Somehow a Women’s Right’s Activist, Nora Clavicle (Barbara Rush) is a villain in Nora Clavicle and the Ladies’ Crime Club. Written by Stanford Sherman this episode first aired on 18 January, 1968. Nora gets Gordon (Neil Hamilton) ousted as Commissioner taking on the role herself, and installing all female officers (which sounds progressive, but they…
Author: TD Rideout
Family Ties (1984) – Don’t Kiss Me, I’m Only the Messenger, Help Wanted, and Karen II, Alex 0
While Elyse (Meredith Baxter) goes to an architects’ convention, Skippy (Marc Price) falls for Mallory’s (Justine Bateman) friend Jane (Michelle Meyrink) in Don’t Kiss Me, I’m Only the Messenger. Written by Ruth Bennett, this episode first aired on 29 November, 1984. And while Mallory deals with the sudden realization that Skippy isn’t interested in her…
Star Trek: Discovery – Somewhere To Belong (2023) – Dayton Ward
Simon & Schuster Canada take me to the 32nd century with the crew of the Discovery as another Star Trek adventure unfolds in a great read by Dayton Ward. Set shortly after the events of the third season, with the Burn story arc resolved, the crew of the Discovery find themselves a new mission by…
Batman (1968) – The Joke’s on Catwoman, and Louie’s Lethal Lilac Time
The episode opens with Batgirl (Yvonne Craig) saving herself, for a delightful change, from Joker (Cesar Romero) and Catwoman (Eartha Kitt) and gears up to send the Dynamic Trio after the supervillains (once again). The Joke’s on Catwoman was written by Stanley Ralph Ross and first aired on 4 January, 1968. The villains continue their…
Haunted Mansion (2023) – Justin Simien
There’s just a little too much going on in Disney’s Haunted Mansion. It seems to want to dip its toe into as many genres as it can, but doesn’t give any of them enough time to actually pay off. There are some great concepts and the cast is solid, but it just doesn’t fire on…
TAD 2023: Lovely, Dark and Deep dir. Teresa Sutherland
Writer/director Teresa Sutherland delivers a moody, atmospheric hallucination that follows Park Ranger Lennon (Georgina Campbell) as she takes on her new backcountry assignment, and attempts to reconcile an event that has haunted her since childhood. Positing that there are too many missing people in national parks, Sutherland’s story wonders if there is perhaps something more…
TAD 2023: International Shorts After Dark
It’s the final day of the festival and Toronto After Dark always takes this opportunity to showcase some of the amazing genre shorts that have been submitted to them from all over the world. This year, there are ten shorts to dive into, something that is sure to tickle your fancy is to be found…
Invaders From Mars (1986) – Tobe Hooper
I remember when Invaders From Mars came out in 1986. I knew it was a remake, having read about it in Starlog magazine, and while I didn’t recognize the names of those involved as I grew they would become very familiar to me. What I remember most is reading the novelization when I grabbed it…
TAD 2023: The Deep Dark dir. Mathieu Turi
Mathieu Turi delivers a delightful and ominous creature feature with The Deep Dark and the practical effects, and oppressive setting make this one spark, and it’s definitely something the Toronto After Dark crowds are going to love. Amir (Amir El Kacem) arrived to join a mining team in the 1950s. He’s paired with a rough-and-tumble…
TAD 2023: Canadian Shorts After Dark
Saturday afternoon at Toronto After Dark gives Canadian filmmakers a chance to showcase their genre shorts, and this time around, there are nine shorts for your spine-tingling enjoyment. There is Bird Hostage written and directed by Lauren Andrews and features her and fan favourite Jay Baruchel in this eccentric little tale that sees Lauren (Andrews)…
The Mind Reels 