Smallville (2006) – Oracle, and Vessel

The penultimate episode of season five sees Clark (Tom Welling) celebrating his birthday, and receiving a ghostly visit from Jonathan Kent (John Schneider) who tells him that to become the man he has to be, and to save the world, he has to kill Lionel Luthor (John Glover). Oracle was written by Caroline Dries from…

From a Buick 8 (2002) – Stephen King

For some reason this Stephen King novel seems to keep slipping off my list, and I don’t know why. I stopped it sliding off this time, and dug into a creepy and fun novel that feels like it’s on the edge of other King stories without throwing you right in the middle of one. It’s…

The Exorcist’s House (2022) – Nick Roberts

Nick Roberts’ The Exorcist’s House is a fun idea, and it’s filled with little nods to the genre and the tropes, particularly William Peter Blatty’s original novel The Exorcist. But for all that, it seems to be a popcorn horror book. It’s fun, though some of it feels like it goes a little too far…

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) – Tony Scott

Tony Scott updated the gritty 1974 classic, The Taking of Pelham 123 with his signature style, and introduced it to the 21st century. Featuring his signature editing, camera work and saturated colors, Pelham rockets along, resting easily on the shoulders of the film’s two leads, Denzel Washington, and John Travolta. Washington plays Walter Garber, a…

Smallville (2002) – Ryan, and Dichotic

Ryan (Ryan Kelly) last seen in the season one episode Stray is back. First airing on 12 November, 2002, Ryan was written by Philip Levens. Ryan makes a desperate call to Clark (Tom Welling) claiming his being held against his will in a hospital that is doing testing on his mind-reading ability. Clark is determined…

Mandy (2018) – Panos Cosmatos

Nicolas Cage headlines in Mandy, a drug-addled hallucinogenic ride in this revenge horror (?) thriller. Set in the early 80s, but filled with 70s sensibilities in sense of style and set design, Cage is Red Miller who lives out in the woods with Mandy Bloom (Andrea Riseborough). They have a quiet life, he works is…

Smallville (2002) – Tempest, and Vortex

Tempest closes out the first season of Smallville. Written by showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar from a story by Philip Levens, season one came to a close on 21 May, 2002. The spring formal is here, Clark (Tom Welling) and Chloe (Allison Mack) are headed out together. And there’s lots of other character stuff…

Avatar: The Last Airbender – Book 3: Fire (2008) – Sozin’s Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King, Part 2: The Old Masters, Part 3: Into the Inferno, and Part 4: Avatar Aang

Avatar: The Last Airbender came to a close on 19 July, 2008. Four episodes, airing back-to-back brought the story to an epic close. Choices are thinning, and after an initial beach break, Zuko (Dante Basco) convinces Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) and Team Avatar that they really need to up their game in time to confront…

Inferno (1980) – Dario Argento

It’s been a while since I watched Argento’s Suspiria, though I remember enjoying it, so when I learned he did two more films set in the same world I knew I had to seek them out. The first follow-up film is 1980’s Inferno. Rose (Irene Miracle) is living in New York (with Italian locations serving…

Fire and Ice (1983) – Ralph Bakshi

Ralph Bakshi paired up with his good friend, famed fantasy artist Frank Frazetta and delivered 1983’s Fire & Ice. An animated rotoscoped sword and sorcery adventure, this film feels more in line with the 70s style of animation and storytelling, despite the rise of Dungeons & Dragons at the time. An evil ruler, Nekron (Sean…