Thoughts and Ramblings on ‘Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood’

There are several 2019 films that I could talk aimlessly about for hours. For instance, I could discuss the sheer joy on my face and in my Keanu-loving heart as I watched John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum in the Dolby theater, a correct decision with the amount of sense-shattering action that easily vibrated the…

Telluride Horror Show 2018

Telluride Horror Show kicked off its 9th year last weekend and this horror fan was beyond excited to return. Telluride, Colorado is a stunning setting on its own, but when you add a healthy dose of indie genre films, dedicated fans, and an overall relaxed and positive atmosphere, good times are sure to follow. Despite a bumpy start with travel (which I will definitely dive into another day), I was able to check out 13 feature films and a short film block during the fest weekend. Luckily some of the films I missed are slowly popping up on streaming sites…

Everybody’s a Suspect: A Love for ‘Scream’

Classic final girls usually make it through a horror movie bloodied, terrified, and shaken to the core from battling their slashers, demons, monsters, or inner nightmares. There are so many dynamic women to choose from, but I can’t help but find one of my favorite final girls in a more modern era of horror through…

Telluride Horror Show 2018 Fills Out Lineup with ‘Terrified,’ ‘Tigers Are Not Afraid,’ ‘DeadTectives,’ and More Exciting Titles!

The second wave of films has been announced for Telluride Horror Show 2018, which will take place the weekend of October 12th-14th in Telluride, Colorado. New additions to the lineup feature haunting ghost stories, medieval revenge plots, an exclusive sneak preview of an upcoming horror-comedy anthology, and even an immersive virtual reality experience! With the first…

The Ghost with the Most, Babe: A Love for ‘Beetlejuice’

When considering what horror films make up my top list, it’s difficult to sift through every factor because of how versatile and vast the genre truly is. There’s classic black and white monster horror, 1970’s experimental Italian masterpieces, slashers, horror comedies, sci-fi horror, b-movies, whimsical, exploitation, gore, grit, grime, and everything in between. So where…

Monstrous Political Mayhem: A Review of ‘Mr. Neutron’ by Joe Ponepinto

With the constant ticking feed of bizarre news and breaking stories of nonsensical chaos, we are no strangers to the wackadoodle state our political climate has fallen into, regardless of which “side” you cheer for. At times it feels as if literally anything is possible now in terms of running candidates, extreme policies, and what kind of skeletons will come bursting out of closets next. Joe Ponepinto channels this atmosphere and adds a vicious sense of sarcasm, irony, and humor in Mr. Neutron. The story follows Gray Davenport, a character as equally obnoxious and bland as the name sounds, as he…

Spotlight for the Mundane: A Review of ‘Activities of Daily Living’ by Larry O. Dean

Larry O. Dean has a way with redefining some of the most average items, places, and routines that fill our days so that they hold new and amusing qualities. Activities of Daily Living is a breezy three-part poetry collection that balances lengthy and detailed pieces with short, punchy delights. The collection is divided into Sound Effects, Horoscopious, and Small Machines. He opens with The Sound Effects Bible which takes the repetitive written style straight out of Genesis and incorporates the creation of modern sounds, leading to a fascinating assortment of swooshes, zips, and everything under the sun. The Sound Effects section is rich with clever wordplay as evident in…

Human Perspective: Review of ‘Code of the West’ by Sahar Mustafah

Sahar Mustafah’s Code of the West is a debut collection to be reckoned with. These stories touch on family, infidelity, alienation, isolation, secrets, fear, love, loss, and violence both in small bursts and manic proportions. Cultural experiences are felt internally through self-reflection and externally through crude assumption, prejudice, and blatant racism. The characters throughout each story present a unique, yet universal, perspective that leaves the reader enchanted and absorbed by the very basis of human nature. This collection starts with its title story, Code of the West, which packs a punch with the investigation of a local woman’s murder. Riyad is lonely in wide-open…