Ricci’s ‘The Gathering’ (2003) is well-meaning, cliched church horror
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Writer Anthony Horowitz (“Poirot”) teases out an original theme from a too-familiar package.
Mystery
Ricci’s ‘The Gathering’ (2003) is well-meaning, cliched church horror
‘The Third Man’ (1949) doesn’t even need a third man to be great
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Starring Cotten and Welles, this is one of the definitive film noirs, elevated by great dialog and fascinating oddities.
‘The Trouble with Harry’ (1955) is that it’s so different
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): Still, this light-dark comedy-drama is worth a watch, and it features perhaps the best scenery in a Hitch film.
‘Marnie’ (1964) is pitch-black and gray and red all over
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): Late in his career, Hitch delivers an interesting film despite a dearth of likeable characters.
‘Number Seventeen’ (1932) shows Hitch’s skill at action
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): But oddly, the director’s sixth sound film is too confusing to rank as a masterful exercise in suspense.
‘Agatha Christie’s Poirot’ takes step backward in Season 5 (1993)
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): The writers adapt the final eight Poirot short stories, and take wild swings, before shifting focus to the novels.
‘Poirot’ skillfully adapts three novels in Season 4 (1992)
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): The show momentarily sets aside short stories to tackle “The ABC Murders,” “Death in the Clouds” and “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.”
Suchet’s ‘Poirot’ gets classier in Season 3 (1990-91)
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): Along with 10 short-story adaptations, this lavish season features an outstanding translation of Christie’s debut novel.
‘Young and Innocent’ (1937) a simpler, sweeter ‘39 Steps’
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): Hitchcock tackles a story similar to “The 39 Steps” in a would-be star-making turn for Nova Pilbeam.
‘Running Grave’ (2023) is Rowling’s literal cult classic
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Robin shows there’s almost nothing she wouldn’t do for the sake of this job as she goes undercover in a powerful but secretive church.