In ‘The Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy’ (1964), babes beat a bandaged bloke
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Not quite horror, not quite horrible, the film’s standout feature is the wrestling action.
Science Fiction
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is more of the same
Movie review: The Monsterverse follows up its 2021 clash of the titans with … a rematch of the titans. And some other stuff that’s already leaving my brain.
‘Eruption’ is a disaster, but not in the intended way
Book review: James Patterson writes a novel based on Michael Crichton’s notes. Despite some curiosity value, the concept should’ve been left dormant.
Body-horror film ‘The Substance’ has plenty of it
Movie review: Both a throwback and a breakthrough, Coralie Fargeat’s dark comedy goes deep into self-confidence and self-sabotage.
‘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.
‘Alien: Romulus’ is saga’s best follow-up since ‘Aliens’
Movie review: Alvarez reminds us of the pleasures of a legacy sequel done right as he taps into 1979 futurism while also respecting Scott’s glossy “Prometheus” concepts.
‘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.
In ‘Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man’ (1951), vaudeville pair confronts the unseen
Frightening Friday (Movie review): It’s about invisibility, a pair of bumbling detectives, and hilarity. But mostly, it’s about boxing.
‘Shining Girls’ (2022): Make it make sense
Throwback Thursday (TV review): A shaky portrayal of a newspaper and even shakier time-travel logistics undercut nice design and good acting.
‘A.I. Rising’ (2018) a surprisingly splendid sexbot story
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Critics have compared it to “Ex Machina,” but a more interesting comparison might be made to “Cast Away.”