Book Review: Clive Barker’s Books of Blood Volume II

Book Review: Clive Barker’s Books of Blood Volume II by Clive Barker Everybody is a book of blood; wherever we’re opened, we’re red. Prescript to the Books of Blood, presumably a joke by Clive Barker himself. In the mid-1980s, Clive Barker broke onto the horror scene with a collection of short(ish) stories divided up into… Continue reading Book Review: Clive Barker’s Books of Blood Volume II

Movie Review: Key Largo

Nora and Steve discuss their pre-War lives.

Movie Review: Key Largo (1948) directed by John Huston Frank McCloud (Humphrey Bogart) was a major in the United States Army during World War Two. During the Italian campaign, one of his men (and a friend), George Temple, perished in combat. While initially an idealist, the violence of the war left Frank disillusioned, and the America… Continue reading Movie Review: Key Largo

Movie Review: Vengeance Valley

Owen and Lee consult the bartender for local news.

Movie Review: Vengeance Valley (1951) directed by Richard Thorpe Owen Daybright (Burt Lancaster) is the foster son of rancher Arch Strobie (Ray Collins), and foreman of the ranch. Along with his foster brother Lee Strobie (Robert Walker), he’s been out riding the winter range for several months. They stop in to the saloon to get their… Continue reading Movie Review: Vengeance Valley

Movie Review: Hollywood Safari

Hakim wrestles Clyde, which has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the movie.

Movie Review: Hollywood Safari (1997) directed by Henri Charr Two teenagers sneak away from a summer camp near Cedar Creek, California* to look at some better scenery. This is spoiled when one of them is mauled by a mountain lion. Two days later, a lioness named Kensho escapes from a poorly-secured trailer owned by “Hollywood Safari”,… Continue reading Movie Review: Hollywood Safari

Movie Review: The Over-The-Hill Gang

The gang arrives in town.

Movie Review: The Over-the-Hill Gang (1969) directed by Jean Yarbrough Captain Oren Hayes (Pat O’Brien), (very) late of the Texas Rangers, is visiting his daughter Hannah Rose (Kristin Harmon) and son-in-law Jefferson Rose (Ricky Nelson) in Boulder, Nevada. Jeff, a newspaper publisher, is running for mayor on a reform platform. Current mayor Nard Lundy (Edward Andrews)… Continue reading Movie Review: The Over-The-Hill Gang

Movie Review: Adventures of Gallant Bess

Bess gives Ted his marching orders.

Movie Review: Adventures of Gallant Bess (1948) directed by Lew Landers Ted Daniels (Cameron Mitchell) and his pal Woody (Fuzzy Knight) have been sent out to capture a wild horse for their boss Bud Millerick (James Millican) for display in Millerick’s rodeo. Ted finds and manages to capture a magnificent chestnut mare he names Bess (Bess).… Continue reading Movie Review: Adventures of Gallant Bess

Book Review: Lovecraft Country

Book Review: Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff Atticus Turner knows about dangerous people. They’re everywhere, though some locations have more concentration of danger than others. If you go traveling, you have to bring a special map to show the safest places to eat and sleep. Of course, between those places the dangerous people could ambush… Continue reading Book Review: Lovecraft Country

Comic Strip Review: Batman: The Sunday Classics 1943-1946

Comic Strip Review: Batman: The Sunday Classics 1943-1946 by various creators Batman was a big success in the comic books, so it wasn’t long at all before it was decided that he’d probably be a hit in the newspaper comic strips as well. Once that was decided, the problem of Sundays had to be considered.… Continue reading Comic Strip Review: Batman: The Sunday Classics 1943-1946

Movie Review: One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

Rio talks to the locals.

Movie review: One-Eyed Jacks (1961) directed by Marlon Brando We first see Rio (Marlon Brando) and Dad Longsworth (Karl Malden) in Sonora, Mexico in 1880 when they are robbing a trading post with the aid of a third man. Foolishly, they stop in a town only a few miles away so that Dad and the third… Continue reading Movie Review: One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

Book Review: The Book of Poul Anderson

Book Review: The Book of Poul Anderson edited by Roger Elwood Poul Anderson (1926-2001) was an influential American science fiction author, first published in 1947 and winning seven Hugos and three Nebulas for his work. By the 1970s, he was well enough known, and had a large enough body of short fiction, that DAW Books… Continue reading Book Review: The Book of Poul Anderson