‘Friday the 13th’ (2009) is a fine but forgettable remake
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Marcus Nispel’s remake is slick and competent, but I’m not sure if it was artistically necessary.
Mystery
‘Friday the 13th’ (2009) is a fine but forgettable remake
‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ (2002) goes back to the museum
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): In their third Pendergast novel, the authors embrace the FBI agent as a character, not just a personality.
‘Don’t Look Now’ (1973) a low-key daylight horror gem
Frightening Friday (Movie review): “Don’t Look Now” is one of those movies where I didn’t entirely understand the meaning – but in a good way.
‘Dominion’ (2005) a tame ‘Prequel to the Exorcist’
Exorcising the past (Movie review): Paul Schrader’s film — the second-released “Exorcist” prequel — is so tame that Pazuzu comes off as a good guy.
Merrin meets Pazuzu in ‘Exorcist: The Beginning’ (2004)
Exorcising the past (Movie review): Renny Harlin comes in midway to direct a slick, creepy, continuity-challenged, beat-hitting, respectable prequel.
Blatty’s ‘Exorcist III’ (1990) is meditative, moody
Exorcising the past (Movie review): Based on Blatty’s own book sequel, “Legion,” this third “Exorcist” film dives into Christian-themed horror.
‘Thunderhead’ (1999) shows thrills, scares of the West
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): Nora takes over as P&C’s favorite female lead in a grand adventure that teaches us a lot about Western geography.
‘Turning’ is a flatter James adaptation than ‘Bly Manor’
Movie review: “The Turning” is the lesser of 2020’s Henry James adaptations, as it makes “The Turn of the Screw” too confusing.
‘Riptide’ (1998) an early Preston & Child treasure
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): The authors evocatively portray coastal Maine as treasure hunters take on ancient traps and vicious weather.
‘New Nightmare’ (1994) has great concept, poor execution
Reliving the ‘Nightmares’ (Movie review): “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare” is more interesting than it is good, but at least it paves the way for “Scream.”