What is more destructive, the creator or the creation? This is a question that is on my mind in light of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a film that has left me with some things to think about. I wasn't expecting this; if anything, I was expecting it to keep me mildly interested given that I have..
Read moreThe Ninth Configuration (1980)
There is an abstractness to concepts such as being, knowing, time, and space; an abstractness that I find intriguing in that concrete things are clearly defined and the things that aren't aren't. Both are on opposite ends of the spectrum, and yet the physical world is not unaffected by factors such as time and space,..
Read moreNosferatu (1922)
When you have a character who has such a presence and such an aura about him, you have a formula for an influential and beautiful film; a formula that keeps the viewer enthralled and captivated as the story unfolds. This is part and parcel of Nosferatu, and the fact that it is easy to follow..
Read moreDARK ANGEL (1990)
Explosions, drug dealing, endorphin extracting, projectile weapons, and a high speed pursuit. And to think that coming in peace meant no violence whatsoever. One thing is certain: it's Christmas in Houston, and a psychopathic alien is on the loose, injecting non-junkies with heroin like there's no tomorrow. Sounds like a gift that keeps on giving,..
Read moreThe Laughing Dead (1989)
There's nothing quite like a helping of Mayan madness, especially when it involves blood sacrifices, hotel hijinx, a head being tossed around à la hot potato, heart swapping, zombified locals, surreal situations, macabre merriment, and a priest getting mixed up with the god of death, all of which are present in The Laughing Dead. Odd..
Read moreThe Fog (1980)
The idea of the past coming back to haunt a small town is an intriguing one; it's an idea that Carpenter brings to life, what with the fog engulfing Antonio Bay with no end in sight and the town's one hundredth anniversary, both of which are emphasized in such a way that conveys that although..
Read moreIn the Mouth of Madness (1994)
Whether all hell is breaking loose or imagination is manifesting itself, the notion of reality becoming fantasy is an intriguing one, a notion that Carpenter doesn't fail to realize, nor does he stray from it. He simply runs with it as he gives life to a world in which being driven to the brink of..
Read moreScanner Cop II (1995)
It's not often that a detective meets his match, but when he does, you can bet that he'll be in over his head, or maybe I should say out of his mind? Either way, Scanner Cop II has enough mind-melting, smoldering skin, and vicious villainy to go around. Granted, it isn't much in terms of..
Read moreScanner Cop (1994)
In the mood for some telepathic tension? Or how about some hellish hallucinations? If so, you'd best buckle up and prepare yourself for the sensory overload that is Scanner Cop. It's by no means a mentally stimulating affair, but if your idea of a good time includes veins popping, madhouse mayhem, neurological manipulation, and police..
Read moreEyes of Fire (1983)
There comes a time when a journey must be embarked upon, a time when unfamiliar territory presents obstacles that one is unprepared for. Such a time is by no means desirable, but there is something to be said for the relief that refuge provides. But can relief be found when tragedy rears its ugly head?..
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