Vampires vs. The Bronx feels like a bit of a throwback to those teen/young audience horror films that were springing up during the 80s. Undeniably influenced by The Lost Boys, and perhaps The Monster Squad, it doesn’t have quite the same level of cult-hood, but it is a fun film that is a solid kid-friendly…
Tag: neighborhood
The Haunting of Velkwood (2024) – Gwendolyn Kiste
The Haunting of Velkwood is an original manner of ghost story. It took me a little while to really get into it, because I kept trying to figure things out a little more in terms of science, spatial and temporal issues of what was happening instead of settling in for a but of a supernatural…
Stir of Echoes (1999) – David Koepp
Stir of Echoes got lost in the theatres when it went up against the ghost story The Sixth Sense. Based on the novel by Richard Matheson and adapted by Koepp who settled into the director’s chair as well, the film lets Kevin Bacon just shine, and features some well-executed visuals including the hypnotism sequence featuring…
Hill Street Blues (1987) – City of Refuse, and Der Roachenkavalier
City of Refuse may be my favourite episode of the season so far. Written by Peter Silverman, it first debuted on 20 January, 1987. Hunter (James Sikking) gets to put on his tactical uniform for the first time since his demotion when he joins Goldblume (Joe Spano) in dealing with a hostage situation. Why was…
Hill Street Blues (1984) – Ewe and Me, Babe, and Blues for Mr. Green
David Stenn pens Ewe and Me, Babe from a story by Floyd Byars, and it was first aired on 8 November, 1984. There are a couple of familiar faces in the guest cast this week, Hector Elizondo and Miguel Ferrer. Oh! and watch for a brief glimpse of Tim Russ in an uncredited role as…
The Lovely Bones (2009) – Peter Jackson
Director Peter Jackson adapted Alice Sebold’s heartbreaking novel, The Lovely Bones, to the big screen alongside his collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, and while there are a lot of differences from the book to film (the novel definitely has more adult themes, and things were toned down for the teen, twenty-something audiences), and some…
The Lone Gunmen (2001) – Three Men and a Smoking Diaper, and Madam, I’m Adam
Chris Carter has Frohike (Tom Braidwood), Langly (Dean Haglund) and Byers (Bruce Harwood) tackle politicians in Three Men and a Smoking Diaper, which first aired on 23 March, 2001. The boys are investigating a senator, Jefferson (Christopher Rich), who may have had a relationship with one of the people on his campaign and later died…
Do the Right Thing (1989) – Spike Lee
Writer/director Spike Lee’s powerful drama is the next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of American Beauty. A powerhouse cast brings a multi-cultural street in Brooklyn to life on the hottest day of the year, as the heat builds so does the tension as hate, racism…
American Beauty (1999) – Sam Mendes
The next title up in the Drama genre for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is the Academy Award Winning American Beauty directed by Sam Mendes. The film went home with a Best Actor for Kevin Spacey, Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography and Best Original Screenplay. Spacey plays Lester…
Fifteen Dogs (2015) – Andre Alexis
My Mom picked up this book for me for Xmas, and I dug into it to see what’s the what, and was delighted by the map indicating that not only does the book take place in Toronto, most of it takes place in the area of my neighborhood. I was also surprised by who…
The Mind Reels 