‘Valley of Fear’ (1915) does the multi-genre riff even better
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Doyle improves on “Study in Scarlet’s” blend of mystery and flashback in his final Sherlock Holmes novel.
Author: John Hansen
‘Valley of Fear’ (1915) does the multi-genre riff even better
‘Christmas Bloody Christmas’ (2022) is chilly in the wrong way
Frightening Friday (Movie review): The final act has “Terminator” and “Rambo” flavors, but the film lacks scares, tension or even gore.
‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990) a too-thin slice of heartfelt weirdness
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): For many Burton fans, this Christmastime film is a cut above, but I find it slices too thin.
Hitchcock gets transported to space in ‘Lifepod’ (1993)
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): This TV movie makes good use of its strong cast with sharp themes, future tech and a whodunit.
‘Agatha Christie’s Poirot’ Season 6 (1994-95) adds Christmas cheer
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): Which isn’t to say everyone is jolly in the Lee household for “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas,” but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Dave’s ‘The Night We Lost Him’ blends romance, mystery
Book club book report: The author draws us in with questions, and smoothly builds believable characters amid the quest for answers.
‘The Rental’ (2020) plays up creepiness of being a stranger in a strange home
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Worth a rental? Well, it’s definitely worth a streaming viewing, as it gets in on the ground floor of Airbnb horror.
Smartly structured ‘Challengers’ breaks at love
Movie review: The plot is that of a soap opera, but the structure, style and psychological honesty put it on the short list of tennis-movie GOATs.
‘The Holdovers’ (2023) merely a placeholder for Payne
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The director has delivered many 21st century masterpieces, but this Christmas film falls short of that status.
‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ Season 1 (1955-56) brings the macabre into living rooms
On a Hitchcock kick (TV review): As a holiday treat, we look at “Back for Christmas” and Hitchcock’s three other directorial efforts from “AHP’s” first season.