‘Phenomena’ (1985) won’t bug Argento acolytes
Frightening Friday (Movie review): But even with Jennifer Connelly as an insect whisperer, the film doesn’t diverge from his formula.
Mystery
‘Phenomena’ (1985) won’t bug Argento acolytes
Hitchcock mulls truth, POV, memory in hourlong episodes (1957-62)
On a Hitchcock kick (TV review): Hitchcock directs one episode each of three NBC series he produced: “Suspicion,” “Startime” and “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.”
‘The Big Sleep’ (1946) goes from elite novel to respectable film
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): Though it won’t cause narcolepsy, Hawks’ film is too hampered by censorial limitations to totally capture Chandler’s vibe.
‘Tenebrae’ (1982) a brainy exploration of human violence
Frightening Friday (Movie review): And don’t worry, it’s bloody too, as Argento keeps up with trends in the slasher genre he helped popularize.
Curtis and burgeoning tropes go to ‘Prom Night’ (1980)
‘Prom Night’ saga (Movie review): Another vintage horror franchise launches by roping an annual American event into the slasher fold.
It’s easy to stay alert for Chandler’s ‘The Big Sleep’ (1939)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): The author smoothly takes the baton from Dashiell Hammett in the first of his seven Marlowe novels.
‘April Fool’s Day’ (1986) gets into the weeds of holiday horror
Horror movie flashback (Review): After Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the slasher genre is really pushing it, but this film is mildly fun.
‘Agatha Christie’s Poirot’ gets dark for Season 12 (2009-10)
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): Justice is not so cut-and-dried for Poirot as he tackles his most famous case and three other compelling ones.
It’s hard to break away from ‘Severance’ Season 2
TV review: Despite a couple slow episodes, Dan Erickson’s show succeeds by being a character-driven puzzle box.
‘Oxford Inheritance’ (2016) is cozy but too generic
Book club book report: Ann A. McDonald creates an invitingly mysterious campus, but does nothing remarkable with plot or characters.