‘Cape Fear’ gets both soapier and more violent in miniseries
First episode impressions (TV review): The third adaptation of John D. MacDonald’s novel is poised to go into even darker corners than before.
Television
‘Cape Fear’ gets both soapier and more violent in miniseries
Boothe powers through ‘Philip Marlowe, Private Eye’ (1983, 1986)
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): The quality drops between the two seasons of HBO’s first original dramatic series.
McKenna-Bruce shines as Bundle in ‘Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials’
TV review: Soaking up the vibe from 100 years ago is the main hook of this Christie adaptation, though the mystery eventually kicks into gear.
Argento breaks from giallo for two ‘Masters of Horror’ episodes (2005-06)
Frightening Friday (TV review): The Italian director trades one brand of off-balance horror for another: modern American folk.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ Season 2 has Monsterverse’s best characters
TV review: Kurt Russell and other skilled actors mesh well with the special effects for a surprisingly engaging expansion of the saga.
Carpenter throws a few bones to fans in ‘Masters of Horror’ (2005-06), ‘Suburban Screams’ (2023)
Frightening Friday (TV review): John Carpenter has directed more TV episodes this century than movies. “Cigarette Burns” is definitely worth a look.
‘C.B. Strike’ Seasons 1-6 (2017-24) in no danger of striking out
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): The adaptations – at six seasons and counting – are treats for fans of Rowling’s mystery novels, and “Troubled Blood” even improves on the source material.
‘Buffy’ fans dodge a crossbow arrow with ‘New Sunnydale’ cancellation
TV commentary: The pilot script and other evidence suggests “Buffy” without Whedon’s guidance is “Buffy” in Name Only.
‘A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery’ (1987) elegantly adapts Vane-Wimsey trilogy
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): The three adaptations chronicling their courtship stay faithful to the author’s plots and commentaries on 1930s Britain.
‘Someone’s Watching Me!’ is even more 1978 than ‘Halloween’
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Carpenter efficiently packages Seventies paranoia as a prime-time vehicle for Lauren Hutton.