Authority (2014) – Jeff VanderMeer

The second book in the Southern Reach Trilogy finds its way to the Book Shelf this week as I dive further into the strange realm of Area X first introduced in the book Annihilation, which also serves as the title of the upcoming film adaptation. This sequel, released within months of the first book takes…

Toronto After Dark 2017: The Villainess – Byung-gil Jung

The hyper-kinetic assassin thriller The Villainess, has it’s Toronto premiere this evening at Toronto After Dark, screening exclusively at Scotiabank Theatre. This South Korean film is nothing short of a high-octane thriller that recalls Besson’s La Femme Nikita with overtones of Tarantino’s Kill Bill. Ok-bin Kim stars as Sook-hee, a violent woman with a violent…

My Best Friend’s Exorcism (2016) – Grady Hendrix

Where do I even start with this book? I enjoyed this one so much. We were in the local Chapters, and I was immediately caught by the cover. It’s designed to look like a 1980s horror movie on VHS. And the story embraces everything you loved about the 80s – the shows, the music, the…

Street Angel (1928) – Frank Borzage

The next film on the What Else to Watch list following the recommendation of Murnau’s Sunrise in DK Book’s engaging and informative The Movie Book is Street Angel from 1928. Set in Naples, Janet Gaynor plays Angela, a young woman turned prostitute to pay her rent. Trouble rears its head though when she is arrested…

Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon (2011) – Michael Bay

It apparently just doesn’t stop, and Michael Bay never seems to learn. My time with the Transformers continues as I dive into the third film in the series as I explore the Sci-Fi Chronicles. This time around the Decepticons led by Megatron (Hugo Weaving) and the Autobots led by Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) are involved…

Doctor Who (Sylvester McCoy) – Ghost Light

A spooky house, strange wait staff, secrets, monsters, aliens… Ghost Light is a lot of fun, and the Doctor (McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) have a heck of a time, as the Companion confronts a bit of her past. Written by Marc Platt, and encapsulated in a tightly paced and enjoyable three parts, Ghost Light…

The Secret Garden (1993) -Agnieszka Holland

Francis Ford Coppola serves as executive producer of this adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel, and the next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book. Young Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly), born and raised in India is orphaned when her parents are killed in an earthquake. She is sent to live…

Rebecca (1940) – Alfred Hitchcock

I dive into another classic Hitchcock film that I am sad to day I had never seen until now as the recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book continue. This one walked away with two Oscars, Best Picture and Best Cinematography, and stands up beautifully. The story sees Joan Fontaine starring…