‘Alice, Sweet Alice’ (1976) driven by a great Evil Kid performance
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Though it lacks the intense scares of pure slashers, this film’s mystery hits on a psychological level.
Mystery
‘Alice, Sweet Alice’ (1976) driven by a great Evil Kid performance
‘A Bay of Blood’ (1971) shows where ‘Friday the 13th’ came from
Frightening Friday (Movie review): The style and practical gore effects remain outstanding, but the plot of this Bava film has never been strong.
Marlowe actually makes friends in ‘The Long Goodbye’ (1953)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): However, that doesn’t turn his life or his job into a breeze in Raymond Chandler’s meatiest novel.
‘Stendhal Syndrome’ (1996) is stupid but rather engaging
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Asia Argento plays the least plausible cop ever, but her father Dario’s directorial style remains a high point.
People aren’t what they seem in ‘The Little Sister’ (1949)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): This decent mystery is a stronger character piece and behavior analysis from Chandler.
‘House on Sorority Row’ (1982) doesn’t do enough with strong female cast
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Mark Rosman’s film serves up a half-dozen well-drawn sorority sisters, but the plotting lets them down.
‘Prom Queen’ invites more disposable ‘Fear Street’ fun
Movie review: The fourth film based on R.L. Stine’s books exercises its nostalgia for the “Prom Night” movies.
‘Rebecca’ (1997) is more faithful to du Maurier’s gothic tragedy
On a Hitchcock kick (TV review): It’s a tad less masterful than the master’s version, but this longer, faithful adaptation isn’t lost in the smoke.
‘Lost Stories’ (2005) gathers Hammett’s hidden gems; plus, it’s a biography
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): In addition to unearthing worthy stories, editor Vince Emery chronicles the author’s life.
Argento comes stateside for hidden gem ‘Trauma’ (1993)
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Rydell and Asia Argento are excellent in this serial-killer mystery that blends giallo with noir.