As much as I love Sam Neill as the Antichrist in The Final Conflict, and my first introduction to the series with the novelization of Damien: The Omen II, The First Omen has taken its place as my second favorite in the franchise. Working to tie itself into the original film directed by Dick Donner…
Tag: secrets
The Night House (2020) – David Bruckner
Rebecca Hall turns a fantastic performance as Beth, a recently widow who is being haunted figuratively and literally as she learns dark secrets about her late husband, Owen (Evan Jonigkeit). Living in the house that Owen built, she begins to feel a presence in the house with her, and the way corners and arches come…
Stargate SG-1 (1998) – Secrets, and Bane
While Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) head off to Washington to meet with the President, and track down a leak in Stargate Command, Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) and Teal’c (Christopher Judge) return to Abydos as Daniel agreed to one year after the events of Children of the Gods. Written by Terry…
Dark Skies (1997) – The Warren Omission, and White Rabbit
John Loengard (Eric Close) is approached by the Attorney General, Bobby Kennedy (James F. Kelly) to tell his story to the Warren Commission, which is about to rule that Oswald acted alone in order to keep the Hive and Majestic secret. The Commission is led by Earl Warren (Gary Lockwood!) and the episode introduces another…
TIFF24: Conclave dir. Edward Berger
Edward Berger’s All Quiet on the Western Front stunned TIFF audiences and now, he’s back, with a cinematic adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel, Conclave. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini, Berger delivers a visually arresting dramatic piece that takes viewers inside the Vatican as Cardinals gather from across the globe to…
TIFF24: Meet the Barbarians dir. Julie Delpy
Julie Delpy directs and stars in the charming, and delightfully satirical Meet the Barbarians. Set in the small town of Paimpont, France, a teacher, Joelle (Delpy) has convinced the local town council to do their part and take in some Ukranian refugees, they’ve studied, they’ve got a home set-up, have donated groceries, and are ready…
TIFF24: The Seed of the Sacred Fig dir. Mohammad Rasoulof
Rasoulof examines the patriarchy and religious law in the microcosm of the family in The Seed of the Sacred Fig. For some it can be a tough watch, as it incorporates actual footage from the 2022 protests in Iran following the death Masha Amini who died while in police custody, charged with improperly wearing her…
Incidents Around the House (2024) – Josh Malerman
Josh Malerman delivers a very creepy novel with Incidents Around the House. It’s a truly unnerving read as it takes the haunted house, demonic angle, but puts it on its head by telling it from the perspective of a little girl. There’s something in Bela’s closet and it’s started to come out and ask to…
Eraser (1996) – Chuck Russell
Arnold Schwarzenegger fights to save Vanessa Williams and stop an arms deal with terrorists in Eraser. The big guy is John Kruger, a U.S. Marshal who specializes in working the Witness Relocation Program. The opening sequence sets up his abilities and the aspects of the job which see him erasing Johnny C (Robert Pastorelli) to…
Magnum P.I. (2022) – Remember Me Tomorrow, and Shallow Grave, Deep Water
Remember Me Tomorrow was written by Mike Diaz, Barbie Kligman and Kate Varney and it first debuted on 1 April, 2022. Lots are going on in this episode, Suzy (Betsy Phillips) is returning to the island, pregnant, and ready to talk to Rick (Zachary Knighton) about not continuing their relationship, because they’re going to be…
The Mind Reels 