Movie Reviews

The Story: An investigative journalist stumbles across a series of fetishistic internet videos depicting an alleged sport known as “competitive endurance tickling.” As he pursues the story, what he finds is more disturbing and bizarre than could possibly have been expected. The Lowdown: Don’t let the deceptive premise or trailer fool you, Tickled is a…

A somewhat uninspired comedic take on the standard “old dark house” mystery thriller, The Black Abbot (1934) was produced on the cheap and it shows. Director George A. Cooper attempts to hide his hastily slapped-together sets through creative staging, and tuxedos from the wardrobe department make the cast look like there on their way to…

Perhaps better known for his work in science fiction, including the 1953 War of the Worlds and 1964 cult classic Robinson Crusoe on Mars, director Byron Haskins was also responsible for 1949’s Too Late for Tears.  This often overlooked film noir may not have the name recognition of something like Double Indemnity or Out of…

A stirring documentary about accomplished “Ultra Runner” Will Harlan, El Chivo explores the motivations and psychology behind long-distance running while providing a compelling character study of a notable local. By capturing candid glimpses of Harlan’s life on his bucolic Barnardsville farm, local filmmaker Rod Murphy goes beyond Harlan’s headline-grabbing victory in the grueling 50-mile Caballo…

In Brief: Arguably Agatha Christie’s most well-known character, Hercule Poirot is something of a known quantity in most corners. However, those primarily familiar with David Suchet’s 24-year run playing the Belgian detective, or Albert Finney’s portrayal (possibly the best Poirot ever) in Sidney Lumet’s 1974 Murder on the Orient Express, will find plenty to enjoy…

The Story: A young girl is whisked away to a magical land by a big, friendly giant. The Lowdown: A generally kindhearted and sweet-natured adventure film that could use a bit more whimsy and a shorter runtime.

The Story: Tarzan, supposed King of the Jungle turned aristocrat, returns to Africa only to find himself and his wife lured into a deadly trap. The Lowdown: A mature and stylish adventure film that suffers from being a bit too straight-faced and an inability to match its tone to its pulpy source.

In Brief: Wallace Fox’s The Corpse Vanishes (1942) is the fourth of Lugosi’s Monogram Nine — and if nothing else, it’s hands down the nastiest of the lot. (It’s only competition is the same year’s Bowery at Midnight, which was also made by Mr. Fox.) Here we find Lugosi as Dr. Lorenz — mad scientist…

The Story: A comprehensive retrospective of director Brian De Palma’s 50-year career in film, as recounted by De Palma himself. The Lowdown: More love letter than bio-doc, De Palma is required viewing for both devoted fans of the filmmaker’s work and anyone interested in the last half-century of film history.

The great Frank Capra’s most ambitious and disturbing film, Meet John Doe is possibly more relevant today than when it first appeared in 1941. The idea of a completely media-fabricated celebrity — raised almost to the level of deity and used as a tool for political gain — probably seemed pretty fantastic then. Of all…

The Story: The premise from the first two installments of the Purge franchise — that all crime is permitted for a 12-hour period each year — remains unchanged, only the context is different. This time … it’s political! The Lowdown: Yet another disposable horror film courtesy of Blumhouse. If you enjoyed the first two films,…

The Story: A man stranded on a desert island has lost the desire to live until a corpse washes ashore and provides him with the tools he needs to survive and, most importantly, the will to do so. The Lowdown: One of the damnedest things I’ve ever seen, Swiss Army Man is a surprisingly warm-hearted and…

In Brief: One of Fritz Lang's lesser-known films, House by the River (1950) was in fact often referred to as a "lost film." The fact seems to have been more prosaic than that. There was simply no interest in it because it was considered to be physically too dark to be watched on TV, especially…

In Brief: At an early point in Ken Russell’s Salome’s Last Dance (1988), Oscar Wilde (Nickolas Grace) is surprised to see an amateur production of his banned play Salome interrupted by a photographer taking a flash picture of the proceedings. The photographer is none other than Russell himself, who is playing a visiting dignitary in the show, prompting Wilde…

In Brief: The story goes that King of the Zombies was written and designed with Bela Lugosi in mind for the villainous Dr. Sangre. It certainly has all the earmarks of a Lugosi role — a creepy foreigner with a zombie-like wife (Patricia Stacey), a sinister, isolated castle, equally sinister servants and a small squad of zombies. Instead,…

The Story: A young model moves to Los Angeles and finds herself the center of attention, some of which is more dangerous than others. The Lowdown: A dull, pretentious and shallow examination of high fashion.

The Story: Two decades after thwarting an alien invasion, Earth finds itself in the midst of a surprise attack once again. The Lowdown: A rehash of its predecessor, with shades of interesting ideas, but becomes little more than a big-budget disasterfest with all the trappings and mindlessness this implies.

In Brief: Only a madman would attempt to film William S. Burroughs' novel Naked Lunch, and that is perhaps why David Cronenberg didn't make a film of it, instead making a film about Burroughs and the creation of the book. This does not make his 1991 film of Naked Lunch an easy undertaking for the casual…

The Story: A British couple on holiday in Marrakech become involved in espionage and intrigue. The Lowdown: Reasonably cerebral thrills are to be found in this latest transfer of a John le Carré novel to the screen. Solid entertainment with Ewan McGregor and Naomie Harris as appealing leads and Stellan Skarsgård and Damian Harris in…