#my favorite vincent film ever

[ilovemesomevincentprice]

These guys, I swear... 😆

Vincent Price and Peter Lorre

The Comedy of Terrors (1964) dir. Jacques Tourneur

[saucy-mesothelioma]

October 29th: Meso's Honorable Mentions | Child's Play

Child's Play was released in 1988 and was directed by Tom Holland (no not that Tom Holland). On his sixth birthday, Andy Barclay (played by Alex Vincent) gets the toy he so desperately wanted: a Good Guy Doll. The boy is naturally ecstatic, but his mother Karen (Catherine Hicks) becomes wary when peculiar things begin happening, such as Andy claiming the doll is talking to him and doing things around the house. It isn't until Andy mentions the recently-deceased serial killer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) that Karen begins to believe that not only is her son telling the truth, but that there is something far darker going on beneath the surface.

While the majority of horror franchises have ignored or retconned various aspects of their past films, the Child's Play series is one of the very few that has maintained a rather consistent storyline throughout all seven of its films and even into its TV series (although fans of the franchise such as myself will tell you that it is definitely not without it's flaws). The movies vary greatly in tone and style, although they stick true to the comedic presence that has been present in the film series since the beginning. The thing that probably endears most to the franchise including myself is the fact that the Child's Play series has always been a sort of family affair, both in a figurative sense and a literal one: the majority of the cast and crew have stuck with the series since the beginning and even Brad Dourif's own daughter Fiona Dourif would go on to star in several of the later films as well as the television show. Child's Play is also considered one of the most queer-friendly franchises in horror as well, primarily due to the fact that the creator of the series Don Mancini himself is gay.

I could not find any platforms where you can watch it for free.

Content Warnings for the Film (may contain spoilers): violence, sexual assault (interrupted), jumpscares

Once again, get ready for some behind the scenes info because this movie is absolutely top-notch when it comes to its practical effects.

Although Don Mancini described Chucky's look in his script that were then made into sketches by producer David Kirschner, we have special effects artist Kevin Yagher (who had previously worked on Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter and several Nightmare on Elm Street movies) to thank for bringing Chucky to life (he also met and married Catherine Hicks [Karen Barclay] while working with this franchise, and they're still together today. I just thought that was sweet). In total there were nine different animatronics used for Chucky, each having their own specific purposes such as walking, gestures, and even flailing around. Usually groups of nine would work on one animatronic with one guy operating the eye movement and eye lids, another doing eyebrows, ect. One of my favorite things about the Chucky animatronics are the fact that as Chucky becomes more and more human, so does the doll he's trapped in. The plastic sheen becomes more fleshy, his eyes more sunken, and it even gain's Ray's receding hairline. When Chucky wasn't an animatronic, he was played by Ed Gale, who wore suit and did a fantastic job attempting to replicate the movements of the animatronics. Also just a fun fact Chris Sarandon, who played Detective Mike Norris in this film, also played Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride and voiced Jack fucking Skellington. If you want to see more behind the scenes info, please check out this video on it.

[oneinathousand]

I recently got the 1995 book Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and Horror Cinema by Mark A. Miller and decided to put together some of my favorite quotes. I bought the first edition because it was cheaper, but the second edition had some revisions and expansions, what exactly was different I don't know (I'm sure it addressed Lee's big explosion in popularity in the early 2000's among other things), but there's still lots and lots of interesting material in here; plus, to my surprise the copy I got was signed by the author himself back in 1995, so that's pretty cool.

Anyway, here's some quotes for ya:

These first two quotes are Vincent Price talking about Lee and Cushing which I thought were absolutely darling. Here's the one about Lee:

Everybody told me that he was rather stiff and unbending and not very funny. Well, we screamed with laughter from the minute we shook hands until now. We get along just like mad... write each other rude notes and funny letters and telegrams and postcards and, you know, anything we can find that we know will tickle one another. He's one of the few actors in my life that I have stayed in touch with, strangely enough. If you get him on a subject that he likes, he's very warm and vibrant. I think he's got a wonderful sense of humor, but I don't think everybody knows how to get at it. For some reason or other we strike each other as funny, and it's wonderful fun to be with him.

Here's him about Cushing:

He's nothing like Christopher Lee because Peter's a very wiry, little fellow. But Peter is one of the strongest men I ever knew in my life. I had to do several fight scenes with him [in Madhouse]. My God! He can throw you! He doesn't fake it at all. Nobody warned me about this, and I was sort of battered and bruised. He's a very realistic and very serious-minded actor. I like Peter very much, and I hear from him always at Christmas. On our birthdays we send each other the funniest cards we can find too. He's a very gentle, sweet man. I am very, very fond of him.

Cushing was, in fact, not a little man, but of course Price would have seen him as one from his perspective lol... The part about Cushing apparently being incredibly strong is pretty wild considering Price was referring to him during the making of Madhouse, when he had spent the last 2-ish years losing a lot of weight, smoked like a chimney (the book mentions at one point that he could smoke up to 50-60 cigarettes a day before he quit), was a vegetarian, and was in his early 60's. If he was strong enough to toss Price's tall ass around like a rag doll then (which is a very funny mental image), how strong was he during his prime???

Here's a description of the Lee family cheering up Cushing for the holidays during the making of Horror Express:

He faced his first Christmas without Helen and in a country that was not even his own. Luckily he found solace on Christmas Day in the warm family gathering of the Lees in their Madrid hotel. Gitte and Christina had flown over for the holiday, and they invited Peter to spend the day with them. This was the fourteenth film in which they had both acted since The Curse of Frankenstein fifteen years before, and one that offered them many great scenes together. But their best scene together was the one in that Madrid hotel on Christmas in which Peter Cushing received the emotional support he needed so desperately. The next morning Cushing was back at the studio, cheerfully ready for work.

So sweet... For anyone wondering, this book did not mention anything about Lee supposedly comforting Cushing with his presence in case the latter ever had any night terrors while making Horror Express. I'm starting to think that story might be made up! Maybe it was mentioned in the second edition, or maybe it was mentioned in one of the interviews or whatever that Miller used for researching this book. My search for a primary or secondary source continues.

Here's actress Lorna Heilbron about Cushing and Lee during the making of The Creeping Flesh:

Peter Cushing is a brilliant actor I think. I was, of course, playing his daughter, and Peter had quite recently lost his wife Helen and was grieving for her and was very open about this. He related to me as a father and was tremendously caring and supportive, especially as he felt that I resembled Helen, so we had a rather intense relationship where I felt he really "lived" his part in the film. He came the first day on the set with his script covered, literally covered, with notes he had written about what he felt his character would do or be feeling at any particular time. He also knew down to the last detail what props he would require and had obviously chosen his costumes with immense care. Within all this careful forethought he was very flexible so that if an actor gave him something unexpected, he would respond to this and was willing to go with what was happening "now". He was charming, courteous, and clever and was dearly liked and admired by everyone. At that time he was, as I said, feeling very sad and so was clearly very vulnerable. He would take himself on his own to have a bit of a wander and, I suspect, a jolly good cry. I adored him. I didn't get to know Christopher Lee so well, mostly because I didn't actually have many scenes with him and partly because he kept "himself to himself" as we say over here. I remember he had a most wonderful singing voice, of which he was justly proud, and which would go ringing round the corridors of Shepperton. The crew called him "Rabbity Lee" because he loved to talk, which he did very amusingly and at some length. I have often felt he was a much better actor than some of his material. He and Peter seemed close and distant at the same time. They probably didn't have that much in common apart from a very strong symbiotic working relationship.

Rabbity Lee… 🥲

Next is Price, Lee, and Cushing's opinions on House of the Long Shadows, which I feel each perfectly encapsulate their personalities.

Vincent Price spoke bitterly about the film in 1991: "A disaster - because the man, whoever - I can't even remember his name; psychosomatically I've forgotten it - the guy who directed it and the [editor] who cut it... they just cut all the comedy out of it... I hated it. Desi Arnaz, who was very good in it - they just turned it all over to him so that you never had the four people you wanted to see ever doing anything at all. That was that stupid director." When asked in 1992 if he agreed with Price that the film constituted a missed opportunity for the all-star team-up, Christopher Lee quickly responded: "I do, without a doubt. He was absolutely right. It's the old, old story: get it on film, finish it in time and on budget, and if it's in focus, we can sell it." Asked also of his memories of Pete Walker directing him, Lee replied simply, "He didn't." Peter Cushing's only complaint is that he suffered from bronchitis while making the film in a cold, damp, seventeenth-century manor house in Hampshire that had no heat. Because he found working with Lee, Price, and Carradine to be "a joy," Cushing summed up the film as "lovely to do."

Speaking of House of the Long Shadows, I wanted to bring up one particular criticism Mark A. Miller had of the movie to be very ironic if you've been in the fandom for this era of horror whatsoever on Tumblr. Miller absolutely hated the iconic "bitch" line from Price, saying of it:

Instead of the good-natured, funny lines that work so well in horror send-ups like The Raven, A Comedy of Terrors, and Young Frankenstein, in this film we only hear Price's character call Lee's a "bitch" - the embarrassing epitome of the script's nasty, witless spirit. After Price's line, the film seems more like a cruel practical joke on the venerable cast than an amusing parody of their images.

I agree with many of Miller's takes throughout the book, but definitely not all of them, and this is a case of that. That line's the best part of the movie! It's Vincent Price saying "bitch" in cursive, it's so delicious! Did Miller hate fun? I can't ask him because he's dead. What if the line was an ad-lib from Price, huh? If Miller knew how popular that moment is on this website, he'd probably be baffled, lol.

[wrtingsoftheunknown]

Vincent Sinclair HC

Vincent Sinclair hc SFW and NSFW

I’ve haven’t  been seeing my boy get repped recently so I have to do it myself. My first time writing something on here or towards this character ,I promise I will get better y'al,l I made this super quickly not proofread oops.

SFW

-While he can be insecure about his face he definitely has an ego from being the favorite child and having perfected his craft.

Lester drags him out to go for a ride around town or force him to come to his place for some quality brother time (Bo joins every now and then but wants peace and quiet dammit )

‘I know a lot of people have him learn sign language but I think he either writes what he wants to say, speaks as best as he can, or gestures, ( he was born in the south to parents that I don't think cared about communicating with him too much but he could have picked it up later in life maybe in his teen years or middle school era)

More sadistic than Bo when it comes to killing, he doesn't care if they are dead or alive when working on them and takes satisfaction in the result of his work

He prefers to work in silence but you can catch him humming now and then some country song or a guilty pleasure pop song from the 80’s( I see you Vince)

I think he partakes in multiple forms of art besides wax work.We see he’s able to paint, draw, but he also  takes pictures, , sews, writes, makes videos, anything artistic he’s learning and keeping up with new techniques.

Since he takes video of the killings at times I think they sell them as snuff films to make extra cash on top of stealing and selling victims stuff. (At least that’s what I thought when I first watched the film anyone else or just me)

Rarely happens but will keep victims that interest him like Bo ,but dispose of them when they get boring  or no longer match up the ideal version of them in his head.

-Does want a lifelong partner, the white wedding and picket fence, kids,  but knows it might be difficult with the line of work he does.

- He can talk but only does when it’s important or to emphasize something. He does have a southern draw like Bo and I imagine his voice to sound similar but raspier, maybe deeper/ quieter from not using it as much.

-like I said earlier you have to really catch his attention and be able to hold it for more than a week, if that happens then he’s obsessed and protective maybe a little too over protective.

Does indeed have a hair care routine I believe this full throttle and no one can can tell me otherwise I'm not listening.

NSFW

I don't know if he’s a virgin, I don't think he is something is telling me he isn't, but i’m not sure

He has no problem with nudity, bodies are seen as art, there's not as much of a sexual connotation with them as with Bo and Lester .

He wants to be in love with the person he is intimate with, he wants to be worship and worship his muse.

Drawings  of his partner naked as well as in the midst of a passionate night, he might tease them all night to make sure the sketch is as life like and accurate as possible

Good size and thick that's all I gotta say

Praise kink hard core, hearing his partner call him a good boy or how he makes them feel so good he will crumble

He starts slow and sensual, enjoys the control he has and having someone at his power.

I think he will edge you and leave you high and dry when you act out but he always caves by the end of the day and gives you what you need.

Can last a long time surprisingly

Mainly a giver but someone please for the love of god give this man the nastiest had he’s ever received will make the prettiest noises 

Is down to try anything new and more open about sex than you would think.

When he’s horny he comes up behind his partner and starts caressing every inch he can reach, while resting his chin on their shoulder acting as innocent as he can.

[bogleech]

well, you made a fighting roster for one of your favorite things, bugs, so why not do your second favorite? HALLOWEEN.....but you don't have to if you want.

I actually did that of my own accord with concept sketches once but it was two years ago so a lot of people haven't seen it.

It started when I made up a Darkstalkers fan character; a "scream queen" (type of horror movie actress in the 50's) and Bug Eyed Monster duo, with some more move ideas:

But then I decided to just make a dozen monster fighter characters of my own like it was its own distinct game and not Darkstalkers:

Mermaid who was partially eaten by people who thought it would make them immortal, instead it killed them because she was poisonous but she doesn't know that so her ghost is stuck on a revenge killing spree that can never be satisfied

Cartoon werewolf in a zoot suit and punk rock vampire with boombox coffin, I didn't come up with storyline for them, I just needed a werewolf and a vampire

Frankenstein's daughter who put her brain into her own monster in order to defend humanity against her dad's creations and other supernatural threats, I decided on this partly because I'm not really into superheroes but they're one of the top most common Halloween costumes so I tried to make a Halloweeny one that I'd like

Nurse who accidentally transfused herself with cursed mummy blood. I made this one because there's a picture I drew when I was real little of a bleeding mummy with the words "MUMMY BLOOD" on it that child-me thought was the scariest picture ever, and also because I love the (mostly Japanese) trope of medical themed mummies. Also based on the fact that "sexy nurses" are a top selling Halloween costume and then that easily ties into a Silent Hill reference. This all felt creepypasta-like so she's also like a slendersman

Old fashioned Halloween mascot pumpkin man with a vegetable ghost gang, actually the ultimate villain of the setting and a monster that eats children

"Bogeyman" fighter inspired by edgy 90's comic books, a ragdoll scarecrow grim reaper clown. She's a manifestation of the fears of children, but in the sense that she exists to destroy whatever threatens them so her main goal is to kill all other monsters and especially the pumpkin guy

Entire zombie outbreak as one fighter, represented by a cute little fungus mascot, but every fighting move is performed by zombies coming and going from the ground

shapeshifting space alien disguised as a generic housewife, the human disguise would animate like a doll being played with by invisible hands

Ideas for extra-weird, secret unlockable fighters:

Photorealistic giant insect

Vincent Price parody and all his moves are obvious special effects performed by a film crew in the background the whole time

Mysterious entity in a "morph suit" because that's become such a staple of Halloween costumes. Changes into all manner of colors and printed textures for different moves or is the token "mimic" character.

Completely normal middle aged office worker who was on his way to work when he was accidentally caught in the monster brawl, battles on the power of pure blind panic. The tournament put his name down as "I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE"

[beerok23]

2024 FIC Roundup

In response to those of you who tagged me (@pookasluagh @captainblou and @missunderstoodlyrics) here is my AO3 author interview.

What fandoms do you write in? At the moment, only for Good Omens! But in the past I've written for Friends, The Pretender and Alias.

How many words have you published in 2024? So far, 186,754 words. I'll soon have a new Christmas fic to post that will definitely increase the count to more than 200k.

What is your greatest achievement this year? Starting to write for this fandom. When I started reading canon post S2 fix-it fics at the end of 2023 I didn't know that I would fall in love with AUs. Today I'm sure that this is a fandom that can express the best AU - if only for the fact that canon is 'fantasy' and AU are 'realistic'. I've changed my style from AE to BE and I'm trying to strengthen my writing. It's not always easy, but I've found beta readers who are so helpful in the process. I can't thank them enough.

What are your favorite top three fics you wrote this year? I've only posted two long fics, which are obviously the favorite I wrote: The Tadfield Holiday (A human ‘The Holiday’ AU) Runaway Groom (A human ‘Runaway Bride’ AU)

But as I mentioned, I'll soon post my Xmas fic 🎄🎁

What was your biggest pit of despair moment? I don't think I ever got desperate, but sometimes it's not easy being a non-native speaker. And the thing I've struggled with the most? Smut scenes 😁 What have you learned? Go with the flow. When the flow hits, just go with it. I'm saying this after writing almost 40k words in less than three weeks.

Did you beta any fics? Actually, I am! I'm not a useful beta when it comes to language, but I'm the best cheeleader 😁😁😁

What three fics have you read this year that you love? Only three? Impossible. I've read hundreds of them. I always read fics and most of all I re-read my faves. So here's a few.

and salt the Earth behind you by @sunrisesinthesuburbs The love and respect I have for this author is immeasurable. Just RUN read EVERYTHING she writes. Of course her Borrowed Words is a masterpiece, but I have a special place in my heart for Profiler Aziraphale and CI Crowley.

Overboard by @joanofart5 I write film-inspired AUs, and Joan did the same with this little gem. It's based on the 1980's romcom 'Overboard' and it's funny, and lovely and makes you FEEL all the right feelings.

Find the Light by @klikandtuna Oh, what an extremely talented author 💛 You've got Headmaster!Aziraphale and Rockstar!Crowley all cuddled up in an awesomely fluff story. Wonderful ❤

The New Road (is an old friend) by @missunderstoodlyrics Pastor!Aziraphale meets SingleDad!Crowley and his daughter Mira. Pining ensured and angst that made me die a little (a sweet death, mind you). Still one of my personal faves by this incredibly talented author.

I'll tell you who's in charge by @captainblou is still my fave of them. But even in other fics, Blou has this wonderful way with words and smut scenes and writing badass Crowley who's actually the sweetest creature. And the way they write about trans characters is the best in the fandom.

When Hell Freezes Over by @hermiola She has a WIP (subscribe, it's hilarious) and she's recently finished her Pretty Woman AU "Take a Little Love From Me", but I discovered her with this two-chapters one shot featuring a charming Peter-Vincent-inspired!Crowley and journalist!Aziraphale. I'm so glad we are collaborating, because your writing truly inspires me 💙💙💙

But oh there are so many others fellow authors: @bellisima-writes ("The Last Angel" is one of the more complex well-thought plots I've ever read), @feraltuxedo (If "All lines are open" was a book, I would have consummated its pages by now), @fellshish (My gosh, how many times I've read "Trial & error"?), @lyricalkris ("The Devil Built a Chapel" killed me 💚💛).

What ideas are percolating for next year? One too many. That's why I'll probably stop writing for a bit. I mean, there might be another movie-inspired AU project in the work, but...We'll see 💜

Who do you want to thank? My three besties, @pookasluagh, @somewhere-in-wales and @ineffablerainstorm. You know everything already 💚💛❤💜🧡🤍 And also, all the writers who make this fandom the precious, peaceful place it is. We've been through a lot this year. But we get them back together in less than a month.

And I can't wait.

[nitewrighter]

Raven: now we come to the final film of our marathon, last but not least, “the portrait of asmodeus”, Starring my favorite actor- Pryce Peterson! (Named after Vincent price, Peter Cushing and Cassandra Peterson)

Beast boy: hey, I know about him! Rita showed me some of his movies, she even worked on a couple of his last ones. She said he was a good guy.

Cyborg: let me guess, he was a wizard too? The murders in his movies were real and he blackmailed the studio to cover it up? A vampire? He was possessed by a demon the whole time?

Raven: (offended) NO! He didn’t kill people……..not innocent people anyway. Ok, he was a half demon wizard, but Rita was right, he was a good guy. According to legend some scenes of his movies used footage of his real battles against evil forces. He was never going to be a dr fate or zatanna, I would say he was like a less self destructive Constantine. He spent so much of his early life thinking he was doomed to serve evil, and dedicated the rest to fighting it, and he seemed to have gained a joy for life. One could hardly blame me for looking up to him.

Cyborg: ok, I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if that ghost showed up.

Beast boy: and even if he doesn’t his performance is the most awesome ham!

Raven: that’s the spirit! (Pun may or may not be intended)

Zatanna: So... the House likes you.

Raven: Really? There was a while there where I really thought it was going to eat me and my friends.

Beast Boy: WHAT!?

Cyborg: AND YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!?!?!

Zatanna: Tiaw ni eht rehto moor, eslaep.

*Both Beast Boy and Cyborg blip out of existence*

Raven: Um--

Zatanna: *hand wave* They're fine. But it's good to know there's someone I can trust with the House if I'm ever called away.

Raven: *snort* I don't think it would be fair to bring Gar and Vic along, though.

Zatanna: Mm. Maybe. Though honestly, those two kind of clinched it for me.

Raven: Wait, seriously?

Zatanna: Just like an electrical current needs grounding, magic needs an anchor. And you've got some powerful anchors.

Beast Boy: *banging on the door, muffled through the door* Raven, if she's going to feed you to the House, tell her she can feed me to the House instead!

Cyborg: *also banging on the door* I agree! Feed Beast Boy to the House!

Raven: *yelling through the door* No one's getting fed to the House!

Zatanna: *sigh* They're adorable.

[thealmightyemprex]

Top 10 Favorite Classic actors

So I was thinking of doing a top 10 actors list....But the list was dominated by classic actors ,so doing that list .Might do more modern actors too.Also this is both actors AND actresses

Rule to clasify for classic actor ,I went exclusively with actors who have passed on

10.Christopher Lee-Guy with a long and very varied career,Lee brings a dangerous villanous yet sophisticated and even seductive vibe to most roles

9.Peter Lorre:Arlene Francis once described Lorre as "Our favorite sad eyed villain" and that sums him up well .He brings both a creepines and yet a sense of sadness to many roles while also being an underrated comic talent .Even though type cast as villains he could play diffrent types of villains ,as shown by his three breakthrough performances in M ,Man Who Knew Too Much and Mad Love,where he plays a tormented pathetic childkiller ,a cool levelheaded kidnapper and a obsessed mad stalkerish surgeon with equal pinache

8.Roddy McDowall-Theres a sad cliche that child actors often have bad careers ,Roddy McDowall is a big exception,transitioning from child star to one of the most praised character actors of the 20th century with a six decade career .Be it film,television ,theater or voiceover,McDowall conquered it ,and be it a historical epic , a horror film,a cartoon or a certain franchise about talking apes .....McDowall NEVER phones in ,he brings the sauce

7.Vincent Price : Vincent is one of my favorite personalities of the 20th century ,known for his sophistication and wicked sense of humor .He started out as a matinee idol before finding his niche playing villains ,usually in horror.What I find interesting about Vincent is he is really good at playing the "Man drivent to villainy ",he can play a right evil bastard but his villains tend to be either sympathetic to an extent or they are clearly having a ball so you cant help but like them .Whether villain ,protagonist or even a side role hes just a hoot to watch

6.Boris Karloff -Karloff for YEARS was my go to answer for favorite actor .Of the classic horror stars Karloff is so understated,like he could go big if he wanted to but the little inflections and movements he does are effective enough.PArt of my love for him is his voice,like watch the GRinch or him telling the story of Death and the Servent in Target and you are just pulled in .He can do sinister very well,(I will always remember his slimey grin in The Body Snatcher) but of course his greatest legacy is being the FRankensteinMonster which if you ask me is one of the greatest performances in cinema ,he is brutal and vacant but at the same time sad,frightened and child like

5.Ingrid Bergman -So while I adore Casblanca and she is great in it....It is her performances in Gaslight ,Murder on the ORient Express and especially Anastasia that put her so high.I have never seen a performer just ....."Go there" as well as she does ,so consistantly and I kind of forget Im watching a movie .Shes not higher cause I just havent seen enough of her

4.Humphrey Bogart-Bogart is cool,and while Ive always thought he was cool,i wasnt initially impressed by ol Boagey .......The more stuff Ive seen with him the more I realize beneath that coolness is a really good actor who can do comedy,romance,be a tough guy and even be the second most paranoid nervous wreck of a villain I have ever seen (Behind Tony Goldwyn in Ghost ),theres more to him then just being cool

3.Katherine Hepburn;.....DO I have to explain placing one of the greatest performers of the 20th century so high? .....Just watch Philidelphia Story,African Queen and Lion and Winter,youll get it

2.Eli Wallach-I pretty much love this guy anytime he appears in something .Hes another guys who can play vilains but add a layer .Hes always entertaining and he played one of my favorite film characters ever Tuco in The Good the Bad and the Ugly

1.Claude Rains.....I think Claude Rains should be called the greatest actor of the 20th century over the likes of Charles Laughton,LAurance Olivier and John Gielgud.....Cause this guy TRAINED Charles Laughton,Laurance Olivier and John Gielgud !!!!!He is one of the greatest character actors of the 20th century .He has possibly the greatest voice of any actor (The competition is James Earl Jones and James Mason ) which was so striking,his big break was the Invisible Man ,a movie where you dont even SEE HIM .Man did horror,adventure ,sci fi ,musical ,dramas and was in both Casablanca (As my favorite film character ever Louis Renault ) AND Lawrance of Arabia ,AKA two movies considered pretty darn good .And if you want more proof ,watch his death scene in Deception where he is shot by Bette Davis ....And just smirks and says "You fool ".I stand by Rains being my absolute favorite actor

So thats my list,share your favorits if you want ,or just share your thoughts on mine

@piterelizabethdevries @the-blue-fairie @ariel-seagull-wings @themousefromfantasyland @theancientvaleofsoulmaking @princesssarisa @countesspetofi @amalthea9 @barbossas-wench

[jadedbirch]

I finally watched the 2023 French fanfic of my favorite book, i.e. The Three Musketeers: Milady, part deux of Martin Bourboulon's two-part adaptation of the Alexadre Dumas' novel. I talked about part 1 - The Three Musketeers: d'Artagnan - earlier, but I like to think of them of them together as one oeuvre, since they were shot as one film and then split into two cinematic releases.

Those of you who know me, understand by now that my movie reviews predominantly judge these movies not as standalone works of cinema but as adaptations. I don't ever ask for historical or canonical accuracy (which I have long ago accepted is much too much to ask for), but what I look for is that the plot and the characters serve the underlying spirit of the original Dumas novel. And perhaps this is why, more so than with other - admittedly much more terrible - adaptations, this one just makes me blind with rage. I don't know when filmmakers decided that how we like our morally gray characters is somehow justified, redeemed, and generally de-clawed. If what they were going with here was to make Milady de Winter, the murderous villainess of the novel, into some kind of a post-feminist hero, then they have failed miserably. (Lots of spoilers below the cut)

I don't usually feel the need to put SPOILER warnings on adaptations of the 3 Musketeers, but this ones veers so far off plot that I'm putting it here just in case.

Let's start by saying that it is certainly not Milady who is the main villain of these movies. It's not even Cardinal Richelieu, the man who seems to pull her strings. Rochefort, sadly, does not even appear in this adaptation, and honestly, I feel like docking a point just for that. Apparently M. Bourboulon decided that Dumas' masterpiece just wasn't interesting enough on its own, so he felt the need to "beef" it up, i.e. rewrite the narrative by taking out critical characters like Rochefort and Lord Winter and substituting them with new characters like Mathilde (Aramis' knocked-up sister), Benjamin (Athos' Protestant!!! brother) and maligning poor Gaston le duc d'Orleans by making him the main villain of the duology. Which is a damn shame, because these were all one-note characters foisted upon us at the expense of delightful assholes who made the original novel so fun to read.

And that goes for all the main characters here, including the titular Milady herself. Book!Musketeers are young, reckless assholes, who wench, fight, gamble and generally engage in very questionable behavior. You know, "boys will be boys" - and I do mean that with every possible connotation, i.e. they're horrible. By taking away their youth (excuse moi but Vincent Cassell, who plays Athos, is in his 60's LMAO), Bourboulon would have stripped their bad behavior of any of the benefit and charm of youth. So, I guess, Bourboulon decided to get rid of the bad behavior entirely, instead. Other than Porthos having an occasional bisexual threesome (bless), and Athos drinking while brooding, we don't really see any of the musketeers being the delightful assholes that I, for one, expect them to be. Strip away everything else, but do not ever take the assholery away from me! Here, they are old and they are boring, and honestly, it makes absolutely no historical or narrative sense that any of them are still in the service.

As for d'Artagnan, our hero, he is painted with such a chaste and faithful brush that I'm not actually sure - is this the same shithead who in the book fucks Milady's maid so that he can pretend to be Milady's boyfriend in the dark and sleep with her without her consent??? Hm... nope. This d'Artagnan is so faithful to his Constance, even though they barely touched hands, that he rebuffs Milady's (very assertive) attempts at (inexplicably) seducing him. Oh dear, oh dear, you might say. How is she supposed to spend the rest of the movie trying to get her revenge against him for raping her? Oh, that's right. She's not!

This Milady is no villainess but she's certainly no post-feminist heroine either. Her backstory is so cliche, it is for to weep, and I raged and ranted at great length about it here. She was forced to marry at 15! To some unnamed man who beat and raped her! And whom she killed - a totally justifiable homicide - before somehow falling in love and marrying Old Man Athos and bearing him a child (future Mordaunt? I see you, cutie!). But alas, Old Man Athos learned of her past crime - because she told him - and turned her over to the authorities, resulting in her being branded (natch) and then hanged (convenient how Athos doesn't actually get his own hands dirty). This Milady has literally Never Done A Thing Wrong. Since there's no Lord Winter, there's no poisoned husband. She never succeeds in killing Buckingham or having him killed. She never tries to even so much as look at d'Artagnan wrong, in fact, they keep saving each other's lives for Reasons of the Narrative, none of them particularly compelling. And finally, our poor Constance, I was really rooting for her to survive this AU, but alas. She ends up once again doomed by the narrative, but so stupidly, that I honestly don't know what to say. It made absolutely no sense for Queen Anne to hide her in England with the Duke of Buckingham since doing so would have implicated her in both treason and adultery. BUT WHAT IS LOGIC? Anyways, suffice to say, it's not Milady's fault that Constance ends up dead in d'Artagnan's arms by the end of the movie.

Don't get me wrong. This Milady is very hot (she is played by Eva Green, after all). But there's really nothing interesting or compelling about her as a character. She's a survivor, determined to survive. WHICH SHE DOES. Yay, it's a Milday-is-alive-at-the-end AU! And, honestly, good for her. By all means, girl, you kill that old man who betrayed you and handed you over to be hanged! He doesn't deserve you! And you abduct your own son and smuggle him out of France to teach that old man a lesson! But for the love of all that is holy, can you please, PLEASE raise him to be at least a tiny bit evil???? Please???

I am begging, can we just let villains be villains? Milady's original character was so much more fabulous not because some man beat and raped her but because of her ability to bend men to her will and whim throughout the novel. She outwits and outmaneuvers all of our "heroes," leaving a titillating trail of bodies and broken hearts in her wake, and it takes TEN MEN in the end to hunt her down and execute her. And listen, Athos spends the rest of his life trying to atone for it. THAT IS HER POWER. This Milady? Blah. And while we're here, this Athos? Double blah. I don't care, let her kill him. There's absolutely nothing interesting about this man. (And yes, I think hanging your wife for lying to you and then becoming a murderous alcoholic about it is very interesting, Athos. Very interesting, indeed.) I'd rather watch Vincent Cassell in Eastern Promises 20 more times - now THAT was a character worth his acting skill!

As for the movies themselves, it's sad to say that the only time both my wife and I felt ANY level of investment was close to the very end, when we were waiting to find out whether Constance was going to die. And most of that was due to the extremely convoluted narrative bending that defied logical sense and occasionally space and time. We did not give a shit about anything else, which does not, generally speaking, a great cinematic experience make. And where Part I at least gave us a few moments of levity and a great win for humanity in bisexual Porthos, Part II is merely dark, drab, and joyless.

Final grade for both parts: I give it a C- as a film and a D as an adaptation, in which the only thing that saves it from being an F is Eva Green's hotness.

[all-souls-matinee]

Quick-bite reviews: The Tingler (1959) dir. William Castle

When happy-go-lucky coroner/pathologist/mad scientist doctor Warren Chapin finds cracked vertebrae during an execution postmortem, it's obvious to him that the corpse was a victim not just of the state but of literal spine-tingling terror: an inborn human spine parasite dubbed 'the tingler' that responds to fear with vice-like grip on its host. The tingler looks like a cross between a dachshund, a garbage bag, and a velvet worm, makes 1950s domestic problems worse, and is rendered harmless by the sound of screams.

This movie is better known for its schlocky gimmicks than any filmmaking prowess; director Castle stepping in to explain that perceptive viewers will feel the tingler in the theater with them and should scream to ward it off, with a series of interaction points to follow. You might remember a tumblr post making the rounds that claimed audiences were given electric shocks to simulate a tingler attack, but the truth of select seats gently vibrating is much funnier, as more than half of the film's budget was spent on selling theaters sets of repurposed WWII aircraft cooling motors. Because The Tingler is discussed more as a cultural object than a watchable movie I didn't expect the plot to have any substance, but I actually got a huge kick out of it. The melodrama's fun, the dialogue is snappy, Dr. Warren might now be one of my favorite Vincent Price performances ever, and Judith Evelyn is excellent both as an actress and for her part in a genuinely cool effects sequence. I also love the tingler lore?? It's clear just how much thought and care went into making their monster without over-explaining it, and I won't spoil the way it moves or the way it SOUNDS. Most importantly, The Tingler sets itself apart in B-moviedom with one of the funniest plot points in any horror media I've seen. Warren wants to experience the tingler but is sadly just too brave for it; how ever will he get scared in a controlled and quantifiable way?...

Buy a ticket? Sure, it's fun! Though I think best enjoyed if you've got someone on the couch with you to tingle. oooo

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

whats your favourite movie of all time??

I love ur movie tag👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩

[very sorry, this got very long and it’s not been proofread 🤪]

I have two favorite movies of all time (ok, actually, many more but these are the 2 major ones)! both directed by the same person! I oscillate wildly between which one I love the most all the time, but it really mostly depends on which of the two I’ve seen more recently…..anyways, the movies are

Heat (1995) and Manhunter (1986)! both directed by Michael Mann:)

Heat (1995)

what is this film? is it a 3 hour action thriller, a crime drama starring such hollywood juggernauts as al pacino and robert de niro, or a heist movie featuring one of the best shootout scenes committed to film ever? neither of those things:) or rather those are the least interesting things about this film, but somehow the general public and most of the reviews only talk about that. which is a huge shame! so, what’s it Really about then?

it is very much about existential loneliness and desire to be seen and understood by someone else. told through the lens of a “los angeles crime saga” because Michael Mann absolutely does like the aesthetics of those kinda films, but that’s just window dressing, guys come on! yes, the heist and the following shootout are absolutely iconic but what about the underlying themes guysssss!!!

it is about two people finally meeting in person, after eluding each other for over an hour of movie’s runtime; sharing a very brief scene together, when you consider it against the movie’s overall length, and that brief moment being the most significant moment of connection they’ve ever experienced with anyone in their entire lives. and then, it’s over and they part ways again…..or do they?

and what if those two people were a crime detective* and a criminal* he was trying to catch*. and the director considered them to be each other’s soulmates pretty much……what then….

* and what if the film challenged such notions as what it means to be a criminal and a cop. and actually didn’t cast one as the hero/protagonist and the other as the villain/antagonist and instead subtly illustrated why some resort, or rather are forced, to the life of crime in capitalist society…..

and what if this movie was one of the most Romantic films of all time…..in the sense of romanticism, not romance! although, if you really Perceive then yeah of course there’s romance too, you just won’t find it in the movie’s heterosexual relationships*……

* bc most of Mann films are centered around a pretty specific type of masculinity and the way it’s shaped by usa-american capitalist and patriarchal society. And the way women, more often than not, are collateral damage in lives of those men…..(the way it affects mann’s female characters is another topic of discussion tho, but let it be said that women in mann’s films have never been fridged or used for manpain, or sexualized).

but the relationship and the whole notion of romance between neil and vincent are very much of not to be/not in this universe variety. time is luck in Mann-verse and relationships and moments of true intimacy and understanding are often fleeting and far in between. it is just not a possibility for these characters, being who they are. and both vincent and neil are dead set in their perceptions of themselves and life in general…..and so the ending is quite tragic, for them both:))) anyways, so much of the connection between these two is portrayed indirectly, in between lines and not thru actual on screen interactions. and it is very much on purpose!

every time I see this movie I cry when the final credits start rolling! I’d be sitting there and just bawling my eyes out! it’s just an immensely emotionally affecting film for me.

would I recommend watching it? yes, absolutely! it’s is truly Great Cinema. but also….the thing which Michael Mann is that you either get it or you don’t! To me, he’s the only director whose movies truly get me! they are for meeeeeee and no other director appeals to my sensibilities as much as Mann! Even down to the way Mann utilizes the color Blue in his films! To others, heat (1995) is just another heist movie for dude bros……

btw, first time I saw this I rated it like 3,5 out of 5 but loved the ending because I’ve never seen something like this in “crime thrillers”. then after some time, I rewatched it and loved it. then, rewatched it again and loved it even more. I’ve seen heat (1995) 9 times i think and I cannot wait to rewatch it again. there’s so much going on at all times! and all Michael Mann films are extremely rewatchable (to me).

Wanna end this post with the quote from Mann himself:

oh, forgot to add: the cast is superb, the script is great, the cinematography and sound design are stunning and the ost absolutely rocks!

ill talk about manhunter (1986) later maybe

[ilovemesomevincentprice]

Vincent Price and Basil Rathbone

The Comedy of Terrors (1963) dir. Jacques Tourneur

[filminghere]

I was tagged by @norashelley, as well as @chantalstacys and @marciabrady (on my main) to post my to share my nine favorite first watches of 2023 (I know January's almost over alksdjfa). Thank you to all three of you for tagging me! I look forward to doing this every year :). I didn't watch that many new films in 2023 and most of the ones I watched were pretty darn bad lol. These were definitely the nine I enjoyed best, in chronological order.

💖 One Way Passage (1932), dir. Tay Garnett | A super well-directed film that's very somber in a good way. Bill Powell is also probably the most charming actor I've ever seen. 💖 Top Hat (1935), dir. Mark Sandrich | I just casually watched this on an airplane because I don't usually care much for 30s musicals or the kinds of characters I see Fred Astaire usually play, but I really loved him in this. I also don't usually like misunderstandings (a huge part of the plot is one big misunderstanding), but the film handled in it in such a comedic and engaging way. 💖 Daughters Courageous (1939), dir. Michael Curtiz | Literally the perfect romance movie made for me minus the absolutely heartbreaking ending :(. 💖 Mr. Skeffington (1944), dir. Vincent Sherman | I really love watching Old Hollywood romantic melodramas haha. Bette Davis and Claude Rains never fail to entertain, and this movie was also way sadder than I expected it to be (in a good way). 💖 Mrs. Parkington (1944), dir. Tay Garnett | A historical romance story made for me :'). Greer Garson is also perfect in everything, and I was so shocked to see Walter Pidgeon play such a domineering yet likable character. He did it so well. 💖 The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945), dir. Albert Lewin | I enjoyed watching this movie more than reading the book 😅. Very well-directed. The cinematography is a work of art, and I love how so many things are conveyed visually instead of through words. 💖 Marty (1955), dir. Delbert Mann | I'd say that this is the only movie on this list that knocked me off my feet because it's so darn good. So beautifully understated and lowkey in its tone and subject and so tight in terms of acting and pacing. 💖 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), dir. Henry Selick | Yes, I've gone this many years of my life without ever having seen this movie in full, and it was very good! I'm very impressed with how pleasant, likable, and simple it is. I love that it doesn't try to be anything more than what it is. It's so lovely and earnest. 💖 The Most Reluctant Convert (2021), dir. Norman Stone | I don't usually like movies with long monologues or dialogue, but Max McLean is a very engaging actor, and I like the extensive use of long shots. I also really enjoyed the scenery and sets; they're very pretty.

Tagging @sonnet77, @valsemelancolique, @glamourofyesteryear, @audreytotter, and anyone who wants to do it!

[snapghoul]

Collateral (2004) analysis

Rated: R Director: Micheal Mann Genre: thriller

Sooo, Snaps just watched Collateral for the first time and the film degree hat is coming back on for this one kids. Buckle up because like this movie this is gonna be a roller coaster.

Spoilers below

Summery: The film centers on Max Durocher (Foxx), a Los Angeles cab driver who accepts a lucrative fare from Vincent (Cruise). What starts as a simple job quickly spirals into a nightmare as Max realizes Vincent is a hitman on a deadly contract killing spree, taking him hostage and forcing him to drive through the night.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

Let’s start with the standout: Tom Cruise as the villain.

Vincent is one of the best-written antagonists I’ve seen in years. He has ruthless moments that remind us he’s not a good man, yet he also shares meaningful, deep dialogues with Max that leave viewers questioning his motives. Cruise skillfully portrays Vincent's complexity, shifting seamlessly between innocence, intelligence, and a menacing aura reminiscent of a horror movie. I’ve never been scared of Tom Cruise, ever. That being said. Vincent scared the fuck outta me at the end and I love that, he’s such a well written menacing character.

Initially, Vincent comes across as a cold-blooded killer, but as the night unfolds, we see layers to his character—he has emotions, and his job isn't the only driving force behind his actions. In a pivotal moment, he saves Max, pausing for a split second in contemplation that hints at his internal struggle. However, that moment of humanity is quickly overshadowed by his relentless pursuit of Max and Annie, transforming him into a terrifying force.

As the film shifts from realism to horror, Vincent becomes a bloodhound, expertly tracking them down with nightmarish precision, he’s bleeding and rabid, he suddenly knows exactly where they went. His demise is strikingly surreal; he simply tilts his head and dies, as if he’s run out of battery—there’s no dramatic exit, not even a glimpse of life leaving him, just an eerie stillness that enhances the dreamlike quality of the ending narrative.

And the iconic line, “Yo homie! That my briefcase?”—top tier writing of humor and menace that captures his character brilliantly.

Cinematography:

This film is absolutely stunning. The noise, angles, blur, lighting, and locations come together to create a visual feast. The combination of digital and film gives it a gritty realism, while the handheld shots immerse you in the characters' world. If I could eat this film I would.

The angles within the tight confines of the taxi are expertly utilized, revealing the complex dynamic between Max and Vincent. One of my favorite moments is the scene with the coyotes, where both characters are framed on the same side of the car, allowing us to see their reactions in tandem. Vincent’s brief moment of unfocused surroundings adds an extra layer of depth.

The sound design is equally impressive, grounding the film in reality until the final act. The gunshots are strikingly authentic, tailored to their environments—Vincent’s shots echo ominously in the alley, while the silencer’s sound is muted in the jazz club. As they should realistically.

The coyotes:

Though probably not scripted, the coyotes in this scene carry significant symbolic weight. Traditionally seen as tricksters, they embody deeper themes within the film. The two coyotes represent contrasting perspectives.

For Max, they highlight his feelings of isolation and alienation in the modern urban landscape. Surrounded by a vibrant, bustling city, he feels utterly alone and unmoored, lacking friends and avoiding risks.

For Vincent, the coyotes symbolize the predatory nature of life in a metropolitan environment. He represents the hunter, actively shaping his destiny and manipulating circumstances to his advantage. This juxtaposition suggests that while humans have constructed and dominated Los Angeles, the presence of the coyotes serves as a reminder that nature and fate cannot be entirely controlled or dismissed. Their appearance is a bold statement that the forces outside of human influence will always persist.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

Snaps overall score: 10/10

This film is a gritty, beautifully crafted story set over the course of one intense night. It's a relentless ride that keeps you on edge, with pacing and character dynamics that disorient the viewer. The thriller elements sneak up on you and you don’t notice it until it’s quite literally in your face. I highly recommend this film if you are able to watch it.

[not-wholly-unheroic]

The Many Faces of Captain James Hook

With the release of the first promotional images of Jude Law’s Captain Hook for Disney’s upcoming Peter Pan and Wendy, there’s been a lot of complaints about both the costuming choices made and the fact that Law’s Hook bears little physical resemblance to the captain’s more “traditional” look and seems to be older than most versions with his graying locks. Some have even gone so far as to call Law’s Hook “ugly”—which I find rather unfair and even laughable. (If you find Jude Law in any role ugly, your male beauty standards are ridiculously high and I hate to think how hideous you must think most average people are.) Further, it’s a bit shallow to reduce a character completely to his physical attractiveness—especially a character as complex and complicated as Captain James Hook. Barrie’s Hook was described as being handsome, yes, but the popular vision of Hook as being an inherently “sexy” character is a fairly modern phenomenon in the story’s history—probably largely due to Jason Isaacs’ performance in the 2003 Peter Pan and, more recently, Colin O’Donoghue’s “Killian Jones” (who isn’t even technically James Hook) for Once Upon a Time. But the character has existed for close to 120 years, and in that time, he has borne many faces—some instantly recognizable as our favorite captain; others less so. He has worn a variety of colors and clothing styles, had nearly every shade of hair, and possessed varying degrees of facial hair. In fact, you may be surprised to find that the iconic waxed mustache, red coat, and ostrich plumed hat likely didn’t become mainstream until around the time Disney put out their version of the film. (That’s not to say other, previous Hooks didn’t ever have these characteristics. Only that Disney was probably the catalyst that solidified the look into the mind of the fandom.) For those who may not be as familiar with the history of the Hooks, let’s take a quick look at some of the lesser known versions of the character…some of whose influences can still be seen in Law’s Hook.

Here we see the costume design for Captain Hook by William Nicholson for the first production of Peter Pan, Duke of York's Theatre, 1904. You’ll notice the concept art doesn’t feature the bright red coat or any pluming on the tricorn hat.

You can see how this costume idea might have translated onto an actor in this image of one of the earliest actors to play Hook on stage, Robb Harwood.

Notice, he has no facial hair at all and although he looks like a gentleman, he’s far less “frilly” than the standard Hook is today.

The iconic mustache is also conspicuously absent in the silent film’s Hook, played by actor Ernest Torrence. He also still has the tricorn hat without any plumage. Note that Barrie was still alive at the time of the silent film when it came out in 1924, and some of his suggestions made it into the film.

Another early Hook, played by famed horror actor Boris Karloff for the 1950 Bernstein musical looks downright terrifying.

He has the mustache and the hair going on but I don’t know if I’d call him exactly “handsome” here.

Then we get to the 1960s. This seems to be about the time that we get the bicorn hat that Law’s Hook wears in the promotional photo. It shows up both in some scenes with Cyril Ritchard’s version of the character (notably, Ritchard was in his 60s when the film version was recorded, and his Hook has gray hair)—though he also has the red plumed hat we associate with most modern Hooks—and in Vincent Price’s stage Hook (sadly, not recorded to my knowledge).

Of course, we also get Disney’s version of Hook in 1953, and after that, we start to see more of the “iconic” Hook look that we’re used to with a few exceptions, such as Fox’s Hook from the 1990 series Peter Pan and the Pirates, who has white hair, no facial hair, and a dark navy blue/black outfit.

Despite looking more like an angry Quaker Oatmeal man than the usual Captain Hook, this guy gets a lot of love from the fandom because Tim Curry’s voice acting knocks it out of the park and personality wise, his Hook is both refined and threatening.

We also have to remember that even Hoffman’s 1991 version of the captain is likely much older than (and not quite as good looking as) he comes off as when he’s fully made up. Recall the scene near the end when he loses his wig:

And Rhys Ifans’ “prequel” Hook in SyFy’s Neverland (2011) hardly looks like a Hook at all when we first meet him.

Even after his transformation into the pirate we’re more familiar with, he still has the “wrong” hair color and no mustache.

Yet he manages to get the right “feel” for Hook, which makes up for everything else, epitomizing the messed up father figure in Peter’s life, inspiring both our sympathy and revulsion.

My point in saying all of this is not to explicitly praise Law’s Hook or make any kind of judgement—for that, we’ll have to see the film itself—but to simply remind folks that Hook has worn many faces over the years, and ultimately, what he looks like matters less than the actor and director’s grasp of who he is as a person. Hook, as a fan favorite, has some incredibly large boots to fill and whether or not Law will live up to those expectations remains to be seen. But let’s give the guy (and his character) a chance to speak for himself before we go judging too much. Some of the greatest Hooks haven’t always looked like what we’d expect him to.

[knightotoc]

ranking all the scary movies/shorts/TV I saw and the scary books/stories I read this spooky season (August - October)

Mr. Vampire (hilarious 80s kung fu-jiangshi-ghost bride movie from Hong Kong)

The Innocents (rewatched this beloved 60s British ghost movie about abandonment vs smothering, grief vs insanity)

Carrie (iconic 70s tragi-goofy sexploitation-turned-bloodbath movie)

The Beast in the Jungle (Henry James short story about the horror of missed opportunity, a la I Saw The TV Glow) (which would have been #1 but I saw it before my arbitrary cut off date)

Dracula + Spanish Dracula 1931 (rewatched beloved Dwight Frye vehicle + finally watched its filmed-by-night Spanish counterpart, and learned you gotta see them together)

The Curse of Frankenstein (finally watched some 50s Hammer horror with Peter Cushing as the nastiest Frankenstein ever and Christopher Lee as a pathetic wet cat)

Dracula (más Hammer with da boys)

The Way It Came (another Henry James that I especially liked for being strangely funny)

The Haunting of Bly Manor (rewatched beloved TV show and found more flaws in it this time, oops🙃 but it got me to read these Henry Jameses so 👏 and it still got me to cry 👏)

Boogeyman (free YouTube movie from 2005 that everyone thinks is terrible except for me, I thought it was absolutely fantastic, though that might have to do with all the parallels I was seeing to Attack of the Clones)

Personal Shopper (heartbreaking and beautiful Kristen Stewart vehicle)

American Psycho (the most disturbing book I've ever read, by far the most fucked thing here)

The Exorcist III (I never saw the first one but I skipped to part 3 for my man Brad Dourif and Blatty's always relatable spiritual torment)

Viy (super fun 60s Soviet man vs ghost lady movie)

Weeping Woman Way (I found a new Junji Ito at the library and this was my favorite story, as someone who used to cry all the fucking time)

The Romance of Certain Old Clothes (Henry James story about envy and repression, if you can believe it)

The Metamorphosis of Mr. Samsa (brilliant Canadian animation short from the 70s made by pushing sand around to give a swirling, wiggly feeling)

The Last Man on Earth (bleak and quite accurate Vincent Price adaptation of the Matheson novella)

Nightbreed (really fun Clive Barker "mean humans vs nice monsters" movie)

Dead Ringers (beautifully sad Cronenberg about the tragedy of utter codependence)

Scanners (an earlier Cronenberg about psychic connections, which is one of my favorite themes)

Society (fun rich people body horror cult movie with a fabulous finale; I thought the rest of it was quite touching too)

Butcher Baker Nightmare Maker (👏camp👏)

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? (terrifying short story from the 60s about a demon kidnapper by Joyce Carol Oates from Twitter)

The Spirit Flow of Aokigahara (another great one from the Junji Ito book which has an evil mlm makeout and a totally fucked Logan Paul reference)

Minnie the Moocher (very very good Betty Boop, featuring rotoscoped Cab Calloway)

The Lord of the Rings (speaking of rotoscoped, Bakshi's wacky 70s animation which PJ kind of ripped off, kind of improved, but has its own fabulous character that had me weeping the nerdiest tears I've shed since like 2017)

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (weird and beautiful Thai movie from 2010 that definitely counts as existential horror)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle (people seem very critical of this 2018 adaptation of the Shirley Jackson novella, but I loved it, especially the way it so often keeps the camera on the fiercely protected ground)

Possession (weird European-y movie that is really good but I had a bit of a hard time getting into)

Isle of the Dead (slow 40s Boris Karloff movie with some fantastic agnostic angst)

The Curse of Dracular (very cute new claymation short a guy made for his dad)

Slumber (another Junji Ito, another on the theme of a psychic connection)

The Jolly Corner (really cool Henry James story, also about missed opportunity, specifically a dissolute ex-pat fighting his mean and greedy remained-in-America-sona)

Audition (nasty Japanese time-bendy anti-romance)

The Uninvited (40s movie with a very similar ghost effect to Personal Shopper; I watched it twice and enjoyed the second time more since there's a big twist that reframes everything; saddest ghost crying I've ever heard)

Rope (the gay Hitchcock one; makes me want to see a stage production where the Jimmy Stewart character is actually fruity)

Train to Busan (fun and emotional Korean zombie movie with a kinda stupid ending)

Blade (90s comic book vampire movie with the Volturi if they were Protestant)

Hellboy (romantic and transgender-ish comic book movie from 2004)

Perfect Blue (90s anime movie that predicted internet parasocial relationships; very good but I have some beef with it)

Never Open That Door (50s Argentine anthology movie that goes great with Black Sabbath and Shadow of a Doubt)

Dead of Night (40s British anthology movie with a brilliant framing device)

The Phantom of the Monastery (30s Mexican movie that really understands how horrifyingly effective Catholicism is at preserving stuff)

Eyes of Laura Mars (faboo 70s fashion slasher with another psychic connection)

Nosferatu (rewatched with the Radiohead soundtrack being shown at indie theaters, I thought it was awesome)

Madonna (Junji Ito vs Catholicism feat. pillars of salt)

An American Werewolf in London (very funny Landis movie with a really annoying romance)

The Alter of the Dead (Henry James anti-romance with a kinda weak ending)

The Ruins (silly plant horror movie that feels like the Hunger Games extended universe)

The Ruins (I preferred the movie because the plants just get too smart in the book)

Darth Plagueis (Star Wars at its coldest and meanest!)

Let the Right One In (creative Swedish vampire movie with some great ideas and some really stupid ones)

Hell Followed With Us (ig I'm too old for YA, but I appreciated the representation)

Don't Look Under the Bed (the scariest DCOM; pretty fun lore)

The Legend of Hell House (horny 70s movie that keeps turning me off then winning me back, feat. Peter Cushing's Van Helsing's boyfriend Michael Gough)

The Happening (the Shyamalan that's bad ... on purpose?)

Friday the 13th (fun to watch but man it is not good)

Practical Magic (frustrating cozy 90s witch movie)

Creature from the Haunted Sea (Corman parody with one or two good jokes: "Little did they know that I, Sparks Moran, was an American agent... My real name was XK150")

Carrie (the boring remake with Ansel Elgort, boo!)

Son of Dracula (dreadful 70s Ringo Starr thing with potentially interesting lore and a kinda iconic blood transfusion scene)

Hearts and Flowers (creepy 1930 stop motion that is pretty cool and imaginative but also racist af)