A Boy Called Christmas

A Boy Called Christmas (Netflix) is a 2021 British Christmas fantasy film. The cast includes Toby Jones and Maggie Smith. This is a charming and delightful movie.

trailer:

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I found this sweet little pink tree complete with ornaments for $2 at a local antique mall a few years ago. I replaced the tinsel, rearranged the balls a bit, and made the star. The angel -I've always called her Singing Angel- is decades old. I can't remember now where I got her. These are on the kitchen counter.

Beware, My Lovely

Beware, My Lovely is a 1952 film noir starring Ida Lupino and Robert Ryan. It takes place during the Christmas holiday season. Available on YouTube or embedded below.

via Internet Archive:

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I have in the past framed a few Christmas cards to use as decorations, and this is one of those. The angels were bought in a local gift shop back in the early 1990s. This year I have these on the buffet in our dining room.

The Christmas Chronicles 2

The Christmas Chronicles 2 (Netflix) is a 2020 Christmas comedy film, a sequel to the 2018 movie, directed by Chris Columbus. It stars Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as Santa and Mrs. Claus. Malcolm McDowell is also in this. Most reviews are positive, and we like it. It won't be one of those we watch every year, but we do enjoy having at least one new-to-us holiday movie every year.

trailer:

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Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

Judy Garland Christmas Special

The Judy Garland Christmas Special is the 1963 Christmas episode of this show. I actually feel sad watching Judy Garland as she aged. What a tragic life, and dead at 47. That said, the Christmas special can be enjoyed anyway, right?

Join me in a cozy cuppa:

That mug on the left was broken long ago, but we remember it fondly. Share your own drink reference with the T Stands for Tuesday bloggers.

The Christmas Wife

The Christmas Wife (on Tubi) is a 1988 American drama film starring Jason Robards and Julie Harris. A bit of a tear-jerker, this.

via YouTube:

The Day of the Beast (1995)

The Day of the Beast (on on Tubi or on Amazon Prime's Freevee or embedded below) is an award-winning 1995 Spanish-Italian black comedy film with horror elements that takes place over the Christmas holidays. This is great fun. It features a Basque priest, and I have always been fascinated by the Basques.

via YouTube:

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Bing Crosby hosts the Hollywood Palace Christmas Show (1968)

The Hollywood Palace Christmas Show:

hosted by Bing Crosby

The Unholy Three (1930)

The Unholy Three is a 1930 pre-code crime drama film, a remake of the silent 1925 film by the same name. This movie takes place during the Christmas season. This was Lon Chaney's last film and his only talkie. He died at age 47 one month after this film's release.

But oh, dear, there's a ventriloquist dummy. I didn't finish watching.

via Dailymotion:

Devil (2010)

Devil is a 2010 supernatural horror film about five strangers who become trapped in an elevator. A story of guilt, repentance, and forgiveness, this is much more than just a horror movie. I can't find it streaming free anymore. You can buy it for less than $5.00 at Amazon, which if you have a prime membership providing free shipping ain't bad. Not bad at all.

trailer:

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My Sweet Lord

My Sweet Lord:

was George Harrison's first release as a solo artist. It topped charts worldwide and was the biggest-selling single of 1971 in the UK. In America and Britain, the song was the first number-one single by an ex-Beatle. It remains the most popular composition from his post-Beatles career. Harrison died of lung cancer on this date in 2001 at the age of 58. His remains were cremated, and the ashes were scattered according to Hindu tradition in a private ceremony in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in India.

The Cup of Chocolate

The Cup of Chocolate:

by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919)

I don't drink much hot chocolate, but it is appealing to me this morning. Join me? I'll be at the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering hosted by Bleubeard and Elizabeth.

Also sprach Zarathustra

Today is the anniversary of the first performance of Richard Strauss' Also sprach Zarathustra in 1896.

I can't hear those first notes without thinking of the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, and then I want to turn the music off and re-watch the film.

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Batman Returns

Batman Returns (Max, Amazon Prime) is a 1992 superhero film, sequel to the 1989 Batman. This is directed by Tim Burton and stars Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, and Michael Gough. Danny Elfman did the music. It begins during the Christmas holiday season. This seems to be one of those love it or hate it movies for most people, though it was nominated for and won some awards. I like it fine, but it's not my favorite Batman.

trailer:

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The Birdcage

The Birdcage (Amazon Prime) is an award-winning 1996 comedy film starring Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, and Nathan Lane. It's a remake of a 1978 French/Italian film I haven't seen. This is a delightful movie, and I say that as someone who doesn't favor comedies. Reviews are positive.

trailer:

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Rain Man

Rain Man (Amazon Prime) is an award-winning 1988 comedy/drama film directed by Barry Levinson and starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. It's a sweet, encouraging story about how it's never too late to grow up. I've always liked this movie. Reviews are positive.

trailer:

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Interview with the Vampire (1994)

Interview with the Vampire (Hulu) is a 1994 gothic vampire film based on Anne Rice's 1976 novel of the same name, and starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. It focuses on Lestat (Cruise) and Louis (Pitt), beginning with Louis's transformation into a vampire by Lestat in 1791. I had never seen it before and am glad I finally have. Most reviews are positive, and I fall into the thumbs-up crowd.

trailer:

Moulin Rouge (2001)

Moulin Rouge is an award-winning 2001 jukebox musical (a jukebox musical is a stage musical or musical film in which a majority of the songs are well-known popular music songs, rather than original music) romantic drama film starring Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, and Jim Broadbent. I watched it free somewhere, but I can't find it streaming anywhere free now. It was well-reviewed, and I enjoyed it.

trailer:

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Robert Lockwood, Jr.

Walkin' Blues:

is the first song on the Robert Lockwood, Jr. album I Got to Find Me a Woman (playlist on YouTube at this link). Lockwood, who died on this date in 2006 at the age of 91, was the only guitarist to have learned to play directly from Robert Johnson.

There's a reference to Memphis in the chorus of the song Take a Little Walk With Me:

Come on baby
Take a little walk with me
Come on, baby
Take a little walk with me
Back to the same old place
Where we long to be
Come on baby
Take a little walk with me
Come on
Take a little walk with me
Back to the same old place, Memphis, Tennessee

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I'll be drinking some coffee while I listen to his music:

One of those cups can be for you. Please post your own drink-related something, and join us at the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering.

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The Man on the Eiffel Tower

The Man on the Eiffel Tower is a 1950 film noir mystery film directed by Burgess Meredith and starring Charles Laughton as Inspector Maigret. It is based on the 1931 novel La Tête d'un homme (A Man's Head) by Belgian writer Georges Simenon featuring his detective Jules Maigret. A fine Maigret representation, it's enjoyable to watch. It's available free on Tubi, on Freevee on Amazon Prime, or embedded below via Daily Motion:

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The Man in the Iron Mask

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1703 of the Man in the Iron Mask after an incarceration lasting 34 years. His identity remains unknown. According to Wikipedia, the fate of the mysterious prisoner —and the extent of the apparent precautions his jailers took— created significant interest in his story and gave birth to many rumors and legends. Many theories exist about his identity and the cause of his incarceration, and a very large number of books and articles have been written about the case during the last 350 years. Some of these theories were presented after the existence of reliable, contemporary documents was widely known. Still later commentators have presented their own theories, some of them based on embellished versions of the original tale. Theories about his identity that were popular during his time included that he was a Marshal of France; the English Henry Cromwell, son of Oliver Cromwell; or François, Duke of Beaufort. There's a list here of people thought to have been the prisoner.

Several films have been made, of course, none of which are serious in their attempt at historical accuracy. We don't know who he was, after all...

The Iron Mask, the 1929 silent starring Douglas Fairbanks:

The Man in the Iron Mask, the 1939 film directed by James Whale and starring Joan Bennett and Peter Cushing:

The Man in the Iron Mask, the 1977 film starring Richard Chamberlain, Patric McGoohan, Ralph Richardson, Louis Jourdan, Ian Holm, and Hugh Fraser, is available on Tubi and on Freevee via Amazon Prime

The Man in the Iron Mask, the 1998 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, and Gérard Depardieu is available on Tubi and via YouTube:

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Shows That Make Me Cry

I don't tend to cry during TV shows -well, there's that one Babylon 5 episode and the last episode of Inspector Morse and the two-part season finale of the fourth season of House- but generally speaking TV shows don't make me cry. That said, there are 2 exceptions to this among the modern series:

Hotel del Luna, a 2019 k-drama with 1 season of 16 episodes

Hotel del Luna trailer:

and River, a 2015 British detective series with 1 season of 6 episodes.

River trailer:

I watch them over and over and over, and I cry every single time.

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The Big Sky

The Big Sky (on Tubi) is a 1952 Western film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Kirk Douglas. It's a traditional Western, though talkier than some.

trailer:

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Bloodshot

Bloodshot (on DVD) is a 2020 American superhero film based on the Valiant Comics character of the same name. It is intended to be the first installment in a series of films set within a Valiant Comics shared cinematic universe. The film stars Vin Diesel in the main role as a soldier who was killed in action, only to be brought back to life with superpowers by an organization that wants to use him as a weapon. I enjoyed this. I'm unfamiliar with the character or Valiant Comics, but am happy to see a new superhero on the scene. And, of course, I'll watch anything with Vin Diesel in it. I'll definitely watch a sequel.

trailer:

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Seoul Station

Seoul Station (Freevee via Amazon Prime) is a South Korean adult animated post-apocalyptic horror film written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho. It is the second released installment in, and a prequel to the Train to Busan film series. I loved the Train to Busan and also enjoyed this prequel. I look forward to sequels if they are available to me. (warning to CJ: Zombie Alert!)

trailer:

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Happy Birthday (tomorrow), Petula Clark!

Join me in a cuppa over at the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering. I'm getting ready to celebrate the 91st birthday of Petula Clark, who was born on November 15, 1932. According to Wikipedia, she is a British singer, actress, and songwriter and has had one of the longest careers of any British singer, spanning more than eight decades.

In late 1964 Clark's success extended to the United States with a four-year run of career-defining, often upbeat singles. These songs include her signature song "Downtown", "I Know a Place", "My Love", "A Sign of the Times", "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love", "Who Am I", "Colour My World", "This Is My Song" (by Charles Chaplin), "Don't Sleep in the Subway", "The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener", and "Kiss Me Goodbye". In the US, Clark was sometimes called "the First Lady of the British Invasion". She had nine Top 20 hits in the U.S. between 1964 and 1968. Clark has sold more than 68 million records.

Downtown:

My Love:

Sign of the Times:

I have fond memories of singing these along with the radio when I was a child.

Passengers

Passengers (DVD, borrowed) is a 2016 science-fiction romance film starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. The supporting cast features Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne and Andy García. The film follows two passengers on an immense interstellar spacecraft carrying thousands of people to a colony 120 light years from Earth, when Pratt's character is revived 90 years early due to a computer malfunction. Science fiction films aren't common these days, and I'm always pleased to see them made. I enjoyed this.

trailer:

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Bayern 42

image from Twitter

Jamal Musiala is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder, left winger or central midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. 42 is his jersey number.

Atomic Blonde

Atomic Blonde (DVD) is a 2017 action thriller film directed by David Leitch (in his feature directorial debut) and starring Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan, Sofia Boutella, and Toby Jones. The story revolves around a spy who has to find a list of double agents that is being smuggled into the West on the eve of the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. This one is definitely re-watchable (thus the DVD, since you can't count on anything being available streaming when you want it). The sound track is perfection.

trailer:

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That last redbud leaf fell a couple of days ago, but the dogwood tree still has some color:

Burial

Burial (Hulu) is a 2022 war thriller film about a small group of Russian soldiers who have been assigned the task of taking Hitler's discovered remains back to Stalin in Moscow. To be honest, I avoid war movies and only watched this one because the promotional material said there'd be werewolves. No. No werewolves. There were German soldiers who dressed up in skins and prowled the woods to serve as scary ambush. The disappointment was real. On the other hand, if you like these kinds of war movies... well, this is one.

trailer:

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Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo (Disney+) is a 2003 computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The film stars the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, and Geoffrey Rush. It tells the story of an overprotective clownfish named Marlin (Brooks) who, along with a forgetful regal blue tang named Dory (DeGeneres), searches for his missing son Nemo. I remember when this came out and we took the kids to the theater to see it. Wonderful movie! It's enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Reviews are positive.

trailer:

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P.S. I don't keep track of who leaves comments here -it's all I can do to keep track of my own stuff lol- but if you're leaving comments here and I'm not reciprocating on your blog it's an oversight on my part. Please feel free to leave a comment bringing it to my attention. Thanks!

The Pope's Exorcist

The Pope's Exorcist (Netflix) is a 2023 supernatural horror film starring Russell Crowe (as Father Gabriele Amorth, the Pope's personal exorcist), with Franco Nero in a supporting role. I enjoyed it and will watch a sequel if given the chance.

trailer:

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Woman Reading by Lamplight

Woman Reading by Lamplight:

by Carl Vilhelm Holsøe, a Danish artist who died on this date in 1935. Please join us at the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering, where a post with any drink reference is your ticket to participate.

The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar

The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar (Netflix) is a 2023 fantasy short film written, co-produced, and directed by Wes Anderson, based on the 1977 short story "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" by Roald Dahl. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch (as the title character), Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, and Richard Ayoade. The story sees a rich man learning about a clairvoyant guru who could see without using his eyes through the power of a particular form of Yoga, then setting out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling. There are several other short films grouped with this one. All are worth seeing.

trailer:

Roger Ebert's website gives it a full 4-star review and says, "It’s disarming and lovely to see a spiritual growth parable rendered in Anderson’s jewel-box style." Rolling Stone opens a positive review with this: "The first of four featurettes adapting the works of Roald Dahl for Netflix, the Fantastic Mr. Fox filmmaker’s tribute to the eccentric author is short, sharp, and totally sublime". Esquire has a glowing review.

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The Cursed (2021)

The Cursed (on Hulu) is a 2021 gothic horror film about a 19th-century village in rural France that is menaced by a werewolf. I'm fond of werewolf movies, and I liked this one. I especially appreciate that it provides a different take on the myth.

trailer:

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Holes

Holes (on Disney+) is a 2003 neo-Western comedy-drama film with some fantasy elements. It stars Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson and Shia LaBeouf. I've watched this more than once. An enjoyable movie.

trailer:

Reviews are generally positive, including those from Roger Ebert, Spirituality and Practice, and Empire Online.

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Casino (1995)

Casino is a 1995 epic crime film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles, Kevin Pollak, and James Woods. I can't remember where I saw this, but it seems to be no longer available streaming except as a rental. It's not my usual type of movie, but I'm glad I've seen it. Variety is the spice of life, after all. It was recommended by a couple of my Facebook friends. It is well-reviewed.

trailer:

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Ten Little Indians (1989)

Ten Little Indians (Tubi, Amazon Prime) is a 1989 mystery film directed by Alan Birkinshaw. This is the 4th English-language screen adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1939 novel And Then There Were None. It stars Donald Pleasence (an actor you should always be on the lookout for), Brenda Vaccaro, Herbert Lom, and Warren Berlinger. I'm a sucker for Agatha Christie adaptations. I liked this one.

trailer:

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Even after two nights of below freezing temperatures we still have some blooms on our protected patio.

Topsy-Turvy

Topsy-Turvy (Max) is a 1999 British musical period drama film about the 15-month period in 1884 and 1885 leading up to the premiere of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. The film focuses on the creative conflict between playwright and composer, and their decision to continue their partnership, which led to their creation of several more Savoy operas. This is definitely not my usual fare, but I enjoyed it.

trailer:

Reviews are positive. Deep Focus Review has a lengthy consideration, calling the movie "exceptional" and saying,

Indeed, the film is not solely about Gilbert and Sullivan. The thrust of the story is the making of The Mikado. Gilbert and Sullivan are the creative drive behind the production, which is central to the screen story. But around them is a group of theater professionals: actors, costumers, businessmen, and stagehands. If Leigh’s usual mode of filmmaking is the character study, then the central character of Topsy-Turvy is the production itself, and the way in which artists of various skill and craft come together in support of a much larger show. Leigh’s perspective is not the narrow view that there were two authorial voices responsible for The Mikado; rather, he keeps every aspect of the production in view. Leigh felt the film would be, he told Raphael, “an excellent device for exploring matters to do with those of us who are in the business of creating entertainment.” Within this framework, Leigh allows for seemingly unimportant asides about peripheral characters; but every detail he infuses into his film adds another dimension to the overall portrait, and the cumulative effect goes beyond individuals to amass something more luxuriant and scopic than a typical backstage drama.

Senses of Cinema describes the story:

The plot of the film is simplicity itself: Sir Arthur Sullivan (Allan Corduner) and William Schwenck “Willie” Gilbert (Jim Broadbent) have come to a creative impasse. After a string of light comedy musical hits, including The H.M.S. Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance, Sullivan, who wants to compose “serious music,” has grown tired of Gilbert’s increasingly contrived scenarios, as evidenced by the failure of their latest collaboration, Princess Ida. As the fate of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company rests in their hands, Richard D’Oyly Carte (Ron Cook) and the company’s manager, the level-headed Helen Lenoir (Wendy Nottingham), attempt to reason with Gilbert and Sullivan, but to no avail. It is only when Gilbert’s endlessly patient wife, Kitty (Lesley Manville), drags Gilbert to a touring exhibit of Japanese culture in Kensington that the librettist rouses himself from his creative torpor.

Surrounded by a world of eroticised costumes, samurai swords, Kabuki theatre and tea-drinking ceremonies, Gilbert is transfixed by the spectacle. Returning home with a large samurai sword as a souvenir of his outing, Gilbert furiously paces his study floor until he suddenly gets the inspiration for The Mikado, which would become arguably the team’s signature production.

The balance of Topsy-Turvy lovingly documents (or re-creates) the mechanics of producing the operetta on the stage of the Savoy Theatre, delving not only into the intricacies of rehearsals and costuming, but also the personal lives of the actors, costumers and others who bring The Mikado to life. This precise detail comes as a result of an enormous amount of detailed research, done, in fact, over a period of years. ...

Roger Ebert calls it "gloriously entertaining". Time Out concludes, "Leigh's cast are beyond compare, and the whole bighearted, splendidly droll celebration of the entertainer's lot surely stands among British cinema's one-of-a-kind treasures."

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Hulu) is a 1975 musical comedy horror film starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick. If you haven't seen this one, why not? It's a must-see. If you have seen it, isn't it past time to watch it again? Absolutely hilarious! And Tim Curry shouldn't be missed. Seriously, if you see Tim Curry's name attached to it, watch it.

trailer:

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Please join me (I'm having a cup of Suisse Mocha) at the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering.

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Yesterday we were down to one redbud leaf:

Werewolves Within

Werewolves Within (Hulu) is a 2021 American mystery comedy horror film about a group of people in a small Vermont town who get trapped in a snowstorm only to suspect one of them is a werewolf. This was fun.

trailer:

Reviews were mostly positive. Roger Ebert's website has a positive review that closes by saying, "Consider this an endorsement of “Werewolves Within,” but also the good heart that's clearly behind it." The Guardian says, "The ensemble ratchets up the hysteria with surgical comic skill, orchestrated superbly by Josh Ruben’s sharp direction." Variety also has a positive review.

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The light rain continues, and yesterday we were down to three leaves on the redbud tree.

Enys Men

Enys Men (Hulu) is a 2022 British experimental folk horror film set in 1973 where a woman on an uninhabited island off the Cornish coast serves as a wildlife volunteer documenting daily observations of a rare flower. It got mostly positive reviews. Count me on the nay side. That's an hour and a half I'll never get back. On the bright side, I did remember this one... trailer:

Roger Ebert's website gave it a positive review, saying, "I was riveted by every moment of this haunting weird film. "Enys Men" made me legitimately uneasy." The Guardian also has a positive review, describing it as "a supremely disquieting study of solitude". Rolling Stone praises it as a cult classic.

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I brought in the last of the plants that don't winter outside.

The Meg

The Meg (Max) is a 2018 science fiction action film, a monster movie of sorts so a horror movie by our definition. It is about a group of scientists that encounter a 75-foot-long megalodon shark while on a rescue mission on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. It stars Jason Statham, which is reason enough to watch a movie. Reviews were mixed, but I liked it.

trailer:

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It rained night before last. We needed the rain, but we did lose a lot of the redbud leaves.

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023)

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (on Netflix) is a comedy horror zombie film, a live adaptation of the manga series. Great fun!

trailer:

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After.Life

After.Life (free on Tubi) is a 2009 American psychological horror-thriller film starring Liam Neeson and Christina Ricci. This is a fine extra horror movie if you've seen all the greats, but I wouldn't recommend it on a list of must-watch horror.

trailer:

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Someone gave me a potted plant, and when I moved it this week some of it had escaped the pot.

The Fog (1980)

The Fog (free on Freevee via Amazon Prime and free on Pluto and Tubi) is a 1980 American supernatural horror film directed by John Carpenter and starring Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Atkins, Janet Leigh and Hal Holbrook. It tells the story of a strange, glowing fog that sweeps over a small coastal town in Northern California, bringing with it the vengeful ghosts of leprous mariners who were killed in a shipwreck there a century before. The film has a cult following and deservedly so. Look at the talent involved!

trailer:

Most reviews are positive.

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The redbud tree color turns more golden every day.

The Lamb (2021)

The Lamb is a 2021 folk horror film, an international co-production between Iceland, Sweden, and Poland. The film stars Noomi Rapace. This is a fascinating tale with a lot of atmosphere. It is well-reviewed. I'd recommend it, especially for folks who lean away from the action movie-style of horror or movies with any gore.

trailer:

Roger Ebert's website praises the "fierce sense of originality you won’t be able to shake". The Guardian concludes, "We are not supposed to be scared. What is required of us is compassion and respect for Maria’s strange dignity and strength. It’s a great performance from Rapace." Rolling Stone calls it "the Sweetest, Most Touching Horror-Movie Nightmare You’ve Ever Seen".

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Join me at the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering?

The Offering (2023)

The Offering (on Hulu) is a 2023 horror film based on the Jewish folktale of the demon Abyzou.

trailer:

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The Husband gave me a mealworm feeder for my birthday earlier this month. It is meant to attract wrens and other tiny birds but have holes too small for sparrows. We shall see.

Caltiki: The Immortal Monster

Caltiki: The Immortal Monster (free on Tubi) is a 1959 science fiction-horror film with similarities to The Blob that was released in the previous year. The film's storyline concerns a team of archaeologists investigating Mayan ruins, who come across a creature that is a shapeless, amorphous blob. Mario Bava is reported to have been the uncredited director in completing the film.

via Daily Motion:

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The redbud tree is coloring up nicely.

Clive Barker's The Plague

Clive Barker's The Plague (on Hulu, free on Tubi) is a 2006 horror film. It's good enough and worth watching once if you're looking for October/Halloween fare. Plot from Wikipedia:

In 1983, one day all of the world's children under the age of nine simultaneously fall into a catatonic state. For the next ten years, every child who is born, is born in a state of catatonia. During this state, the children experience seizures twice a day which develops and maintains muscle mass.

In 1993, all the children wake up in zombie-like state, unrelentingly pursuing, attacking and murdering all adults.

trailer:

A Classic Horror Story (2021)

A Classic Horror Story is a 2021 Italian horror movie. It helps if you are familiar with horror movie tropes, as this movie makes full use of them. I watched it on Netflix.

trailer:

According to Wikipedia, The New York Times named A Classic Horror Story one of the top five horror films to watch in streaming in 2021.

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (free on Pluto) is a 1991 Japanese kaiju film, the 18th film in the Godzilla franchise and the third film in the franchise's Heisei period. It was criticized at the time of its release for its pro-Japanese/anti-American nationalism. It's not considered one of the high points in the franchise. We watch them all. If you haven't seen earlier films start with the original 1954 Godzilla movie.

trailer (in Japanese with English subtitles):

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (free on Pluto and on YouTube) ia a 2002 Japanese kaiju film, the 27th film in the Godzilla franchise and the 4th film in the franchise's Millennium period. This reboot ignores the events of every installment in the Godzilla film series aside from the original 1954 Godzilla. It got generally positive reviews. We like monster movies of the Godzilla/King Kong type and watch them when we come across them.

trailer:

Working Man and My Castle's Rocking

Working Man and My Castle's Rocking:

by Memphis-born Alberta Hunter, who died on this date in 1984. This video is from a 1977 appearance on the Mike Douglas Show.

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Please post something drink-related and join us over at the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering.

We Have a Ghost

We Have a Ghost (on Netflix) is a 2023 supernatural horror comedy film about a family that moves into an old house and then they find out it's haunted by "Ernest". This is an enjoyable seasonal flick. A comedy, but it's also a touching film about a sweet family.

trailer:

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From Hell (2001)

From Hell (on Max) is a 2001 period detective horror film loosely based on the graphic novel of the same name about the Jack the Ripper murders. I was drawn in my the actors associated with it: Johnny Depp, Robbie Coltrane, Ian McNeice, Ian Holm, and Ian Richardson. It's pretty standard fare as far as Jack the Ripper stories go, but those actors should not be missed.

trailer:

Depraved (2019)

Depraved (on Tubi) is a 2019 horror film inspired by the Frankenstein's monster story. To be honest I watched this a while back, saving a spot for it on this date on my blog. Sadly I do not remember this movie even after having watched the trailer and read the plot description on Wikipedia. It was well-reviewed and seems distinctive, so it's odd I don't find anything at all memorable about it. Hmmm...

trailer:

Poltergeist (1982)

Poltergeist is a 1982 award-winning horror film directed by Tobe Hooper. It is an acknowledged horror classic and would be a good one to watch if you want to see the more important films in horror history. I watched it on HBO Max.

trailer:

1000 Misspent Hours says,

Poltergeist is still one of the stronger haunted house films of the 1980’s. What I appreciate most about it is that the nature of the Freelings’ paranormal persecution is never conclusively explained. Several characters have their pet theories ... but all of these hypotheses have troubling blind spots, and are unable to account for at least one major aspect of the haunting. That reticence on the filmmakers’ parts permits Poltergeist to play as broad a field of supernatural manifestations as possible without suffering from the sort of logical inconsistencies that helped scupper [other such films].

Moria says,

Poltergeist is a film that often plays on childhood fears and its most effective parts are early on when it ventures into these – the gnarled proto-human tree in the backyard, thunderstorms, the shadows in the half-open closet, the clown that becomes a grinning monster in the dark, the thing under the bed. It delves into the dark side of the cosy child-like sentimentalism of Steven Spielberg.

Roger Ebert says,

"Poltergeist" is an effective thriller, not so much because of the special effects, as because Hooper and Spielberg have tried to see the movie's strange events through the eyes of the family members, instead of just standing back and letting the special effects overwhelm the cast along with the audience.

Filmsite calls it "memorable" and says, "This classic 'haunted house ghost story' is fascinating to watch, with its extraordinary special effects". Rotten Tomatoes has a critics consensus score of 88%.

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This photo from 2 years ago shows how tall my wild sunflowers get when I don't cut them back during the summer:

Schizoid

Schizoid is a 1980 film I watched because it stars Klaus Kinski. I am surprised at how tame and bloodless this is since it's classed as a slasher film. I watched it on Amazon Prime.

trailer:

1000 Misspent Hours closes with this:

As one of the rare attempts by Hollywood (here represented by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus) to make a thriller on the giallo model, Schizoid is certainly worth a look, and for fans of Klaus Kinski, it is an absolute must-see. Otherwise, its appeal is decidedly of the “morbid fascination of failure” variety.

Horror News has a mixed review.

*******

The redbud tree leaves are beginning to turn.

Sea Fever

Sea Fever (on Tubi) is a 2019 science fiction horror thriller film about the crew of a marooned fishing trawler, who find themselves threatened by a parasitic infection.

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Generally positively reviewed, including by Vulture, The A.V. Club, and Rolling Stone.

*******

The honeysuckle is still blooming.

Revelation Trail

Revelation Trail is a 2013 horror western. It doesn't have names I recognize associated with it, but that didn't keep me from enjoying it. You never know how these kinds of low-budget movies will be, but they did a great job here. This is a good example of the horror western and a good place to start if you've never seen one. I can recommend it. Unless you don't do zombies. Be warned, CJ, zombies ahead!

I watched it on Amazon Prime.

trailer:

Please share a drink-related image and join us at Elizabeth's T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering.

Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah

Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah (free on Pluto) is 2001 Japanese Toho Pictures kaiju film, the 26th film in the Godzilla franchise and the 3rd film in the Millennium era. It is a direct sequel to the original 1954 Godzilla film and ignores the events of every other installment in the series. It was one of the largest-grossing Godzilla films of the Millennium series.

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Well reviewed, this movie is considered by some to be the best, second only to the 1954 original Godzilla movie.

*******

We're still seeing the occasional hummingbird.

Possessor

Possessor (on Hulu) is a 2020 science fiction psychological horror film written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg. It is about an assassin who performs her assignments through possessing the bodies of other individuals, but finds herself fighting to control the body of her current host.

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Reviews are generally positive, including multiple reviews at The Guardian, Variety, Empire Online, and The A.V. Club,

*******

50°F and sunny

Censor (2021)

Censor (on Hulu) is a 2021 British psychological horror film. Wikipedia's plot description begins with this:

In 1985, Enid Baines works for the British Board of Film Classification during the height of the Video Nasty controversy. Enid's co-workers call her "Little Miss Perfect" due to her insistence that violent content be cut or banned. While Enid is having dinner with her parents, they discuss Enid's sister Nina, who disappeared when the two were little. Enid's parents have since declared Nina legally dead, but Enid believes she is still alive.

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Reviews were generally positive, including by The Guardian and The Independent.

*******

Bliss (2019)

Bliss (on Tubi and Amazon Prime) is a 2019 horror film, a type of vampire movie. What some people won't do to foster their creativity...

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Well reviewed, including by Variety.

*******

The October-blooming wild sunflowers are looking good.

After Midnight

After Midnight (on Tubi, on Freevee via Amazon Prime, on Hulu) is a 2019 romantic monster film that follows Hank after his longtime girlfriend leaves town unannounced. He discovers that a mysterious creature has begun stalking him every night. The description does not do it justice. His exploration of his relationship as he struggles to figure out what went wrong happens as he tries to deal with this monster attacking him in their rural home. Fascinating.

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Reviews were positive, including from Roger Ebert's site and The A.V. Club.

*******

The Hunger

The Hunger is a 1983 erotic horror film directed by Tony Scott in his directorial debut, starring Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon. It premiered at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival, was released in the spring of 1983 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and has accrued a cult following within the goth subculture in the years since its release. I can't find this free through any streaming service now, but it's worth looking for. Finding vampire films with any originality is difficult these days, and this one adds a bit of a different take.

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Reviews were mixed. I liked it.

*******

The Predator

The Predator (on Hulu) is a 2018 science fiction action film, the fourth installment in the series and sixth film in the overall Predator franchise. I watch all the films in this franchise, but I wouldn't recommend starting with this one. Start with the original (a film well worth your time) and work your way forward from there.

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*******

I'm going to have a cup of coffee

and join the bloggers at the T Stands for Tuesday gathering.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow

The Curse of Bridge Hollow (Netflix) is a 2022 American comedy horror film. I find this a delightful, lighthearted film about a young family who has moved to a new town and is trying to settle in. The father is a science teacher and skeptic, doesn't believe in the paranormal or supernatural, and doesn't understand the town's obsession with Halloween. The daughter finds out the house they've moved to is said to be haunted. If you want something seasonal but not scary give this a try.

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The Horror Society has a positive review.

*******

The Lure

The Lure is a 2015 Polish musical horror film. It tells of two sirens who emerge from the waters and perform in a nightclub. One falls in love with a man and gives up her tail, but loses her voice in the process. The story is a reworking of the 1837 fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen. To be honest, I'd forgotten this one 'til I read the plot description. Now that I remember it, I remember liking it. I should write these up when I watch them instead of making a place holder on Blogger and coming back to the post later. That system used to work fine, but it's not serving me well these days.

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Reviews were positive. Roger Ebert's site calls it "weird" and says it deserves to be seen. Slant Magazine has a positive review as does The Hollywood Reporter.