‘PROM NIGHT’ (Nelson McCormick) Turns 15 – Retro Review

Prom Night (2008)

Back in the early 2000s, my friends and I would regularly grace the local movie theater to see the latest horror movies, from Paranormal Activity and The Unborn to The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Therefore, when previews began dropping for Nelson McCormick’s Prom Night, it was a given that I’d go. Plus, I had to see …

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‘THE BLACK DEMON’ Review: A Sharkbuster with Bite – and Heart

The Black Demon

The newest sharkbuster, THE BLACK DEMON, is righting capitalism’s wrongs and giving horror fans the R-rated megalodon movie it’s been waiting for. From Adrian Grunberg, director of Rambo: Last Blood (2019), comes THE BLACK DEMON, starring Josh Lucas (American Psycho, (2000), Fernanda Urrejola (Cry Macho, (2021), Julio Cesar Cedillo (Cowboys vs. Aliens, (2011), …

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