B.J. (Mike Farrell) runs afoul of Charles (David Ogden Stiers) in The Merchant of Korea. Written by Ken Levine and David Isaacs, this episode was first broadcast on 20 December, 1977. When B.J.’s wife Peg sends him a telegram about the availabilty of some land they’ve always wanted, he has to scrounge up some much…
Author: TD Rideout
The Fury (1978) – Brian De Palma
Kirk Douglas and Amy Irving star in De Palma’s first film after his success with Carrie, and this one is another supernatural tinged thriller, but this one boasts a score by John Williams, and viewers should watch for brief appearances by Daryl Hannah and Dennis Franz. John Farris pens the screenplay from his own novel,…
The X-Files (2000) – Within, and Without
Series creator Chris Carter launched the eighth season of The X-Files with Within, which first aired on 5 November, 2000. Scully (Gillian Anderson), while still learning to deal with the news that she may be pregnant, is suffering from nightmares about what may be happening to the abducted Mulder (David Duchnovy). She and Skinner get…
Mission: Impossible (1969) – Live Bait, and The Bunker: Part 1
James D.Buchanan, Ronald Austin, and Meyer Dolinsky pen this week’s first episode, Live Bait, from a story developed by Dolinsky. This story first aired on 23 February, 1969, and features too recognisable guest stars, Anthony Zerbe, and the wonderful Martin Sheen! Phelps (Peter Graves) and his team head behind the Iron Curtain again to free…
Communion (1987) – Whitley Strieber
Whitley Stieber experienced something. In fact, according to his writing, he’s been experiencing something all of his life. It’s influenced him, his writing, and the events and those around him. Strieber, like countless others, believes he was abducted. He doesn’t use the word aliens, he uses the word visitors. Because he doesn’t claim to know…
The Three Body Problem (2008) – Liu Cixin
Wang Miao and Ye Wenjie are the central characters in a vast cast in this epic Chinese novel that is the first in a trilogy, also known as The Three Body Problem. Treating its subject matter with intelligence, and pouring on the science, the story takes us through the first steps of contact with an…
The X-Files (2000) – Je Souhaite, and Requiem
Vince Gilligan pens and directs the penultimate episode of season seven. Je Souhaite first aired on 14 May, 2000 and sees Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) encountering what seems to be a Djinn, in the form of Jenn (Paula Sorge). Anson (Kevin Weisman) and his brother, Leslie (Will Sasso) have come into possession…
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) – David Yates
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends at Hogwarts are ready for another year at the magical school, one that will shape them, and set them on a course towards a final confrontation with Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and will change everything. The sixth film in the series once again ups the stakes for all of…
TAD 2021: Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break dir. Nick Gillespie
Closing out the Toronto After Dark Film Festival today is the UK film Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break. And what a way to close the festival! Without disclosing too much, this sure fire crowd pleaser follows Paul Dood (Tom Meeten) in his pursuit of a glimmer of internet fame by auditioning for internet sensation Jack…
Damien: Omen II (1978) – Don Taylor, and Mike Hodges
After the success of Dick Donner’s The Omen in 1976, the company was eager to deliver a sequel, and we see a story that gives us a teenaged Damien (Johnathan Scott-Taylor), living with his uncle, Richard Thorn (William Holden) and aunt, Ann Thorn (Lee Grant), while attending a military academy. As strange deaths begin to…
The Mind Reels 