Full disclosure: I had never heard of this book until I saw the trailer for this movie from the writer and director of Ex Machina, the visuals looked amazing, and the ambiguity and mystery conveyed by the short teaser drove me out to find a copy of the Southern Reach trilogy right away. Annihilation is…
Tag: terror
Ur (2009) – Stephen King
Stephen King leaped aboard the digital reader revolution back in 2009 when he wrote this tale that was available only online as a download for said readers. The story follows an English teacher, Wesley, at a mediocre college. His relationship with Ellen, one of the college’s coaches is on the rocks, caused by a lack…
Secrets of a Soul (1926) – G.W. Pabst
The next film in the What Else to Watch category for the fantastic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari as featured in the massive The Movie Book from DK Books is the 1926 silent film, Secrets of a Soul. A dark and moody film, taken from events in real life, the story follows a husband, Martin…
55 Days at Peking (1963) – Nicholas Grey and Guy Green
Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner and David Niven headline this recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Lawrence of Arabia. The Boxer Rebellion of 1900 is at the heart of the story, as a cast of characters are swept up into the drama, and terror of the siege…
The Twilight Zone (1959) – Judgement Night, And When the Sky Was Opened and What You Need
Paramount Pictures continues my guided tour of the Twilight Zone this week as I explore The Complete Series on Blu-Ray. Rod Serling is back in fine form with the first episode up for review, Judgement Night. With an original airdate of 4 December, 1959, this episode is smart, well-penned, as revelations are made about Carl…
A Monster Calls (2011) – Patrick Ness
It’s been a long time since a book has reduced me to tears, but Ness’ powerful, and beautiful young adult books, A Monster Calls has done just that. Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd who passed before she could tell it herself, the story is a singular experience that is heartbreaking in its truth…
The Twilight Zone (1959) – Where is Everybody?, One for the Angels, and Mr. Denton on Doomsday
This week, we dive into The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series, available now from Paramount! The Twilight Zone got underway on 2 October, 1959 with Rod Serling plunging Earl Holliman as Mike Ferris into madness with Where is Everybody? Mike Ferris doesn’t know who he is, and he doesn’t know where everyone else in the…
Quantum Leap (1991) – Heart of a Champion, and Nuclear Family
Sam is one part of a wrestling team, when he leaps into Terry Sammis in Heart of a Champion. With an airdate of 8 May, 1991, Sam finds himself in all manner of trouble in this script by Tommy Thompson. It’s 23 July, 1955 and Terry and his brother Ronny (Jerry Bossard) are professional wrestlers,…
Toronto After Dark 2016: The Void – Jeremy Gillespie & Steven Kostanski
Isolationist horror with Lovecraftian overtones and readily apparent influences of both Clive Barker and John Carpenter; coupled with the school of less is more when showing the monster, combine in The Void. Toronto After Dark’s closing night film for 2016 at the Scotiabank Theatre. Let me get two things out of the way, as much…
Superman: The Animated Series (1996) – Fun and Games, A Little Piece of Home and Feeding Time
Things get underway pretty quick for Clark (Tim Daly) this week, as the Toyman (Bud Cort) makes his first appearance in Fun and Games. This episode aired 7 September 1996. A gang leader, Bruno Manheim (Bruce Weitz) finds himself the target of the Toyman, the subject of an act of revenge. Lois (Dana Delaney) and…
The Mind Reels 