Review of “Kecksies” by Marjorie Bowen: Halloween Countdown

For October 16 Plot:Two young gentlemen (so to speak) are returning from Canterbury quite drunk and obnoxious. The reader gets the impression they annoy even their horses with their attempts at singing. They’ve miscalculated, however. A storm blows up. Nothing to worry about. Sir Edward Crediton is the local landowner, and one of his tenantsContinue reading “Review of “Kecksies” by Marjorie Bowen: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Horla” by Guy de Maupassant: Halloween Countdown

For October 15 Plot:The story is presented in a series of journal entries. Things start happily. The narrator appears wealthy enough to have servants and something of an estate. He contemplates the invisible though our are senses too poor to perceive it: “we can see neither the inhabitants of a star nor of a dropContinue reading “Review of “The Horla” by Guy de Maupassant: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Great God Pan” by Arthur Machen: Halloween Countdown

For October 14 Plot: Dr. Raymond wants to show his friend Clarke his new method of seeing “beyond the veil.” The physical world as we know it is an illusion, but with a little bit of brain surgery, one can see reality, or as he claims the ancients referred to it, “seeing the god Pan.”Continue reading “Review of “The Great God Pan” by Arthur Machen: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Gorgon” by Clark Ashton Smith: Halloween Countdown

For October 13 Plot: Traveling after the death of the only woman he loved, the grieving main character in this short tale comes across an odd character in the crowded streets of London. The old man reminds him of Charon, ferrying souls to the Underworld. The modern-day Charon locks eyes with him. “I can seeContinue reading “Review of “The Gorgon” by Clark Ashton Smith: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Celui-Là” by Eleanor Scott: Halloween Countdown

For October 9 Plot:On his doctor’s advice, Maddox takes a vacation to a tiny fishing village on the Breton coast. He stays with an acquaintance of Dr. Foster, the local curé, Father Vétier. Maddox goes for long walks on the beach in the evening, although the locals avoid being out at that time of day.Continue reading “Review of “Celui-Là” by Eleanor Scott: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Rapture-Palooza” (2013)

What would Saturday night pizza and bad movie be without a bad movie? It had its moments, but it also had moments of ICK. Plot:Lindsey Lewis (Anna Kendrick) and her boyfriend Ben House (John Francis Daley) missed the rapture. Lindsey’s mom was raptured but was sent back, complete with white robe and number, after sheContinue reading “Review of “Rapture-Palooza” (2013)”

Review of “The Pit and the Pendulum” (1961)

The past Saturday pizza and bad movie night was a return to the schlock of yesteryear. Plot:In the sixteenth-century, Englishman Francis Barnard (John Kerr) arrives at a foreboding castle seeking news about his sister Elizabeth’s (Barbara Steele) recent death. His sister’s widower, Nicholas Medina (Vincent Price), and his younger sister, Catherine (Luana Anders), give himContinue reading “Review of “The Pit and the Pendulum” (1961)”

Review of “After the Forest” by Kell Woods

The Stuff: Hänsel and Gretal have grown up and now live in the Black Forest at the close of The Thirty Years War. Rumors abound of Greta’s childhood doings with the old crone in the woods—did she really push that old woman into the oven?—but, for the most part, the villagers accept her. She bakesContinue reading “Review of “After the Forest” by Kell Woods”

Review of “Attack the Block” (2011)

This was our Saturday pizza and bad movie night movie, a little something different. I’m glad it came with subtitles. Plot:On Guy Fawkes Night in South London, nurse Sam (Jodie Whittaker) walks home after work, on the phone to her mother, explaining that she got stuck at work. Young gang members— Pest (Alex Esmail), DennisContinue reading “Review of “Attack the Block” (2011)”

Review of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” 2022

This was a different sort of Saturday night pizza and bad movie fare for us. The dearly beloved took a recommendation from The Critical Drinker (more on him at a later date), who spoke highly of the flick. Plot: The opening scenes tell a fairy tale about a star that fell to earth, scorching aContinue reading “Review of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” 2022″