De Palma breaks out with Hitchcock mashup ‘Sisters’ (1972)
Frightening Friday (Movie review): The director’s first horror film is a ridiculous but undeniably watchable romp.
Mystery
De Palma breaks out with Hitchcock mashup ‘Sisters’ (1972)
‘The Birds’ (1952) flies higher as a short story than as a movie
On a Hitchcock kick (Book review): Stay beyond the Hitchcock homework for other du Maurier classics in the nine-story “Don’t Look Now” collection.
‘The Two Jakes’ (1990) brings ‘Chinatown’ into the ’40s and ’90s
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): We didn’t get Robert Townes’ full trilogy, but at least we got one more go-around with J.J. Gittes.
‘Stage Fright’ (1950) puts love rectangle at center stage
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): Though intriguing, this Hitchcock film raises the question of what degree of misinformation is fair to the audience.
We’re caught in the Shyamalan ‘Trap’ yet again
Movie review: For the second straight year, Night delivers a high-concept horror film that’s undone by poor directorial choices at key moments.
‘Teacup’ extends the ubiquity of Puzzle Box shows
First episode impressions (TV review): This short (?) and stout series is the latest in a genre with decreasing thrills and surprises.
‘Chinatown’ (1974) links two eras of film noir
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Polanski blends an iconic Nicholson turn, a good political mystery and California water-utilities history in this classic.
‘Secret Agent’ (1936) serves up early, inconsistent spy gaming
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): The Master of Suspense is still learning his craft on this ambitious but muddy British picture.
‘Dressed to Kill’ (1980) is De Palma’s Hitchcock master class
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The writer-director expands on the filmmaking principles and themes of “Psycho” in a candidate for his best film.
‘Jurassic Park’-style concepts don’t face ‘Extinction’ yet
Book review: Douglas Preston uses a Crichtonian concept as a launching point for a mysterious page-turner up to his usual standards.