Retro Reviews

Several movies are iconic to me. Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of those movies that’s held my attention. I always wanted to be Leatherface and have a chainsaw, so my mom bought me a toy chainsaw. I was a terror and harrassed my entire family with it. Why do I …

The Twilight Zone is a groundbreaking American sci-fi/horror anthology television series created by Rod Serling that ran from 1959 to 1964. It is widely, and correctly, regarded as one of the most influential TV shows of all time, blending science fiction, fantasy, and horror with social commentary. In fact, it’s …

I grew up in the punk scene. I discovered punk rock when I was 11 years old. The scene sucked me right in, and I felt like I belonged. Also, I loved the energy, the friends, the music, and the basement shows.  It was a wild time. I’m too old …

20 years has gone so fast… It seems only yesterday that I was 11 years old, standing with my dad in the middle of the Sam Goody (RIP) in Philly. Clutched in my hand was a CD emblazoned with a bleeding heart grenade, a far cry from the albums of …

I have just done another piece about Tales From The Darkside. It’s one of my favorite series outside of The Simpsons. I love it so much that I was probably one of the first people to buy the entire series. I waited patiently until that collection was mine. It’s a …

[Rec] (2007) is a kick-ass Spanish found footage horror film directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza. It’s widely regarded as one of the most effective and terrifying examples of the found-footage subgenre, blending elements of horror, mystery, and suspense in a gripping, claustrophobic setting. What the Heck is [Rec] …

There are two names in the horror genre that I would stick to: David Howard Thornton and Bela Lugosi. I watched Lugosi’s movies repeatedly because he reminds me of my grandpa, who spoke English with a heavy Hungarian accent. After years of living with him and my grandma, I learned …

Natural Born Killers is a controversial and provocative film directed by Oliver Stone that’s known for its intense exploration of violence, media, and the American psyche. It’s also known for spurring debates on movies and “copycat” crimes. The movie, released 30 years ago this month, is based on a story …

Okay, say you’re in Thailand and you want to make a quick buck. You’re thinking maybe shoot a movie, glomming onto the success of Jaws or maybe a Godzilla type flick. Jaws it is then, but you want to giant radioactive lizard in it too, so maybe not a total …

At the risk of coming off as if I’m pigeonholing an entire ethnic group, I will make the following statement (that I believe in my heart is 100% true): Italians have made some fucking bonkers films. Exhibit A: Rat Man. Directed by Giuliano Carnimeo (Find A Place To Die), and …