John’s top 10 movies of 2020
2020 movies: This unusual year nonetheless offered some movies worth celebrating. Here are my top 10 films of 2020.
Horror Movies
‘The Faculty’ (1998) a slick product with a point
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Williamson’s riff on “Body Snatchers” explores serious issues in public schooling, but it’s all in good fun.
In the holiday spirit: All 10 Shane Black films, ranked
Movie rankings: Just in time for Christmas, here are my rankings of the 10 films written and/or directed by Shane Black.
‘The Thing’ (2011) too much of the same thing
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Confusingly sharing the same title, this is a prequel to “The Thing.” It covers the same territory less skillfully.
‘Psycho’ remake (1998) stands as a fascinating experiment
‘Psycho’-analysis (Movie review): Stage plays are remade all the time, so is the hatred of Gus Van Sant’s shot-for-shot remake of “Psycho” warranted?
‘Psycho IV: The Beginning’ (1990) a shadow of ‘Bates Motel’
‘Psycho’-analysis (Movie review): The fourth “Psycho” film gives us the backstory of Norman Bates. “Bates Motel” would later do it better.
Diminishing returns kick in with ‘Psycho III’ (1986)
‘Psycho’-analysis (Movie review): Now directing and starring, Anthony Perkins shows us a few new things in this middle-of-the-road third entry.
‘Psycho II’ (1983) more than a slasher-era cash grab
‘Psycho’-analysis (Movie review): Thanks to Anthony Perkins’ performance, this is a rare 1980s horror sequel that smartly builds on the original.
Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’ (1960) a masterpiece of tension
‘Psycho’-analysis (Movie review): Hitchcock’s horror classic is a masterpiece of slowly ratcheting tension — and that’s before we even meet Norman Bates.
‘30 Days of Night’ (2007) unleashes horror at the top of the world
Frightening Friday (Movie review): The northern Alaska setting is great, but slow pacing and choppy storytelling hamper this vampire flick.