BONE LAKE

Maddie Hassan and Marco Pigossi

BONE LAKE (2024). Director: Mercedes Bryce Morgan.  

Sage (Maddie Hassen) and Diego (Marco Pigossi) are a young couple who are excited about a weekend retreat in a fabulous house in the country. Unfortunately, they discover the house has been double booked, and Cin (Andra Nechita) and her boyfriend Will (Alex Roe) show up on the doorstep. It is agreed that both couples will share the house, and slowly become friendly. But then things begin to turn a little sinister, with one couple trying to turn the other two against each other. Before long things turn desperate and deadly ... 

Andra Nechita and Alex Roe  

Bone Lake is not the most original of movies -- its earliest antecedent might be The Most Dangerous Game -- but it is quite well-acted and is suspenseful for most of its length. It eventually turns into a gory survival story, but is effective enough on that level. One sequence is almost ruined by a pretty bad (and painfully obvious) song, "Sex and Violence," playing over the action. There is a pretty mediocre cat fight. Overall the film is watchable, but a bit slow and predictable. 

Verdict: A lot of overfamiliar elements to this. **1/2. 

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS GODZILLA VS KONG

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS GODZILLA VS KONG. Written by Brian Buccellato. Art by Christian Duce and Tom Derenik. DC Comics/Legendary Comics. 2024. Originally published over seven issues. 

In a story that is apparently outside of normal DCU continuity, Superman is planning to propose to Lois Lane when trouble erupts in the shape of old foe and King Kong variation Titano. But that's only the beginning. Lex Luthor and his Injustice Society manage to invade Superman's Fortress of Solitude, and somehow wind up bringing Godzilla and other monstrosities -- a gargantuan spider, a winged Bat-creature, a mammoth-type beast with enormous tusks -- into the DCU via a "Dreamstone" manipulated by Toyman. Superman has little problem with Titano, but Godzilla is another matter, and a blast of his nuclear breath puts Superman in a kind of coma where his fellow Leaguers aren't even certain if he's still alive. Green Arrow winds up on Skull Island where he not only encounters King Kong (much, much larger than in the original movie) but the League of Assassins, who are up to no good. Under the seas another huge creature -- and Godzilla -- threatens Atlantis, so Aquaman unleases a many-tentacled Kraken to beat them off. Gorilla Grodd uses his mind-control powers to turn both Kong and Supergirl against our heroes temporarily, and also snuffs Green Lantern Guy Gardner. Luthor puts his mind inside a gigantic robot, MechaGodzilla, while Batman counters with his own gargantuan Bat-robot! Superman eventually recovers and joins the fray, he and his colleagues taking after monsters, Luthor, and assorted super-villains alike. 

Now if this isn't the ultimate fan boy's collection -- not only super-heroes but giant monsters, plus Lex Luthor and his huge collection of super-villains -- I don't know what is. The story is well-told, juggling all of these different characters and pop culture references together in swift and exciting fashion, while the art is at least serviceable and often quite striking. There was a sequel which will soon be out in a hardcover collection as well.  

Verdict: The ultimate pop culture experience. ***1/2. 

 

THE SUBSTANCE

Demi Moore

THE SUBSTANCE (2024). Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat. 

Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore of Parasite) has a very popular exercise program but boss Harvey (Dennis Quiad) thinks she's grown too old and has to be replaced. A certain doctor lets Elisabeth know about a new, highly secretive procedure that she might be interested in. Via injections and other outre methods, Elisabeth winds up growing a younger version of herself (Margaret Qualley) out of her own back. Apparently these two bodies share the same mind -- at least at first -- but they must switch off every other week while the other one stays comatose in a secret chamber. Eventually, unfortunately, the younger and older versions of Elisabeth see themselves as separate entities, and jealousy ensues -- and lots worse! 

Margaret Qualley

The Substance is hardly the first movie to deal with age discrimination, or to deal with a woman who takes outrageous steps to become younger and faces dire consequences because of it. The Leech Woman and Countess Dracula are only two that come to mind. (The Manitou also presented a woman with a tumor inside her back that turns out to be a malignant human being.) Just like those others, the characterization in The Substance is kind of thin. Therefore what we've got left is an admittedly entertaining black comedy that pulls you in after a slow start. The performances are broad but good -- this includes Gore Abrahms as Oliver -- and the cinematography (Benjamin Crakun) is outstanding. 

Work out!

Two questions remain. The younger version of Elisabeth apparently doesn't actually look that much like her or people would wonder if she were her own daughter, which never happens. Secondly, there is never any talk of financial terms when Elisabeth makes her deal with the devil (so to speak) -- surely this incredible and weird procedure would cost a lot. Of course, these things don't really matter when you consider that The Substance proceeds like a very dark fairy tale and works fairly well on that level. The riotous over-the-top climax goes on too long -- the whole movie is too long -- and its coda is a little too cute. This was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, Actress, and Screenplay, but not for cinematography, the only one it really deserves! The best scene shows Elisabeth preparing to go out on a date as her older self, trying one look after another, and then just giving up in despair. 

Verdict: Fun, gross, interesting, but not as original -- nor quite as good -- as one might imagine. ***. 

TRAP

Ariel Donoghue and Josh Hartnett

TRAP (2024). Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. 

Family man Cooper (Josh Hartnett) takes his excited teenage daughter, Riley (Ariel Donoghue), to a concert given by her favorite singer, Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan, the director's daughter). Noting the presence of an unusual number of law enforcement officials, Cooper learns that a trap has been set for a serial killer known as the Butcher, because the cops discovered that he will be attending the concert. Now the killer -- Cooper himself, as we learn early on -- has to figure out a way to get out of the concert venue without being captured. To that end he will use his own daughter -- and Lady Raven. But will the brave singer be able to save her own life, as well as that of the latest victim, which Cooper is holding captive? 

Harnett with Shaleka Shyamalan

Trap could have been a suspense masterpiece, but Shyamalan blows it. Others have noted that at times it comes off more as a showcase for Shaleka Shyamalan's singing ability than a serious thriller. The biggest problem is that while Shaleka has personality, she isn't much of an actress, and expecting someone so inexperienced to deliver in a difficult role like this is ridiculous. Hartnett, Donoghue, Alison Pill as Cooper's wife, Rachel, and even Hayley Mills, of all people, as an aged FBI profiler, are more on the money. 

Hayley Mills and Alison Pill

The shame of it is that Trap has an excellent premise and a strong story but it's done in by a flaccid  and rather frivolous directorial approach that strips the film of most of its suspense and virtually all of its tension. The lowliest slasher film has more energy. The film could also have been very moving in regards to the shocked members of Cooper's family finding out and having to deal with the unthinkable. (The ending sets up a sequel that will probably never materialize.) The illogical moments include scenes in which law enforcement seem impossibly incompetent. Shaleka's singing -- she sounds like hundreds of other singers -- is better than her acting, which isn't saying much. Her songs are acceptable, instantly forgettable pop ditties. 

Verdict: What the great Hitchcock could have done with this material! **1/4.  

ALIEN ROMULUS

The monster moves in for the kill

ALIEN ROMULUS (2024). Director: Fede Alvarez. 

Rain (Cailee Spaeny) is a young woman who works for a mining corporation and wants out. Her constant companion is Andy (David Jonsson), a black android that has been programmed to protect her but is obviously damaged. Learning she has to stay in this dismal place for several more years, she agrees to flee to an abandoned space station with several acquaintances -- including Tyler (Archie Renaux), Navarro (Aileen Wu), Bjorn (Spike Fearn) and Kay (Isabela Merced) -- from whence they can hopefully reach another planet. Andy will be of much help as well. Unfortunately, the station is infested with the same deadly lifeforms as in Alien, and after being outfitted with a module from the android Rook (a digital Ian Holm), Andy is much more interested in protecting the interests of the corporation than he is of Rain's and the others ...   

Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson

If you're looking for something completely different with Alien Romulus, be advised that you won't find that with this movie. A sequel to the original Alien, which occurs before that movie's other sequels (such as Aliens) this picture makes full use of all of the general tropes of this sci-fi/horror series. For the first 20 or 20 minutes you might think you're simply watching a remake of Alien, but fortunately the movie sort of goes in different directions with different, moderately interesting characters. Alien Romulus works not because it's original -- which it isn't -- but because it's well-acted, well-directed, has superior FX work, and several thrilling sequences -- the main reason to sit through one of these movies. The climax, which makes use of an alien-human hybrid (which is gross and scary) -- as did Alien: Resurrection -- is a decided highlight. 

Verdict: Entertaining and slick with some excitement and scares. ***.   

JAMES BOND AND THE SIXTIES SPY CRAZE

 JAMES BOND AND THE SIXTIES SPY CRAZE. Thom Shubilla. Applause; 2024. 

Author Shubilla presents a no-frills history of spy movies  of the 1960s, beginning with 007, with chapters on Bond, other American agents such as Matt Helm and Derek Flint, spy movies that were not part of a series such as Agent for H.A.R.M., British spy films, eurospy films, Mexican spy films, and finally, TV shows dealing with secret agents, including Man from UNCLE and Mission: Impossible. This is essentially a just-the-facts kind of book -- the only critical notes come from snippets of contemporary reviews -- and it really doesn't say too much about the TV series. There is much more info on some of the individual films. Whatever its flaws the book is a fun read, and one can take notes on unseen movies that the reader may want to investigate. Shubilla only covers a small percentage of the incredible number of eurospy features, which could take up an entire book of its own. An annoying aspect of the book is that instead of using footnotes Shubilla lists his sources right in the text in a very weird fashion, almost as if this were a term paper (which it might have been)! 

Verdict: Entertaining if imperfect look at spy movies of the sixties. **3/4. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2024.

HAVE A GREAT DAY (AND DON'T EAT TOO MUCH) !

B MOVIE NIGHTMARE WILL RETURN IN TWO WEEKS WITH MORE NEW REVIEWS! 

LONGLEGS

Dakota Daulby and Maika Monroe

LONGLEGS (2024). Written and directed by Osgood Perkins.

FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) is assigned to the case of a weirdo named Longlegs (Nicolas Cage) who somehow gets men to murder their families and then off themselves. As Lee and her boss, Carter (Blair Underwood), investigate further, Lee discovers that Longlegs' accomplice may be much closer to home than she realized. And what about that strange lifelike doll that's found under the floorboards in an abandoned home?

Nicolas Cage in another bad movie

The vastly overpraised and illogical Longlegs is almost like a travesty of a serial killer movie. It's hard to imagine that someone as nervous and neurotic as Lee Harker would ever have been made an FBI agent. Even if one accepts that Lee is a strange, moody person, it doesn't excuse the wretched and dull performance given by Ms. Monroe. Nicolas Cage -- yes, this is yet another lousy movie that the actor is in -- offers a perfectly okay stunt performance aided by tons of spooky make up. 

How did I get in this crap? Alicia Witt 

Alicia Witt, who once starred in slasher films like Urban Legend, is also okay as Lee's weird mother.  Although Blair Underwood from L.A. Law is now middle-aged, he still seems cute and baby-faced, but his performance is -- again -- okay. There are so many holes and implausible moments in the story that it's almost laughable, and the movie isn't good enough to enable the viewer to suspend disbelief. Osgood Perkins, the son of Anthony Psycho Perkins, does not betray much skill as either a writer or a director: the movie has no energy. The film's only saving grace is the atmospheric cinematography by Andres Arochi. Elvis Perkins' score has its moments as well. 

Verdict: For heaven's sake if Nicolas Cage is in the cast find another movie! *1/2. 

GODZILLA MINUS ONE

Godzilla

GODZILLA MINUS ONE (2024). Director: Takashi Yamasaki. 

At the very end of WW2 Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) is a Japanese kamikaze pilot who hasn't quite got the stuff. Landing on Odo Island where there is a regiment of mechanics, he and the others encounter Godzilla. Koichi is too scared to use his plane's arms to fire at the monster, and everyone but him and engineer Sosaku (Munetaka Aoki) dies. Returning to civilization and a shattered Japan, he hooks up with a young woman, Noriko (Minami Hamabe), who has rescued a little orphaned baby. Wracked with guilt over his cowardice, Koichi resists having a real relationship with Noriko, but they have much bigger problems when Godzilla -- now grown even larger and with an atomic-irradiated body that can shoot out devasting heat beams -- stomps through Tokyo. With no aid coming from any other country and a shattered government, survivors band together to come up with a way to destroy the monster, a plan in which Koichi will play a major role. 

Ryunosuke Kamiki

The original Godzilla film -- the 1954 Gojira -- was much more serious than the almost comical films featuring the monster that followed. This film follows in that tradition, and creates a host of interesting and generally well-developed characters for the viewer to get involved with. The film is too long, unfortunately, and the scenes with these characters may make some people impatient to see Godzilla in action. There aren't enough sequences starring the big guy but they are fairly exciting. This movie uses some of the martial music from the original film as well as Godzilla's classic metallic roar. 

Godzilla on the move!

Godzilla Minus One isn't campy like the American Godzilla with Matthew Broderick, but that film, despite its many flaws, was more entertaining and thrilling, with better FX work. (The FX for Godzilla Minus One won an Oscar!) Godzilla himself looks a little lumpy at times. Still, I have to agree that this flick is probably the best Godzilla film in years and is a vast improvement over a more recent American version and the dreadful Shin Godzilla. The movie also tackles Japanese attitudes towards death and dying. Oddly, the ending when certain principals are reunited may leave a lump in your throat!

Verdict: By reimagining the original Gojira, they have come up with something different. **3/4.  

THE WILLIAM SCHOELL COLLECTION

 

THE WILLIAM SCHOELL COLLECTION. Encyclopocalypse Publications 2024.

Just in time for Halloween, brand new editions of all of my classic horror novels with corrections and introductions going behind the scenes of each book. Things That Go Bump in the Night deals with horrors created by recombinant DNA research. Shivers has a man trying to find his missing brother in the bowels of the New York City subway system. Late at Night takes place on an island where people discover a book which reveals their frightening and grisly fates. Vicious details graphic mayhem occurring on a film set, in a girls school, and in an ancient nunnery with a weird sect of sadistic nuns. Saurian features an unusual sea monster who is even more intelligent than the people it hunts. The Pact unveils a demonic force that is wreaking havoc in Hawaii. The Dragon presents an archeological expedition descending into caverns whose walls consist of living flesh. Finally Fatal Beauty examines an exciting new substance that will replace cosmetic surgery, only the test subjects discover how terribly wrong things can go. You can buy the whole bundle at a special price direct from the publisher or just order individual titles. 

REALMS OF NIGHT 3

REALMS OF NIGHT 3. 2024. Edited by Christopher Fulbright.

Realms of Night is a publication that covers the horror and dark fantasy field for "readers and collectors." This issue has an interview with yours truly covering my novels from Leisure and St. Martin's and other things. There is also a fine, eerie story by Fulbright entitled Children of the Horned God. As well there is more fiction from Carl R. Moore, and non-fiction and reviews by  Mark Bieber, C. Dennis Moore, Will Errickson and Brian DuBois. Also pieces on James Herbert and Shaun Hutson. 

Available on Amazon.

BAREBONES 19

 barebones 19. (2024). Edited by John Scoleri and Peter Enfantino.

The latest issue of barebones, # 19, edited by John Scoleri and Peter Enfantino, features articles on Jack the Ripper; the classic western show Rawhide; films directed by W. Lee Wilder (Billy's brother), such as Killers from Space; Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine; the first Bond novel, Casino Royale, and its TV and film adaptations; and my own piece on the wild series YANCY DERRINGER starring Jock Mahoney.

And even more!

You can buy a copy on Amazon here!

SUPER-ACTION: THE COPPER AGE OF DC COMICS

SUPER-ACTION: THE COPPER AGE OF DC COMICS. William Schoell. BearManor Media; 2024. 

Here is my latest installment in the history of super-hero comic books, this one focusing on DC Comics in the 80's and 90's, the so-called "copper" age. You can read about the rise of the maxi-series, such as Crisis on Infinite Earths, in which DC streamlined its universe and eliminated all of its parallel worlds (for a time at least). Then there's writer-artist John Byrne's big reboot of Superman (which did not last as long as intended, at least not with Byrne at the helm). George Perez' new take on Wonder Woman, in which the lady was turned from a joke into the star of a must-read series. In other developments Batman's partner Dick Grayson grew up, changed his name to Nightwing, and became leader of The New Teen Titans, a series so popular it rivaled Marvel's X-Men for a time. Batman got two new boy partners, Jason Todd and Tim Drake, one of whom is murdered by the Joker in the excellent (if wildly-contrived) "A Death in the Family." Flash. Green Lantern. Suicide Squad. Power of the Atom. More maxi-series than you can shake a stick at: Cosmic Odyssey, Legends, Armageddon 2001, Millennium. Read how DC Comics faced the challenge of Marvel and held its own!

Available on Amazon!

barebones 18

barebones 18. Edited by Peter Enfantino and John Scoleri.

This issue is chock full of interesting stuff, including an article on mystery and suspense stories on the TV war show Combat; the pre-code Atlas horror comic Adventures into Terror; a look at the noir film The Big Caper with Corey Allen; my piece on Science Fiction Theatre; a look at Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine; plus Curt Siodmak, David J. Schow, Matthew R. Bradley, and more! You can easily order a copy from Amazon. Highly recommended. 

BARE BONES 17

 bare bones 17 Winter 2024. 

Yes the new barebones 17 is now out and available on Amazon. This scholarly and fun publication, edited by Peter Enfantino and John Scoleri, is chock full of fascinating articles. We've got pieces on THE FUGITIVE TV show; on the Mexican NOSTRADAMUS movies; ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE; surveys of sleazy paperback thrillers; Randall D. Larson on fanzines; and much more including a piece on the forgotten post-Peter Gunn Craig Stevens series MAN OF THE WORLD by yours truly.

https://www.amazon.com/Bare.../dp/B0CW9VLMVT/ref=sr_1_1...