Argento makes horror operatic in ‘Opera’ (1987)
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Though not totally eye-opening for fans of Argento’s work, this is one of the director’s most focused productions.
Mystery
Argento makes horror operatic in ‘Opera’ (1987)
With ‘The High Window’ (1942), Chandler sets a high bar
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Plot and characters make a big leap without sacrificing style in the third Marlowe novel.
I kinda love how ‘Heart Eyes’ mixes rom-com with slasher
Movie review: Though mainstream in many ways, the film boasts cleverness and subversiveness along with the always reliable Olivia Holt.
Chandler makes Marlowe human in ‘Farewell, My Lovely’ (1940)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): In the second Marlowe novel, the detective is more grounded than he is superhero-ish.
‘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.
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.