Retrospectives
‘Dressed to Kill’ Perfects the American Giallo
Many American horror films were influenced by the Italian giallo. It’s often said that giallo was the influence behind the entire American slasher genre. But there are several American features ...
How the ‘Night of the Living Dead’ Remake Fixed the Fatal Flaw of the Original
George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead is an absolute classic. It’s one of the films that truly defined the genre. It created a sub-genre that we’ve come to know as the modern zombie movie, alt...
Why ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ is Exactly the Pulpy, Imperfect Movie It Needed to Be
Freddy vs. Jason was, for horror fans, one of the most anticipated movies of all time. I’ve written quite a bit about the long, arduous journey it had to finally make it to the big screen. Naturally, ...
Why Nancy from ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ Is Horror’s Most Proactive Heroine
It might seem hard to believe looking back at it, given the reverence so many fans hold for the sub-genre, but by 1984 the slasher craze was already winding down. 1980 through ’82 saw dozens upon doze...
This Bizarre Stephen King Anthology Works in Spite of Itself
Cat’s Eye is a weird movie, but that’s part of what makes it so endearing. Of the Stephen King adaptations I watched over and over again as a kid. In a weird way, it’s only gotten better as I’ve gotte...
Is ‘Jennifer’s Body’ Based on This True Story?
Is Jennifer’s Body based on a true story? Quite possibly. You may be surprised to learn that this true crime case is eerily reminiscent of the events depicted in the film. Horror Comedy Jennifer’s Bod...
Why ‘Evil Dead II’ is Not a Remake of the First
Evil Dead II is a very similar movie to the first in terms of setting and plot. The sequel opens with a bit of backstory on the Book of the Dead. Said book would not be referred to as the Necronomicon...
Truth and Fiction Aren’t Identical in David Cronenberg’s ‘Dead Ringers’
The Case of Twin Gynecologists Stewart and Cyril Marcus On July 19th, 1975 Stewart and Cyril Marcus—the twin gynecologists who inspired Bari Woods and Jackie Gleasand’s novel Twins, which in turn insp...
Robert Durst and His Suspected Victims [Victim’s Spotlight]
Late real estate baron Robert Durst was under a veil of suspicion beginning with the 1982 disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen “Kathie” McCormack. The couple’s 9-year marriage w...