reviews – Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old

Review of “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan

The Stuff: This young adult novel follows the fortunes of several gay boys and young men. A Greek chorus of gay men who died during the AIDS crisis serves as the narrator. They cannot interact with the living. Peter and Neill are a couple still in high school who have been dating for a while.Continue reading “Review of “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan”

Review of “The Fog” (1980)

For our Saturday night pizza and bad movie selection, we chose a flick that started with a ghost story around a campfire. Plot: As midnight nears before the centennial of the founding of the northern California seaside town of Antonia Bay, old Mr. Machen (John Houseman) sits with a group of kids around a campfire.Continue reading “Review of “The Fog” (1980)”

Review of “American Werewolf in London” (1981)

Before I go any further, I have to mention that the film discusses but does not depict suicide. For this pizza and bad movie selection, we opted for a bit of nostalgia. Both the dearly beloved and I saw this when it first came out, lo, these many years ago. Despite the underlying darkness, thisContinue reading “Review of “American Werewolf in London” (1981)”

Review of “The Waxwork” by A. M. Burrage: Halloween Countdown

For October 31—Happy Halloween! Plot:Down-on-his-luck Journalist Raymond Hewson has arranged to spend the night at Marriner’s Waxworks Murderers’ Den. Hewson is freelancing, hoping to sell his story to The Morning Echo. The manager of Marriner’s promises him a five-pound note once the story is published. Hewson wasn’t looking forward to the task, but he hadContinue reading “Review of “The Waxwork” by A. M. Burrage: 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 “Scream Blacula Scream” (1973)

This week’s Saturday pizza and bad movie was a return to the cheesy flick of yesteryear—a vampire pic to boot. Plot: The film opens with the death of voodoo adept Mama Loa. Her son Willis Daniels (Richard Lawson) then claims her place. Others tell him it’s a matter of voting. A favorite is Mama Loa’sContinue reading “Review of “Scream Blacula Scream” (1973)”

Review of “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” (2018)

We watched an oddball film for our Saturday pizza and bad movie night, a sad movie that dealt with dreams, fantasy v. reality, guilt, and a bit of insanity. Plot: The movie opens the line: And now… after more than 25 years of making… and unmaking. The viewer first sees a storybook of Don QuixoteContinue reading “Review of “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” (2018)”

Review of “The Invisible Man’s Revenge” (1944)

Our latest Saturday pizza and bad movie offering has a put-upon dog for a hero. That journalist guy wasn’t half-bad, but the dog got the job done, even after humans hadn’t been all that good to him. Plot:Robert Griffin (Jon Hall) returns to London by cutting himself out of a cargo bale dropped off onContinue reading “Review of “The Invisible Man’s Revenge” (1944)”

Review of “The Monster that Challenged the World” (1957)

This black-and-white monster flick is our latest Saturday pizza and bad movie offering. It was the usual fare in many ways, but atomic contamination did not spawn the monster this time. Plot: Outside a naval research base near the Salton Sea in Southern California, an earthquake rocks the seabed. Later, a seaman named Hollister executesContinue reading “Review of “The Monster that Challenged the World” (1957)”

Review of “The Evil of Frankenstein” (1964)

Our Saturday night pizza and bad movie night resumes. This one catches Baron Frankenstein late in his career. He’s been run out of town, lost his creation, and is ready for a comeback. Can’t keep a good mad scientist down. Plot:A grieving middle-aged couple leaves their humble home to find a priest. They don’t noticeContinue reading “Review of “The Evil of Frankenstein” (1964)”